Be Still!

Reflection: The psalms are known for not only their beauty, but for their strength.  In the psalms we discover the nature of God, and how by understanding God’s nature we can be strengthened in any battle that comes our way.  In my top ten psalms is today’s Psalm 46.  There are two verses worth remembering and meditating on.  The first is, “God is our refuge and strength, and ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.”  And then, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Sometimes it is hard to “Be still!” when so much around us is not still.  We try to juggle responsibilities at home, at work, with friends, and within our community of faith. Of course there are many religions that teach to “be still”, but we must consider what comes next, “and know that I am God!”  Being still without knowing who God is really futile!  Then comes the kicker, “I will be exalted in the earth and I will be exalted in the nations.”  This of great comfort for those of us who take ourselves too seriously, and God not seriously enough!

One of the reasons we have anxiety in life is that we are too busy trying to exalt ourselves, or worrying if we will be exalted.  As we fully trust that God will be exalted, or another way of saying this is, “God’s will be done”; we can let go of our need to control events and outcomes.  As we truly believe that God is in control, we can give up control and that is the nature of being still. 

Have you “been still” lately?  Have you reflected on God’s greatness, His goodness, and His purpose in your being here?  Just take a few minutes to reflect on how great our God is today and be still and know Him.  Then we can pray with Jesus, “Your will be done in my life today as it is in heaven.”  Amen. 

Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and strength,

    and ever-present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam

    and the mountains quake with their surging.

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

    the holy place where the Most High dwells.

5 God is within her, she will not fall;

    God will help her at break of day.

6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;

    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The Lord Almighty is with us;

    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

8 Come and see what the Lord has done,

    the desolations he has brought on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease

    to the ends of the earth.

He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;

    he burns the shields with fire.

10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;

    I will be exalted among the nations,

    I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The Lord Almighty is with us;

    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Job 12:13-13:19

13 “To God belong wisdom and power;

    counsel and understanding are his.

14 What he tears down cannot be rebuilt;

    those he imprisons cannot be released.

15 If he holds back the waters, there is drought;

    if he lets them loose, they devastate the land.

16 To him belong strength and insight;

    both deceived and deceiver are his.

17 He leads rulers away stripped

    and makes fools of judges.

18 He takes off the shackles put on by kings

    and ties a loincloth around their waist.

19 He leads priests away stripped

    and overthrows officials long established.

20 He silences the lips of trusted advisers

    and takes away the discernment of elders.

21 He pours contempt on nobles

    and disarms the mighty.

22 He reveals the deep things of darkness

    and brings utter darkness into the light.

23 He makes nations great, and destroys them;

    he enlarges nations, and disperses them.

24 He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason;

    he makes them wander in a trackless waste.

25 They grope in darkness with no light;

    he makes them stagger like drunkards.

13 “My eyes have seen all this,

    my ears have heard and understood it.

2 What you know, I also know;

    I am not inferior to you.

3 But I desire to speak to the Almighty

    and to argue my case with God.

4 You, however, smear me with lies;

    you are worthless physicians, all of you!

5 If only you would be altogether silent!

    For you, that would be wisdom.

6 Hear now my argument;

    listen to the pleas of my lips.

7 Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf?

    Will you speak deceitfully for him?

8 Will you show him partiality?

    Will you argue the case for God?

9 Would it turn out well if he examined you?

    Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal?

10 He would surely call you to account

    if you secretly showed partiality.

11 Would not his splendor terrify you?

    Would not the dread of him fall on you?

12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes;

    your defenses are defenses of clay.

13 “Keep silent and let me speak;

    then let come to me what may.

14 Why do I put myself in jeopardy

    and take my life in my hands?

15 Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;

    I will surely defend my ways to his face.

16 Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance,

    for no godless person would dare come before him!

17 Listen carefully to what I say;

    let my words ring in your ears.

18 Now that I have prepared my case,

    I know I will be vindicated.

19 Can anyone bring charges against me?

    If so, I will be silent and die.

Romans 15:17-29
17 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— 19 by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. 20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. 21 Rather, as it is written:

“Those who were not told about him will see,

    and those who have not heard will understand.”

22 This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.

Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome

23 But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you, 24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord’s people there. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. 28 So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Let your good spirit lead me on a level path. Psalm 143:10

Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings; for it is well for the heart to be strengthened by grace. Hebrews 13:9

O Word who doesn’t fit on a page, we sometimes use scripture to fit our agendas. Forgive us for cheapening the complexities of your nature and your way by considering only the verses that serve our aim. Let your Spirit lead us to a deeper study of scripture. Amen.