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.