04/02/2019
When you are praying, and the Lord is speaking to you concerning His will, what do you say? Whenever God speaks; do you talk over Him? There is a time for us to speak, and a time for us to hush and simply listen. Do you know when to speak up, and when to remain silent in prayer? There is an art to conversation... especially with God.
“Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?" But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.”
Matthew 27:13-14 ESV
Have you ever been in a situation in which an argument was eminent, and said nothing? If you have then you realize that this is the verbal equivalent of turning the other cheek, and when you do so it tends to outrage whoever is attempting to argue with you. They are upset for a couple of reasons, the first is that they want to turn your words against you, and the second is that they can’t legitimately win an argument that never occurred. Jesus has just such an encounter with Pilate on His way to the cross.
There is a famous quote by George Bernard Shaw that pops immediately into my mind, and although there are several versions of it the original goes like this: “Never wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it.” There have been many times in my life when I stood silent as someone proceeded to argue alone, and being someone who loves wise sayings and quotes, I would recall a couple of them as the situation unfolded. Here are two:
“Give a man enough rope, and he’ll hang himself.” - Anonymous
And...
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt. - Abraham Lincoln
Each of these seems to be appropriate when we look at Jesus standing in judgement before Pilate. He had nothing to gain except to enter into a defense of Himself that He really didn’t want to make. But, by being silent, He was allowing the argument against Him to be seen as without merit, and ultimately avoiding, as Lincoln pointed out, giving Pilate an opportunity to attack him and appear justified in sentencing Him. There was no benefit to be had for Jesus; He was there solely to do God’s will... to become a sacrifice for sin.
There was one more reason for the silence of Christ... it was to fulfill a well-known prophesy regarding the Messiah. He was the perfect sacrifice, and did nothing to detract from that... including His completion of the prophesy of Isaiah regarding Him.
“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.”
Isaiah 53:7 ESV
So in this time of fulfillment Jesus was silent, and as He lived out God’s will for Him, He was mute. When God is speaking, as He was through the actions of Jesus at this time, it is best to shush, and pay attention to what He is saying. How many times has God been handling a situation in your life and you jumped in and started talking over Him? If you are like most of us, many, and as you think back on those times it probably embarrasses you doesn’t it? Our exuberance overshadows our manners and good sense, and in such situations we embarrass ourselves as well as the person who is attempting to speak for us.
When we pray we have a tendency to do this. We forget that we are in a conversation, and keep talking without pause; it seems that it is our nature to abhor silence. If one word is good then two are better, and a whole string of them excellent! When someone pauses in a conversation we feel compelled to fill that silence by immediately speaking. If there is a momentary silence during a telecast we jump to the conclusion that there is something wrong with the radio or television set. Silence... it upsets us to no end, and is only tolerated in the most intimate moments. Being silent around someone exposes our weakness, and allows us to be seen as we truly are. Think about those times when you are actually silent for any period of time... I would venture to guess that those are the times you are with a person that you are most comfortable with. Learn to be comfortable with God!!! He is mighty, He fills you with awe, and He rules over you, but His goodness and love for you goes way beyond these things. Learn to accept His love, and be still as He speaks, or sits silently there with you.
As a human, Jesus was exactly as we are; He was constantly in prayer, teaching, and conversing, but He knew when to listen, and was comfortable before Pilate because God was already speaking. In our prayer closets we should be comfortable in silence as we sit and listen to God. How can we know, and do, God’s will if we never give Him the opportunity to speak with us?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for not only allowing me to speak to you, but for your desire to speak with me. I am amazed Holy Father that you, the creator of the universe, would desire to spend not only time talking to me, but quiet time just being intimately close to me. Help me Lord to be ever more comfortable in your presence, and not to nervously rattle on when silence would best serve us in our relationship. Help me to enjoy quiet walks with you, and the sound of your footsteps as you walk beside me. Teach me to enjoy all of your creation as it sings and hums to you. In silence I am closest to you Father, but when you speak to me in a low still voice let me hear the power in what you have to say. Attune my ear to the sound of your voice so that I can clearly hear your whispered will. Let me feel your breath on my face as you lean close where only the two of us can hear, and when you are silent teach me to be patient in my own silence. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God of the still waters, and the peaceful meadows. Great are you in the thunder, but greater yet in the still evenings. Praised be your name Father, for your mercy and grace come in the silence before the dawn, and still the smooth calm waters beneath a setting sun. I worship you in your peacefulness, and I find awe in the patient silence. Quiet me Father in your love.
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17 ESV
Rich Forbes