Silence from the Seventh Seal
Today’s passage: Revelation 8:1–5
Focus verse: When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. (Revelation 8:1)
Finally, Jesus breaks the seventh and final seal of Father God’s scroll. At the opening of each of the first six seals, something immediately happened in John’s vision.
Usually this related to judgment for the wicked or justice for the persecuted. What happens with the opening of the seventh seal?
Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Nothing, that is, if we count silence as nothing. But silence before a holy and awe-inspiring God is much more than nothing. It’s a profound form of worship. In fact, it could be the most meaningful display of adoration we can offer.
And with the scroll finally opened before everyone to reveal all, their only response is silence. All of heaven quiets for half an hour in reverent astonishment over the contents of the scroll and the God behind it.
Remember the seven living creatures and the twenty-four elders praising God in song? Recall the angels joining in? And remember the white-robed saints crying out to God in praise?
Silence.
They all go silent for thirty minutes. This doesn’t mean they stop worshiping God. It means they shift their worship from audible praise to silent adoration.
It’s what God deserves. It’s the right response to his intent to judge those who don’t follow him and his plan to usher in a new heaven and a new earth.
There are times—many times perhaps—where the proper response to God is not words or action, but silence. Yet many today squirm at even a few seconds of quiet.
A minute of silence is beyond their ability to endure. And a half-hour exceeds their comprehension.
Yet the psalmist records the Almighty telling us to “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). How often do we do this? Have we ever done it?
Take a moment now to be silent before God, removing all audible distractions and verbal responses. Still your racing mind and quiet your pounding heart before our Creator and Savior.
In this way, you will worship him in a most profound way, without sound or movement.
May he receive our quiet as our highest form of worship.
Questions:
- Do we see silence as a proper way to praise God?
- How do we react when we encounter silence?
- How can we worship God through silence?
- How can we master the art of being still before Almighty God?
- Do we view silence before God as inaction or as an act of worship?
[Discover more about the instruction to be still in Exodus 14:14, Nehemiah 8:11, Psalm 37:7, and Zechariah 2:13.]
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Read more in Peter’s devotional Bible study, A New Heaven and a New Earth: 40 Practical Insights from John’s Book of Revelation.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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