Psalm 46 Part3
The next section of Psalm 46 consists of 4 verses and these verses are verse 4 through to verse 7 which have a theme of “God is in the midst of His people”. It continues with the truth that God is always present in us, despite what our external situation is. Verse 4 says: “There is a river whose streams shall make glad the City of God, the Holy place of the tabernacle of the most high”. In biblical times rivers were the source of life and their importance cannot be understated. Rivers bring life everywhere, however, in particular rivers speak of the presence of the Lord. While in the natural you cannot survive without a continual supply of water, the same applies spiritually because you cannot stay spiritually strong without the presence of the Lord. This is one of the ongoing battles we face. We are constantly tempted to get involved in so many things which in themselves are not dangerous but can be used to take us away from the presence of the Lord. At the beginning of the year, it is good to take stock of our priorities and to see if our major priority is the presence of the Lord. The presence of the Lord is a great source of peace, when we are overshadowed by God there is nothing in the world that make us fearful. The verse also tells us it is being associated with God that is how He wants us to live. Jesus taught His disciples to pray “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. God desires us to experience the power and might of heaven while we are living on the earth. There is no substitute for the presence of the Lord. There is another powerful aspect of rivers that Jesus taught. John 7:38-39 says: “He who believes in Me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water, but this He spoke concerning the Spirit, which those who believing in Him would receive, for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified”. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is a “Rivers” experience. Today the world is looking for the rivers of the presence of the Lord being seen in the believers of Jesus Christ. I know from personal experience that when I am filled with the Holy Spirit, God’s presence is so powerful you cannot keep it inside but you demonstrate His presence everywhere you go. Verse 5 reinforces the truth that God, is on the inside of us. In this season of the Pandemic, we are tempted to move our eyes away from God, there is much doom and gloom that surrounds us that we need to continually take stock of our thoughts and return our thoughts to the presence of the Lord. This psalm repeats over and over again the powerful message that God is in us and that He is in control. Verse 7 says: “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob our refuge”. This section has so much for us to contemplate on, His truth is forever, and we are strengthened when we pause and remember His goodness which makes it easy for us to exalt Him.