Psalms 8:1 and 123:1-2.

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in Psalm 46. Twice, the Spirit describes God as present to help:

Psalms 46:1 ¶ God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Psalms 46:5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

I need help! The word translated help is Ezra. It means to render assistance, aid: “to furnish with strength or means for the successful performance of any action or the attainment of any object” (Webster’s).  With a minor variation, this word is used for the name of the great priest who led the return of God’s people from Babylon to Israel (Ezra 7:11). Ezra was helped by God to be a helper for his people. I need help to help!

Psalm 46 does not include an expressed petition; it’s all praise. Nevertheless, the focus on God’s presence to help recognizes the need for it, and so is itself a petition, or the answer to one. Our God is a “very present help in trouble,” is an invitation to praise, and an invitation to pray.

Along the still waters, I pondered the emphasis on God’s presence, or nearness: He is a “very present help” (v. 1), He is “in the midst … God shall help” (v. 5), “The LORD of hosts is with us” (vs. 7 and 11).

A “very present” help! The word very is a superlative; it is used for emphasis. It speaks of vehemence, passion, intensity. God is an intentional, interested, and intense help in trouble. The word trouble speaks of tightness, adversity, afflictions, anguish, and/or distress. Our GOD is a “very present help” when we find ourselves in a tight spot!

Prophetically, the Psalm speaks of God’s faithfulness to His people during the raging of the heathen (Psalm 46:6; see Psalm 2). He instructs His people to “be still, and know that [He] is God,” that He “will be exalted among the heathen,” and “exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10). Being Eternal, He looks back on the future and declares: “The heathen raged” (v. 6a; Psalm 2:1; Acts 4:25), “the kingdoms were moved” (Psalm 2:2; Matthew 21:43; Luke 19:12-21; Revelation 1:5 with 16:14-15), “He uttered His voice” (Revelation 19:11-15), the “earth melted” (2 Peter 3:10-12).

Imagine having such help! What trouble could I have in this life that is beyond the help of our GOD?

In the valley, kneeling in the shadow of His Cross, I thought of the “Passion of Christ,” our very present help for our greatest need against our greatest foe. There, He crushed the head of the Serpent, and the pain He suffered in the ordeal He called a bruise upon His heel (Genesis 3:15). Read Psalm 22. Selah! In His resurrected glory described in Revelation 1:11-18, I heard His call: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). I heard His voice, and followed Him (John 10:27; see 10:3, 16).

At the table, He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with grace sufficient against the evil sufficient for the day! (Matthew 6:34; 2 Corinthians 12:9).

He is present to help! Thank you, LORD!

Praying for revival! 🙏