reason for silence

But the LORD is in his holy temple;

let all the earth keep silence before him.

Habakkuk 2:20

Here is a command to worship God as the futility of idols becomes apparent by His judgment. The prophet Habakkuk keeps bringing questions (really complaints —- see Habakkuk 2:1) to God about both the spiritual state of Israel and also the choice of God to judge His people with cruel Chaldean conquerors. God reveals the idolatry of Israel and its ultimate impotence. They had trusted in idols made by men, and that trust would fail them. God revealed the stupidity of idolatry (Habakkuk 2:18-19).

In hard times, idols will be revealed and leveled. This is a good thing. God is glorified in it. As idols fall, as faith in them fails, human eyes and hearts turn to God, Who all along is still enthroned in His holy temple, ready to be worshiped in the silence of grieving contemplation. Oh, may idols like this be purged from our hearts right now! Now is the time to turn from them.

Today we cannot turn to sports and entertainment for our joy. Today we do not see government solving our crisis. Today we cannot see science with all the answers. We must be silent before God, embracing the limitations we are overwhelmed with in the moment. Can we pray this prayer? “Lord, we are ready to let Your will be done. We will worship You, Who levels our idols, Who reveals Your power, Who is the Savior of our souls!”