Like many Bible verses, this one (Psalm 46:10) is often ripped from its context to declare something not intended in the passage itself. Well-meaning Christians may use this as a consolation in times of worry and frustration – as if God is saying, “relax, I got this.”
While that errant conclusion is borne out through many other verses (e.g., John 16:33 – “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world”), this particular verse isn’t a promise to Christians, but a warning to those nations warring against Israel.
Far direr than the TV cop’s “freeze!” to the fleeing criminal, or even Dirty Harry’s “Do you feel lucky, punk?” this command is a declaration of sovereignty to any in opposition to his rule.
The entire Psalm 46 is indeed a comfort to Israel, beginning, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.”
But the warning that follows is in quotations in our English bibles, as if the psalmist is quoting God. After “Be still…,” he continues, “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Biblically speaking, the triune God will surely be exalted: “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)
There are numerous other misunderstood passages “claimed” by Christians that are used like talismans to affect change in circumstance. But…
Jeremiah 29:11 (“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”) is a promise to captive Israel, not to us during our unemployment.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (“if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”) isn’t a promise to the United States – we were never a “Christian nation.”
Matthew 18:20 (“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them”) is sometimes used to excuse churchlessness, but it’s really a promise to those who gather for member discipline.
There can be made an overall biblical case for the truths of the conclusions reached misusing these verses, but it’s always better to use the verses that actually make the promises. Otherwise, we run the risk of misquoting God, and misleading people.
The Bible gives a complex, but unified, message. While many of its truths (like the gospel of Jesus Christ) are simple, they are never simplistic. The interrelatedness of the Old and New Testaments can be a career study. Biblical Christians ought not make short work of understanding what we proclaim.
Apart from the overall context, there are more and less palatable sections of Scripture. We might find the taste of individual ingredients disgusting before they’re mixed together and baked into a cake. Like the finished cake, the Bible is a delight when the recipe is followed for understanding the parts in light of the whole.
Steve Post is a Tallahassee resident, armchair theologian, and past local ministry lay leader. Contact him at sepost7678@gmail.com.
I had said this on the zoom meeting on Monday about how recovery is like baking a cake...some of the ingredients themselves can be disgusting but when you mix all the ingredients together you get a lovely cake.
So the ingredients for recovery is
*Being obedient to God.
*Repenting your sins
*Reading Scripture.
*Listening To Others.
Here is a meditation from my Abide App for Psalm 46:10.
https://abide.co/prayer/mr6f1u
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