Stillness is defined as the absence or movement of sound. God says for us to be ‘still’ and know that He is God. (Psalm 46:10)
Sound is defined as sound produced by continuous and regular vibrations, as opposed to noise. Vibrations that travel through air or another medium and can be heard when they reach the person’s or animal’s ear. God’s voice is as the sound of mighty waters or ocean waves. (Ezekiel 43:2 & Revelation 14:2)
Noise is defined as a sound especially one that is loud or unpleasant, or that causes a disturbance. God says for Israel to take away from Him the ‘noise’ of their songs. (Amos 5:23)
We live in a world of noise. I grew up in a house that was full of arguments. I learned that the stillness of the woods was where I could find solitude and peace; the ‘stillness’ of the woods brought healing to my bruised and wounded soul. Yet the woods were never fully still; it was full of living creatures making quiet sounds.
I believe the Garden of Eden was like the woods, still, but alive with all creatures moving about in peaceful harmony.
God told David to come at the Philistines in front of the balsam trees. When he heard the sound like marching feet in the tops of the trees, then he was to act, for the Lord will have gone out before him to strike the army of the Philistines. (II Samuel 5:24)
When the army of God’s warrior angels marched, they made continuous and regular vibrations which traveled through the air until they reached the ears of the Philistines. The angels did not make a noise, they made a continuous sound, a continuous vibration as the sound of many mighty ocean waves rising and falling upon the shore; as God’s voice. The Philistines fled in fear at God’s voice.
When I get to pray with a dying person, the room is usually filled with family members who have been weeping and mourning over the loved one passing. When I start to pray, you can hear sniffles, and soft crying, and sometimes a burst of loud weeping. The room sounds like noise; very unpleasant and disturbing.
But after a few minutes of prayer, there is a change in the atmosphere of the room, as each one begins to realize they are feeling peace, love that is coming from the spirits of Jesus and His angels, as they make their presence known.
The weeping subsides, the tears dry up, as the storm that is raging in their hearts begins to still. The waves of grief no longer make noise and disturbance, but now they make a continuous and regular vibration as their human spirit makes contact with God’s Holy Spirit. Noise is turned into sound, a beautiful sound, a joyful sound. The loved one usually passes quickly and with peace on his or her face. God turns our mourning into joy and dancing. (Jeremiah 31:13)
In Revelation chapter five when John sees the Title Deed to the earth in God’s hand and no one is worthy to take it and unseal it, there is weeping, there is noise, there is a disturbance. But, when Jesus as the Lamb of God steps forward and takes the book, the elders and the four covering angels bow to the ground before Christ. They take harps and bowls of incense, which we learn are prayers of saints from all ages of time, and they sing a new song.
“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were killed, and at the cost of your own blood you have purchased for God persons from every tribe, language, people, and nation. You have appointed them as a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”
Then John sees an innumerable host of angels join in song.
“To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be praise, honor, glory, and ruling power forever and ever!” The elders say, “Amen!”
Revelation 19:1-8, “After these things I heard what sounded like the loud voice of a vast throng in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, because his judgments are true and just. For he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and has avenged the blood of his servants poured out by her own hands!” Then a second time the crowd shouted, “Hallelujah!” The smoke rises from her forever and ever. The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures threw themselves to the ground and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne, saying: “Amen! Hallelujah!” Then a voice came from the throne, saying: “Praise our God all you his servants, and all you who fear Him, both the small and the great!” Then I heard what sounded like the voice of a vast throng, like the roar of many waters and like loud crashes of thunder. They were shouting: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the All-Powerful, reigns! Let us rejoice and exult and give him glory, because the wedding celebration of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. She was permitted to be dressed in bright, clean, fine linen”(for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints).
There may be a lot of noise among the leaders of this world. There may be a lot of noise inundating your brain and heart at home, at school, at work, and even at church. (Israel’s songs became just noise to God-Amos 5:23)
The non-stop connection to our smart gadgets that leave us disconnected from real human beings may leave you with disturbing sound waves. But, on the other side of the veil that separates us from the spirit world, there are prayers, worship, songs of praise, ascending to the very throne of God as a Joyful Sound, a good vibration, a harmonious peace that passes all earthly understanding!
You may not be able to go to the woods, but you can tap into it by learning to get alone in your closet, shutting the noise of this world out, and becoming very quiet in your heart, lifting your voice to Christ, until you hear the sound moving in the mulberry tree. Then you can sing a melody from your heart in praise to the only One who can give you peace in the midst of your storm. God will make His Presence known because you have given Him the Sound of Stillness instead of disturbing noise.