Be Still and Know

-


8  Come, behold the works of the Lord,

how he has brought desolations on the earth.

  9     He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;

he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;

he burns the chariots with fire.

10     “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 of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

 

Devotion:

            Today’s scripture is most famous for the first line of verse ten, “Be still and know that I am God.” When put in context of the entire psalm this line takes on even greater meaning. What was the psalmist trying to convey with these words?

            The entire psalm encourages us to look and see what God has done in the world and invites us to look forward to what God will do in the future. The psalm stresses the sovereignty of God in all the earth. It states that God will do what he wishes with the world. It calls upon us to simply be still and know God. It is interesting that both the verbs in the first line of verse ten are imperatives in the Hebrew. God is not just asking nicely that we stand back and behold what He is going to do in the world. It commands us to watch what the Lord is up to and learn that He is the supreme power in the universe.

            Most of our world today is constantly in motion. We have people to meet, places to go, things to do, and we feel we cannot slow down and take time with/for God or even other hurting people God may place in our paths today for us to minister to. In the process, we have become more like human doings than human beings. We were made for communion with God. Yet we give him scarcely a thought all day long. Perhaps we pick up a Bible or devotional and spend ten minutes with him, but then we are off. Checking things off our list to do as if we do not even know God exists.

            Surveys tell us that fewer and fewer of us even take an hour on Sunday to worship him. We live like atheists. Yet we wonder why society seems to be getting less and less moral by the day. How could it not be this way? Christians are neglecting God, are we not encouraging our unbelieving world to ignore Him also. We Christians need to heed the words of the psalmist here. Stand back, stop doing so many different things and look with awe and wonder at what God has done and is doing in our world today.

Prayer:

            Father in Heaven, we pray that you would show us how to stand back, be still, and know that You are the ruler of the universe. You take care of all the starry host in heaven above, you can take care of our petty problems and concerns. Lord, we ask that You show us the way to lead culture in these uncertain times. May we wait upon you to show us the way in which we are supposed to walk. Amen.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Welcoming the Unwelcome

-
  Scripture: Luke 7:36-38 (NIV) 36  When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37  A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38  As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured perfume on them. Devotion:             First of all, some warnings to my readers. This post will exceed the 500 words I try to limit my posts. Second, this post will contain content people may find offensive or otherwise unfit for print. Please understand that my purpose is neither to offend nor upset but to provoke thought and, hopefully, respectful dialog.             We will use Luke chapt...
Read more

The Hatred of the World

-
Scripture: John 15:18-20 (ESV) 18  “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19  If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20  Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. Devotion:             This scripture is compelling. It explains what happened to Jesus and His disciples some 2,000 years ago. The message of God is rarely welcome news for the world. It calls out many of the culture's favorite practices for what they are: sin. Ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, humankind has been adamant about trying to hide or excuse their sin. Sin causes a barrier between humans and God that humanity cannot overcom...
Read more

Reflecting on Reformation Day

-
  On October 31st, millions of Christians around the world celebrate Reformation Day, a commemoration of a pivotal moment in church history. It marks the day in 1517 when Martin Luther, a German monk and scholar, nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. This act, challenging the practices and doctrines of the Catholic Church, ignited what we now know as the Protestant Reformation. The Courage to Stand for Truth Reformation Day calls us to reflect on the courage it takes to stand for truth. Martin Luther faced immense opposition and risked his life to speak against the corruption and abuses he saw within the church. His conviction was rooted in a deep understanding of scripture and a sincere desire to return to the teachings of Christ. As we remember Luther's bravery, let us examine our own lives. Are we willing to stand firm in our beliefs, even when it is difficult? Do we seek truth in God's word and let it guide our actions? Script...
Read more