Psalm 46
1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;
God will help it when the morning dawns.
6 The nations are in an uproar; the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice; the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord;
see what desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end 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 am exalted among the nations;
I am exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God!
Psalm 46 is brilliantly constructed. This is especially clear when it is read out loud (as all Psalms should be read). Verses 1-9 are busy and energetic. By the time the reader gets to verse 10, there’s a great deal of excitement in the reading. And then verse 10 stops everything in its tracks.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God!
When I read this Psalm, I always come to a full stop after “be still” and then read the rest of the verse slowly and quietly. It creates a stunning sense of the awe and majesty of God’s presence.
As we careen toward election day, with all the ads and messages and articles and conversations and anxieties, a full stop is a good idea.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God!
How will you come to stillness in God’s presence today?
Prayer: Lord God, you are worthy of all honor, glory, and praise. Thank you for meeting me in the stillness, when the world seems to have gone insane around me. AMEN