Be Still and Know
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
3/23/2014 PM
|
Text:
|
Psalm 46:10a
|
Psalters: |
204, 405, 126, 100 |
- The occasion.
- There are many troubles in the lives of God’s people and in His church.
- The church and each saint faces an enemy called the world.
- The world sometimes attacks with fierce anger, mocking, ridiculing and persecuting.
- And the world sometimes attacks with sweet allurements.
- Satan and his host are behind every scheme and every attack.
- In addition, God is pleased to bring into the lives of His people and His church troubles and sorrows, pains and hurts.
- These come in many different forms and in numerous shapes.
- God brings difficulties which occasion fears about the present and the future.
- God issues the command: “Be still.”
- The implication is that we want to fight against the foe or the cause of our pain and sorrow.
- We become angry and frustrated, rise in rebellion; we conclude that we have the right to be angry and to get even.
- We claim the right to know why He is doing what He is doing and that He really does not have wisdom.
- Not that we be like stones, unconcerned about the commotions in the earth and stoic before God’s judgments.
- Rather the command calls us to be quiet and easy, resigned to God’s will and live assured of God’s love.
- There is no room for objection or complaint against God.
- And our silence is a positive consent or agreement.
- Implied in the activity of being still is the humble realization that I am naturally foolish.
- The reason for being silent is the knowledge that God is God!
- Our ability to obey this command arises out of our knowledge: “know.”
- Know the simple but most powerful truth that Jehovah is God.
- “God” is the supreme One Who is filled with every perfection and is infinitely so.
- The psalm speaks of God as Jehovah of hosts (7), sovereign in creation (2,3).
- He speaks of God’s sovereignty over the enemies of God’s church and of God’s people (5-7).
- Because He is God, we keep still before Him!
- Bow before His majesty and listen to His Word declare His wondrous works.
- And then praise Him Who only blessings us with every spiritual blessing!