“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
(Psalm 46:10)
Psalm 46 is a beautiful expression and an awesome testimony to the deep trust we can have in the Lord, even in the most difficult of times. Believers can find comfort and strength in the presence of the Lord and also in the experience of his work in their lives. This psalm has three stanzas seen in the text by the Hebrew word, Selah. The first stanza (46:1-3) introduces the theme of the psalm; we can trust the Lord with our troubles. The second stanza (46:4-7) emphasizes the Lord’s protection by his presence. And finally, the third stanza (46:8-11) is an invitation to consider the mighty works of the Lord and have faith.
Psalm forty-six verse ten falls into the third and final stanza. In this stanza, which calls us to look at the mighty works of the Lord, we see the Lord himself break into the psalm and speak. He speaks two short sentences that shatter our fears and doubts and forces our focus upon the Lord rather than our struggles. We want to look closely at each phrase of this amazing verse. Think about every word and what the Lord is saying to you.
“Be Still.” In these first words from the Lord, he commands us to be still, to slow down, and to calm our hearts and minds. “Stop your worrying and fretting!” the Lord tells us. He grabs our attention when our attention is on our problems rather than on him. The first words of the Lord’s message are critical. When we face difficulties, our minds and bodies are often not still. They are racing everywhere. Let those words come into your mind from the Lord. Calm yourself with his presence. Don’t go on until you can be still.
“And Know.” This second phrase provides us with a point of focus after we’ve calmed our hearts. Focus on what you can know, the Lord says. We are to know, have conviction, rest assured, and trust what the Lord is about to reveal to us. We are not to allow the knowledge of our circumstances to overwhelm the knowledge the Lord gives us. The knowledge that comes from the Lord is solid and sure. We can trust it. This knowledge is not merely head knowledge; it is relational knowledge. We know the Lord. Resolve that you will know and trust what the Lord reveals to you. If we fail to know this, we will fail to experience this great blessing.
“That I Am God.” Now we have the content of the Lord’s revelation to us. And it is this: God is God! God is God! A more awesome and life-changing truth you cannot encounter. God is God, but what does that entail? God is the greatest possible being, awesome, majestic, and glorious. God is infinite and eternal. God is holy, sovereign, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-wise, and all-present. God is faithful, righteous, and just. God is loving, gracious, merciful, and kind. God is truth. God is good. God is all these things in the face of our deepest struggles and pain. If all these attributes of God are true, and they are, then nothing that happens to us can take us outside his control and care. Think deeply about who God is. Know this! Know God!
“I Will Be Exalted!” God’s glory is seen in his exaltation. God is above all powers! God is above all problems! The Bible says here that God will be exalted among the nations and on the earth. He will be exalted everywhere and by everyone. That reality is the ultimate reality of the universe. Everyone will finally exalt God either in this life or the next. “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11) This truth moves us to exalt God and glory in him for who he is, but also for what he is doing in our lives, even in the most difficult of circumstances. This helps us remove fear, worry, anxiety, and anger from our hearts.
So when life gets overwhelming and surrounds us and closes in on us, we can remember this glorious truth, calm our souls, and focus on God’s eternal person and on God’s eternal plan. God is in control. He is God. You can trust him. Meditate on this verse from his word. He will come to you in those moments and calm your soul, and put a song in your heart!