Being Still and Knowing (Psalm 46:10)

Psalm 46:10a ESV Be still, and know that I am God.

The first part of Psalm 46:10 is often used to encourage people to slow down, rest, and trust in God during times of busyness or distress. However, what does it mean in context?

Psalm 46 is a song about God’s power to protect his people. In verses 1–3, the psalmist describes God as a safe place for his people in times of trouble. In verses 4–7, the psalmist describes Jerusalem as God’s city protected by his presence. In verses 8–9, the psalmist calls for people to see the destruction that God causes when he stops wars.

Psalm 46:10 was written in this context. The whole verse reads:

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

On its own, this verse seems like God was calling his people to rest and trust in him. However, this is not likely. After all, throughout the Psalm, it is clear God’s people were already confident that God will protect them. Rather, in context, it is more likely that God was addressing the enemy nations who were thinking to invade Jerusalem.

The first command, “Be still,” uses the verb hirpāh (הִרְפָּה), which means “to leave off, cease, stop” (HALOT). God was warning the enemy nations to stop fighting against his people. The second command, “Know that I am God,” is a call to the enemy nations recognize that God is powerful to protect his people against their attacks (vv. 1, 5, 7, 11).

The last statements, “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth,” is a reminder to the enemy nations that God does devastating things to nations and the earth when he stops wars (vv. 6, 8–9). The force of the warning is clear: If the enemy nations attacked Jerusalem, then God will protect his people and stop the war, and the enemy nations will suffer destruction as a result.

God will protect his people in Jesus Christ. This does not mean that enemies will not attack us. Contrarily, we will suffer persecution for our faith in Jesus (John 15:20; 2 Tim. 3:12). One day, the world will persecute Christians so severely that it will seem like enemy nations surrounding Jerusalem! Then, God will protect his people, stop the war, and destroy the enemy nations (Rev. 20:8–9).