Blog About No Blog, Part 3

It seems I have quite a bit to say about saying nothing. We are considering the “time to keep silence,” the time when it is best to say nothing. Another such time is in the face of God coming forth in judgment against sin and sinners.

After prophesying of the judgments that would come upon Babylon for its sins, Habakkuk recorded these oft-sung words:

Habakkuk 2:20 But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.

In the beginning of his prophecy, Habakkuk had complained of the spoiling and violence, and of the strife and contention that were going on about him in his own nation. He raised two questions with respect to the evil surrounding him: “How long?” and “Why?” How many times have these questions been asked when men have witnessed injustice? He HHGod responded by showing Habakkuk that He would raise up the Chaldeans as an instrument of judgment against Israel for its sins. This only perplexed the prophet since God would be using an even more wicked nation to punish His own people. God responded to Habakkuk’s perplexity by revealing that He would also judge the Chaldeans for their wickedness. In the final issue all wickedness would meet with judgment from a holy God. It was in the face of God rising up to judgment that Habakkuk uttered the words we have cited above. Now instead of questioning God as he had done, Habakkuk called upon all the earth to keep silence before such a holy and sovereign God.

In the book of Revelation when the Lamb of God opened the seventh seal, there followed the sounding of the seven trumpets. These trumpets herald fearful judgments to come upon the earth leading up to the final judgment of all nations when the seventh trumpet sounds. As a prelude to the sounding of these seven trumpets we read the following:

Revelation 8:1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.

Again, we find silence is in order in the face of divine judgment.

When Israel was departing out of Egypt, they reached a point at which the Red Sea was in front of them and Pharaoh’s host was nearing from behind. As Israel began to panic, Moses said this to them:

Exodus 14:13 …Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

The hour of Egypt’s overthrow was at hand. In the face of this approaching judgment Israel was called upon to keep silence.

When Israel marched around Jericho seven times before the walls fell down, Joshua gave them this instruction:

Joshua 6:10 And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.

The overthrow of Jericho marked the beginning of God’s judgments upon the Canaanite nations for their abounding wickedness. As a prelude to this judgment, silence was called for.

Then notice this passage:

Zephaniah 1:7 Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.

8 And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD'S sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.

There is something about the display of God’s wrath in judgment that calls for reverential silence. When you hear the pastor thundering forth God’s threatenings against sin and sinners does it leave you feeling speechless? Well it should! When we see the clouds of divine judgment gathering, it is a time to keep silence before our God and watch Him work. For when God moves forth in judgment against His enemies, He also moves forth in the salvation of His people. Then after the silence comes forth the shout of triumph just as Israel shouted after marching around the wall of Jericho seven times.

Joshua 6:16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.

The advice of the Psalmist fits well here:

Psalms 46:8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.

9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

As you see God arising in judgment, hold your peace. Know that He is God. Watch Him work as you worship is silent awe.