John Calvin Commentary Psalms 46:6

"The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved: He uttered his voice, the earth melted." — Psalms 46:6 (ASV)

The peoples raged. Since the Church of God is never without enemies—very powerful ones who consequently fight against her with cruel and unbridled fury—the prophet now confirms from experience the doctrine he had presented concerning the impregnable character of divine protection. He then deduces from this the general source of consolation that it continually belongs to God to restrain and suppress all disturbances, and that His arm is strong enough to break all the efforts of the enemy.

I admit this passage might be understood in a more general sense, meaning that the city of God is subject to attack by many storms and tempests, but that by God's favor she is, nevertheless, always kept safe. It is, however, more probable, as I have already said at the beginning, that the Psalmist is here speaking of some remarkable deliverance, in which God had given a striking proof of the power and favor He exercises in the constant preservation of the Church.

Accordingly, he relates what had taken place: namely, that the enemies of the Church came with a fearsome army to lay waste and destroy it; but that immediately, by the voice of God, they, as it were, melted and vanished away. From this we derive an invaluable source of consolation, when it is said that although the whole world rises up against us and throws all things into confusion by their increased madness, they can be brought to nothing in a moment, as soon as God shows Himself favorable toward us.

The voice of God, no doubt, signifies His will or command; but the prophet, by this expression, seems to refer to the promises of God, by which He has declared that He will be the guardian and defender of the Church. At the same time, let us observe the contrast stated here between the voice of God and the turbulent upheavals of the kingdoms of this world.