“He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10
What is this verse saying to you? What can we learn about Jesus from this verse?
There are two thoughts in this one verse. Be still and know that I am God, and I will be exalted. Do you know the first part of this verse? I don’t know a woman who doesn’t know this verse when they are a Christ-follower. Men, on the other hand, I don’t know if this is a verse that hits their hearts like it does with women.
What does “be still” have to do with knowing God?
Here is the bible usage of Be Still from the Blue Letter Bible.
Raphah means to sink, relax, sink down, let drop, be disheartened.
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(Qal). To sink down. to sink, drop to sink, relax, abate to relax, withdraw
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(Niphal) idle (participle)
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(Piel) to let drop
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(Hiphil) to let drop, abandon, relax, refrain, forsake, to let go, to refrain, let alone, to be quiet
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(Hithpael) to show oneself slack
Take time today and read other translations of this verse. The HCSB uses the words “stop your fighting” instead of Be still.
râphâh, a primitive root; to slacken (in many applications, literal or figurative):—abate, cease, consume, draw (toward evening), fail, (be) faint, be (wax) feeble, forsake, idle, leave, let alone (go, down), (be) slack, stay, be still, be slothful, (be) weak(-en).
Rapha’ means to heal, make healthful
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(Qal) to heal of God, healer, physician (of men), of hurts of nations involving restored favour (fig), of individual distresses (fig)
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(Niphal) to be healed, literal (of persons), of water, pottery, of national hurts (fig), of personal distress (fig)
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(Piel) to heal, literal, of national defects or hurts (fig)
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(Hithpael) in order to get healed (infinitive)
This is a powerful verse when you look at these two words that are different and similar. Raphah and rapha’. One to be still and the other to heal. Living on this earth filled with sin, which causes us pain, we need to be still and sit at Jesus’ feet. It is there that all our worries and hurt can be healed. I never put healing with being still. I took it as well as how we are taught about being still. Then to top it off in this moment of being still and being healed, all we have to know is that God is God – I am God. God sure does want us to get that He is God. I AM. He is also being exalted among the nations and in the Earth.
When we are still with God, we are getting refueled. Then we can look outward with HI to the harvest in the world. When we gain a heart for God, we will gain a heart for the world. The deeper we fall in love with God and know Him, we will want others to know God the way we do.
Does the phrase in this verse, “Be Still,” mean we shouldn’t be active in His work?
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for being God and that we get to know you for who you are. I pray that we will be still. I pray that we will let this verse sink deep into our hearts, mind, and soul. God, I pray that in all things we will go to you and let you be our God who heals and refuels us. I pray that we will have a heart like yours and be useful in your harvest.
In Jesus Name
Amen
