Comments on: On Silence: A Midrash of Elijah

By: Kerry A. Shirts

Kerry A. Shirts — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 03:43:14 +0000

Nice post that puts lots of hmmmmm into the minds of your readers. At least mine. Everytime I read something about Elijah I can’t help but think of Thomas Brodie’s incredible analysis of how so much of the New Testament paradigm of Jesus is due to the influence of the Old Testament literary materials in the Elijah-Elishah stories. “The Birthing of the New Testament,” is one of the more significant texts of Brodie’s works discussing how important Elijah was to the creation of the New Testament images of Jesus. The other thing that entered my mind was Diarmaid MacCulloch’s “Silence A Christian History,” a provocative book on both the good and bad in silence throughout history. The good when one remains quiet to get to understand God better, the other bad if one is silent over evil. I enjoyed reading your post, thank you.

By: Joe N

Joe N — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 23:41:56 +0000

Michelle, you rock. I enjoyed reading this. I love me some Old Testament. I find it impressive that he did find God in the silence. That’s a tough ask.

By: Clark Goble

Clark Goble — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 01:41:06 +0000

James, not just Heidegger but semiotics in general. The classic example is Sherlock Holmes' observation about the dog that didn't bark. It comes up in lots of weird places.

By: Ben H

Ben H — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 04:40:00 +0000

I love your reading of this passage, Michelle. Elijah clearly had some soul-searching to do, even as far as he already had come in his faith and so on. The silence confronts him in a way that all the big action may conceal. This is one of my favorite passages too. Maybe you'll enjoy a post I did thinking about it a few years back.

By: New Iconoclast

New Iconoclast — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 19:08:29 +0000

I recall that one of my best sales managers used to tell us, “Say your piece and shut up. First one to speak loses.” Crude and adversarial as that sounds, there’s some truth to it, similar to what Michelle’s professor told her; we all occasionally need silence – and we need to give others some silence – to be able to process thoughts and let the Spirit work with us. (I dare not say “ponderize” with this audience! :) )

By: John Lundwall

John Lundwall — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 22:24:24 +0000

A few months ago I found myself sitting in silence in a Buddhist temple within the Ajanta Cave Complex in India. I was with a delightful guide named Kavi who had us sit in silence and darkness for several moments, then she asked us “Do you hear the silence?” There was an ambient sound within the cave, and I nodded yes. She smiled and replied “It is said that enlightenment happens when you can hear the silence of God.”

By: Frank Pellett

Frank Pellett — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 19:23:23 +0000

Reminds me of an Anechoic Chamber. Basically a room that absorbs sound so well that it can drive you mad.

By: Moss

Moss — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 17:21:50 +0000

Thank you, Michelle.

By: Bryan in VA

Bryan in VA — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 10:15:21 +0000

Several years ago I took a two-day negotiating skills class through my employer. The instructor mentioned that it is known internationally that Americans are uncomfortable with silence during negotiations and will therefore not respond immediately during a negotiating session with American counterparts, in the hopes of creating an uncomfortable lull. The desire would be that the American side will divulge additional details during the silent pause.

By: DavidH

DavidH — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 06:16:12 +0000

The silence of God was something Pope Benedict has spoken on more than once. http://www.trappists.org/pope-benedict-xvi-teachings-silence

By: Gary

Gary — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 04:00:45 +0000

An insightful post and a provocative closing question. I have been thinking about this all day. I am still not sure how to answer but maybe that was your point. Thank you.

By: James C. Olsen

James C. Olsen — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 22:14:56 +0000

Brought to mind three things:
1. Martin Heidegger’s Being and Time, which portrays silence as a positive phenomenon of language. Silence speaks volumes, just as words do.
2. Working with faculty across disciplines, one of the most difficult things to do is develop an ability to wield silence as a tool. Silence is both epistemically and socially productive in part because it’s psychologically so hard to bear.
3. All the great songs about silence (Silence is Golden, The Sounds of Silence, Enjoy the Silence, etc.).

By: Marc Bohn

Marc Bohn — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 17:46:39 +0000

Beautiful post. Strongly brought to mind Mother Teresa’s struggle with silence revealed in: Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light: The Private Writings of the Saint of Calcutta: “[But] as for me, the silence and the emptiness is so great, that I look and do not see,–Listen and do not hear–the tongue moves [in prayer] but does not speak … I want you to pray for me–that I let Him have [a] free hand.”

By: Robert C.

Robert C. — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 17:43:20 +0000

Very nice and interesting post!

I’ve been working for a year now at a Quaker university and I love love love their focus on silence, and the norm in deliberative meetings to try to not repeat what has said before, and to allow for long pauses between speakers (to gather your thoughts and say something only if it adds to the conversation, and to say it in a clear, concise, considerate, and impactful way, etc., etc.)

By: Clark Goble

Clark Goble — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 17:04:26 +0000

Great post. That always reminds me of the silence in 3 Nephi 10:1 where there’s this silence for hours after Christ speaks. (Admittedly despite strong similarities to the Elijah passage the inverting of the speaking/silence probably is significant)

There is a bit of controversy on how to translate that phrase. The NIV for instance give “a gentle whisper” or NASB “a gentle blowing.” I think many prefer the latter due to its connection to John 3:8 “The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (NRSV)

But I think you highlight well a part that doesn’t get mentioned when people use this to start talking about the Holy Ghost as the still small voice. It’s not the silence or whisper that is the message. It’s after that noise/silence that Elijah then hear’s God’s voice. The whisper or silence leads Elijah to wrap his face and go to the cave entrance to hear God.