Voice of Precise Silence

Rabbi Ken Alpren
Summary by Teresa Bennett, Pharm.D.
July 10, 2010 Sermon

Numbers 32:1-7, The Reubenites and Gadites, who had very large herds and flocks, saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were suitable for livestock. 2 So they came to Moses and Eleazar the priest and to the leaders of the community, and said, 3 "Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo and Beon-- 4 the land the LORD subdued before the people of Israel--are suitable for livestock, and your servants have livestock. 5 If we have found favor in your eyes," they said, "let this land be given to your servants as our possession. Do not make us cross the Jordan." 6 Moses said to the Gadites and Reubenites, "Shall your countrymen go to war while you sit here? 7 Why do you discourage the Israelites from going over into the land the LORD has given them?

The descendants of Gad and Reuben requested to live on the east side of the Jordan. Their decision led to the loss of their inheritance and they were the first to be carried away as captives. See 1 Chronicles 5:26. Deborah sang about the indifference their separation caused in Judges 5:16-17. It was the appearance of the land and the appeal of it’s greenery that enticed them to settle there. Had they consulted and heard from the L-rd or where they going after their own desires? Messiah warned us not to judge by appearances; “Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment." John 7:24; see Is. 11:3.

Judging by appearances instead of seeking G-d’s direction will more times than not lead to wrong conclusions. And judging brings judgement upon ourselves “Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, passing judgment; for when you judge someone else, you are passing judgment against yourself; since you who are judging do the same things he does” Romans 2:1.

Did you know that G-d keeps a journal of the choices we make? We will stumble, but, thank goodness for His ongoing grace that when we do sin we have an advocate. Ps. 37:23-24 and 1John 2:1.

How are we to be discerning and make decisions in accordance with His will? Take a look at how the L-rd spoke to Eliyahu in 1 Kings 19. He said, "Go outside, and stand on the mountain before ADONAI"; and right then and there, ADONAI went past. A mighty blast of wind tore the mountains apart and broke the rocks in pieces before ADONAI, but ADONAI was not in the wind. After the wind came an earthquake, but ADONAI was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake, fire broke out; but ADONAI was not in the fire. And after the fire came a quiet, subdued voice.”

The Hebrew words for “quiet, subdued voice” are “demamah, daq kol” which can also be translated as “voice of precise silence”. It is in this quiet place that we can discern His voice like deep calling to deep, Psalm 42:7. His voice causes us to look within and evaluate ourselves and others and then look to Him for answers and direction. Hebrews 4:12, “See, the Word of God is alive! It is at work and is sharper than any double-edged sword - it cuts right through to where soul meets spirit and joints meet marrow, and it is quick to judge the inner reflections and attitudes of the heart.”

Isaiah 26:3, "A person whose desire rests on you you preserve in perfect peace, because he trusts in you.”

Seek Him in silence; it is where we will precisely discern His voice.

Further reading: Ezekiel 13:1-3, 6-8, 2 Cor 11:1-4, 2 Tim 4:1-8, Isaiah 11:3, 2Cor 5:7, Matt 7:1-5, 2Pet 3:18, 2Cor 5:18-21, Matt 9:12-13, Ps 119:133, Ps 139:3, Job 31:4, Prov 16:9, Ps 37:23, 1Jn 2:1, 2 Cor 11:1-3, Jn 15:3, 2Tim 4:1-4, Eph 3:11, Rom 11:1-4, Ps 42:7, Ps 23:2, Ps 119:11, Isaiah 30:15, Ps 46:10, Gen 3:8,9, Deut 4:12,33, Isaiah 6:8