Last week we looked at Paul’s solution to the worship wars in the church: sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. As we do so, we avail ourselves of God’s Word and His Spirit, we bless the Lord Jesus, and we build up the faith of our fellow Christians.
There’s another practice we can carry out which is the opposite of singing: being still. We can silence our hearts and our voices before God. The Quakers base their worship services on this principle. For them, it’s a spiritual discipline.
And it can be a discipline for us, too. Learning to be still helps us to worship the Lord because we surrender the control of our lives over to Him. And yielding ourselves to God is what worship is all about.
So how can we develop stillness? Biblically speaking, what does it mean to be still?
Keep Quiet
“Then the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, ‘Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?’ And he said, ‘Yes, I know; be still’ . . . The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho approached Elisha and said to him, ‘Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?’ And he answered, ‘Yes, I know; be still.’” – 2 Kings 2:3, 5
Elisha knew that the days of serving his master, the prophet Elijah, were coming to an end. Was Elisha scared to serve God on his own? Did the prospect of Elijah’s absence sadden him? Did Elisha feel that he needed more training in the art of prophecy?
“Be still!” is how we respond to those bringing us unwelcome news. Understandable, but unnecessary. The Lord helps us accept and adjust. He opens our eyes to new possibilities and fulfills our potential. We may not want to hear it, but sometimes, we need those voices that tell us about changes on the horizon.
“O God, do not remain quiet; do not be silent and, O God, do not be still.” – Psalm 83:1
We may not appreciate what others have to say, but we yearn to hear the Lord speak to us! The psalmist cried out to God to rouse His attention. “Notice me, please, God, talk to me! Tell me what’s going on, help me understand what’s happening to me!”
If we quiet ourselves, we’ll be able to hear the voice of the Lord.
Don’t Panic
“So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, ‘Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.’” – Nehemiah 8:11
Under Nehemiah’s oversight, the Jews had rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. Having made their beloved city safe, the people sought to hear Ezra and other priests read from God’s Law. Expecting affirmation or encouragement, they felt conviction instead.
Scripture can have that effect. It exposes our sinfulness but, praise God, it also reveals the Lord’s mercy and lovingkindness.
So rather than let the people weep, the priests encouraged them to be still. We can let go of grief, even if we’ve failed God. Let’s still ourselves so we can listen to all that Jesus wants to communicate to us.
“Tremble, and do not sin; meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still.” – Psalm 4:4
At night, our thoughts fill the emptiness around and within us. We review the day and address unresolved issues. Our bodies may tire but our souls seldom quit.
Yet if we direct ourselves to God’s Word, we begin to settle down. We’re calmed by His Spirit rather than steamed by our anger. We let go of internal scheming and trust in the Lord.
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.” – Psalm 37:7
In Christ, our anxiety dissipates. We stop comparing ourselves to others; we begrudge no one but look to the Lord to intervene. Our prayers express calmness and gratitude, not panic.
Stop Fighting
“He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’” – Psalm 46:10
Hostile neighbors had threatened Israel throughout her history. Cognizant of these disputes, God addresses both camps, but the same word can mean two different things.
If we belong to Him, His words encourage and calm us. Even in the midst of threats and persecution, we know that the Lord will receive glory. No need to fight.
If we rebel against the Lord, He warns us that we cannot succeed. He will not honor the misuse of power; indeed, God will use His authority to rescue those who suffer. Better to acknowledge Him rather than to rebel!
Settled Circumstances
“He caused the storm to be still, so that the waves of the sea were hushed.” – Psalm 107:29
The Israelites were no maritime people. They favored land for their farms and herds rather than open oceans for traveling and fishing. Maybe they felt out of control when sailing. The weather changes without much notice, the waves can capsize the boat, and who know what lives in the deep?
Yet God controls the seas. We encounter no storm that He cannot handle. And so the psalmist testified about the Lord’s gracious intervention.
Does this remind you of anyone?
“He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” – Mark 4:39
Jesus copied what God did. He confronted what unnerved even seasoned fishermen and stilled the situation. The winds and the waves obeyed Christ’s command. Shouldn’t we, too?
How often do we suppose that the Lord has no interest in our predicament when He is right there with us? The disciples had to awaken Jesus so they could seek His help. Sleeping in the midst of the storm–doesn’t that demonstrate stillness? And He dispersed in the environment the peacefulness in His heart. That’s the power of His Word!
May we learn how to be still in God’s presence. It’s there that we experience the peace of Christ and the blessing of His Spirit.
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