{ He will be exalted }

“I wonder sometimes if I’m more afraid of quiet from God or of the surety of His voice when He does speak.” Alia Joy, (in)courage

Psalm 46:10a commands, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Preceding this command are descriptions of a powerful, faithful God and a tumultuous, raging world. Following them, an epic promise: “‘I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth (verse 10b)!'”

Much the same came to mind when I read these lines from another blog. They struck a chord within me because now I have been there, I have listened to His silence and I have listened to His voice, and I have seen Him exalted. 

The fear here is not from God, it is from questioning if the silence is actually absence and if the surety is actually my own voice. If this was the case, the power of God never existed and His promise is impotent.

But I have found that “being still” means resting in the peace that comes with eternity, talking less and listening more, expecting God to show up because He says He will. I have found “know[ing] that [He is] God” means recognizing my utter weakness and human-ness in light of His sovereignty, studying the Truth He’s already spoken, thanking Him for whatever circumstance. Neither is ultimately an action, but rather a state of being.

Fear has no hold on this. God says He will be exalted. He will be exalted. He will be exalted. When I back-track and repeat that after every verse, the effect is tremendous:

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. He will be exalted.2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, He will be exalted.3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. He will be exalted.4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. He will be exalted. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. He will be exalted. 6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. He will be exalted. 7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. He will be exalted.8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, how he has brought desolations on the earth.  He will be exalted.9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. He will be exalted.10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” He will be exalted.11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. He will be exalted. (Ps. 46, emphasis mine)

In these verses, the only command is to be still and know who God is. He will be exalted in that, that knowing and that resting. He is the Almighty King, the Sovereign Savior, I am not. He will be exalted in the earth, I will not.

“But in it all, sometimes God is telling us to be still. Sometimes God is healing broken parts. He is building our strength while we wait on Him; we need only be still.”Alia Joy, (in)courage

#Bible #Faith #Quote #Saturdays