IT was David, the inspired poet of the ancient Hebrew people, who voiced those words of admonition, comfort, and promise: "Be still, and know that I am God." This peaceful and satisfying declaration brings to a conclusion, spiritually climactic, that wonderful Psalm of strong assurance and positive confidence, the forty-sixth, the ringing refrain of which is, "The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge."
The practical value of David's message lies in the fact that it can be tested and proved. It is the message of Truth blessing mankind. There is probably not a Christian Scientist who has not, during moments of stress and trial, recalled to consciousness this soothing text; and by recalling it and by making something of its spiritual meaning his own, he has found it to be indeed a healing text, bringing understanding, trust, and peace.
At such moments, when it is peace that one is seeking most of all, quite naturally in his own thought, one holds as of first importance the command conveyed by the words, "Be still." There is, however, a broader interpretation of the text, which one perceives when he considers that the command is not only to be still, but to be still and know. In accord with this reading, "know" stands forth as the supremely emphatic word in the short sentence of emphatic words, and the essential, suggestive, and comprehensive requirement is, "Be still, and know that I am God."
