What is the significance of the statement “God is within her; she will not fall” in Psalm 46:5?

Response

The book of Psalms—a compilation of 150 poems meant to be sung—is filled with uplifting messages during difficult times. However, individual verses in Psalms can be easily misunderstood when taken out of context. This is especially relevant for Psalm 46:5.

The phrase “God is within her, she will not fall” is commonly used to inspire and support women facing challenges. When shared on social media, it is often seen as a direct message to women in tough situations: “You will not fall, despite the hardships you face, because God is within you, empowering you.” It is crucial, though, to grasp the true essence of Psalm 46:5.

The pronoun “her” in Psalm 46:5 is often assumed to refer to women in general, providing them with a reassuring message of strength in difficult times. However, it is important to consider the context by examining the surrounding verses. In verse 4, the psalmist mentions “a river whose streams make glad the city of God” (ESV). Here, “her” actually refers to the city of God. Therefore, while it is valid to draw motivation and support from verse 5, it should not be interpreted solely as a reference to women. Instead, it should be viewed as Israel’s collective praise for God’s deliverance, as illustrated in Psalm 46:1–3 (cf: Psalm 48:1-3).

The core message of Psalm 46:5 is that the ever-present God ensures Jerusalem’s unwavering stability. God is constantly with her, guaranteeing her security even in turbulent times. Due to God’s protection, the people of God have no reason to fear anyone or anything: “The Lord is my light and salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” «The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? TThe LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? », (Psalm 27:1, ESV).

There are significant parallels between Psalm 46 and the book of Kings. When the Assyrians besieged the city of God, the pagan field commander unleashed a series of taunts and threats upon the people of God. In doing so, he sought to demonstrate that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was just as powerless as other gods in the lands conquered by the Assyrians (2 Kings 18:28-35).

During the siege, King Hezekiah sought the Lord. After receiving a menacing letter from the Assyrian king Sennacherib, Hezekiah took the letter to the house of the Lord and fervently prayed for deliverance (2 Kings 19:14-19). As dawn broke, the Assyrian army found that they had lost 185,000 soldiers. During the night, an angel of the Lord had descended upon the Assyrians, putting a swift and decisive end to their terror «And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. », (2 Kings 19:35). Jerusalem was saved.

God had predicted the defeat of the Assyrians through the prophet Isaiah: “This is what the Lord says concerning the king of Assyria: ‘He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow here. . . . I will defend this city and save it’” «Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it. », (2 Kings 19:36).

(2 Kings 19:32,34) “For I will defend this city, to save it, for my own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.”, (2 Kings 19:32,34). In essence, God is within her, she will not fall.

The Assyrian invasion of Israel sets the historical context for Psalm 46:5. In the face of imminent danger, the psalmist’s words acquire new meaning. The validated faith of Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem serves as evidence of God’s supreme power. God is an invincible stronghold, a divine shield against malevolent forces:

I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. (Psalm 18:1-3)