President Obama read Psalm 46 at the New York ceremony Sunday marking the tenth anniversary of the 9-11 attacks.
Principal deputy press secretary Josh Earnest explained why Obama selected that psalm.
“The President chose a scripture which he believed was most appropriate — he believed it was particularly appropriate to use — to read scripture this morning. And he chose a passage that talks of persevering through very difficult challenges and emerging from those challenges stronger,” Earnest said.
Text of President Barack Obama’s remarks at New York City’s commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, as provided by the White House.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore, we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.
Though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling, there’s a river whose streams shall make glad the City of God, the holy place of the Tabernacle of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her.
She shall not be moved.
God shall help her just at the break of dawn.
The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved.
He uttered his voice.
The earth melted.
The Lord of Hosts is with us.
The God of Jacob is our refuge.
Come behold the works of the Lord who has made desolations in the Earth.
He makes wars cease to the ends of the Earth.
He breaks the bough and cuts the spear in two.
He burns the chariot in fire.
Be still and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations.
I will be exalted in the Earths.
The Lord of Hosts is with us.
The God of Jacob is our refuge.”
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8 Responses
And he has most other yiddin saying the rest of t’hilim.
i think this verse is talking about our holy city yerushalyim when the bais hamikdash was destroyed, but it is fitting here too
wow! God of Jacob is our refuge??! It is either totally amazing or i totally don’t see it for what it is. Anyone have any thoughts…?
Obama’s words will be proven true in spite of himself. Yerushalayim “shall not be moved,” even when “the nations (including Obama) raged” against her.
i wonder if obama knows the real meaning of this chapter in tehillim, although i highly doubt it
The god of jacob, not ishmael, not esuv
א לַמְנַצֵּחַ לִבְנֵי-קֹרַח– עַל-עֲלָמוֹת שִׁיר.
ב אֱלֹהִ-ים לָנוּ, מַחֲסֶה וָעֹז; עֶזְרָה בְצָרוֹת, נִמְצָא מְאֹד.
ג עַל-כֵּן לֹא-נִירָא, בְּהָמִיר אָרֶץ; וּבְמוֹט הָרִים, בְּלֵב יַמִּים.
ד יֶהֱמוּ יֶחְמְרוּ מֵימָיו; יִרְעֲשׁוּ הָרִים בְּגַאֲוָתוֹ סֶלָה.
ה נָהָר–פְּלָגָיו, יְשַׂמְּחוּ עִיר-אֱלֹהִ-ים; קְדֹשׁ, מִשְׁכְּנֵי עֶלְיוֹן.
ו אֱלֹהִ-ים בְּקִרְבָּהּ, בַּל-תִּמּוֹט; יַעְזְרֶהָ אֱלֹהִ-ים, לִפְנוֹת בֹּקֶר.
ז הָמוּ גוֹיִם, מָטוּ מַמְלָכוֹת; נָתַן בְּקוֹלוֹ, תָּמוּג אָרֶץ.
ח ה’ צְבָאוֹת עִמָּנוּ; מִשְׂגָּב-לָנוּ אֱלֹהֵ-י יַעֲקֹב סֶלָה.
ט לְכוּ-חֲזוּ, מִפְעֲלוֹת ה’– אֲשֶׁר-שָׂם שַׁמּוֹת בָּאָרֶץ.
י מַשְׁבִּית מִלְחָמוֹת, עַד-קְצֵה הָאָרֶץ:
קֶשֶׁת יְשַׁבֵּר, וְקִצֵּץ חֲנִית; עֲגָלוֹת, יִשְׂרֹף בָּאֵשׁ.
יא הַרְפּוּ וּדְעוּ, כִּי-אָנֹכִי אֱלֹהִ-ים; אָרוּם בַּגּוֹיִם, אָרוּם בָּאָרֶץ.
יב ה’ צְבָאוֹת עִמָּנוּ; מִשְׂגָּב-לָנוּ אֱלֹהֵ-י יַעֲקֹב סֶלָה.
Tehillim are said by both Jews and other religions. Why all the flap if the poresident quote a passage?