Bible Reflections From Scripture Union Volume OneSample

Quiet!
Read Psalm 46:1-11

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

The world will not forget December 26, 2004 or March 11, 2011. On that day ‘roaring and foaming waters’ (v 2) ceased to be mere imagery. The waters literally roared and foamed, and for hundreds of thousands of people, the earth gave way (v 2).

Christians around the world, and especially in the affected regions, would have read this psalm in sober gravity. When that which is seemingly unshakeable gives way, where will we run to? Is there an invincible refuge? The psalmist declares, ‘There is (v 1)!’ Countless saints of God echo the declaration. They have gone through tumultuous times: searing anguish, heart-wrenching betrayal, crunching defeat and failure. That which had stood strong and sure for them crumpled and crumbled. But the Lord God, their sure Refuge was there for them. You may have your own story to tell. Take time to recall, to reflect and to give thanks. Share your story to encourage someone who is stumbling through a crisis.

The Hebrew for the injunction, ‘Be still’ (v 10) is a ‘rebuke to a restless and turbulent world’ (Derek Kidner, Tyndale Commentary). ‘Quiet!’ ‘Leave off!’ ‘Enough!’ Art Katz in his message, ‘Against False Prophets’, said, ‘We are too fretful. There is too much movement, too much activity. We can’t allow silence and waiting …We’re too distracted. We can’t allow early morning devotional times because we have a heavy agenda ahead of us and all kinds of administrative details to consider because we are more CEOs than we are men of God. The whole nature of the church and its success militate against being still and being in the place of quiet, being able to hear. Even if there were time to find the counsel of God by standing still, our disposition is already ruined. The mechanisms of our religion have already so affected our disposition, that even if we had the leisure and the time, we wouldn’t know how to employ it. Our minds would be racing’ (Singapore 2004).

O God forgive us and teach us all over again to be still in Your presence, to receive Your counsel and be directed to Your glory.