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Week 1-Day 2: the Silence of God

December 6, 2017 by Joe Kappel Leave a Comment

“It’s enough to drive a man crazy, it’ll break a man’s faith
It’s enough to make him wonder, if he’s ever been sane
When he’s bleating for comfort from Thy staff and Thy rod
And the Heaven’s only answer is the silence of God”

So sings Andrew Peterson in his song “the Silence of God.”

I’ve listened to that song many times over the years, mostly on repeat on one of Andrew’s albums. I’ve pondered on how times of silence from God can cause any one of us to wonder if we’ve ever been sane. So much can happen in that silence that serves to break us, things from seasons of job loss to the death of loved ones. In those times it seems like God is not there. Or worse, that He doesn’t care.

But I was reminded this past Sunday at church from our lead pastor that “God’s silence is not God’s absence.”

Consider how God broke his silence in Luke 1:5-25 and how that passage informs us about what God does in the silence.

Zechariah was a man who was used to the silence of God:

He served as a priest, ministering in the temple and upholding the law in spite of 400 years of silence with no legitimate prophet speaking from God.

He was also an old man who for years had prayed for a child, but his wife remained barren. Again, he was used to the silence of God.

But God confronted Zechariah that day in the temple with the truth: even though he was silent, he was always present and active.

What did God at last say to break the silence?

In one announcement God spoke into both of Zechariah’s longings:

“…your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son” (Luke 1:13), and “[your son] will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared” (Luke 1:16-17).

How amazing! God once again reveals Himself. And He reveals that in the silence He was setting things in motion. The word we looked at in Malachi earlier in the week as a promise is here fulfilled in the gift of the the baby to Zechariah and Elizabeth. What an amazing, faithful, promise-fulfilling God!

Time escapes here to dwell more on  Zechariah’s silence that ensued due to his unbelief. Please do go to our sermon page and catch Sam Polson’s message and the teaching about how we can respond to God in repentance over our own unbelief.

For now, I hope two things can encourage you:

  1. God often seems silent in our lives, but He is, in truth, actively working in us. He wills to grow us in times when He’s silent, for it is in those times that He tests our faith in what He has already said. Read those promises in the Bible and place your faith in the God who spoke them and will bring them to pass.
  2. Ultimately, God has spoken definitively in His Son. The ultimate news God willed to break the silence is that He would share His dearly-beloved Son. He was coming! John would prepare the way for Him. And oh, what a Savior! Jesus Christ came once, lived a sinless life, died for the sake of sinners, and now lives eternally to intercede for His beloved people: those who have repented and believed in Him but still at times here feel the silence of God.

I’m pretty sure that’s why Andrew Peterson ends his song the way he does:

“And the man of all sorrows, he never forgot
What sorrow is carried by the hearts that he bought
So when the questions dissolve into the silence of God
The aching may remain but the breaking does not
The aching may remain but the breaking does not
In the holy, lonesome echo of the silence of God”

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Advent 2017, Andrew Peterson, article, Christmas, Knoxville TN, West Park Baptist Church

Who are you wearing?

March 3, 2016 by West Park Contributor

red_carpet“Who are you wearing?” is a question made popular by the late Joan Rivers as she interviewed movie stars at various awards ceremonies in Los Angeles. Often, people watching the Oscar Awards will post, “who are you wearing,” on Facebook to see who or what others are wearing as they watch the event. I have to admit, it is amazing to see the gowns and tuxedos Hollywood stars wear as they all turn out in their best for the biggest award night of the year.

Usually I am too busy to watch the Oscars, but I do love to catch a glimpse of the styles and fashion worn this night. In my heart, I know I have chosen a life far different from the red carpet parade. I also realize “Hollywood style” is a bit frivolous and probably meaningless to my everyday life. Who really cares who is wearing who? Aren’t we supposed to be concerned with the heart and not the outward appearance?

Attempting to swing myself back to reality and be a good Christian, I decided to read the Bible to take my mind off frivolous fashion. I looked up “wearing” on biblegateway.com to see what God had to say about clothing, although I was pretty sure I already knew.

Several passages came up: Joseph wearing his colorful robes, kings and queens wearing crowns, soldiers wearing swords.

Hmmm, ok.

I skimmed down the list until I came to James 2:2-3.

Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Not exactly a red carpet event but pretty close. I suddenly felt the question shift in my mind to “who am I wearing?” I don’t want to be “wearing” pride and arrogance and making a display of judging others (EVIL is what God calls it), but I do. More often than I care to admit.

Feelings of guilt and shame began to well up within me so I kept skimming Bible Gateway and found this precious verse.

Galatians 3:27, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have CLOTHED yourselves with Christ. 

Yes, this! Even though my fashionista wannabe heart often sways me in the wrong direction, THIS is what I want people to see.

Christ.

My feelings of guilt changed to gratefulness to God who covers my imperfections with His perfection.

Specifically designed by God for God.

Name brand.

Clothed with wearing Christ.

Who are you wearing?

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: article

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