1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Comment: The word ‘selah’, for the meaning of which there are a number of profered answers, occurs three times in this psalm. I am using one of the offered meaning ‘stop and think about that’. I underline what seems to me the key phrase in each of the divisions with which the word selah appears. 1. The first three numbered sentences express the high hope which this initial phrase gives. They do avoid the concept of problems but they definitely give the idea that in spite of great catastrophes, all will be well because of God being their refuge and strength. Selah. 2. The next four lines strengthen this idea. They have a permanent water supply; God is said to be in the midst of the city, presumably Jerusalem; nations rage against the city and maybe God; other nations totter and presumably fall – but they are confident of their security because ‘The LORD of hosts is with us‘. Selah. 3. It claims that God makes wars to cease and continues on this theme, but Israel has known war many times since this was written and is constantly under serious attack both politically and in war. Does the sentence ‘Be still, and know that I am God.’ mean don’t fight and leave the battle to Me? Or does it mean when fighting rest in the confidence that ultimately I promise that you will win? In other words is it looking beyond history as we know it and in addition reflecting on the what will be after Jesus returns? Selah. We get some answers only if we look at a passage in the whole context of the scriptures.
2 Samuel 7: 22 How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.
Prayer: Open my eyes, O Lord, to understand Your meaning in difficult passages of Your Word.
As I read it! 