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Be Still and Know

Psalms 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

The forty-sixth Psalm is a Psalm of promise.  It is a Psalm about God’s protection, provision, and power. Psalms 46, 47, and 48 form a trilogy of praise.  Psalms 46 celebrates God as our refuge. Psalms 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalms 47 celebrates the sovereignty of God.  Psalms 47:2 says, “For the Lord Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth.” Psalms 48 is a declaration of praise for the glory of the God in Zion. Psalms 48:1-2 says, “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in His holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.”

            In verse 10 the Psalmist instructs us to be still. The New American Standard Bible reads, “Cease striving and know that I am God.”  This Psalm describes a day much like our own day.  Verse 2 reads, “Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.”  Why does the Psalmist address fear?  Verses 2-3 describe upheaval, change and even catastrophic events that will reshape society as we know it.

The world we live in is in a state of upheaval.  Jesus spoke of our times in Matthew 24:7, “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.”   He spoke of a time when men’s hearts will fail them for fear.  These are stressful times. 

What is the answer for stressful times?  We must still ourselves in His presence.  To be still is an act of worship. To be still and be quiet is a prerequisite to hearing God’s voice and growing in grace.  Our lives are filled with all kinds of activities.  Verse 10 from the Living Bible reads, “Stand silent and know that I am God.”  One of the most effective weapons in the believer’s arsenal is to be still and listen to hear the voice of the Lord. Isaiah 7:4 says, “Take heed, and be quiet; do not fear or be fainthearted.”  We must develop the discipline of being still in His presence.

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