Psalm 46:10 I Am the True God
“Be still, be calm, see, and understand I am the True God. I am honored among all the nations, I am honored over all the earth” (Voice).
Of course the prime statement in the verse above is: “I am the True God.” We are to understand that Jehovah is the one and only True God, but we can’t understand if we don’t stop, look, and listen. God is speaking through the Psalmist in this verse. He is the one telling us to be still and calm. In today’s world of constant stimulation–radio, tv, internet, and phone– it is difficult to experience quiet. We seem to feel that we actually need all this stimulation. How often do we drive without having music, talk show, or sports playing through the car’s sound system? My guess is that the sound system in the car powers up as soon as the electrical system turns on. That’s the way it is in my car. We spend our evenings sitting in front of a large television often watching whatever comes on. Most homes have more than one tv so each person can satisfy his/her own viewing choices. How many of us have earphones or ear buds active even while we are walking for exercise? Is there any place or time when we do not experience external stimulus? The quietest place I have ever been is on the pontoon of a floatplane on the surface of a remote lake in Alaska. I remember thinking, “There are no artificial sounds. The only thing I hear is the water lapping on the pontoon and the rain failing on the lake.” What a peaceful and quiet time that was.
Where and when can we find true quiet? My wife and I find it in the woods or beside a country stream. I can find it in my office if I close the door or in my bedroom at night. We have to decide to get away from outside stimulus and then make the effort to do just that.
Why is it important to get away from outside stimulus and to quiet our minds? The inference in Psalm 46:10 is that we need to be quiet, be still and be calm so that we can see and understand that Jehovah is the one True God and that Jesus is His Son. There is no way to draw close to God if we don’t take the time and make the effort to read His Word, speak to Him in prayer, and listen with both heart and mind. To do so, we have to make God the most important thing, at least for that moment, and be still, be calm, and listen. The word is “meditate.” We need to meditate on the Word, and we need to take time to listen for His still small voice. When we make that investment of time, attention, and effort, we will be rewarded with a deeper understanding of Him. Each time we do draw close to Him, our desire to draw close grows even stronger, and the reward grows larger. It’s worth the time. It’s worth the effort. Draw close and be blessed.