Lessons from the life of David, who faced many tough and challenging situations.
BE STILL BEFORE THE LORD
AND WAIT PATIENTLY FOR HIM; DO NOT FRET… Psalm 37:7 NIV
7 Be still before the Lord; wait patiently for Him and ENTRUST YOURSELF TO HIM;
Do not fret (whine, agonize) because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. AMP
7 Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently LEAN YOURSELF UPON HIM; AMPC edition
I like the early part of Psalm 37, one of David’s many poems. This verse has two short phrases, ‘Be Still’ and ‘Wait Patiently’, both are Before God. The three words which begin the next line are in total contrast, ‘Do Not Fret’. Resist the temptation to take things into your own hands, not always easy in difficult times.
It seems a simple instruction to ‘Be Still before the Lord’, but Stillness Doesn’t Come At Once, especially in this age of rampant, mobile technology. Our minds are so full of the sounds and images that are continually bombarding our senses, that we may well find it difficult to disengage and Be Still. The fact is, it TAKES TIME TO BE STILL and that may be in short supply in this age of accelerated living. In reading through the psalms, especially David’s psalms we see that he had little choice but to turn to God and cry out for help – David had to wait and had to seek God! His life was often at stake and he called to God to help him.
The accompanying phrase is to ‘Wait Patiently’ for Him. The amplified versions are to ‘Entrust and Lean Yourself upon Him’. God is the focus of these instructions, to Be Still and Wait Patiently on God, something our flesh hates! For many believers today it’s become much Easier to Work than to Wait, but recent world events have halted man’s activities.
There is a beautiful picture of Isaac, son of Abraham, waiting for the return of the chief servant (type of the Holy Spirit) to bring him his bride, Rebekah, in Genesis 24.
62 Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev. 63 He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching. Genesis 24
The meaning of the word meditate is not certain, but Isaac was waiting alone in the field in the evening, after the work of the day was over. His bride to be, was coming to him and he couldn’t have accelerated the process. God knew Isaac had to have a bride and she was chosen and brought to him. Isaac Waited for Rebekah away from the camp in the Still of the evening and then she arrived and comforted him after the death of his mother Sarah.
May God give us grace to draw apart in stillness and wait before Him for those things He alone can do for us.
God bless and keep you today.