The Important Silence of Love
If God were more vocal, man would lose his voice.
A common poorly thought through complaint about God is that we can’t see or hear him in ways we see people and the world around us.
God does show up at times and even speaks, but this is not taken into account because he isn’t our buddy next door or in the attic. If we look at Bible accounts even the appearance of a real angle is enough to cause people to completely fall apart. It is healthy to remind ourselves that our wisdom, our understanding of how best to operate in this world, begins with a healthy fear of God.
Why is this?
Because usually we need to be shaken awake. Our default is the auto pilot snooze setting.
Some of my recurrent themes, not because I think you need to hear them, but because I do frequently, are that love originates from God and that God speaks through words. These may be, as the first verse of the love chapter (1 Corinthians 13) says, either in the language of men or angels. We can hear God’s voice through the wise connected voices of others or through avenues we do not completely understand.
With this in mind, and understanding we need to be filled first with God’s goodness before we can love anyone else, permit me to walk you through a psalm you might consider reading often as a morning devotional. Allow it to show you how God speaks clearly. Note all the words that involve words, speech, and communication. I will list them at the end.
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.
1More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalms 19 (ESV)
So think about it. What is this psalm telling us about God? That he is hardly silent. What is missing is our ability or interest in truly listening.
Here are all the words involving the use of words, speech, and communication taken and listed from the first verse to last
declare, proclaims, speech, knowledge, speech, words, voice, heard, voice, words, law, testimony, precepts, commandments, rules, declare, words, meditation
The psalmist David’s request based on his understanding of God, who clearly speaks, comes in the final verse. It’s a good one for us to request as well, don’t you think?
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
Thank you for reading The Still Point Project. I hope it is stimulating you to think about yourself, God, and others in healthier ways.
Thank you!!