‘Be still and know that I am God’

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Ps. 46v10)

There is no doubt that we live in an increasingly troubled world. Often, we have hardly come to terms with the turmoil of instability or conflict in some part of the world before our attention is drawn to another. Be it the Israeli and US attacks on Iran that have destabilised various nations in the Middle East that are increasingly expanding to various other parts of the world, or the seemingly ever-present Russia–Ukraine [war], these do not make us forget other trouble spots like the hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan, DR Congo’s conflict with the M23 (March 23 Movement rebel group) or militant attacks and persecution of Christians in Northern Nigeria, just to name a few.

More often than not, the impact of these trouble spots that seem so far away from some of us come much nearer home than expected. Be it far or near, we are often so disturbed that the temptation is to throw up our arms in despair or be overcome with fear or uncertainty, not only about the present but our future. How should we respond to these ever-increasing situations of conflict or turmoil in our rapidly changing world?

John Stott once challenged Christians to do double listening: listening to God’s Word on one hand and listening to God’s world on the other. If we do so, as we should, we shall not be too perplexed about the things we read or see happening around us. Rather we shall bring what the Bible says about turmoil and instability, however long ago, to bear on our current realities. An important Scripture text that offers strength and hope in times like these is Psalm 46. Attributed to the sons of Korah, and often used in worship, the psalm is believed to have been written in response to the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem in about 701 BC. At the time the Assyrian army had threatened Judah and created widespread fear and uncertainty. In response, the psalm looks beyond the unfolding turmoil to reflect on divine intervention, and how God turned things round to deliver Jerusalem from the Assyrians’ siege. While our diverse context may be different from what happened then, the psalm’s confident assurance in an unchanging God remains relevant to us today.

It begins with a bold declaration: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea…”

In contrast to all that may change we are reminded and assured of God’s unchanging presence with His people. We are called in response, to hear what God Himself says to us: “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (v10).

This is what we hardly do as a first response. We are often too busy with various routines of life and pressure points to be still. And we tend to rely more on what human peace talks and treaties offer us. Yet hundreds and thousands of such can hardly replace the peace and intervention God can bring, if only we are still enough in His presence. It is in obedience to the call to be still in God’s presence that we can bring all our concerns about the state of world before God and trust Him to intervene. Stillness, silence and prayer in the presence of God can achieve much more than any human intervention can, as good as they may be. As we commit to this, we shall find assurance in how the psalm ends with an affirmation of God’s protective presence: “The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge” (v11).