Be Still and Know

 2 Kings 17; 2 Chronicles 28; Psalms 46; James 3 

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble…The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come and see the works of the Lord, 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,…Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 46:1, 7-10

When we become still so we can know the presence of the Lord, who is it we discover?

The same God, who is our refuge, strength, and fortress, is judging sin, confronting nations, and bringing desolations on the earth. He doesn’t plead with nations to stop fighting; he snaps their weapons and shatters their defenses. God calls us into stillness so we can get our eyes off of ourselves and our fear and refocus our attention on God’s presence and glory around us.

Do we know that he is God, or only that he is ‘god’?

Have we privatized and reduced God to such a degree that he no longer judges nations or confronts sin?

If our God is too small, it’s time to be still and be reminded that he is God of all.

“Lord God Almighty, you alone hold the nations, and my life, in your hand. I trust you, exalt you, and will live for your glory.”