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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.

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