When you come to the well-known words of Psalm 46, “Be still and know that I am God,” what do you see? Sovereignty? Tyranny? Comforting words? Challenging words? Harrowing words?
God is God, we seem to be reminded, no matter how we think or speak of him. We do not affect his sovereignty. This can seem quite tyrannical — if not terrifying — if God is not a God of love. And sadly, this is the oppressive view many hold before them. But on the other side of the coin, that God is God, that He is who He is, is the holiest of all comforts when God’s goodness is thoroughly known, as it is by the Psalmist. G.K. Chesterton stated this well with his timeless reminder that we do not want a religion that is right where we are right; we want a religion that is right where we are wrong. In this, Scripture is clear. Great men and rich men and wise men cannot hinder Him from being sovereign, from being God — from being that which He is — slow to anger and abounding in love, our refuge, our strength, the very Bread of Life. Indeed, be still and know that He is God. Exalted among the nations. Exalted above the earth. The One we meet in stillness is comforting.
And yet, there is more in these few short words. For the one struggling with issues of control, the one grappling with the philosophies of individualism resounding on every corner, in every commercial, in every heart — for the one overwhelmed by the postmodern fog through which we aim to see reality — the Psalm seems to yield yet another striking message: “Be still, and allow Me to be God.”
Indeed, it is interesting to note that the original Hebrew means to let the body go limp, or release the grip of a hand; it is a command to cease striving, to be thoroughly still. And to be sure, stillness is truly difficult for some, particularly for those of us living within a culture on the move — a culture T.S. Eliot dissected well when he reasoned, “Where shall the world be found, where will the word resound? Not here, there is not enough silence.” A.W. Tozer mused similarly, “Man has accepted the monstrous heresy that noise, size, activity, and bluster make a man dear to God.” The Psalm reminds us of what we have perhaps purposefully forgotten: Stillness is necessary. Even Christ himself escaped the crowds that He might kneel before the Father. In stillness we can grasp what is unfathomable — the person and character of God. “Stop striving, and know that I am who I am.”
Truly, the potent words of Psalm 46 are a brilliant glimpse of how the Word of God is living and active, judging the thoughts and hearts of men. You can glean much about your understanding of God by your reaction to these words. As with all of Scripture, there is much to be seen if we will see. And ultimately, it is Christ who is revealed: “My mother and brothers,” He says, “are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”
The words compellingly cry out for obedience: “Be still and know that I am God.” That is, cease striving, desist in all of your distractions, exist in stillness before Him, dynamically search, actively remember, and continually hold before you the reality of who He is, the certainty of His sovereignty, His goodness, His faithfulness, and the assurance of His love for you through the blood of His Son. In stillness this day, may you know that He is God. Exalted among the nations. Exalted above the earth.
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Copyright © 2003 Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). Reprinted with permission. “A Slice of Infinity” is a radio ministry of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries.
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Version from July 27, 2005:
BE STILL AND KNOW, by Jill Carattini
If a crowd of people were asked to comment on the words of Psalm 46, “Be still and know that I am God,” countless images of God would be reported. Some would see sovereignty, others tyranny. Some would find his words comforting, others challenging, still others harrowing.
Yet God is God, we seem to be reminded in Psalm 46, no matter how we think or speak of Him. We do not affect his sovereignty. This can seem quite tyrannical — if not terrifying — if God is not a God of love. And sadly, this is the oppressive view many hold before them. But on the other side of the argument, that God is God, that He is who He is, is the holiest of all comforts if God’s goodness is thoroughly known, as it was by the psalmist. And as G.K. Chesterton noted long after him: we don’t want a religion that is right where we are right, but a religion that is right where we are wrong. Sovereignty is comforting when the throne is trustworthy.
In this, Scripture is clear. Great men and rich men and wise men cannot hinder Him from being sovereign or faithful, from being who He is: slow to anger and abounding in love, our refuge, our strength, the breathe and bread of life. To be still and know that this is who is He is a stirring command. The one we meet in stillness is our hopeful sanctuary, the one who “will be exalted among the nations… exalted above the earth” (Ps. 46:10b).
Yet, I believe there is more to take in from such a commanding image. For the one struggling with issues of control, the one grappling with the philosophies of individualism resounding on every corner, in every commercial, in every heart, for the one overwhelmed by fog and self, the psalm seems to yield yet another striking message, “Be still, and allow me to be God.”
Interestingly, the original Hebrew expresses a physical element to the instruction of stillness. The word can also be taken as a command to let the body go limp, or to release the grip of a hand. It is instruction to cease striving entirely, to be thoroughly still in the presence of who and what God is. For those of us living within cultures on the move, stillness is complicated if not extinct. As T.S. Eliot inquired, “Where shall the world be found, where will the word resound? Not here, there is not enough silence.” Our lack of stillness is all encompassing, upsetting vision, mind, and spirit. In the words A.W. Tozer, “Man has accepted the monstrous heresy that noise, size, activity, and bluster make a man dear to God.”
The command of Psalm 46 reminds us of what we have perhaps purposefully forgotten: stillness is necessary. Even Christ himself escaped the crowds to pray in silence to the Father. In stillness we can grasp what is unfathomable — the person and character of God. Through his Word, the Father instructs, “Stop striving, and know that I am who I am.”
The great depths of Psalm 46:10 are a small glimpse of how Scripture is living and active, judging the thoughts and hearts of all. You can glean much about your understanding of God by your reaction to the command to be still and know Him. As with all of Scripture, there is much to be seen, and ultimately, it is Christ who is revealed: “My family” he said, “are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”
His stirring words continue to cry out for obedience: “Be still and know that I am God.” That is, cease striving, desist in all of your distractions; exist in stillness before Him. Dynamically search, actively remember, and continually hold before you the reality of who God is, the certainty of his sovereignty, his goodness, his faithfulness, and his love.
“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
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Copyright © 2005 Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). Reprinted with permission. “A Slice of Infinity” is a radio ministry of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries.