Being Still

"Be still and know that I am God"

We've heard it a million times, it is used as the definitive call to stop and spend time with God. People use it to tell you to clear off you're busy schedule and make time for the Maker of time.  It is a very commonly quoted piece of scripture, but I bet you can't tell me where it comes from in the Bible.  Anyone? Anyone?  Bueller?  (Sorry, that's almost funny if you've seen the movie.)  It's from Psalm 46:10

 ¹⁰ Be still, and know that I am God;
         I will be exalted among the nations,
         I will be exalted in the earth!
          (Psalm 46:10, New King James Version)

I love my smartphone.  It has this app that puts every translation of the bible in English, Spanish, Somali, and several other languages at my finger tips.  It also pops up a verse of the day on my home screen.  Several days ago this verse popped up.  I love this verse, but didn't know that I had only heard a third of it.  Seems in addition to making time for God, you must worship Him and bring others to worship Him.  Wow! That's pretty cool.  So, I need to make time for God, worship Him, and do things that would make others worship Him.  I've grown as a person just by hearing the rest of one verse.  Too cool.

The other cool thing about this bible app on my phone is it will take me from the verse of the day to the whole chapter.  Of course, I clicked right in... and my head exploded.  See, context is an amazing thing.  The material around a particular verse can bring out unforeseen depth (No, not a kiss. Weirdo!) or  flip the meaning.  Needless to say I didn't expect what I found:

 ¹ God is our refuge and strength,
         A very present help in trouble.
 ² Therefore we will not fear,
         Even though the earth be removed,
         And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
 ³ Though its waters roar and be troubled,
         Though the mountains shake with its swelling.  Selah 
        
 ⁴ There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,
         The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
 ⁵ God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
         God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
 ⁶ The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
         He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
        
 ⁷ The LORD of hosts is with us;
         The God of Jacob is our refuge.  Selah 
        
 ⁸ Come, behold the works of the LORD,
         Who has made desolations in the earth.
 ⁹ He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
         He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
         He burns the chariot in the fire.
        
 ¹⁰ Be still, 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 refuge.  Selah
(Psalm 46, New King James Version)

I expected to see verses 1-7.  They add a little depth to being still:  God will protect you, soothe you, be there for you.  Alright! God is so cool!  Verse 8 gets a little weird, cause we're looking at the destruction God has made.  Verse 9 has God making peace.  Win, everybody loves peace.  The problem comes with HOW He makes it.  Peace that comes from everyone realizing how silly war is, starts with people beating their swords into plows.  God is smashing and burning stuff!  This is not the peace of the convinced, it is the peace of the defeated.  God defeats His enemies, and then destroys their ability to fight Him.  Then you get "Be still...."

Be Still, He has defeated you.
Be Still, you can't fight Him.
Be Still, you can't run from Him.
Be Still, and know He is the ruler.

This verse is not about making or doing.  This verse is about surrender.  Surrender to God.  Stop fighting Him.  Stop resisting Him.  Accept Him as your God, because He is; and He will be exalted, whether you recognize Him or not.

How about that for a verse you thought you knew?