Relax For I Am God

VERSE OF THE DAY

Psalm 46:10 (New Living Translation)

Share Audio

“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”

“Be calm in knowing I am God bring Peace in that thought relax. For I God will be honored in every nation and world wide.”

Psalm 46:10 ESV Bible. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” In the ESV Bible version, God issues a command for all people to be still and know He is God.

What is Psalms 46 talking about?

Psalm 46 is marked as a Psalm of the sons of Korah, for the choir director. God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. The Psalm is divided into three sections, each one proclaiming God as a refuge and a stronghold, and each is separated by a pause, or Selah.Sep 15, 2019

What does it mean when God tells you to be still and know that I am God?

Like many Bible verses, this one (Psalm 46:10) is often ripped from its context to declare something not intended in the passage itself. Well-meaning Christians may use this as a consolation in times of worry and frustration – as if God is saying, “relax, I got this.”Jul 13, 2018

What does God mean when he says be still?

Today in church our pastor taught on the Bible scripture, “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10. “Be still’ means to stop striving, stop fighting, relax. It also means to “put your hands down”. Sometimes we put our hands up to defend ourselves from all that life can bring our way.Feb 28, 2010

What Does Psalm 46:10 Mean? ►

“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(ESV)

Verse Thoughts

What a blessed comfort this verse has been to multitudes of believers in Christ, down through the ages, who have rested on these words of the Psalmist and had their hearts stilled in the presence of the Lord.

What refreshment these simple words have bestowed on many little lambs who have listened to the voice of their Good Shepherd – that Great Shepherd of the sheep Who opens His arms wide to embrace all who will trust in His name.

But in context, we see another component to these words of reassurance. We see a plan to glorify His Name and exult His Person among the nations of the world who rage against the God of heaven and His anointed King. He is our Defence and our Defender against the enemies of our soul, and all who rest in Him find courage and strength. He is our refuge from the storms of life and our shelter in the midst of oppression, and we are called to be still and to know that He is God – for His purposes will never fail and He will be glorified throughout the whole earth.

It is of great encouragement, both to His people Israel, and to His children of every age, that men who follow their own atheistic ‘will’ and construct their own anti-God plans, will finally be brought to nothing – for God alone will be exulted among the heathen and His purposes alone will come to fruition – but we who have trusted Him for salvation are to sit serenely in His presence, in quiet confidence and in godly trust.

Like the people of Israel in times past, Church-age believers are called to remember the mighty deeds that God has done and to recall the wondrous works that He has performed. We are to rest confidently in the knowledge that He is our faithful God – the supreme Creator of all and Commander of the armies of heaven Who redeems us by faith in the shed blood of Christ, and will never leave us nor forsake us.

We are to rest peacefully in the truth of His Word and be still in His holy presence. We are to know in our heart, by faith with thanksgiving, that He is the Lord our God Who pardons all our iniquities and heals all our diseases, Who redeems our life from the pit, and Who crowns us with lovingkindness and compassion.

He is our God Who satisfies our years with good things and renews our youth like the eagle. He performs righteous deeds and judgments for all who are oppressed.

The LORD is compassionate and gracious… slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. He is our Saviour and Friend. He is our hope and strength and He will be exalted, for it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves, for we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

1. Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;

Leave to thy God to order and provide;

In every change He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend

Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

2. Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake

To guide the future as He has the past.

Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake;

All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know

His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Although the nations rage like the billows of the sea and the people imagine a vain thing against the Lord God Almighty, we are called to be still in the presence of the Lord and to know Him in our heart by faith, with thanksgiving. May we be still in His presence and cease from all our strivings… and be at peace in His company – Whom to know is life eternal.

Source: https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/psalm-46-10

Psalm 46

Psalm 46 – Confident in God’s Protection and Power

The title of this psalm is To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song for Alamoth. These sons of Korah were Levites, from the family of Kohath. By David’s time it seems they served in the musical aspect of the temple worship (2 Chronicles 20:19).

“An ode upon Alamoth, or concerning the virgins: possibly meaning a choir of singing girls.” (Adam Clarke)

Charles Spurgeon wondered if Alamoth referred to a high-pitched stringed instrument as suggested by 1 Chronicles 15:20.

“Comment on this great song of confidence seems almost unnecessary so powerfully has it taken hold on the heart of humanity, and so perfectly does it set forth the experience of trusting souls in all ages and tumultuous times.” (G. Campbell Morgan)

“Luther, when in greatest distress, was wont to call for this psalm, saying, Let us sing the forty-sixth psalm in concert; and then let the devil do his worst.” (John Trapp)

A. God present among His people.

1. (1-3) The help of God greater than any crisis.

God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah

a. God is our refuge and strength: Many of the other psalms begin with a description of the psalmist’s crisis. In Psalm 46, the poet begins with God’s provision. He looked to God for help in difficult times and found it. He could say these things by experience:

· That God Himself was a place of refuge, as the cities of refuge protected the fugitive in Israel.

· That God Himself was strength for His people, being strong for them and in them.

· That God alone was his refuge and strength, not God and something or someone else.

· That God Himself was their help – not from a distance, but a very present help.

i. A very present help: “The secret of the confidence is the consciousness of the nearness of God.” (Morgan)

ii. This has nothing to do with the safety or strength inherent in the creature. “We may be as timid by nature as the coneys, but God is our refuge; we are as weak by nature as bruised reeds, but God is our strength.” (Spurgeon)

iii. “All creatures, when in distress, run to their refuges, Proverbs 30:26 [The rock badgers are a feeble folk, yet they make their homes in the crags].” (Trapp)

b. Therefore we will not fear: The psalmist applied the logic of faith. If God is a real refuge, strength, and help to His people, then there is no logical reason to fear – even in the biggest crisis (though the earth be removed).

i. “Its robust, defiant tone suggests that it was composed at a time of crisis, which makes the confession of faith doubly impressive.” (Kidner)

c. The earth be moved…the mountains carried…the waters roar…the mountains shake: The psalmist considered the most frightening, humbling natural phenomenon imaginable. He then made the reasoned estimation that God was greater than them all, and fear before these in some way robbed God of some of His honor.

d. Selah: The greatness of thought in this psalm was and is worthy of pause and careful thought.

i. “It were well if all of us could say, ‘Selah,’ under tempestuous trials, but alas! too often we speak in our haste, lay our trembling hands bewildered among the strings, strike the lyre with a rude crash, and mar the melody of our life-song.” (Spurgeon)

2. (4-6) The peaceful provision of God.

There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the earth melted.

a. There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God: The psalmist pictured the abundant, constant provision of a river for Jerusalem. The image is significant because Jerusalem does not in fact have such a river, only a few small streams. Yet the prophets anticipated the day when a mighty river would flow from the temple itself (Ezekiel 47:12, Revelation 22:1). The future reality is already in the mind of the psalmist.

i. “We might almost translate, ‘Lo! a river!’ Jerusalem was unique among historical cities in that it had no great river. It had one tiny thread of water.” (Maclaren)

ii. “With God the waters are no longer menacing seas but a life-giving river.” (Kidner)

iii. The river flows and makes all the city of God happy.

· The city of God is glad because life-giving water is always present in that dry, semi-arid land.

· The city of God is glad because the river has many streams, a picture perhaps connected to the rivers that watered the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:10-14).

· The city of God is glad because a river is sometimes a picture of peace (Isaiah 48:18, 66:12). Jerusalem is in perfect peace.

· The city of God is glad because the city is secure, having one of the best defenses against an enemy besieging the city – guaranteed water.

b. The city of God: The connection is clearly with Jerusalem, the location of the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. At the same time, the title “The City of God” lifts the concept to God’s ideal, perfect city – the New Jerusalem (Revelation 3:12 and 21:2).

c. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved: All the blessing and provision of the city of God comes because of God’s presence. Because of His presence she is more firmly set than the earth which may be moved (Psalm 46:2). The city is so established because God shall help her.

i. “The promise she shall not be moved gains special force from the repetition of the same word, moved, used of the mountains and of the kingdoms.” (Kidner)

ii. Just at the break of dawn: “As by the day-break the shadows and darkness are dissipated; so by the bright rising of Jehovah, the darkness of adversity shall be scattered.” (Clarke)

d. The nations raged…He uttered His voice, the earth melted: As in Psalm 2, God pays no regard to the rage of the nations. At His mere voice the earth melts away.

3. (7) The confident chorus.

The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

a. The LORD of hosts is with us: The idea behind the title Yahweh Saboath is that He is the commander of armies, both the army of His people and the armies of heaven. The title emphasizes His glory and might, connecting it with the idea that this glorious God is with His people.

i. LORD of hosts: “Under whose command are all the hosts of heaven and earth, angels and men, and all other creatures.” (Poole) “In fact, the conception underlying the name is that of the universe as an ordered whole, a disciplined army, a cosmos obedient to His voice.” (Maclaren)

b. The God of Jacob is our refuge: The title God of Jacob not only emphasizes the aspect of covenant, but also grace – in that Jacob was a rather shabby character, not known for his great holiness. This gracious and merciful God is an open refuge for His people.

i. Is our refuge: “The word refuge, here and in verse 11, is distinct from that of verse 1, and implies inaccessible height: hence [New English Bible] ‘our high stronghold.’” (Kidner)

ii. In these two phrases we see God in two aspects. He is the King of the multitude, the community, of all hosts. He is also the God of the individual, with personal relationship even to a Jacob.

iii. God of Jacob: “When we say ‘The God of Jacob,’ we reach back into the past and lay hold of the Helper of the men of old as ours.” (Maclaren)

B. The LORD exalted among the nations.

1. (8-9) Beholding the works of the LORD.

Come, behold the works of the LORD,
Who has made desolations in the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariot in the fire.

a. Come, behold the works of the LORD: If the dominant idea in the first section of the psalm was God as a refuge and help, here the emphasis shifts to a consideration of the glory of God.

i. “The recitation of the mighty acts of God plants deep in the memory of God’s people the evidences of his care, protection, and providential rule.” (VanGemeren)

b. Who has made desolations in the earth: God is mighty to make desolations or to enforce peace, making wars to cease. The idea may be that God’s people are invited to look over the field of battle after God has completely routed His enemies, and their instruments of war are scattered, broken, and burning.

i. “Since God’s people have reason to be glad in distress because of God’s presence, how much greater will be their joy when the causes of distress are no more!” (VanGemeren)

2. (10) A word from God Himself.

Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!

a. Be still, and know that I am God: The idea is not that the faithful reader should stop activity and stand in one place. The sense is more that argument and opposition should stop and be still. This is done in recognition of God’s glory and greatness, as mentioned in the previous verse.

i. “In this verse there is a change of person, and Jehovah himself is introduced, as commanding the world to cease its opposition, to own his power, and to acknowledge his sovereignty over all the kingdoms of the nations.” (Horne)

ii. The idea is something like this: “As you know the glory and greatness of God, stop your mouth from arguing with Him or opposing Him. Simply surrender.”

iii. “Be still…is not in the first place comfort for the harassed but a rebuke to a restless and turbulent world: ‘Quiet!’ – in fact, ‘Leave off!’” (Kidner)

iv. “In this setting, ‘be still and know that I am God’ is not advice to us to lead a contemplative life, however important that may be…. It means rather, ‘Lay down your arms. Surrender, and acknowledge that I am the one and only victorious God.’” (Boice)

v. Know that I am God: “Our submission is to be such as becomes rational creatures. God doth not require us to submit contrary to reason, but to submit as seeing the reason and ground of submission. Hence, the bare consideration that God is God may well be sufficient to still all objections and oppositions against the divine sovereign.” (Edwards, cited in Spurgeon)

b. I will be exalted among the nations: The appropriately silenced man or woman of God can glory in God’s exaltation. God’s triumph will extend far beyond Israel to all the earth.

3. (11) The confident chorus.

The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

a. The LORD of hosts is with us: We can have the confidence that the same God exalted in all the earth is with us. We need no more.

i. Is with us: “On the day he died John Wesley had already nearly lost his voice and could be understood only with difficulty. But at the last with all his strength he could summon, Wesley suddenly called out, ‘The best of all is, God is with us.’ Then, raising his hand slightly and waving it in triumph, he exclaimed again with thrilling effect, ‘The best of all is, God is with us.’” (Boice)

b. The God of Jacob is our refuge: We leave the psalm with confidence and serenity. This is worthy of reflection, closing with Selah.

(c) 2020 The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik – ewm@enduringword.com

Categories: Old Testament Psalms

Enduring Word

Source: https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/psalm-46-10

What does Psalm 46:10 mean? [⇑ See verse text ⇑]

This often-quoted verse comes in a specific context: God’s omnipotent power to protect the nation of Israel from the hostile forces which attack her (Psalm 46:1–7). The phrase “be still” uses a Hebrew term which can be rendered as “relax,” “let go,” or “stop.” It implies an act of surrender—a release of striving and hostility. Prior verses pointed out that attempting to fight against God is a losing proposition (Psalm 46:8–9). Those who rage against God (Psalm 2:1) would be better off letting go of frantic anger and accepting His truth instead.

In literal terms, this verse does not mean to “sit quietly and listen for God.” That interpretation is not entirely flawed, of course. Where God’s enemies need to “be still” by ending their tantrums against Him, God’s people can “be still” by faithfully trusting God to be their source of strength (Exodus 14:13).

That trust and submission is key to what it means to “know that I am God.” One might imagine a strong, protective parent telling a child, “don’t be afraid, keep in mind how I’ve kept you safe in the past.”

Scriptural references to “the nations” often mean the Gentile world: nations other than Israel. That same context also implies a message meant to be heard and understood by the entire world. This psalm calls upon all people to stop squabbling and know that the Lord is God. Psalm 2:10–12 issues similar counsel. The Lord advises the nations to be wise, to be warned, to serve the Lord with fear, to rejoice with trembling, and to kiss the Son. In other words, the Lord summons the nations to repent, throw down their weapons of warfare, and come to friendly terms with Him.

One way or another, God will be properly honored by all people and in all places on earth (Isaiah 45:23; Romans 14:11). Someday, at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess Christ as Lord, giving glory to God the Father (Philippians 2:10–11).

Context Summary

Psalm 46:8–11 invites worshipers to consider the peace God gives those who trust in Him. He triumphs over those who wage war, and He will be given His proper respect among the peoples of earth. He is with His chosen nation, Israel, as their protector and guardian. This might have been composed in response to one of God’s miraculous rescues of Israel, such as when Assyria besieged the city (2 Kings 19:35).

Chapter Summary

Trust and thanksgiving are the main themes in Psalm 46. It begins with strong praise for God’s strength and availability. It continues with the assurance that the nation of Israel need not fear, no matter what happens. Despite how anyone might rage, or strive, the psalm declares that God will one day judge mankind and put a dramatic end to war. The psalm ends as it began by confiding in the Lord of hosts, since He is with His people as their secure, undefeatable Protector. This psalm may have inspired Martin Luther to write the hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”