REST AND REFOCUS under GOD’S CARE
June 13
Bible Reading: Psalms Chapters 45-51
REST AND REFOCUS under GOD’S CARE
"Be still, and know 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 refuge." (Psalms 46:10-11)
Psalms 46 is
a wonderful poem penned by the sons of Korah that speaks about God, in
particular, about His presence (vv. 1-3), His protection (vv. 4-7) and His
promise (vv. 8-11). This psalm is a ‘Song
of Zion’ and is thematically linked to Psalms 47 and 48. This psalm begins
with the confession that God is a refuge (v. 1) and this point summarizes the
next two main sections as well (vv. 7, 11). So long as God is with His people,
they need have no fear (v. 2). Zion itself is secure from all the threats of the
nations because of God’s role as a defensive fortification (v. 7). This is not
a temporary measure for God will usher in a day when all the nations will
acknowledge His lordship (v. 10).
Verse 10
exhorts us that we should be still and know that He is God and He will be
exalted in the earth. We cannot try (requires effort and exertion)
to relax
(requires absence of effort and exertion). We can ‘be still’ and rest confidently in God’s care as He knows our
future – we are safe in His Hands. Elijah heard the ‘still small voice’ after great demonstrations of wind, earthquake
and fire (1 Kings 19:12). To tune into hearing the ‘still small voice’ of God, we must ‘be still’ and tune out noises from the world. We need to quiet our hearts to listen to God as we meditate on His
Word.
Psalms
23:1-3 gives us the following assurance: "The
Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green
pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me
in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake." We need to know
God as our Good Shepherd who makes us lie down in the green
pastures of His Word and leads us beside the still waters of
His Spirit and in the paths of righteousness.
Let us understand one important fact: God promises rest and refocus for us when we are still and rest confidently in His providential care!
