Be Still

Be still, and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

This verse has been widely used as a prooftext for teachings on prayer and meditation. As in all proper Bible study,we must look at the context of a verse, and the original meaning of the words to make sure we are correctly applying it. In the case of Psalm 46, a psalm of only 11 verses, not looking at the context is inexcusable.

What does "Be still" mean in the original language? Does it mean to be quiet? To "center" oneself in preparation for hearing from the LORD (who is apparently unable to speak loud enough to penetrate your normal, noisy, preoccupied state)?

be still: STRONGS H7503 raphah: to slacken, abate, cease, consume, fail, (be) faint, be (wax) feeble, forsake, idle, leave, let alone (go, down), (be) slack, stay, be still, be slothful, (be) weak (-en).

The Keil & Delitsch Commentary tells us:
"Cease, cries He (Psa_46:10) to the nations, from making war upon my people, and know that I am God, the invincible One..." Continuing, they compare it to Psalm 21: 1-12 about which they comment, "A similar inferential admonition closes Psa_2:1-12. With this admonition, which is both warning and threatening at the same time, the nations are dismissed; but the church yet once more boasts that Jehovah Sabaoth is its God and its stronghold."

It is apparent from reading Psalm 46 and from the statements of Keil and Delitsch that "Be Still" has nothing whatsoever to do with some inner condition preparing for spiritual activity. At the conclusion of a psalm describing the vain warring of the nations against the people of God, Jehovah God commands the nations to cease their warring, and to know that He is God. He will be exulted among the heathen and He is with "us," His people. The reality then is that this is not a call to God's people to quiet themselves in order to know that He is God, but it is in fact a command issued to those who are NOT His people to stop waging war against Him and His people.

CONCLUSION
A true interpretation of this verse thus has no relationship to prayer or meditation, but to war. Knowing that, we can move on to other verses which do pertain to prayer to establish a scriptural foundation for building our prayer life. Additionally, we may push back against the incursion of Eastern meditation practices into the church. True Christian meditation has nothing to do with "being still" or "quiet." It is always an active process. It is in fact work.

ORTHOTOMY

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Paul writes to the young pastor Timothy and exhorts him to "rightly divide" the word of truth.
From this verse we obtain the concept of Orthotomy.
"Rightly divide" is the translation of a compound Greek word. Its root is orthotomeo, a coumpound of ortho- straight, and tomoteros- from temno- to cut.
Strong's definition succinctly puts it as, "to make a straight cut, that is, (figuratively) to dissect (expound) correctly (the divine message): - rightly divide.
The simple truth is the Bible is addressed to specific peoples. It is God's word to all mankind, however all verses and all promises in those verses are not to all people. This truth is universally understood in the divisions we call the "Old Testament" and the "New Testament." When Paul wrote to Timothy these headings did not exist.
The Dispensation of the Mystery is wholly dependent upon discerning the differences:
-between the covenant of Jehovah with the nation of Israel and the gospel of grace to all nations
-between Israel and the Church
-between Law and Grace
-before the cross and after the Resurrection

Orthotomy is rightly dividing the Bible into the divisions which God has chosen to make in His dealings with men. The Bible calls these divisions Economies (oikonomia) or "Dispensations".
Ephesians 3:1-5 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

This is the dipsensation of the Church today: the dispensation of the grace of God. Rightly dividing the word of God requires us to understand this truth and apply it to all Scripture as we study and teach.