"God is our refuge and strength, an exceeding near help in time of distress. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake wit the swelling thereof. Selah." [Psa 46:1-3]
Oh the precious and wonderful truth which never fails to comfort – God is with us! How many times in scripture our good King does comfort us with such a truth: “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age;” and, “He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee;” and, “my Spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not;” and again, “I am with thee, saith The LORD, to save thee;” and once more, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am thy God…” [Mt 28:20, Heb 13:5, Hag 2:5, Jer 30:11, Isa 41:10] How many problems, how many ailments, how many distresses are cured with the balm which is, God is with us! It is an exceeding good truth. A medicine for the soul and spirit. I wonder, dear reader, if you treasure this promise as you should. Do the eternal words from God’s lips, “I am with you, saith The LORD,” [Hag 1:13] bring you much comfort? Much relief? Do they refresh you and strengthen you and fill you with new hope?
In our verse for today we see how strong a promise this truly is. The promise we read is this: “God is…an exceeding near help in time of distress.” [Psa 46:1] Whether your trouble is big or small, deep or shallow, The LORD promises here that He is exceedingly near. Truly, The LORD is always near; for the Psalmist rhetorically says, “whither shall I go from thy Spirit?” [Psa 139:7] But in distress He is exceedingly near. It is in those times when, if we are honest, would probably say we feel God the least. In those dark times and hard times; in those times when life is not fully of joy to our hearts nor minds – yes, dear Christian, rejoice, for in those times your God is exceedingly near.
And let us see in context the fruit of such a promise. The promise is simple: summarized, it is the one to which we have been looking: God is with us. It is so profound a truth, so grand and powerful and effectual a promise, that even if “the earth be removed;” even if, “the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;” yes, even so David steadfastly proclaims, “we will not fear.” Good man! Have you ever seen a mountain in person, the towering behemoth of power and majesty climbing into the sky? Imagine that it began to shake and crumble before your eyes; imagine it descending into the earth below the skyline; imagine it being flung across the landscape into the sea. Would this not terrify even the bravest of men? And yet, the psalmist concludes by inspiration of The Spirit that even if this were the case, (and during The Day of The LORD it shall indeed be the case), that “therefore we will not fear” because “God is our refuge and strength, and exceeding near help in time of distress.”
The fact that God is near to us; the fact that He is exceedingly near in our distress, is all we need. This is the single truth which is capable of propelling us through any and every trial. Are you in Christ, dear reader? Answer plainly. For if you be in Christ, what have you to fear? What have you to be anxious about – The LORD God Almighty is with you! “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” [Psa 27:1]
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