Be Still and Know that I Am God (Let the Reader Read the Rest)

“Aslan is on the move.” Upon their entrance through the wardrobe into the magical land of Narnia, this statement was repeated over and over to the 4 Pevensie Children. “Aslan is on the move.” To those who knew Aslan, this fact brought great comfort, excitement, and anticipation. 

But the Pevensies didn’t know Aslan. They didn’t know who or what he was, what he was like, if he was safe. “Who is Aslan?!” They finally ask. Why does it matter that he’s coming? When the kind beavers fill them in on the details of Aslan, he’s the King, the Lord of the wood, the only one of whom the White Witch is afraid, and the only one who can deal with her once and for all, well…when they hear that, they understand. Aslan is on the move. Knowing who Aslan is changes things for them. It gives them hope where they had none before.

“Be still and know that I am God,” Psalm 46:10 says. At least, that’s what countless coffee cups, journals, T-shirts, and canvas bags will tell you. But is that really all Psalm 46:10 says? No. It isn’t. These innumerable coffee cups, journals, T-shirts, and canvas bags have only been telling you half the story. Aslan is on the move, they say. But who is he? Why should I care? 

“Be still and know that I am God.” On the surface that seems comforting. For me it evokes images of sitting on my favorite corner of the couch, with one of my favorite blankets, drinking a cup of coffee early in the morning in a quiet house. Be still. Know that I am God. And yet if I simply stop there, that “comfort” is very short-lived. Shallow. Something of a band-aid over a gaping wound or a tiny floatie in the midst of a storm-tossed sea. “Be still and know that I am God.” Is that really all Psalm 46 says? No. It isn’t. 

“Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.” 

What allows the believer to truly be still? To rest? It’s the knowledge that God will be exalted among every nation, tribe, and tongue, indeed…the whole earth.

But who is this God? What is he like? Is it a good thing that he’ll be lifted up and glorified in every nation? Again. My comfort will only be short-lived and shallow if I don’t know this God that calls me to be still.

Aslan is on the move. But who is he? What is he like?

Earlier in Psalm 46 we see that God is our refuge and strength. A very present help in trouble. He’s in charge of the kingdoms and nations of the earth. He’s the Lord of hosts, the commander in chief of the armies of angels. 

Psalm 42 tells us that God is the living God. He is our salvation. He is steadfast in love. Psalm 43 teaches us that God is the defender of the oppressed and bringer of justice to the oppressor. He sends out his light and truth, and those lead us to him. Psalm 44 reminds us that our hope isn’t in our strength but in the Lord. He’ll defend us. He’ll deliver us. Psalm 45 tells us that his throne and kingdom, which are full of righteousness and uprightness and goodness, are forever and ever. 

And this is only a snapshot of what 5 Psalms teach us about this God who is exalted among the nations and the earth. This God who calls us to be still. The whole Bible tells us of this God, of who he is, what he is like, and what he has done. 

The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. This is the God who calls us to be still. To know that he is God. To remember that his will will be accomplished among the entire earth. That’s what brings peace. That’s what brings rest. That is what brings a hope that is a sure and steadfast anchor to our soul. 

The legion of coffee cups, journals, T-shirts, and canvas bags also don’t tell you about the rest of Psalm 46. How the earth can give way and crumble into the sea, how the nations rage and the kingdoms of the earth falter, how we are in need of a fortress. Not exactly the quiet house with a warm cup of coffee and cozy blanket.

And yet God calls us to be still and know that he is God. In the midst of the chaos and both the perceived dangers and legitimate dangers, God calls us to be still. To remember that He is God. To remember that, ultimately, he will be exalted and lifted up and worshipped among every nation, language, tribe, and tongue. And this is a good thing. This is the best thing. Knowing who this God is enables us to be still and to rest.

Aslan was on the move, and once the Pevensies KNEW Aslan, it changed everything for them. The formidable White Witch was a source of fear no more.  

God will be exalted among the nations, and we know this God. Through the Scriptures we know who he is and what he is like. And with the knowledge that this is the God who is ruling all things, seen and unseen, we can be still.      

These articles follow our church-wide reading plan. To read with us, click here.