"Be still, and know that I am God"

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 17, 2 Chronicles 28, Psalm 46, James 3

“Be still, and know that I [am] God…” Psalm 46:10

Oh that sweet, sweet place of ‘knowing’ that God is God. The Hebrew word for know is ‘yada’ meaning to know, to know by experience, to get to know to be skilled at knowing. It is a very intense word of relationship and communion. You can know ‘about’ someone but to ‘know’ a person, to ‘yada’ a person is a deep relationship—ongoing and vibrant. The Psalmist is confident in God, he writes of God’s saving power and the beauty of His presence in the holy place where the Most High Dwells. In verses 4-5 it says, “[There is] a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy [place] of the tabernacle of the Most High. God [is] in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.” In both Ezekiel and in Revelation, we are told about the river in the city of God. In Revelation, we are told that on either side of the river there are trees that bear twelve manners of fruit. Tell me that heaven is not going to be an incredible place? The leaves of the trees are for the healings of the nations. This is what those in the Old Testament were looking for. It says that these died in faith not having received the promises, but having seen it a far off they claimed it and they said, “I am just a stranger and a pilgrim here, I am looking for a city which hath foundation, whose maker and builder is God.” I enjoy traveling, but you know when it is time to go home, it is such a great feeling. You walk in your house and go, ‘Ahhh…”. However, really, we should not hold on too tightly to what we have here on earth, because this is not our home—our home is a city where our maker and builder is God! There is a stream in that city, and the steams make glad the city of God, the holy place of ‘his dwelling’ the dwelling of the Most High. In closing this morning, one phrase really caught my eye, “God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.” (v. 5) Maybe you are facing rough circumstances or frustrations today or in this season of your life. Be encouraged because God is your help and even when it seems the darkest…just at the break of dawn your deliverance will come.

Be blessed today,
Carol

Tomorrow’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 29-31, James 4