The Weight of Silence
(ESV) When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Revelation 8:1
Silence, not songs of worship. Is silence a deeper form of worship, a deeper form of awe, a deeper form of communion with God, a deeper form of respect, a deeper form of reverence?
There is something mystical and mysterious about silence. It can mean many things and it all depends upon the context in which the silence takes place. Sometimes it is because of anger, sometimes it is because of shock, sometimes it is because of fear, sometimes it is because one is speechless, and sometimes it is because of wonder, awe, and marvel. Whatever the circumstance, silence is heavy. It is so poignant with meaning it stops one in their tracks.
I find the book of Revelation so full of worship it astonishes me. In this chapter, silence comes after two chapters of praise, prayer, and worship in a verbal form… then comes silence. The silence of worship, adoration, shock, anticipation, and gratitude.
It reminds me of times in Sunday worship when the congregation lifts their voices to God in praise and then comes the heavy moment when all goes silent and prayer is given, verbally and silently. The presence of God comes into a receptive heart and one must pause.
It reminds me of times in the western Canadian forests. The silence can be heavy in the woods. Someone stepping on a stick is heard for miles. In this situation, the silence can be either bone chilling or comforting. The bone chilling silence is one you want to escape from immediately…. the spirit of the Deceiver. The comforting one is one you want to savour and bask in with tears coming to your eyes.
It reminds me of the prayer times in Africa when everyone would gather for a Wednesday evening prayer time… Not just 3-4 people but 30-40 people. It all starts with a cacophony of sounds as everyone lifts up their concerns, worries, and busyness to God. After about 15 minutes of this uncontrolled, disorganized noise, an envelope of silence falls on everyone and you could hear a pin drop. The silence is heavy and filled with meaning. The weight of God’s glory has fallen upon everyone in the room. One voice calls out in prayer or song followed by others. It is orderly and heart felt… In spite of the words being spoken, there is this silence in the presence of God. No words can explain it. No tongue can share it. It is felt by the spirit.
I do pray that each one of you reading these words will be able to say with the Psalmist in chapter 62 “For God alone my soul waits in silence;”
Silence… It speaks more than words… and be heavy with the weight of God’s glory.