03/10/2021 BE STILL
Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am GOD: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Summary
Psalms 46 is one of the great psalms of GOD’s people. According to Wikipedia, Psalms 46 is often recited as part of Jewish, Catholic, Anglican, and Protestant liturgical services. Many worshippers may not remember the psalm number, but many recall hearing “GOD is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” many, many, many times throughout their worship years.
Some who have written about “Be Still” note that in Hebrew the root word for this phrase is “raphah,” which translates as “faint” or “to drop; to let go.” See, “Be Still and Know that I am God by Jennifer Ross,” https://www.torahclass.com/archived-articles/404-be-still-and-know-that-i-am-god-by-jennifer-ross Ross suggest that this verse is Hebrew “poetry” meant to suggest that a person must “drop-down or let go” so that GOD can be lifted up.
Some believe that Psalms 46:10 is a message to the enemies of GOD. They point to the part of the verse that states: “I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. They believe that this verse is a warning to heathen nations or the enemies of GOD that they should “put down their arms” “cease fighting” and just “stop” because, they can’t win against GOD, so it is useless to fight GOD’s people.
Others believe that Psalms 46:10 is a message to GOD’s people. This is a message for those “fixer” or “problem solver” believers. These are the ones who are used to fixing problems and “figuring out things” for so long that when the “impossible” and the “unfixable” comes along, they spend hours looking for solutions. They experience a great deal of frustration when all their human efforts fail.
Psalms 46:10 is also a message for those “worriers” and “wondering” believers.” We worriers can’t understand why GOD “isn’t doing something right now. And sometimes, if the truth be told, we “wonder if GOD is going to show up at all” or “wonder how GOD is going to fix it.” We worry. We are anxious. To me, and to others like me, GOD says “BE STILL.”
Psalms 46:10 is also a message to those who think the battle is already lost---since “Lazarus (or another loved one) is already dead.” [See John 11] They already lost their house in the fire/earthquake or the flood has already done its damage. Everything “is a mess” even though they thought they were doing everything they were supposed to do. The enemy has wreaked havoc within their lives--with their families, their property, and even their bodies. These are the “JOB believers.” To them, the message is still “BE STILL and know that I am GOD.” And, remember “I will be exalted in the earth.” These are the believers who may “never know” why? These are the believers that may never understand why they or their children seem to be the targets of spiritual warfare or figure out why their loved one was taken. (See Job 39). Psalms 46:1-3 reminds us that “GOD IS our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,” even when physical sight, physical pain, and present circumstances suggest otherwise. GOD’s message is ??
“BE STILL” is surrendering everything (our fears, our worries, our anxiety, and all of those human things we hide behind to “appear together”) to GOD in order to be led by GOD. We drop down so that GOD can be lifted up.
“BE STILL” is a spiritual core exercise of faith in GOD.