A Moment of Silence

Read Psalms 46:1–49:20

1. God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.
2. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.
3. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! . . .
8. Come, see the glorious works of the Lord: See how he brings destruction upon the world.
9. He causes wars to end throughout the earth. He breaks the bow and snaps the spear; he burns the shields with fire.
10. “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”
11. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. Psalm 46:1-3, Psalm 46:8-11.

In metropolitan areas, you might find a sliver of quiet in the early morning hours; to get a taste of true silence, however, you have to go to more rural areas. Have you ever heard the difference? True silence contains no background noise at all. No one is driving by, shouting, or honking, and there is no hum and buzz of a thousand little noises in the distance. There are few places left on earth where you can truly experience silence.

Psalm 46 invites us to sample some silence. Read and consider it, even if you value the hustle and bustle of the big city. Silence allows us to meditate on God’s goodness and the other lessons in this reading, such as his lordship over the whole world (Psalm 47) and his role as our guide and protector (Psalm 48).

God is almighty and all-powerful. Psalm 46 says “God’s voice thunders, and the earth melts” (Psalm 46:6). God has far greater power than even the most powerful forces of nature (Psalm 46:2-3) or of humankind (Psalm 46:6, 9). How fitting, then, for us to show him some respect—to stand quietly before him, reverently honoring him and his power and majesty (Psalm 46:10).

With life’s busyness and burdens weighing us down, why should we take the time to stand still? What is the benefit of being silent before God? Spending time in silence is an opportunity to forget about all of the worldly distractions that keep us from entering into God’s presence. It’s an opportunity to focus on God’s goodness, mercy, might, and power.

Take time each day to experience silence, and use it to ponder the awesome greatness of God. Be still and silent before God so that you can exalt him. Let silence give you the opportunity to worship.