Be Still for the Presence of the Lord

The Story behind "Be Still for the Presence of the Lord"

John Wesley's New Room website notes, "'Be Still’ was published in 1986 and use of the hymn spread rapidly. This was initially entirely by word of mouth because a first recording of it was not made until 1989. Its ever-increasing popularity on the BBC ’s ‘Songs of Praise’ in the 1990s made it mainstream."

So what Scriptures was David Evans referring to when he wrote this song? Well, every stanza is based on at least one Bible verse that Evans subtly, yet expertly wove into the lyrics.

Moving forward through the lyrics,

“Come bow before Him now with reverence and fear.”

Take a look at the following verses:

• Psalm 5:7: But I, by your great love, can come into your house; in reverence I bow down toward your holy temple.
• Psalm 95:6: Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
• For More: Micah 6:6, Revelation 22:17

“In Him no sin is found”

• 2 Corinthians 5:21: God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
• For more: 1 Peter 2:22, 1 John 3:5

“We stand on holy ground. The Holy One is here.”

Exodus 3:5

“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”

“He burns with holy fire.”

• Matthew 3:11-12:  “I baptize you with  water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with[c] the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
• More: Revelation 1:13-16:

“With splendour He is crowned, How awesome is the sight. Our radiant King of light.”

• Matthew 27:29: and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said.
• Revelation 19:12: His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.
• For More: Hebrews 2:9, James 1:12, 1 Peter 5:4,  Revelation 14:14-15

“Is shining all around.”

• Exodus 40:34-35: Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
• For More: 2 Chronicles 7:1-3, Psalm 57:5, 11, Exodus 24:16-17, Exodus 33:22, Leviticus 9:6, Deuteronomy 5:24, Psalm 63:2, Psalm 26:8

"He comes to cleanse and heal."

• Matthew 10:7-8: As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
• Leviticus 16:30:  because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins. 
• For More: 2 Chronicles 7:14, Matthew 8:3, Matthew 11:5
   

“To minister His grace.”

• Romans 5:20-21: The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
• For More: John 1:14, Romans 5:1-2:

“No work too hard for Him.”

• Jeremiah 32:17: “Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.”
• For More: Matthew 11:28-30

“In faith receive from Him.”

• Luke 5:20: “When Jesus saw their faith, He said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven.’”
• For More: Hebrews 11:6

"Be still for the power of the Lord is moving in this place.”

The most obvious verse quoted is Psalm 46:10, which says, “Be still and know that I am God.” Many people have memorized this portion of the verse, but what if I told you there was more to it? Could you quote it?

The whole of Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.”

God is saying, “Rest. I’ve got this. It’s about My glory, not yours.”

The Core Message of "Be Still for the Presence of the Lord"

Bow. Be Still. Receive.

Now, let me show you what I believe is the most beautiful aspect of David Evans’s “Be Still for the Presence of the Lord.” If you scan the lyrics, you’ll see only three commands to the singers. The rest of the lyrics describe who God is and what He does for His people.

The only commands for us within the song are: Bow. Be still. Receive. Of the three, “bow” is the only active command. Evans, echoing Psalm 46:10, is encouraging us to surrender to Christ. God works out the rest.

Does this breathe life into your weary spirit? Bow. Be still. Receive.

Are you in the middle of a storm? Are you living in the wake of a trauma? I’m sorry. I’ve been there. In the midst of my deep grief, the weight of the darkness forced me to my knees. I bowed, not by conscious effort, but because I did not possess the strength to stand. Nor did I have the energy to move—not to run, or hide, or busy myself with the tasks of life. I know better than to speak for all grievers, but for me, my grief placed me in the perfect position for God to revitalize me, like a spiritual CPR.

As you listen to “Be Still for the Presence of the Lord,” I pray that God fills the cracks in your heart with His life-sustaining breath and enables you to rest within His presence.

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