Stand Firm in Faith – Be Still and Know That I Am God

Stand Firm in Faith

In 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat admitted he did not have the answers and he prayed to the Lord. He trusted God that He would protect Judah and Jerusalem from a great multitude coming against them. They knew if help came that it would be from God. He commanded them to Stand Still or Stand Firm in some translations and see the salvation of the Lord. 2 Chronicles 20:17 says ‘You will not have to fight this battle.  Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.  Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’

God answered Jehoshaphat’s prayer and the people praised the Lord after the answer came to Jehoshaphat. They were not save yet but they trusted in Faith that they would be saved.  The battle was lead by the people singing and worshipping as they went to face the multitudes.  The Lord set against the people and they fought against themselves, and they were defeated.  Just as God promised, the battle belonged to Him.  He won the battle for the people.  THEY STOOD FIRM in their FAITH!

Stand Firm in Faith – Be Still and Know That I Am God

Here I am using them as one statement, two which are interconnected.  Throughout Scripture many times we are told to Stand firm in our faith, to Stand and See that He is Lord.

Vocabulary.com shows the definition of Stand Firm as offering resistance to somebody or something, resist, withstand,to defend, fight, oppose.  Also To refuse to abandon one’s opinion or belief.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also think of Standing Firm as reflected in Ephesians 6:10-18 where Paul told the Ephesians to ‘put on the Armor of God and be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.’  When we studied MasterLife Book 3 we spent several weeks on these Scriptures.

During that study, we used this excellent pamphlet from Hendrickson Rose Publishing, as well, to help us learn the pieces of the Armor.  We put on this armor so we can take our stand against the devil’s schemes and stand our ground. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  (Ephesians 6:11-12). Ephesians 14 starts with STAND FIRM. The pieces of the Armor are:

• The Helmet of Salvation
• The Shield of Faith
• The Breastplate of Righteousness
• The Belt of Truth
• The Sword of the Spirit
• The Gospel of Peace (Gospel Shoes)

Do you STAND FIRM in your FAITH?

Are you firm or are you ‘wishy-washy’ or ‘lukewarm’ in your FAITH?  Do you back down in situations where you are called to defend your faith?   Why?  You must study the Word to be equipped to defend your faith!

In 2 Timothy 3: 16-17, Paul tells Timothy: ‘16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.’   In 2 Timothy 2: 15, Paul tells Timothy: ‘5 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.’

Many times in the past, I have been ‘afraid’ yet I truly knew that the ‘Lord had it’.   He wants us to FULLY RELY ON HIM.  During these times when I would just relax, and pray and worship Him, and GIVE IT ALL TO HIM,  it always turned out fine and the reason for FEAR was mostly in my mind.  (Actually it was the enemy who used a weakness in me to cause me to fear.)

If you are not spending time in the Word you will fall at the first challenge of your FAITH.   You must abide in the Word.  Study it.  Memorize it so you have it in your heart at all times.  The more you study and the more you will know who He is and His character and your FAITH will grow stronger and stronger as you also see Him in action!

 

 

 

 

 

Be Still and Know that I am God

Let’s look at Psalm 46 in full.  It is always import to read Scripture in context and in awareness of the culture and history.  This scripture does not mean what most of us believe.

God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah

There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the earth melted.

The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

Come, behold the works of the LORD,
Who has made desolations in the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariot in the fire.

Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!

he LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

What does this Psalm mean to us?

The Psalmist seems to be convincing himself of his FAITH.  He is noting that if God is really their refuge, strength and help to the people then there is no reason to fear.  ‘Therefore we will not fear’.

Selah.  Selah is a pause.  A time for thought.

The river flowing and making the city of God glad?  Some believe this indicates a place of perfect peace, and there are various other opinions.  I believe it is about the ‘streams of living water’ which will flow from the hearts of those who believe in Him which produces the perfect peace and joy for those who believe.   The city of God must be Jerusalem.

The Lord of hosts is with us.   The title Lord of Hosts is Yahweh Saboath is the commander of the armies.  Both armies on earth and in Heaven.  This powerful Lord of hosts/God of Jacob is with us.  He is our refuge.   He is all Mighty and powerful yet He is available to us all the time.

Behold His might works and power!  As in 2 Chronicles 20, we see the Psalmist’s awareness of the battles God fights for His people and wins for us.

Be still and know that I am God: Based on a number of commentaries, in Verse 10, there is a change of person, and in this Scripture it appears that the God is now talking to the opposition.  The ones who have been fighting God.  He is telling them to ‘stop arguing with God and to surrender!  It is actually a rebuke to those who oppose Him.  It means to ‘Lay down your arms.  Surrender, and acknowledge that I am the one and only victorious God’. (Boice)

The Lord of Hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. 

Finally, we can rest in the comfort that God is with us.  He is our refuge always.

I highly recommend the following books for deeper studies and devotional studies of the Psalms.  Click on the pictures to take you to a site where you can purchase now.  If you purchase from our links we may receive a small commission which doesn’t affect your price in any way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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