Devo 37: Be Still and Know?

Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has made desolations in the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.


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

We have heard this verse so many times, “Be still and know that I am God,” yet it is most often used in the wrong context. It usually has a peaceful, serene, quietness associated with it. However, when you read Psalm 46, you will see that this verse is not in that context at all.

This psalm is about the judgments of God and the act of being still and knowing He is God takes place in the midst of destruction and confusion.

Let me give you some more perspective on the context of this verse. Imagine you were Lot when Sodom and Gomorrah was being destroyed. You were fleeing the city to save your life, your wife turns into a pillar of salt, and the Lord says to you, “Be still and know that I am God.”

Or imagine this scenario, it is 70 A.D. and the emperor of Rome is destroying the temple and Jerusalem. Be still and know that I am God.

Closer to home…a tsunami wipes out thousands of people in Indonesia or an earthquake in China…or a hurricane in Myanmar…Be still and know that I am God?

Lets go one more…a hurricane wipes out New Orleans…twin towers fall in New York City…wildfires in California…Be still and know what???!!!! Whoa now…

This is the part of God we are not too comfortable with—not at all; yet in “that day,” we will be expected to be still and know He is God in the midst of His judgments being released on the earth.

Before the Lord gave Daniel some terrifying insight into His coming judgments at the end of the age, He gave Daniel a glimpse of the Son of Man seated on the throne (Dan. 7:9). It was to show that nothing happens outside of His knowledge. The passage continues, “the courts were seated and the books were opened.” This was to show Daniel that God was in control of those judgments being released.

The same thing happens in the book of Revelation. Jesus gives the message to the churches in chapters 2-3, then in chapters 4-5, He shows John the throne room and the “one seated on the throne” (Rev. 4:2). It is the same language as in Daniel 7, and the same pattern as well, because then the Lord goes on to give John the plan for the release of His judgments in chapters 6-22.

Two times in the book of Revelation, voices in heaven proclaim: “Just and true are all your judgments!” (Rev. 16:7, Rev. 19:2). This proclamation is released in the midst of His judgments being poured out where many people die. It is in the midst of war, famine, pestilence, and the destruction caused by corrupt governments. I believe that this is the correct response the Lord wants from His people when He says, “Be still and know that I am God.”

Now, I am not asking you to agree with me right now, but I want to make you think, because God wants His people to know Him as Judge and to agree with His judgments. He wants them to be confident in the midst of turmoil and to truly be still and know that He is God. Reread Psalm 46 and see what you think now.

Blessings,

Amanda
 
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