Praise Reflection (5 May) – Psalm 46:10

Be Still and Know I Am God

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

The meaning of the Hebrew words can enhance our understanding of this verse.

BE STILL: רָפָה râp̱â means: to let drop, abandon, relax, refrain, to forsake (in order) to let go, to let alone, to be quiet, be still.

KNOW: יָדַע yâḏa means: to know, learn to know, to perceive and also to perceive and see, to find out and discern, to discriminate, to distinguish, to know by experience, to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess and to consider. (imperative, masculine plural – Olive Tree Enhanced Strong’s Dictionary)

Both the verbs “be still” and “know” are commands in the plural. They are not just to an individual but to the community of God’s people. Therefore, as we obey this command and seek to be still as an act of worship today let us remember that we do that together as God’s people.

You are encouraged to pray the following prayer, or one of your own choice, aloud as part of our corporate worship.

Father, Son and Holy Spirit, as an act of worship we surrender afresh today to you and forsake our own agendas in order to be quiet before you. You, the Sovereign Lord, said that In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength

(Isaiah 30:15). As we pause in stillness at this time, we pray that we would perceive you in your majesty, know your love more deeply and be strengthened in your presence.

SONG I Surrender – Hillsong
Link – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txYrw2elA_g

Pause in silence

SONG Be Still and Know Steven Curtis Chapman
Link – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHlbnNUHQGI

We praise you Lord that in the stillness we can rest in your presence and experience you as Elohim – the living God. You are the source and sustainer of all life. You are our refuge and strength and an ever-present help in trouble (Psalms 46:1). The more we are still and in the place of ‘knowing’ you, the more we experience your deep Shalom. We choose to come into a deeper place with you Lord and wait on you. Just WAIT.

Be still again in God’s presence.

We thank you Lord God, that we can know you because you have revealed yourself to us in the person of your Son, Jesus, in your Word and by your Spirit. We proclaim in praise from your Word, Lord, that Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word (Hebrews 1:3).

Jesus you are the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. In you, Jesus, all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through you and for you (Colossians 1:15-16).

We lift our eyes to you our creator God and agree with your Word by declaring with our voices that you are exalted among the nations and in all the earth. Along with the words of the Nicene Creed we declare joyfully that “we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified”.

We lift our voices to worship and glorify you praying: Now to (our) King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever (1 Timothy 1:17).

In Jesus name. Amen

Praise Resources from The International Anglican Order of The Cross (TIAOC) April 2020