Be Still and Know

“Be still, and know that I am God.” I’ve been thinking about that statement and planning a blog post about it for a few weeks now. Suddenly, I started noticing this verse popping up everywhere in memes and Facebook posts, so I thought the message might be getting old and that I should put it on the back burner for a while. Then I thought that maybe I was seeing the verse often because it was a message that people wanted to hear and one of which they needed constant reminding. After all, I hadn’t tired of it yet, so maybe others wouldn’t be tired of it either. My granddaughter (three and a half years old) would tell me I was being “a fickle” since I changed my mind about this. One day, after she had repeatedly changed her mind about what she wanted to play and what she wanted to eat and what she wanted to watch on television, I told her that she was being fickle. Of course, she immediately asked, “What does that mean, Mimi?” And she’s not forgotten my answer! She constantly tells me when she’s “being a fickle again.” Pretty cute for a three year old, but aren’t you thankful that our God is not a fickle God? His mighty works are always visible, his love is constant, and his promises are never broken.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” The New American Standard Bible says, “Cease striving and know that I am God.” One definition for “strive” is “to struggle or fight vigorously.” The message in this verse is so much more than just “take time to recognize what God has done.” That’s what I used to think the verse meant – be still long enough to notice God’s power. I still think that can be part of what we take from this verse, but when we read Psalm 46 in its entirety and consider the words “cease striving,” I think we get a much bigger picture of the meaning of God’s words. Take some time to read the psalm from your Bible or click here to read it. It’s a song about God being a refuge and a stronghold for his people. I love the very first verse! “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” This means he is “abundantly available for help.” No wonder God tells us to “cease striving.” He is there for us. It’s like he is saying, “Enough is enough! I am God! Understand that!” We should not fear what faces us because “the Lord of hosts is with us.” We do not have to struggle or fight vigorously because God will help us fight our battles. Remember the words of Hezekiah in 2 Chronicles 32:7-8. “Be strong and courageous, do not fear or be dismayed because of the king of Assyria nor because of all the horde that is with him; for the one with us is greater than the one with him. With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” Remember Nehemiah’s words as he was involved with the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. “At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.” (Nehemiah 4:20) Remember the words of Asa in 2 Chronicles 14:11. “Lord, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in You, and in Your name have come against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; let not man prevail against You.” “Cease striving.” “Be still.” Relax in the knowledge that God is constant and he is in control.

But God knows that we do need reminders. He knows that we sometimes forget to give him credit and glorify him for our accomplishments and our possessions. He knows that sometimes we start thinking we can fight our battles without him and that we can prosper by OUR OWN striving. That’s why he gave the Israelites these instructions in Deuteronomy 6:6-9. “These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Verse 12 adds “then watch yourself, that you do not forget the Lord who brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” God knows we have a tendency to forget. In Exodus 14, we can read how the Israelites apparently forgot about the mighty plagues they had witnessed that God brought upon the Egyptians, and they were frightened when they saw the Egyptians gaining ground on them as they escaped from their bondage. They cried out that it would have been better to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness. But Moses told them, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.” (Exodus 14:10-14) In Matthew 14:22-31, we can read about Peter, who seemingly forgot the power of Christ and became frightened and started to sink as he was walking on the water. Jesus asked him why he doubted. We forget. Sometimes this causes us to put too much emphasis on our own abilities. Sometimes this causes us to be lacking in our faith. “Cease striving.” “Be still.” Relax in the knowledge that God is constant and he is in control.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” I think it’s okay if you and I read this verse everyday. I don’t think its message gets old. We obviously need reminders, as God’s people always have. I am so thankful for the Bible, which is full of the reminders we need. Read it! I am thankful for God’s creation, which is full of the reminders we need. Notice it! “Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.” (1 Samuel 12:24) “Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments.” (Deuteronomy 7:9) “But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.” (2 Thess. 3:3) His mighty works are always visible, his love is constant, and his promises are never broken. “Cease striving.” “Be still.” Relax in the knowledge that God is constant and he is in control. And he is NOT “a fickle!”