The Sound of Silence
The Sound of Silence
Major Thomas McWilliams
Area Commander
Atlanta Metro Command
Georgia Division
USA Southern Territory
My Sunday School teacher pulled out a chart showing a complete list of books in the Bible. We were challenged to memorize the list over the next four weeks, with the promise of a prize for those who could successfully recite it. On the designated Sunday morning, I stood with immense pride and loudly recounted the books in order. Unfortunately, the glorious prize I had worked for was a lollipop, and a small one at that.
400 Years of Silence
This exercise piqued my curiosity about the phrase “400 years of silence,” located between the Old and New Testament lists. How could the great Creator God, the celestial being who is supreme over everything that has ever been and will ever be, take a four-century nap? In the decades since that early Sunday school class, people experiencing significant needs or in moments of crucial decision-making have also spoken about God's silence.
Today, I understand that the chart phrase “400 years of silence,” or the blank page in many Bibles between the Old and New Testaments, refers to a lack of documented God-given prophetic words. It is harder to understand God’s apparent silence when we are facing immediate life problems.
Never Silent
The reality is that God is never silent. But how do we seek closeness to the great “I Am” when feeling abandoned? The place to start is by reviewing and renewing our own state of righteousness. We must repent and renew if our minds and hearts are clogged with selfishness and sin. As Paul wrote, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things…And the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9).
We can find God outside ourselves once we have addressed our internal heart, mind, and spirit. Seeing and hearing God can be found when we spend time in awe of who He is and what He has done. Consider the Lord within His created world. “For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature have been seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). We can experience God when we sit in the sunlight looking at the trees and grass, or at night, gazing at His stars and moon while we talk to Him.
The Example of Job
A fitting example of someone in history who could have given in to feelings of abandonment was Job. Even though he was alone in his suffering, he understood that even the Lord’s created animals are God’s voice to us. “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you, speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind” (Job 12:7-10).
The forces of nature are also wonderfully created sounds of the Lord. “Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God's wonders. Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes His lightning flash? Do you know how the clouds hang poised; those wonders of Him who has perfect knowledge?” (Job 37:14-16).
Be Assured
We cannot control God, but when we need Him to hold us close to hear His voice or see His glory, begin with internal cleansing and behold Him and His magnificence around us. Be assured that God loves us, He is with us, He wants what is good for us, and He knows our darkness and despair better than we do. Listen to the Psalmist, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast” (Psalm 139:7-10).
Our Corporate Prayer
Dear Wondrous Lord, Help me to remember that when I do not hear You speaking, it doesn't mean You are not listening or that You are not present, that though I might feel alone, You do not leave me alone, that if You are not holding my hand, it is because I let go, not You. Still my heart when I am afraid. Hush the outside noises so I can hear Your voice. Take away all distractions so I can feel Your gentle touch on my soul. You are the one I depend upon above all others, dear Lord. Through my life and in my final breath, You are the one who will lead me forward. I commit myself to You are are always present, my gentle Shepherd. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Our Worldwide Prayer Meeting
The Democratic Republic
of the Congo
Thinking It Through
Why do you think it is that sometimes we feel the Lord so near and other times He seems so far away? Is it the presence of sin? Is it our fickle emotions? Is God teaching us to live beyond our emotions and trust Him with faith alone?
Notable Quotables
We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade the presence of God. The world is crowded with Him. He walks everywhere incognito. - C.S. Lewis
Thinking of God's presence, we recall that wonderful hymn, "Abide with Me," brought to us by SE Mennonite Choir.
We would appreciate any feedback and/or suggestions on how to improve these devotionals. Please email comments to: SpiritualLifeDevelopment@uss.salvationarmy.org or by going to our website: https://southernusa.salvationarmy.org/uss/spiritual-life-development.
We would love to hear from you.
Lt. Colonel Allen Satterlee
Territorial Spiritual Life Development Officer/THQ Chaplain
USA Southern Territory