12 MAY

GOD IS OUR FORTRESS

“God is our refuge and strength, very present help in trouble…The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

(Psalm 46:1, 7)

Jerusalem is built on and surrounded by mountains. The Psalmist in this psalm talks about the fear of earthquakes and the floods and roaring of the waters. However, he is confident that the people’s lives are sustained by God himself as the fountain of life, a mighty Fortress, a bulwark never failing. Indeed, even if the earth faces total destruction, God is our refuge with the ability to save in the present and eternally and strengthen His own in any and every circumstance.

This psalm also inspired the famous hymn written by Martin Luther, called “The Battle Hymn of the Reformation” or “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”. Luther said, “We sing this psalm to the praise of God because God is with us and powerfully and miraculously preserves and defends His church and His word against all fanatical spirits, against the gates of hell, against the implacable hatred of the devil and against all the assaults of the world, the flesh and sin.”

 The hymn calls God a mighty Fortress, a bulwark never failing. It acknowledges God as our Helper in the midst of floods and prevailing ills. It encourages us not to be afraid as the Truth of God and His Kingdom abide forever.

ACTION:  Trust and obey.

PRAYER: I reverence you, Oh Lord, for your power and majesty. Though challenges, war and destruction are inevitable but so is my victory in you!