But the LORDis in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.
The Lord is enthroned in His holy temple in heaven in glory, and He calls all the earth to reverent silence before Him. That silence is awe before His holiness in attitude and speech, for His presence makes a place sacred, after the pattern where worshipers bowed quietly while the high priest sought mercy in the most holy place. It forbids speaking carelessly, presumptuously, or speculatively about God and His dwelling, for human reason must bow to His authority and people can know only what He chooses to reveal, so on this point silence is eloquence. The verse closes a vision appointed for the last days of universal destruction and desolation that will surely come, calling all to readiness because the Son of man comes in an hour not thought of, while assuring God's people that the Lord still reigns in His temple and His deliverance and promises will come in His appointed time. The true response is to put away evil and worship in spirit and truth and in the beauty of holiness, entering His house with decorum and silent prayerful meditation, and living daily by His Word with humble listening, communion, and faithful obedience.
Lord in His Temple
The Lord is present and enthroned in His holy temple in glory, and therefore commands all the earth to keep silence before Him. His presence makes a place sacred and calls for reverence in attitude and speech. That temple is in heaven, where He sits upon His throne high and lifted up with His glory filling the heavens. His voice is mighty and shakes the cedars of Lebanon.
He is a positive, personal God above nature, not in a leaf or in a tree or in nature. Nature is only the work of His hands.
Though He is not confined to temples made with hands, He honors the gatherings of His people with His presence. He meets with them by His Spirit when they come together to seek Him, acknowledge their sins, and pray for one another. He is therefore present in the house where they gather to worship, and heavenly messengers are there.
Reverent Silence Before Him
The call to keep silence is reverent awe before His holiness in attitude and speech, for His presence makes a place sacred. The Lord is present in His holy temple so exalted and glorious that all the earth should be silent before Him, and silence itself expresses reverence. Human reason and understanding must bow to His authority in that silence.
The silence follows the sanctuary pattern, where worshipers bowed quietly while the high priest entered the most holy place and sought God's mercy. Approaching this subject is like standing on holy ground where shoes must be taken off and where careless, unsanctified feet have no place. His glory fills the heavens as He sits high and lifted up, and His voice is mighty and shakes the cedars of Lebanon, so the silence is reverent worship before infinite majesty.
The command forbids speaking carelessly, presumptuously, or speculatively about God, about where He is or what He is or about His dwelling. It forbids curious discussion and speculation about the nature of God, including unsanctified spiritualistic ideas put forth about Him. His hidden glory is not to be approached presumptuously, and people can know only what He chooses to reveal. On this point silence is eloquence.
The true response is to put away every evil thing and to worship in spirit and truth and in the beauty of holiness. Without a true heart, coming together is of no avail.
Last-Days Warning and Hope
The verse closes the prophecy of Habakkuk 2:3-20, a vision appointed for the last days that will surely come and will not tarry beyond the time appointed. That prophecy clearly describes scenes of universal destruction and desolation that will soon come and soon be witnessed just as described, and its fulfillment is as certain as the desolation seen at San Francisco. Habakkuk 2 gives only a faint description of the reality of the last days, pointing to the time near the end when evil shall spring forth and Satan is drilling his army to develop strong parties ready against the great battle of the last great conflict. Wisdom is needed in that time, when men in high places supposing themselves wise will block the way, and the call is to clear the King's highway. It calls everyone to consideration and readiness, because the Son of man comes in an hour not thought of.
The verse assures God's people that the Lord remains sovereign and present in His holy temple while they wait through trial and discouraging circumstances. It gives confidence that He reigns, that His deliverance will come in His appointed time, and that His promises will be fulfilled, including the hope of Christ's glorious advent.
In the house of worship this means entering with decorum, passing quietly to seats, and permitting no common talking, whispering, and laughing either before or after the service. While waiting before the meeting begins worshipers maintain silent meditation with the heart uplifted to God in prayer that the service will benefit the heart and lead to conviction and conversion of others, remembering that heavenly messengers are there. Restlessness loses sweet communion, while moments of reflection, prayer, review of the spiritual condition, and drawing of mind and heart toward God preserve it, and genuine reverence puts sweet eloquence in silence and is marked by ardent, active piety. A mind thus prepared hears the word of God with due weight that impresses the heart, since talk that might be without sin in a common business place has no sanction where God is worshiped. Daily this means the Word of the Lord is the guide in all things with reverent, humble listening to God. It forbids selfishness, murmuring, repining, coveting, and quarreling, and requires honoring His just and equal will, communing with Him daily, rejoicing and humbling the heart before Him, looking to Him in affliction, and acting faithfully under increasing responsibility as the work advances.
The Lord is enthroned in His holy temple in heaven in glory, and He calls all the earth to reverent silence before Him.
That silence is awe before His holiness in attitude and speech, for His presence makes a place sacred, after the pattern where worshipers bowed quietly while the high priest sought mercy in the most holy place.
It forbids speaking carelessly, presumptuously, or speculatively about God and His dwelling, for human reason must bow to His authority and people can know only what He chooses to reveal, so on this point silence is eloquence.
The verse closes a vision appointed for the last days of universal destruction and desolation that will surely come, calling all to readiness because the Son of man comes in an hour not thought of, while assuring God's people that the Lord still reigns in His temple and His deliverance and promises will come in His appointed time.
The true response is to put away evil and worship in spirit and truth and in the beauty of holiness, entering His house with decorum and silent prayerful meditation, and living daily by His Word with humble listening, communion, and faithful obedience.
Lord in His Temple
The Lord is present and enthroned in His holy temple in glory, and therefore commands all the earth to keep silence before Him. His presence makes a place sacred and calls for reverence in attitude and speech. That temple is in heaven, where He sits upon His throne high and lifted up with His glory filling the heavens. His voice is mighty and shakes the cedars of Lebanon.
He is a positive, personal God above nature, not in a leaf or in a tree or in nature. Nature is only the work of His hands.
Though He is not confined to temples made with hands, He honors the gatherings of His people with His presence. He meets with them by His Spirit when they come together to seek Him, acknowledge their sins, and pray for one another. He is therefore present in the house where they gather to worship, and heavenly messengers are there.
Reverent Silence Before Him
The call to keep silence is reverent awe before His holiness in attitude and speech, for His presence makes a place sacred. The Lord is present in His holy temple so exalted and glorious that all the earth should be silent before Him, and silence itself expresses reverence. Human reason and understanding must bow to His authority in that silence.
The silence follows the sanctuary pattern, where worshipers bowed quietly while the high priest entered the most holy place and sought God's mercy. Approaching this subject is like standing on holy ground where shoes must be taken off and where careless, unsanctified feet have no place. His glory fills the heavens as He sits high and lifted up, and His voice is mighty and shakes the cedars of Lebanon, so the silence is reverent worship before infinite majesty.
The command forbids speaking carelessly, presumptuously, or speculatively about God, about where He is or what He is or about His dwelling. It forbids curious discussion and speculation about the nature of God, including unsanctified spiritualistic ideas put forth about Him. His hidden glory is not to be approached presumptuously, and people can know only what He chooses to reveal. On this point silence is eloquence.
The true response is to put away every evil thing and to worship in spirit and truth and in the beauty of holiness. Without a true heart, coming together is of no avail.
Last-Days Warning and Hope
The verse closes the prophecy of Habakkuk 2:3-20, a vision appointed for the last days that will surely come and will not tarry beyond the time appointed. That prophecy clearly describes scenes of universal destruction and desolation that will soon come and soon be witnessed just as described, and its fulfillment is as certain as the desolation seen at San Francisco. Habakkuk 2 gives only a faint description of the reality of the last days, pointing to the time near the end when evil shall spring forth and Satan is drilling his army to develop strong parties ready against the great battle of the last great conflict. Wisdom is needed in that time, when men in high places supposing themselves wise will block the way, and the call is to clear the King's highway. It calls everyone to consideration and readiness, because the Son of man comes in an hour not thought of.
The verse assures God's people that the Lord remains sovereign and present in His holy temple while they wait through trial and discouraging circumstances. It gives confidence that He reigns, that His deliverance will come in His appointed time, and that His promises will be fulfilled, including the hope of Christ's glorious advent.
In the house of worship this means entering with decorum, passing quietly to seats, and permitting no common talking, whispering, and laughing either before or after the service. While waiting before the meeting begins worshipers maintain silent meditation with the heart uplifted to God in prayer that the service will benefit the heart and lead to conviction and conversion of others, remembering that heavenly messengers are there. Restlessness loses sweet communion, while moments of reflection, prayer, review of the spiritual condition, and drawing of mind and heart toward God preserve it, and genuine reverence puts sweet eloquence in silence and is marked by ardent, active piety. A mind thus prepared hears the word of God with due weight that impresses the heart, since talk that might be without sin in a common business place has no sanction where God is worshiped. Daily this means the Word of the Lord is the guide in all things with reverent, humble listening to God. It forbids selfishness, murmuring, repining, coveting, and quarreling, and requires honoring His just and equal will, communing with Him daily, rejoicing and humbling the heart before Him, looking to Him in affliction, and acting faithfully under increasing responsibility as the work advances.