On Being Quiet

         Words can cut like knives when spoken in anger and about something you probably don't know anything about. I would say that for the most part I was a fairly obedient child and teen and usually did what my parents told me to do. I chose not to question their decisions but there were some times when I was told to be quiet. It was usually when I was speaking about something I didn't know about and for the most part didn't concern me anyway. There was one time when my mother prevented me from talking. I was the president of the student council in my senior year and arrived at school one morning to find the entire student body outside of the school. It was a “strike” against the principal. Reporters were there and were heading in my direction when all of a sudden, Mom appeared out of nowhere, took me by the arm and escorted me promptly across the street to a friends house where we waited. She prevented me from saying anything that might get me in trouble. Job 38:1-3 says, “Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.” 

          The first 37 chapters tell the story of Job, his troubles, his losses of everything he had and the dialogue between himself and his three friends. The quartet seemed to explore every avenue of reason for Job's problem but could not come up with a satisfying answer. Job 38 begins with God saying to Job, “Be quiet and sit down.” That is a loose paraphrase. Job was coming up with a poor excuse of a counsel about something he knew nothing about. Then, God stepped in and said the above words that must have shook him by the shoulders. Job 38 and 39 go on to reveal some of the hidden things of creation. There are many profound statements in this section of Scripture that are not revealed in any other portion. Considering that this is probably the earliest book ever written from the Bible, they are indeed profound statements. God speaks about the wonder of planets that should fly apart but remain together. God speaks about some of the wonders of the animal kingdom. What is important here is that there are many things in this life that we don't know. Obviously, we are all lacking in infinite knowledge as that is only possible with God Himself. That, however, often does not stop us from voicing our opinion about something that we know very little about and in some case, know nothing about it at all. That is when we should keep our spiritual ears open as God may soon be saying, “Sit down and be quiet.” One thing we do know for sure is that God has given us plenty to satisfy our thirst for information by giving us a copy of His Word. If you really want to know something, spend some time in His Word. You will receive great wonders that will literally blow your mind. Praise God today for His Word, the Bible.