God's Silence in the Old Testament Period
The concept of God's silence in the Old Testament period is multifaceted, appearing both as a descriptor of divine action and as a consequence of human behavior. The Hebrew word for "silence" (דממה, demamah) can be found in personal names like Hashabniah, meaning "the silence of the Lord," and Hashum, meaning "silence" [1, 5]. Another name, Thahash, can mean "that keeps silence" [6].
God's silence is sometimes depicted as a deliberate act of patience or observation. For instance, Psalm 50:21 suggests that God's patience led Him to remain silent [7]. Similarly, Isaiah 18:4 portrays the Lord as watching quietly from His dwelling place, untroubled by human activities, acting in His own time [12]. In 2 Chronicles 20:30, the kingdom of Jehoshaphat experiences quietness and rest because God grants it [2, 3].
However, God's silence is also presented as a form of judgment or discipline, particularly when His people turn away from Him. Lamentations 3:28 advises one to "sit alone in silence, for God has disciplined him" [4]. The Tyndale House commentary notes that Israel experienced God's absence during the Exile, which was a consequence of their idolatrous practices (Isaiah 42:14) [8]. In such instances, God's long silence and self-restraint are highlighted [8].
A particularly severe form of divine silence is God's refusal to communicate or answer. When Saul consulted the Lord, God refused to answer him, which was understood as a sign of judgment [9]. This refusal to speak could manifest as a "famine... of hearing the words of the Lord," as described in Amos 8:11-14 [10]. Because Israel had commanded prophets not to prophesy, God eventually gave them the silence they desired, which became a "silence more terrible than his roar and thunder" [10]. This indicated that the time for speaking was over, and the time for judgment had arrived [10]. Such divine silence meant God became distant, and people would seek a vision from a prophet in vain [10].
Conversely, human silence before God can be an act of submission and trust. Psalm 37:7 is interpreted as "Be silent to the Lord," encouraging submission and discouraging petulance, murmuring, anger, and rash actions [11].
Sources
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Hashabnah — Hashabniah, the silence of the Lord”
- 2 Chronicles “So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet; for his God gave him rest all around. -- 2 Chronicles 20:30”
- II Chronicles “II Chronicles 20:30 (YLT) — and the kingdom of Jehoshaphat is quiet, and his God giveth rest to him round about.”
- Lamentations “Lamentations 3:28 (BSB) — Let him sit alone in silence, for God has disciplined him.”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Hashum — silence; their hasting”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Thahash — that makes haste; that keeps silence”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 50:21: 50:21 Because he is patient, God remained silent.”
- Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 42:14: 42:14 I have long been silent . . . restrained myself: Israel had experienced God’s absence in the Exile, which came about because of their idolatrous ways (57:11-13; 2 Kgs 17:6-24). The godly will pray for God’s presence and renewed involvement in their situation (Isa 64:12), and the Lord will answer their prayers because of his commitment to their redemption (62:1, 6).”
- 1 Samuel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Samuel 28:6: 28:6 refused to answer: Earlier, Saul had consulted the Lord by sacred lots with mixed results (14:36-42). God’s refusal to speak was a sign of his judgment (14:37; Lam 2:9; Ezek 7:26; Amos 8:11-12; Mic 3:6-7).”
- Amos (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Amos 8:11: 8:11-14 famine . . . of hearing the words of the Lord: God sent prophets to Israel to speak his words directly to them, but Israel commanded the prophets not to prophesy (2:11-12). Now they had what they wanted, but it was a silence more terrible than his roar and thunder: God became distant (see Ezek 7:26; 20:3; Mic 3:4, 7). The time for speaking was over; the time of judgment had come.”
- Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 37:7: Rest in--literally, "Be silent to the Lord." and wait--Be submissive--avoid petulance and murmurings, anger and rash doing.”
- Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 18:4: 18:4 The Lord is untroubled by human activities; he watches quietly from his dwelling place and acts in his own time (see Ps 2:1-4).”