Life Without Mother

Come and see what the Lord has done,
    the desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease
    to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the shields with fire.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 46:8-10

Dear Friend,

How often have we seen the phrase “be still and know” in a flowing, cursive script, or with some peaceful looking background? As though this phrase is said in this gentle tone of comfort, eliciting images of calm waters and a dawning sun. Yet, as with most verses taken from their context, we miss the true depth of our LORD’s words: “Be still, and know that I am God.”

What is the tone? Commanding. To all people and nations, not just His beloved children. What is the background? A destroyed battlefield. Carnage and desolation of our God’s enemies.

Should we receive this as comfort? Absolutely! But, may we not miss the full message of comfort in this:

Our God is sovereign over all people. They will “be still” because He is God. They will know that He is God for His sovereignty will rule over them. And it is a sovereignty that crushes His (and therefore His children’s) enemies with justice!

The greatness and holy justice of our God should cause awe, peace, and gratitude in our hearts. That He — this magnificent, holy, victorious LORD of hosts — would secure us under the safety of His wings by His Holy Spirit!¹

Do you see the great power of this statement in its fuller context? It is not some simple platitude, but a truth that can change the nature of man. When we ourselves were in our sin, we needed to “be still, and know that He is God” and, in knowing the truth of our God and Savior, repent and believe. Receive the command to then receive the comfort of it!

Friend, my intent in this is not to dismiss the comfort and peace of beautiful scripted words and images — rather, to deepen our understanding of that comfort and peace in the foundation of scripture.

Rejoicing and resting in His sovereignty,
Hannah

1. Psalm 91:4 ↩︎