87. Tuesday after Fourth Sunday after Epiphany.
Psalm 46. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we 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 with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder: he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
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The waters spoken of in this psalm are the peoples of the earth; and the mountains in the midst of the sea are governments and rulers. There have been many great revolutions in the world; kingdoms have been overthrown, and dynasties destroyed; mighty princes have fallen, and the great sea of humanity has been lashed into foam. Storms yet more severe shall come; and the heathen shall rage, kingdoms be moved, and the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. At last all will unite in making war on the city of the Lord; that is, on the people of God, the Christian church on earth. But God is our reliance and strength; we have no reason to feel fear, no matter what terrors seem to threaten us. God is in the midst of his city; the great, almighty God is with his people; and in his means of grace, the word and sacraments, he gives them comfort, peace, and joy. The human sea is seething and troubled, and all manner of filth is ever rising to the surface. However, the church of God, which dwells among the peoples, enjoys rest and peace by the rivers of water. Out of the throne of God in the midst of the church issues the river of life spoken of in the 47th chapter of Ezekiel. This is the life of grace and love by the Holy Ghost in the means of grace committed to the care of the church. This river shall never be swallowed, nor turned out of its course, nor lose itself in the waters of the world; but shall keep itself pure and fresh, and shall exert its influence in all the earth. — The prospect that presented itself to Israel at the Red sea was far from bright. They had been made sore afraid by the proud and powerful king who had asked: “Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice?” But “in the morning watch” God came and delivered them (Exodus, 14, 24). Sennacherib threatened Jerusalem, and said: “What Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?” But in the morning his soldiers were all dead corpses (Isaiah 36, 20; 37, 36). — The Lord, the God of hosts is with us. Neither could we be saved by anything or anyone less mighty. For our enemies are principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places. We need the very Lord Zebaoth for our protector. And he is, in truth, our mighty fortress. “Therefore distress can be our guest for a night, only; in the morning the Lord sends another, a permanent guest, namely salvation.” That which this grand psalm says concerning God as the help of Israel is valid for all time. “There is but one church of God through all ages.” To this you belong, Christian friend; you dwell in the city of God. Let the concerns of this city be your concerns; then shall you behold the salvation of the Lord, and learn the glorious truth that he is God.*
A mighty fortress is our God,
A trusty shield and weapon;
Our help is he in all our need,
Our stay, whate’er doth happen.
The old malignant foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great,
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
With might of ours naught can be done,
Soon were our loss effected;
But for us fights the Valiant One,
Whom God himself elected.
Ask ye who this may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Zabaoth is his name,
From age to age the same, —
He holds the field forever.
[TLH 262, LSB 656, ELH 250; listen here]
* Here the head of the family says a short morning or evening prayer in his own words, and closes with the Lord’s Prayer and the Benediction. This is to be done every day. If the stanzas are not sung, they may be read in their proper place before the impromptu petition and the Lord’s Prayer.