“Be Still and Know That I Am God” is Bad News

By Nicholas Davis - Posted at CCC Discover:

“Be still and know that I am God.” —Psalm 46:10

Often this verse is used as a source of encouragement, and it is one of the most “liked” verses in the Bible. I remember hearing this verse often in Bible studies back in college and reading it in a daily devotional. Sadly, though, it has become just another cliché Christian phrase that is repeated in Christian circles.

Notice to whom this line is directed. It’s actually not an encouraging verse written to Christians. It’s a call to the nations to cease fire and bow down to the Lord who is God. “Be still and know that I am God” is not a great devotional memory verse; rather, it’s a severe warning.

Psalm 46:10, in context, is a warning to all of the armies of nations who oppose God and his people. It’s as if God is saying, “Be still! Stop!!! CEASE FIRE! Know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.” In other words, “If you oppose me, I will crush you. This is a battle that you cannot win.”

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