“God will help her at break of day.” (Ps. 46:5b). This phrase has significant imagery attached to it. The Psalmist made many references to God’s faithfulness in his writings. This particular phrase most likely refers to a specific event in Israel’s deliverance from Egypt.
Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the Lord swept them into the sea. The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived. Exodus 14:27-28
David uses an event that is imbedded in the Israelite psyche. He gives this event as support for his opening “God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble (Ps. 46:1, HCSB)”. Literally translated, “a helper in times of trouble he is found [to be] greatly.”
The break of day is a metaphor for God’s deliverance. Three other times the Bible refers to it (Ps. 30:5, Is. 17:14; 37:36). In Psalm 30, we are assured that God’s discipline is momentary (“weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning”), but that His favor lasts for a lifetime. Isaiah records a mighty deliverance in an impossible situation. “Then the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies!” (37:36).
God is the refuge of all who are in a relationship with Him. When life is overwhelming, when we feel like there is no hope, we must never forget Who He is! He is the God who controls everything by His word. All things are at His Command. “Yahweh of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.Selah” (Ps. 46:11, HCSB)
