Be still, and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10
The owner of the bookstore where Keith worked had been away on vacation for only two days, but Keith, his assistant, was already panicking. Operations were smooth, but he was anxious that he wouldn’t do a good job overseeing the store. Frenetically, he micromanaged all he could.
“Stop it,” his boss finally told him over a video call. “All you have to do is follow the instructions I email you daily. Don’t worry, Keith. The burden isn’t on you; it’s on me.”
In a time of conflict with other nations, Israel received a similar word from God: “Be still” (Psalm 46:10). “Stop striving,” He said in essence, “just follow what I say. I will fight for you.” Israel was not being told to be passive or complacent but to be actively still—to obey God faithfully while yielding control of the situation and leaving the results of their efforts to Him.
We’re called to do the same. And we can do it because the God we trust is sovereign over the world. If “he lifts his voice [and] the earth melts,” and if He can make “wars cease to the ends of the earth” (vv. 6, 9), then surely, we can trust in the security of His refuge and strength (v. 1). The burden of control over our life isn’t on us—it’s on God.
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.[b] A song.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
an 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.[c]
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[d] 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.
INSIGHT
- How can you let go of situations that are out of your control and surrender them to God?
- What aspects of His character help you to surrender all to Him?
Jesus told His disciples that all Scripture anticipated His coming and specifically mentioned the book of Psalms (Luke 24:25–27, 44–47). Christ’s words remind us that when we read the Psalms, we should reflect on how they might point to Him. After all, He’s the Good Shepherd (John 10:11; Psalm 23) and our divine warrior who defeats the spiritual powers by His death and resurrection (Ephesians 4:8; see Psalm 68:18). There are many ways in which the Psalms anticipate Jesus. In fact, Psalms is one of the most cited books in the New Testament.
PRAYER
Almighty God, You know what’s troubling me. I don’t know how to deal with it, but You do. Help me surrender to Your leading. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen!!
Read: PSALM 46 (NIV) | Bible in a Year: PROVERBS 19-21; 2 CORINTHIANS 7
