The Silent Word is Pleading…

Devotional Thoughts…

55 “Come, everyone who thirsts, 

come to the waters; 

and he who has no money, 

come, buy and eat! 

Come, buy wine and milk 

without money and without price. 

²  Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, 

and your labor for that which does not satisfy? 

Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, 

and delight yourselves in rich food. 

³  Incline your ear, and come to me; 

hear, that your soul may live; 

and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, 

my steadfast, sure love for David. 

⁴  Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, 

a leader and commander for the peoples. 

⁵  Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, 

and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, 

because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, 

for he has glorified you. 

⁶  “Seek the Lord while he may be found; 

call upon him while he is near; 

⁷  let the wicked forsake his way, 

and the unrighteous man his thoughts; 

let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, 

and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 

⁸  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, 

neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 

⁹  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, 

so are my ways higher than your ways 

and my thoughts than your thoughts. 

¹⁰  “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven 

and do not return there but water the earth, 

making it bring forth and sprout, 

giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 

¹¹  so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; 

it shall not return to me empty, 

but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, 

and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. 

¹²  “For you shall go out in joy 

and be led forth in peace; 

the mountains and the hills before you 

shall break forth into singing, 

and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 

¹³  Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; 

instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; 

and it shall make a name for the Lord, 

an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”

Isaiah 55:1-13

Many wonderful hymns that we have today have not actually come to us as they were originally written. There are several famous hymns that have verses that are all but lost to modern hymnals. This excellent Christmas carol is one such example. The original version produced in the late 19th century had a particular line I want us to consider. 

Why lies He in such mean estate, 

Where ox and ass are feeding?

Good Christian, fear: for sinners here,

The silent Word is pleading.

What does this song mean to communicate in the words, “Good Christian, fear: for sinners here, the silent Word is pleading”? As Jesus’ followers, we ought to be in “fear” as we live out our faith that believes Jesus has commanded us to preach the gospel to every creature.“For sinners here, the silent Word is pleading” is the truth the Christian is to act upon or “fear.” The “silent Word” is God’s written revelation, namely the Scripture. Paul, in Romans 10, helps us to recognize the Word of God is what produces faith in lost sinners and not our excellency of speech or wisdom. Yet, Paul points out that the written Word is “the silent Word” that pleads for sinners to believe. 

It is not the ordained minister alone that has been given the responsibility of preaching the gospel to not yet repentant sinners. We all who have been reconciled to God have been given the ministry of preaching the gospel that reconciles sinners and God. The Word of God does the miraculous work of producing faith, but the written Words are “silent” in the fact that they have no audible voice. God’s Words are written for you and I to put in our mouths and plead for “sinners here” to believe the gospel. 

Song Lyrics…

What Child is This?

Author: William Chatterton Dix

1 What Child is this, who laid to rest On Mary’s lap, is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, While shepherds watch are keeping?

Chorus This, this is Christ, the King,

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:

Haste, haste to bring Him laud,

The Babe, the Son of Mary!

2 Why lies He in such mean estate, Where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christian, fear: for sinners here The silent Word is pleading.

Chorus This, this is Christ, the King,

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:

Haste, haste to bring Him laud,

The Babe, the Son of Mary!

3 So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh, Come, peasant, king, to own Him; The King of kings salvation brings; Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Chorus This, this is Christ, the King,

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:

Haste, haste to bring Him laud,

The Babe, the Son of Mary!