D Q1 1. God our refuge.
R p 2. The earth moved.
q 3. The waters roar.
S 4. The holy city.
S 5. The holy city.
R q 6-. The heathen rage.
p -6. The earth melted.
Q2 7. God our refuge. Selah.
T r 8-. Behold God, in His works.
s -8. The earth. His desolations.
U 9-. The world. War.
U -9. The world. Weapons.
T r 10-. Know God in Himself.
s -10. The earth. God's exaltation.
Q3 11. God our refuge.
(One of the "Songs" referred to in Isa. 38:20. Doubtless Hezekiah's during Sennacharib's siege. No other period of Israel's history fits it. Not celebrating a victorious campaign, but a successful defense. Pss. 46,47,48 a Trilogy referring to the same event. See "Selah" v.11.)
603 B.C.
Psalm 46)
1 God is our refuge (to which one flees) and strength,
A found [near] help when in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth quake,
And though the mountains be moved into the midst (or heart) of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, (Implying the raging of the Assyrian host without.)
Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. (Connecting the roaring of the waters without with the silent flowing river in the rock-cut channel beneath Zion, and contrasting the boastings of the enemy with the secret purposes of God.)
4 There is a river (a constantly flowing river [not a summer wady]. It flows beneath Zion, filing En Rogel and supplying Siloam), the channels (see Gen. 10:25. Ps. 1:3: i.e. the rock-cut channels beneath Zion. All other water-supplies cut off. Cp. 2 Chron. 32:30. 2 Kings 20:20.) whereof shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the great habitation of the Most High (Elyon).
5 God is in the middle of her; she shall not be moved:
God shall help her, and that right early. (I.e. when the morning dawns. See 2 Kings 19:31:35. Isa. 37:35,36. Cp. Ex.14:27)
6 The nations raged, the kingdoms moved:
He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
7 The LORD of hosts (see 1 Sam 1:3) is with us;
The God of Jacob is our impregnable place. Selah. (Connecting this assured confidence in God's promise with its fulfillment in the deliverance of Zion from Sennacherib)
8 Come, gaze on the works of the LORD,
What desolations He has made in the earth.
9 He make wars to cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow, and cuts the spear in sunder;
He burn the chariot in the fire. (The weapons of war, corresponding with the previous line - war.)
10 Desist (or cease your efforts), and know that I am God:
I will be exalted among the heathen,
I will be exalted in the earth.
11 The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob (see 146:5; and cp. Gen. 32:28; 43:6; 45:26) is our refuge. Selah. (Connecting Ps. 46 with Pss. 47 and 48, all 3 referring to the same events)
(Referring to the time of Hezekiah. One of the 3 Psalms [46,47,48] in the praise of Zion, delivered from Sennacherib's siege.)