Silence as a Response to Mystery
Paul S. Rees's next point is that times of silence help us respond to the mystery of God. Psalm 4:4, which talks about being still and searching our hearts, begins by saying "tremble, and do not sin", or the old KJV says "stand in awe, and sin not".
Here's what Rees says: "When the universe and all of life draw aside their thick curtains and permit us to catch a glimpse of their innermost marvels, the vision is not likely to send us into gales of laughter and roars of applause. It is more likely to leave us speechless."
When Wonder Leaves Us Speechless
And he talks about how, when people see fireworks lighting up the sky they ooh and they aah, but a short time before writing his sermon there was an atomic explosion shown on television and all the people watching went quite silent as they saw this awesome but terrifying picture.
Rees talks also about the birth of his first child, and how seeing that tiny human being in the hands of the doctor was like some sort of mystery to him, it was so wonderful! A newborn baby is such a marvel that many people just go silent in awe as they see such a miracle.
In the same way, a wonderful work of art has a way of silencing people in astonishment. I'm sure you've seen or experienced a work of art that left you 'gobsmacked' as they say – perhaps a performance of a song or viewing a painting which made you stand in awe and admiration.
Encountering God's Holiness in Sacred Silence
Well how much more would the holiness and greatness of God hush us? I remember when I used to travel from church to church with CrossRoad, we played at a Presbyterian church one Sunday and did our usual thing, praising God loudly, worshipping Him powerfully, singing gently and sweetly at times, as we shared an array of our songs and stories. We finished with a bang, as we usually do, to leave the people cheerful at the end of the service. But as we finished and closed the service, the whole congregation knelt down and prayed in silence for a few minutes, before slowly dispersing. It was a mysterious thing to us, but awe-inspiring.
Scripture says "Be still!" When something mysterious and wonderful is presented to you, be still a moment and reflect. Perhaps in the silence you will encounter something of God's presence in a way you wouldn't if you were shouting aloud.
