[From my sermon on November 28, 2025]
Last Sunday in the Church Year - Proper 29C
Psalm 46
Brothers and sisters in Christ, grace and peace to you, Amen.
We are nearing the end. The number of our days grows fewer and fewer. Time runs short. These ominous phrases might be clear, they might not. I could be talking about the end of the world. I could be talking about how much time you think you have left to shop and get ready for Christmas. Whatever way we look at time and the deadlines we have before us we do seem to regularly live with a sense of time fleeting away from us. Its like watch the sands in the hourglass slowly slip by and we anxiously see that they will soon run out.
As we this Sunday mark the end of the Church Year we do have this sense of time growing late. The End Times are upon us. In fact this very week, I had no less than 3 people remark to me in conversation, “with the way the world is, the Lord needs to come back soon.” I agree. Come, Lord Jesus, come.
As we contemplate the end of our time on this earth, whether that means the time of our own life running out, or whether that means the time of this universe drawing short, there is a sense of fear that comes with it for most. We worry about the prophecies from Scripture like we heard in last week’s gospel. Terrible earthquakes and wars and rumors of wars. We worry about the hardships that might come and increase in our lives. We just worry and fear what the end of it all will be like. What lies in store for us and our loved ones?
In the midst of all the worries and fears we might bear as burdens in this day and age we heard the words of Psalm 46. I hope to share with you this day how Psalm 46 is the Lord’s gift to us and an answer to our worries and fears.
Hear again with me Psalm 46, verses 2 and 3
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
There is a key phrase in these verses “Therefore we will not fear though…” What a powerful thought. Though this terrible thing may happen, we will not fear. It is like saying we will not fear though I am asked to pray in front of a group of people. We will not fear though I lose my job. We will not fear though the end of the world comes. And in fact the words of the Psalmist come pretty close to saying just that. “We will not fear though the earth gives way.” What if this creation fell into terrible disorder and chaos? What if this earth were shaken by horrific earthquakes and other disasters. What if the mountains were moved into the heart of the sea?
Here in the comfort of the Lord’s house these words probably roll of our tongues with not much of a thought. But if tomorrow were to witness even a glimpse of this? Imagine the worst of natural disasters. “Therefore we will not fear though…” this happens? Much harder to imagine. We certainly rejoice in saying and hearing these words of comfort like “The Lord is with us”. “God is our mighty fortress” and we do pray the Holy Spirit work such a faith in us that we live and believe these words. But many a soldier has gone into battle believing the emphatic motivation speeches of our their commanders, believing they are ready for war only to find the battle beyond all their worst imaginations. We know life can become at more times almost more than we can handle. Where is God to be found, then, when we find ourselves in over our heads? How is he a refuge and strength in the times of greatest need?
Let’s hear again the next few verses of Psalm 46.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
In these verses we get the image of a river. A river is living water. Its water with a source and a mouth. Water that carries things along with it. Water that gives life to many living things. This image of a river in Psalm 46 brings to mind the description of the river in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 2. “A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden. (Gen. 2:10a)” It also brings to mind the river in the New Jerusalem in Revelation 22. “The river of the water of life … flowing through the middle of the street of the city… (Rev. 22:2)” These references to rivers in the beginning and ending of Holy Scripture have something in common. In both places they describe a place that is calm, tranquil, and at peace. And this is all the case because God is in the midst of it. God dwells with His people in these places of life and living water. Psalm 46 speaks the same way. The river has streams which make glad the city of God, the habitation of the most high. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved.”
While Psalm 46 begins with a description of creation in chaos and uncertainty, it then begins to make clear for us while we need not fear any of it. The Lord is in the midst of His creation. He is a part of the river flowing with living water. We see all of this most clearly in Jesus Christ. He is the one in John 4, when talking with the woman at the well who offers to her the living water of Himself. Jesus is the one prophesied by Isaiah to be born of a virgin and be called Immanuel, which means God with us, God is in the midst of us. He is the one whom John 1 describes as the Word made flesh who dwelt among us. In all of this we see how Jesus is our refuge and strength because He is truly with us. He is not some distant fortress that must be found with long journey and hardship alone. He is not far off at all. He is truly with us.
The last few verses of the Psalm give us one more critical theme. We heard the chaos of creation in the first few verses. We heard the living presence of the Lord in the midst of us in the middle few verses. Now we hear verses 6, 8, and 9.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
In these verses the Psalmist describes a God who is in control. While nations rage, His is the voice that holds the power and authority. The answer to the chaos of creation, the answer to sin and death and all other evil is in Him. It calls to mind the moment Jesus was on the sea with His apostles. Mark 4:35 describes it. A great windstorm arises, waves are breaking into the boat, and the men awaken a sleeping Jesus and say to Him “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And Mark tells us Jesus awoke and said to the sea “Peace! Be Still!” … and there was a great calm.
Once more, the Psalmist delivers us similar words reminding us of the ever present reality that Jesus is always the Word made flesh. In Psalm 46:10 we hear “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Be still. The same words Jesus used. These words can command the chaos. These words can still the great storms. These words can calm the tumultuous heart.
The Lord speaks to you and to me “be still” when we are full of fear. When we are anxious and worried about what tomorrow will hold. He says to us “be still” when we face loss, when we face illness, when we face shame or sorrow. He says to us “be still” when we struggle with temptation and unbelief. “Be still and know that I am God.” Know that I am in control. All things are in my hands. And I am with you always even to the end of the age.
Therefore, we will not fear though … disaster may strike.
Therefore, we will not fear though … we suffer loss or the world hates us
Therefore, we will not fear though the end of the world should come.
Because when that final morning dawns, we know Jesus will be there with us. He is always there with us, of this there is no doubt. He is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
All glory be to Him who makes all things new. Amen.
Mark Witte is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church.
You can contact him at pastorwitte@gmail.com
