Psalm 46.10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.”
I like that.
We do not do real well with silence. We do not do real well with being still. As a matter of fact – most of us are pretty poor listeners. Our minds wander…
We’ve got a lot on our plate. We are always thinking. Many of us have a hard time even quieting our minds during the night time hours! How many of us lie awake thinking about this or about that?
There is a lot on our minds. Our minds are constantly going…going and still going. That little energizer bunny has got nothing on us!
Our minds are seldom still, seldom silent, seldom at rest. Our minds race a lot. There is a million and one things to do and to accomplish. There is always something else…something next…something more to be considered.
Distractions are everywhere. I mean everywhere!
How long is it to kickoff?
I am just saying it is hard for us to be quiet, to be silent – to be still.
The reason I bring this to your attention is because of the text itself.
“When the sound of the voice died away, they saw Jesus alone. They were “speechless.” They were “still.” They had grown “silent.” And they continued to be “speechless,” they said not one thing to anyone “during those days” of what they had seen.”
Silence…
Holy Awe…
Quiet. Solitude.
It doesn’t happen or occur that much anymore.
The attempt is – to fill moments of silence “with anything but silence.” We want to mask over the quietness of the moment.
“White noise is good”
CD’s for background music…
The radio in the car…
The television just to keep the silence “at bay…”
Even music in our elevators of all places…or when we are left hanging there on hold… The doctor’s office has piped-in muzak and televisions for distraction. Why?
I can’t for the life of me – imagine Peter – being speechless. He who sticks his foot in his mouth at inappropriate times…Imagine him silent! Still! Quiet!
“When the sound of the voice died away…I particularly like that phrase.
It gives a sense of calm, doesn’t it?
There is kind of like a serene moment that follows what the disciples had just experienced and witnessed. Like a “quiet” reassurance…
There was nothing else to say, it was a holy moment…
Remember the story of Elijah and the still small voice at Mount Horeb?
“Go out and stand on the mountain, Elijah before the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was “splitting mountains” and “breaking rocks” in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind “an earthquake,” but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake “a fire,” but the LORD was not “in the fire;” and after the fire “a sound of sheer silence.” When Elijah “heard it,” he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.
The sound of silence…and then a still small voice.
Peter, James and John are changed on that mountain – forever. And, not because they learned lots of fun-filled facts and had tons of answers to all their questions…
In reality, they probably descended with more questions than answers. They probably descended being more confused than when they went up.
Such is life.
Try if they might, they could not put into words the majesty, the wonder, God’s way of thinking, his way of working, his actions…his graciousness…his splendor…
There is so much that happens in our lives that defies explanation and logic.
It should leave us speechless…but it usually doesn’t.
There is holiness in silence – you might be surprised at “who it is” that is talking to you.
“Be still and know that I am God,” the scripture says.
Enough said.