This Article: (3 Pages)
- 1. Hearing God in sound of Silence
- 2. Quiet Worship
- 3. Silence in our Lives
3) Silence in our Lives
Zacharias could not speak. But also sometimes it is wise not to speak.
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; (Ecclesiastes 3:7)
Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time. (Amos 5:13)
When the fools and wicked rule they create disturbance and only enforce quiet by oppression and no room for the wise voice to be heard.
The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers. He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth. The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing. (Isaiah 14:5-7)
In the future, Yahweh breaks the evil, and not only may the prudent speak but then they sing – with joy!
Jeremiah spoke in an evil time. He tried to keep silence but could not,
Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. (Jeremiah 20:9)
Others also were quiet, including the Seraiah. But Seraiah was sent to speak.
The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah into Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. And this Seraiah was a quiet prince. So Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come upon Babylon, even all these words that are written against Babylon. And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou comest to Babylon, and shalt see, and shalt read all these words; Then shalt thou say, O LORD, thou hast spoken against this place, to cut it off, that none shall remain in it, neither man nor beast, but that it shall be desolate for ever. And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates: And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 51:59-64)
The word for 'quiet' implies, peaceful, still, or a prince of consolation. Seraiah was not silent, but quiet. Seraiah speaks in the quiet the words delivered to Jeremiah. He read aloud the words, or caused Jeremiah's words to be heard in Babylon. The people would have had to be quiet to hear the words read by Seraiah
The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. (Ecc 9:17)
Waiting in silence
There may have been more such as Seraiah waiting in quiet in an evil age,
The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him. (Lamentations 3:24-28)
This is Jeremiah. This is also the Lord Y'shua who did not answer back his evil accusers. It does not mean that they do not speak out. Both did speak out, and both suffered for it. It means that they do not force their point politically and push their weight about in the streets, rather that they wait for Yahweh's time. The time when Yahweh will work and produce peace,
And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places; (Isaiah 32:17-18)
Jerusalem the antithesis of peace, being subject to war, shall then be peaceful as the name means,
Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken. (Isaiah 33:20)
Building a quiet temple in our lives
Just as Solomon built a quiet temple so are we to do, in analogy, in our lives. We are building a spiritual temple (Ephesians 2:21). It appears that it is not easy to be quiet, but that we might need to study the word of God to do so,
And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. (1Thess. 4:10-12)
It might not be easy also to have a peaceable life as a ruler in authority may hinder it.
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; (1Timothy 2:1-3)
The implication is that by the peace in our lives given rulers ought not be taken for granted. In a Greek culture where women could dominate, Paul gives the women advice that they seek quiet.
Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. (1Peter 3:1-4)
The word for quiet, according to Strong's, seems to be from 'steadfast' and means 'still'. This is not just advice to women, as the meek and steadfast spirit belongs to the King who is to come. Peter might be remembering what Y'shua said to the disciples when speaking after another meek man, John the Baptist was put in prison,
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11:29)
Quiet Rest is Not Now
For the moment the earth is noisy before Yahweh. For many long years Yahweh has kept silence and not spoken except in the still quiet of the printed word, as he said, “not by power and not by might, but by my spirit” (Zech. 4:6) but,
Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. (Psalm 50:3).
But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou should take my covenant in thy mouth? Seeing thou hate instruction, and cast my words behind thee. When thou saw a thief, then thou consented with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers. Thou give thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frames deceit. Thou sit and speak against thy brother; thou slander thine own mother's son. These things hast thou done,
and I kept silence;
thou thought that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes. Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver. Whoso offerers praise glorifies me: and to him that orders his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God. (Psalm 50:16-23)
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