SILENCE!

“I was mute with silence, I held my peace even from good; and my sorrow was stirred up” (Psalm 39:2).

‘There is a time to speak and A time to keep silence’  says Ecclesiastes (Ecclesiastes 3:7). When silence is required, you have to be silent. 

The mutts in some of the Catholic churches are called the ‘mutts of the silent saint.’ The saints there will not speak with anybody. In Israel, there is a mutt by the side of Brook Cherith where Elijah had hidden. In this mutt, some saints observe silence as a custom. They remain so even for months together. They follow this ritual to indicate that they are silent similar to how Elijah maintained silence while hiding here. 

In the Old Testament, those who repented for their sins used to wear the sackcloth and spray the dust on their heads. They will make use of that day as the day of cleansing. The Scripture says, “The elders of the daughter of Zion sit on the ground and keep silence; they throw dust on their heads and gird themselves with sackcloth. The virgins of Jerusalem bow their heads to the ground” (Lamentations 2:10). 

God sees those who suppress themselves by remaining silent and He changes their captivity. He turns their tears into dancing. David chose a Day of Silence in his life and on that particular day silently meditated the Word of God. That sort of silence suited the meditation. That silence closed the ears from hearing the noise of the world and made it a time of opening the heart to the voice of God. During those times, his heart was hot within him and the fire burned in Spirit (Psalm 39:3). 

In this world people get things done only through continuous talking.  Those who want to sell their goods, advertise their products by highlighting the best features.  Today, speech is done not only by mankind but Radio, Record Player and Television also speak.

The noise of advertisements of several types keeps on ringing in the ears. These advertisements bend the lives of men to their convenience. Since so many noises keep on ringing in your ear, the opportunity to listen to the voice of God gets restricted. Dear children of God, allot certain times of silence specifically to listen to the voice of God. The silence which you dedicate for God will bring blessings to you.  

To meditate: “But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him” (Habakkuk 2:20).