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Psalm 46:8
Come, see the LORD’s works, what desolations he has made on the earth.
6The nations raged. The kingdoms were moved. He lifted his voice and the earth melted.
7The LORD of Armies is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
8Come, see the LORD’s works, what desolations he has made on the earth.
9He makes wars cease to the end of the earth. He breaks the bow, and shatters the spear. He burns the chariots in the fire.
10“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted on the earth.”
Notice
The word “desolations” makes the call to see God’s works unsettling: amid raging nations and shattered weapons, the psalm directs your attention to YHWH’s fearsome power.
Questions to write on. Each one opens a new entry with this verse already attached.
What is hard for you to face in the call to see YHWH’s desolations?
Write on thisHow does the breaking of weapons shape your reading of the desolations in this verse?
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Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
This verse's connections, by chapterThe Bible's strongest chapter linksHover or tap a book to trace it
Psalm 66:5Come, and see God’s deeds— awesome work on behalf of the children of men.Both passages urge people to come and see God’s deeds, directing attention toward what he has done.
Isaiah 24:1Behold, the LORD makes the earth empty, makes it waste, turns it upside down, and scatters its inhabitants.Both passages name the LORD as the one who brings devastation upon the earth.
Psalm 92:4–6For you, LORD, have made me glad through your work. I will triumph in the works of your hands.Both focus on the LORD’s works, though Psalm 92 expresses gladness while Psalm 46 points to desolations.
Isaiah 61:4They will rebuild the old ruins. They will raise up the former devastated places. They will repair the ruined cities that have been devastated for many …Devastation is their shared ground: the psalm names desolations God has made, while Isaiah describes ruined places being rebuilt.
Isaiah 34:2–17For the LORD is enraged against all the nations, and angry with all their armies. He has utterly destroyed them. He has given them over for slaughter.Both passages attribute devastation to the LORD, with nations and armies in view.
Psalm 111:2–3The LORD’s works are great, pondered by all those who delight in them.Both direct attention to the LORD’s works as something to examine, whether through seeing or pondering.
2 Chronicles 20:23–24For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. When they had finished the inhabitants of …Both describe destruction amid conflict; Chronicles recounts armies destroying one another, while the psalm attributes desolations to the LORD.
Exodus 12:30Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was …Both confront the reader with devastation; Exodus describes Egypt’s mourning, while the psalm directs attention to the LORD’s desolations.
Joshua 11:20For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, to come against Israel in battle, that he might utterly destroy them, that they might have no favor, but that he …Both attribute destruction to the LORD; Joshua describes a specific battle context, while the psalm surveys desolations on earth.
Job 37:7He seals up the hand of every man, that all men whom he has made may know it.Both connect God’s action with human recognition, though Job describes hands being stopped rather than devastation.
Exodus 10:7Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the LORD, their God. Don’t you yet know that …Both speak of destruction that people are urged to recognize; Pharaoh’s servants point to Egypt, and the psalm to the earth.
Numbers 23:23Surely there is no enchantment with Jacob; neither is there any divination with Israel. Now it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, ‘What has God done!’Both draw attention to what God has done, though Numbers speaks of Jacob and Israel while the psalm names desolations.
Where this verse fits
Fear for the future. injustice and anger. sermon or Bible study notes.
One step
Something small to carry out of this verse
Encouragement
The destruction here is grave, and the surrounding lines name God as refuge. His power reaches beyond the raging nations; he is the one who makes wars cease.
Now put it in your words.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).