Be Still... Psalm 46

I have been praying today, and this scripture passage has been going through my mind over and over.. no matter how many times I have prayed for something new today.

I called a girlfriend to talk about... life.. and she mentioned the same scripture.. I wanted to read the full context of that passage.. I'm a big fan of the wisdom books but NOT psalms.. I'm a proverbs, job, Ecclesiastes girl myself . not big on the psalms at all.. despite most people quoting them abundantly.. but here is what I had a look at

10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;    I will be exalted among the nations,    I will be exalted in the earth.”

http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Meditations/Be_Still/be_still.html notes

"Be Still" comes from the Hebrew word "rapha" which means "cause yourself to let go"

or "let yourself become weak"

http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Blessings/Blessing_Cards/ps46-10.pdf

The website continues to say "Hebew grammar, the emphasis of coorindate imperatives "be still!" and "know!" is on the second imperative.. IE We surrender in order to know that God is in control as Ribbono Shel Olam.. = master of the universe

Let go = in order to know Gods saving power in our life.Ex 14.14.. we stop trusting ourself to trust God's all sufficiency instead.

Find peace and deliverance from our 'temporal fears'. 

WHY THE GOD OF JACOB???

"That sounds like something that the nation of Israel would say, Jacob was their father, they were his progeny. However, if we really reflected for a minute on the life of Jacob, we would find, on the surface at least, that there was not much reason in his life to put our confidence in God. In fact, if we look at the life of Jacob - putting confidence in his God almost seems a contradiction in terms "

http://www.pbv.thunder-bay.on.ca/NetSermons/Ps46ser.html

When Jacob finally became still before God, and waited in quiet faith, the Lord brought to fulfillment his promises. 

Psalm 46

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 46[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.[b] A song.

1 God is our refuge and strength,    an ever-present help in trouble.2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,3 though its waters roar and foam    and the mountains quake with their surging.[c]

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,    the holy place where the Most High dwells.5 God is within her, she will not fall;    God will help her at break of day.6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The Lord Almighty is with us;    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

8 Come and see what the Lord has done,    the desolations he has brought on the earth.9 He makes wars cease    to the ends of the earth.He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;    he burns the shields[d] with fire.10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;    I will be exalted among the nations,    I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The Lord Almighty is with us;    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 46:1 In Hebrew texts 46:1-11 is numbered 46:2-12.
2. Psalm 46:1 Title: Probably a musical term
3. Psalm 46:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 7 and 11.
4. Psalm 46:9 Or chariots

Habbakuk

Feb 18th I felt prompted to read Habbakuk. Shortly afterward (days) I got what I believe was a vision from God.

For some reason yesterday during church I felt like I was supposed to read Habakkuk. It was mentioned briefly in the sermon.. Habakkuk 2...

Pastor Geoff was talking on 'don't allow frustration to push you out of the will of God'

Romans 8.28 and Psalm 105 were also mentioned, and the basis of the sermon was 'Where God sends you, What is Gods vision.."

So I felt like I should read Habakkuk in it's entirety, and do so sort of immediately. I was suprised to find that in my mothers copy of her NIV study bible, she had almost half of the book highlighted.

Habakkuk's Complaint 1.2

How long O Lord must I call for help, but you do not listen?

Or cry out to you "Violence"! but you do not save?

The notes say that the Hebrew word 'oracle' possibly means burden or pronouncement.' Often refering to revelations of impending doom =.

Habakkuk's Second Complaint

1.13..."Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?"

The Lords response.. 2.14 "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."

2.17"the violence you have done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, and your destruction of animals will terrify you. "

The notes say that the Assyrian inscriptions record hunting expeditions in the Lebanon range, and such sport may have been nindulged in by the invading Babylonians as well. Babylonian violence was destructive of all forms of life, not only of lands and cities.

2.18 "Of what value is an idol, since a man has carved it? Or an image that teaches lies? For he who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak. Woe to him who says to wood, 'Come to life!' Or to a lifeless stone 'wake up! Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver. There is no breah in it. But the Lord is in his holy temple' let all the earth be silent before Him."

Habakkuk's Prayer

3.2 ?Lord I have heard of your fame, I stand in awe of your deeds O Lord, renew them in our day in our time make them known. In wrath remember mercy."

3.16

"I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound, decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. Though the fig tree does not bud, and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails, and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will be joyful in God my Savior.."

Study notes Habakkuk has learned the lesson of faith. To trust in God's providence regardless of circumstances. He declares that even if God should send suffering and loss, he would still rejoice in his Savior - God. One of the strongest affirmations of faith in all Scripture.

3.19 "The Sovereign Lord is my strength. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights for the director of music. On my stringed instruments."

Notes.. Gives sure footed confidence, / director = probably the conductor of temple musicians. Harp and Lyre being commonly used at the time.

- Habbakuk is certainly a small book as one of the minor prophets. But still a significant message. I usually look to Job when I need an encouragement of faith, but I think a lot of this speaks of impending doom and having faith that abounds above that.

IT's interesting that Habakkuk questions everything to do with why bad things are happening, and God unswers Him, that in a time, justice will be served, but not at this moment.

A further study notes are available at http://bible.org/seriespage/habakkuk