Description
This psalm is a prophecy of earth-shattering events and political upheaval that take place during the Great Tribulation. It is an encouragement to believers not to be afraid, but to know that God is our ever-present help in time of trouble.
Commentary
This psalm is a prophecy of earth-shattering events and political upheaval that take place during the Great Tribulation. It is an encouragement to believers in the Great Tribulation not to be afraid, but to know that God is truly our helper in times of trouble (v1).
Mountains refer metaphorically to kingdoms, and waters to peoples and nations (see Revelation 17:15). So the waters roaring in verse 3 are equivalent to the nations in uproar in verse 6. Similarly, the mountains shaking, tumbling, or dissolving (v2, 3, 6) are equivalent to kingdoms falling (v6). This is similar to the picture painted in Micah 1:3-4, "Look, the Lord is coming out of his dwelling place! He will descend and march on the earth’s mountaintops! The mountains will crumble beneath him; and the valleys will split apart, like wax before a fire, like water dumped down a steep slope." (NET)
Amidst this apparent chaos of earthly kingdoms falling, the psalmist assures us that God's kingdom is secure. Verses 4 to 5 say, "There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day" (NIV). Given that earthly Jerusalem has no river (apart from the Gihon Spring in the City of David), you might think this is speaking of heavenly Jerusalem. But in that case, why does God have to rescue her at break of day? So it seems this is speaking of Jesus' deliverance of earthly Jerusalem at the battle of Armageddon, and the river here should be understood as speaking metaphorically of God's sustenance and provision for Jerusalem's residents who remain there under Antichrist's occupation during the Great Tribulation. Ezekiel 47 records Ezekiel's vision of millennial Jerusalem, at which time a physical river will flow out of the temple in Jerusalem. In 2011, engineers excavating below central Jerusalem to construct an underground railway station were surprised to find a small underground river 75 metres below ground.
In verse 7, Jerusalem's residents declare, "The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge" (KJV). The 'Lord of hosts' here and in verse 11 should be understood as speaking of Jesus, who comes back as the commander of heaven's armies to deliver Jerusalem. It is he who, in verses 8 to 9 brings devastation to the earth, bringing an end to wars throughout the earth and destroying all weapons of war. Jesus comes back as a warrior king who makes war in order to end all wars.
And in verse 10, it is Jesus who declares with determination, "Stop your striving and recognise that I am God! I will be exalted over the nations! I will be exalted over the earth!"
The psalm ends by repeating the confident affirmation, "The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is on our side! The God of Jacob is our protector!" (v7 & 11).
Mountains refer metaphorically to kingdoms, and waters to peoples and nations (see Revelation 17:15). So the waters roaring in verse 3 are equivalent to the nations in uproar in verse 6. Similarly, the mountains shaking, tumbling, or dissolving (v2, 3, 6) are equivalent to kingdoms falling (v6). This is similar to the picture painted in Micah 1:3-4, "Look, the Lord is coming out of his dwelling place! He will descend and march on the earth’s mountaintops! The mountains will crumble beneath him; and the valleys will split apart, like wax before a fire, like water dumped down a steep slope." (NET)
Amidst this apparent chaos of earthly kingdoms falling, the psalmist assures us that God's kingdom is secure. Verses 4 to 5 say, "There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day" (NIV). Given that earthly Jerusalem has no river (apart from the Gihon Spring in the City of David), you might think this is speaking of heavenly Jerusalem. But in that case, why does God have to rescue her at break of day? So it seems this is speaking of Jesus' deliverance of earthly Jerusalem at the battle of Armageddon, and the river here should be understood as speaking metaphorically of God's sustenance and provision for Jerusalem's residents who remain there under Antichrist's occupation during the Great Tribulation. Ezekiel 47 records Ezekiel's vision of millennial Jerusalem, at which time a physical river will flow out of the temple in Jerusalem. In 2011, engineers excavating below central Jerusalem to construct an underground railway station were surprised to find a small underground river 75 metres below ground.
In verse 7, Jerusalem's residents declare, "The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge" (KJV). The 'Lord of hosts' here and in verse 11 should be understood as speaking of Jesus, who comes back as the commander of heaven's armies to deliver Jerusalem. It is he who, in verses 8 to 9 brings devastation to the earth, bringing an end to wars throughout the earth and destroying all weapons of war. Jesus comes back as a warrior king who makes war in order to end all wars.
And in verse 10, it is Jesus who declares with determination, "Stop your striving and recognise that I am God! I will be exalted over the nations! I will be exalted over the earth!"
The psalm ends by repeating the confident affirmation, "The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is on our side! The God of Jacob is our protector!" (v7 & 11).
Tags
Places:
Symbols: Mountains, Waters, Voice of the Lord
Tags: Great Tribulation, Political upheaval, Nations fall, River of God, Jesus exalted over the nations
Symbols: Mountains, Waters, Voice of the Lord
Tags: Great Tribulation, Political upheaval, Nations fall, River of God, Jesus exalted over the nations
1 For the music director; by the Korahites; according to the alamoth style; a song. God is our strong refuge; he is truly our helper in times of trouble.
2 For this reason we do not fear when the earth shakes, and the mountains tumble into the depths of the sea,
3 when its waves crash and foam, and the mountains shake before the surging sea. (Selah)
4 The river’s channels bring joy to the city of God, the special, holy dwelling place of the Most High.
5 God lives within it, it cannot be moved. God rescues it at the break of dawn.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms are overthrown. God gives a shout, the earth dissolves.
7 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is on our side! The God of Jacob is our protector! (Selah)
8 Come! Witness the exploits of the Lord, who brings devastation to the earth!
9 He brings an end to wars throughout the earth; he shatters the bow and breaks the spear; he burns the shields with fire.
10 He says, “Stop your striving and recognize that I am God! I will be exalted over the nations! I will be exalted over the earth!”
11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is on our side! The God of Jacob is our protector! (Selah)
2 For this reason we do not fear when the earth shakes, and the mountains tumble into the depths of the sea,
3 when its waves crash and foam, and the mountains shake before the surging sea. (Selah)
4 The river’s channels bring joy to the city of God, the special, holy dwelling place of the Most High.
5 God lives within it, it cannot be moved. God rescues it at the break of dawn.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms are overthrown. God gives a shout, the earth dissolves.
7 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is on our side! The God of Jacob is our protector! (Selah)
8 Come! Witness the exploits of the Lord, who brings devastation to the earth!
9 He brings an end to wars throughout the earth; he shatters the bow and breaks the spear; he burns the shields with fire.
10 He says, “Stop your striving and recognize that I am God! I will be exalted over the nations! I will be exalted over the earth!”
11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is on our side! The God of Jacob is our protector! (Selah)
(NET)
