“Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting. And it came to pass that everyone who sought the Lord went out to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp.” Ex. 33:7“
…far from the camp…” Herein lies the great escape of life...our most needed escape...our most joyous escape. It is in fact, the greatest escape available to mortal men and women. Vital communion with God requires far removal from the camp. It is only as we venture boldly into the land of ongoing silence that the “still small voice” of God (I Kings 19:12,13) becomes audible. As long as we are surrounded by the sounds of the camp – cell phones, radio, television, honking cars, loud voices, etc. – the intimate presence of God and the quiet voice of God normally go unfelt and unrecognized. No wonder God declares through the psalmist, “Be still, and know that I am God…” Ps. 46: 10. No wonder it is recorded of our Lord, “So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.” Lk. 5:16
Deep, soul-satisfying communion with God requires radical leaving of the camp to spend quiet, extended, unhurried time alone with God. It is in those quiet, still places that the busyness and noise which so easily strangles our inner being is cast off for the deep refreshment and joyous satisfaction of a God-enamored soul. But retreating into the land of silence does not come easily. By a long shot. There are some seasons of life where it almost seems impossible. Still, it is so, so worth fighting for and clawing after. Tenaciously. Relentlessly. J.B. Phillips writes, “If the Christian is to maintain the spiritual life within him, he must by desperate resolution elbow a space in his daily activities when he can obey the command to, ‘Be still, and know that I am God.’” I love his phrase, "...by desperate resolution elbow a space..." An editorial in Christianity Today puts it so well,
“Picture, if you will, some solar ray suddenly causing all radios, cassette players, stereo sets and televisions to stop working. Trembling hands impatiently twirl dials, adjust knobs, flip switches. Eyes are dilated with fear. Breathing comes in spasms. Marx was wrong. Religion isn't the opiate of the people, incessant sound is. We all listen to just about anything to avoid silence—long, pointless talk shows, boring conversations, round-the-clock news,...rock and country music. We like sound because it blocks out the despairing cry of our own souls as well as the still small voice of God. But we need occasionally to take God's hand and journey into the fearful land of silence. It can be both painful and healing in the presence of the One Who is able to still the despairing cry and give us a new song of thanks.”
All I can say is amen and amen! I’m particularly convicted by the statement, “We like sound because it blocks out the despairing cry of our own souls as well as the still small voice of God.” I fear that too often I use sound as a subtle way of escaping the deep work God wants to do in my soul. Maybe you do too. The great news is that God has not walked away from us because of our idolatry with noise; but waits joyously and passionately for us to rejoin Him in the land of silence. It is there that He takes us in His arms, leads us in the dance of the ages, and whispers quietly but powerfully in our ear. And then bids us to go back to the camp with a new spring in our step, a new light in our eye, and a new message for our fellow camp-dwellers. A message that is essentially this – nothing, but nothing, matters more than God. Even the seemingly inescapable and justified noise of our frenetic lifestyles.
Flashpoint: Take time to do yourself the greatest favor you can – leave the sounds of the camp to enjoy the whispers of your Savior.
