Though many say that Psalm 46 was Martin Luther’s favorite Psalm, so much so that “This Psalm is the Scriptural inspiration for Martin Luther’s hymn, ‘A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,’”[1] I like it for a couple of other reasons.
This Psalm is supposed to have been written during the siege of Sennacherib, as it fits no other time in Israel’s history.[2] Sennacherib, as you may recall, was the Assyrian king (705-681 B.C.) who steamrolled through Israel and Judah, devastating the land, its cities, and inhabitants; destroyed Lachish, a Judean city, after a long and horrifying siege (2Ki 18:14-17; 2Ki 19:8); attempted to besiege Jerusalem and raze it in 701 B.C. when Hezekiah was king and Isaiah was prophesying (2 Kgs. 18; 19; Isa. 36; 37), but the Lord destroyed his army by an act of divine providence.[3]
The first thing that makes this Psalm special to me is that it’s a picture of a successful defense, not a victorious campaign.
The entire Psalm’s language reflects war, and the idea is that every foe was to be subdued—no matter how numerous or formidable they might be. The conquering of any enemy was just as miraculous defensively as offensively.
There are times we won’t always be on the offensive; many times, we must stand in defense, as the Apostle Paul reminded the Ephesians: “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm” (Ephesians 6:13 ESV).
We may actually be in a solid defensive position more often than a rallying offensive battle in our Christian walk, which is the second thing that is special to me, as seen in the definition of Sennacherib.
Sennacherib means “(the) mood god has prospered his kinsmen.”[4]
I believe you can identify with me the defensive positions we need to maintain the right frame of mind in our daily walk to overcome the “mood god” by remembering:
“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” (Psalms 46:1-3 KJV).
Why? Because we are not of Sennacherib’s kinsmen, to be defeated by him; rather, Jesus Christ is our Kinsman-redeemer!
“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” (Psalms 46:9-11 KJV).
