Opened Not His Mouth By Anna Darlene Edmondson
“The foolish woman is noisy... ” (Proverbs 9:13a Amp)
I love talking. Yet, misuse of this gift causes great suffering. Elisabeth Elliot stated, “Not everything needs to be said, and not everything needs to be said by me.” A translation of that statement can be found in part in Isaiah 30:15b (ESV): "... in quietness and trust shall be your strength..." One of my weaknesses is self-control. Therefore, I’ve decided to surrender excess noise this Lenten season by shutting off electronic gadgets and useless chatter. I began on Ash Wednesday and will continue until Easter resurrection. This marks the period for penance, reflection, and fasting. During this stretch of time, we have an opportunity to clear away debris and wean ourselves from pet sins.
If you will, let’s glean Apostle Paul’s love chapter. He opens with a strict admonition against piousness and usage of angelic words: especially, when love is absent in our own lives. If we spout barren, loveless comments, Paul likens us to noisy gongs or clanging cymbals. However, the Apostle encourages as well by teaching us to earnestly desire and zealously cultivate a more excellent way, namely, by demonstrating the highest of all gifts: Love (1 Corinthians 13:1).
Certainly, clamoring instruments represent disorder. For instance, possessing a loud, know-it-all demeanor drowns out tenderness. Furthermore, it cancels merciful grace toward others. Still, the world’s din continues to distract, growing louder each day. Perhaps your life is chaotic due to busyness, overflowing demands, and confusing thoughts.
Would you join me this Holy holiday in being still and knowing He is God (Psalm 46:10)? How might your life change if you spent one week, one day, or one hour focusing on Jesus’ sacrificial beauty? “He was oppressed…afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth…led as a lamb to the slaughter…a sheep before its shearer…He opened not His mouth” (Isaiah 53:7 NKJV).
Darlene is a freelance Christian writer. Contact |
