Exalted Among the (Raging) Nations

“God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present* help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. 

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
    God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
    he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. 

Come, behold the works of the Lord,
    how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the chariots with fire.
‘Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!’
The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.” Psalm 46

*Or, well proved

This psalm begins and ends with the Lord very present and ‘well proved,’ and in the middle is a whole lot of trouble. Since He is the Beginning and the End, He is also the midst of our here and now, always on the throne of the nations of the earth, always our fortress and help, no matter what turmoil roils around us or around the globe. (Revelation 22:13)

When the earth, skies, and sea tremble from disasters natural and manmade; when our family life, workplace, health, and relationships war and shake; when governments and factions roar, and stability totters, the Lord of nations says be still and know that He is exalted in and through it all. It takes turning from the thundering tumult and looking at Jesus to know the peace of our Potentate and the calm of His habitation with us. (Matthew 14:22-33)

Would we ask for eyes to see Him and recognize His works in every distress? Would we then sing of our great King whose throne cannot be shaken, and who reigns forever?

“Crown him with many crowns,
the Lamb upon his throne.
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns
all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing
of him who died for thee,
and hail him as thy matchless king
through all eternity.

Crown him the Lord of life,
who triumphed o’er the grave,
and rose victorious in the strife
for those he came to save;
his glories now we sing
who died and rose on high,
who died eternal life to bring,
and lives that death may die.

Crown him the Lord of peace;
whose power a scepter sways,
from pole to pole that wars may cease,
and all be prayer and praise;
His reign shall know no end
and round His pierced feet,
fair flowers of paradise extend
their fragrance ever sweet.

Crown him the Lord of years,
the potentate of time,
creator of the rolling spheres,
ineffably sublime.
All hail, Redeemer, hail!
for thou hast died for me;
thy praise shall never, never fail
throughout eternity.” ~Matthew Bridges (1851)

God of the nations, still me to know you, and fill me to sing Your praise in every trouble. (Psalm 47:6-8)