Be Present With God in Silence

Transcription

1 SESSION 1 Be Present With God in Silence Summary and Goal Our culture is constantly filling our minds with noise some good, some bad, and some in between. Messages are coming at us from the moment our alarm goes off in the morning until we go to sleep at night. But what ultimately matters is what God says. For us to grow, it is critical that we pause, sit still, and be silent before the Lord with no other noise but His voice, heard through His Word and Spirit. Choosing daily to be still in order to hear from the Lord is a discipline we must cultivate. Advice abounds on the best method to use. What is necessary, however, is allowing the real God to speak to the real you. Main Passage Psalm 46:1-11 Session Outline 1. God is Our Refuge Who Calms Our Fear. (Psalm 46:1-3) 2. God is With Us and Protects Us. (Psalm 46:4-7) 3. God s Presence is Our Hope for Peace Now and Forever. (Psalm 46:8-11) Theological Theme Being present with God does not come with the absence of adversity. Rather, His peace comes to us when we are still before Him in the midst of noisy circumstances. Christ Connection Christ provides peace for us both now and forever. We experience His peace in our current circumstances as we are still before Him. We ultimately experience His peace eternally in the new heaven and new earth (Rev. 21). Missional Application God triumphs over all that comes against Him or His people. His followers can, therefore, go boldly to engage the world, knowing that He fights for them. 1 Leader Guide

2 Historical Context of Psalms Purpose To provide poetry for the expression of praise, worship, and confession to God. Author Since the book is a collection of many different psalms written over a long time, there is not just one author for this collection. By far the most common designation in the titles is Davidic, which may refer to David as the author of those psalms. David s role as a musician in Saul s court (1 Sam 16:14-23) as well as his many experiences as a shepherd, a soldier, and a king make him a likely candidate for writing many of these psalms. Other titles include the designations of Solomon (Pss 72; 127), Asaph (Pss 50; 70-83), the sons of Korah (Pss 42; 44-49), Ethan (Ps 89), Heman son of Korah (Ps 88), and Moses (Ps 90). All of these use the same Hebrew preposition as appears with David s name and therefore have the same ambiguity about authorship. In the case of Asaph, although he was one of David s chief musicians (1Ch 6:39), the name itself became associated with a group of musicians bearing the same name (Ezr 2:40-41). This might explain why an apparently postexilic psalm (Ps 74) includes the title of Asaph. Date Written Between the time of Moses (around 1440 B.C.) and the Babylonian captivity (586 B.C.). Setting For the most part, the psalms were not intended to be narrations of historical events. However, they often parallel events in history, such as David s flight from Saul and his sin with Bathsheba. Key Verse Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD. Psalm 150:6 Key Person David Key Place God s holy temple October 1,

3 1 Session Plan Be Present With God in Silence Introduction What aspect of life challenges your ability to be still before God the most? Busyness? Anxiety? Conflict? Something else? How do you think a regular practice of being silent before God would prepare you for the challenges of daily life? Silence before God is something that happens in the middle of life at full speed. Being present with God recognizing His transcendence provides peace in situations that would seem to make peace impossible. As a result, our experience with God calms our fear and anxiety. 1. God is Our Refuge Who Calms Our Fear (Psalm 46:1-3). As Psalm 46 opens, it is clear that it is not the psalm of serenity one might expect from just reading the often-quoted first part of verse 10. Rather, verse 1 begins with talk of God as a refuge that is found in times of trouble. The opening images of the psalm indicate that these words were written to God s people while they were fearful and in danger. Recognizing who God is and stilling oneself in awe of that understanding wards off fear. How do you respond to threats to your livelihood or security? Is your default to try everything to handle the matter yourself? At what point do you typically look to God for deliverance? Give an example. The psalmist described God as a helper who is always found in times of trouble. Is that consistent with your experience? How does it shape your perception to realize that God never leaves or forsakes you? 2. God is With Us and Protects Us (Psalm 46:4-7). The second section of Psalm 46 addresses the political turmoil that comes when nations battle one another. Each of the sections in Psalm 46 end with Selah, which is a Hebrew word that signals to musicians the appropriate 3 Leader Guide

4 place for pause or reflection. The first point of reflection, or stillness, is focused on God s protection. The second point of reflection is the presence of God during political upheaval. Because of God s unceasing presence, His people will not be toppled. What daily practices or spiritual disciplines make God s presence most vivid to you? How do those practices tend to shape your actions as you go throughout your day? How should you approach potential conflict differently knowing that God is aware of everything that comes against you? 3. God s Presence is Our Hope for Peace (Psalm 46:8-11). As Psalm 46 progresses, there is a growing sense in the reader that longs not just for the Lord to fight for His people, but also for the fighting to be finished. Verse 10 s divine directive to stop fighting and know that God is God is a call to recognize God for who He is and to rest in that. This is greater than a simple urging to stop being so busy and distracted. It is a call to stop everything and focus attention solely on God and worship appropriately. What particular battle are you facing that you are ready for God to ultimately win? How does being a part of God s people for whom He fights move you to praise? How does it impact your resolve in the decisions you ll make tomorrow? Conclusion We face fear through a variety of ways, whether that be distraction, hardship, trials, or political turmoil. We face those realities in the areas of finances, parenting, relationships, political safety, health, social acceptance, and numerous others. Regularly feeding our souls and minds through meditating on His Word, conversing with Him in prayer, and applying the truth we learn to our lives helps us understand more fully what it means to rest in God s presence. What would you list as the top three fears or concerns you regularly dwell on or struggle with? How do the psalmist s words describing God s power over all things offer you comfort? For Further Discussion Read Revelation 21. How does this description of the New Jerusalem relate to Psalm 46? How do you think memorizing Revelation 21:1-4 would help you be still before God in the midst of life s struggles and distractions? What are some ways that you can build time within your schedule to be still before God? What impact would you expect that to have on your life? Session 1 4

5 Expanded Session Content 1 Be Present with God in Silence A Mighty Fortress Psalm 46 was the most significant inspiration to Martin Luther in composing his famous hymn, A Mighty Fortress is Our God. The lyrics of this classic hymn resonate with unreserved reliance on God for safety and protection: A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing. For almost 500 years, the church has been confessing God s unique ability to shield and comfort us during seasons of trial. Read the lyrics of the hymn instead of singing them, and let the truths the hymn proclaims prepare you for the day ahead. Introduction In a seminary classroom some years ago, a young preacher was addressing his classmates at the opening of class. The young man began talking about Psalm 46:10 s plea to be still and know that God is God. It was a familiar verse that elicited solemn head nods in agreement. However, the quietness of the moment was interrupted by one rather honest student with a simple, question: But how? How are we to be still? Taken aback at the interruption, the speaker asked him to expound upon his question. The student explained that he was at a loss as to how to find time to be still in the midst of pastoral ministry, full-time school, homework, a wife, multiple children, church members in need of pastoral care, and Sunday rolling around faithfully every seven days. After a few moments of contemplation, the young preacher pointed out how significant it is that there was no stated amount of time assigned to being still and knowing God. Rather, the time needed is precisely the amount of time it takes to still oneself and recognize that God is transcendent above all of the problems, challenges, and responsibilities life brings. What aspect of life challenges your ability to be still before God the most? Busyness? Anxiety? Conflict? Something else? How do you think a regular practice of being silent before God would prepare you for the challenges of daily life? When you study the Bible or spend time in prayer, do you expectantly wait for God to speak to you? Or, do you tend to do most of the talking? Session Summary In our session for this week, we will look at the entirety of Psalm 46. We will discover the context in which God gave the command to stop your fighting and know that I am God. The context of this command was one in which the people of God were facing tremendous opposition and fear. In a variety 5 Leader Guide

6 of ways through Psalm 46, the deliverance of God s people rests solely in the might of their loving God, who fights on their behalf. Silence before God, then, is something that happens in the middle of life at full speed. Being present with God recognizing His transcendence provides peace in situations that would seem to make peace impossible. As a result, our experience with God calms our fear and anxiety. 1. God is Our Refuge Who Calms Our Fear (Psalm 46:1-3). As Psalm 46 opens, it is clear that it is not the psalm of serenity one might expect from just reading the often-quoted first part of verse 10. Rather, verse 1 begins with talk of God as a refuge that is found in times of trouble. The sole reason for such a description is that trouble was readily present at the time. In fact, Psalm 46 is categorized as one of the six Psalms of Zion. These Psalms focus both on Jerusalem as the city of God and God s faithful protection of His people, citizens of Jerusalem. The descriptor of God as a helper who is always found in times of trouble refers to His faithful, enduring, and active presence with His people. The word for help depicts God moving to do for His people what they are unable to do for themselves. Even in the gravest of danger, regardless of its form, God acts with power to protect and preserve His people. The opening images of the psalm indicate that these words were written to God s people while they were fearful and in danger. How do you respond to threats to your livelihood or security? Is your default to try everything to handle the matter yourself? At what point do you typically look to God for deliverance? Give an example. The psalmist described God as a helper who is always found in times of trouble. Is that consistent with your experience? How does it shape your perception to realize that God never leaves or forsakes you? To give a sense of the degree to which God is capable to preserve His people, the psalmist began to speak of the catastrophe that could theoretically threaten God s people. Even in the midst of natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, and a host of other cataclysmic events, God is still capable of preserving His people. The reason the psalmist used these particular images is because in the Jewish mindset of the day, mountains were viewed as the most secure, immovable structures in all creation. By contrast, the sea was ominous and mysterious, filled with danger that threatened life and, in some Old Testament writings, the housing from which evil emerges. Session 1 6

7 The takeaway is that God is still a refuge for His people when the most permanent structures are no longer permanent and when the sinister depths rage their worst. The resolve in the beginning of verse 2 is the central point of the opening verses: Therefore we will not be afraid... Recognizing who God is and stilling oneself in awe of that understanding wards off fear. Experientially knowing the Creator and His character calms the fear of the creation. God is greater. God is the protector, and He can always be found. 2. God is With Us and Protects Us (Psalm 46:4-7). The second section of Psalm 46 addresses the political turmoil that comes when nations battle one another. Each of the sections in Psalm 46 end with Selah, which is a Hebrew word that signals to musicians the appropriate place for pause or reflection. The first point of reflection, or stillness, is focused on God s protection. The second point of reflection is the presence of God during political upheaval. The poetic language of verse 4 can be confusing to the modern reader. Remembering that Psalm 46 is a psalm of Zion helps to interpret the city of God. The river referred to is both literal and metaphorical. Ancient cities were built with a water source in case of attack. When a city was besieged, the first thing the enemy would do is cut off the water source so that the people within the walls of the city would either surrender or die from dehydration. Jerusalem s water source was the Gihon Spring. The point of the poetic language is that God has chosen to dwell among His people. Because of that truth, they are protected. What daily practices or spiritual disciplines make God s presence most vivid to you? How do those practices tend to shape your actions as you go throughout your day? How should you approach potential conflict differently knowing that God is aware of everything that comes against you? While verse 4 assures God s people that He is in their midst, verses 5-7 speak to the attack of political enemies. Just as the psalmist reassured the citizens of Jerusalem of God s protection amidst political attack, he encouraged God s people throughout the ages that because of God s unceasing presence, His people will not be toppled. Once again, the matter of God s help appears in the description of His ministry to His people. Just as the nations raged against His people, He provided the preservation and deliverance they could not provide for themselves. The psalmist closed the second section of Psalm 46 by calling God the LORD of Hosts, which literally means Yahweh of armies. In doing so, the psalmist created an unimaginable comparison between the 7 Leader Guide

8 armies that attacked God s people and the armies of God Himself. The same reality exists for God s people today. Where conflict and attack are imminent, the LORD of Hosts is faithful to fight on our behalf. 3. God s Presence is Our Hope for Peace (Psalm 46:8-11). As Psalm 46 progresses, there is a growing sense in the reader that longs not just for the Lord to fight for His people, but also for the fighting to be finished. As wonderful as it is for God to protect in times of global destruction and natural disaster or preserve during military and political attacks, it is far greater still for those trials to no longer exist at all. In verse 8, the psalmist summoned the attention of his audience to the coming works of the Lord. The devastation that is to come is one in which the enemies of God and His people will be finally defeated. The earth refers to the earthly enemies of God that exist outside His holy city, to remain consistent with the metaphor of the psalm of Zion. The psalmist assured his audience that, while God fought for them in their battles, one day there would be no more battles. What particular battle are you facing that you are ready for God to ultimately win? How does being a part of God s people for whom He fights move you to praise? How does it impact your resolve in the decisions you ll make tomorrow? God of Jacob It is significant that the psalmist uses God of Jacob to refer to God because it ties God to His historical covenant relationship with Israel. The use of that description carries with it the memories of God s faithfulness since the time of the Patriarchs. When we remember who God has been to us in the past, it strengthens us and emboldens us for the future because God s character and faithfulness never change. Verse 9 contained the psalmist s description of God not only defeating His enemies, but also thoroughly destroying the tools and methods by which they made war. The psalmist told his audience, in the midst of their duress, that God makes wars cease all of them of every kind. Surely, it was difficult to imagine a reality in which there was never another conflict. For us today, it is difficult to imagine a reality in which there is no bitterness, racism, resentment, hatred, war, slander, or any other evidence of sin in the world. This is why the prophetic promise in 46:9 is all the more important. It raises the eyes of God s people to a greater, hopeful horizon. With the previous nine verses as a background, verse 10 s divine directive to stop fighting and know that God is God is a call to recognize God for who He is and to rest in that. This is greater than a simple urging to stop being so busy and distracted. It is a call to stop everything and focus attention solely on God and worship appropriately. The call to stop fighting, as the HCSB translates verse 10, hearkens us back to one of the most well-known events in Israel s history the parting of the Red Sea. Backed up to the Red Sea s raging waters by the vast Egyptian army thundering down upon them, the Hebrews were paralyzed with fear and barking at Moses. To calm their fear, Moses exhorted them, Don t Session 1 8

9 Come See... The exhortation to Come, see... is a classic tool in ancient writing to point to events of the future. Though the work of the Lord in bringing devastation to the earth is presented in the present tense in English, it is actually in the prophetic perfect in Hebrew. This indicates the impending final judgment, when evil is vanquished and the Lord s will reigns eternal. be afraid. Stand firm and see the LORD s salvation. He will provide for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you must be quiet (Exod. 14:13-14). As the people watched, God demonstrated His limitless power over nature (vv. 1-3), along with His force of military and political attack (vv. 4-7), as He parted the Red Sea for His people to cross. God subsequently used the Red Sea to destroy the armies of Egypt. Knowing God in such an experiential way turned their turmoil and fear into a joyous song of deliverance. Conclusion We face fear through a variety of ways, whether that be distraction, hardship, trials, or political turmoil. We face those realities in the areas of finances, parenting, relationships, political safety, health, social acceptance, and numerous others. Many of those are hardships that seem beyond our control to resolve or mold to our benefit, leaving us with an overwhelming feeling of helplessness. All of our striving, manipulating, and scheming ultimately brings us to the end of ourselves where we are aware of our limitations. Being in such a season brings anxiety, insecurity, fear, and a host of other emotions that most of us design our lives around eliminating. If any part of that description resonates with you, then you are in a prime position to understand the background to which the psalmist wrote Psalm 46. It s critical that we understand that we do not only resonate with the trials found in Psalm 46, but also with the reality of our Savior. God fights for us if we profess Christ as Savior. He is mighty to deliver us, not only from the ills of this temporal world, but also ultimately from the death sentence of our own sin. In our current state, our anxiety and fear are placed in perspective and alleviated when we stop our tumult and regularly focus solely on who God is. We cannot focus on who God is, though, if we do not know Him. Regularly feeding our souls and minds through meditating on His Word, conversing with Him in prayer, and applying the truth we learn to our lives helps us understand more fully what it means to rest in God s presence. To ignore the call to do so is to leave ourselves vulnerable to the perils of the world around us. What would you list as the top three fears or concerns you regularly dwell on or struggle with? How do the psalmist s words describing God s power over all things offer you comfort? What are some ways that you can build time within your schedule to be still before God? What impact would you expect that to have on your life? 9 Leader Guide

10 Read Revelation 21. How does this description of the New Jerusalem relate to Psalm 46? How do you think memorizing Revelation 21:1-4 would help you be still before God in the midst of life s struggles and distractions? Prayer of Response Pray that God would create a longing in our church to spend quiet time in His presence. Pray that our desire to know Him more deeply would greatly exceed our desire for the distractions of this world. Session 1 10

11 Extended Commentary Psalm 46: :1. When we are attacked and assailed by the discouraging circumstances of life, God is our refuge in whom his people will find protection, strength, and stability. God is pictured as a refuge, meaning a strong shelter from danger, an unconquerable fortress, or a walled city where protection is found. Furthermore, when trouble found the psalmist, God was his strength, upholding and enabling him to stand through the fiery trials. To have trouble means to be in a tight place, to be restricted, tied up, or to be in a narrow, cramped place. The psalmist was between a rock and a hard place with no way out. Yet God was with him, an ever-present help in trouble, immediately present and instantly available to his people. 46:2-3. Having understood the all-sustaining power of God, the psalmist wrote, We will not fear. This is a bold statement of confidence in God inspired by the greatness of the Almighty. Regardless of what the psalmist and the people of God face, they have no reason to fear. God is in control. The psalmist continued, Though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. This is a picture of confusion, represented as a momentous earthquake that caused an upheaval of the tall, lofty mountains. The mountains, representing stability and continuity, seem to collapse into the sea; and the waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. This imagery conveys earthshaking circumstances. As the mountains crash into the sea, the sea responds by flooding outside of its assigned barriers. In spite of all this turmoil that pictures devastating circumstances seemingly out of control, we will not fear. God is in control. 46:4. Although the foundations of the earth were shaking and collapsing, there is a river whose streams make glad the city of God Unlike the turbulent waters that roar and foam, the streams of God are continual and make glad the inhabitants of the city of God. Streams is perhaps a reference to the stream of Siloam, which was the only water supply for the inhabitants of Jerusalem. This river may be the river that flows from the throne of God (Ezek. 47:1-12; Zech. 14:8; Rev. 22:1-2). Jerusalem was often designated as the city of God (Pss. 9:11; 48:1-2; Isa. 60:14). It was considered the city where the Most High dwells. The holy place is a reference to the temple mount where the temple and the ark of the covenant were located. 46:5-7. Perhaps Jerusalem had been under attack from a foreign invader, but the psalmist wrote of the city s fate: God is within her, she will not fall. Although enemy forces were in uproar and threatened to attack Jerusalem at 11 Leader Guide

12 break of day, the time when the city would be most vulnerable, all was well because God would help. Although nations might voice brazen threats of invasion and destruction, the Lord would lift up his voice to speak, drowning out all other voices, and as a result the earth would melt. Therefore, the sons of Korah could sing with confidence, The Lord Almighty is with us. The phrase Lord Almighty is literally the Lord of Hosts. He would guard his chosen city and his holy people (cp. Pss. 24:10; 48:8; 59:5). The psalmist continued, The God of Jacob is our fortress, meaning that the Lord of Israel, God himself, was a high and safe place, a refuge (Pss. 46:11; 48:3; 59:9,16-17; 62:2,6; 94:22). 46:8-9. Following the battle, the psalmist invited the reader to come and see the works of the Lord, the desolations he had brought on the earth. The works of the Lord were performed throughout the history of Israel, from the conquest of the promised land into the period of the monarchy. Perhaps the desolations were the fields that were covered with the mutilated, dead corpses of the enemies of the Lord and his people Israel. Furthermore, the psalmist declared, God makes wars cease to the ends of the earth (cp. Isa. 2:4; Ezek. 39:9; Mic. 4:3; Zech. 9:10), meaning that he would enforce his peace upon his defeated enemies. This imposed peace is inferred by the following statement: He breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire (cp. Isa. 9:4; Ezek. 39:9-10; Hos. 2:18; Mic. 4:1-4). Be assured that at the end of the day, God would win the victory while delivering his people. 46: Here there is a shift in the speaker from the psalmist to the Lord himself, who gave a universal command to those who were in uproar: Be still, and know that I am God. This is not a contemplative call for reflection but a redemptive call to surrender and to know God personally and intimately before his swift judgment is unleashed (Hab. 2:20; Zeph. 1:7; Zech. 2:13). Furthermore, the Lord continued, I will be exalted among the nations. God brought destruction upon the threatening nations so his name might be exalted before them. The psalmist repeated the stanza found in verse 7, telling the reader who this fortress was: The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. This God was the Lord Almighty or literally Jehovah Sabbaoth. Furthermore, he was the God of Jacob, the God of the patriarchs, the fathers of Israel. Session 1 12

13 For Next Week Be Present with God in Sabbath Main Passages --Mark 6:6b-13, Session Outline 1. Jesus Taught Us to Serve (Mark 6b-13) 2. Jesus Taught Us to Stop (Mark 6:30-31) Memorize Stop your fighting and know that I am God, exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth. Psalm 46:10 13 Leader Guide