What does Psalm 46:6 mean?

This psalm celebrates God's omnipotent ability to protect the city of Jerusalem and the people of the nation of Israel. Despite natural disaster or international war, the people of God can look on God's fulfilled promises as a source of trust in Him (Psalm 46:1–3). Some see parallels between this psalm and the miraculous rescue of Jerusalem from an Assyrian siege (2 Kings 18:28–35; 19:35). This verse certainly emphasizes God's power. He simply issued a command, and the Assyrian army was defeated.

The images here contrast the supposed strength of ungodly nations with the power of God. By comparison, He merely speaks, and they lose their balance. They stumble like a little child whose steps falter. The earth "melts" at the sound of God's voice, symbolizing God's power to destroy even what seems to be indestructible (Amos 9:5).

Someday, as Psalm 2:4–5 predicts, the Lord will strike all the nations that oppose Him. That event awaits the close of the tribulation period when Jesus returns to earth. Revelation 19:15 reports that at Jesus' coming a sharp sword will proceed from His mouth, with which He will "strike down the nations." Furthermore, the whole earth will undergo a dramatic renovation at the end of time. The apostle Peter writes, "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed" (2 Peter 3:10).