Be Still and Know….

As an elementary teacher I had many experiences. A teacher thrives on silence in the classroom because silence speaks to being in control. One day as the children grew restless and became a bit chaotic, I knew I had lost control. A sweet cherubic girl on the front row suggested, “Why don’t we play the ‘quiet game’?” Astonished that there was such a game, I asked her how the game was played. Her directions were simple, “Tell everyone that we are going to play the quiet game. The one who is quiet the longest wins.”

Needless to say, we tried it immediately. I was pleased when the children quieted down immediately and were ‘in the game mode’.

Learning takes place when there is silence. One of the shortest verses in the Bible continues to be a favorite of mine. Be still and know I am God. Psalm 46:10a.

Perhaps we only note the first two words, “Be Still….” The power of this verse is “and KNOW “. What do we know? That “I am God.”

When I was a child, the choir, the choir often sang in hushed tones …. The LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him. Habbakuk 2:20.

I sensed the presence of God all about me as the choir sang the response to the prayer. That everyone would be silent….we were all hushed, grown-ups, too…this amazed me.

In today’s world, I wonder about the deafening sounds all around us. Volume of music is turned up, the need for white noise to concentrate, the noise brought about the advance of technology and industry in the name of progress.

What was it like in the ‘old days’ when the radio was turned on just for the news, if one owned a radio. When the sounds one heard were the sounds of God’s creation – the wind blowing through the trees, the sound of thunder, the birds on wing leaving a song in the course of their flight, the buzz of bees as they visited the flowers, the crackle of a log on the fire, the mooing of the cow, the neigh of the horse, the clink and clank of dishes in the kitchen. This natural living music can still be heard if we turn down the noise of the world – it is Creation’s noise.

When I was a child, our family enjoyed Pow Wow time in summer time. We retreated to the oasis of our ‘south’ yard at night. Crickets were singing their song. The night-lights of heaven twinkled high above us. Even the chiggers in the grass scarcely moved and forgot to bite. We crossed our legs, and sat in a circle of five. We had a family talk…concerning any family problem that we faced us. Financial, expectations of behavior and needs in an open discussion united us. The night shrouded our faces and the words became lessons. We could ask questions, we could make comments, but we learned the art of ‘coming together’ as a family. We felt the security of knowing that our parents cared about us as individuals.

I picture this time when I hear the words, Be Still and Know That I Am God. We can ask questions, but we have to ‘be still’ to know the answer. We have to Be Still to hear God’s purpose for our lives. We have to Be Still to know how to follow His path.

Recently, in a prayer group, we were asked to be still and listen for the voice of God in our hearts, even as Samuel listened for God’s call. As I tried to focus on God, all I heard was the incessant jangle of previous conversations, music, and a jumble of noise from the television. It was then I realized that it takes effort, concentration and dedication to clear our hearts and minds to hear our God. The static of the world can impede the voice of God in our hearts.

Listening to God equips us with wisdom and knowledge of our Lord – through His Word and through meditation and prayer.

But if not, then listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”
 Job 32:33

Tremble and do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Psalm 4:4

When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Revelation 8:1