Be Still!
- Avi Tekle
- Aug 1
- 4 min read
Tents of Mercy Congregation
Kiryat Yam, Israel
In Psalm 46 we learn that the world is destined to be shaken.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
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 He says, “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. (NIV)
Verse two reminds me of what Yeshua said in Matthew 24, “Do you see all these things? …Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
In other words, things you thought were stable and reliable will fall, will not hold. The earth will change. It will not be solid as you know it. Life will “move under your feet,” like an earthquake, like a boat rocking between waves. You will need something to hold on to.
My father, may his memory be blessed, was a building contractor who always drove pickup trucks. My brother and I would climb into the truck bed; as soon as the truck started moving, we loved to slide back and forth, as my dad purposely steered to and fro. As a child that was fun. Today I don’t think I would enjoy the experience nearly as much!
The world we inhabit is unsteady and changeable. Even mountains, that seem the most stable, will be uprooted. It’s a very scary thing. Verse six says that kingdoms fall. In modern times, we have seen governments once thought strong and secure, overturned. Yeshua said that kingdoms will rise against kingdoms. I’m sorry if this is an uncomfortable picture, but the earth will melt like wax at the voice of the Lord.
Yet there is something that will not be overturned. It is God – our refuge and strength. He is an ever present help in trouble. What does that mean?
God is not far away. Sometimes the most important help for us is to know that someone is by our side. God is stable and strong in our lives. God does not change. This affects how we walk in this world: therefore we will not be afraid (v.2). Fear will not dominate our lives because something greater is driving it out.
In Genesis 15 God says, “Don’t be afraid, Abraham. I am your protector; I am your reward in life. Not the things that you have achieved, not the things that you have NOT achieved. I am the center of your life, so do not be afraid of tomorrow” (my paraphrase).
I think that should touch us! When God becomes the foundation of our lives, shoring us up against the shaking, it affects our character. It eliminates stress. In verse eight he says to observe the actions of the Lord. Our vision clears. We have a purpose. We don’t react to our environment; we respond to God.
In verse ten God gives a command – “Be still!” Why? Because He is the Lord. Because He will be exalted among the nations. Everything that is happening around us is leading towards God receiving the glory. The purpose of the shaking is to bring Him glory. I know it’s hard to say amen, but it’s the truth. In Haggai 2, He says, “…I will once more shake the heavens and the earth… The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former…”
The path God is leading us on, is actually bringing glory to Him. Therefore, beware lest you find yourselves refusing the One who speaks to you. The purpose of the tremors is to remove the things that are collapsing, so that we will ultimately receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:25-28).
In prayerful conclusion let us say to the Lord:
There are not enough words to describe the good that we have received. I know where I would be if I did not have You. Lord, You drew me into your mercy.
You have gathered us together and made us citizens of Your unshakeable kingdom. Help us to perceive that there is no place for fear in our lives, no place for confusion, no place for worry and stress, because You have established and prepared everything to bring glory to Your name. Help us to honor You. Help us to be still in the midst of the shaking. Help us to receive into our lives the stability that You give.
