Not Silent

“The Mighty One, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth. Our God comes; he does not keep silence; before him is a devouring fire, around him a mighty tempest. He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people: ‘Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!’ The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge! ‘Hear, O my people, and I will speak… I am God, your God… The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!’” Psalm 50:1-7,23

A blazing dawn, fire in the heavens, brings me to my knees before our Creator’s perfection of beauty, His shining summons. Indeed, in all His glorious array He is not silent, but shouts from His throne His transcendent knowledge of all things, and blazes light that reveals every thought and deed and executes righteous judgment. I am undone. “‘Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!’ Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.’” (Isaiah 6:5-7)

In the quiet of the day we hear God best, before the clamor of noise, pressure of responsibilities, demands of schedules, distractions on a screen. And God is never silent here. Just as His heavens loudly declare His glory, His word speaks truth, adjusting right thinking and shedding light on the just way, and His Spirit testifies with ours to proclaim and assure our position and resources in Him. It is in this stillness He exposes the ugly thoughts that have poisoned words, the wayward affections for things and affirmation and notice, all idols before Him. And it is here that when we are open and honest in confession, He cleanses with fire and restores in mercy. It is in this place He communes with us and shows us the inclinations to check, the counsel to give, the people and places in which to invest, the way to go. (Psalm 19:1; 32:8; John 1:1,4-5; Romans 8:16)

What keeps me from meeting my God here? Where have I given in to habits that shut Him out, and what must I implement to change this? Need I arise earlier, close a closet door, leave a phone’s allure, fall on my knees? To be silent before a God Who is not takes thought, preparation, resolve, time. He is always faithful to show.

Almighty, glorious God, gather me to Yourself morning by morning, to listen as one being taught, that I might, with thanksgiving, declare Your praises and show forth Your salvation. (Isaiah 50:4)

Author: astherainandsnow

I love God's word and the God of the word. Isaiah 55:10-11 describes my vision for the blog: as the Lord has displayed so beautifully in nature the work of His living word in man, I desire the words I write to show forth His glory in creation (my photographs and art of words) and His word so the truth of scripture takes deep root, grows, and bears much fruit- of spirit and praise to Him. To my Lord be all the glory for what He accomplishes through His word! ~P. Bunn View all posts by astherainandsnow