Zec 2:1-13  “Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD”

[Study Aired June 8, 2023]

Zec 2:1  I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. 
Zec 2:2  Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof. 
Zec 2:3  And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him, 
Zec 2:4  And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein: 
Zec 2:5  For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her. 
Zec 2:6  Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD. </b
Zec 2:7  Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon. 
Zec 2:8  For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.
Zec 2:9  For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me. 
Zec 2:10  Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD. 
Zec 2:11  And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee. 
Zec 2:12  And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again. 
Zec 2:13  Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation. 

The first two verses from chapter one in last week’s study explains that it is in “the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah” typifying when the new man represented by the “eighth month” can begin to be formed in us by our hearing the true witness of Jesus Christ “in the second year of Darius” when the word of the Lord came “unto Zechariah.” Darius is a Persian king who represents our fleshly minds which are going to be witnessed against [“in the second year“], where we are told that the LORD has been sore displeased (Zec 1:1-2).

In this second chapter of Zechariah, we will learn what it takes for God’s people, and all of humanity in time, to “Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings” of Zechariah 1:4. At present, the world does not hear or hearken unto the Lord as this verse goes on to tell us, which is a prophecy that speaks to all of humanity who have all gone astray (Isa 53:6).

Zec 1:4  Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD. [Luk 64:4-64] 

Luk 6:44  For every tree is known by his own fruit. [“but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD“] For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
Luk 6:45  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart [Christ, who is that treasure within (2Co 4:7, Col 1:27)] bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. 
Luk 6:46  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Isa 53:6  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. [Rom 3:23-24]

Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 3:24  Being justified freely by his grace^G5463 [Rom 11:6] through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: “and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” [Rom 5:10].

Grace G5463  χαίρω 
chairō  khah’ee-ro

A primary verb; to be full of “cheer”, that is, calmly happy or well off; impersonal especially as a salutation (on meeting or parting), be well: – farewell, be glad, Godspeed, greeting, hail, joy (-fully), rejoice.  Total KJV occurrences: 74

God’s elect, typified by the prodigal son, are the first to come to their spiritual senses (Luk 15:17) and be brought to see their need to be saved which results in our bringing forth fruit (Rom 11:1-6), and He uses the evil experiences in our life to bring us to that point of being humbled and crushed so that we can be spiritually productive in His service as the scapegoat that God lays the afflictions of Christ upon so as to fill up within our flesh in his stead (Psa 107:25-27, Col 1:24 [see JM version], Lev 16:10). Everyone needs to be saved because all have gone astray in the marred condition we are in, known as sinful flesh (Jer 18:4). 

Rom 11:1  I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. [1Co 15:22] For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 
Rom 11:2  God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, 
Rom 11:3  Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
Rom 11:4  But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
Rom 11:5  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace^G5485.

Grace G5485charis khar’-ece

From G5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): – acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy).  Total KJV occurrences: 156

The grace (G5463) or favor God is showing us in this age as His children will be received by him through the fiery trials of this life that bring us to our wits’ end making our flesh quiet, silent, or still before him (1Th 4:11, 1Ti 2:2-3, 1Pe 3:4, Psa 46:10, Psa 107:29, Exo 14:13). We grow in our ability through Christ to become more and more comfortable in the fiery trials of this life, as we remember and learn of His continual faithfulness to not try us beyond what we can endure, but always make a way for us to bear the trial and go through it to His glory (Heb 12:6, Psa 107:25-27, 1Co 10:13).

1Th 4:11  And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; [Joh 21:22]

1Ti 2:2  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
1Ti 2:3  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 

1Pe 3:4  But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

Psa 46:10  Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Psa 107:29  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. [1Pe 4:1]

Exo 14:13  And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear. 

When God says “doth he not leave the ninety and nine” in Matthew 18:12, it is a witness to the fact that God has turned His eyes away from the world (Rom 11:20-21) who are not being judged [“the ninety and nine“] at this time, and has made the elect the apple of His eye who are being judged ‘now’ (Zec 2:8, 1Pe 4:17). The elect are those who have been dragged to Christ and found in the mountain that represents Christ from where our help comes from (Joh 6:44, Psa 121:1).

Rom 11:20  Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith [Php 1:29, Mat 13:16-17, Rom 3:27]. Be not highminded, but fear: [“be quiet, be  silent, be still“]
Rom 11:21  For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. [1Pe 4:17, 1Pe 4:18-19]

Mat 18:12  How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine [the other fold who don’t think they need saving], and goeth into the mountains [signifying those being dragged to Christ in this age], and seeketh that which is gone astray?

Eventually all flesh will be as silent as silent can be when God subdues all things to Himself through Christ (1Co 12:6, 1Co 15:28, Eph 1:23). All flesh being silent before God is just another way of telling us that flesh and blood cannot inherit eternal life, and that ultimately no flesh will ever glory in His sight (1Co 1:28-31).

1Co 12:6  And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

1Co 15:28  And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Eph 1:23  Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

1Co 1:28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 
1Co 1:29  That no flesh should glory in his presence.
1Co 1:30  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
1Co 1:31  That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Zec 2:1 I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. 
Zec 2:2  Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof. 
Zec 2:3  And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him, 

These opening verses are again talking about how we can have our eyes lifted, which symbolizes setting our eyes on things above and not on the earth (Col 3:2-4). When we have our eyes set on things above, our conversation is in heaven with Christ where we are raised in heavenly places “and  [we] behold a man with a measuring line in his hand” who represents Christ or those whom we follow as they follow Christ (Eph 2:6, 1Co 11:1). 

1Co 11:1  Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 

Col 3:2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 
Col 3:3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 
Col 3:4  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

The context that is mentioned with the first instance of lifting our eyes in chapter 1 states, “Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.” (Zec 1:17) That comfort will come through God commencing a work of judgment first within the elect, who will then rule the rest of humanity with a rod of iron (Zec 1:18-21). This pattern continues being shown as the world will also be scattered by judgment from the body of Christ that will begin to take away the stronghold of false religion and false worship from men’s lives, which process is revealed in these verses (Zec 1:18-21), followed by the second time he lifts his eyes and says “I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.” The narrative is from the perspective of the believer looking at how God’s plan is unfolding as His judgments go out to all the world (Isa 26:9) through Christ and His Christ (Rev 2:27, Rev 12:5, Rev 19:15, 1Co 6:2-3).

Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

Rev 12:5  And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron [1Jn 4:17,
Rev 2:27] and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. 

Rev 19:15  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

1Co 6:2. Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 
1Co 6:3  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

We ask therefore [“Zechariah representing the elect“] “Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof” which in this instance can be seen as ‘Jerusalem below’ (Gal 4:25-26), the religions of this world. What we are being sent to do is “to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.” The angel talking to us in this verse typifies the body of Christ the fellow servant or angel (Rev 22:9), “And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him.” This “another angel” that went out to meet him represents Christ who meets the great cloud of witnesses who are ever with Him (1Th 4:17). They do this missionary work symbolized by the life of Paul who went to all the churches of Asia in his day, which was a type of all the world that we will go to during the reign of God’s elect. The same effect of that ministry will manifest as did with Paul’s, “This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.” (2Ti 1:15, Rev 20:8)

1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 
1Th 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 

2Ti 1:15  This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

Rev 20:8  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

Zec 2:4  And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man [Zechariah], saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:

Again, we are looking at both a prophecy which ‘now is in part’ and is yet to be fulfilled, and it is written to give us encouragement as to what we will come to learn and see is our role in God’s government that will be established on this earth. The “angel that talked with me” (the elect) that is told by “another angel” (Christ) to run “to this young man” represents our teachers who come to us with the word of God that witnesses to what God is going to do in the ages to come. We are told “Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein” meaning Jerusalem above, whom the elect represent, will be dwelling with men who are likened to the beasts God sees us as in our flesh [Jerusalem below], and there will be “towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein” which typifies the truth that God’s government, God’s elect, will be a spiritually walled city perfectly protected (1Co 1:9-10), that will not have any dominion over the many beasts of the field but will rather be helpers of their joy (2Co 1:24).

1Co 1:9  God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment [a spiritually walled city perfectly protected].

Zec 2:5  For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her. 
Zec 2:6  Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD. 
Zec 2:7  Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon. 
Zec 2:8  For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. 

We are the apple of God’s eye today as His little remnant, but in the future the world will become the apple of our eye (1Jn 4:17). These words we read speak of the encouragement God will bring forth through the church through the thousand-year reign of the saints, which we hear ‘in part’ now ‘in this age’ (1Co 13:9-12).

1Co 13:9  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 
1Co 13:10  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 
1Co 13:11  When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 
1Co 13:12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 

God’s elect, at this stage in the fullness of resurrected bodies, will be “a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her“, the “her” representing Jerusalem below. Our cry to the world still in Babylonian captivity is this: “Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD.” This is discussed in the first chapter of Zechariah [four horns and four carpenters that scatter and tear down the old ways]. God spreads the world abroad for that reason, to help loose the bands of iniquity and the false judgments of Babylon that come from “the land of the North“. This judgment from the north is the negative use of judgment which more often is spoken of as being God’s positive judgment from the north (the negative use of judgment from the north proceeds from the law of the lawless [1Ti 1:9] and the law unto the Gentile that they/we are unto ourselves at our appointed time [Rom 2:14]).

1Ti 1:9  Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

Rom 2:14  For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 

Who are we telling the world to deliver themselves from, but Babylon? “Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon“, which the fleshly carnal mind of man cannot accomplish without Christ’s spirit within them. Zion represents God’s people, a people who are being witnessed against that they are operating in their flesh, their own righteousness. For today, there is an inward application to this verse that applies to God’s elect: “For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.” There is also a dispensational application that speaks to all nations coming out of Babylon, being judged and learning of God’s righteousness through the saints, and being reassured that we are there in the midst of this process as Saviors who are going to watch over them like a shepherd does his flock, “For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.“

Zec 2:9  For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me. 
Zec 2:10  Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD. 
Zec 2:11  And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee. 

These verses are talking about flesh God will judge and correct during the thousand-year reign of the saints. “For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants“, introducing God’s judgments to the “daughter of Zion” (Mic 4:10) rather than the mount of Zion of (Oba 1:21), that represents the elect who will “dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.

Mic 4:10  Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies [“and they shall be a spoil to their servants“].

The result of that judgment with a rod of iron is “and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me“, which is another way of saying Isaiah 26:0 (see below). Learning righteousness is not the same as having the ability to reflect Christ’s righteousness (Php 3:9), seeing only Christ can be Christ (Rom 8:9). Therefore, although ‘the daughter of Zion’ is also likened to the elect who are called out of Babylon to be ‘judged in this age’ first (1Pe 4:17), in order to become those saviors on mount Zion, there is also a dispensational view on which we are focused in this study (Eze 23:36).

Eze 23:36  The LORD said moreover unto me; Son of man, wilt thou judge Aholah and Aholibah? yea, declare unto them their abominations; 

Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. 

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 

Rom 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 

What we will be commissioned to do in the midst of the world at this time reflects what we will do with all of humanity in the lake of fire and that is to be helpers of others’ joy by giving them the words of life that will be as fire to them which begins to destroy the carnal nature and former conversation we all inherit in sinful flesh, which will reside in those who are resurrected in the second resurrection: “For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me.“

The same message will be given to the world at that time and in the second resurrection (Joh 5:29), to rejoice for the many wonderful works unto the children of men of (Psa 107:30), the judgments which will be changing the heart of men and bringing them into a right relationship with their Creator. “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.“

The result of that judgment is that “many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.” The “sent me unto you” part of this verse again is a reference to how God’s elect will be sent, just as Christ promised (Joh 20:21).

Joh 20:21  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

Zec 2:12  And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again. 
Zec 2:13  Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.

These last two verses once again give us perspective as to whom is being talked about, and the relationship we are looking at is that between the world and God’s elect during the thousand-year reign of the saints, a symbolic number (10x10x10) (Act 1:7). What is given to us to understand is that “the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.” Since as He is, so are we (1Jn 4:17) is telling us that if we suffer with Christ in this life, we will rule with him in the next. Then the world, which can also be represented by Judah, will be our portion along with Christ (2Ti 2:12). Our message to the world at that time and in the great white throne judgment will be the same, which will be: “Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation” [the elect being God’s holy habitation where the “manifold wisdom of God” is made known by the church (Eph 3:10)]. 

Eph 3:10  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 

Be silent and be still because the God of the universe is in your midst to save you and deliver you from yourselves (Exo 14:13, Psa 46:10, 1Ki 19:12, Oba 1:21).

Exo 14:13  And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. 
Exo 14:14  The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

Psa 46:10  Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. 
Psa 46:11  The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. 

1Ki 19:12  And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

Psa 76:8 Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still,
Psa 76:9 When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.
Psa 76:10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.
Psa 76:11 Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.
Psa 76:12 He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth.

In this last section of our study with Psalm 76, we will look at how God saves the “meek of the earth” who are given to learn to be “still” and let Him fight their every battle within and without.

Exo 14:14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

Deu 3:22 Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you.

We mentioned the word “controversy” in last week’s study and how it is connected to judgment in many verses in God’s word.

Mic 6:2 Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD’S controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.

Hos 12:2 The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.

Hos 4:1 Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.

It is this judgment that will lead us to being still.

Mar 14:60 And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
Mar 14:61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?

1Pe 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

The controversy in the land is what God begins in the heart of those being judged today, and this judgement leads us to an inescapable place where we learn that we can, only by God’s grace and faith, come to “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD”.

Exo 14:13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

2Co 1:9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

Where will we go to find the nourishment and example to be able to lie dead in this street and no longer trust in our own fleshly reasoning minds? The answer, as always, lies in our communion with the body of Christ, in Christ’s vineyard which we are.

Rev 11:8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Pro 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Joh 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

It is within God’s vineyard that we can glean from one another, and be still, and listen to Christ in each other, which is part of decreasing and abasing ourselves so Christ can increase. Our chief desire is coming to want all men to be saved and to be those kind of first fruits who understand how this is accomplished by bearing each other’s burdens and esteeming each other better which is how we decrease and Christ increases in each of our vineyard experiences.

Luk 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

If we are blessed to be still in this age to hear the voice of God in His vineyard, we will understand that God is avenging “our blood on them that dwell on the earth” by first judging us and stilling our hearts so that we can become obedient children who will inherit the Kingdom of God.

Deu 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

Deu 12:1 These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which the LORD God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth.
Deu 12:2 Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree:

Mat 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Here are our first verses for this study.

Psa 76:8 Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still,
Psa 76:9 When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.

Death and judgment, Death and fear, Death and stillness; there are a couple of treasures to unearth here:

* Until judgment comes upon the world within and without, the earth will not fear and be still (1Ki 19:12).

* Death is likened unto this “stillness” in scripture (Rev 11:8), and only those who are dead to sin and alive in Christ can be still in order to witness to this dying world.

Christ’s work/parable/word to raise the maid in Luke 8 points to those two thoughts above.

First, consider the need to feed this maid after he raised her physically as a type of our being raised in heavenly places (Eph 2:6, Eph 1:20, Rom 4:25 search the word ‘raised‘ in the new covenant to yield a great mini-study) and fed only after we have died to self.

This maid is a type of the elect who gives witness that the Lord is able to resurrect/heal/rebuke/exorcise/make whole our faith (see the entire 8th chapter of Luke for all of these examples that climax with this maid’s resurrection at the end of this chapter), through the judgment that takes place in our heavens and feeds us after the world witnesses our death and our being raised up, which will cause the world around us to fear and be still when it happens.

Here are some verses that accompany these thoughts.

Luk 8:53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.
Luk 8:54 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.
Luk 8:55 And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.

2Pe 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
2Pe 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

Rev 11:8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
Rev 11:9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

Rev 11:10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
Rev 11:11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.
Rev 11:12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
Rev 11:13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

This judgment that we’re looking at is what saves the meek of the earth who are blessed to not only stumble unto Christ and “fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken” by His word, but also to have that word then purify us within — by Christ, the rock — crushing all the idols of our hearts that we so readily hold unto unless the Lord tears them down and builds us up anew.

Isa 28:13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
Isa 28:14 Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.

Mat 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

Jer 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
Jer 18:5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Jer 18:6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

Act 7:49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?

Psa 127:1 A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Psa 76:10 Surely the wrath^H2534 of man shall praise^H3034 thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain^H2296.

This verse complements the idea that man’s wrath is for a season and serves its overall purpose to the glory of God.

H2534Total KJV Occurrences: 124 fury/ious/iously/, 73 wrath/ful/wroth, 35
H3034 Total KJV Occurrences: 114 praise/ed, 53 thank/s/ful/ing/giving, 40, confess/ed/eth/ing/ion/, 18

Joh 19:10 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
Joh 19:11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

Act 4:27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
Act 4:28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

God has power in heaven and in earth (Isa 45:7) and demonstrates His love to the world by giving Christ and his body as a living sacrifice (Rom 12:1) who fill up in this age what is behind of the afflictions of Christ (Rom 4:25, Col 1:24, 1Jn 4:17).

Just as Christ was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification, so is the elect raised with Christ in heavenly places today to become saviours for the rest of the world who will come to know God and His Son Jesus Christ through the church (Joh_17:3 , Eph_3:10).

The ‘restraining‘ spoken of in this verse is tied to the idea that there is a right time for judgment for all the earth, each man in his order.

2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now lettethG2722 G737 will let, until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

Psa 76:11 Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.

We are told to vow^H5087, and pay unto the Lord your God: which we know is our reasonable service (Rom 12:1). And what is the purpose of a vow^H5087?

Num 6:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vowH5087 a vowH5088 of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD:

Accompanied with the promise that God will make our feet like hinds’ feet, God’s elect are given the mind of Christ and the faith and strength to be able to bring presents unto him as we endure through this life fearing him who “ought to be feared”.

Psa 18:32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.
Psa 18:33 He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places.

Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

1Th 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Psa 76:12 He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth.

This last verse discusses in type and shadow the wickedness within all mankind that will be cut off in its time (1Th 5:23). These princes and kings of the earth are judged and the blood of Christ is avenged upon them that dwell upon the earth. The earth is a metaphor for where all this wickedness abides.

1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

The stillness we have been looking at tonight can only come about as a result of God dealing with our first Adamic voice that must decrease as Christ’s voice and word and mind and way become the only one that matters.

Joh 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Joh 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

That stillness only comes as we decrease. John knew it in part but we know it much more clearly. Let’s line up these verses to understand what that stillness means:

Joh 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease^G1642.

Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower^{G1642 G1024 G5100,} than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

To decrease is to taste death and be baptized into Christ’s death as we die daily (Rom 6:3-4, 1Co 15:31).

Most assuredly “He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth” to fill us with that spirit that quickeneth and gives everlasting life.

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Be Still

By now everyone has heard the phrase “be still, and know that I am God…,” which comes from:

Psa 46:10  Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

While this is a good starting point into this topic, it is because on its surface it sounds really easy, but in reality it will be a lot more than our flesh can handle. Indeed, it is the Lord in us that is running the show, and that is where we need to be mentally.  We should be focused on “thy Will be done” instead of “my will would have done.”

In truth, the Word of God is nothing more than the very mind of God, and EVERYTHING we confront in our lives is His Will touching us. The more we come to see this truth, the more free we become.

Of course, this is an universally unknown character of the mind of Christ, but I hope this topic brings the point home to your hearts and minds today as nothing other than the Word of God can do.

With that, we’ll look at what the Lord has to say about this topic of ‘being still’.

Moving Slow is Moving Faster

If you are in this boat with me, then I understand how you feel. This boat I am talking about is the fact that no matter how hard you work, no matter how hard you attempt to do better with your time, your time is in fact withdrawing itself from you.

If you are like me, then you have a hundred and one things going on in your mind and planning, but even if you get one hundred done, there is always that one thing left to do tomorrow.

It’s that one thing that seems to hang on in our minds as we are trying to salvage whatever sleep we can from the night and awaken to tackle this illusive task that was left unfinished.

It’s that one thing that seems to keep us from falling asleep in order to start the process of regeneration. Here is how we are instructed in the Word of God to handle this issue:

Psa 4:4  Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

The word translated ‘awe’ in the beginning of this verse is “rah-gaz”.

H7264
ra gaz
raw-gaz’

A primitive root; to quiver (with any violent emotion, especially anger or fear): – be afraid, stand in awe, disquiet, fall out, fret, move, provoke, quake, rage, shake, tremble, trouble, be wroth.

ra gaz
Total KJV Occurrences:41

tremble, 9
Deu_2:25, Psa_99:1, Isa_5:25, Isa_14:16, Isa_64:2, Jer_33:9, Joe_2:1, Amo_8:8, Hab_3:7

moved, 5
2Sa_18:33, 2Sa_22:8, 1Ch_17:9, Psa_18:7, Isa_14:9

rage, 5
2Ki_19:27-28(2), Pro_29:9, Isa_37:28-29 (2)

trembled, 3
Psa_77:18, Hab_3:16 (2)

troubled, 3
Psa_77:16(2), Isa_32:10-11 (2)

disquieted, 2
1Sa_28:15, Pro_30:21

move, 2
2Sa_7:10, Mic_7:17

afraid, 1
Exo_15:14

awe, 1
Psa_4:4

disquiet, 1
Jer_50:34

fall, 1
Gen_45:24

fretted, 1
Eze_16:43

provoke, 1
Job_12:6

quake, 1
Joe_2:10

quaked, 1
1Sa_14:15

shake, 1
Isa_13:13

shaketh, 1
Job_9:6

shook, 1
Isa_23:11

wroth, 1
Isa_28:21

Does this sound like something else we have read in scripture?

Eph 4:26  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

Do you think these two verses are related?

Psa 4:4  Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

They are both instructing us as to what our mind should do to handle these different emotions as we go through them in our walk of life.

We are instructed to be still, but what exactly are we being told? If we are given to do what we are told, we will be able to tap into the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, in order to understand Who causes things to happen the way they do not WHY they happen the way they do. Most church sermons that speak about the world are speaking about WHY and not WHO.

The Lord is mentioned, but is He mentioned in this regard?

Psa 4:4  Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

Eph 4:26  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

What we are being commanded to do is remain calm, because it is “God who is working all after the counsel of His own Will.”

Eph 4:27  Neither give place to the devil.

I did a study that spoke about the devices of Satan. We definitely do not want to give place to the devil, because doing so opens us up to other things that become stuck in our minds. Here are a few examples:

2Co 2:11  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

The greek word used here as ‘devices’, according to Strong’s, is the word “no-ay-mah” and can be found in a whopping six times in the new testament! These verses work very well together in determining what Paul was revealing to us here. Astoundingly, five of these six verses are in 2 Corinthians. Here are the six verses, but pay attention to what the scripture concludes we are being told:

2Co 2:11  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

2Co 3:14  But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which [vail] is done away in Christ.

2Co 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Php 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

We can clearly that we are all “up a creek without a paddle” UNLESS of course “the peace of God shall keep our hearts and minds THROUGH Christ Jesus.”

This sounds a whole lot like these words:

2Co 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Eph 4:27  Neither give place to the devil.

Do you think that one of the devil’s devices is keeping our minds so focused on the world that we don’t take time to ask the Lord what He is doing?

The Israelites, when confronted with the approaching danger of the Egyptians pursuing them, immediately accused Moses and totally forgot the miracles God had performed to bring them out of their oppression of Egypt.

Exo 14:11 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?
Exo 14:12  Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
Exo 14:13  And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
Exo 14:14  The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

Instead of us thinking we can change the world around us, why not ask the Lord to give us the ability to see He is in control of everything in the world, including your life and the life of everyone you love.

Why do you think it is important that Psalm 4:4 and Ephesians 4:26 are mentioning the same thing which happens at the time you “rest your head”?

Psa 4:4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

Eph 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

“In your patience…”

There are two slow moving things that I like to avoid. Those two things are: slow people with lots of coupons and police lights.

Both are part of the flesh, of course, but it tells me I need a lot of patience.

Luk 21:19  In your patience possess ye your souls.

One of the things that I try to avoid is simply me not being patient enough to wait on someone in line, and the second is the fact that had I planned better (think use coupons and save money) and not been late, which results in me speeding, then I would probably not be in the temptation to lose my patience. The more I think I have this thing “licked”, the faster it comes back to me that I have a whole lot further to go!

Regarding older people, I was watching an elderly lady one day who was probably 80. As this lady moved, I could see that it was a lot of work for her to get from point A to B, but I also saw the determination and singleness of mind for her attempting what she was doing.

When you were moving as slowly as she was, you would need a lot of patience just waiting for your own body to move twenty feet. That is how my fleshly mind works with everything I see, and I always try to keep these verses in mind as my life, experiences and circumstances happen.

2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

1Co 10:31  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Being still, biblically speaking is the the ability to acknowledge that the Lord’s will is absolute. Neither our will nor the actions we think we are taking persuade Him.

Take this verse for example:

Mar 4:39  And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

This is an amazing verse stuck into an amazing parable that has a lot to do with “Being Still…” and the verse even contains that phrase.

Mar 4:33  And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.
Mar 4:34  But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

Notice, He speaks parables us in parables which includes this parable we are about to read, and what is every parable about? Two men.

Mar 4:35  And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
Mar 4:36  And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
Mar 4:37  And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
Mar 4:38  And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
Mar 4:39  And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
Mar 4:40  And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
Mar 4:41  And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Notice, it is Christ who initiates the start of anything happening. Paying attentions to how and where the words of God are used in comparison to the others around it is very important. In verse 35 we see Christ say, “Let us pass over to the other side.”  Where and what do you suppose this other side is? Maybe we don’t have to wonder, because it is “away from the multitude” as we continue to read in verse 36.

While moving away from the multitude, there is a GREAT STORM of WIND, and the waves of WATER beat the ship so that it was full. During this time, Christ is in the BACK of our ship. Think of this like the back of our minds, where Christ is asleep in us, but He is awakened by us asking Him if He is aware we are going to perish.

It is then that we finally get to the purpose of all of this:

Mar 4:39  And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
Mar 4:40  And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

Fear is one of the emotions we read about earlier.

Psa 4:4  Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

When you really break down this story into what we are being told, then we can really see how this spiritually relates to “Being Still”.

There is a GREAT EARTHQUAKE

Rev 11:19  And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Rev 6:12  And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

Rev 16:18  And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.

What does this great earthquake eventually produce?

Act 16:26  And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.

There is a GREAT STORM of WIND

The storm that develops as we “pass over unto the other side” is one produced by WIND, and what does WIND represent spiritually? Doctrine.

Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

It is this wind that fills us with the water of the sea. We are the ship, the wind is doctrine, and the waves are water.  What is water in scripture? It is the word of God or else it is another Jesus. We have our ever-flowing water, and they have a Jesus that is known after the flesh, which we no longer know any man after.

During this great storm of doctrine that fills our life of the world, we have Christ asleep in the back of our minds. He awakes and then rebukes what? – the wind. Are we any less capable of rebuking the ‘wind’ (false doctrine)? Isn’t that what we are COMMANDED to do when we are confronted with this storm in the lives of other people?

We rebuke Christ and rebuke our brothers at our given time. Whether we realize it or not, we are Peter here:

Mat 16:22  Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

We are also commanded here:

Luk 17:3  Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

2Ti 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
2Ti 4:3  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

We, too, are commanded to rebuke the storm in others, and primarily ourselves, and that brings us full circle to what we are trying to discern when we are reading and hearing, “Be still and know that I am God.”

See the Flame

I have read of one person’s trick to focus was to picture a flame in his head and focus on that to silence His mind and become still in His mind. It was at this point that he was able to accurately focus and dissimulate the information that was going on in and all around him.

We do not need to “see the flame” in our minds, but in thinking about a flame, there is one attribute that determines what happens with a flame. A flame can turn into a fire, and that fire’s sole purpose is to consume.

There are literally 200 thousand thousand doctrines or ‘winds’ that will not allow you to bring Christ to the front of the bus from the back so to speak. We must constantly be practicing to be still so that everything we are facing in our lives is combatted with the Word of God.

Conclusion

Being still means we submit to the sovereignty of God by bringing every thought into the obedience of Christ and His Mind. We must be sincere in our desire to stop worrying about each and every detail of our lives that is out of our control. If we believe Ephesians 1:11…

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

…then being still simply means us acknowledging that God is doing what He says He is.