Be Still and Know
“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)
I’ve got six kids, so I don’t have much time to “be still.” Our kids are involved in sports, band, and a host of other activities. My wife and I have a good time running around and supporting all their interests, but it doesn’t leave much room for “being still.” And yet, the psalmist encourages us to be still in today’s verse. Psalm 46 is a beautiful passage that inspired Martin Luther to write, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” The first half of the psalm praises God for His ever-present watch care over Israel.
The second half of the psalm shifts toward a future perspective. The psalmist praises God because He causes desolations in the earth and He also brings war to an end (Ps. 46:8-9). When will those things happen? The Apostle John answers that question for us in the Revelation. At the end of time, Jesus will return to make war against the Beast, the False Prophet, and the Devil. It’s no surprise that Jesus will be victorious and will then establish a kingdom of peace on the earth (Rev. 20:1-3).
The psalmist invites us to “be still and know” for a purpose – to remember that God is going to be exalted among the nations and all over the earth. Why would a Christian in the 21st century need to be still and consider the coming kingdom of Jesus? Because the Devil is currently having his way in our fallen world. We see murder, violence, and rampant immorality on every side. Every day we need to be still and remember that this world is not our home. Jesus Christ is returning to make all things new!
I’ve got six kids, so I don’t have much time to “be still.” Our kids are involved in sports, band, and a host of other activities. My wife and I have a good time running around and supporting all their interests, but it doesn’t leave much room for “being still.” And yet, the psalmist encourages us to be still in today’s verse. Psalm 46 is a beautiful passage that inspired Martin Luther to write, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” The first half of the psalm praises God for His ever-present watch care over Israel.
The second half of the psalm shifts toward a future perspective. The psalmist praises God because He causes desolations in the earth and He also brings war to an end (Ps. 46:8-9). When will those things happen? The Apostle John answers that question for us in the Revelation. At the end of time, Jesus will return to make war against the Beast, the False Prophet, and the Devil. It’s no surprise that Jesus will be victorious and will then establish a kingdom of peace on the earth (Rev. 20:1-3).
The psalmist invites us to “be still and know” for a purpose – to remember that God is going to be exalted among the nations and all over the earth. Why would a Christian in the 21st century need to be still and consider the coming kingdom of Jesus? Because the Devil is currently having his way in our fallen world. We see murder, violence, and rampant immorality on every side. Every day we need to be still and remember that this world is not our home. Jesus Christ is returning to make all things new!
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