Knowing God (Psalm 46) 270107
The world is cold and harsh place to be in. The work place is a place of battle ground, where we Christian are seemingly fighting a battle to stay ‘Christian’. Gossips, slanders, backstabbing, jealousy, hatred and even scheming against one another seem to be common and ‘normal’ at the work place, and even school. We have to be very alert and on our guard, so that we do not become the victim or even be influenced.
This Psalm 46 is one of my favorites. It is not because of verse 10, but the entire Psalm. Last semester I had an opportunity to study this Psalm in great detail, and I am so blessed! The Psalmist intentionally reminded the readers that ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble’ (v1). What a comforting and assuring way to start this Psalm. God allows us to seek refuge in Him. God expects us to seek refuge in Him. God has all the power and might and strength to keep us in refuge. He is a very present help, and NIV says He is an ever-present help. He is not in the past or in the future that we can’t relate or comprehen, He is present, today, here and always.
The Psalmist went on to describe the terror the nature can bring mankind (v2-6), and reminded us that ‘the Lord of hosts is with us’ (v7). The world is really a terrible place to be in. Whenever during CG, I can sense many of us come with a burden. For the past one week, we are submerged in the reality of our offices or schools. Many of us are hurt, wounded and tired. We may feel despair at our work situation or stress by the amount of homeworks and tutorials to complete doing or marking, but God is our refuge, the Lord of hosts is with us. The NIV translated the Lord of hosts as the Lord Almighty. What a powerful God we have? He is ALL MIGHTY!
Verse 8 and 9 gives us an imaginery of war or battle. As I have said earlier, our offices or schools are battle ground. We are constantly fighting a battle with the evil force which is trying to wear us out by all the mights and weapons it has. Thanks be to God that He can destroy all these. And in the midst of the battle, God demands his people to ‘be still and know that I am God’ (v10). This not the climax of this Psalm. In fact, this is the quietest moment. What God wants from us is not that we take up our weapons too and join Him in the battle and victory together. God wants us to be still. The NASB phrased these as ‘Cease striving’. There is no need to fight anymore. There is no need to be on guard anymore. Relax, cease striving and be still.
The next time when you come for CG, relax, cease striving and be still. Why, it is a time to know God. This is the heartbeat of the Psalmist. Nothing will win the battle which is in the world, unless we know God. Do you know God or just know about Him? Have you really take time to relax and be still to know God? Or do you trust God fight the battle for you while you relax, be still and know God? The Pslamist repeated verse 7 at verse 11 as a closing. Is it that he had run out of ideas ro forgotten what he had written earlier? No. It’s intentional and these verses are the underlying theme for the Psalmist, the Lord Almight is with us (v11). God is not only out there fight, or high up in the heavens looking with His arms folded, He is with us and therefore, we can know Him.
