PRÉCIS ON THE STEADINESS OF GOD IN THE STORM

SCRIPTURE. “Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold [our refuge, our high tower].” – PSALM 46:10-11, AMP

KEY TERM: “BE STILL.” ‘Raphah’ [רָפָה]: “A primitive root, ‘To slacken [as with one’s grip]; to abate, cease (striving), let go; to forsake [anxiety], let it alone; to relax, drop discouragement; take His courage; to withdraw or refrain [from fear].”

QUOTATION. “During our wilderness journey, the Lord offers us Spiritual Renewal. He calls us into Sacred Rest. It is a safe place of comfort. A peaceful haven. ‘A Sanctuary for our soul.’” ― DANA ARCURI, Sacred Wandering: Growing Your Faith in The Dark, 2019; edited

COMMENTARY. “‘Be still,’ &c. — He speaks, either, 1st, to the Israelites, and commands them henceforth silently and quietly to wait upon Him, without fear or diffidence; to be calm and sedate, and tremble no more; but, knowing Him to be God, God alone, ‘Who would be exalted above the heathen,’to leave it to Him to maintain His own honour, to fulfil His own counsels, and support His own interest in the world.

Or, rather, 2d, He speaks to the Heathen, who had raged, Psalm 46:6, and admonishes them to cease assaulting and disturbing His people! Let them threaten no more, but know, to their terror, that Jehovah is the only true and Almighty God, and that their gods are but dumb and vain idols: That in spite of all their impotent malice against His name and honour, He will be exalted among them, as well as among His own people; will make Himself glorious by His great and wonderful works; ‘will be exalted in the earth’ — Or, in the world, as well as in the [True] Church. Let them, therefore, rage no more; for it is all in vain. ‘He that sits in heaven laughs at them; the Lord has them in derision.’” – JOSEPH BENSON, Notes on the Holy Bible, 5 vols., 1818-1811; edited

DK. I am given far too frequently to handwringing and angry broadsides at the Devil’s work in my life. Now, sometimes it is good to bark a shout of command to him, ordering him off my premises! But more often than not, I am to shrug my shoulders at him as with the Legend of Martin Luter’s epic encounter with him in the middle of the night. By the old story, Luther turned to look at the Old Deceiver who was huffing and snorting his worst, and said:

“Oh, it’s only you.”

Luther purportedly threw an inkwell at him (the Word of God) and went back to sleep. There are some historical accounts that claim the ink stain on the wall is still there, though others attribute the story to his powerful writing that drove the Devil away.

Both versions are equally instructive. Selah.