TITLE: BE STILL
SCRIPTURE: PSALM 46:10-11
There are moments when we all need to hit the pause button. Life races on and, if we are not intentional and careful, we lose the joy and purpose of it all.
• Yes, sometimes you just need to pause
• Too much Noise
• Too many Appointments
We overcommit ourselves to others and undervalue the health of our own souls. “BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD” The same Holy Spirit who came as a MIGHTY RUSHING WIND also brings the gentle breeze.
• You do not always have to hurry to get things done
• Sometimes God is doing most in us when we are not in a hurry at all
There is too much haste in the home today.
• Hurry steals the heart away
• Busyness is an Action
• Hurry is an Attitude
Those who work hard and desire the best are going to be busy. But in our busyness, we must not hurry past the Lord and those we love.
• Urgency is not living at a faster pace
• It is living with properly placed priorities
Life is full of movement.
• Movement is not a bad thing
• If we are moving, we are living
• If we are moving, we are making progress
Movement, though, is also exhausting — physically and mentally. In some ways, all this movement can be paralyzing. We feel stuck or caught because though we're moving all over the place there is no direction or meaning behind it.
• We know we're moving, but we wonder if we're really getting anywhere
• In the midst of all of this - God says, "BE STILL"
This isn’t merely about silence. stillness, in biblical terms, means surrendering our striving -- pausing our panic - and making space for God’s presence.
• It’s a soul posture
• It’s an intentional yielding of control to the sovereignty of God
There is an interesting word found in the OT that oftentimes we are not quite sure what to do with in our readings. There is one word in Scripture that sums up the necessity of pausing -- SELAH. This Hebrew word is meant as an intentional pause in the reading.
• A planned pause
• It is found 74 times in the Old Testament
• 71 times in the Psalms
• 3 times in Habakkuk
74- times in the Old Testament, the writers penned “SELAH” in strategic places.
• “Amen” is used 28 times in the Old Testament
• “Hallelujah” 23 times
• Like “Selah,” “Hallelujah” is only used in Psalms
• Additionally, all the Psalmists, but two, used “Selah” as part of their inspired text
• It is definitely a word worth understanding!
There is some debate whether the word is to be read aloud at all or if it is just a way of stopping us and calling attention to the truth of the text. Even this is a reminder that in our Bible reading we frequently rush right on to the next verse without pausing long enough to think.
• To Commune
• To Ponder
• To Apply
• In the quiet, God speaks
Many commentators think that Selah meant 'to pause' or 'to reflect.' This could have been a request for the reader or listener to pause and think about what has just been said, or it could have been a space for voices to pause and for instruments play alone. We don't really know for certain. Regardless, the word Selah itself indeed causes us to pause and consider what God may be saying even when we don't fully understand.
• Selah gives us an opportunity to take a moment away from this Crazy - Busy - Non-Stop life we all tend to live and consider the immense mysteries and wonders of God
Much is accomplished in the pauses of life. God renews our strength in those waiting times. That is what ISAIAH 40:31 tells us as well “BUT THEY THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH; THEY SHALL MOUNT UP WITH WINGS AS EAGLES; THEY SHALL RUN, AND NOT BE WEARY; AND THEY SHALL WALK, AND NOT FAINT.” We reflect - God realigns. The pause does not mean simply “doing nothing” or filling the hours with entertainment and recreation.
The pause should have a purpose.
• Pause to Ponder
• Pause to Pray
• Pause to Praise
• Pause to Plan
• Pause to Prioritize
There is no “stop” button for life –
• It will go on until God says that it is finished
• You cannot Rewind to Yesterday – it is over
• It is impossible to Fast Forward to Tomorrow – that is in God’s knowledge alone
• But you can Pause Today
When we consider our Nation and the condition of our world as well as this time in history, it is vital that God’s people hit pause and take a spiritual inventory of our lives.
• What is truly important?
• Does something need to be eliminated?
• What is missing?
• Is something draining our energy and distracting our attention?
• What should we concentrate on in the days ahead?
These are questions that cannot be considered, much less answered, while we are living in the blur of ceaseless activity. The word SELAH itself causes us to pause and consider what God may be saying even when we don't fully understand. Selah gives us an opportunity to take a moment away from all of life’s distractions and “WAIT ON THE LORD.”
I don’t know what you think about whenever you think about rest. For some of you that means time to binge watch Netflix, but I would love for us to think about rest from a spiritual perspective. This invitation from God to rest really is an invitation to stop.
• To stop Working
• Stop Worrying
• Stop Wanting
• Just STOP
• To step away from the constant dinging, ringing, and vibrating of your phone
• To close the computer and walk away
• To trust that whatever happens in the time you’re away from your email, God will take care of you
• To demonstrate your trust, your faith, in God by accepting his invitation to SELAH
• And then to practice spiritual Rest
There are times we get too caught up in Praise and Worship. I know this sounds strange, but if we are not careful the Church will begin to Worship - Worship instead of truly Worshiping God. Praise and Worship are important because the Bible records seven different Hebrew words for praise --
• YADAH -- to revere or worship with extended hands. To hold out the hands
• HALAL -- to boast. to rave. to shine. to celebrate
• ZAMAR -- to make music. to celebrate in song and music. to touch the strings or parts of a musical instrument
• TOWDAH -- an extension of the hand. Thanksgiving. A confession. A sacrifice of praise. Thanksgiving for things not yet received
• BARAK -- to kneel. to bless God (as an act of adoration). to praise. to salute. to thank
• TEHILLAH -- laudation. a hymn. a song of praise. a new song. a spontaneous song
• SHABACH -- to address in a loud tone. to shout to commend, glory, and triumph
When should we worship?
• In the painful times
• In the joyful times
• In time of distress
• In times of heartbreak
• In times of gladness
Even with that, there are times God says to us – SELAH. It is here that God wants us to internalize. Yes, “Being Still” before our exalted God is crucially important.
• Who can truly succeed in life without God?
• Whose religion is truly spiritual without having God with them?
• What energizes our faith more than knowing God is with us as we do his will?
What do you think the Lord is instructing you to do? To come to worship on Sunday morning, sit in your pew, sing the hymns, stay awake through the sermon, and then go about your way as if nothing has happened? No! Though for many who claim the title Christian, this is the entirety of what they understand it to mean, this is not what it means to be a Christian.
• When you come to worship you have come for Selah, so that you might pause to hear God’s Word spoken to your heart
• Measure what His Word is calling you to do when you go forth into your life among your neighbors; and lift up your prayer for help and thanksgiving for all He has done and is doing in you
• But the Selah ends and the Psalm goes on and so must we
If we haven’t made stillness before God and with God a habit, it can be tough to choose stillness when it would make the most difference for us. We need to practice stillness because the busyness of life can drown out the voice of God and if we haven’t cultivated a sensitivity to the voice of God –
• When the Tsunamis hit
• When the Crisis comes
• When the rug is pulled out from underneath us
• We will struggle to recognize His voice and presence in our situation
Be Still. Sometimes I think our busyness is intentional.
• Do you think we sometimes get busy and stay busy on purpose?
• Are we searching for something in our busyness?
• Are we trying to put something out of our mind by cramming as much into our day as possible?
• Do we think busyness is the answer to our problems in the fact that it distracts us from them?
God’s invitation to stillness is multi-faceted.
• It readies us for life’s storms
• It calms us in life’s storm
• It helps us navigate our way through life’s storms to a better and brighter place
Be Still. In order for us to practice stillness, we are going to need to silence our phones - to step away from the tv - to carve out quiet time to listen to the still small voice of God. In order to be still --
• We are going to have to stop the constant motion and sit in God’s presence
• In order to be still and to be able to hear the still small voice of God, we have to get into God’s Word
• It has to be a habit
• BE STILL
Be still and know that he is God.
• He is Almighty
• He is in control
• He is love
• He is the King of Kings
• He is the Lord of Lords
• He is your Hope
• He is your Rock
• He is your Fortress
• He is ever-present when you need Him
• He is your Father
• He is your Shepherd
• He will lead you
• He will nourish you
• He will protect you
• He will restore you
• But First – BE STILL
6
