Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
Quote of the Day: On Listening
If you are willing to listen, you will learn;
If you give heed, you will be wise.
Sirach 6:33
In these times of noise and information coming at us, it is often hard to listen and hard to know what to listen to. But when the right message comes, we should heed and be wise. Which brings up my second Bible quote of the post:
Published in Group WritingThen the LORD said: Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will pass by.
There was a strong and violent wind rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD
—but the LORD was not in the wind; after the wind, an earthquake
—but the LORD was not in the earthquake; after the earthquake, fire
—but the LORD was not in the fire; after the fire, a light silent sound.When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. A voice said to him, Why are you here, Elijah?
1 Kings 19: 11-13
I did not understand the second passage. Could someone help?
… and then Elijah tells God what he had already told God, and God tells him where to go and what to do. And Elijah does it.
Thanks, Clavius.
God is not in the noise, God is the small voice you must listen for carefully.
And the Protestants say, “Who?” 😁
This is the Quote of the Day. We have plenty of openings this month if you would like to share a quotation to educate, honor another, celebrate yourself, brag about your new acquisition, or just so you can rant. Our sign-up sheet is here.
Or, if you’re looking to write something a bit more creative, you might try our Group Writing Project this month: It was a dark and stormy night…
I love especially the Elijah quote, Clavius. We all have access to that still, small voice, if we will only be quiet enough and listen. Thanks.
Yes, I have always liked that particular passage very much. Such a good and important message about the need to find the quiet to listen, and to look past the thunder and lightning of life.
Generally, I agree with Clavius that God is more often heard in silence. That is when we are truly attentive and not distracted. But of course God also speaks in miracles and awesome terrors, like the great flood of Egypt and the writing on the wall in Babylon.
Like any person of love, God tends to speak softly but shouts when He needs to.
My main take away from that second passage is that most people look for dazzling signs but are fooled by spectacle. They rely on animal senses and logic alone, neglecting the spirit. We must seek the Lord’s help in hearing Him. With His guiding Spirit, we may discern His will in both the thunder and the gentle breeze.
Very well put.
God is not to be found in the loud violent threatening noise of the “great” and “grand” (the powerful who seek Elijah’s life and silence his call to return to faithfulness), but rather God is found in His grace, mercy, forgiveness, and kindness as He saves the 7,000 who have not bowed their knees to Baal. Elijah had given up, but God comes to Him in kindness and sends him on his way to carry out God’s work. In my theological tradition we see here an anaology to the Law of God which issues demands resulting in death and the Gospel wherein God comes to us the lowly and humble in His Word to save us.
Amen
I’ve heard as well that the mountain that Elijah was hiding on was actually Mount Sinai, where the Lord showed Himself to Moses, with things like winds, earthquakes and fire.
Don’t tell me, I know this one. Paul’s epistle to the church at Sriracha, right?
My recollection is that it was Mount Horeb and it took him 40 days to get there, matching the time Jesus spent in the desert and Lent.
40 is considered a “square” number. When you see it in the Bible, it represents completion. 40 years in the wilderness? 40 days in the desert? 40 days and 40 nights? It’s not about an actual time, but about completion and symmetry.
Thank you for that detail.
Words to live by, especially right now. Sorry I’m late. I’ve been gone.
Thank you for finding the post and commenting. And welcome back, we’ve missed you.