Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
(Though) the waters thereof roar, and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. What a beautiful contrast there is between the roaring waters here and the still "river, the streams whereof make glad the city of God!" (Psalms 46:4.) Overwhelming waters represent invading hosts (Isaiah 8:7-8; Isaiah 17:12). The "sea" (Psalms 46:2) is the world, never still, "like a troubled sea when it cannot rest," through selfishness, pride, and ambition (Isaiah 57:20). IN this sea are the mountain-like world-empires (Psalms 46:2). Compare Isaiah 27:1, "the dragon that is in the sea;" Daniel 7:2-3, "the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea, and four great beasts (the four great empires) came up from the sea" (Revelation 17:15). "The swelling" of the sea is the haughty elation of spirit which keeps the world in ceaseless agitation. So "the stout heart" (Hebrew, 'the greatness of the heart') of the King of Assyria, "and the glory of his high looks" is specially marked for punishment (Isaiah 10:12-13; cf. Psalms 89:9).