“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 first part of Psalm 46:10 may be one of the most famous sentences in the Psalms, a good reminder to all of us on a daily basis to be still, to just stop each day. And especially amidst challenges and trials and tribulation, which is what the Psalm is all about from the very beginning, God is our refuge and strength and ever present help in trouble. And then he begins to describe how the earth gives away and how desolations are brought on the earth and wars in the earth. So there’s a whole picture of tribulation and turmoil here that we’re all familiar with when our hearts are restless or there’s things going on, specifically in our lives or our families or in the world around us, to stop and be still.
Psalm 46:10 Reminds Us That During times of hardship and suffering, God is calling us to be still before Him.
You think about Exodus chapter 14, when God gave this similar command to his people. When the Egyptians were about to overtake them at the Red Sea, he said, “Stop, be still.” He says, “The Lord will fight for you. You have only to be still.” And God splits the Red Sea in half, and it is good. It’s a good practice to sit before God in silence and stillness. And to remember he is God.
And he is all that you know about God, he is good. He is just. He is merciful. And he is kind. Our God is trustworthy. He is all-powerful. He is all loving, just be still and meditate on who God is. Know that he is God. Now, what is often forgotten in this verse or missed or left out is what comes right after this. “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.”
So in our stillness before God, we are intended to remember that God is worthy of all praise, not just in our lives, but in all the nations. And that God’s purposes in the world, among the nations in all the earth will be accomplished. And so in our stillness, our hearts are intended to cry what Jesus taught us, to pray. Father in heaven, hallowed be your name in all the earth. And as we pray that, to be still and know that it will happen, the name of God will be hallowed, exalted in all the earth among all the nations. And so to pray toward that end with confidence.
Just Be Still
So God, right now, we pause and part of me just wants to not say anything. Just to be still. And maybe the conclusion of this podcast episode, that might be what would be best for each of us to do, just to sit in stillness for a moment and to meditate on who you are. You’re still, and we know that you are God, especially as we consider turmoil and trials and tribulation, and the struggles that we’re walking through.
I praise you for the grace to be still, and to be reminded that you are God. And to be reminded that you are accomplishing your purposes, that you are glorifying your name. In our lives is a refuge and a strength as an ever present help in trouble. And you are glorifying your name among the nations. And so we pray as we do so often on this podcast, we pray glory to be known among the nations, among specific nations today. Among the Zaza-Dimli people in Turkey. 1.7 million of them, hardly any known followers of Jesus. So many don’t know your name, Jesus. Your name is not being exalted among the Zaza-Dimli people of Turkey. And we pray that your name would be exalted.
Prayer That God’s Name Is Exalted Among the Zaza-Dimili people
Hallowed, be your name, Lord Jesus, among the Zaza-Dimli people of Turkey. They might know your name and love your name, enjoy your salvation. God, send workers to the Zaza-Dimli so that your name might be exalted among them. Raise up church there that is exalting your name.
God, we pray that for the 7,000 other people groups where your name is not known and for every corner of the earth, exalt your name among the nations like Psalm 46:10 says. We pray that based on your word. Oh God, do it today. May your name be exalted among more nations today. We ask for this, oh God. In our stillness, we praise you that you are God. And we pray that your name would be exalted among all the nations. Even as we trust that you will accomplish your purposes and you will even do it through our prayers that we’re praying right now.
All glory be to your name. We know that you’re a God. We know that you will be exalted among the nations, be exalted in all the earth. And we look forward to the day when that is a reality. When every nation, tribe, and tongue gathers around your throne. We join with them and we will be still in that day and know in face to face way that you are God. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
David Platt serves as a pastor in metro Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Radical.
David received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of Don’t Hold Back, Radical, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, Before You Vote, as well as the multiple volumes of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series.
Along with his wife and children, he lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
