01/15/2021
We always picture Heaven as a place filled with praise, the continuous sound of worship, and the smell of incense, but on occasion it is also silent, being filled with the Holy Silence of God. Sometimes silence comes with prayer, and everything becomes still except the smoke of our prayers themselves as they rise before God. Yes, what we pray as words on earth become much more in the spirit world... they become incense, and fill bowls made of gold, and spoken words become silent feelings.
“And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”
Revelation 5:8 ESV
So as our prayers rise there are instances in heaven when everything becomes still, and God’s silence prevails. Have you ever heard or seen something so beautiful and moving that it took your breath away, and made you speechless? What must the scene have looked like as Jesus opened the seventh seal, and an Angel came and offered up the prayers of Saints as incense before God. It must have taken the breath from John, and all the heavenly host, as silence fell over heaven...
“When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.”
Revelation 8:1 ESV
And prayers, which are incense, rose, with additional incense in censors, before the throne of God. Can you see the billowing smoke, and smell the fragrance of those many prayers?
“And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.”
Revelation 8:3-4 ESV
Then when the silence of those minutes had subsided there came the sound of thunder, rumblings, and an earthquake. We can only imagine the sound of accompanying voices as they started singing, and praising God from on high.
“Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.”
Revelation 8:5 ESV
When each of my children was born there was a moment of silence pause as everyone present listened for that first breath of life. When we come before God it is very much the same as we wait in frozen silence for Him to breathe new life into us... salvation.
“For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.”
Psalm 62:1 ESV
God’s silence speaks volumes to us, and is just as important as His proclamations. God’s silence says such things as “Wait!”, “Trust Me!”, and “I Am!”. These, and others come without a spoken word... just a feeling of His presence, and a soulful communication. Have you been there? Have you walked into a holy place and been frozen by the presence of God, stunned into silence, or struck dumb in awe of Him? If so then you know that it is good to be silent before Him...
“The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”
Lamentations 3:25-26 ESV
So as Moses told the Israelites, we should also be told... that God will fight for us if we will only be quiet and wait on Him. Are we ready to embrace silence? Are we prepared to trust in the silence of God? Will the silence that accompanies our prayers strengthen us, or bring us doubt?
“The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.””
Exodus 14:14 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the power of your Word, but thank you also for the strength of your silence. Help us Lord to stand quiet in your presence, and trust in you as our prayers ascend in fragrant silence before your throne. Hear our souls praying without word, or utterance, Father, and feel the love and trust we have in you. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who comes in silent dreams, and small still voices, just as you have come so often in thunder claps, and the roar of mighty winds. Praised be your name in our silence as we stand mute witness to your power and glory. You are merciful Father and can heal us with the slightest brush of your hand, or a breath so faint that it can’t be heard. There is no sound, or overpowering scent that gives us more pleasure than our sweet silent prayers, and no joy more pleasant than the moment of our quiet embrace as we reach out to you in love. Hear every prayer Father, whether shouted, spoken, whispered, or silent, and receive them all in the name of Jesus, for we are made pure by His blood... waiting in silence for your certain response, and promise of eternal life.
Rich Forbes