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Are We Silent?
By David Havir III
Do you ever ask the question why is God silent? He private. I mean, this Scripture tells us to! But is that the
spoke directly to individuals in Biblical times but I dont point of the verse?
see a lot, if any, of that happening today. Ron Darts Additionally, in the Scripture Spotlight on the first
article in this newsletter addresses this topic. But I page, we highlighted verses nine through 13, or the
have a related question that I want to ask: are we Model Prayer. Many churches preach that this is exactly
silent? how you should pray. And its pretty easy to back up
Its easy to point the finger at others, including that claim. I mean, they are using the words of our
God, when things arent going our way. Its human Savior. But is that the right approach? Or is there more
nature to look outwardly instead of inwardly. We need to the story?
to combat that nature. Instead of focusing on the way Based on examples in the Bible, I think this is just
God communicates with us, lets take some time to the basis to start from. I think that God wants us to have
focus on the way we communicate with Him. How a dialogue with Him. Yes, He knows our thoughts and
often do we pray? And, if we are praying, what kind of our wishes, but He wants us to tell Him. If all we do is
prayers or communication do we have with Him? recite the words from Matthew 6, is that a relationship
Lets start with the words of Jesus concerning the with him? Or, can the eloquent words of Jesus be
model prayer: And when you pray, you shall not be like turned into vain repetition?
the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the I gave a sermon recently about going through the
synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they motions. I confessed in that sermon that it is easy for my
may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have mind to wander while I pray during services, especially if
their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, I pray on a day that I am giving a sermon. It is easy to
and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father start planning ahead and not be focused on what I am
who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in doing. Is that really a prayer? Am I really even talking to
secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do God at that point? Or, am I just standing in a synagogue
not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think like the hypocrites?
that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore One major theme in the New Testament is about
do not be like them. For your Father knows the things having a personal relationship with God. Thats why
you have need of before you ask Him. (Matthew 6:5- prayer is so important. It isnt about God being a genie
8, NKJV). in a bottle who grants wishes. That relationship must be
When I was a child, I used to think that just ending based on us communicating our thoughts, our feelings,
a prayer with amen wasnt enough. It felt like I and our fears. The conversations with God in the psalms
needed more. I remember when I first read this verse. arent rote. They are heartfelt and passionate. They are
Sometimes, things jump off the page as if they were respectful, but they sometimes express uncertainty as to
specifically written for you. This passage, coupled with Gods plan. And I think that is okay. I want to be careful
the passage in Chapter 5 about your yes being yes about speaking for God, but it isnt too much of a leap
and your no being no, really struck a chord with to think that God is okay with it too. Otherwise, I dont
me personally. We dont need all the extra verbiage. think they would be included in the Bible.
Our word is supposed to mean something, in everyday As with most things, I think the answer here is to
life as well as in prayer. evaluate ourselves. We need to make sure that we are
Do you think this passage forbids praying in public? doing what we are supposed to be doing. God will
Most people would say no because we still pray in our express Himself the way He sees fit. And He expects
churches. But I have a confession. When I was younger, I us to express ourselves to Him in the manner that He
took this passage out of context. When I would see a has commanded, because He honestly wants a real
family praying over their meal at a restaurant, there was a relationship with each and every one of us. And that
part of me that felt that they should be doing that in relationship is forged through prayer!
page 4
Why Is God Silent? between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that
continued from page 1 . . . those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor
we ask for God not to be silent, we ought to think: can those from there pass to us. Then he said, I beg
wait, do I really want to hear what He has to say? The you therefore, father, that you would send him to my
thing about David and other kings of Israel is that they fathers house, for I have five brothers, that he may
had recognized and reputable prophets to speak for testify to them, lest they also come to this place of
God. The Bible was being written in their day, so they torment. Abraham said to him, They have Moses and
needed that kind of thing. It seemed odd to me when I the prophets; let them hear them. (Luke 16:25-29,
thought about David, who was a man after Gods own NKJV).
heart, that God never spoke to him personally. God What an incredible statement he just made!
spoke to him through a prophet at all times. When He Continuing in verse 30, And he said, No, father
did speak, David might have wished He hadnt, Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they
because God doesnt see any need to speak to us when will repent. (Luke 16:30, NKJV).
we are doing well. I have often said this. If you see a Abrahams reply is just devastating. But he said to
prophet walking down the road to your house, it is bad him, If they do not hear Moses and the prophets,
news. God doesnt send a prophet to pat you on the neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the
head and say, Oh, what a good boy you are. You are dead. (Luke 16:31, NKJV).
doing so well. When we are doing well, God just I suppose we should take away from this parable a
looks at us and says we are doing what we are simple truth. God has already spoken to us. If we
supposed to do. So, our task is to just keep on keeping wont listen to the written testimony, God speaking to
on. Another thing they did not have was the us, walking into our bedroom, appearing in an
comprehensive Bible that we all have in hand today. If apparition above our bed or in our closet or wherever
we call out to God, Why are You silent to us? as it may be is pointless. If you dont listen, you dont
David did, He is apt to reply I already spoke. Read listen. We also, living in our generation, have an even
the Bible. It calls to mind one of Jesuss parables. The more sure testimony than anything they had until Jesus
one of Lazarus and the rich man. You may remember came on the scene. The writer of Hebrews started his
it. He said, There was a certain rich man who was book this way: God, who at various times and in
clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the
every day. But there was a certain beggar named prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His
Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things,
desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the through whom also He made the worlds. (Hebrews
rich mans table. Moreover the dogs came and licked 1:1-2, NKJV).
his sores. So it was that the beggar died, and was We not only have Moses and the prophets, we have
carried by the angels to Abrahams bosom. The rich the Words of Jesus recorded by Matthew, Mark, Luke,
man also died and was buried. And being in torments and John. If a person wont listen to these, why would
in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar we think that God should speak to us and that we
off, and Lazarus is his bosom. Then he cried and said, would listen to Him if He spoke? Actually, the
Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus testimony in the Bible says we wouldnt. Peter wrote in
that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool his second letter: For we did not follow cunningly
my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.(Luke devised fables when we made known to you the power
16:19-24, NKJV). and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were
This was what the Pharisees believed was out eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God
there. So, Jesus used this to make His point. the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to
Continuing in verse 25, But Abraham said, Son, Him from the Excellent Glory: This is My beloved Son,
remember that in your lifetime you received your good in whom I am well pleased. And we heard this voice
things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is which came from heaven when we were with Him on
comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, the holy mountain. And so we have the prophetic word
continued on page 6. . .
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