Holy Silence

“But the LORD is in His holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before Him.”

 —Habakkuk 2:20

Have you ever been in the presence of something so holy, so separate, and so amazing that the only appropriate response is silence? I can think of times when silence is called for, such as a groom staring at his bride right before she walks down the aisle, a husband or wife when they discover they are going to be a parent, witnessing a beautiful sunset, a majestic mountain, or the most wonderful solo ever heard. Silence at moments like these is essential, because one cannot bear the noise to intrude on such a moment. Each seems to be a perfect mystery, the moment of awe that comes upon an individual when we realize that there is something to be had and experienced outside of ourselves.

Today’s passage talks about being in the presence of the greatest experience that can ever be known—being in the presence of God. It defies all experiences this earth has to offer—something that our five senses have only heard of. In the Old Testament, God dwelt among His people in the temple. He would come down in His Shekinah glory—a clearly seen cloud that symbolized God’s presence. This cloud would fill the temple of God and no one could enter in because the Holy God was in His temple. It was the time of holy silence, when all would see and know that here was God, the only God, who created everything that was, is, and ever will be. He is the most beautiful, the most awesome, the most wonderful, the greatest being ever—He is the one in the temple, and all the earth should keep silence at such wonder and unbelievable mystery.

Dear brother or sister, if God can create this universe and the myriad of worlds that inhabit it, can He not help you, if you trust in Him? Take some time today to be silent before Him. Meditate upon His grandeur, glory and power, and then entrust yourself to Him, knowing that this great, big God cares about the littlest and most minute details of your life. Amen.