Today my attention was turned to Psalm 46 in my Bible. After reading the chapter I began doing a little bit of research regarding it. It is believed to be a song that was written in the context of a time when it seemed everything that people depended on in the natural realm was being shaken and even taken away. I discovered that this Psalm has been called Martin Luther's Psalm. If you read this Psalm and then Luther's hymn, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, then you would understand why it has been called Martin Luther's Hymn!
Luther said,
"We sing this psalm to the praise of God, because God is with us and powerfully and miraculously preserves and defends his church and his word against all fanatical spirits, against the gates of hell, against the implacable hatred of the devil, and against all the assaults of the world, the flesh and sin."
The Psalm is attributed to the sons of Korah. It is believed by some that the song is the result of God's defense of Jerusalem in the days of King Jehoshaphat. You can read the story in 2 Chronicles 20. An allied army from three nations was about to march on Jerusalem with intent to destroy. Jehoshaphat called the city to prayer. Jehoshaphat prayed something along the lines of - God we have no might against this army, and we do not know what to do! But our eyes are on you! God spoke to them through a prophet who declared you will not need fight this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf. (Go to your Bible and get the rest of the story!)
That brings me to the thought for today from Psalm 46. Psalm 46:10 (ESV)
10 "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"
Be still. That is in the imperative. It is a command. Be still and know that I am God. The first thing comes to mind when I read the words "be still" is learning at any early age in church that the wise young boy will sit still and be very quiet if he does not want to feel the pressure of dad's hand squeezing his leg just above the knee! Be still.
It was enlightening to learn that those words "be still" in the original language was more about relax, let your hands down, cease striving. We are a people who so want to be in control. We want to be able to push the right button or to at the very least be able to defend ourselves in our strength. But it seems like God delights in those times when life is beyond our control and we don't know what to do, for it is those times we must acknowledge our need of him!
The word for today – Be Still . . . relax . . . let me be God and do what I can do.
When I came across "cease striving" as a definition for "be still" I remembered a visit to a pediatrician with a grandchild and daughter. It was time for one of the required vaccinations for public school. The grandchild wanted no part of a needle being poked into their arm. Yes, there can be a moment of discomfort when the shot is administered, but I am willing to bet that shot was less painful than the pain that was administered by my grip on that child to hold them down so the doctor could do the deed.
Cease striving. These days are like nothing we have experienced in a long time. There is a whole lot of unknown regarding the virus, the economy and every other thing in our world that is affected. But we can choose to relax, because He is God and He will be exalted among the nations!
We love you all, and continue to pray God's blessing on you and yours!
