Dictionary of Bible Themes Dictionary of Bible Themes » 5000 Humanity » 5760 Human attitudes and behaviour » 5950 silence A stillness or absence of noise, often associated with the absence of life or people, but also associated with a sense of expectancy or reverence, especially in the presence of God. Scripture stresses that God is not silent, but has spoken his word to his creation. The silence of Jesus Christ before his accusers is seen as the fulfilment of OT prophecy. The silence of God His apparent silence in the face of sin Psalm 50:21 See also Job 34:29; Isaiah 42:14; Isaiah 57:11 God will not remain silent in the face of sin Psalm 50:3 See also Isaiah 62:1; Isaiah 65:6-7 Prayers that God will not be silent Psalm 28:1 See also Psalm 35:22; Psalm 39:12; Psalm 83:1; Psalm 109:1; Isaiah 64:12; Habakkuk 1:13 God silences those who oppose him 1 Samuel 2:9 See also Psalm 8:2; Psalm 63:11; Psalm 107:42; Isaiah 25:5; Isaiah 47:5; Jeremiah 47:5; Jeremiah 48:2; Jeremiah 51:55 Jesus Christ's opponents were silenced by his miracles and wisdom: Matthew 22:34; Mark 3:4; Luke 20:26 Acts 4:14; Romans 3:19 The silence of Jesus Christ It was foretold in the OT Isaiah 53:7 See also Acts 8:32 Its fulfilment in the NT Matthew 26:63 pp Mark 14:61 before the Sanhedrin; Matthew 27:14 pp Mark 15:4-5 pp John 19:9 before Pilate; Luke 23:9 before Herod Jesus Christ commands silence as a sign of his authority Mark 1:25-26 pp Luke 4:35 Jesus Christ silenced evil spirits; Mark 4:39 Jesus Christ silenced the storm. There are times when it is appropriate for God's people to be silent The silence of expecting God to act Joshua 6:10 See also Genesis 24:21; Exodus 14:14-15; 2 Kings 2:3,5; Revelation 8:1 The silence anticipating the wisdom of another person Job 29:7-10,21 The silence of prudence Proverbs 10:19; Ecclesiastes 3:7 See also 1 Samuel 10:27; Job 13:5; Job 33:31-33; Proverbs 11:12; Proverbs 17:28 The silence of suffering Lamentations 3:28 See also Psalm 39:9 The silence of shame The silence of anger Psalm 4:4 The psalmist is warning against hasty action when angry. The silence of amazement at God's actions See also Luke 9:36; Acts 15:12 A tongues-speaker should be silent if no interpreter is present 1 Corinthians 14:28 silence in the church; 1 Corinthians 14:30 A prophet should be silent if another receives a revelation. Christian women are sometimes exorted to be silent 1 Timothy 2:11-12 See also 1 Corinthians 14:34-35; 1 Peter 3:1-4 There are times when it is inappropriate for God's people to be silent When there is good news to tell When much depends upon a person's words Esther 4:14 See also Jeremiah 4:19; Jeremiah 20:9; Acts 18:9-10 When God should be praised Psalm 30:11-12 See also Luke 19:37-40 When sin is unconfessed When God's people feel they have a genuine complaint Psalm 39:1-2 See also Job 7:11; Job 23:16-17 When prayer is urgently required God's people are sometimes brought to silence Job 31:34 Job fearing the crowd; Ezekiel 3:26 Ezekiel as a judgment on Israel; Mark 9:34 the disciples when their pride was exposed; Luke 1:20 Zechariah because of his unbelief Silencing the wicked Believers pray that the wicked will be silenced Psalm 31:17-18; 1 Peter 2:23 See also Psalm 143:12 Believers so live that the wicked may be silenced False teachers must be silenced Titus 1:10-11 “the circumcision group” believed that in order to be saved it was necessary to be circumcised and keep the Jewish ceremonial law. Death is compared to silence See also See also
2585 Christ, trial |
  |