Keeping Quiet

Today's Reading: Habakkuk

But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him! Habakkuk 2: 20 NRSV

In Scouts, the way to get the boys to be quiet is to raise your right hand with your fingers making the Scout sign. You aren't supposed to do anything but that. And you stand there silently while one by one the boys do the same. It might take a while, but once the boys are "trained" to respond, it will only take a moment.

This is easier said than done! I have seen boys with their hand in the air turning to their neighbors and saying "Shh!" or "Be quiet!" I have also seen others continue to talk but with their hand in the air!

In Old Testament times, everyone in the Temple were to be quiet during holy sacrifices. I suppose this was because God wanted their attention and if they were talking to one another, their attention was not on God. Habakkuk says that the time is coming when the entire earth will be quiet during worship. Everyone will have their attention on God, not just those in the Temple!

How quiet have you been around God lately? Have you spent your time with God talking, asking, pleading, requesting or have you spent time listening?

I think sometimes God is standing there with one hand in the air, trying to get us to shut our mouths, trying to get our attention. May we all stand in silence before the Lord!

God, you want our attention. You want us to close our mouths and be silent. May we listen and give you our full attention. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Copyright 2010 Amelia G. Sims