“Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD, for He is aroused from His holy
habitation!”
The prophets Zechariah and Haggai both prophesied regarding
the unfinished temple to the people that returned to Israel from captivity in Babylon. The general approach by Zechariah was to
encourage the people to continue in God’s work by reminding them of the coming
Messiah. In the book of Zechariah, the
descriptions of the coming Messiah cover both the first and second coming. Can you think of a better way to encourage
God’s people to return to passionately serving God than to remind them of our
Redeemer’s imminent return?
In this particular passage, the description of the joyful
coming of the Messiah also includes instructions for silence. One would expect that we, His people, would
be reverently silent and in awe as God comes to the earth to complete His
mighty work. But this instruction is to
“all flesh.” Such a momentous occasion
is this that God’s enemies will be silenced.
“before God and his providence; the enemies of the church shall be
silenced; all iniquity shall stop her mouth. The friends of the church also
must be silent. Leave it to God to take his own way, and neither prescribe to
him what he should do nor quarrel with him whatever he does. Be still, and know
that he is God. Stand still, and see his
salvation. Silently acquiesce in his
holy will, and patiently wait the issue, as those who are assured that when God
is raised up out of his holy habitation he will not retreat, nor sit down
again, till he has accomplished his whole work.” (Matthew Henry)
The word ‘silence’ used here is NOT used in a descriptive sense
such as we see following the opening of the seventh seal: “When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about
half an hour.” (Revelation 8:1)
Rather, this word in Zechariah is used as a command and is directed to all
humans and animals (flesh) who dwell on earth.
It is the same word (Strong’s 02013, to hush, hold your peace, hold your
tongue) used in Zephaniah when the day of the LORD is at hand. “Be
silent in the presence of the Lord GOD; For the day of the LORD is at hand, for
the LORD has prepared a sacrifice; He has invited His guests.” (Zephaniah
1:7) It is the same word used in Habakkuk,
when the LORD is in His holy temple. “But the LORD is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him.” (Habakkuk 2:20)
On that glorious day of our Lord’s return, of His second coming,
there will be no arguing with Jesus.
There will be no ‘presenting your case’ in defense of rejecting His Way
of salvation. There will be no words
worthy to be spoken to a holy God, in His holy temple in His holy land. All flesh will be silenced in the presence of
pure truth. For those who have not been
justified by the blood of Jesus Christ, His return will be a time of great fear
and holy judgment.
Friends, we plead with you to surrender to Jesus, receive
His gift of eternal salvation, before it is too late. Once Jesus leaves heaven to inhabit His holy
temple on earth, it will be pencils down, exam over.
If you are already God’s child, then we encourage you to
quicken your work in His service. Be
diligent that your service will speak multitudes to Christ in the form of saved
souls. For those who have been justified by the blood
of Jesus Christ, His return will be a time of awe and joy.
“Blessed are the pure
in heart, for they shall see God.”
(Matthew 5:8)
May you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ.
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