17.03.2020
IBC Admin
Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations
Psalm 46:9-10
There are two Psalms that invite us to be still before the Lord. The first is found in Psalm 37:7 “be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” Psalm 46 invites us to "be still and know that He is God," knowing that God is present in all circumstances, even war.
Both of these invitations are great reminders for each of us as we pass through the next couple of weeks in quarantine, waiting for this international crisis of COVID-19 to pass. Both Psalms are filled with promises that will lead our hearts to rest, peace and joy, rather than fret anxiously wondering what will come next.
In Psalm 37:4 our ability to be still before the Lord also is related with our desire to “delight ourselves in the Lord” knowing that He will ultimately “give us the desires of your heart.” In this Psalm we are encouraged to also “commit our ways to the Lord and trust Him for He will bring forth our righteousness like light and our justice like the noon day sun.” (vs. 5-6) When we understand the character and love of God and His promises to be with us through all kinds of turmoil, we can be patient.
In Psalm 46:10 we find another invitation, “be still and know that I am God.” But in this Psalm God is extending to us an invitation in the midst of conflict and war. The Psalmist invites us to “come and see the devastations God brings upon the earth, that God is able to cause wars to cease to the ends of the earth.” (vs. 9) Our God is able to “break the spear, shatter the shield and burn the chariots with fire.” Then again these glorious words, “be still and know that I am God.”
As we give ourselves over to prayer these next weeks during this COVID-19 crisis, let us know that the Lord is God and learn to wait patiently for Him. We can trust Him, knowing that God is able to carry us through. When we do that, He will fill us and give us confidence even in the face of war or a virus that threatens our very lives. When we do that, we can have inner peace even when we are tempted to worry and be anxious. So let us during these weeks learn to “be still and wait patiently for the Lord.” Let us “be still and know that He is God.”