The Sound of Silence

Posted On October 2, 2023

“Do not remain silent.
O Lord, do not be so far away from me.”

Psalm 35:22 GW

“For 400 years after Malachi’s prophecies, no prophets or leaders rose to the level of inclusion in the record of Holy Scripture. For this reason, the period is sometimes referred to as the ‘silent years.'”

The Story

What do we do when God seems silent? That’s where we find ourselves this week: in the silent years between the Old and New Testaments. As I considered my plan for this week’s post, I considered jumping directly to the next chapter in The Story, which begins our journey into the Gospels. But then I changed my mind. Sometimes, it’s good to sit in silence for a bit in order to prepare for what’s to come . . .

Our plan for 2023 is to journey through The NeverEnding Story of the Bible and discover how we fit into it along the way. Our plan for this year is loosely based on The Story, an abridged chronological version of the Bible, and the accompanying study guide The Heart of the Story by Randy Frazee.

Here is where we are in The Story:

Last week we completed MOVEMENT TWO: The Story of Israel (Genesis 12-Malachi). Next week we will begin MOVEMENT THREE: The Story of Jesus (Matthew-John). This week, I thought it would be worth spending some time in the silence before the next part of God’s dramatic story begins. Because we often find ourselves here, don’t we? It seems we live much of our lives in an awkward in-between space, grateful for what God has already said, but longing for what He will say next. And as we wait, we can become restless. But sometimes the silence is a necessary prelude to what follows.

“One of the most played pieces of classical music is Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C minor. It’s immediately recognizable because of its iconic opening, a four-note motif that is among the most famous in Western music. But did you know that it actually begins with silence? Beethoven inserted an eighth rest before the first note.”

Mark Batterson, Whisper

The eighth rest that Mark Batterson described is circled in red in the image above, which is a clipping from the first page of the musical score. In case you’d like a refresher on what it sounds like, here’s a video of the first forty seconds of Beethoven’s 5th symphony:

“It’s silence that helps us hear God’s voice and sing His song.”

Mark Batterson, Whisper

Such beautiful music comes after that eighth rest that we hardly notice the pause. But without it, the music wouldn’t be quite so stirring. Just like a dramatic intake of breath before something exciting happens, that rest grabs our attention! And it promises something worth listening to will follow. The brief silence prepares us to hear and appreciate the masterpiece the composer has in store for us.

“And although it’s difficult to discern Beethoven’s original intent, that eighth rest served as a sonic buffer. At the beginning of a concert there is ambient noise: conversations between concertgoers, a few stragglers finding their seats, the rustling of programs. A bit of silence at the beginning of a symphony is ear cleaning, even if it’s only an eighth rest. It was silence that set up that symphony, and the same is true of our lives.”

Mark Batterson, Whisper

“Quiet is a spiritual discipline in and of itself. A millennium and a half ago, the African theologian Saint Augustine said entering silence is ‘entering into joy.'”

John Mark Comer, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry

In our fast-paced world, we often have trouble with silence. It can be awkward and uncomfortable. We don’t understand why God won’t just talk to us! But God always has a purpose for everything, including times of silence. And part of the journey of faith is to learn to trust Him even when we can’t hear Him.

There could be several reasons God seems silent. Maybe we’re not yet ready to hear what He has to tell us. We could be in a period of growth, developing the faith and character that will be necessary to take the next step in our journey. Or maybe it’s a matter of timing. God is always working for our good and His glory, in ways beyond our understanding. And often that work takes place in the background, imperceptible to us until the time is right. There may be many pieces that need to be put in place before we get further instructions.

“There is a kairos moment (perfect timing) for all things.”

James W. Goll, The Beginner’s Guide to Hearing God

One more possibility is that God is speaking to us, but we can’t hear Him because there is so much other noise around us. Learning to hear God takes discipline and patience. But even more than that, it takes silence. It often requires us to lean in close to Him to discern His voice. And that’s the point. God’s purpose in speaking isn’t necessarily to impart information, but to draw us near.

“Silence is anything but passive waiting. It’s proactive listening. The noted author and professor Henri Nouwen believed that silence was an act of war against the competing voices within us. And that war isn’t easily won, because it’s a daily battle. But each day God’s voice gets a little louder in our lives until He’s all we can hear. . . . If you want to hear the heart of God, silence is the key.”

Mark Batterson, Whisper

So, when we find ourselves in a period of silence from God, let’s make it a point to embrace a period of silence in ourselves. Maybe we have some growing to do. Maybe we must wait for His timing. Or maybe we just can’t hear Him because we aren’t listening. No matter the reason for the silence, we can rest assured that it won’t last forever. And it may be preparing us for something wonderful to come!

“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

This week’s Scripture passages remind us that there is a time for quiet and stillness. As Simon and Garfunkel’s song laments, we often don’t like the sound of silence, because we long for connection. But as we learn to quiet our own voices and wait patiently before the Lord, we may discover something beautiful in the stillness. We may learn to connect in new ways to God, to ourselves, and even to each other.

And as Beethoven’s symphony shows us, sometimes we must experience a brief rest before the masterpiece can begin. After the Old Testament ended, God was silent for 400 years — as if to get our attention. As if to prepare us. As if to say, “Just wait and see what comes next!”

“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.”

Psalm 62:5 ESV

References:

• Batterson, Mark. Whisper: How to Hear the Voice of God. Multnomah, 2017.
• Comer, John Mark. The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. Waterbrook, 2019.
• “Forty Seconds of Beethoven’s 5th.” YouTube, uploaded by Australian Chamber Orchestra, 2 May 2008, https://youtu.be/W6QFIqMZcYw?si=ZOvlyuaTv6BONs9X.
• Frazee, Randy.  The Heart of the Story: Discover Your Life Within the Grand Epic of God’s Story. Zondervan, 2017.
• Goll, James W. The Beginner’s Guide to Hearing God. Regal from Gospel Light, 2008.
• “Simon & Garfunkel – The Sound of Silence (Lyrics) Acoustic Version.” YouTube, uploaded by Arc, 16 February 2022, https://youtu.be/5_BAXI6aO5g?si=PKAiibFAP-tJSJ3b.
• The Story: Read the Bible as One Seamless Story from Beginning to End. Rev. ed., Zondervan, 2008.

Images:

• Starry Sky featured image by PayPal.me/FelixMittermeier from Pixabay
• Mountains and Night Sky image by Pfüderi from Pixabay
• Sheet Music image taken from “Sheet music – Beethoven Symphony No. 5, Mvt. I (HD).” YouTube, uploaded by noteZilla, 13 August 2013, https://youtu.be/NWEVKyEwi4A?si=XcZh4SQ7nkLZA7Uo.
• Aurora Borealis image by Noel Bauza from Pixabay
• Starry Sky background image by James Wheeler from Pixabay
• Winter Landscape image by kien virak from Pixabay