What does it mean that Yahuah is our refuge and strength and an ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1)?

What does it mean that Yahuah is our refuge and strength and an ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1)?

Psalm 46:1 contains a description of Yahuah and a wonderful promise based on His character: “Yahuah is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” The next verse continues with what should be our natural response: “Therefore we will not fear” (verse 2).

In Psalm 46, the poet describes various kinds of disasters and the chaos that mark our existence in this broken and sinful world. He alludes to natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and floods (verses 2 and 3). He mentions the elements of war and violence in verses 8 and 9. But, through it all, “we will not fear” (verse 2).

The various distresses the psalmist lists are an occasion to take note of Yahuah’s help. He is our refuge, our strength, and an ever-present help in troubled times. In the hardships of this life, we find safety and rest in Yahuah. The world is unstable, but “the city of Yahuah”—His habitation—is established and secure (Psalm 46:4–6). No matter what happens in this world, Yahuah will be exalted, and those who are His will ultimately be safe (verses 10–11). We can “be still and know” that He is Aluah(Elohim) (verse 10).

The structure of Psalm 46 is beautiful. Verses 2 and 3 along with verses 8 and 9 describe disasters and trials. But verses 1, 4–7 and 10–11 describe Yahuah’s power and safety in the midst of those difficulties. So the trouble is bracketed by Yahuah’s promises; the verses about the difficulties of life are graphically “surrounded” by verses about the power and safety of the Almighty. This is an amazing picture. Like a mother or father who hugs and comforts a fearful and upset child, Yahuah surrounds us and protects us in our difficulties. Note that the psalmist doesn’t state that Yahuah will remove us from the difficulty; rather, Yahuah will protect us and glorify Himself in the midst of the difficulty.

He is our refuge. Yahuah provides safety. We take shelter in our relationship with Him (cf. Proverbs 18:10).

He is our strength. Yahuah gives us the power we need to endure hardship as we serve Him, fight spiritual battles, resist temptation, and bear up under persecution. We are weak, but He is strong (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:10).

He is an ever-present help in trouble. Yahuah is at hand. He is not far away from us but nearby to assist us in the tasks He has assigned (cf. Psalm 145:18).

Here are some points of application:

1. There are two groups described in Psalm 46. One group is protected by Yahuah, and one group fights against Yahuah. If we would experience Yahuah’s protection, we must belong to Him through faith in Yahusha HaMashiach. Have you been saved by Yahuah through believing in the death and resurrection of Yahusha for the forgiveness of your sins and eternal life? Can you truly say, “Yahuah is my refuge”?

2. True peace will not come until we are with the Yahuah in “the city of Aluah, the Qodesh(Set-Apart) place where the Most High dwells” (Psalm 46:4). This means that, in this world, we may experience hurt, and, eventually, we will die. But in the midst of it all, Yahuah is working everything out for good (see Romans 8:28). For those who belong to Yahuah, even the bad stuff has a good end! We are eternally safe.

3. The ultimate goal is to exalt and glorify Yahuah. This is the purpose of your life. As you rest in His protection during the difficulties of this life, you are showing the goodness and power of Yahuah. Thus, no matter what happens, trust Him. Even if things don’t seem to turn out as you would like, remember that you are not home yet.

Because Yahuah promises to be our refuge and strength, we do not fear. Because He is an ever-present help in trouble, those who belong to Him can commit their way to Him and take their rest. Yahuah is saying, “Be still. Trust me. I’ve got this.”

Source:

https://www.gotquestions.org/God-is-our-refuge-and-strength.html