“Who stops wars to the ends of the earth,
breaks the bow, splinters the spear,
and burns the shields with fire;
Be still and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
exalted on the earth.” (Ps 46:10-11)

Psalm 46 is one of my favorite psalms. In particular, the imaginary in the above verses 10 and 11 is striking to me. And so, I would like to share a small reflection on these two verses.

The Lord is one who stops wars to the ends of the earth. He is the Lord of peace. We, his children, however, strive to make war against Him constantly. We band together in our obstinance and hardness of heart. The Lord in responce disperses these armies we amase and he strives to break into our warring hearts, so that peace might dwell within us. He breaks the bow, meaning all those ways which we strike out against Him from a far, seeking to keep Him at a distance so that He might not draw to close. Instead He makes close quarters As He approaches, we brandish our spears hoping to keep Him at some distance. But we can not stop His approach. He splinters the spear and burns ours shields with fire. And so our last defense to keep us from God burns in our hands as the Fire of His Love licks our shield and wraps around singing our arms.

Dropping our shield, our weapons broken, the Lord of Lordd whispers, be still and know that I am God!. He holds us close to His chest comforting and consoling. We who have spent so long, so much effort, striving to keep our Beloved away and at a distance. We who are like children throwing a tantrum. Finally our Heavenly Father breaks through all, takes us up into His loving arms and says, be still and know that I am God. Oh that we might not resist the Lord and instead might hear though sweet words of consolation instead.