The Weekly Diner

Dear Week Readers! God’s Peace be with you!

The compassion of our Lord Jesus Christ is very evident as we read through the Holy Bible! This week’s article by our guest author reflects on examples of such. Let’s continue together in reading and prayer as we get closer to Holy Week.

May God Bless your week! John R.



THE SILENCE OF GOD

We often read in the Bible from Genesis through Revelation of God speaking. Everything that was created came about because God spoke. The Bible tells us—God spoke and it was so. Throughout the Bible God either spoke directly to individuals—Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, the Prophets, Mary, Joseph, the Apostles, etc—or he spoke through events, circumstances, signs, and wonders. He speaks both words of judgment and condemnation and words of mercy and forgiveness. God speaks through His written Word.

Most powerfully and clearly, God has spoken through His incarnate Son, Jesus. We who have been called by God are, also, to speak for Him. How grateful we can be that God has called apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to proclaim His Word! The Bible tells us “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Rom. 10:15). All of us are missionaries. May we all be encouraging, supporting, and praying for those especially called to be missionaries carrying the Gospel “to the uttermost parts of the earth.” May God continue to speak through all of these precious brothers and sisters in the Lord!

There are times, though, when God is silent. We ought not to be surprised if God is silent when people continually resist the Lord. After King Saul had been disobedient to the word of the Lord. God was grieved with him, yet Saul sought God’s help in his battle with the Philistines for “…when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets” (1 Sam. 28:5, 6). Saul then turned to using witchcraft for guidance and help. How tragic when God hides himself from us that we would turn to demonic or man-centered methods for help.

But there are times when God is silent when he bears the horrible pain of our sin. This is most powerfully portrayed by the Savior, Himself. The Prophet Isaiah uttered this heart-rending truth: “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7). I cannot help but believe that when our Lord was being so severely and savagely beaten by the Roman scourge, as painful as that was, he uttered not a word.

Then there is a time when God is silent because men’s hearts have become so hard and defiant, no word from the Lord can penetrate. One such time took place at Calvary when our Lord was nailed to the cross. We are probably familiar with what is called “The Seven Words from the Cross.” But in the midst of those words which our Lord spoke, there was silence. It was in connection with the two thieves who were crucified with him “one on the right hand and one on the left” (Mt. 27:38).

The penitent thief who had a fear of God in his heart, but like the “Prodigal Son” had lived a wasted, rebellious life, knew by faith who Jesus truly was and cried out: “…Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom” (Luke 23:42). His cry for mercy touched our Savior’s heart, “and Jesus said unto him, “Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43). This man, though having wasted his whole life, was granted forgiveness and that very day would enter into the world of the righteous dead.
But to the impenitent thief, there was only silence. While mocking Jesus and, at the same time, wanting deliverance from the consequences of his sin, he was truly and tragically forsaken. For him there was no word, only separation from Life, for only in and through Christ is there Life. He is the only door to the Father’s House.

Dear friend, the door of grace is still open! Perhaps God has spoken to you in many ways and at many times. I urge you, let not the voice of the Good Shepherd fall on deaf ears! Today is the day of salvation! Now is the acceptable time! Repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, lest you die in your sins! A solemn reminder comes to us in the hymn—“God calling yet! And shall I give no heed, but still in bondage live? I wait, but He does not forsake, He calls me still, My heart awake!” Jesus is tenderly calling today. He is calling, “Come Home, come Home!”