Week 23: Silent praise

A meditation on Psalm 65 and God's goodness.

Author's note: Over the past several posts, we have been covering some difficult topics and reading through some psalms that discuss struggles, sin, and judgement. My spirit needed some joy! So for this week, we are skipping ahead to Psalm 65 to remind ourselves of God's faithful presence, power, and provision in our lives. I was anticipating that this psalm would have me singing a loud song of praise! But as you will see, that wasn't the case . . .

If you have ever climbed a steep trail to a mountaintop vista or hiked deep into the woods in search of a hidden waterfall, then you know the feeling of awe at the first sighting of your objective. There is a sudden hush of reverence that descends as you take in the beauty of God's creation. No words are needed because no words are adequate: silence is the only appropriate response.

King David understood this quiet reverence, as well. He began the first verse of Psalm 65 with these words: "There will be silence before You, and praise in Zion . . ." (NASB). In the original Hebrew, these words literally say, "To You, praise is silence" (Wiersbe, 2009). Think about that for just a moment . . .

To You, praise is silence.

In our contemporary culture where we equate praise with a group of believers lifting voices together in song, and where the experience of silence in daily life is rare, the idea of silent praise is surprising. How are we supposed to praise without using our voices and words? Silent praise seems like a contradiction in terms.

However, the concept appears in other places in scripture: In Exodus 14, the people of Israel had just made it out of Egypt when God directed them to camp in a location where they could easily be pinned against the Red Sea by Pharaoh's pursuing army. Predictably, the people began to complain to Moses, "Did you bring us out here just to be killed? You should have left us as slaves in Egypt so at least we would live!" But Moses replies,

Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will perform for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again, ever. The LORD will fight for you, while you keep silent. (Exodus 14:13-14, NASB)

Friend, I can relate to the Israelite people's concerns. Here I am in midlife, more years behind me than ahead, and life can still seem like an impossible riddle. I really expected to have it all figured out by now and just smoothly sail into my elder years watching my grandkids grow up. But that's not where I'm at. Instead, God still asks me to make hard decisions, complete toilsome tasks, and serve in some unwelcoming environments. Like the people of Israel, backs against the impassable sea, I often feel as if midlife is that narrow space between the proverbial rock and hard place. There's no obvious path to the ease I expected to find here. Which is exactly where Exodus 14:14 comes in: "The LORD will fight for you, while you keep silent."

When my prayers turn to whining, and my concerns start sounding like complaints, the best way for me to praise God is to stop talking and wait for Him to fight for me. What does that look like? For me, it means doing the next right thing on my list, and letting God worry about the outcome. Or completing the mundane task I've been putting off, and trusting God to make it meaningful as an act of obedience to Him. Or stepping into an uncomfortable situation even if I'm afraid of rejection because I know that's what God is calling me to do. Or it means just sitting silently in awe and appreciation of who He is without asking Him for anything. Because in God, I already have all I need.

Of course, we know how the account in Exodus ends: Moses leads God's people through the Red Sea on dry ground, but Pharaoh's army is destroyed as God releases the restrained waters upon them. Consequently, why should I expect anything short of victory if I let God fight for me?

The expectation that God will carry us through all the dangers, toils, and snares is exactly the point David is making in Psalm 65. After opening with an appeal for silent praise, he lists the attributes of God's faithfulness, starting with the blessing of His presence, continuing with a description of His power, and finishing with a beautiful protrayal of God's abundant provision. Read it slowly. Stand back and enjoy the view--Psalm 65 allows us to survey who God is and how He provides for us. As I read it, I feel the same thing I do at the top of a high mountain, taking in the wonders of creation after a strenous hike to the summit: silent, awestruck praise.

Readings and Reflection Questions

Monday's reading: Psalm 65

Read through this psalm, listing all the attributes and actions that describe who God is. Sit in silence, meditating on God's greatness. What is He saying to your heart?

Tuesday's reading: Exodus 14

Revisit the account of the Israelites passing through the Red Sea. In what aspects of your life are you lacking faith like the Israelites? In what aspects are you leading faithfully like Moses? How does this passage encourage you to live with more faith in God?

Wednesday's reading: Joshua 6:1-16

Here's another Old Testament account where the people of Israel were asked to be silent. Why do you think God asked them to be quiet until the opportune time? What was the improbable outcome of the people's obedience in silently walking where God and Joshua led? How have you seen God work like this in your own life?

Thursday's reading:  Psalm 119:89-96

This portion of Psalm 119 talks about the power and faithfulness of God in creation throughout all generations. How is God's Word entwined in the created order? How might you incorporate more silent meditation on God's Word into your life as an act of praise?

Friday's reading: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

In this passage, Solomon gives us instructions on the proper attitude for approaching God. What are the principles Solomon is teaching? Why does Solomon advocate for such caution and reverence in what we say to the Lord?

Weekend reading:  Psalm 99

This psalm describes the power and holiness of God. What responses should people have to God's holy and awesome presence according to this psalm?

Sources:

Wiersbe, W. W. (2009). Be Worshiful (Psalms 1-89): Glorifying God for Who He is. Amazon Kindle, retrieved from https://www.amazon.com/dp/1434767396/?bestFormat=true&k=be%20worshipful%20by%20warren%20wiersbe&ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-pd-bk-d_de_k1_1_13&crid=19QT13X4R575T&sprefix=be%20worshipful