Be Still.
Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations.
The idea of stillness or quiet is not a highly valued pursuit in 2019, and it is incredibly difficult to do in a plugged in world. While Psalm 46:10 is often seen as a reminder to practice the discipline of silence, that is actually a poor interpretation of the passage. The discipline of silence is great, and I hope you take the time to unplug and spend time in silence with God, but the meaning here actually translates “let fall” or “let hang down.” The Israelites were under attack from the Assyrians in this particular passage, and in the response the Psalmist is calling for a release of effort or exertion. A similar call is made in Exodus 14:3 “Stand still and see the salvation of God.” This verse addresses Moses leading the people of Israel out of Egypt, across the Red Sea. When the Israelites escaped Egypt by crossing a parted sea, they weren’t fighting, there was no other conclusion than a divine intervention, allowing God to be exalted through the process.
The unique comparison between the verses demonstrates a moment that can only be explained by a sovereign God. This is not a call to human stillness, but a recognition of a moment that can only be identified as a God moment. God divinely intervenes in the life of the Israelites with the Egyptians, he does the same with the Assyrians, and he continues to do it today! Our only job is to relax and recognize His role in the salvation. Often times we are surrounded by great advice, self-help plans, and even well-meaning ideas of our own, but what God desires is our ability to pause, and see that it is truly a divine intervention that is needed. When we pause and recognize God’s role, he is glorified, and the ultimate outcome is His exaltation among the nations.
I can’t help but wonder if that is what is happening here at WSCS! There is no doubt in my mind that God has intervened in the saving of WSCS, and I hope that each person here takes the opportunity to recognize that and share our story. It might just be a way that He become exalted among the nations! (By the way, we now have students that represent 5 continents for the 2019-2020 school year). So be still and know that I am God, and He will be exalted among the nations, and be amazed that he might just use a little school in Winston Salem to make himself known!
Have a great week!
Dr. Bryan Wolfe