Silence is Golden

The prophet Zephaniah (1.7) said, "Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near." Being still is quite a challenge for us today. We're always on the go, going from this event to that job, to do a certain errand or picking up kids, grocery shopping or a Costco run. We are a people on the go. And on the way we listen to the radio or talk on the phone. Silence seems to be a golden luxury that few enjoy. There are times when we are silent. When we gaze upon a beautiful sunset or a forest surrounding a mountain lake, it can take our breath away. I spoke with someone today who was spewing hatred towards Israel and made comments that there is no history of the Jews being in Palestine, nor in all of Europe. I began to engage him and realized nonsense is nonsense no matter where you find it. I simply kept going. There was just nothing to say to him. His mind was made up and I kept quiet. But Zephaniah enjoins us to be silent before the Sovereign Lord. There is something about the Lord- His presence, His Sovereignty, His majesty. The Lord is an awesome God. What an incredible thing it is to be silent and consider the ways of the Sovereign Lord. 600 years before the birth of Jesus, Zephaniah was given a vision of the future and the nearness of the Lord's return. 2600 years later, we are on the edge of His return. Things are rapidly changing. No, escalating. Earth is moving towards the day of the Lord. In Revelation 8.1 the Apostle John said, "When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about a half an hour." The angelic choirs pause their praise, the chants of the elders around the throne stop their worship, the angels proclaiming the holiness of God stop mid-sentence. Total silence in heaven for 30 minutes. Silence in heaven tells us something. The judgment that follows is breathtaking. The day of the Lord is near. We are to be silent as we contemplate all that it means. We also notice a specific time mentioned. 30 minutes. Half hours are important to God. Perhaps a half hour can be our goal, to be silent before the Lord for 30 minutes. To simply contemplate His wonder and majesty. To mediate on His Sovereignty and holiness. To consider His return which is near. Prayer: Lord, help me to be silent before You, my Sovereign Lord. Help me to recall Your glory and holiness, wonder and majesty. May my moments with You prepare my heart for Your return. Amen.