Daily Devotions
When to Keep Silent
Title: When to Keep Silent
Reading for September 24: Habakkuk 1-3
"But the LORD is in his holy temple;
let all the earth keep silence before him."
Habakkuk 2:20
How do you feel when you're talking with someone much smarter than you?
I recently had breakfast with two men who are way smarter than I am. So I just tried to sit there and be quiet. I sat there silently partly because I was afraid I might embarrass myself by speaking, but mainly because I wanted to learn something that was valuable. I couldn't learn anything from these two men if I did all the talking!
I think this attitude is what Solomon described when he said, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge." (Prov 1:7) Fear is another word for respect. We fear (or respect) God because he is God. He is the Creator. We are merely his creation. His knowledge is infinite. Ours is finite.
That's why knowledge begins with a reverent attitude that is willing to listen.
Father, open our ears that we may hear wondrous things from your law this day!
