WHEN SILENCE KNEELS
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if only you would hear his voice…
Psalm 95:6-7 (NIV)
There are seven Hebrew words in the Old Testament for worship, each revealing a distinct aspect or expression of it. The one we’ll consider today is barak, defined in Jewish tradition as: kneeling, showing reverence, a quiet bowing in awe before God.
We live in a world of noise. That’s not big news to any of us, I’m sure. Today’s Scripture is an invitation to press beyond the noise to a time of quiet reverence before God. A call to stop and realize that we are the flock under His care. For this, kneeling is required. When we kneel, we stop moving. When we kneel, we put ourselves in a posture of dependence, bowing to someone greater than us.
I used to work on construction sites. It usually didn’t hit me until the end of the day, but construction sites are loud. Very loud. I couldn’t have described it this way at the time, but I remember a constant ringing in my ears and a jolting in my body. Jackhammers pounding relentlessly. The engines of bulldozers and cranes rumbling on and on and on. Metal clanging against metal. Hammers striking nails, over and over and over. It was a world of noise.
Sometimes worship is bold and loud. Other times, it’s an act of confession and surrender. Sometimes there is singing, dancing and musical instruments. The focus of worship today is one of quiet. Of silence. Of reverence and awe. After all, worship often happens when silence kneels.
APPLICATION: Sit quietly for three minutes. Don’t read. Don’t pray. Let thoughts that come to mind float along in front of you like boats on a river. Let them go. Let them drift. Learn to practice and treasure silence, allowing space for God to gently brush up against you. Showing reverence to God in this way is an act of worship.
PRAYER: Father, in the midst of the chaos and noise of life, I come to You seeking stillness. Calm the whirlwind of thoughts in my mind, quiet the worries in my heart, and help me lay down the burdens I carry. Teach me to rest in Your presence, to listen with intention, and to sense Your voice speaking softly when the world is loud. This is my act of devotion and worship. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?