When it rumbles #3
| 8 Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. 10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." 11 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah (Psalms46:8-11) |
This jarring is because we have often used verse 10 out of context. All the bookmarks and scripture posters I have seen depicting this verse have been the quiet peaceful under-the-tree-by-the-gently-flowing-river type of picture. Typically they depict the idea of an individual coming quietly and meditatively into the presence of God.
I have often interpreted the verse in the same way for myself and offered it as such to others. But it's not quite accurate...
The context suggests something different:
It suggests nations at war being brought to a standstill by powerful claims of God's majesty and might. It is a call to be still (to cease, to stop, to desist) in the midst of clamouring and tumult. It's a clarion call in the midst of battle. It's a reminder that even when we are in the midst of the hurly-burly and chaos, God-is-with-us and God-is-God!
One of the best depictions of this is found in the New Testament when Jesus crosses Galilee with his disciples. Jesus is asleep in the boat when a furious squall comes up and terrifies even the experienced fishermen in the group. They wake Jesus up with frantic cries: "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"
But Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. (Mark 4:39)
Jesus calming the storm is a much stronger picture than our tree-by-the-river scene. Have a look at the picture that came with the first part of the series... You can see the lighthouse keeper standing serenely in the doorway while the waves crash around. He knows he is in a secure fortress.
In the midst of the chaos and storms remember: "The LORD Almighty is with us - the God of Jacob is our fortress."
Because sometimes He calms the storm and sometimes He calms His child.
...and sometimes - as we rush around frantically - He has to challenge us to "cease and desist!"
