Psalms / Chapter 46

Psalms 46

Psalm 46 moves from declaring God as a near refuge, to picturing a secure city sustained by his presence, to showing nations stilled by his voice, and finally to a call to witness his acts and heed his word.

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Psalms 46 Scripture text

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Full passage context

Psalms 46

Start with the map and timeline, then explore verse notes, background, theology, questions, and related passages.

Start here

Map and timeline

Movement

Worship across the whole story

Artifact

Prayer book of the covenant people

Biblical Timeline

Kingdom

Creation

Kingdom

New creation

Psalms context: 1000 BC - 586 BC

Biblical Timeline

Kingdom

Psalms context

Kingdom / 1000 BC - 586 BC

CreationNew creation

Creation4000 BCPatriarchs2000 BCExodus1500 BCKingdom1000 BC2nd Temple400 BCChurchAD 100

Psalms context is set in the kingdom period, where Israel's monarchy from David and Solomon to exile.

Chapter structure

Follow the movement of the chapter, then open any passage in its full context.

KeyProgrammatic StatementIllustrationExplanationExhortationConclusion

Confidence when creation convulses

Programmatic Statement

46:1-3

A life-giving river for the city

Illustration

46:4-5

Nations rage, but God speaks

Explanation

46:6-7

An invitation to observe God’s deeds

Illustration

46:8-9

God’s own declaration of supremacy

Exhortation

46:10

Refrain of presence and refuge

Conclusion

46:11

Passages in this chapter

Confidence when creation convulses46:1-3 A life-giving river for the city46:4-5 Nations rage, but God speaks46:6-7 An invitation to observe God’s deeds46:8-9 God’s own declaration of supremacy46:10 Refrain of presence and refuge46:11

Context snapshot

Date

Collected across Israel's worship life, c. 1000-450 BC

Genre

Poetry, prayer, and praise

Setting

Israel/Judah worship tradition

Audience

Israel

World Stage

c. 1000-450 BC

Israel and Judah across monarchy, exile, and return

Davidic and temple worship leaders collection over centuries

Psalms gathers prayers and songs from royal, temple, crisis, exile, and restoration settings. Its world is Israel's worship life across generations, bringing covenant memory into praise, lament, confession, and hope.

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