March 2, 2011

Psalm 46 (Click to see scripture)

Bible in One Year Passages:
Matthew 21:33-46, Romans 1:18-32, Numbers 3-4

Journal Entry

Scripture

Be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10).

Observation

This verse is often quoted but seldom interpreted correctly—it is not a call to meditation or to practice contemplative prayer. There are two commands here: be still and know. “Be still” means literally “to be weak” or “to release.” But to what end were the Israelites “to be weak?” It was so that they could “know” that God is God. In other words, in the midst of nations warring against them, they were to surrender to God so that they could know that he is in control and that he is the saving power in their lives. Failure to do so would prevent them from seeing and experiencing who God is. This was a call for the Israelites to give up trusting in themselves and their own designs in order to experience the glory of God’s all-sufficiency.

Application

Unless I am “still”—that is, weak to myself, release trust in myself—I will never fully know the power of God in my life. The same truth is repeated in 2 Corinthians 12:9 where Jesus said, “‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” In other words, if there is no weakness, then there is no realization of Christ’s strength. I have to confess the truth about who I really am—weak, selfish, and finite—and get to where I can surrender my desire to control outcomes and entrust the results to sovereign God so that I can truly know God’s all-sufficiency.

Prayer

Father, forgive me for making you too small in my eyes. Help me to lay it down and admit my weakness so that I can truly know you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

--P. Michael