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Editorial

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Jul 24, 1913

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 90, No. 30.

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Editorial

By Editor

Study to Be Quiet

THE kingdom of heaven does not come by observation. The revealing of God is not in noise and bustle and demonstration. Quietly and silently, for the most part, the Spirit does its work in human hearts. The hours of quietness and meditation, above all others, are times that invite communion with Heaven. Says the Lord through his servant David, “Be still, and know that I am God.” And through the apostle Paul the same instruction is given to the church, “Study to be quiet.”
Upon Elijah’s mind was forcibly impressed the lesson that God works in quiet ways. Almost discouraged and heart-broken, feeling that he alone of all Israel was still true to God, and yet in view of all this determined to stand faithful, he left far behind the habitations of men, and went down into the desert of Sinai, forty days’ journey from all his companions and associates, seeking audience with the Majesty of heaven. He was instructed to stand upon the mount before the Lord. There he witnessed the commotion of the elements. A great and strong wind rent the mountains and beat them in pieces, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind the earth quaked and trembled, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake a fire with desolating fury swept before him, but the record states that the Lord was not in the fire. Then there came to Elijah a still, small voice. For this he was listening. He was waiting for God to speak, and even though the great God of heaven chose to speak to his servant in this manner, Elijah recognized the voice of his Maker.
How often did our Lord during his earthly ministry retire to the quiet of the mountain and the forest, and in the stillness of the night seek that communion with God which the strenuous labors of the days denied! It was from these quiet, restful, and uplifting occasions that he went forth to minister to a needy world. These seasons gave him strength to stand against all the power of the enemy, against the fierce assaults of scribe and Pharisee, the searching questions of the foes that dogged his footsteps. Truly could he say to his disciples, “I have meat to eat that ye know not of.”
We can well afford to cultivate in our lives the spirit of quietness. Let us learn to be still and know that God is over all. Let us withdraw often at stated times from the busy throng and, sitting down alone with God, open our hearts to the influence of his divine Spirit and our ears to the words he may say to us. We shall not be disappointed. Messages will come to our souls, even as they came to Elijah. In this communion we may enter into the joy of our Lord, and may go forth with strength and spiritual vigor to do joyful service for our fellow men.