Skip to main content

Be Still

         He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10 NIV)

     Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10 NASB 1995)

 

        The NASB 1995 translation includes a footnote on “Cease” of “Relax, let go.” What comes to mind is the animal rescue video I watched last night. In general, the reaction of animals to being rescued is either fight/flight or surrender. The juvenile monkey struggled and screamed, and there were times when the rescuers had to stop freeing it and restrain it so they could continue to free it. Life is so much easier for a rescuer if the victim relaxes and lets the rescuer do his thing. I’ve heard that those trying to rescue drowning victims have to basically let the person pass out to avoid being drowned by the victim. The command to “Be still” or “Cease striving” then, isn’t arrogance on God’s part. It’s simply the circumstances under which God can intervene in our lives without    our endangering ourselves.

            A second idea comes to mind as I read the first phrase of this passage.

                Be still (Cease striving) and know that I am God

                Be still (Cease striving) and know that I am God;

                Be still (Cease striving) and know that I am God;

                Be still (Cease striving) and know that I am God;

            Practice reading them aloud, emphasizing the bold portions in their turn.

            The third thing I notice as I read the whole passage is what might be called the whole message. God will be exalted among the nations. God will be exalted in the earth. This is the reason we can and should be still and cease striving. But if this is the reason we can and should be still and cease striving, then for what reason are we not being still and striving?

            Two possibilities come to mind. The first is that we are resisting God. It’s as if God is saying, “Be still and know that I – not you – am God.” The second is that someone else is resisting God, and we’re anxious and think either that nothing can be done about it, or that we have to save the day. We must go evangelize the world, but work our way into the government, and make things turn out right. Or, we are afraid that they or their gods might win. To this, God seems to be saying, “Be still and know that I am God. I’ve got this covered. It’s not a crisis to Me. They will exalt Me.”

            I don’t know which message you need to hear today, but I hope one or more of them blesses you today.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Right Road

          Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. (Psalm 139:7-12)                  For years before GPSes existed, I told people I wanted something in my car that would tell me, “Turn left in half a mile…turn left in a quarter mile…turn left in 500 feet… turn left in 100 feet…turn left now …You missed the turn, Dummy!” The problem isn’t necessarily that I get lost so much as I’m afraid I’ll get lost. I don’t want to have to spend my whole trip stressing over the next turn. I have the same problem with my spiritual journey.   
Post a Comment
Read more

Died as a Ransom

                 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. (Hebrews 9:15)                  This is something I’d really rather not think about but here it is and it’s important. I was reading in Bold Love about seeking revenge.  The author wrote of seeking justice when a supposed Christian does something sinful, harmful, and/or horrific, like sexually abusing a daughter.  And the thought that came to mind was of God asking if Jesus’ death was sufficient payment to me for the sin committed against me.                I have no specific longing for revenge, vengeance, or justice. I’m sure there are some lurking somewhere in my heart, but this wasn’t a response to one. It was more a question of principle. Jesus’ death was sufficient payment for to God for our sins.  That’s the standard Sunday Schoo
1 comment
Read more

Out of the Depths

  Out of the depths I have cried to You, Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the sound of my pleadings.   If You, Lord, were to keep account of guilty deeds, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, so that You may be revered. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and I wait for His word. My soul waits in hope for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning; Yes, more than the watchmen for the morning. Israel, wait for the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption. And He will redeem Israel from all his guilty deeds . (Psalm 130)             I like Mr. Peterson’s interpretation of the first line. “The bottom has fallen out of my life!” Of course, the problem for some of us is the fact that we’re drama queens, and/or we’re weak. Any time anything happens that disturbs our sense of mastery and control, the bottom has fallen out of our lives. If the past couple of days have taught me anything, they’ve t
1 comment
Read more