“My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.” Psalm 62:5
“At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock.” Matthew 27:45 NLT
“When the Lamb broke the seventh seal on the scroll, there was silence throughout heaven for about half an hour.” Revelation 8:1 NLT
Father God,
When ever there is a pause sent by You it is herald to a great event. Like before Jesus conquered death. Or before the prayers of all Your people ascended to You in heaven. It is only right that we pause at the end of the Old Testament. For there was a long 400 years pause of Your Word. But much happened humanly speaking. The Greeks invaded bringing with them a totally new pagan culture. Then the Romans appeared on the scene and took over military style. Oh and there was a split in Your people, the leadership were corrupt and those who still supported them were known as the Pharisees and those who were against them were known as the Sadducees. But of course they would unite against anyone who threatened their power.
If You have ever sat in silence, You know how you notice so much more any tiny sounds that creep in. The ticking of a clock, the squeaking of a chair, breathing . . . So after 400 odd years of Your silence – and You even silenced John the Baptist’s dad, Zachariah, the Word is spoken. What an event that was! It changed the world. It changed me. A powerful Word that brought divinity to earth, angels proclaiming to Shepherds and a babies cry. Sometimes we need to stop and shut out the noise of the world and listen. For your quiet creativity. Help us to silence the noise that demands attention and diverts us from You. And not be afraid of silence before You speak.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Friday 17th October 2025
Sounds contemporary and yet was written in 1864
Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
and with fear and trembling stand;
ponder nothing earthly minded,
for, with blessing in His hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
our full homage to demand.
King of kings, yet born of Mary,
as of old on earth He stood,
Lord of lords, in human vesture,
in the body and the blood.
He will give to all the faithful
His own self for heav’nly food.
Rank on rank the host of heaven
spreads its vanguard on the way,
as the Light of light descendeth
from the realms of endless day,
that the pow’rs of hell may vanish
as the darkness clears away.
At His feet the six-winged seraph,
cherubim with sleepless eye,
veil their faces to the Presence,
as with ceaseless voice they cry,
“Alleluia, alleluia,
alleluia, Lord Most High!”
Lyrics: Gerard Moultrie 1864