A Fun Exercise with Psalm 46:10

Have you ever dissected a verse word by word? Did it grow in significance for you? If so, how?

As a fun and easy post for the kick-off to summer holidays, I thought we could give this a try using Psalm 46:10. It’ll be a great way to memorize a verse and meditate on it without taking up too much of your time. I’ll first lay it out the way I mean and allow you to think about the meaning. Then I’ll do it again and add my own thoughts to each line afterwards. Enjoy!

Be

Be still.

Be still and.

Be still and know.

Be still and know that.

Be still and know that I.

Be still and know that I am.

Be still and know that I am God.

I

I will

I will be

I will be exalted

I will be exalted among

I will be exalted among the

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted among the nations, I

I will be exalted among the nations, I will

I will be exalted among the nations, I will be

I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted

I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in

I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the

I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Psalm 46:10 ESV

“Stop – This is a command. It’s a position. I am supposed to stop and be aware of something. The Lord has my attention now.

Stop fighting – I am supposed to move my position into that of surrender. I need to stop fighting and striving; to be still. To lay down that which I am wrestling with.

Stop fighting, and – In that time of surrender and rest, there is something else that I am supposed to do, perhaps a turning of attention?

Stop fighting, and know – As I surrender my wrestling, my mind becomes clearer and more open to receiving knowledge. I can focus better and therefore learn.

Stop fighting, and know that – I need to keep being still and waiting because I’m about to receive this word of knowledge now.

Stop fighting, and know that I – There is a person involved. This person wanted to get my attention. He called me from the fight, settled me down, addressed the need for me to understand something, and now has informed me that it is about Him.

Stop fighting, and know that I am – “I Am” – described as a name of God in Exodus 3:14 to the Israelites. A powerful, delivering God that rescued them from slavery. Instead of striving and fighting, I need to be still and listen to this Great Deliverer. Am is a constant state of being. This Great Deliverer was in the past, is in the present, and will be in the future.

Stop fighting, and know that I am God. – God has my attention. I have stopped fighting. I am still so that I can receive a word of knowledge. A knowledge that He Himself delivered to me. He wants me to know that He is God – God (Elohim in Hebrew), meaning Creator. The word Elohim is pluralistic in nature but used in a singular sense, highlighting the Trinity in this singular God. He is the Creator of all things, which means that He knows how everything works and is in control of it all. He existed then and now.

I – He begins a new sentence meaning there is more to learn.

I will – He is going to do something later, which means this word if for the present and the future. The God of the past, present, and now revealing the future as well.

I will be – be is a verb meaning action. Something is going to occur or He is going to exist in some way.

I will be exalted – God alone is worthy of praise. He deserves to be lifted up and exalted. Something or someone is going to glorify Him in the future.

I will be exalted among – Not only is He going to be exalted, it’s going to take place somewhere

I will be exalted among the – The highlights that it is going to be a group of people

I will be exalted among the nations, – God will be glorified among nations. This is big news.

I will be exalted among the nations, exalted – Two words in the same sentence deserves extra attention. Considering exalted is listed twice, this is going to be an incredible event!

I will be exalted among the nations, exalted on – On…this could mean a date or place.

I will be exalted among the nations, exalted on the – “On the” gives a hint that it might be place more than a date

I will be exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.” – God has given me an exciting and hopeful word of knowledge here. It is worth resting from the fight and acknowledging that the Creator God is calling out to me because He wants to share something profound with me. Like a parent needing a child’s attention to say something important so that he/she knows the child understands and isn’t distracted. God got my attention to share great news. News that He will be glorified among the nations over the entire earth! I can have peace knowing that He is going to be victorious and will rule over everything. No enemy will prevail against Him. He alone is God. What great wonder!

Psalm 46:10 CSB Version