A Time To Sit Still

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We never really cherish the thought of being told to sit sill, but that is what we often need. Our minds are busy and most of us like to be engaged in doing something, especially when it comes to waiting upon God.

Venture back in time and pick up the account in the book of Ruth in which Ruth is waiting upon Boaz to make his appeal to the nearer kinsmen to see whether he would redeem the land and marry Ruth, or whether Boaz would fulfill the family duty. It was the waiting period, and everyone knows that is a tough ask no matter what you are awaiting. Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law, had this simple advice:

Ruth 3:18 (KJV) — 18 Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.

Sometimes we need the reminder that God is in control, and He has our best interest in mind, so don’t be in a hurry to run ahead. Instead, wait and know that He is God.

Psalm 46:1 (ESV) — 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Psalm 46:10–11 (ESV) — 10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Oh, it is tough to wait. We all want to take control because we fear things will not work out like we have planned. That plan in itself comes from our imaginations, which can run wild, but rarely takes into consideration all the details for things to happen. It’s our imagination that will take us where we don’t want to be in the state of worry or the state of trying to control things we have no business attempting. No wonder Paul said it was an important reliance upon God the Holy Spirit to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:4–5 (ESV) — 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

Just sit still, said Naomi to Ruth, and this is quite applicable to us. Sit still and trust God to do what is best.

When Jerusalem was being invaded, they turned to the Egyptians for help, to which God warned them to forego connecting with Egypt, rather return to the rest that He provides. In other words, just sit still and watch the Lord work things out. For as He says: “In quietness and trust shall be your strength.”

Isaiah 30:7–15 (ESV) — 7 Egypt’s help is worthless and empty; therefore I have called her “Rahab who sits still.” 8 And now, go, write it before them on a tablet and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever. 9 For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the Lord; 10 who say to the seers, “Do not see,” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions, 11 leave the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.” 12 Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel, “Because you despise this word and trust in oppression and perverseness and rely on them, 13 therefore this iniquity shall be to you like a breach in a high wall, bulging out and about to collapse, whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant; 14 and its breaking is like that of a potter’s vessel that is smashed so ruthlessly that among its fragments not a shard is found with which to take fire from the hearth, or to dip up water out of the cistern.” 15 For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling,

Speaking of Egypt, it was the Egyptian army that pursued the children of Israel after they had left Egypt and looked like they were going to overtake them at the Red Sea. The people complained as the Egyptian army grew closer with each passing second and the Red Sea lay before them. They seemed trapped, but Moses simply reminded the people to sit still, actually in this case he said to “stand still.”

Exodus 14:13 (ESV) — 13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.

After you read what God accomplished and the great victory of seeing the Egyptian army destroyed, then you realize the need to fear not, stand firm or still, and see the salvation of God.

Just sit still, God has everything under control.

Ruth found out that her worries were unfounded as Boaz secured the proper documents and witnesses to be the kinsman redeemer.

Ruth 4:5–10 (ESV) — 5 Then Boaz said, “The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead, in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance.” 6 Then the redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.” 7 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was the manner of attesting in Israel. 8 So when the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” he drew off his sandal. 9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and to Mahlon. 10 Also Ruth the Moabite, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought to be my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his native place. You are witnesses this day.”

This is important to the rest of the story as the baby born from Boaz and Ruth was named Obed, who was the grandfather of David.

The next time you get in a hurry about things and allow your imagination to take over, step back and pray for the help of the Holy Spirit to just “sit still and trust God.” He has everything under control.

Godspeed,

Bob Brubaker, Pastor

Christ Community Presbyterian Church

Clearwater, FL

 

Check out the PowerBreak podcast that you will find wherever podcasts are downloaded or on our website: www.bobbrubaker.com

 

 

 

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