[A devotional reflection originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during June 2024]
“Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you”
But my words, like silent raindrops, fell
And echoed in the well of silence [1]
Have you ever experienced silence, complete quietness, the total absence of noise?
In Horley, as in most of the world, such an experience is rare. Traffic noise, aircraft movements and airport ground plant all combine to create a cacophony of civilisation that competes with the noises of the natural world. Even in the most remote places there is usually some background sound; the rustling of branches, the breaking of waves, the songs of the birds.
In my experience, silence is associated with high places: on the Welsh hills above Machynlleth or the mountains lining the eastern side of the Red Sea. Another, perhaps essential, characteristic of such experiences is solitude. The gospel writers tell us that Jesus would often withdraw to lonely places as a respite from the demands of the day.
And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.
Mark 6 v46 [ESVUK]
We may not have the opportunity to retreat to a lonely mountain but we can pray wherever we are. God hears us but can we hear him? Does our easy access to prayer tempt us to treat it lightly? Are we at risk of becoming the people that Paul Simon described earlier in the same song?
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
In the account of Job, his friends Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar each came with his own diagnosis of Job’s situation; they spoke at great length about where Job had gone wrong and what he should do about it. We see that God allowed Job’s visitors to have their say before he intervened. God’s response was what today would be called a comprehensive put-down and is best summarised in the words of the psalmist:
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
Psalm 46 v10 [NKJV]
Many of us are too busy to find the time to be still and listen. Often that is an indication that we are, simply, too busy. Perhaps our first priority should be to echo the words of Emily May Crawford written in 1920:
Speak Lord in the stillness whilst we wait on Thee,
Hushed our hearts to listen in expectancy.
God is trying to reach out and teach us but can we hear anything? Is God silent or is he just waiting for an opportunity to get a word in edgeways?
References:
[1] Paul Simon, “The Sound of Silence”, 1964
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Last week’s reflection: Going to Pot
Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © Steve Humphreys
Thanks for this Steve. Your question about whether our easy access to prayer tempts us to treat it lightly is worth pondering.
As for being still, I find this hard, and even when I do achieve physical stillness, the silence seems to just provide opportunity for my mind to roam. I thank God for his patience.
Perhaps one day, I will also utter the words “speak Lord, for your servant is listening”.