Be Still and Know God

Introduction

We do not have to think very hard this morning to identify calamity, turmoil, or chaos. We live in a world that is full of the chaos that took place this week—the horrific school shooting in Colorado as well as the killing of Charlie Kirk. These shootings took place because of sinful hatred. We live in a sin cursed world where just over 2,000 years ago a mob of excessively angry people wanted to see a man whom they hated die a very gruesome and painful death. Jesus Christ died on the cross for the sin of the world. He endured excessive hatred and physical persecution in living a righteous life. A life that he considered joyful (Hebrews 12:2 “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”). I am not this morning equating any of these deaths or deaths that have come before as equative in nature to Jesus Christ. I share these recent and raw illustrations as illustrations among many that could be referenced to emphasize the wickedness and sinfulness we live in. I bring them up to bring to our minds that the Son of God considered God the Father and His power as joy in the middle of the most adverse action a person could take—dying for the sins of the whole world. Both of these sad and wicked events illustrate the chaos that sin and wickedness brings. When tragic events like this week take place as they have throughout history we must not get distracted by the chaos and get pulled into the fear that sin and wickedness promote.

God cares about life and we know this because he time and time again expresses this in the Bible. We see this aspect of his character in Deuteronomy 22:8 (“8 “When you build a new house, you shall make a parapet for your roof, so that you will not bring bloodguilt on your house if anyone falls from it.”) where God commands Israel to build a wall on the top of their roof along the edge so that no one falls off and dies. This law tells us that God cares about human life. This means that God cares about you! This means God cares about us as a church! We could continue to list the terrible and sinful actions and beliefs of the world we live but it would be placing our focus on the wrong thing.

This morning I want us to take the camera lens of our minds and hearts and focus them on God’s Word and away from the chaos. I want you to with me zoom in on the character of God, on the Word of God so that when we walk out of here today the lens of our mind and heart does not focus on the chaos that brings discouragement and fear and frustration but rather focus on God by stepping back and letting God do and be the God of this universe who is our refuge and fortress.

Our text this morning, Psalm 46 details for us the truth of what it means to be still and know God. Psalm 46 serves as a profound reminder that in times of trouble, our God is not only a refuge but also our source of peace. The psalm illustrates the contrast between the overwhelming chaos of life and the steadfast calm that comes from trusting in God's eternal presence. the psalm does this through the use of three stanzas and a chiastic structure. Each stanza will reveal a truth about God with the climax of the song coming in the third stanza with a set of double imperatives. The overall structure of the psalm is in what is called chiastic structure. Chiasm is a form of poetry where parallel ideas relate to each other in inverted order. The use of this form is to help us understand the truth we need to understand and apply.

Demonstrate briefly how our psalm connects.

Read text.

Psalm 46 NASB95

Stanza 1: God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah. Stanza 2: 4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. 6 The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted. Chorus: 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah. Stanza 3: 8Come, behold the works of the Lord, Who has wrought desolations in the earth. 9 He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire. 10 “Cease striving [Be Still] and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Chorus: 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.

In the reading of the psalm, our big idea this morning is:

Big Idea: We must rest and trust in God’s sovereignty over life’s adversities.

Restated: Finding strength and peace in God requires us to intentionally embrace stillness and trust, enabling us to face life's adversities with unwavering confidence and hope.

As Christians we need to take the lens of our mind and heart and focus on the necessity of stillness in the Christian life. This morning this psalm will be emphasizing that it is in quiet moments of prayer and reflection that we become aware of God's presence and power in our circumstances.

1. God is our refuge among life’s ever changing landscape.

Psalm 46:1–3 NASB95

1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.

Have you ever heard the statement, “Wow, time flies when having fun!” or “When will this trial ever end?” Life is ever in flux. Take a look at history. Yes, certain things repeat themselves but generally speaking life is always changing. It seems that trying to find a constant in life is nigh impossible. The moment we think we have a new normal something else takes place to upheave that new normal.

The psalmist begins with a wonderful truth statement in this first stanza. He begins with discussing the character of God. He begins by discussing the one unchanging reality—God. He begins by singing about God as a strong refuge present to help whenever trouble comes knocking. The term the psalmist uses for “trouble” refers to anxiety and distress. The psalmist begins his song stating the amazing truth that God is a refuge to whom you and I can go to in all of our anxieties and distresses.

The word “refuge” that the psalmist uses specifically speaks of the idea of “source”. What the sons of Korah are saying is that God is the source of refuge and strength. The OT uses other words for “refuge” but the word here is used only 12 times to refer to God as the source of our refuge and strength. This means that when you and I are being taken over by anxiety or are find ourselves highly distressed God is the source of strength to rest in. The psalmist emphasizes this by emphatically stating that because of who God is and what God does, the psalmist, you, me, and others do not have to be distressed and worried about the ever-changing landscape of life.

Here, the chaos and turmoil of life is vividly depicted. Reflect on how this imagery connects with our own struggles and uncertainties. Consider pointing out that, despite such drastic upheavals, God's presence is constant. Encourage your audience to find solace in the faithfulness and unwavering strength of Christ, our ultimate refuge. In facing life’s challenges, nurturing a spirit of stillness helps us experience His peace.

Imagine standing in the midst of a raging storm, the winds howling and rain lashing against you. In that chaos, you find a giant fortress, unyielding and steadfast. This fortress represents God's love and protection. Just as a fortress shields its inhabitants from danger, God shields us from life's storms. He offers us safety, where we can rest and find peace amidst the turmoil. This truth reminds us of Psalm 46:1, 'God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.'

Consider the story of Job, who faced tremendous loss and suffering. When calamity struck, Job did not curse God but rather sought to understand His will in the midst of his pain. His desire to know God deeply, even when everything was taken from him, teaches us that in our own crises, we can find stillness in seeking God. It’s often in our trials that we grow closer to the Lord and learn to trust Him more profoundly, affirming His sovereignty over our storms.

When you're overwhelmed by family stress—be it financial struggles, health concerns, or relationship breakdowns—take time to pray and reflect on Psalms 46:1, which reminds us that God is our refuge and strength. You can create a routine of nightly prayers focusing on thanking God for His refuge during turbulent times. Write down specific challenges your family is facing and pray over them, inviting God to be your fortress. You might also encourage each family member to share personal struggles, fostering a supportive environment where you uplift one another with Scripture and intercession.

2. God is our fortress. His presence brings joy and peace.

Psalm 46:4–7 NASB95

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. 6 The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.

The psalmist uses part of God’s creation to help illustrate the impact of God’s presence in a person’s life while going through adversity and turmoil. The illustration the psalmist uses is a river.

The first ministry Liz and I served at was located 35 miles east of Seattle, WA. We moved out there shortly after we got married. For our first anniversary I booked us a two night getaway at a place called Stormking Spa and Cabins. Each of their 5 cabins were isolated on their own with your own personal hot tub, coal grill, and decorative lights. It was located at the base of Mount Rainier along a stream. It was so peaceful sitting out on the patio listening to the stream coming down from the mountain. We during the day hiked around Mount Rainier stopping and seeing waterfalls and alongside the rivers and streams associated with them. The river brought a peace and calm. Liz and I were refreshed!

God provides peace and joy for those who are in adversity and turmoil. His presence calms the chaos. Trusting and resting in God brings calm to one’s spirit no matter the severity of the trouble and distress going on in your life! Psalm 16:11 tells us that in God’s presence comes a fullness of joy and pleasure. God is present to help you. He is your refuge where you can run to and be safe. You can run to and be calmed and assured that God’s best interest for you is your best interest. When the events of life are beating you down and your life seemingly a mess, God is your fortress to whom you can run to and be calmed. You can run to and have God’s joy in your life. A joy that brings contentment not resentment to what trials you are going through.

Psalm 16:11 NASB95

11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

The events of this last week have shaken people who do not even know Charlie Kirk or the two teenage boys from Evergreen High School in Colorado. Psalm 46:4-7 emphasizes the truth of God’s presence in our lives brings joy and fulfillment. God’s presence simply causes us or ought to cause us to BE STILL and let God do his work! We will come back in a few moments to the idea of “Being Still.”

Back to the Stanza:

As we saw in the first stanza, life is a whirlpool of change ever spinning out of control seemingly! The joy we also can have is that God is sovereign and in control. When to us it seems life is out of control and we feel beaten down by the difficulties and adversities, take joy in God’s presence in your life. We all to often neglect to recognize God’s presence until we can no longer handle the pressure of the problems and adversities. Imagine if we lived more consistently acknowledging the peaceful presence of our powerful God on a daily basis! When the difficulties come we would be prepared and ready and better equipped spiritually to handle the distress and trouble of life entering.

One commentator makes this statement:

Exalting Jesus in Psalms 1–50 His Presence Makes Us Glad (Psalm 46:4–6)

We must go to the river and drink from the satisfying reality of his presence.

Embracing Christ’s presence through prayer and stillness fortifies the heart, no matter the adversities faced. We need to stimulate reflection on cultivating a deeper relationship with God to access His peace amidst the tumult.

In the chaos of a busy city, a man found a small park where he could sit in silence. Every day, despite the noise surrounding him, he made time to be still and reflect. This practice brought him renewed strength and clarity. In the same way, when life gets overwhelming, we must carve out moments to be still before God, allowing His peace to flow through us, reminding ourselves that He is in control, even amid the noisy calamities of life.

In the book of Psalms, David sings about God as his fortress when he is surrounded by his enemies. In moments of despair, he finds comfort in the idea that God protects him like a fortress protects its inhabitants from invaders. Reflecting on this, we too face internal and external 'enemies' that threaten our peace—doubt, anxiety, loneliness. Just as David found a stronghold in the Lord, we too have the assurance that God is our protective fortress in these trials.

A renowned scientist once illustrated the theory of a protective barrier by using a model where a thick glass wall shielded delicate components of a machine from external harm. Just as that barrier protects the delicate mechanism inside, God stands as our fortress, protecting us from the chaos of the world. In Isaiah 26:3, we learn that those who trust in Him are kept in perfect peace. Let us run to this fortress and find our peace.

Psalm 51:10–11 (NASB95)

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Psalm 139:7–12 (NASB95)

7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night,” 12 Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.

Psalm 145:18–19 (NASB95)

18 The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. 19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them.

Who, What, or Where are you looking for peace in your trials, difficulties, or adversity? You and I need to see these verses and humble ourself before God showing a reverence and love. The Psalmist focused more and more on God to whom he could explicitly pray and live with. We will not have the peace and joy in adversity that God desires from us.

The psalmist follows up this second verse differently than the first stanza. He adds to the song a chorus! This chorus is wonderful and packed with God’s character! The chorus gives a punch to the excitement we can have because of God’s nature of being our fortress and presence when going through difficulty and trials. We can have peace and joy because God is our fortress!

3. God is our fortress. His victory assures exaltation.

Psalm 46:8–11 NASB95

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, Who has wrought desolations in the earth. 9 He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire. 10 “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.

The third and final stanza focuses on the double command to “Come and behold God” followed by singing about “Being still and know”. This third stanza includes the only imperatives in the Psalm. The psalmist has described God so far as a strong refuge to run into and be safe. He has described God’s presence as that which brings joy and peace followed by the chorus echoing God as our fortress and presence in our life.

The addition of these double imperatives in this stanza communicates a specific response we are to have because of God being ever present in our difficulties and trials. Because of who God says he his and what he says he does we need to heed these imperatives.

The first imperative “come and behold” carries the importance for you and I too acknowledge God in all of our trials. The command assumes the facts that the psalmist has already written about. The Hebrew words used for these commands are consistent with the general use of the term. God through the psalmist explains that we are to gaze on the works of God. We are to come and see the works of God!

How has God been working in your life? Often this question gets asked in relations to this in some way directly to the issues of the heart. What I am espousing here is not excluded from that thought but complimentary in that the more we come to God and just behold His wonderful working in our lives and specifically in relation to His works in your trial or difficulty.

The second imperative states for us to “be still and know.” Our lives would be so different in adversity and difficulty if we would behold the works of God and take the time to acknowledge God is sovereign and in control. The word translated “be still” or “cease striving” speaks of the idea of releasing and letting something go. We have all heard the phrase “Let go and let God”. In one sense this phrase is biblically and theologically incorrect. When used to dismiss all of our human responsibility in all of our sanctification then one would be wrong. When used to reference the trust and dependence in relationship to the circumstances and journeys we experience when going through difficulties and trials—we are 100% to follow in obedience to this Psalm.

When you put the two double imperatives together you get this: Come and recognize the power of God from His works and stop trying to get through the tragedy, difficulty, suffering, or adversity in your own ability! Stop depending on your abiliities and let God work in the difficulty and suffering. Rather than focusing on the suffering we need to focus work and person of God! The idea here is not that you stop thinking or doing where you sit and do nothing, void of action. The psalmist, rahter, is telling us to stop doing one thing and to do another thing, namely beholding God’s works and exalting His name because of what he has done and will do in trial and adversity.

By practicing and obeying these truths it will help in building up an unwavering confidencein God’s plans. We need to daily discipline ourselves to set our own strength aside and run into God our refuge and fortress.

Here are some biblical illustrations for us to contemplate regarding “being still and knowing” “come and behold”

In the book of Daniel, we read about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego facing the fiery furnace. They refused to bow to King Nebuchadnezzar's idol, trusting that God would deliver them, even if it meant death. When they emerged unharmed, it showcased God's power and faithfulness in adversity. Just like them, we can exalt God for the victories He provides when we stand firm in faith against life's challenges.

The story of David and Goliath is a powerful reminder of God's ability to grant victory in adversity. A young shepherd defeats a terrifying giant, not by his own strength, but by placing his trust in God. This moment of divine intervention teaches us to exalt God for the 'giants' we face in our lives, knowing He equips us to overcome what seems impossible.

The Apostle Paul faced numerous adversities, from imprisonment to beatings. Yet, he wrote in Romans 8:37 that we are more than conquerors through Christ. Paul’s unwavering faith in God during his trials exemplifies the ultimate victory over adversity, reminding us to continually exalt God, for every hardship is an opportunity for Him to showcase His glory in our lives.

Concluding Application

Big Idea: We must rest and trust in God’s sovereignty over life’s adversities.

This song has 3 verses and a chorus. The verses emphasize man’s responsibility to in relationship to God’s working!

Because God is our refuge and fortress, we need to stop from trying to live life on my own terms! The societal and world landscape we live in is full of sin and has been since the beginning of time when God created the heavens and the earth. Do you want the joy and peace that comes from resting in God?

Obey the the authority God has placed over us. Comfort and joy comes from being still and letting God work his power in my prayer life and trials I am currently going over.

So Christian this morning:

How can you encourage others in your life to seek stillness and peace amidst their struggles?

What role does prayer play in your understanding of stillness before God?

How might your perception of chaos change if you consistently relied on God's presence?

What steps will you take this week to practice the discipline of stillness and trust in God?