What does the Lord mean by, "Be still and know that I am God"
Psalms 46:1 - 11
MSG - 1 God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him. We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, courageous in seastorm and earthquake, Before the rush and roar of oceans, the tremors that shift mountains. Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God-of-Angel-Armies protects us. 4 River fountains splash joy, cooling God's city, this sacred haunt of the Most High. God lives here, the streets are safe, God at your service from crack of dawn. Godless nations rant and rave, kings and kingdoms threaten, but Earth does anything he says.
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Asked June 07 2015
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Abby Alvarado
Supporter
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Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
Admirable question, Abby! I'm going to flip-flop the order of the verse:
Recognition that the Lord alone is God ("know that I am God"):
Exodus 18:11 – Jethro declares the Lord is greater than all gods.
1 Samuel 17:46 – David says the world will know there's a God in Israel.
1 Kings 18:36 – Elijah prays so people know the Lord is God.
2 Kings 19:19 (or 19:12 in some lists) – Hezekiah prays for deliverance so all kingdoms know You alone are God.
Psalm 83:18 – Let them know You alone are the Most High over all the earth.
Psalm 100:3 – Know that the Lord, He is God.
These echo the call to experiential, awe-filled knowledge of God's unique identity.
The call to silence/awe before God (ties into "be still"):
Habakkuk 2:20 – The Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before Him.
Zechariah 2:13 – Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for He is aroused from His holy habitation.
These complement "be still" as a command to hush human striving and stand in reverent awe.
Assisted by classic.net.bible.org / Psalms 46 and xref, Warren Wiersbe, classic.net.bible.org Hymns, and grok.com (ai)
I love this song: Be Still And Know by Steven Curtis Chapman
[Verse 1]
Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is holy
Be still, oh restless heart of mine
Bow before the Prince of Peace
Let the noise and clamor cease
[Verse 2]
Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is faithful
Consider all that He has done
Stand in awe and be amazed
And know that He will never change
Be still
[Chorus]
Be still, and know that He is God
Be still, and know that He is God (know that He is God)
Be still (be still) and know that He is God
Be still (be speechless)
[Verse 3]
Be still and know that He is God
Be still and know that He is our Father
Come and rest your head upon His chest
And listen to the rhythm of
His unfailing heart of love
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