What does Psalms Chapter 45 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

The speakers name God refuge and resolve against fear amid upheaval imagery. City joy and future help accompany nations’ trouble and a trembling earth. Future weapons’ destruction and exaltation accompany the repeated protector refrain.

Chapter breakdown

The Latin incipit is Deus noster refugium. The separate heading describes the persecuted church's trust; the inscription is unto the end, for Core's sons, for the hidden. The speakers call God refuge, strength and helper in overwhelming trouble. They will not fear when earth shall be troubled and mountains moved into sea's heart. Waters roared and mountains were troubled with His strength, without a dated earthquake or observed serene aftermath.

A river's stream makes God's city joyful, and the Most High sanctified His own tabernacle. God in its midst means it shall not be moved and He will help early in morning. Nations were troubled and kingdoms bowed down; His uttered voice made earth tremble, not melt. The Lord of armies is with them and Jacob's God their protector.

The speakers invite beholding God's earthly wonders, making wars cease to earth's end. He shall destroy bow, break weapons and burn the shield. The words call for stillness and seeing that He is God, with future exaltation among nations and earth. The final refrain repeats the Lord of armies with them and Jacob's God as protector. Future weapons' destruction remains distinct from a narrated completed global disarmament.

The story inside

Opening: The speakers name God refuge and resolve against fear amid upheaval imagery. Development: City joy and future help accompany nations’ trouble and a trembling earth. Conclusion: Future weapons’ destruction and exaltation accompany the repeated protector refrain.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The speakers name God refuge and resolve against fear amid upheaval imagery.
2
City joy and future help accompany nations’ trouble and a trembling earth.
3
Future weapons’ destruction and exaltation accompany the repeated protector refrain.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 60379–60380
Our God is our refuge and strength: a helper in troubles, which have found us exceedingly.
Lines 60388–60392
The stream of the river maketh the city of God joyful: the most High hath sanctified his own tabernacle. 45:6. God is in the midst thereof, it shall not be moved: God will help it in the morning early.
Lines 60397–60397
The Lord of armies is with us: the God of Jacob is our protector.
Lines 60402–60404
Making wars to cease even to the end of the earth. He shall destroy the bow, and break the weapons: and the shield he shall burn in the fire.
Lines 60406–60407
Be still and see that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, and I will be exalted in the earth.