Respect for the Silence of God

By Bob Myhan

Many people, though religious, do not seem to respect the silence of God. Perhaps this is because they do not know how to do so.

First, we show respect for God’s silence by following that which has been revealed. That which has not been revealed does not belong to us.

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (Deut. 29:29)

While the above was spoken to Israel as part of their law, God expects the same of us. We should do all the words of the New Testament, rather than being overly concerned with what God allowed Israel to do.

Second, we show respect for the silence of God by not turning to the right or to the left from the law God has given us.

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, saying: "Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them--the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (Josh. 1:1-8)

Again, while the above was spoken only to Joshua, it is not unlike what Moses said to the entire congregation in the first quotation of this article. This, too, applies to us.

Third, we show respect for the silence of God by speaking as the oracles of God.

If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:11)

God does not give to all the same abilities. He gives to some the ability to speak publicly, while to others He gives the ability to minister in some other way. For any who are not sure what “the oracles of God” are, consider the following.

What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God. (Rom. 3:1-2)

Obviously, “the oracles of God” are the words of God. The Law was “committed to the Jew" and “the faith…was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 3)

Fourth, we show respect for the silence of God by accepting the all-sufficiency of Scripture.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

Clearly, God not only wants “the man of God” to be “thoroughly equipped for every good work” but He has made it possible by giving us “all Scripture.” which is sufficient to meet every spiritual need that man has.

Fifth, we show respect for God’s silence by not thinking beyond what is written.

Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God…. Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. (1 Cor. 4:1, 6)

“To think beyond what is written” is to think we may do that which has not been authorized in the scriptures.

In his first letter to the church at Corinth, Paul dealt with several problems, the first of which was their immaturity or carnality, as manifested in their division over various preachers.

Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? (1 Cor. 1:10-13)

In order for anyone to be “of Paul,” two things had to be true.

1. Paul had to have been crucified for them, which of course wasn’t true.

2. They had to have been baptized in the name of Paul, which also wasn’t true.

This certainly implies that, for anyone to be called “of Christ,” legitimately, the following two things would have to be true.

1. Jesus had to have been crucified for them, which of course was true.

2. They had to have been baptized in the name of Christ, which may or may not have been true.

Sixth, we show respect for the silence of God by recognizing the law of exclusion.

Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. (Heb. 7:11-14)

The tribe of Judah was excluded from the priesthood, not by a direct statement but by necessary inference. Aaron and his sons were set apart for the priesthood and the remainder of the tribe of Levi were set aside to serve the priests in various capacities (Num. 18:1-7). Because He was not from the tribe of Levi but from the tribe of Judah, Jesus was excluded from the priesthood.

Dear reader, that which is not authorized—either specifically or generically—in the New Testament is excluded from the will of God and may not be done with His approval. Do you have respect for the silence of God? &

Is It That Hard to Understand?

By Bob Myhan

The apostle Paul pinpointed for the Romans and for us when a person dies to sin and begins a new walk “in Christ.” And, yet, some still don’t get it!

Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. (Rom. 5:20-21; 6:1-6)

That Paul says “where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,” does not mean that we should “continue in sin that grace may abound.” We “were baptized into Christ Jesus” and “into His death” and we were raised to “walk in newness of life.” Being baptized was our watershed moment. Why is that so hard for some? &