Drop your weapons ∙∙

Drop your weapons ∙∙

Be still and know that I am God. – Psalms 46:10

1 Kings 19:11-13

 11 “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the LORD told him. And as Elijah stood there, the LORD passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.

 12 And after the earthquake, there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire, there was the sound of a gentle whisper.

 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Active listening goes beyond mere hearing; it entails complete concentration on the speaker’s words. It’s easy to hear without truly listening. Active listening shifts our focus from one’s own thoughts to the speaker’s words and ideas, offering them our undivided attention. The aim is to understand and remember what is said. Then, respond and act appropriately based on what has been communicated.

How frequently do the children of the King actively seek to hear their Father’s voice? And when we do desire to listen, what are our expectations? Regrettably, for many, very little communication actually takes place, and we hear nothing. Which results in a lack of divine guidance. How does the Father speak and communicate with us?

“Only in the rarest of circumstances, and then usually in judgment, does God display His glory in blinding flashes impossible to ignore. Most of the time, we meet Him in the quietness of our hearts” (Stanley).

Psalms 46:10 Be still and know that I am God.

The Hebrew word translated as “be still”or “cease striving” is raphah. Raphah means to slacken, relax, decline, drop, let go, refrain, and cease (NIDOTTE). We might say in modern colloquial English, “cool it”or “loosen up.”

Raphah could well be translated as stop fighting, cease, be inactive, desist, do nothing, or“drop your weapons”(UBS). The traditional Be still is widely misunderstood as a command to be reverent and meditate on the blessings you have received (UBS).

The Hebrew word translated as “know” is yada. Yada has the sense to acknowledge, recognize, admit, and confess. The phrase, “Know that I am God” can sometimes be translated as “learn that I am God” or “see that I am God.”

The Father desires that each child of the King learn to hear Him when He whispers.

1 Kings 19:12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire, there was the sound of a gentle whisper.

Gentle whisper has been translated in various ways: gentle blowing, low whisper, soft whisper, and a still small voice.

 

REFLECT & PRAY

Quietness is a critical element in the art of listening. When our lives often seem too hectic to pause in quiet contemplation before Him. Our minds are consumed with daily worries and distractions, or when we are overwhelmed by worldly noise and idle talk for extended periods, we may struggle to tune in to that still, small voice of God (Stanley).

Father, empower me to cultivate and sustain a mindset of active listening in Your presence. I long to discern even the softest whispers from You.

 

INSIGHT

Elijah had been through a great deal of stress. He was discouraged and wanted to give up. Fleeing for his life, he found himself in seclusion, overwhelmed by despair. But the Father was gracious as always; He knew precisely what Elijah needed.

Elijah required a fresh revelation of God’s power and glory to be rejuvenated for his service. Initially, the Lord sent a mighty wind that shattered rocks and shook the mountain, yet it did not convey a divine message to the prophet. Subsequently, an earthquake rattled the mount, but it, too, did not bring forth any word from God. Finally, a fire blazed, yet even this did not communicate a message from the Lord.

What was the purpose behind these awe-inspiring and sobering demonstrations in Elijah’s life? First, God intended to remind His servant that all aspects of nature obey Him (Psalms 148), from the wind to the very foundations of the earth and the fire.

The wind, earthquake, and fire have historically served as means through which the Lord has revealed Himself to humanity. The pagan nations may have revered these phenomena as displays of natural power. However, the nation of Israel worshipped the Father who created nature (Judges 5:4-5, Psalms 18:16-18, Habakkuk 3).

Following these grand exhibitions of power, a “still, small voice” was heard. When Elijah listened to this gentle whisper, he finally emerged from his seclusion in the cave and encountered the Lord. The previous displays of might and noise failed to impact Elijah. However, when he heard the still, small voice, he recognized the Father’s voice.

The Father spoke to Elijah, “You called fire from heaven, you had the prophets of Baal slain, and you prayed down a terrific rainstorm, but now you feel like a failure. But you must realize that I don’t usually work in a manner that’s loud, impressive, and dramatic. My still, small voice brings the Word to the listening ear and heart. Yes, there’s a time and place for the wind, the earthquake, and the fire, but most of the time, I speak to people in tones of gentle love and quiet persuasion” (Wiersbe).

In an era marked by massive concert gatherings, loud music, and over-the-top promotions, it can be challenging for some to grasp that the Father seldom works through grandiose displays.

Rather than using grandiose PR and dramatic forms of communication, “‘You called fire from heaven, you had the prophets of Baal slain, and you prayed down a terrific rainstorm, but now you feel like a failure. But you must realize that I don’t usually work in a manner that’s loud, impressive, and dramatic. My still, small voice brings the Word to the listening ear and heart. Yes, there’s a time and place for the wind, the earthquake, and the fire, but most of the time, I speak to people in tones of gentle love and quiet persuasion (2 Corinthians 4:7)” (Wiersbe)

Dr. J. Oswald Sanders states that “the whispers from Calvary are infinitely more potent than the thunder of Sinai in bringing men to repentance.”

When you seek to hear from the Father, what are your expectations?

Set aside times to “wait upon the Lord” in silence. You may find that late night or early morning is a good time of solitude and quiet. A noonday walk in the park may be a time when you can quiet your soul before the Lord. Ask the Lord to reveal to you a time and a place where you might turn off the cares and worries of the world for a few moments and listen to Him.

So often, we spend our prayer time talking to the Lord without spending any time just waiting in silence to see what the Lord might have to say to us. Take time to be in silence before the Lord intentionally. Empty your mind of all other thoughts. Concentrate on His Word and His presence with you. Ask Him to speak to you (Stanley).

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© Dr. H 2024