By Landon Coleman
Pastor, Immanuel
Psalm 46 is a glorious psalm.
Sons of Korah / earth opened up (Number 16) V10, “Be still, and know that I am God.”
One way or another, the LORD will be exalted among the nations (Psalm 46:10). He will either be exalted in the salvation of his people or in the judgment of his enemies, but either way, the LORD has every intention of exalting his name in the earth.
Lastly, notice the name that is twice repeated in Psalm 46 – God is the LORD of hosts, the God of Jacob (Psalm 46:7, 11). The title “LORD of hosts” is “Yahweh Sabaoth.” It’s the named we sing in Luther’s famous hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”
It’s a name that reminds us that the LORD commands the hosts of heaven, and as commander of the hosts of heaven, the LORD will bring judgments and desolations on his enemies. In Psalm 46, the sons of Korah are calling us to be still and recognize that God is the LORD of hosts.
However, the sons of Korah are not calling the people of God to tremble in terror before the LORD of hosts. Rather, the sons of Korah are calling the people of God to recognize that the LORD of hosts is also the God of Jacob. Do you remember Jacob from the book of Genesis? His name meant “liar” or “deceiver,” and he was a scoundrel first-class. Remarkably, Psalm 46 tells us that the LORD of hosts has also made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and, of all people, Jacob. The LORD of hosts is the God of Jacob.
This is good news for sinners. If the only thing we knew of God is the fact that he is the LORD of hosts, Yahweh Sabaoth, we would be left to tremble at the judgments and desolations that he brings against his enemies. However, when we learn that the LORD of hosts is also the God of Jacob, we find gospel hope. God isn’t looking for good people or righteous people to be on his side. The Bible is clear, there are no good people, no righteous people – no, not one (Romans 3, Psalm 14, 53).
No, the LORD of hosts isn’t looking for good or righteous people. Rather, he is looking for sinful scoundrels like Jacob who will acknowledge their sinfulness and joyfully submit to the LORD of hosts. The sons of Korah remind us that the LORD of hosts is with his people, the God of Jacob is a fortress for his people.
May the LORD of hosts, the God of Jacob make us to be these kind of people. May we be quick to acknowledge our sinfulness before the LORD of host, and may we be quick to joyfully take refuge in the God of Jacob, our fortress.
