We are a nation of noise. Quietness has given way to constant sound. There is rarely a moment from the time we get up until bedtime that is not filled with some sort of media clatter. We turn on the television when we walk in the door, the radio when we get in the car, and our earphones when we head outside. These aren’t all bad things, but I do wonder if we have lost something profound by flooding our souls with constant noise.
The wisdom writer seems to share the same concern. He writes that there is “…a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;” – Ecclesiastes 3:7b
There are many places in the Bible that talk about how we are to speak. Rarely, though, does God’s Word have to tell us to talk more. The opposite, however, is definitely true. Repeatedly, the Bible tells us about the necessity and wisdom of being quiet. Shhh. Let’s be silent, and listen.
“Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.” – Ecclesiastes 5:1-2
“Be still, and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10a
“A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.” – Proverbs 29:11
My Jesus Resolution today is to be like Job. There is a moment in Job 40:4 when Job finally understands that the best thing for him to do is to put his hand over his mouth and be quiet. My soul needs to hear the full resonance of God’s glory. My imagination needs time to stretch out into the expanses of His promises. My heart needs the opportunity to absorb the richness of His grace. Quietness helps me be small. Stillness encourages humility. It reminds me that the world is big, and God is bigger. Shhhhh…
Casandra Martin 
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