"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.  The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah." (Psalm 46:1-3, 7)

I know I have written about a lot of this before, but I will review a few things along with writing other thoughts regarding verses 2-3. 

In the Old Testament, the Israelites built cities of refuge in the Promised Land.  If you killed someone accidentally and were being sought for revenge by the next of kin, you could run to the city of refuge, crying, “Refuge!!!”  (Numbers 35:11-12 says, "Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares.  And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment."  You can read also Joshua 20.)  They would open the gates of the city to admit you but not your pursuer.  Now we don’t have to run to a city; we can run to our God Who is omnipresent!!  HE is our refuge in any situation in which we need Him to protect us from unwarranted assault. 

Now, re-read some of what comes next in the psalm and visualize it; verses 2 and 3 say, “Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah."  That sounds very scary, but if everything around us gives way, collapses, or is destroyed, if our very foundation is shaken, we still do not have cause to fear, but we have cause to pause and review what Psalm 46 says.  We are facing some of this in America:  some of our foundations are shaken, but we know the God Who is omnipresent (everywhere present), omnipotent (all-powerful), Jehovah Nissi (The LORD our Banner Who will fight for us and claims us as His own) and is so much more!!  Even if the very earth shakes beneath us, we can run to our omnipresent God, Who loves us as His children, but we don’t have to “run” far, since He is always right here. As the old saying goes, “He is as close as the mention of His name!” Just call on Him. We therefore have no reason to fear. 

One more point to review:  verse 7 says, "The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”  The LORD of hosts, The Commander of the armies of heaven, Jehovah Sabaoth Himself, The One Who created the warrior angels and sends them to fight for us, He is the LORD Who is with us!!!  What have we to fear?!?!?!  HE is our refuge!!! 

So, when all around you is uncertainty, run to your God and cry, "Refuge!"  As the songs says, "I want to sit at Your feet, drink from the cup in Your hand, lay back against You and breathe, feel Your heart beat."  ("The More I Seek You" by Zach Neese.)