“GOD is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah…The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah….Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”
Psalm 46:1-3&7 &10-11
We have heard this scripture many times. What do you think of when you hear it? For me, I always thought of being quiet so that I could hear God more clearly – what He has to say. This is true and important. However, the Lord has pointed out something else very interesting about this scripture. When you read the rest of Psalm 46, it is talking about God being our defense, how he makes wars to cease. That he is the God of hosts (which usually depicts a great army). The Lord is showing us in this verse another powerful message. When we look at other times in the scripture that God has told His people to be still, it shines greater light on its deeper meaning.
In Exodus 14:13-14, the scriptures say: “And Moses said unto the people; Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day; for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.”
Notice, it says “Fear ye not, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD. The LORD shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” This now gives us more insight into what God means when He says in Psalm 46, “Be still and know that I am God.” Being still means we’ve done all we can, now we trust God that He will fight on our behalf. Being still means we have confidence that God can and will defend us. That His promises are true and that He will provide what we need. The Battle is not ours, but the LORD’s! And He is the LORD OF HOSTS!! Even when it seems there is no way in the natural for His people to win the battle, God tells us to be still and let Him fight the battle, for He wins every time! KNOW THAT HE IS GOD – trust in, have confident expectation that He is well able to fight the battle on our behalf. The battle is not ours, but the Lord of Hosts, Mighty in Battle!
Let’s look at another place in scripture where the Lord tells His people to be still. In 2 Chronicles 20:15 & 17 the scriptures say: “Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s…Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed: to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.”
Again you see the Lord saying to His people, Set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD WITH YOU. It is showing that as we trust God, we don’t have to bring the thing to pass. He will. We set ourselves, stand still and let God fight the battle. This is illustrated beautifully in Ephesians 6.
In Ephesians 6:10-18 the scriptures tell us about our armour that we wear for battle, as God fights for us. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace: Above all, taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”
Therefore, in Ephesians it tells us how to stand still. We have to stand with our armour on, our shield of faith up, and our sword (word of God) praying in the spirit and in the natural. Confessing with our mouths the promises of God we are standing on. We also Praise God before we see the manifestation of what we are believing. We can praise Him loudly and boldly having confident expectation (faith) that He will fulfill His promises to us! After having done all this, we then stand still or be still and KNOW THAT HE IS GOD! Being still doesn’t always necessarily mean to be quiet! We can praise Him loudly! But our soul is still. It does not worry or fret. It is confident in God’s power to save! God can then fight on our behalf. We just have to stand, BE STILL and KNOW THAT HE IS GOD! That is what is called fighting the good fight of faith!
Zechariah 4:6
“Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. Who art thou O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying Grace, grace unto it.”
Psalm 23:5
“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”
Proverbs 18:10
“The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”
Isaiah 30:15 (AMP)
“For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning [to Me] and resting [in Me] you shall be saved; in quietness and in [trusting] confidence shall be your strength.”
Philippians 4:6-7
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Psalm 91
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler; and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers and under his wings shalt thou trust; his truth shall be thy shield and buckler: Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.”
Ephesians 1:16
“Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power: Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come; And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.”
