God’s Silence: Red Light or Green
Light?
Introduction:
Numbers
22: Israel journeying from Egypt to Promised Land. Moab is greatly afraid of
their presence. Balak, king of Moab, sends messengers to have Balaam curse
Israel. Balaam goes to God. 22:12 – God’s answer. God’s answer is
understandable & final. But, Balaam disregards and goes anyway. What we see
in Balaam is a general attitude in mankind. That is, a disposition that
constantly looks for a loophole to get around God’s clear, concise, and
understandable instructions. See Psalm 119:160. When the “sum” of God’s word is
taken into account, there is no “what else.” Is the silence of God a red-light
or a green light? Is the silence of God permissive or prohibitive?
I. Scriptural principles for respecting God’s silence
A.
OT
passages: Deut. 4:2; 12:32; Josh 1:7; Pro. 3:5; 14:12; Isa. 65:1-3; Jer. 10:23.
B.
NT
passages: Mt. 28:18; Eph. 1:22-23; 1 Cor. 4:6; 2 John 9; Rev. 22:18-19
C.
These
passages should be enough to convince us that the silence of God is prohibitive
rather than permissive.
II. How we apply this principle
determines our direction as a congregation.
A.
Apply
the principle of silence to the way we practice religion.
B.
If we
are permitted to introduce that which pleases us into the work & worship of
the church, there is no limit to what churches can do.
III. This principle is seen in
Hebrews 7.
A.
Heb.
7:11-13. Jesus could not serve as a priest under the Mosaic Covenant.
1.
Law specified priests come from Levi &
was silent about men from any other tribe serving.
B.
Num.
16:1-4 – Korah, Dathan, Abiram. From tribe of Ruben.
1.
Said
they were no different from Levites – they should have been allowed to
serve as priests.
2.
16:32
– what happened when they failed to honor the silence of Scripture?
C.
When
God specified what was to be done…He did not have to say any other way will not please me.
1.
Heb.
7:14 – even Jesus could not be priests under Mosaic covenant.
2.
7:14
– God spoke nothing of it.
a)
2 Tim.
3:15-17 - bible furnishes all the info we need…
3.
Apply
this to instrumental music in worship
a.
Eph.
5:19 – God specified singing.
b.
Col.
3:16-17 – does He have to specifically forbid all that He does not want
in worship?
IV. The Bottom Line:
A.
2 Peter
1:3; John 16:13 – Apostles revealed to us “all the truth.”
B.
If
something is missing from the bible, is it intentional or unintentional?
1.
If God
has unintentionally omitted it, then He is not God!
C.
If God
has intentionally left it out, then who are we to override His will?
D.
The
issue boils down to an attitude that God seeks in us. Isa. 66:2
Conclusion:
A.
How is
your attitude toward God?
B.
Will
you humble yourself to Him today?