A Psalm for the Day After the Election

Scripture — Psalm 46:1-10 (NRSV)

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Selah
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 the city; it shall not be moved;
God will help it when the morning dawns.
The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
Come, behold the works of the LORD;
see what desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth.”
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

Devotion

During my years as a pastor and a devotional writer, I have often turned to Psalm 46 on the day after a national election. I have meditated upon this psalm, not only for myself, but also for the people I am called to serve. Thus, I’d like once again to reflect with you on Psalm 46.

I am writing this devotion several days before the election that happened on November 5th in the United States. I hope what I write here will be helpful no matter what has transpired. As you read this on Wednesday, November 6th, we may have results for most of the races and ballot measures. Or we may still be in the dark about the outcomes of key races. No matter the winners and losers, however, it’s certain that millions of Americans will feel encouraged while millions will feel devastated. Moreover, given the uncertainties of our common life right now, it’s likely that we all will feel considerable disruption—mixed, I expect, with hope or fear or a good measure of both.

Let me share a few ways in which I believe Psalm 46 addresses us at this time. I would encourage you to take time to reflect and pray on this psalm on your own. Through this portion of Scripture God will speak to you in ways that meet you right where you are. This is true, by the way, no matter where in the world you live.

Psalm 46 begins: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (46:1). No matter what has happened in the election, even if much is still unknown, there is no doubt that we need God to be our refuge and strength as a people. Surely, we need God’s help during our troubles. Notice, though, that God is not just our help. God is our “very present” help. God is with us, really with us, in our midst, ready, willing, and able to help if we are receptive.

“Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult” (Psalm 46:2-3). Today, we may be reeling from change that is coming. Or we may be rejoicing. I expect we will all feel shaken. Yet, if God is our very present help, then we “will not fear.” We know that God is still King of kings and Lord of lords. We have the reassurance that God is working in all things “for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Thus, we don’t need to be afraid. God is present. God is sovereign. And God is at work.

The works of God in Psalm 46 are stunning. We’re invited to “Come, behold the works of the LORD; see what desolations he has brought on the earth” (Psalm 46:8). The word “desolations” in the Bible almost always refers to natural devastations or the horrors of divine judgment. But, in Psalm 46, God’s desolations are redemptive: “He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire” (46:9). God destroys the weapons of war, thus stopping warfare throughout the world. Ironically and marvelously, God’s desolations bring the peace and justice of God’s kingdom.

“Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10). Notice that God is exalted, not just among the people who acknowledge God, but “among the nations,” that is, among all peoples, whether they recognize God or not. Because of God’s all-surpassing greatness, we’re invited to “Be still, and know that I am God!” In the original Hebrew, the imperative translated as “be still” rebukes us for our frenetic, rushed activity. The Common English Bible renders the Hebrew as “That’s enough! Now know that I am God!” We need to stop and pay attention to who God is and what God is doing. Amid our turmoil, we need to remember that God is exalted above all nations, above all troubles, above all the earth. The more we pay attention to who God is and what God is doing, the more we’ll be able to let go of fear and enter into restoring stillness.

The final verse of Psalm 46 is like the chorus of a song. It appeared earlier in verse 7: “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge” (Psalm 46:7). The repetition and placement of this verse underscore its importance. It summarizes two crucial truths revealed in this psalm. First, the Lord is with us. God is not just watching us from a distance, but is “very present.” The same God who came among us as Emmanuel is present still through the Holy Spirit. God’s presence reassures us, delivering us from fear and calling us to trustful stillness.

Second, the final verse reminds us that God is not just present, but is also here to help. God is our refuge, our shelter, our place of safety. When we feel as if the world is shaking apart, we can find solid security in God. Though in this age we can only see God’s activity as “in a mirror, dimly,” we know that God is at work, bringing an end to violence while filling the world with divine peace. The more we know God truly and intimately, the more we will be able to let go of fear, to put aside frantic activity, and to enter into the rest we have in Christ. Yes, there is still plenty of work to be done. But we will work, not in fear or frenzy, but with deep trust in God’s presence and with utter reliance on God’s strength.

Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: God’s Presence in the Midst of Disaster (Psalm 46).