Silence is Praise

Silence is praise to you, Zion-dwelling God, And also obedience.
You hear the prayer in it all.
- Psalm 65:1 (The Message)

Don’t make rash promises,
and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God.
After all, God is in heaven,
and you are here on earth.
So let your words be few.
- Ecc 5:2 (New Living Translation)

But the Lord is in his holy Temple.
Let all the earth be silent before him.”
- Hab 2:20 (New Living Translation)

We all arrive at your doorstep sooner or later, loaded with guilt,
Our sins too much for us — but you get rid of them once and for all.
- Psalm 65:2-3 (The Message)

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Whether we are standing, kneeling, or laying prostrate before the Lord
our (physical) posture in prayer can shape the character of our prayers in thanksgiving, humility and reverence.

In our silence, in the presence of the Lord, we cannot remain in his holy presence for long before we are reminded that we are the dust of the earth. Physical posture prepares the way for confession and confession prepares the way of the Lord.

The key to this worship act is confession, not magnification of sin. To confess is to agree with God about what is true, not to wallow in a sea of inescapable depravity. Modern Christianity has made much of the doctrine of the Fall of Humanity and litle of the doctrine of creation. Be reminded worshippers: the original state of creation is blessing and wonder, not sin and curse.
- Adapted from an article by J.D. Walt