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Four posts. Four words. Four Sundays. You can read part 1 here.

Be. Still. And. Know.

Last post we talked about the three Hebrews in Daniel 3 who were told to bow to Nebuchadnezzar or else! They refused to bow and were then faced with their ‘or else’, in this case, being burned alive. Their decision not to bow was part of their ‘being’. Remaining true to who they were in spite of life’s struggles. That was what they were called to ‘be’. Sometimes trials force us to re-define who we are. And re-affirm who He is. And then simply ‘be’.

Today’s word: Still.

There are two ways that we can experience ‘Still’.

One is as an adverb. As in I’m Still here. Many of us need to remember that. Even in the face of loss, we are Still here. That very fact leads me to believe that God isn’t done with us yet, right? If you are ‘Still’ here, you ‘Still’ have stuff to do here on earth!

The other is an adjective describing our position. As in ‘be Still and know’. In Daniel 3, our story goes on to say that before the Hebrews were thrown into the furnace they were tied. What is interesting is that the author uses the word ‘tied’ or ‘bound’ four separate times to describe their condition.

3:20 – strong soldiers were to told tie them and throw them in the furnace.

3:23- so these men wearing turbans and robes were bound to be thrown in

3:24 – and the soldiers were burned up and these men, firmly tied fell in

3:25 – and the King asked, ‘Were not these men firmly tied?’

Seems as though there is a point to be made, isn’t there? Not a word in the Word is wasted. The writer wants us to be very sure that we realize they were tied and that there was not one thing they could do about their situation. They were pretty much forced to be ‘Still’. The Hebrew word for ‘Still’ used in Psalm 46:10 means to cease activity or striving.

They were bound. Tied. Using my imagination, I would imagine they had rolled over on the ground in a fetal position to better protect themselves from the flames. We are not given any more information but can only imagine. “This can’t be happening,” they may have thought. It wasn’t supposed to be like this! Jehovah, where are you?

Some Scripture interprets one of the Greek words for tied as gagged. Not only were their hands and feet bound, they were most likely gagged as well. Every capability had been stripped from them, including the ability to cry out.

They lay there on the ground with flames all around, tied up and helpless.

The only thing they could do was to be Still. And wait for God.

Ever been there? When all you could do is to ‘Be Still’? And wait for God?

Nebuchadnezzar decided to take a peek into the furnace.

He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods!”
Daniel 3:25

Did you get that? They were no longer tied! And God was with them!

The very thing they thought would surely kill them –the fire– had NOT! God was with them in the fire!

O friends, I pray you feel Him in the fire with you today.

And that the very thing that you felt would destroy you becomes somehow a pathway to greater freedom and deeper trust in Him. While we may never understand the ‘why’, we can still cling to the ‘Who’.

You’re Still here.

And He is always with us. Always.

Be. Still. And. Know.….that He is God.
Psalm 46:10

Four words. Four posts. Four Sundays.

Next week we will look at ‘And’. You’re not going to want to miss the story behind ‘And’!