Fathers

Psalms 46

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God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we won’t be afraid, though the earth changes, though the mountains are shaken into the heart of the seas; though its waters roar and are troubled, though the mountains tremble with their swelling. There is a river, the streams of which make the city of God glad, the holy place of the tents of the Most High. God is within her. She shall not be moved. God will help her at dawn. The nations raged. The kingdoms were moved. He lifted his voice and the earth melted. Yahweh of Armies is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. Come, see Yahweh’s works, what desolations he has made in the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth. He breaks the bow, and shatters the spear. He burns the chariots 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.” Yahweh of Armies is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge.

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What the Fathers say

Psalms 46:1

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

"Our God is a refuge and strength" [Psalm 46:1]. There are some refuges wherein is no strength, whereto when any flees, he is more weakened than strengthened. Thou fleest, for example, to some one greater in the world, that you may make yourself a powerful friend; this seems to you a refuge. Yet so great are this world's uncertainties, and so frequent grow the ruins of the powerful day by day, that when to such refuge you have come, you begin to fear more than ever therein....Our refuge is not such, but our refuge is strength. …

Exposition on Psalm 46 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

After the Psalmist sought divine help against the adversities he suffers from enemies, when he said "O God, with our ears," and then, as one already heard, showed the glory of the king, saying "My heart has poured forth"; here, having been heard on behalf of the people, he shows the benefit given to the people. And just as through the preceding Psalm the glory of Christ is designated, so in this Psalm the benefits shown to the faithful of Christ are designated. …

Exposition on the Psalms of David ↗