God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Psalm 46
Disasters fall, diseases spread, nations rage, and where is the Lord?
Enthroned over it all. Inhabiting His holy hill.
Sovereignly ruling and bringing a kingdom that cannot be moved.
As a fallen world crumbles, He remains, unscathed, untouched, preserving what is of His kingdom and destroying what cannot last within it.
When we get to the verse that says, “Be still and know that I am God,” it is often seen in delicate fonts on misty images of landscapes or sunrises. We recite it to each other as words of sweet, gentle comfort. And certainly, part of its meaning is that reassurance – it is God that orchestrates and ordains, and we need not be governed by panic.
But the assurance of comfort for our dust-made beings is shown by contrasting a shaking, unstable world to the majestic One who is comforting us.
“The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts… Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.”
So who is this powerful God talking to when He says, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Is our Mighty Fortress responding to a trembling people, or roaring like a lion at all that dares to threaten His children’s safety?
“Be still!” He says to nations that rage. “Be still!” He says to wars that endanger. “Be still!” He says to a world that rebels.
And [Jesus] awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”
Mark 4:39-40
The comfort of “Be still!” is that it is a command against all that threatens to claim us by the One who claims all. He is our refuge and strength.
