Sermon: Silence
by Chris Cumming
I was contacted by e-mail the other day. At the top of the page was a single
verse followed by these words:
“This has to be one of the most profound verses in the BIBLE! I love this
scripture.”
Let’s read that scripture:
Psalm 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be
exalted in the earth.
So what makes this verse so profound? What does it mean to, “Be still”? How is
my being still going to result in me knowing God? What is the meaning here?
What is this verse saying to us?
It is my purpose today to answer these questions as I encourage all of us to
learn about being silent before God.
First, let’s read all of Psalm 46 to get the context. What you are going to see
is that this is a prophetic psalm. It is speaking to things to come. The word,
“Selah” [used 75 times in the Bible] is found here three times. Selah is
used almost exclusively in prophetic and end time scriptures. Scriptures that
speak to descriptions of times ahead of us now. We will see its possible
meaning in a few minutes. Psalm 46, beginning in verse 1.
Psalm 46:1-11
1 To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our
refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the
mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake
with the swelling thereof. Selah.
4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the
holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and
that right early.
6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth
melted.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the
earth.
9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and
cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will
be exalted in the earth.
11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Let’s go through the psalm again, verse-by-verse with explanation.
Verse 1: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Notice the commentary…
God is our refuge and strength - God is for us as a place to which we may flee
for safety; a source of strength to us in danger. The first word, “refuge,” from
a verb meaning to “flee,” and then “to flee to” - הסה châsâh - or to take
shelter in - denotes a place to which one would flee in time of danger - as a
lofty wall; a high tower; a fort; a fortress. See the notes at Psalm 18:2. The
idea here is, that the people of God, in time of danger, may find him to be what
such a place of refuge would be. Compare Proverbs 18:10. The word “strength”
implies that God is the source of strength to those who are weak and
defenseless; or that we may rely on his strength “as if” it were our own; or
that we may feel as safe in his strength as though we had that strength
ourselves. We may make it the basis of our confidence as really as though the
strength resided in our own arm. ~Barnes Notes
Quoted verses:
Psalm 18:2
The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in
whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
The commentary said to look at the commentary on this verse.
The Lord is my rock - The idea in this expression, and in the subsequent parts
of the description, is that he owed his safety entirely to God. He had been unto
him as a rock, a tower, a buckler, etc. - that is, he had derived from God the
protection which a rock, a tower, a citadel, a buckler furnished to those who
depended on them, or which they were designed to secure. ~Barnes Notes
And my fortress - He has been to me as a fortress. The word fortress means a
place of defense, a place so strengthened that an enemy could not approach it,
or where one would be safe. Such fortresses were often constructed on the rocks
or on hills, where those who fled there would be doubly safe. ~Barnes Notes
And my deliverer - Delivering or rescuing me from my enemies. ~Barnes Notes
My God - Who hast been to me a God; that is, in whom I have found all that is
implied in the idea of “God” - a Protector, Helper, Friend, Father, Saviour. The
notion or idea of a “God” is different from all other ideas, and David had
found, as the Christian now does, all that is implied in that idea, in Yahweh,
the living God. ~Barnes Notes
My strength - Margin, “My rock” So the Hebrew, although the Hebrew word is
different from that which is used in the former part of the verse. Both words
denote that God was a refuge or protection, as a rock or crag is to one in
danger though the exact difference between the words may not be obvious.
~Barnes Notes
In whom I will trust - That is, I have found him to be such a refuge that I
could trust in him, and in view of the past I will confide in him always.
~Barnes Notes
My buckler - The word used here is the same which occurs in Psalm 3:3, where it
is translated “shield.” ~Barnes Notes
Quoted verse:
Psalm 3:3
But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
And the horn of my salvation - The “horn” is to animals the means of their
defense. Their strength lies in the horn. Hence, the word is used here, as
elsewhere, to represent that to which we owe our protection and defense in
danger; and the idea here is, that God was to the psalmist what the horn is to
animals, the means of his defense. ~Barnes Notes
The other quoted verse in the commentary on Psalm 46:1 is Proverbs 18:10.
Proverbs 18:10
The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is
safe.
Now back to the commentary on Psalm 46:1
A very present help - The word “help” here means aid, assistance. The word
“trouble” would cover all that can come upon us which would give us anxiety or
sorrow. The word rendered “present” - נמצא nimetsâ' - means rather, “is
found,” or “has been found;” that is, he has “proved” himself to be a help in
trouble. The word “present,” as if he were near to us, or close by us, does not
accurately express the idea, which is rather, that “he has been found” to be
such, or that he has always “proved” himself to be such a help, and that,
therefore, we may now confide in him. The word “very,” or “exceedingly,” is
added to qualify the whole proposition, as if this were “emphatically true.” It
was true in the most eminent sense that God had always been found to be such a
helper, and, “therefore,” there was nothing to fear in the present distress.
~Barnes Notes
Now verse 2 of Psalm 46…
Verse 2: Therefore will not we fear,
though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst
of the sea;
And the commentary:
Therefore will not we fear - Our confidence in God shall be unshaken and
abiding. Having Him for our refuge and strength Psalm 46:1, we can have nothing
to fear. ~Barnes Notes
Though the earth be removed - literally, “in the changing of the earth;” that
is, though the earth should be changed. The idea is, that they would not be
afraid, though the convulsions then occurring in the world should be continued,
and should be extended so far as to destroy the very earth itself. God would
remain their friend and protector, and they would have nothing to fear.
~Barnes Notes
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea - Margin, as in
Hebrew, “into the heart of the seas.” This may either be understood literally,
as implying that they would “not” be afraid though the mountains, the most fixed
and firm things of earth, should be uprooted and sunk in the ocean - implying
that nothing earthly was stable; or, the mountains here may be referred to as
emblems of that which seemed to be most settled and established on earth - the
kingdoms of the world. The idea is, that in any convulsion - any change - any
threatened danger - they would place confidence in God, who ruled over all, and
who could not change. It is suited to any time of trouble, when commotions and
revolutions are occurring in the earth, and when everything sacred, true, and
valuable seems to be in danger. ~Barnes Notes
Verse
3:
Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with
the swelling thereof. Selah.
Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled - The waters of the sea. The idea
is, that they would not be afraid though everything should be in commotion, and
be as unsettled as the restless waves of the ocean. The earth might be changed,
the mountains removed, the agitated sea roar and dash against the shore, but
their minds would be calm. The word rendered “be troubled” means to boil; to
ferment; to foam; and here it refers to the ocean as agitated and lashed into
foam. Nothing is more sublime and fearful than the ocean in a storm; nothing
furnishes a better illustration of the peace produced by confidence in God amid
the agitations which occur in the world, than the mind of a seaman that is calm
when the ocean is heaved in wild commotion.
Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof - The rolling ocean
breaking against; the sides of the mountains on its shore, and seeming to shake
them to their foundation. The word rendered “swelling” means properly majesty,
glory; then pride, haughtiness, insolence. Literally, “though the mountains
tremble through their pride.” Compare Psalm 124:5. On the word “Selah,” see the
notes at Psalm 3:2.
Quoted verses:
Psalm 124:5 but I will read the entire psalm:
Psalm 124:1-5 ...imagine someday these are your words
1 A Song of degrees of David. If it had not been the LORD who was on our side,
now may Israel say;
2 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us:
3 Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:
4 Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:
5 Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.
6 Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.
7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is
broken, and we are escaped.
8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 3:2 but I will read the entire psalm:
Psalm 3:1-8 ...imagine someday these are your words
1 A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. LORD, how are they
increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.
2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.
3 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine
head.
4 I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill.
Selah.
5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.
6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves
against me round about.
7 Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon
the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.
8 Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.
Notice that here we have the use of the word “Selah” once again. Here is what
the Barnes Notes commentary has to say after much discussion on history being
not sure as to the use of the word in scripture:
Selah - In general, also, it indicates a pause in the sense, as well as in the
musical performance. Gesenius (Lexicon) supposes that the most probable meaning
of this musical term or note is silence, or pause, and that its use was, in
chanting the words of the psalm, to direct the singer to be silent, to pause a
little, while the instruments played an interlude or harmony. ~ Barnes Notes
Now isn’t this fascinating!? Our key verse [Psalm 46:10] says, “Be still and
know that I am God.” God is giving us His instructions for preparing for the
shock, giving us the descriptions of those shocking events and then telling us
in the strongest terms to not be fearful but rather “be silent”, know that I am
God and see, now, what happens next. What happens next is the intervention of
Almighty God, both in the midst of the trouble, as it is happening AND the sure
encouragement of the Kingdom and all these shocking events being in the past.
We see this beginning in the next verses of this Psalm 46 as we continue to lead
up to our key verse 10.
Verse 4: There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city
of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
This is an eloquent description that we MUST keep in mind during the shocking
events and at those moments we remain still and silent. Notice the John Gill:
There is a river, - The allusion is either to the river Kidron, which ran by
Jerusalem; or to the waters of Shiloah, which by different courses and branches,
ran through the city of Jerusalem, and supplied the several parts of it with
water, to the joy and comfort of its inhabitants: but the words are to be
understood in a figurative sense, as applicable to Gospel times; and this river
either designs the Gospel, the streams of which are its doctrines, which are
living waters that went out from Jerusalem, and which publish glad tidings of
great joy to all sensible sinners; or the Spirit and his graces, which are
compared to a well, and rivers of living water, in the exercise of which the
saints have much joy and peace; or else the Lord himself, who is a place of
broad rivers and streams to his people, and is both their refreshment and
protection; or rather his everlasting love to them is here intended; see Psalm
36:8; The head of this river is the heart of God, his sovereign goodwill and
pleasure; the channel through which it runs is Christ Jesus; the rise of it was
in eternity, when, like a river that runs underground, it flowed secretly, as it
does before the effectual calling; when it breaks up, and appears in large
streams, and flows, and so it proceeds running on to all eternity. It is a river
that is unfathomable, and cannot be passed over; it has heights and depths, and
lengths and breadths, which cannot be fully comprehended: as for the quality of
it, it is a pure river, clear as crystal; free of all dissimulation in the heart
of God, and clear of all motives and conditions in the creature. Its water is
living water; which quickens dead sinners, revives drooping saints, secures from
the second death, and gives eternal life; it makes all fruitful about it, or
that are planted by it; ~John Gill
The streams whereof shall make glad the city of God - the "streams" of this
river are eternal election; the covenant of grace its blessings and promises;
the provision and mission of Christ as a Saviour, and redemption by him;
justification, pardon, adoption, regeneration, perseverance in grace, and
eternal life; called "streams", because they flow from the fountain of divine
love; and because of the rapidity, force, and power of the grace of God, in the
application of them in conversion, which carries all before it; and because of
the abundance, continuance, and freeness of them, and the gratefulness and
acceptableness of them to those who see the worth of them, and their interest in
them; see Song of Solomon 4:15; and these, when made known and applied, "make
glad" the hearts of God's people under a sense of sin and guilt, under divine
desertions, the temptations of Satan, and the various afflictions they meet
with; for these are intended by "the city of God", as the church is often
called, because of his building, and where he dwells, and where the saints are
fellow citizens. And the same are signified by... ~John Gill
The holy place - being an holy temple to God, consisting of holy persons, such
who are sanctified by the Spirit of God, and live holy lives and conversations:
and ~John Gill
Of the tabernacles of the most High - being the dwelling places [of God, Christ
and the power of God, the Holy Spirit]. All which is a reason why the saints
should not fear in the worst of times. ~John Gill
Now verse 5 which continues the future descriptions…
Verse 5: God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall
help her, and that right early.
Notice the Barnes Notes commentary on this verse. It will make reference to
Isaiah 37 where we read of King Sennacherib coming up against Jerusalem with no
less than 185,000 soldiers.
God is in the midst of her - God is in the midst of the “city” referred to above
- the “city of God.” That is,
(a) he dwelt there by the visible symbol of his presence, the Shekinah;
(b) he was there “actually” as a help and a protector.
It was his chosen abode, and as long as such a Being dwelt in the city, they had
nothing to fear.
God shall help her - That is, in her danger, he will interpose to save her. This
is language such as would be used in reference to a place that was besieged, and
would well apply to the state of things when Jerusalem was besieged by the
armies of Assyria under Sennacherib. The language expresses the confidence of
the people in the time of the impending danger.
And that right early - Margin, “when the morning appeareth.” Literally, “in the
faces of the morning,” as the word is commonly used. Possibly there may be an
allusion here to what occurred in the camp of the Assyrians, when the discovery
that the angel of the Lord had smitten them was made early in the morning, or
when men arose in the morning: “The angel of the Lord went forth, and smote in
the camp of the Assyrians an hundred and fourscore and five thousand [185,000
men]: and when they arose in the morning” (that is, when men arose in the
morning), “behold, they were all dead corpses,” Isaiah 37:36. ~Barnes
Notes
Verse 6: The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his
voice, the earth melted.
We continue in Barnes Notes still making reference to Sennacherib and his army
of 185,000.
The heathen raged - The nations were in commotion, or were agitated like the
waves of the sea. This language would well describe the consternation of the
nations when the Assyrians went forth to conquest, and when, having subdued so
many other kingdoms, they made war on Jerusalem.
The kingdoms were moved - That is, those who were invaded, as well as those that
made the invasion. There was a general convulsion or shaking among the nations
of the earth.
He uttered his voice - God spoke; he gave command; he expressed his will.
Compare Genesis 1:3; Habakkuk 3:6.
Quoted verses:
Genesis 1:3
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Habakkuk 3:6
He stood, and
measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the
everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways
are everlasting.
Now the last phrase in Psalm 46:6…
The earth melted - The very earth seemed to melt or dissolve before him.
Everything became still. The danger passed away at his command, and the raging
world became calm. The Bible abounds in language of this kind, showing the
absolute power of God, or his power to control all the raging elements on land
and ocean by a word. ~Barnes Notes
Next comes a bold and profound statement and truth followed by direction [Selah]
to be silent.
Verse 7: The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Selah.
Now Barnes Notes:
The Lord of hosts - The God commanding, ordering, marshalling the hosts of
heaven - the angels, and the starry worlds. The reference here is to God
considered as having control over all “armies,” or all that can be regarded and
described as a marshalled host, in earth and in heaven. Having such a Being,
therefore, for a protector, they had nothing to fear. See Psalm 46:11, which is
the last verse of this psalm we study today, "The LORD of hosts is with us; the
God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”
Is with us - Is on our side; is our defender.
The God of Jacob - The meaning is, The God whom Jacob acknowledged, and whom he
found to be his friend, is with us.
Is our refuge - literally, a high place, as a tower, far above the reach of
enemies. So the margin, “an high place for us.” ~Barnes Notes
Notice this verse now from the John Gill:
The Lord of hosts is with us - The Targum is, "the Word of the Lord of hosts".
He whose name is Immanuel, which is, by interpretation, "God with us", Matthew
1:23; who is King of kings, and Lord of lords; who has all creatures in heaven
and earth at his command, whom all the hosts of angels obey; he is on the side
of his people, and therefore they have nothing to fear from all the hosts and
armies of men; seeing more are they that are for them than they that are against
them;
Quoted verse:
Matthew 1:23
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they
shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
The God of Jacob is our refuge. - As, in the former clause, the argument
against fear of men is taken from the power of God, and the extent of his
dominion, here it is taken from the grace of God, and his people's covenant
interest in him: for by Jacob is meant the church of God, and all true
believers, who are Israelites indeed; the Lord is the refuge and shelter of such
in all times of distress and trouble, and therefore they need not fear. ~John
Gill
Verse 8: Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath
made in the earth.
Come, behold the works of the Lord - Go forth and see what the Lord has done.
See, in what his hand has accomplished, how secure we are if we put our trust in
him.
What desolations he hath made in the earth - Or, in the land. The word
“desolations” might refer to any “ruin” or “overthrow,” which he had brought
upon the land of Israel, or on the nations abroad - the destruction of cities,
towns, or armies, as proof of his power, and of his ability to save those who
put their trust in him. But if this be supposed to refer to the invasion of the
land of Israel by Sennacherib, it may point to what occurred to his armies when
the angel of the Lord went forth and smote them in their camp Isaiah 37:36, and
to the consequent deliverance of Jerusalem from danger. Without impropriety,
perhaps, this may be regarded as all appeal to the inhabitants of Jerusalem to
go forth and see for themselves how complete was the deliverance; how utter the
ruin of their foes; how abundant the proof that God was able to protect his
people in times of danger. It adds great beauty to this psalm to suppose that it
“was” composed on that occasion, or in view of that invasion, for every part of
the psalm may receive a beautiful, and an ample illustration from what occurred
at that memorable period. Nothing “could” furnish a clearer proof of the power
of God to save, and of the propriety of putting confidence in him in times of
national danger, than a survey of the camp of the Assyrians, where an hundred
and eighty-five thousand men had been smitten down in one night by the angel of
God. ~Barnes Notes
Quoted verse:
Isaiah 37:36
Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a
hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the
morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
Try to imagine God taking out 185,000 soldiers in one day. That is roughly the
entire populations of either Amarillo, Texas; Knoxville, Tennessee or Tacoma,
Washington.
Verse 9: He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh
the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.
He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth - Either in all the land, or
in all the world. The overthrow of the Assyrian army would probably put an end
to all the wars then raging in the world. The Assyrian empire was then the most
mighty on the globe; it was engaged in wide schemes of conquest; it had already
overrun many of the smaller kingdoms of the world Isaiah 37:18-20; and it hoped
to complete its conquests, and to secure the ascendancy over the entire earth,
by the subjugation of India and Egypt. When the vast army of that empire,
engaged in such a purpose, was overthrown, the consequence would be that the
nations would be at rest, or that there would be universal peace.
Quoted verses:
Isaiah 37:18-20
18 Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and
their countries,
19 And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work
of men's hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.
20 Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms
of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, even thou only.
And, of course, 185,000 soldiers were eliminated.
He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder - That is, he makes them
useless, as a bow that is broken is of no value, or a spear that is cut into
parts.
He burneth the chariot in the fire - The war-chariot, that which was employed in
battle. The expression here may refer to a custom of collecting the spoils of
war into a heap, and setting them on fire. This was particularly done when the
victors were unable to remove them, or so to secure them as to preclude all
danger of their being taken again and used against themselves. ~Barnes Notes
Now to the key verse that inspired this sermon.
Verse 10: Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the
heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
Here is the commentary…
Be still - The word used here - from רפה râphâh - means properly to cast
down; to let fall; to let hang down; then, to be relaxed, slackened, especially
the hands: It is also employed in the sense of not making an effort; not putting
forth exertion; and then would express the idea of leaving matters with God, or
of being without anxiety about the issue. Compare Exodus 14:13, “Stand still,
and see the salvation of God.” In this place the word seems to be used as
meaning that there was to be no anxiety; that there was to be a calm, confiding,
trustful state of mind in view of the displays of the divine presence and power.
The mind was to be calm, in view of the fact that God had interposed, and had
shown that he was able to defend his people when surrounded by dangers. If this
the divine interposition when Jerusalem was threatened by the armies of the
Assyrians under Sennacherib, the force and beauty of the expression will be most
clearly seen.
And know that I am God - See, in what I have done, the evidence that I am God.
See a work accomplished which none “but” God could effect.
I will be exalted among the heathen - That is, among the nations. The nations
abroad that do not worship me, but worship idols, shall see in these deeds full
proof that I am the true God, and that I am worthy of universal adoration.
I will be exalted in the earth - In the lands abroad; all over the world. The
defeat and destruction of the armies of Sennacherib were eminently suited to
make a deep impression on the world that the God of the Hebrew people was the
true God. ~Barnes Notes
Now the Adam Clarke:
Be still and know that I am God - הרפו harpu, Cease from your provocations of
the Divine justice; cease from murmuring against the dispensations of his
providence; cease from your labor for a season, that ye may deeply reflect on
the severity and goodness of God - severity to those who are brought down and
destroyed; goodness to you who are raised up and exalted: - cease from sin and
rebellion against your God; let that disgrace you no more, that we may no more
be brought into distress and desolation.
Note: This commentary clearly understands that God is speaking to true
believers---firstfruits and is speaking to their piety, that is, their
religion. The point here for firstfruits is to never drift into compromising
with God’s law or even allowing one step toward backsliding or letting down in
any way. We must be constantly redoubling our efforts under the headings of
fervency, diligence and zeal. There must be a 100%, total reliance on Almighty
God in everything and regardless of the events unfolding before us.
Know that I am God - Understand that I am the Fountain of power, wisdom,
justice, goodness, and truth.
I will be exalted among the heathen - By the dispensation of punishments, the
heathen shall know me to be the God of justice; by the publication of my Gospel
among them, they shall know me to be the God of goodness.
I will be exalted in the earth - I will have my salvation proclaimed in every
nation, among every people, and in every tongue. ~Adam Clarke
Notice this now from the Treasury of David, which is another Bible commentary.
“Be still, and know that I am God.” - Hold off your hands, ye enemies! Sit down
and wait in patience, ye believers! Acknowledge that Jehovah is God, ye who feel
the terrors of his wrath! Adore him, and him only, ye who partake in the
protections of his grace. Since none can worthily proclaim his nature, let
“expressive silence muse his praise.” The boasts of the ungodly and the timorous
forebodings of the saints should certainly be hushed by a sight of what the Lord
has done in past ages. “I will be exalted among the heathen.” They forget God,
they worship idols, but Jehovah will yet be honoured by them. Reader, the
prospects of missions are bright, bright as the promises of God. Let no man's
heart fail him; the solemn declarations of this verse must be fulfilled. “I will
be exalted in the earth,” among all people, whatever may have been their
wickedness or their degradation. Either by terror or love God will subdue all
hearts to himself. The whole round earth shall yet reflect the light of his
majesty. All the more because of the sin, and obstinacy, and pride of man shall
God be glorified when grace reigns unto eternal life in all corners of the
world. ~Treasury of David
Here we see the message, “Be still, and know that I am God.” is a message
pointed at both the believer and the non-believer, the saint and the evil
heathen, the followers of God and the followers of Satan.
We have huge and detailed accounts of what God has done in the past. Witness
what God did with Moses, with Abraham and what He did to Sennacherib and so many
others. What happened to Goliath? Witness the several individuals resurrected
the day Christ was sacrificed. We need to see these events, not as secular or
biblical history but something we have personally witnessed with a spiritual
eye, as if we were there.
Indeed, notice this from the Matthew Henry:
Commentary for Psalm 46:6-11 - Come and see the
effects of desolating judgments, and stand in awe of God. - This shows
the perfect security of the church, and is an assurance of lasting peace. Let us
pray for the speedy approach of these glorious days, and in silent submission
let us worship and trust in our almighty Sovereign. Let all believers triumph in
this, that the Lord of hosts, the God of Jacob, has been, is, and will be with
us; and will be our Refuge. Mark this, take the comfort, and say, If God be for
us, who can be against us? With this, through life and in death, let us answer
every fear. ~Matthew Henry
So to the individual who sent me this verse: A profound scripture indeed!!
Go now and let your silence be seen before God!!
Further Study on your own:
I now want to go to the Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge and see what scriptures
are speaking to the same ideas coming from our key verse of Psalm 46:10.
Be still:
Habakkuk 2:20
But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before
him.
The Lord is in his holy temple - Jehovah has his
temple, the place where he is to be worshipped; but there there is no image.
Oracles, however, are given forth; and every word of them is truth, and is
fulfilled in its season. And this temple and its worship are holy; no
abomination can be practiced there, and every thing in it leads to holiness of
heart and life.