When Quiet Makes Listening Possible

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord is one.”— Deuteronomy 6:4

“Be still, and know that I am God.”— Psalm 46:10

The Sh’ma begins with a command:

But hearing requires more than ears.

Many of us live surrounded by noise. Some noise is external—voices, demands, alerts, schedules, responsibilities. Some noise is internal—worry, fear, defensiveness, regret, ambition, anger.

Even when the room is silent, the heart may still be loud.

This is why silence matters.

Silence is not emptiness. It is space.

It is the space where we become able to hear what has been crowded out. It is the space where truth can rise without being immediately interrupted. It is the space where God, conscience, memory, and wisdom can speak.

The command of the Sh’ma is simple, but not easy. To hear God, we must quiet the voices that compete for our deepest loyalty.

This does not mean withdrawing from the world or ignoring responsibility. Biblical silence is not escape. It is preparation. It allows us to return to the world with greater clarity, patience, and courage.

Psalm 46 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Stillness is not passive.........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)