the rest of “be still…”

“If My promise is to exalt Myself through the heathen*, will I not exalt Myself in your life?”

Psalm 46:10 started it all earlier today as I was in the midst of worrying about the bits and pieces of life.  It starts famously with (good advice to) “Be still, and know that I am God.”  But today, the second part was just as needed and hard hitting as the first:

“I will be exalted among the heathen*, I will be exalted in the earth.”

In a sense, this verse and the one that follows are the conclusion of the whole chapter, which delineates how the earth and the heathen* fall apart.  Through it all, the sovereign presence of God is emphasized, and this verse makes it clear that God will be glorified through all of what onlookers would consider disaster.  

The call to the people of God to “be still” is a stark contrast to the “rage” (vs.6, also translated “to make a loud sound, to be in great commotion, tumult”) of the heathen.  The protagonist in this story is God, and we are called to come and see (vs. 8 ) as we do not fear (vs. 2).  The three short directions are woefully impossible without Him, though.  Who can be truly unafraid and be still without His presence?

 

*At the time that this verse was written and the promise was given, “the heathen” was anyone who wasn’t an Israelite.  They were defined by not being part of God’s chosen people, yet He clearly had plans for them and used them throughout Scripture and today.

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