BE STILL

Ps.46:10 – Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!

Be still! I wonder how many times I heard my mom tell me to be still. Squirming around in the back seat of the car, “Be still!”. Moving all around in the church service “Be still!”. Acting up in the movie theatre, “Be still!”. Funny that would be the very word the Lord spoke to me at the beginning of my Christian experience, “Be still and know that I am God”. What a strange thing to say, “I am God”. Of course He is but it is only when we stop squirming and listen that we realize His power and authority to orchestrate all things. He is God and He is causing all things to work together for good for all who love Him. Be still for a minute and listen; He really is God and He will sort everything out in your life. Here is how Jonathan Edwards describes this verse.

Herein he manifested his power and sovereignty, and so commands all to be still, and know that he is God. For says he, I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. In the words may be observed. A duty described, to be still before God, and under the dispensations of his providence; which implies that we must be still as to words; not speaking against the sovereign dispensations of Providence, or complaining of them; not darkening counsel by words without knowledge, or justifying ourselves and speaking great swelling words of vanity. We must be still as to actions and outward behavior, so as not to oppose God in his dispensations; and as to the inward frame of our hearts, cultivating a calm and quiet submission of soul to the sovereign pleasure of God, whatever it may be.”

Edwards is very specific as to how we should be still and not squirm. First, he says we are to be still as regards to words. We must not speak against His sovereign dealings in our life and world. Be still and trust what He is doing. In other words be still. Second Edwards said to be still in regard to actions. In other words we are not to try to take matters into our own hands. Things may look out of control at times but remember, He is upholding and orchestrating all things. My job is to be still and know that He alone is God.