Being Quiet

When he met with the young people last week, Fr. Rob Galea reminded us of something we had either forgotten or perhaps never heard. Psalm 40:11. In some translations, it shows up as 46:10.

We can recite it by heart: “Be still, and know that I am God.”

When we read it, we probably think of being quiet before God, contemplating the many gifts and wonders He has given. We think of the beach or serene landscapes. We think of rest, letting go. We think of peace.

But that is not what the passage means. After hearing Fr. Rob, I did a little more research.

The passage is about war. It starts with the great promise that God is the refuge of His people, where they can find protection from that which endangers them. Read just before this passage, and you will see the nations raging against God before moving to God’s responses of bringing destruction upon the earth and the nations.

The setting is a battlefield. In this war, God protects His people and brings the nations into submission. In this psalm, God enters the fray of the raging nations and tells them to pipe down. Like a parent stopping an argument among the children, he raises His voice (or doesn’t) and speaks.

Shut up. Be quiet. Please stop it.

And let me be God.

That is the literal translation. That is the instruction. It’s not “sit quietly and reflect on the peaceful sunset.” No, it is, “Shut your mouth. I am in charge.”

God rules. God conquers. God enters the battlefield and stops the fighting.

We could do with a little more of that these days.

I hope you have a great week.