February 15, 2017: Day 46 – Psalm 46

So this is one of those psalms that you remember and that your refer to over and over again in your life.  It is in line with Psalm 23, and 121, and 139, and others that I draw from when I am in need of consolation and relief.  God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble.  Boy oh boy do we need to hear that daily!  God is our refuge and our strength.  That is the way that it starts.  But the way it ends we also are very familiar with as the Scripture tells us: Be still and know that I am God.

When I hear that verse it reminds me of Elijah’s moment on the cliff waiting to hear God’s voice in I Kings 19:11-18.  It was difficult for Elijah to stay still and to listen to God’s voice, because we expect God to come in earthquakes, and fires, and wind, but he doesn’t.  This Psalm commands us to be still.  How in the world do you expect us in the 21st century to be still?  We have kids, pets, appointments, church work, all sorts of things that we have to work out so we have to constantly be on the move.  Staying still is just for the lazy.  Don’t tell me to stay still.  I’d rather meet God on the road, like Paul as he was on the way to Damascus, than meet him as I’m still.

Be still and know that I am God.  Also, it is interesting to note that the word for refuge, God is our refuge, is also the word for fortress.  God is our fortress.  Be still.  Meditate on that today.