Singing a Song In Your Trial

You can listen to this post here on Refresh Her podcast.

What are you singing about today?  Do you have a song springing up in your heart?  Or is there a trouble that’s like a black cloud hovering over you?  

If so, What psalm comes to your mind?  Is it possibly Psalm 46?  It’s a favorite because it’s so comforting and encouraging.  Perhaps today  is a day of trouble…let me encourage your heart with truth from Ps 46,  and also share a challenge about our responsibility.

The backdrop of this psalm is Isaiah 36 – Sennacharib: and Rabshakeh his servant are… 

1. Determined – He is going to invade Judah verses 1~2
2. He mocks God and threatens Hezekiah .
3. Hezekiah seeks God’s face – Chapter 37

And it came to pass, when King Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the Lord.

2 And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, unto Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.

3 And they said unto him, “Thus saith Hezekiah: ‘This day is a day of trouble 

Here was the answer:

Thus saith the Lord: Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me.

7 Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.’”

Did this happen?  Oh yes!

 V. 36 Then the angel of the Lord went forth and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand; and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.

 The author of Psalm 46 could have been Isaiah, this man who had witnessed a “day of trouble,” but also a day of victory!

This psalm is a song to be sung by female voices. Let’s look at the “song.”

Verse 1 – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 

Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

The first word of the chapter points us to God – the One who allowed it to happen, though not necessarily the sender of the trouble, He did allow it! What does it tell us about our God? He is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. A refuge is a place to flee to!

He is also our Strength. We may rely on His strength as if it were our own.  Or we may feel as strong in His strength as though we had that strength ourselves.  We can make it the basis of our confidence as though the strength resided in our own arm. 

The verse goes on to say that He is a Very present help. This means – “He has proven Himself to be a help in trouble.”

Verse 2 – “Therefore” – Having Him as our refuge and strength, we have nothing to fear.  We won’t be afraid, though the convulsions then occurring in the world would continue and be extended so far as to destroy the very earth itself.  God will remain our friend and protector and we have nothing to fear. Let the worst come to the worst, the child of God should never give way to mistrust. Since God is faithful, there can be danger to His cause or His people.

“Though the mountains” – This could reference the most fixed and firmed things on earth.  What fixed thing is moving in your life?  What would that be for you?  Your health?  Your finances? Your retirement?  Your protection from the Coronavirus?

The psalmist is reminding us that NOTHING in this world is stable! Also these truths are suited to ANY time on earth when everything true, sacred and valuable SEEMS to be in danger! The political realm, the civil climate, the health and safety, our religious liberties…when all those things are in danger, the psalmist is telling us these truths are reliable for such times.

Three times we read, Selah.  It means to stop and consider; don’t stop your song! 

Spurgeon said, “It were well if all of us could say, “Selah” under tempestuous trials, but alas, too often we speak in our haste, lay our trembling hands bewildered among the strings and strike the lyre (harp)  with a rude crash, and mar the melody of our life’s  song.”

Am I responding to my trouble in a calm, trusting manner?  Or am I striking the keyboard and ruining the song?

Put your hands at your side when you’re tempted to wring them in worry.  Put your hands at your side when you’re tempted to strike the piano keys in frustration and anger.  Put your hands at your side when you’re tempted to raise your fist towards heaven.  

Be still …why?

11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

On his deathbed, John Wesley said, The best of all is, God is with us. 

Indeed, His presence with us is the best of all.  

Now that’s something to sing about! 

Don’t let the trial mar the melody of your song!

In your “Day of Trouble,” turn to this psalm and sing to your mighty God!

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