God's Silence

Day three hundred thirty-six

I attended a seminary in-service meeting last night that was all about seeing Christ in the Old Testament.  When I left I was thinking about how blessed I have been in my life to participate in such training sessions.  I have had some great teachers who have helped me to know the Lord better and to apply His teachings to my life.  For this I am so very grateful and this morning in my prayer I let my Father in Heaven know that. May He always bless the teachers with the power to open our hearts and minds and lead us to Him.

Esther 4-5

Chapter 4 is filled with some great lessons, but one thing that stood out to me was Esther and the people fasting and praying.  I know it seems like the obvious topic to discuss, but I came across a quote in my research that really made me think:

"Like Esther don’t rush into big decisions, and may I be painfully direct? Don’t talk so much! Believers who are maturing not only respect God’s silence, they model it as well.” ~Charles Swindol

Esther is about to put her life on the line to save her people and she is looking for God to help her.  She suggests to Mordecai that she will fast and pray and the Jews should also fast and pray for 3 days.

Can you imagine what it must have been like in the city for those three days?  Amongst the hustle and bustle of daily life you would find the Jews fasting, praying, and listening.  In my mind I can picture the noise of the city contrasted with the quietness of the Jews.  The seriousness of the situation would promote soberness and humility in their prayers.  They were literally fasting and praying to save their lives.

The pressure on Esther must have felt extremely heavy. She would have to listen with great intensity to be guided by the Lord; she would have to model God's silence. 

It is obvious that Esther's time of prayer and fasting paid off.  Because of her time with God she was able to approach the king calmly, wisely, and confidently. Isn't it interesting that she doesn't go before the king and ask for Haman to be killed?  Or for the king to do something to counteract the decree against the Jews?  Instead she realizes there is a sense of timing involved in this.  In fact, even at the banquet she requests one more day. Why?  We are not given the details of the plan that God was giving Esther, we only know what happened as it was playing out.  But the more I think about it I think Esther had a heightened sense of awareness and sensitivity that comes with fasting and praying.  She was working on God's time, not our time.

 We may not be called upon to save an entire people, but there will be times when we find ourselves in a place where we aren't sure what to do. Things may seem hopeless and we may feel helpless, but God will help us if we ask. 

One of my favorite scriptures regarding seeking God in troubled times is found in Psalm 32:6-7:  "For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.  Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance." 

The Lord responds:  "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye." (Psalm 32:7)

He kept this promise with Esther.  He did instruct her and teach her to see things through His eyes in this matter.  It happened because she was willing to model God's silence and intently listen. I believe her story is given to encourage us to do the same.

 There are people in my life who would tell you that I am not always good at the silence part.  It's true.  It has taken me a long time to except the fact that silence doesn't always have to be awkward and therefore interrupted. As a teacher I have had to learn to give my students time to sit in silence and ponder what they are learning.  They need the quiet to listen to the Spirit as he touches their hearts and helps them prepare answers that will touch the hearts of their fellow students. 

I think Esther's story is given to us to encourage us to practice God's silence and to wait on the Lord.  Through her story we see the benefits and blessings that come from such practices.  He is urging us to listen with great sensitivity so we too can receive His instruction and be taught.   It is the promise that He will guide me with His eye that touches my heart.  I need this in my life right now and so I will make an effort to talk less and be silent more.