By Bunni Pounds

*This blog is part of our weekly, virtual Bible Study through the book of Psalms. For information on how to participate, please visit this page.

The beauty of our relationship with God is that it can override every natural tendency, fear, and pain to bring peace and gladness. It doesn’t make sense to the natural mind that there is a God so powerful to calm the soul of a human heart in the middle of chaos, but that is exactly what God does. Just like God, our Good Shepherd “makes us lie down beside green pastures” in Psalm 23 – He provides a river of refuge called His Holy Spirit to those who run to Him. 

 “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.” (verse 4)

This holy place with God must be supernatural to cause such joy in the middle of all the shaking, but that is exactly what this river does. It brings peace and joy and ultimately gladness that is true happiness and a feeling of wellbeing. This goes beyond just a promise to an actual feeling of thrill or delight. 

“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah” (verse 1-3)

In the middle of the shaking of the mountains that look like they are going to fall on us, the roaring of the waters that act like it will push our raft over, trouble on every side – there is a river. This river is a place of refuge and strength where God interacts with earth – a holy place, a tabernacle of God.  

“There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.

 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the earth melted.”

(verses 4-6)

There is always a way into peace and joy even in the middle of tribulation. The nations can be raging, the kingdoms of power can be moving, but God will utter His voice, and everything will melt and stop. 

Even when we feel all hope is lost – God will help us. Just at the breaking of the dawn – His mercies are new every morning. The night might be dark, but His light is coming. This is the hope found in this passage that should give us all peace and joy. 

“The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah” (verse 7)

God is in the middle with us. This is the key - God is with us. Emmanuel is His name – God with us.

Because God is with us in the middle – we will not be moved by emotions or fears – God is in the mess with us, and He keeps us steady. 

This river spoken of in Psalms 46 is a foreshadowing of the Holy Spirit that was to come. On the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles – Jesus made a statement on how He was going to get extremely close to us through the Holy Spirit after He was glorified. 

John 7:37-39 - “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

The promise of the Father was that the Holy Spirit poured out would be closer to us than our breath. Jesus promised the disciples that it would be BETTER for them if he went away – so the Holy Spirit could be with them. (John 16:7) Think about that for a minute. It was better for them if he went away. It was better. 

In this generation – we have it better than the disciples did that walked and talked with Him IF we “come” to Him and drink. That is the key to gladness. Are we running to the river? 

Do we run to the Holy Spirit in our thirst to drink or do we run to everything else but Him to quench our thirst? 

“Come, behold the works of the Lord,
Who has made desolations in the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariot in the fire.

Be still and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!” (verse 8-10)

What a powerful God He is and he asks us to come and behold all of His works and His might. If we take a few minutes to look at Him – it will be easier for us to “be still and know that He is God.”

I can just see the Lord whispering to us – trying to get our attention away from all the things of the world, our fears, and the loud voices – shouting – “I will be exalted among the nations.”

I can hear Him saying so clearly to my own heart and soul today - I will be exalted in the earth – through you, through your children, through your husband, through your life. Stop and be still and KNOW that I am God. Know the truth in the inner most parts of your heart – I will not leave you. I will not forsake you. I will have my full reward through your life. What the devil means to destroy you – I won’t let it happen. I will be exalted.

Be still and come to My river.

As His Holy City – His tabernacle and place of dwelling on the earth – I am going to make a choice today to run to the river and find gladness through the Holy Spirit. 

Will you join me? 

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