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 List

              Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,   through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;   perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)           Think about it. We have been justified. At least, we could be justified if we stopped insisting that our justification be based on our merits. We have peace with God, or could have peace if we stopped throwing temper tantrums. We have gained access into grace i...
Post a Comment
Read more

Listen!

  While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5)            Do you like roller coasters? I don't. You spend forever climbing a hill. You get to the top and have half a second, then you race down to a low point. Sometimes the racing down involves tying your insides into knots. At the bottom, you either have to be dragged up another hill or you get off the ride. Peter's life was a roller coaster from the time he met Jesus. There would be miracles, and then Jesus would teach things that didn't always make sense, and then they'd go out and perform miracles, and return to be taught. Peter was praised for giving the right answer to "Who do you say that I am?" Jesus said that said answer came from God. Peter was at the top of the hill.            ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Prayer Lists

                 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. (I Peter 2:2-3)   In connection with what I wrote yesterday about the possibility that I’m wrong, I’m feeling the need to go back to basics - craving spiritual milk because somehow, I missed something. It’s a little embarrassing, craving milk like a newborn, but the truth probably is that we are newborns many times in many ways in our lives. From God’s perspective, we may never be anything more than newborns, forever needing that milk. On the other hand, being a newborn can also be exciting because so much is new. My mind is playing pinball - ricocheting from one idea to the next and through six more before it happens to hit the third again. The main topic is prayer. I have at least seven organizing structures all somewhat influenced by the movie War Room , which I’v...
Post a Comment
Read more