In Psalm 46 The Psalm starts off with: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear…” (1-2a) So immediately we have a personal purpose to the Psalm. Someone is in fear and found an answer to their fear— God! He acknowledges God as our refuge and strength. He further admits that God is an instant aid (very present help).
But it is much more personal than that. I am not seeking to dissect the Psalm; more of that can be done later. My purpose is to center on one verse and more importantly one phrase: “Be still, and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46.10a)
Two things to note: One: Be still; and Two: know. The word “still” is רפה (râphâh) which means to sink, to be relaxed, slackened, especially the hands. The Hebrews used it in conversation as “not making an effort”. Usually it expresses the idea of leaving matters with God, and not worrying. Literally: relax. Used also in Exodus 14.13—“Stand still, and see the salvation of God.” Or as ‘Barnes notes on the Bible’ says: “In this place the word seems to be used as meaning that there was to be no anxiety; that there was to be a calm, confiding, trustful state of mind in view of the displays of the divine presence and power.” Most of the usages are modernized today as the word “refrain”. We have to let our hands off, not make an effort. In other words, we have to let God and let it alone. As our context shares though, this is a state of being (Be still). We aren’t to just take an inactive stance, but to actively BE still.
To “Know” is the Hebrew word (yada) and simply means “to know”. The phrase “And know that I am God” contextually throughout the Old Testament makes a deep impression on us that the God of the Hebrew people was the one and only true God. Yada in this sentence is used as a verb (יְדַע) It comes with it the added idea of observing and taking note of. So it is more like: reasoning, discerning, and processing further truths of the same knowledge. It is like saying you know someone, or really getting to know them. To “know Him” is more than a head knowledge, and obviously goes beyond getting acquainted with Him. It is knowing Him in a deeper more meaningful way.
My application is personal. I need to slack my hands, let go, quit, lose the anxiety, refrain or let off this life and the stresses of it. Instead, I must confide in Him, trust Him, allow Him to work, defend and protect. Do I really know Him? Do I really have the spiritual wherewithal to stop, refrain, and allow Him to show Himself powerful to me again? I must know Him in a new and more meaningful way. Apparently when life comes at us this way, He is calling us to trust in a deeper way by knowing Him in a deeper way.
In case you are thinking, I tried that, I have your application in a sentence: “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” (Psalm 46.11) One: “The Lord of hosts is with us.” Or as Paul told the Romans: “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8.31). Two: “the God of Jacob is our refuge”. Yes He is. Refuge indicates a presence over or concealed behind. Therefore, He is with us and over us! How can you be more secured than that! Shouldn’t that be enough? Shouldn’t His presence with and over us be enough, or are we really that carnal that we need a sign or answer? As Jesus said in Matthew 12.39: “But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign…” He even repeated himself in Matthew 16.4 adding the word “wicked”. His presence and nothing else should be our all-sufficiency.
He is calling us even deeper and closer than before. He is calling us quieter as well. How? “Selah” means a refrain or pause. These last two verse of Psalm 46 should cause us to stop and pause. To be quiet and close again. He is calling us to look into His eyes, if we dare too. To listen to His heart, if we are courageous enough. To learn in a more meaningful way just how much of great God He really is.
4 thoughts on “Be Still And Know”
Amen. Actively being still and taking the time to take no effort and rely on God is definitely a walk in The Spirit move, as the flesh wants to constantly be too busy to acknowledge The Lord.
Truth.
HE declares again HE is the “I AM”. I haven’t searched beyond your writings, but I must ask Who is speaking— FATHER, SON, OR? Where is HE? Or may I request the circumstances?
Thanks for bringing this always to improve my expectations in assurance and faith in God and HIS People and HIS Word.
Who exactly? It is Elohim in this case (God) and not LORD God, which is YAHWEH Elohim. Elohim is always in plural form and therefore usually encompassing the Trinity, as with Genesis 1.
The Circumstances of the Psalm is a song written for the chief Musician and a song upon Alamoth. Interesting note: Alamoth is a singular noun which literally means “virgins”. It is used as a musical term ( 1 Chronicles 15.20 ), denoting that the psalm ( Psalms 46 ) was to be sung by soprano or female voices. As the the circumstances surrounding the psalm itself, Barnes believes it was when Jerusalem was threatened by the armies of the Assyrians under Sennacherib. I tend to agree.