Sermon:  Silence
by Chris Cumming                                       printer-friendly     MP3       Part 2 of this sermon

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.

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