Word for Today

Words can at times Inhibit the Word

From Isaiah 53,

  ⁷He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,

yet he did not open his mouth;

like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,

and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,

so he did not open his mouth.

There are portions of the books of Isaiah that are called the "Servant Songs." This is one of the most well-known among Christians. We wear Jesus-Lenses throughout life, and so we see this described servant as a match for our Lord. 

How striking it is, that when the servant gave himself up, he spoke not a word, he did not even open his mouth.

When we hear something very startling, we too at times can't even open our mouths. Or we open them, but nothing comes out. Isaiah's suffering servant doesn't open his mouth because in part he needed to give himself entirely to the sacrifice. The experience of the sacrifice was too intense for words. The noise of no sound was louder than any word spoken.

There are times when silence is necessary, and there are times when we cannot be silent. In the moment the Lamb of God went to the Shearer, there needed to be silence, so the Good News could be heard loud and clear. In the quietness there, we can hear the very voice of God:

I love you.

James Aalgaard, pastor, St. Paul Lutheran Church