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Rough approximation of what I said:
Be still, and know that I am God!
The world can be frightening. Psalm 46 speaks of terrifying geological changes: the earth being moved, hills carried into the midst of the sea. Floods, earthquakes. No matter how calm or prepared we think we are, events like that are disruptive and destructive.
The rivers of the flood thereof shall make glad the City of God.
What is the City of God like? What does it feel like to live there?
What does a city that is not only prepared for a flood, but gladdened by it, look like?
Can the dwelling place of the Most High take delight in such destruction?
The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
If God is in the City, it will not be destroyed.
What does it mean to make a home for God in the city we live in now?
Where is God in our civic life? Where is God in our community life?
These are the places that will not be destroyed. Meanwhile our political wrangling, our indignant outrage and moral panic, our negotiations for more -- these melt away and come to nothing at the sound of God's voice.
The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
God is with us. God-with-us, Emmanuel. What does that mean for us?
Our wars, our weapons: God will destroy these, too. Our fighting, bickering, all our sound and fury: silenced.
"Be still" says the Lord, "and know that I am God."
Psalm 46
God is our hope and strength *
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be moved *
and though the hills be carried into the midst of the sea.
Though the waters thereof rage and swell *
and though the mountains shake at the tempest of the same.
The rivers of the flood thereof shall make glad the city of God *
the holy place of the tabernacle of the most Highest.
God is in the midst of her, therefore shall she not be removed *
God shall help her, and that right early.
The nations* make much ado, and the kingdoms are moved *
but God hath shewed his voice, and the earth shall melt away.
The Lord of hosts is with us *
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
O come hither, and behold the works of the Lord *
what destruction he hath brought upon the earth.
He maketh wars to cease in all the world *
he breaketh the bow, and knappeth the spear in sunder, and burneth the chariots in the fire.
Be still then, and know that I am God *
I will be exalted among the nations, and I will be exalted in the earth.
The Lord of hosts is with us *
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
*I've changed "heathen" to "nations" because I think it more accurately, and less negatively, reflects the Hebrew. I wanted to use Coverdale otherwise because I rather like saying "knappeth the spear in sunder".
Be still, and know that I am God!
The world can be frightening. Psalm 46 speaks of terrifying geological changes: the earth being moved, hills carried into the midst of the sea. Floods, earthquakes. No matter how calm or prepared we think we are, events like that are disruptive and destructive.
The rivers of the flood thereof shall make glad the City of God.
What is the City of God like? What does it feel like to live there?
What does a city that is not only prepared for a flood, but gladdened by it, look like?
Can the dwelling place of the Most High take delight in such destruction?
The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
If God is in the City, it will not be destroyed.
What does it mean to make a home for God in the city we live in now?
Where is God in our civic life? Where is God in our community life?
These are the places that will not be destroyed. Meanwhile our political wrangling, our indignant outrage and moral panic, our negotiations for more -- these melt away and come to nothing at the sound of God's voice.
The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
God is with us. God-with-us, Emmanuel. What does that mean for us?
Our wars, our weapons: God will destroy these, too. Our fighting, bickering, all our sound and fury: silenced.
"Be still" says the Lord, "and know that I am God."
Psalm 46
God is our hope and strength *
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will we not fear, though the earth be moved *
and though the hills be carried into the midst of the sea.
Though the waters thereof rage and swell *
and though the mountains shake at the tempest of the same.
The rivers of the flood thereof shall make glad the city of God *
the holy place of the tabernacle of the most Highest.
God is in the midst of her, therefore shall she not be removed *
God shall help her, and that right early.
The nations* make much ado, and the kingdoms are moved *
but God hath shewed his voice, and the earth shall melt away.
The Lord of hosts is with us *
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
O come hither, and behold the works of the Lord *
what destruction he hath brought upon the earth.
He maketh wars to cease in all the world *
he breaketh the bow, and knappeth the spear in sunder, and burneth the chariots in the fire.
Be still then, and know that I am God *
I will be exalted among the nations, and I will be exalted in the earth.
The Lord of hosts is with us *
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
*I've changed "heathen" to "nations" because I think it more accurately, and less negatively, reflects the Hebrew. I wanted to use Coverdale otherwise because I rather like saying "knappeth the spear in sunder".