Thoughts for the Day

For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall never be shaken.

How long will you assail a person,
will you batter your victim, all of you,
as you would a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
Their only plan is to bring down a person of prominence.
They take pleasure in falsehood;
they bless with their mouths,
but inwardly they curse.

For God alone my soul waits in silence,
for my hope is from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
On God rests my deliverance and my honour;
my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.

Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

When life is tough we can find it difficult to be still before God. Not still in our body, but still in our mind and in our soul. When we do stop and seek God out, our brains (or our mouths) are full of speech. We batter God with requests and petitions; we tell Him what we want; and we point out what would be best for us and for others!

What is wonderful about Psalm 62 is David's calm assurance that God will save him. The words have all been said, or perhaps no words would come. Indeed he repeats the phrase "For God alone my soul waits in silence" once more, and adds "for my hope is from him". His doubts, if any, are quashed and he is still in body, mind and soul.

In a world where children play games on their tablets and watch television at the same time, and where adults answer two phones while speaking to another person standing in front of them, one particular group of people have developed the use of silence. The Society of Friends (often known as the Quakers) have created worship that is largely composed of silence. Now I'm not suggesting we all do this - certainly, I would miss the Liturgy of our worship, with its wonderful prayers and hymns - but perhaps we could try to find space in our busy lives just to be silent with God, and when everyday life tries to intrude, just gently put those thoughts on one side, and go back to silence. Who knows what God will have to say if we wait in silence for Him to speak.

Almighty God
You have made us to be Your own,
yet all too often we forget You,
and when we do remember You
we are so full of requests and demands
that we are unable to listen to You.
Help us just to be silent sometimes,
and like Elijah wait for the still, small, voice
that is You.
Amen.