Our Rock, A Strong Tower
By: in Faith on November 11, 2004 - 1:59 pm
Psalm 46:1-3
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According toalamoth. A song.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
Selah
Where do we turn when trouble surrounds us? To whom do we cry out to in our despair? When all else has failed, where do we look for succor? The words of the psalmist leave no doubt as to who is our refuge and strength. God, and God alone, remains faithful in times of desperation.
Martin Luther, in this great hymn of the faith, reminds us of the strength that is written about in Psalms.
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.
Thank you Lord that you are a mighty rock; a fortress where shelter is to be found in times of trial and distress. Thank you Father that we don’t have to rely on our own strength; but that, in our weakness, we can cry out to you for protection.
