Psalm 46:10:
10Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth!
This verse has been used by many to try to justify being non-demonstrative in praise and worship. That is NOT what this verse means at all! The previous verses are speaking of the mighty works of the Lord! Then we have "Be still", the Hebrew word "raphah", which means: to slacken, to cease, to withdraw, to relax. It is referring to letting go of our own efforts to handle situations and let God do His work! You know, "let go and let God"! The Amplified Bible we quoted above has it right: "let be and be still". Another good translation is found in Complete Jewish Bible:
10 “Desist, and learn that I am God,
supreme over the nations,
supreme over the earth.”
Desist, or stop with YOUR efforts and learn about God! Another good one is found in the Message Bible:
10 "Step out of the traffic! Take a long,
loving look at me, your High God,
above politics, above everything."
Do you get the picture? We are to STOP trying to do things our way and rely on the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible to deliver us in EVERY situation! Then HE gets all of the Glory and HE is exalted! AMEN!
Paul's last instructions to Timothy are found in 2 Timothy 4. We will look at verse 2:
2Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome.] And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching.
I love the Amplified Bible for this verse! To herald means to proclaim and announce. Paul was telling Timothy to stick to the Word of God and keep putting it out to the people! Unbelievers need to hear the simple Gospel concerning salvation so they can receive Jesus as Lord and personal Saviour. Then, as believers, they need to hear the Word of God taught so that they can grow up to be effectual Ministers of Reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18). That IS the job of a Pastor! They are to teach the Word to the people so that the people can be matured to do the work of the ministry. Their ministry! Paul also warns Timothy that there will come a time when people will not WANT to hear the Word! Verses 3-4:
3For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold, 4And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions.
That's why we are to be about our Father's business NOW, while there is still time to reach people. AMEN! Then WE can say, along with Paul:
6For I am already about to be sacrificed [my life is about to be poured out as a drink offering]; the time of my [spirit's] release [from the body] is at hand and I will soon go free. 7I have fought the good (worthy, honorable, and noble) fight, I have finished the race, I have kept (firmly held) the faith. 8[As to what remains] henceforth there is laid up for me the [victor's] crown of righteousness [for being right with God and doing right], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me and recompense me on that [great] day--and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and yearned for and welcomed His appearing (His return).
Thank You, Jesus, for trusting us with this awesome responsibility and opportunity!
In 2 Kings 15-16 we see another account of the Kings of Judah and Israel. Some of the kings of Judah did right in the sight of the Lord and none of the kings of Israel did. The kings of Israel got to be so wicked and perverse that they began to act just like pagan people. You can see this in 2 Kings 15:16 and 16:3:
16Then Menahem smote Tiphsah and all who were in it and its territory from Tirzah on; he attacked it because they did not open to him. And all the women there who were with child he ripped up.
3But he walked in the ways of Israel's kings, yes, and made his son pass through the fire [and offered him as a sacrifice], in accord with the abominable [idolatrous] practices of the [heathen] nations whom the Lord drove out before the Israelites.
The further people remove themselves from the Word of God and the ways of God, the worse they will act. We can see how this has affected our nation. What used to be unheard of and unacceptable is now becoming the norm and protected by wicked judges! What is to be done? PREACH THE WORD! The Word of God is the only thing that can change a wicked heart! An awakening to the Truth of the Word is what is needed in this nation and God's people are on fire as never before to see to the job of reaching the lost with the simple and glorious Gospel of Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One and His Anointing! Let's DO IT!
Shalom in Him!
