Psalms 46:8 (KJV)

Passage

Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.

Nearby Context

Psalms 46:6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

Psalms 46:7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Psalms 46:8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.

Psalms 46:9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "come", "behold", "works", "lord", "desolations", "hath", and "earth". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "come" and "behold", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 7's "The LORD of hosts is with us..." into verse 9's "He maketh wars to cease unto the...", so "come" and "behold" belong inside that flow. In Psalms context, the local focus is worship, trust, the LORD's kingship, and covenant mercy.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "come" and "behold" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.