We need to remember that Psalm 46 was written
to celebrate the victory that the LORD of Hosts gave to Hezekiah and the people
in Jerusalem when He sent an angel and destroyed 185,000 invading Assyrian
soldiers in one night. Verses 4-7 gives us the picture of
the city of Jerusalem where the people are confined because of the Assyrian
army camped around them. Water was a precious commodity in Palestine and
especially in Jerusalem, one of the few ancient cities not built on a river.
Hezekiah’s Tunnel is one of the most
interesting places that we visit when we go to Jerusalem on any of our trips. (2
Kings 20:20; 2 Chronicles 32:30). This is a tunnel that he built through solid
rock that is about a third of a mile long. It is accessible from the City of
David, and you are able to walk through it. The water is about knee deep. The
tunnel is very narrow and very dark.
Wisely, Hezekiah had built this underground water system that connected the Spring of
Gihon in Kidron with the Pool of Siloam within the city, so water was available. But the psalmist knew that God was their
river and provided them with the water of life (Psalm 36:8; 65:9; 87:7)). In the days of King Ahaz, Isaiah compared an Assyrian invasion to an
overflowing river, but he reminded the Jews that their God was like a quiet
river (Shiloah) and would bring them peace (Isa. 8:1-10).
God's people have always depended on the hidden spiritual resources that come
from God alone. Whenever Israel turned to a pagan nation for help, they ended
up in worse trouble.
There is a river of life that we have, that flows from our relationship with Jesus
Christ. In John 4, Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well, "Whoever
drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I
shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will
become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John
4:13-14)." In John 7:37-39,
Jesus said, "…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…”.
When we come to the end of our earthly resources we can always find that the Lord
Jesus will be there to give us everything we really need. We need to drink from
the “water of the Word” every day! When we
are drinking from this River, we will find that we don’t have to keep trying to
find satisfaction from drinking from the pleasures of the world. Not only that,
but out of us will flow the Holy Spirit which will bring true life and
satisfaction to those around us!
Jerusalem was indeed the holy city, set apart by God, and
His sanctuary was there, but these things were no guarantee of victory (Jer. 7:1-8).
The king and the people needed to turn to the Lord in confession and faith, and
He would hear and save them, and this is what they did. God did help Jerusalem
when the morning dawned (v. 5),
for the angel of the Lord killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers and sent Sennacherib
home (Isa. 37:36).
Indeed, Jehovah is God Most High! (v. 4).
All He had to do was speak the word (v. 6),
and the enemy was defeated. He is the "Lord of Hosts—the Lord of the armies
of heaven and earth." This name for God is found first in Scripture when
Hannah asked God to give her a son (1 Sam. 1:11).
The Commander of the armies of the Lord is always with us (Josh. 5:13-15),
for He is "Immanuel, God with us" (Matt. 1:23;
Isa. 7:14; 8:8).
No matter what the circumstances, we may drink at the river
of His joy and blessing and find the peace and strength we need.
God bless!
