Music Blog

God is our Stronghold

Psalm 46:10-11

“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. 

             In this Psalm it first directly quotes the words of God.  Be still. This is a concept that is easily forgotten in our culture.  So much life, chaos, trials, and temptations prevent us from stepping back and being still.  This gives us an opportunity to remember who God is.  God is God.  This simple truth has such a huge impact. We can hold fast to God’s steady hand and let go of our fear and anxiety.  Because God is God, he is sovereign over all and he is our fortress.  

              This is so amazing and astonishing and because of it God will be exalted.  God’s glory is demanded.  Over the nations and over the earth God will be glorified for his constant and steadfast nature.

               But God isn’t something that cannot be reached.  The LORD is WITH us.  The God of hosts who is over everything, is WITH us.  Jesus has offered us powerful protection and security.  His steadfastness to us has been shown powerfully through the Old Testament.  The God who rescued his people from slavery is our fortress.  How comforting and amazing that is.

               This Sunday as we sing about the steadfastness of God’s refuge, be still and know that he is God!

Teach my song to rise to you

When temptation comes my way

And when I cannot stand I’ll fall on you

Jesus, you’re my hope and stay!

Songs this Sunday:

A mighty fortress is our God

Always

Christ the Sure and Steady Anchor

Lord I Need You

He Will Hold Me Fast

Bless the LORD!

Psalms 103:1-5

¹Bless the LORD, O my soul,

and all that is within me,

bless his holy name!

²  Bless the LORD, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits,

³  who forgives all your iniquity,

who heals all your diseases,

⁴  who redeems your life from the pit,

who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

⁵  who satisfies you with good

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Last week we saw in the Lord’s prayer, that God satisfies us, heals us, and meets our needs.  Our daily bread comes from him.  Psalm 103 adores God for these good gifts.

This Sunday we are meditating on our iniquity and God’s forgiveness; and how God’s redemption results in an overflow of forgiveness to others.  This psalmist is worshipping God for the forgiveness of all his sin.

The psalmist speaks to his soul repeatedly saying, “Bless the Lord”.  He is earnest to worship the Lord with all of his being through his thoughts, emotions, and actions.  He worships in order to remind himself of who God is and what he has done.  He recounts God’s complete forgiveness, powerful physical healing, redemption of us from the pit, and  amazing blessing.  The psalmist knows his satisfaction is fully good and complete in God. 

As we prepare our hearts for worshipping together this Sunday, our hearts can be full as we consider the many reasons we have to bless the Lord.

These lyrics from Jesus paid it all powerfully speak to our need for a savior:

I hear the savior say

Thy strength indeed is small

Child of weakness, watch and pray

Find in me thine all in all

Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe

Sin had left a crimson stain

He washed it white as snow

Songs for This Sunday:

Rejoice

Psalm 62

Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me

Jesus Paid it All

His Mercy is More