Be Still and Know

What does it mean to “Be still, and know…”?

We in the Church say it often and have it printed on t-shirts and coffee mugs or hung on our walls at home. It’s so familiar that I’ve never really stopped and considered at length what God was saying here. The greater context of Psalm 46 gives us some clues:

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.

The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.

‘Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!’

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

Psalm ‭46:1-11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The psalmist is writing of war and desolation, turbulent times for God’s people, and yet…

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear. … The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

The Hebrew word for “be still” here is raphah and means sink, relax, let drop, let go, abandon, let off, leave alone, be quiet, cease (Strong’s Concordance: 7503, Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon).

So, God was commanding those of the time who were at war to cease their fighting, abandon their striving, and drop their weapons … to acknowledge His presence and trust Him.

It wasn’t just a command to get quiet before God.

He wanted them to completely stop what they were doing of their own might and hand it over to Him, knowing, trusting that He would protect them in His mighty power and work it out according to His will.

It was a call to die to self and live in faith.

Friends, what battles are you fighting? What do you need to surrender to God today?

It may be something as noticeable as that long list of to-dos you haven’t been able to make any progress on or a conflict you have with a coworker or family member.

Maybe it’s something less obvious, like the comments and thoughts you allow to shape you and your day (this is one of my big battles today) or worry over your circumstances.

WHATEVER it may be, bring it to God!

We can trust our good Father who loves us, our warrior God who fights for us, our fortress and refuge and help in times of trouble.

Father, I humbly acknowledge your presence and power and love and confess my need for you in the good times, the hard times, and all times in between. I surrender my trying to do life on my own and on my own terms today. I’m letting go of my own agenda and my own will and taking hold of You and your will instead. You alone are my refuge and strength, and I trust You. Thank you for reminding me to choose You today, to be still and know that You alone are God, my good Father and my fortress. Amen.

Feature photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash