Chapter commentary
Psalms Chapter 46
서론
Untitled
繁體中文
English original
This psalm encourages us to hope and trust in God, and his power, and providence, and gracious presence with his church in the worst of times, and directs us to give him the glory of what he has done for us and what he will do: probably it was penned upon occasion of David's victories over the neighbouring nations (2Sa 8:1-18), and the rest which God gave him from all his enemies round about. We are here taught, I. To take comfort in God when things look very black and threatening, Ps 46:1-5. II. To mention, to his praise, the great things he had wrought for his church against its enemies, Ps 46:6-9. III. To assure ourselves that God who has glorified his own name will glorify it yet again, and to comfort ourselves with that, Ps 46:10,11. We may, in singing it, apply it either to our spiritual enemies, and be more than conquerors over them, or to the public enemies of Christ's kingdom in the world and their threatening insults, endeavouring to preserve a holy security and serenity of mind when they seem most formidable. It is said of Luther that, when he heard any discouraging news, he would say, Come let us sing the forty-sixth psalm.
1-5
God the Protection of His People
繁體中文
神是祂百姓的保障
交與伶長，可拉後裔的詩歌，調用女音。
¹ 神是我們的避難所，是我們的力量，是我們在患難中隨時的幫助。
² 所以地雖改變，山雖搖動到海心，我們也不害怕。
³ 其中的水雖匉訇翻騰，山雖因海漲而戰抖，我們也不害怕。細拉。
⁴ 有一道河，這河的分汊使神的城歡喜；這城就是至高者居住的聖所。
⁵ 神在其中；城必不動搖；天一亮，神必幫助這城。
詩人在此以自己的榜樣教導我們：
一、因神，並祂與我們的關係以及祂與我們同在而誇勝，尤其是在我們對祂為我們顯現有些新鮮的經歷之後（詩46:1）：神是我們的避難所，是我們的力量；我們已經發現祂確是如此，祂也已應許如此，並且祂永遠如此。我們是否被人追趕？神是我們的避難所，我們可以逃往祂那裡，在祂裡面安然無恙，並自覺如此——有充分的理由安穩，箴18:10。我們是否被患難壓迫？我們是否有當盡之工和當對付的仇敵？神是我們的力量，能在重擔之下扶持我們，使我們勝任一切的事奉和受苦；祂要以恩典把力量賜給我們，我們可以倚靠祂。我們是否處於困境？祂是幫助，能為我們成就我們所需的一切——是「隨時的幫助」，原文作「被尋得的幫助」——就是我們已經尋見為如此的那一位，是我們可以在其上寫著「已經驗過」的幫助，正如基督被稱為「試驗過的石頭」，賽28:16。或作「就在眼前的幫助」——一位從不需尋找、卻常在近處的主。或作「足夠的幫助」——適合各樣境遇和需要的幫助；無論情形如何，祂都是極其隨時的幫助；我們不能期望更好的幫助，在受造之物中也找不到這樣的幫助。
二、勝過最大的危險而誇勝：神是我們的力量，是我們的幫助，是全豐全足的神；所以我們不懼怕。那些以聖潔敬畏之心敬畏神的人，不必以驚惶害怕地獄或地上的權勢。神若幫助我們，誰能敵擋我們——能損害我們呢？無所懼怕，這是我們的本分，也是我們的特權；這表明良心清潔、心地正直，並對神和祂的護理與應許有活潑的信心：「地雖改變，我們也不害怕——即便我們一切受造之物提供的倚靠都失效、使我們沉淪；不，即便那本當扶持我們的反而威脅要吞噬我們，正如地吞了可拉」（本篇正是為可拉的後裔而寫，有人認為也是他們所寫）——然而我們只要緊靠神、有神為我們，便不懼怕，因為我們沒有懼怕的理由。
請注意此處：1. 危險何等可怖。我們設想地被改變、被拋入海中，甚至大山——地上最堅固最牢靠的部分——被埋藏在深不可測的海洋之下；我們設想海咆哮翻騰，發出可怖的響聲，其翻騰的波濤以如此大的狂暴衝擊海岸，甚至搖動了諸山，詩46:3。即便列國列邦陷入混亂、捲入戰爭、被動亂拋擲、政權不斷更迭——即便它們的權勢聯合起來攻擊教會和神的百姓，志在將其殲滅，且幾乎得逞——我們仍不害怕，因為知道這一切紛亂對教會而言終必化為美善。見詩93:4。地若改變，那些將財寶積蓄在地上、將心繫於其上的人有理由懼怕；但那些為自己積蓄財寶在天上、並期望在「地和其上的作物都要被燒盡」之時最為有福的人，卻不然。讓那些把信心建立在這般漂浮根基上的人，因水的翻騰而驚惶吧；至於那些被引導到「比我更高的磐石」、在那磐石上得著堅固立足點的人，卻不必如此。2. 鑒於教會防守何等嚴密，以及我們所關切的那權益，這般向危險的挑戰有何等的根據。我們所焦慮的，不是任何私人的事；不，是神的城，是至高者居住的聖所；我們心所戰兢的，是神的約櫃。但當我們想到神為祂教會的安慰和安全所預備的，我們便有理由堅定心意，超越對兇信的恐懼。此處有：(1) 教會即使在最陰暗憂傷之時也有的喜樂（詩46:4）：有一道河，這河的分汊使它歡喜——即便那時海水正在咆哮、威脅著它。這是借用西羅亞的水，那水「流經耶路撒冷，水勢平緩」（賽8:6,7）：雖不深不寬，希西家年間其水卻被用來防禦耶路撒冷，賽22:10,11。但這話當從屬靈上理解；恩典之約就是那河，其應許就是分汊；或恩典的聖靈就是那河（約7:38,39），其安慰就是使「我們神的城歡喜」的分汊。神的話語和典章就是江河溪流，神藉此在陰暗愁苦的日子使祂的聖徒歡喜。神自己對祂的教會就是「寬闊的江河溪流」，賽33:21。使神的城歡喜的分汊並不湍急，而是溫和的，正如西羅亞的流水。請注意，那以柔和無聲的低語傳達給聖徒、並非顯而易見地臨到的屬靈安慰，足以抵消一個忿怒惡毒的世界最喧嚷、最囂張的威嚇。(2) 教會的堅立。天地縱然搖動，神卻在其中，城必不動搖，詩46:5。神已向祂的教會保證祂與她特別同在、特別眷顧她；祂的尊榮與她相連，祂在她中間設立了祂的帳幕，並已承擔她的保護，因此她必不動搖——就是說，[1] 不被毀滅，不被移去，正如地可能被移去一樣（詩46:2）。教會要存到世界之後，在世界廢墟之中仍處於福樂之中。她建造在磐石上，陰間的權柄不能勝過她。[2] 不受攪擾，不因對結局的恐懼而大受動搖。神若為我們，神若與我們同在，我們便不必因人向我們所發最猛烈的攻擊而動搖。(3) 教會的解救，儘管她的危險極大：神必幫助這城；那麼誰能傷害她呢？祂要在她的患難之下幫助她，使她不致沉淪；不，她越受苦就越發增繁多。神要把她從患難中救出來，天一亮就幫助她——就是清晨顯現之時；這是說，非常迅速，因為祂是「隨時的幫助」（詩46:1），又非常合時——當事情被帶到最後關頭、當救助最為及時之時。這話可由個別信徒應用在自己身上；神若在我們心中、在我們中間——藉著祂的道豐豐富富住在我們裡面——我們就必堅立，必蒙幫助；所以我們當信靠而不懼怕；一切都好，也必以好結局。
English original
God the Protection of His People
To the chief musician for the sons of Korah. A song upon Alamoth.
¹ God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
² Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
³ Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
⁴ There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
⁵ God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
The psalmist here teaches us by his own example.
I. To triumph in God, and his relation to us and presence with us, especially when we have had some fresh experiences of his appearing in our behalf (Ps 46:1): God is our refuge and strength; we have found him so, he has engaged to be so, and he ever will be so. Are we pursued? God is our refuge to whom we may flee, and in whom we may be safe and think ourselves so; secure upon good grounds, Pr 18:10. Are we oppressed by troubles? Have we work to do and enemies to grapple with? God is our strength, to bear us up under our burdens, to fit us for all our services and sufferings; he will by his grace put strength into us, and on him we may stay ourselves. Are we in distress? He is a help, to do all that for us which we need, a present help, a help found (so the word is), one whom we have found to be so, a help on which we may write Probatum est—It is tried, as Christ is called a tried stone, Isa 28:16. Or, a help at hand, one that never is to seek for, but that is always near. Or, a help sufficient, a help accommodated to every case and exigence; whatever it is, he is a very present help; we cannot desire a better help, nor shall ever find the like in any creature.
II. To triumph over the greatest dangers: God is our strength and our help, a God all-sufficient to us; therefore will not we fear. Those that with a holy reverence fear God need not with any amazement to be afraid of the power of hell or earth. If God be for us, who can be against us; to do us any harm? It is our duty, it is our privilege, to be thus fearless; it is an evidence of a clear conscience, of an honest heart, and of a lively faith in God and his providence and promise: "We will not fear, though the earth be removed, though all our creature-confidences fail us and sink us; nay, though that which should support us threaten to swallow us up, as the earth did Korah," for whose sons this psalm was penned, and, some think, by them; yet while we keep close to God, and have him for us, we will not fear, for we have no cause to fear;
Observe here, 1. How threatening the danger is. We will suppose the earth to be removed, and thrown into the sea, even the mountains, the strongest and firmest parts of the earth, to lie buried in the unfathomed ocean; we will suppose the sea to roar and rage, and make a dreadful noise, and its foaming billows to insult the shore with so much violence as even to shake the mountains, Ps 46:3. Though kingdoms and states be in confusion, embroiled in wars, tossed with tumults, and their governments incontinual revolution—though their powers combine against the church and people of God, aim at no less than their ruin, and go very near to gain their point—yet will not we fear, knowing that all these troubles will end well for the church. See Ps 93:4. If the earth be removed, those have reason to fear who have laid up their treasures on earth, and set their hearts upon it; but not those who have laid up for themselves treasures in heaven, and who expect to be most happy when the earth and all the works that are therein shall be burnt up. Let those be troubled at the troubling of the waters who build their confidence on such a floating foundation, but not those who are led to the rock that is higher than they, and find firm footing upon that rock. 2. How well-grounded the defiance of this danger is, considering how well guarded the church is, and that interest which we are concerned for. It is not any private particular concern of our own that we are in pain about; no, it is the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High; it is the ark of God for which our hearts tremble. But, when we consider what God has provided for the comfort and safety of his church, we shall see reason to have our hearts fixed, and set above the fear of evil tidings. Here is, (1.) Joy to the church, even in the most melancholy and sorrowful times (Ps 46:4): There is a river the streams whereof shall make it glad, even then when the waters of the sea roar and threaten it. It alludes to the waters of Siloam, which went softly by Jerusalem (Isa 8:6,7): though of no great depth or breadth, yet the waters of it were made serviceable to the defence of Jerusalem in Hezekiah's time, Isa 22:10,11. But this must be understood spiritually; the covenant of grace is the river, the promises of which are the streams; or the Spirit of grace is the river (Joh 7:38,39), the comforts of which are the streams, that make glad the city of our God. God's word and ordinances are rivers and streams with which God makes his saints glad in cloudy and dark days. God himself is to his church a place of broad rivers and streams, Isa 33:21. The streams that make glad the city of God are not rapid, but gentle, like those of Siloam. Note, The spiritual comforts which are conveyed to the saints by soft and silent whispers, and which come not with observation, are sufficient to counterbalance the most loud and noisy threatenings of an angry and malicious world. (2.) Establishment to the church. Though heaven and earth are shaken, yet God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved, Ps 46:5. God has assured his church of his special presence with her and concern for her; his honour is embarked in her, he has set up his tabernacle in her and has undertaken the protection of it, and therefore she shall not be moved, that is, [1.] Not destroyed, not removed, as the earth may be Ps 46:2. The church shall survive the world, and be in bliss when that is in ruins. It is built upon a rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. [2.] Not disturbed, not much moved, with fears of the issue. If God be for us, if God be with us, we need not be moved at the most violent attempts made against us. (3.) Deliverance to the church, though her dangers be very great: God shall help her; and who then can hurt her? He shall help her under her troubles, that she shall not sink; nay, that the more she is afflicted the more she shall multiply. God shall help her out of her troubles, and that right early—when the morning appears; that is, very speedily, for he is a present help (Ps 46:1), and very seasonably, when things are brought to the last extremity and when the relief will be most welcome. This may be applied by particular believers to themselves; if God be in our hearts, in the midst of us, by his word dwelling richly in us, we shall be established, we shall be helped; let us therefore trust and not be afraid; all is well, and will end well.
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Confidence in God
繁體中文
對神的信心
⁶ 外邦喧嚷，列國動搖；神發聲，地便鎔化。 ⁷ 萬軍之耶和華與我們同在；雅各的神是我們的避難所。〔細拉〕 ⁸ 你們來看耶和華的作為，看他使地怎樣荒涼。 ⁹ 他止息刀兵，直到地極；他折弓、斷槍；把戰車焚燒在火中。 ¹⁰ 你們要休息，要知道我是神；我必在外邦中被尊崇，在遍地上也被尊崇。 ¹¹ 萬軍之耶和華與我們同在；雅各的神是我們的避難所。〔細拉〕
這些經文將榮耀歸給神——他既是列國之王，也是聖徒之王。
I. 作為列國之王，他以他的權能和護理統管世界，並掌管世人一切的事務歸於他自己的榮耀；他在地上的居民中憑自己的旨意而行，無人可以說：你作甚麼呢？ 1. 他抑制那些反對他和他權益之列國的怒氣，並挫敗他們的勢力（詩46:6）：當大衛登基、大衛之子國度設立之時，外邦喧嚷；可比較詩2:1-2。列國帶著憤怒動搖，以騷動狂暴的方式起來反對；但神發聲——在他的怒中向他們說話，他們就在另一個意義上被「動搖」了——他們被擊打，陷入混亂與驚惶之中，秩序大亂，一切計謀盡告破裂；地在他們腳下鎔化，使他們無處穩立；他們屬地的心因恐懼而消化，如雪在日頭之前消化。仇敵之靈這樣的消化，在士5:4-5有所描述；又見路21:25-26。 2. 當他樂意拔出刀來、給它命令之時，他能在列國中造成大肆殺戮，使一切盡成荒場（詩46:8）：你們來看耶和華的作為；這些是當留心的（詩66:5），當考查的（詩111:2）。護理一切作為都當視為耶和華的作為，也當在其中留意他的屬性與旨意。特別要留意他在地上所造成的荒涼——就是在他教會仇敵之中所造成的，這些仇敵本想使以色列地變為荒涼。他們圖謀加於教會的毀滅，反倒轉到他們自己身上。戰爭是一齣悲劇，通常毀滅它所上演的舞台；大衛將戰爭推進到仇敵的境內；哦，那在其間造成了何等的荒涼！城邑被焚，鄉村荒廢，成軍的人馬被剿滅，屍橫遍野。來看荒涼審判的後果吧，當敬畏神；當說：你的作為何等可畏！（詩66:3）。願一切反對他的人都戰兢看見這事，並期待同樣那戰兢之杯要交在他們手中；願一切敬畏他、信靠他的人都喜樂地看見這事，不懼怕那攻擊教會的最可畏的勢力。任憑他們束腰，他們卻必被打碎。 3. 當他樂意收刀入鞘之時，他便結束列國的戰爭，以平安為他們加冕（詩46:9）。戰爭與平安都取決於他的話語和旨意，正如海上的風暴與平靜一樣（詩107:25、29）。他止息刀兵，直到地極——有時是出於對列國的憐憫，使他們可以喘息，因他們彼此長久爭戰，已經筋疲力盡。雙方或許都厭倦了戰爭，情願讓它平息；便尋出了調停的辦法；好戰的君王被廢去，和平的人被立在其位；那時弓便同意被折斷，槍被砍斷而成為修剪的鐮刀，刀劍被打成犁頭，戰車被焚燒，因為不再需要它們了；又或者，更確切地說，這可能是論到他在別的時候為了自己百姓的緣故所作的事。他止息那些為攻擊他們、為要毀滅他們而發動的戰爭。他折斷那向他們張弓的仇敵之弓。凡為攻擊錫安所造的器械，必不利用（賽54:17）。歌革與瑪各的全然毀滅，以焚燒他們的兵器來預言性地描述（結39:9-10），這也暗示教會完全的穩妥，以及對持久平安的確據——這確據使人不必為自己的需用積存那些兵器。一場長久戰爭得以善終，乃是主的工作，我們當以驚奇與感恩觀看。
II. 作為聖徒之王——作為這樣的王，我們必須承認他的作為大而可畏（啟15:3）。他已作、並將要作大事，
1. 為了他自己的榮耀（詩46:10）：你們要休息，要知道我是神。 （1）願他的仇敵靜默，不再威脅，卻要在恐怖中知道他是神——一位無限高過他們的、必定勝過他們的；不要再喧嚷，因為這都是徒然：那坐在天上的必向他們發笑；任憑他們對他的名與尊榮懷著怎樣無能的惡意，他必在外邦中被尊崇——不僅在他自己的百姓中被尊崇；他必在遍地上被尊崇——不僅在教會中被尊崇。人要高抬自己，要任意而行、憑己意而行；但當讓他們知道，神必被尊崇，他必得著他的道路、行他的旨意、榮耀他自己的名，並且他們所狂傲之處，他必在那裏超乎他們之上，使他們知道他就是如此。 （2）願他自己的百姓靜默；願他們平靜安穩，不再戰兢，卻要在安慰中知道耶和華是神——唯獨他是神，並且要在萬國之上被尊崇；當任憑他維護他的尊榮，成全他自己的謀略，並支持他自己在世上的權益。我們雖被壓制，卻不要沮喪，因為我們確知神必被尊崇；這便足以滿足我們；他必為他的大名行事，那麼我們的小名要成為怎樣，便無關緊要了。當我們禱告說父啊，願你榮耀你的名之時，我們當憑信取用那禱告所得的答覆——當基督自己這樣禱告之時，*我已經榮耀了我的名，還要再榮耀。*阿們，主啊，願它如此。
2. 為了他百姓的安全與保護。他在前者得勝：我必被尊崇；他們在這事上得勝（詩46:7，又詩46:11）。這是這歌的副歌：萬軍之耶和華與我們同在——他站在我們這一邊，他為我們撑腰，與我們同在、並在我們之上掌權；雅各的神是我們的避難所——我們可以逃向他、並可以信靠他、確保安全。願一切信徒都在這事上得勝。 （1）他們有一位滿有權能——滿有一切權能的神與他們同在：萬軍之耶和華與我們同在。神是萬軍之耶和華，因為一切被稱為天上地下軍旅的受造之物都在他的號令之下，他隨己意使用他們，作為他公義或他憐憫的器皿。這位大君王與我們同在——站在我們這邊、與我們同工，並已應許總不撇下我們。雖有軍旅反對我們，我們卻不必懼怕他們，因為萬軍之耶和華與我們同在。 （2）他們在一位立約之神的保護之下；這位神不僅能幫助他們，更在尊榮和信實上有義務幫助他們。他是雅各的神——不僅是雅各這個人，更是雅各這個民族；不，也是一切禱告之人的神，就是那與神較力之雅各屬靈的後裔；他是我們的避難所——我們在他裏面得蒙遮蔽、在他裏面得著滿足，他以他的護理在我們外面有爭戰之時保障我們的福祉，又以他的恩典在我們裏面有恐懼之時安靜並堅固我們的心。萬軍之耶和華、雅各的神曾與我們同在、現今與我們同在、將來也必與我們同在——曾作我們的避難所、現今作我們的避難所、將來也必作我們的避難所：原文將這一切包括在內；在此加上細拉實在相宜。當留意這事，取其中的安慰，並說：神若幫助我們，誰能敵擋我們呢？
English original
Confidence in God
⁶ The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
⁷ The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
⁸ Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
⁹ 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.
¹⁰ Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
¹¹ The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
These verses give glory to God both as King of nations and as King of saints.
I. As King of nations, ruling the world by his power and providence, and overruling all the affairs of the children of men to his own glory; he does according to his will among the inhabitants of the earth, and none may say, What doest thou? 1. He checks the rage and breaks the power of the nations that oppose him and his interests in the world (Ps 46:6): The heathen raged at David's coming to the throne, and at the setting up of the kingdom of the Son of David; compare Ps 2:1,2. The kingdoms were moved with indignation, and rose in a tumultuous furious manner to oppose it; but God uttered his voice, spoke to them in his wrath, and they were moved in another sense, they were struck into confusion and consternation, put into disorder, and all their measures broken; the earth itself melted under them, so that they found no firm footing; their earthly hearts failed them for fear, and dissolved like snow before the sun. Such a melting of the spirits of the enemies is described, Jdg 5:4,5; and see Lu 21:25,26. 2. When he pleases to draw his sword, and give it commission, he can make great havoc among the nations and lay all waste (Ps 46:8): Come, behold the works of the Lord; they are to be observed (Ps 66:5), and to be sought out, Ps 111:2. All the operations of Providence must be considered as the works of the Lord, and his attributes and purposes must be taken notice of in them. Particularly take notice of the desolations he has made in the earth, among the enemies of his church, who thought to lay the land of Israel desolate. The destruction they designed to bring upon the church has been turned upon themselves. War is a tragedy which commonly destroys the stage it is acted on; David carried the war into the enemies' country; and O what desolations did it make there! Cities were burnt, countries laid waste, and armies of men cut off and laid in heaps upon heaps. Come and see the effects of desolating judgments, and stand in awe of God; say, How terrible art thou in thy works! Ps 66:3. Let all that oppose him see this with terror, and expect the same cup of trembling to be put into their hands; let all that fear him and trust in him see it with pleasure, and not be afraid of the most formidable powers armed against the church. Let them gird themselves, but they shall be broken to pieces. 3. When he pleases to sheathe his sword, he puts an end to the wars of the nations and crowns them with peace, Ps 46:9. War and peace depend on his word and will, as much as storms and calms at sea do, Ps 107:25,29. He makes wars to cease unto the end of the earth, sometimes in pity to the nations, that they may have a breathing-time, when, by long wars with each other, they have run themselves out of breadth. Both sides perhaps are weary of the war, and willing to let it fall; expedients are found out for accommodation; martial princes are removed, and peace-makers set in their room; and then the bow is broken by consent, the spear cut asunder and turned into a pruning-hook, the sword beaten into a ploughshare, and the chariots of war are burned, there being no more occasion for them; or, rather, it may be meant of what he does, at other times, in favour of his own people. He makes those wars to cease that were waged against them and designed for their ruin. He breaks the enemies' bow that was drawn against them. No weapon formed against Zion shall prosper, Isa 54:17. The total destruction of Gog and Magog is prophetically described by the burning of their weapons of war (Eze 39:9,10), which intimates likewise the church's perfect security and assurance of lasting peace, which made it needless to lay up those weapons of war for their own service. The bringing of a long war to a good issue is a work of the Lord, which we ought to behold with wonder and thankfulness.
II. As King of saints, and as such we must own that great and marvellous are his works, Re 15:3. He does and will do great things,
1. For his own glory (Ps 46:10): Be still, and know that I am God. (1.) Let his enemies be still, and threaten no more, but know it, to their terror, that he is God, one infinitely above them, and that will certainly be too hard for them; let them rage no more, for it is all in vain: he that sits in heaven, laughs at them; and, in spite of all their impotent malice against his name and honour, he will be exalted among the heathen and not merely among his own people, he will be exalted in the earth and not merely in the church. Men will set up themselves, will have their own way and do their own will; but let them know that God will be exalted, he will have his way will do his own will, will glorify his own name, and wherein they deal proudly he will be above them, and make them know that he is so. (2.) Let his own people be still; let them be calm and sedate, and tremble no more, but know, to their comfort, that the Lord is God, he is God alone, and will be exalted above the heathen; let him alone to maintain his honour, to fulfil his own counsels and to support his own interest in the world. Though we be depressed, yet let us not be dejected, for we are sure that God will be exalted, and that may satisfy us; he will work for his great name, and then no matter what becomes of our little names. When we pray, Father, glorify thy name, we ought to exercise faith upon the answer given to that prayer when Christ himself prayed it, I have both glorified it and I will glorify it yet again. Amen, Lord, so be it.
2. For his people's safety and protection. He triumphs in the former: I will be exalted; they triumph in this, Ps 46:7 and again Ps 46:11. It is the burden of the song, "The Lord of hosts is with us; he is on our side, he takes our part, is present with us and president over us; the God of Jacob is our refuge, to whom we may flee, and in whom we may confide and be sure of safety." Let all believers triumph in this. (1.) They have the presence of a God of power, of all power: The Lord of hosts is with us. God is the Lord of hosts, for he has all the creatures which are called the hosts of heaven and earth at his beck and command, and he makes what use he pleases of them, as the instruments either of his justice or of his mercy. This sovereign Lord is with us, sides with us, acts with us, and has promised he will never leave us. Hosts may be against us, but we need not fear them if the Lord of hosts be with us. (2.) They are under the protection of a God in covenant, who not only is able to help them, but is engaged in honour and faithfulness to help them. He is the God of Jacob, not only Jacob the person, but Jacob the people; nay, and of all praying people, the spiritual seed of wrestling Jacob; and he is our refuge, by whom we are sheltered and in whom we are satisfied, who by his providence secures our welfare when without are fightings, and who by his grace quiets our minds, and establishes them, when within are fears. The Lord of hosts, the God of Jacob, has been, is, and will be with us—has been, is and will be our refuge: the original includes all; and well may Selah be added to it. Mark this, and take the comfort of it, and say, If God be for us, who can be against us?
本篇鼓勵我們在極艱難的時刻仰望、信靠神，信靠祂的大能、祂的護理、並祂與自己教會同在的恩典；又指示我們將祂已為我們所作、並將要為我們作的歸榮耀給祂：這詩可能是在大衛勝了四圍列國（撒下 8:1-18）、神使他脫離四圍一切仇敵得享太平之時所作。我們在此受教導：一、當事情看來極為黯淡可畏之時，要在神裡面得安慰（詩 46:1-5）；二、為著祂為自己教會抵擋仇敵所成就的大事，提起來讚美祂（詩 46:6-9）；三、確信那已經榮耀了自己名的神必再榮耀祂的名，並以此自慰（詩 46:10,11）。我們唱這詩時，可將之應用於我們屬靈的仇敵——勝過他們且得勝有餘；或應用於世上基督之國的公敵及其威嚇凌辱——當他們看似最可畏之時，仍竭力持守心中聖潔的安穩與寧靜。據說路德聽見任何令人灰心的消息時，總會說：「來，我們唱第四十六篇詩吧。」