But all this matters very little to
us; because events analogous to those of which it speaks have happened
not once only, but many times, and will happen often again. And this
psalm lays down a rule for judging of such startling and terrible events
whenever they happen, and for saying of them, "God is our refuge and
strength, a very present help in trouble." It seems from the beginning
of the psalm that there had been earthquakes or hurricanes in Judea--more
probably earthquakes, which were and are now frequent there. It seems as
if the land had been shaken, and cliffs thrown into the sea, which had
rolled back in a mighty wave, such as only too often accompanies an
earthquake. But the Psalmist knew that that was God's doing; and
therefore he would not fear, though the earth was moved, and though the
hills were earned into the very midst of the sea. It seems, moreover,
that Jerusalem itself had, as in Hezekiah's time, not been shaken, or at
least seriously injured, by the earthquake. But why? "God is in the
midst of her, therefore shall she not be removed.
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