Recognising God – and finding peace
Series: Simple. Quiet. Present. | Bible text: Psalm 46
It is often in silence that we experience God’s revelation as an almighty and loving God. In fellowship with him, we come to recognise more and more his greatness and power, and realise what he has given us in his love. The realisation that his power is with us, which we have through the new covenant, brings us peace and strength.
As a young man, I was very active – I went paragliding, rode a motorbike and enjoyed going to parties. At the same time, I played in two bands and had up to four rehearsals a week. After rehearsals, I would regularly go to a restaurant afterwards, so I often didn’t get to bed until midnight or later. Because I had to get up at four in the morning for work, I was frequently so tired that I sometimes needed up to six alarm clocks just to get out of bed.
Fortunately, things took a turn for the better: 30 years ago, I travelled to Canada for the first time to work there. The surroundings were completely different – the nearest town was a long way off, there were no music clubs, hardly any distractions, no television and no mobile phones – and all this before the age of the internet. Suddenly, I had enough peace and quiet and time to read and focus on what really mattered.
I read books I’d been meaning to read for a long time, and a little later I opened the Bible as well. I longed after that, from God to listen and take a closer look at it to get to know.
During this time of stillness, God revealed Himself to me, and I came to know Him personally. That is why I am particularly delighted with the seetal chile verse of the year. The message of this verse has become a reality for me.
Recognising God’s revelation
«Be still and recognise that I am God!» (Psalm 46:11a LUT).
Being still helps us to recognise God and to perceive his revelation. In silence, we realise that God has already revealed himself to us, and it is precisely when we become still that we can grasp this more deeply. For believers, this silence means experiencing the presence of God – and it is precisely in this presence that his revelation becomes clear and tangible.
The message of this verse is a call to be still, so that we may recogniseöcan, as it reveals itself.
As Pastor Matthias has already mentioned: we do not wish to view this silence as a new rule, but rather we seek it out of a deep longing for God. Our longing should be directed towards His presence. For God’s presence is the crowning glory – it surpasses everything else we could possibly receive.
We have the opportunity to experience God’s presence, yet we live in a world where instant, short-lived pleasures are everywhere. The temptation is great – there is ‘sugar’ everywhere, countless opportunities to be distracted. All too often we opt for fast food, a quick, superficial satisfaction, rather than a nourishing ‘meal’ that truly gives life.
In the silence, in the ‘desert’, we can refocus on what really matters. For as the saying goes: you can’t see the wood for the trees – it is only when we pause that our vision clears to see what truly counts. God’s revelation is the greatest gift we can have, full stop. I could end the sermon right there. But today I’d like to take it a step further. The great gift of silence – recognising God’s revelation – has a very important knock-on effect that we can really use in our daily lives. And it is precisely this side effect that I’d like to explore in more detail today.
Knowing God gives us strength
The verse of silence is linked to Psalm 46. The psalm begins as follows: «God is our refuge and strength, a help in times of troublethe blows that have struck us» (Psalm 46:2 LUT).
The background to this psalm is God’s deliverance from the Assyrians. The Assyrians were not simply a few random warriors, but a world power with a highly developed and well-organised army, notorious for its cruelty. They deliberately spread fear to intimidate their opponents and nip resistance in the bud.
The author of the psalm experienced God’s intervention at a time of great distress. He knows God; he has experienced him – and that is precisely why he is able to write: «That is why we do not fear, even if the world were to come to an end and the mountains were to sink into the sea» (Psalm 46:3 LUT).
God revealed Himself to him and to the Israelites. They came to know Him as a steadfast ally and can therefore live with complete confidence. Because they know God, they can live with confidence.
Later in the psalm, things really get exciting in verse five: «A stream, fed by many brooks, delights the City of God, the holy place where the Hlives» (Psalm 46:5 NGÜ).
This stream, this living water, is mentioned in many places in the Word of God. It runs like a common thread through the entire Bible. For the Israelites, this image had a particularly profound meaning: in a land that is extremely arid, one understands the life-giving power of water all too well.
In the City of God, where the Most High dwells, there is this living water – and everything is filled with life.
This verse applies to us today as well: when we are worn out, drained of strength and spiritually dry, we may come to God. In his presence, we come alive again.
It is interesting to note that this living water also appears again in Revelation chapter 22.
«And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, down the middle of the street, and on either side of the river were trees of life» (Revelation 22:1–2 LUT).
Here, too, we see the image of life-giving water that comes from God.
John, the author of this Revelation, preached the Gospel with great authority, and many people came to believe in Jesus through his ministry. To put a stop to his missionary work, he was exiled to the Roman penal colony of Patmos – with the aim of isolating him and silencing his influence.
Yet God used precisely this time of silence. On Patmos, God revealed Himself to John in a unique way and gave him a deep insight into the future. In the silence, God met John. What the enemy had planned as punishment and restriction, God transformed into something far greater: John’s ministry did not diminish, but grew – and through him we have received yet another, mighty revelation from God.
A revelation that brings hope
Like John, we want to be still. We want to understand God’s greatness and his love for us ever more deeply. For it is often precisely in stillness with God that we truly recognise his revelation. We may read much in the Bible and understand it with our minds. Yet something far more precious happens when we recognise God’s revelation – when it touches our hearts, transforms us and comes alive. And it is precisely this kind of realisation that the following verse speaks of: «So now that we have such a large Hope we act with confidence and fearlessness» (2 Corinthians 3:12 NGÜ).
Because we have this hope, we can act freely and fearlessly.
Hope, of which Paul writes, is the hope of the new covenant – the hope that arises from the work accomplished by Jesus Christ. The context of this verse highlights the stark contrast between the old and the new covenant. The old covenant was indeed glorious, yet its glory ultimately led to condemnation, because no human being could perfectly fulfil the law. The law revealed God’s standard, but it could not change the human heart. The new covenant, founded on Jesus Christ, brings righteousness, freedom and lasting glory.
How do we keep hope alive? Hope comes from the knowledge (revelation) of God!
God revealed himself to us humans through Jesus. When we confess our sins and recognise that we need forgiveness through Jesus, we are welcomed into the new covenant. The New Covenant, our hope, brings forgiveness rather than condemnation, and gives us the strength through the gift of the Holy Spirit and the freedom to live in a way that pleases God.
The impact of realising our hope
Because we have this hope, we stand firm.
The Greek word parrhesia, which here is referred to as «fearless» translates as: Trust, confidence, freedom, courage and determination.
When we know God and recognise his revelation, it is precisely this attitude that fills us: we can live with trust and confidence – courageously, freely and resolutely.
Conclusion & Application:
In silence, Moses received God’s revelation – the Ten Commandments, which were to guide his people. In silence, Jesus sought the Father’s presence, so that he might discern his will and continue on his way with renewed strength. In silence, John received the Revelation, which gives us a glimpse into God’s future.
We long for God, which is why we, too, seek silence in order to get to know God better.
«Be still and recognise that I am God!» (Psalm 46:11a LUT) because we know God, we can say from the depths of our being «God is our refuge and strength» (Psalm 46:2 LUT).
‘Strength lies in calmness’ is a well-known saying that expresses a truth. In today’s sermon, I would like to take this idea a step further with the following statement: ‘Calmness lies in strength.’
When we become aware of his love for us and his omnipotence, we can find peace. With God, a powerful ally at our side, we are brimming with confidence.
When we recognise God and His power, we can be at peace; indeed, find peace within ourselves.
Possible questions for the small group
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Our desire to spend time with God often goes up and down. Which phase are you in at the moment?
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WWhen do you feel particularly close to God?
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What is the difference between being still, praying and reading the Bible?
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GDo you often experience that in the stillness?
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Do you find it easy to practise silence? If not, why not?
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Can you imagine spending a whole week just with yourself and with God – without any distractions, just with silence and your thoughts?
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Do you think that knowing God helps us to be calm and confident?
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What is the hope described in 2 Corinthians 3:12? HDoes this hope help you to be brave or calm?
