Be Still

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be talking about stillness and rest. We’ve asked a few teachers to answer the question: What do you do to rest and/or play that refreshes you for the classroom? How do you find stillness in the busyness of teaching? 

But first, what you find below is an entry in our teacher lectionary. This one is not part of a sore knees challenge but something you can use anytime in the next few weeks, especially those of you on school holidays.

As you’ll see, it follows a different pattern from our other entries. Although we’ve included links to some songs in “Further exploration,” this one is set up so that you can print it out or use it with data/wifi turned off. (There’s a link to a printer friendly version below.) We recommend shutting down the outside noise so that you can be still, listen, and rest.

The four sections of our lectionary include:

1. Entering the Throne Room
2. Being Still
3. Listening
4. Going Forth

(In this post, we use “Selah” to mean “rest” or “be still.”)

Entering the Throne Room

Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
Forgive our foolish ways!
Reclothe us in our rightful mind,
In purer lives Thy service find,
In deeper reverence praise.

In simple trust like theirs who heard
Beside the Syrian sea
The gracious calling of the Lord,
Let us, like them, without a word
Rise up and follow Thee.

O Sabbath rest by Galilee!
O calm of hills above,
Where Jesus knelt to share with thee
The silence of eternity
Interpreted by love!

With that deep hush subduing all
Our words and works that drown
The tender whisper of Thy call,
As noiseless let Thy blessing fall
As fell Thy manna down.

Drop Thy still dews of quietness,
Till all our strivings cease;
Take from our souls the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of Thy peace.

Breathe through the heats of our desire
Thy coolness and Thy balm;
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
Speak through the earthquake, wind and fire,
O still, small voice of calm.[1] 

Selah

Being Still

in Knowledge of the Sovereign

God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!

A river brings joy to the city of our God,
the sacred home of the Most High.
God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
From the very break of day, God will protect it.
The nations are in chaos,
and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders, and the earth melts!

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.

Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:
See how he brings destruction upon the world.
He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.

“Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress. (Psalm 46, NLT)

Selah

while Waiting for Justice

Do not fret because of those who are evil
or be envious of those who do wrong;
for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.

Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteous reward
shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the Lord
will inherit the land. (Psalm 37:1-9, NIV)

Selah

in Trust

Be still, my soul, the Lord is on thy side
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain
Leave to thy God to order and provide
In every change He faithful will remain
Be still, my soul, thy best, thy heavenly friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end

Be still, my soul, thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past
Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake
All now mysterious shall be bright at last
Be still, my soul, the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below

In You I rest, in You I found my hope
In You I trust, You never let me go
I place my life within Your hands alone
Be still, my soul

Be still, my soul, the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored
Be still, my soul, when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last

In You I rest, in You I found my hope
In You I trust, You never let me go
I place my life within Your hands alone
Be still, my soul [2]

Selah

in Turmoil

Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion;
to you our vows will be fulfilled.
You who answer prayer,
to you all people will come.
When we were overwhelmed by sins,
you forgave our transgressions.
Blessed are those you choose
and bring near to live in your courts!
We are filled with the good things of your house,
of your holy temple.

You answer us with awesome
and righteous deeds, God our Savior,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas,
who formed the mountains by your power,
having armed yourself with strength,
who stilled the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
and the turmoil of the nations.
The whole earth is filled with awe
at your wonders;
where morning dawns, where evening fades,
you call forth songs of joy. (Psalm 65:1-8, NIV)

Selah

at our Wits’ End

Some went off to sea in ships,
plying the trade routes of the world.
They, too, observed the Lord’s power in action,
his impressive works on the deepest seas.
He spoke, and the winds rose,
stirring up the waves.
Their ships were tossed to the heavens
and plunged again to the depths; the sailors cringed in terror.
They reeled and staggered like drunkards
and were at their wits’ end.
“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
He calmed the storm to a whisper
and stilled the waves.
What a blessing was that stillness
as he brought them safely into harbor!
Let them praise the Lord for his great love
and for the wonderful things
he has done for them.
Let them exalt him publicly
before the congregation
and before the leaders of the nation. (Psalm 107:23-32, NLT)

Selah

in Repose

Heavenly Father,

My faith is in thee,
My expectation is from thee,
My love goes out toward thee,

I believe thee, accept thy Word,
acquiesce in thy will,
rely on thy promises, trust thy providence.

I bless thee that the court of conscience
proves me to be thine.

I do not need signs and wonders to believe,
for thy Word is sure truth.

I have cast my anchor in the port of peace,
knowing that present and future
are in nail-pierced hands.

Thou art so good, wise, just, holy,
that no mistake is possible to thee.

Thou art fountain and source of all law;
what thou commandest is mine to obey.

I yield to thy sovereignty all that I am and have;
do thou with me as thou wilt.

Thou hast given me silence in my heart
in place of murmurings and complaints.

Keep my wishes from growing into willings,
my willings from becoming fault-finding
with thy providences,
and have mercy on me.

If I sin and am rebellious, help me to repent;
then take away my mourning and give me music;
remove my sackcloth and adorn me with beauty;
take away my sighs and fill my mouth with songs;
and when I am restored and rest in thee
give me summer weather in my heart.[3]

Selah

Listening

Speak, your servant is listening. (1 Samuel 3:10)

Going Forth

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[1] “Dear Lord and Father of Mankind,” wikipedia.org, last modified June 13, 2016, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dear_Lord_and_Father_of_Mankind.
[2] Kari Jobe, Matt Bronleewe, “Be Still My Soul (In You I Rest),”  http://www.vevo.com/watch/kari-jobe/be-still-my-soul-(in-you-i-rest)-lyrics/US82Y1300026.
[3] “Repose,” The Valley of Vision, ed. Arthur Bennett (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2012),  296-297.

Further exploration

• Printer friendly version
• There are two versions to “Dear Lord and Father of Mankind” which you can listen to here and here.
• Be Still My Soul (In You I Rest) performed by Kari Jobe

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