The smooth, worn wooden pews had grown wise as they silently took in the Words preached every Sunday in the old stuccoed church. They proudly lined up in a semi-circle cut through by two aisles leading to the front of the sanctuary. A large ornate pulpit adorned the platform.
The pews watched the important man walk to one of the three chairs on the platform and take a seat. Never in the middle, always the one on the right or the left.
When the pipe organ brought its prelude to a close the important man rose and walked to the pulpit. He stood there gazing over the pews, creating space, creating expectancy, and declared,
"THE LORD IS IN HIS HOLY TEMPLE, LET ALL THE EARTH KEEP SILENT BEFORE HIM!"
And all was silent. Heads bowed. Eyes closed. The pews dared not to creak while the Holiness of God was contemplated by all.
Yesterday, I was challenged to begin my time with the Lord with silence. Contemplating His majesty, glory, holiness...His complete otherness and bigness and "un-understandableness" (yes I just made that word up). It brought back the above memory. Hidden in the recesses of my mind the words came forth unbidden, "The LORD is in His holy temple, let all the earth keep silent before Him." I was a small child again, sitting in those wooden pews, taken in with the mystery of God.
When I was a child I thought the holy temple was the church building I was in. I now know His holy temple is me. It brings even more meaning to the statement. The Lord is in me, so be silent before Him. Brings me to be still and know He is God.
How great are you, Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. 2 Samuel 7:22
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