SUMMARY
Everything is shaky–even the earth–except God and those whom God protects.
ANALYSIS
This is one of the songs of ZionZion originally referred to a mountain near Jerusalem where David conquered a Jebusite stronghold. Later the term came to mean a number of other things like the Temple, Jerusalem, and even the Promised Land. More that sings of God’s protection to be found there-not because the place is magic, but because of God’s presence. This psalmA psalm is a song of praise. In the Old Testament 150 psalms comprise the psalter, although some of the psalms are laments and thanksgivings. In the New Testament early Christians gathered to sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. More was the basis for Martin Luther’s Reformation hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”
All things change, recognizes the psalmist; worse, all things are inherently unstable–including the earth itself, its mountains and seas, and the nations and peoples on the earth (vv. 1-7). Only God is a stable refuge, and that refrain serves as an inclusioInclusio is a literary device in which a writer places similar material at the beginning and ending of a work or section of a work. For example, Mark's gospel contains an inclusio in which Jesus is recognized (at his baptism and crucifixion) as God's Son. More surrounding this section of the psalm. It shows up also in the middle of the stanza, just as God “is in the midst of the city” (v. 5). Earthquakes and floods may inform the psalmist’s view here, but the trouble goes beyond those events. Particular disasters are signs of the eruption of chaos that threatens God’s creationCreation, in biblical terms, is the universe as we know or perceive it. Genesis says that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. In the book of Revelation (which speaks of end times) the author declares that God created all things and... More and puts everything in danger.
The careful structure of the stanza is itself a poetic hedge against chaos:
A God is our refuge and strength
B The earth changes
C God is in the midst of the city, which therefore shall not be moved
B’ The nations are in an uproar
A’ God is our refuge
The next stanza is a hymn to this strong and stable God. Most important, God makes wars cease, which, of course, will take care of the “uproar” of the nations in v. 6. The psalm looks forward to God’s stabilized world, which will be a world of peace; all weapons will be destroyed (see also the similar prophecyProphecy is the gift, inspired by God, of speaking and interpreting the divine will. Prophets such as Amos, Isaiah, and Ezekiel spoke words of judgment and comfort to the people of Israel on behalf of God. More about Zion in Isaiah 2:1-4). The worshiping community then hears a word direct from God (announced probably by a priestA priest is a person who has the authority to perform religious rites. In New Testament times priests were responsible for daily offerings and sacrifices in the temple. More), assuring them that God’s strength and God’s promise is for them. The control of chaos is beyond human ability, so the counsel is simply, “Be still, and know that I am God!” The song ends by returning to the theme and refrain: “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.”
Like all promises, this one, too, could be misunderstood, as though Zion were invulnerable because God’s presence could be taken for granted. Eventually, the prophets had to denounce such thinking, especially Jeremiah with his insistence that people could not simply chant the mantra “The templeThe Jerusalem temple, unlike the tabernacle, was a permanent structure, although (like the tabernacle) it was a place of worship and religious activity. On one occasion Jesus felt such activity was unacceptable and, as reported in all four Gospels, drove from the temple those engaged... More of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord” and think nothing bad could happen to them (Jeremiah 7:4). No aspect of biblical religion can ever be used as a talisman or good-luck charm. God’s presence and God’s security is found among those who repentRepentance is a central biblical teaching. All people are sinful and God desires that all people repent of their sins. The Hebrew word for repent means to "turn away" from sin. The Greek word for repentance means to "change on'e mind," more specifically, it means... More, change their ways, and do justice (Jeremiah 7:5-7).
