The biblical word about silence before the Lord draws upon the third of Zechariah's eight visions of hope for Judah during its captivity. The Zionism depicted here isinclusive, not exclusive. Jews are to be what Abraham envisioned, a peoplewhose faith enables others to find God's blessing for themselves. The vision portrays God's presence in the midst of Jerusalem, with all nations reconciled and at peace. When the Holy One appears on the stage of the heart, just as when he entered history at Bethlehem, silence is an appropriate human response.
Picture curtains being pulled just before a major drama or symphonybegins.
Let a quiet hush precede your praise to the Almighty. Silence indicates submission to God. When Jesuscaught the Pharisees in duplicity, as noted in our New Testament reading,they were reduced to silence. Before the power of Jesus' insight they werespeechless. These interrogators were not interested in truth but incontrol.