COPING WITH GOD’S SILENCE

There is a perversity in man’s reactions to God’s activity; when He speaks, in rebellion man refuses to listen. Yet so often when God seems indifferent and silent, man cries out, “Why does God keep silent?”. The Lord Jesus was especially conscious of man’s perversity as He sought to meet their needs. Often, the Christian has to learn a difficult lesson. It is that every action of God is relevant to each demand of experience. He is never silent when He should speak. He never speaks unless it is necessary for His voice to be heard. Those who live nearest to Him are most conscious of this.

The psalmist is baffled by the silence of his God. We also note this dilemma in Psalm 28. 1; 35. 22. The enemies of the Lord are noisy, make a tumult, arrogantly lift up their heads, 83. 2. In cunning they plan to destroy God’s people, to act in confederation to cut off the name of Israel, the chosen nation, vv. 3-5. It would seem from verses 6-11 that Judah is surrounded by hostile nations, all of whom are noted as thorns in the flesh of God’s people. These are vocal in their demand to take over God’s heritage, the possession of His people, v. 12.

“Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace.” What a cry is this! Think of what it implies as to God’s relations with His own. Is He turning His back on the ones He loves? Is He deaf to their cries? Will He desert His loved ones in their hour of crisis? Can it be that His heart is not touched by the plight of those in trouble? Surely we can say a resounding “No” to all these questions. And there are times, we are sure, when His silence is more eloquent than speech.

What shall we say then? We can think of the silence of heaven when Christ suffered in the hours of darkness on the cross. As one has said regarding this, “A silent heaven is the mystery of the universe”. The anguish of the words of Psalm 22. 1, used by Jesus on the cross, are an expression of utter loneliness. No voice of sympathy, no intervention of power, as He put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself, Heb. 9. 26. Yet how eloquent to lost sinners is the work of the cross, 1 Cor. 1. 18.

“Be still, and know that I am God”, Psa. 46. 10, are vital words; though the reverses of life create a tumult within, it is good to sit still in submission, for in acceptance comes peace.