Throwing in the Towel. Ps. 46:10

In the world of boxing, when a manager senses that his fighter can't take any more in the ring, he throws in a towel from outside, ending the fight. David writes is Psalm 46:10,

Be still, and know that I am God. NIV

There are two applications for this verse. First, from the context,

Come and see the works of the LORD,the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,he burns the shields with fire.Ps 46:8-9 NIV

David is describing the complete victory that belongs to God and the utter defeat that those who oppose Him must face. Then comes the exhortation,

Be still, stop fighting thrown in the towel and recognize that I am God, that I am cannot and will not be defeated. David goes on to write,

"I will be exalted among the nations,I will be exalted in the earth." Ps 46:10

This is not an eventuality but a certainty.

It is written:
"'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'" Rom 14:11 NIV

The second application is personal. Stop fighting God and what He wants to do in your life. We can be like Jacob and wrestle with God (Gen. 32:24-30), but we must remember that after that encounter, Jacob walked with a limp. If you want to wrestle with God, your walk may suffer! It is better to throw in the towel, to throw your hands into the air and shout, "I surrender all!" (They should write a song with that title. ;-)

If we will cease the struggle,

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms, (Eph 6:12 NIV)

if we will surrender to His will, then He will show Himself as God in our situation and in our lives!

If we will but be still long enough, He will reveal Himself as God and King!