Silent Adulation
"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!"—Psalm 46:10 (ESV)
Music is one of the most powerful forces in the world. Songs can evoke such a vast array of emotion, such as patriotism, sorrow, love, joy, and faith. Some songs produce a desire to sing; dance, or shout, while others evoke a desire to loved and be loved. Some songs make us cry; others make us dream. There are still other songs that create deep longings that stir within our souls. And then there are the songs that cause everyone to be silent and listen.
Our passage for today is taken from Psalm 46. One of the unique characteristics of the Psalms is that they are poetry, lyrics of praise unto God oftentimes sung by the Psalmist, a choir, or corporately, as a worshiping body. The introduction of this Psalm reveals that it is a song. The most striking thing about this song is the response it seeks to elicit in the listener. With the power of music and the power of the voice, the Psalmist advocates the unthinkable…silence. It is a silence evoked by the power of God’s song. God’s music is so powerful, so grand, and so sweet to the ear that the soul is caught up in a spirit of ecstatic and overwhelming adoration.
The song of salvation moves throughout scripture, from the Old Testament to the New, from creation to the cross. The song of salvation reveals the insatiable longing of creation for its Creator. All creation longs for redemption and groans under the weight of our first parents’ decision to eat of the forbidden fruit. The host of heaven is quiet as the Divine Maestro approaches the podium of man’s mortality. Picking up the baton of humility, the divine symphony begins, not in the highest heavens, but in the lowly stable. The sweet melody starts with a baby’s cry, the melody rising and falling with each coo and sigh. The beasts of burden take up the infant’s cry, breaking the tranquil hush of heaven’s sigh. In the silent black of night, shepherds hear love’s greatest delight, as angels step to the stage of the Maestro’s story, resounding in praise at the heavenly glory! God’s symphony has now begun!
In the shadows of night, the Maestro cues the angels. In a breath of beaming light, the night sky lights up, giving the shepherds a front row view of God’s choir. Angelic voices echo through the land, floating on ears used to sheep groaning. God’s symphony must resound to all of creation; no one is exempt. The divine symphony continues on. The star appears in the sky, as if it were a single solitary note hanging for all to hear, evoking tears of wonder and bewilderment at the magnificent plan and song of God.
The divine symphony began in a stable, as if by mistake. A pulse of music, deftly floating into the cool air, together with angelic voices, united in the choral arrangement of hushed hope; shatter the silence of the night sky. The life, the one to come, is now here. God has come near His creation. His Son has been born!
The divine song floats from the manger of youth to the footsteps of adulthood. For 33 years the song hung in a weary and desert land, through a carpenter’s voice and touch. For three years, twelve men heard the song day after day.
The song of salvation fades into His eternality as it moves to Calvary. On the cross, hanging there unwavering is the divine one crucified. Man weeps. Heaven is silent. Death has won. But then there is…the unthinkable…the incomprehensible…the undeniable. Resurrection. Man shouts and heaven rejoices! No longer left in the realm of past sinful choices, we are freed! Death has been undone! Salvation is now made available to all creation as those made in flesh rejoice at the sensation of participating in God’s eternality, blessed to live and be found in His blessed Divinity! Partnering now with all of creation in a symphony of praise. The mystery of the ages, stirs the emotion of silent adoration. We pause. We hear each note, carried along by each measure, overwhelmed by each movement of the song. Overcome, we are…silent.
O God, You are the one who has created us for worship, to fall at Your feet in rapturous praise! You have created such beauty that man is silent before You. The song of praise that overflows from our hearts exalts Your glorious name! As we are still, we know that You alone are God. You alone have created the heavens. You alone have created beauty, for You are beautiful. May we behold Your creation as at the beginning of time. May we see Jesus all over again, crucified before the foundation of the world! And may we with listening ears hear the song of salvation anew. May the song of love nailed to Calvary’s tree echo throughout time and creation, stopping every mouth by its immensity. May creation look unto You in silent wonder and praise. And may our silence resound across the universe in a cacophony of adulation unto Your great name, as the song of Your love echoes throughout the universe from the throne room of heaven! Amen.
I will be exalted in the earth!"—Psalm 46:10 (ESV)
Music is one of the most powerful forces in the world. Songs can evoke such a vast array of emotion, such as patriotism, sorrow, love, joy, and faith. Some songs produce a desire to sing; dance, or shout, while others evoke a desire to loved and be loved. Some songs make us cry; others make us dream. There are still other songs that create deep longings that stir within our souls. And then there are the songs that cause everyone to be silent and listen.
Our passage for today is taken from Psalm 46. One of the unique characteristics of the Psalms is that they are poetry, lyrics of praise unto God oftentimes sung by the Psalmist, a choir, or corporately, as a worshiping body. The introduction of this Psalm reveals that it is a song. The most striking thing about this song is the response it seeks to elicit in the listener. With the power of music and the power of the voice, the Psalmist advocates the unthinkable…silence. It is a silence evoked by the power of God’s song. God’s music is so powerful, so grand, and so sweet to the ear that the soul is caught up in a spirit of ecstatic and overwhelming adoration.
The song of salvation moves throughout scripture, from the Old Testament to the New, from creation to the cross. The song of salvation reveals the insatiable longing of creation for its Creator. All creation longs for redemption and groans under the weight of our first parents’ decision to eat of the forbidden fruit. The host of heaven is quiet as the Divine Maestro approaches the podium of man’s mortality. Picking up the baton of humility, the divine symphony begins, not in the highest heavens, but in the lowly stable. The sweet melody starts with a baby’s cry, the melody rising and falling with each coo and sigh. The beasts of burden take up the infant’s cry, breaking the tranquil hush of heaven’s sigh. In the silent black of night, shepherds hear love’s greatest delight, as angels step to the stage of the Maestro’s story, resounding in praise at the heavenly glory! God’s symphony has now begun!
In the shadows of night, the Maestro cues the angels. In a breath of beaming light, the night sky lights up, giving the shepherds a front row view of God’s choir. Angelic voices echo through the land, floating on ears used to sheep groaning. God’s symphony must resound to all of creation; no one is exempt. The divine symphony continues on. The star appears in the sky, as if it were a single solitary note hanging for all to hear, evoking tears of wonder and bewilderment at the magnificent plan and song of God.
The divine symphony began in a stable, as if by mistake. A pulse of music, deftly floating into the cool air, together with angelic voices, united in the choral arrangement of hushed hope; shatter the silence of the night sky. The life, the one to come, is now here. God has come near His creation. His Son has been born!
The divine song floats from the manger of youth to the footsteps of adulthood. For 33 years the song hung in a weary and desert land, through a carpenter’s voice and touch. For three years, twelve men heard the song day after day.
The song of salvation fades into His eternality as it moves to Calvary. On the cross, hanging there unwavering is the divine one crucified. Man weeps. Heaven is silent. Death has won. But then there is…the unthinkable…the incomprehensible…the undeniable. Resurrection. Man shouts and heaven rejoices! No longer left in the realm of past sinful choices, we are freed! Death has been undone! Salvation is now made available to all creation as those made in flesh rejoice at the sensation of participating in God’s eternality, blessed to live and be found in His blessed Divinity! Partnering now with all of creation in a symphony of praise. The mystery of the ages, stirs the emotion of silent adoration. We pause. We hear each note, carried along by each measure, overwhelmed by each movement of the song. Overcome, we are…silent.
O God, You are the one who has created us for worship, to fall at Your feet in rapturous praise! You have created such beauty that man is silent before You. The song of praise that overflows from our hearts exalts Your glorious name! As we are still, we know that You alone are God. You alone have created the heavens. You alone have created beauty, for You are beautiful. May we behold Your creation as at the beginning of time. May we see Jesus all over again, crucified before the foundation of the world! And may we with listening ears hear the song of salvation anew. May the song of love nailed to Calvary’s tree echo throughout time and creation, stopping every mouth by its immensity. May creation look unto You in silent wonder and praise. And may our silence resound across the universe in a cacophony of adulation unto Your great name, as the song of Your love echoes throughout the universe from the throne room of heaven! Amen.
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