Having reached the end of Psalm 119, we are still not quite at the end of our Advent musings; we have still not reached the stable at Bethlehem and paused to gaze in wonder at the baby in the manger.
Yesterday, we looked at our part in prayer, but it is worth pausing to reflect on the fact that prayer is a response to God: ‘You reveal and we respond’ (‘King of Wonders’). Prayer is not simply about expressing ourselves to God, but learning to answer God.
God is a God who speaks. He spoke creation into being (Genesis 1) and John describes Jesus as the Word of God (John 1). Michael Card describes Him as God’s ‘final perfect word’ (‘Final Word’). Ironically, however, this Word of God chose to enter our world garbed in flesh and blood, and, in coming as a baby, to have no words at all. When we arrive at that manger to worship, we acknowledge the limitation of words. Wonder, sometimes, runs out of words. Adoration doesn’t need words.
As we tiptoe into the manger to gaze on our newborn King, words may well be left outside. Prayer is not always articulate: ‘silence, sighs, groaning – these also constitute responses.’ (Eugene Peterson, ‘Answering God’, P 12)
Today’s society leaves little room for silence or for contemplation. But today, cherish the silence of worship and draw near to God in reverent awe. In the silence, you may well hear His voice in new ways, for this ‘wordless One’ still somehow manages to speak to our hearts.
