Be still, and know that I am God!
This passage was addressed to Israel and was talking about Jerusalem, but the principles do apply to everyone who has been adopted into God’s family. This is also a picture of God’s presence and protection in our lives.
Psalm 46 NLT
For the choir director: A song of the descendants of Korah, to be sung by soprano voices.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
3 Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Interlude
4 A river brings joy to the city of our God,
the sacred home of the Most High.
5 God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
From the very break of day, God will protect it.
6 The nations are in chaos,
and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders,
and the earth melts!
7 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress. Interlude
8 Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:
See how he brings destruction upon the world.
9 He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”
11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress. Interlude
Examine the Scriptures:
Psalm 46 NLT
For the choir director: A song of the descendants of Korah, to be sung by soprano voices.
This passage is addressed to Israel.
The principles apply to everyone who has been adopted into God’s family.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
We are living in challenging times.
Our lives are surrounded with chaos and turmoil.
However, the people of God are secure, even in chaotic times, because God is their refuge and strength.
- God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.
2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
3 Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Interlude
No matter what happens:
Natural disasters
or
life’s overwhelming challenges.
Isaiah 41:10 NLT
10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Romans 8:38-39 NLT
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ.
- Do not fear when hard times come, God is with you.
4 A river brings joy to the city of our God,
Jerusalem has no river. Here the “river” serves as a metaphor for the continual outpouring of the sustaining and refreshing blessings of God.
Romans 15:13 NLT (A prayer of Paul.)
13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
- God is able to fill his people with joy and peace.
the sacred home of the Most High.
5 God dwells in that city;
This can certainly be interpreted as Jerusalem, the dwelling place of God, but better yet this can be interpreted as a symbolic representation of God dwelling with His people.
In the New Testament, the Church is described as the Body of Christ, a living organism through which Christ continues His work on earth.
Ephesians 2:19-22 NLT
A Temple for the Lord
19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.
- God dwells in His people.
Hebrews 13:5 NLT
5 … God has said,
“I will never fail you.
I will never abandon you.”
it cannot be destroyed.
From the very break of day, God will protect it.
Matthew 16:18 NLT
18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
- God’s church cannot be destroyed.
6 The nations are in chaos,
and their kingdoms crumble!
We are surrounded with political upheaval.
God’s voice thunders,
and the earth melts!
7 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
This title for God is repeated in verse 11.
This powerful name emphasizes God’s authority and power as the commander of heavenly armies, signifying his ability to protect and deliver his people.
Jesus’ (God the Son) title in Revelation.
Revelation 19:16 NLT
16 On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.
the God of Israel is our fortress. Interlude
This theme is introduced in verse 1.
God is all powerful.
God is with us. Immanuel, “God with us”.
- God is more than able to protect His people.
8 Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:
See how he brings destruction upon the world.
9 He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
An invitation to observe God’s power and triumph over the nations.
Psalm 78:7
So each generation should set its hope anew on God,
not forgetting his glorious miracles …
10 “Be still, and know that I am God!
Be still.
As individuals or as nations.
Stop striving.
Don’t worry about anything. (Philippians 4:6)
Release your anxieties and trust in God’s power and plan.
Acknowledge God’s supreme authority and power.
In our busy, noise-filled lives, this passage of scripture is a powerful reminder to intentionally create moments of stillness to connect with God and experience “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”.
The call to “be still” is particularly important in our fast-paced and anxiety-ridden society, urging us to find moments of quiet contemplation and to trust in God’s sovereignty.
- Take time to be still and recall and reflect on all the things you already know about God.
(We will come back to this in a minute.)
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”
- God’s mission will be accomplished.
11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
Repeated from verse 7.
the God of Israel is our fortress. Interlude
- As people of God, we are secure, even in chaotic times, because God is our refuge and strength.
Activity:
Share something (one thing) with the group that you know, and value, about God.
This passage alone lists numerous attributes of God.
Examples:
God is sovereign.
Be still and acknowledging God’s sovereignty amidst the chaos in the world around us.
God, the creator of heaven and earth, who is all-powerful, sovereign, and holy, is in control.
God is in control over nature, nations, and history.
The people of God are secure, even in chaotic times, because God is their refuge and strength. (V. 1)
ETC. ETC.
