Left Speechless by Ann-Louise
Posted December 11, 2009
Have you ever been left speechless? What was it that left you unable to respond? What left you without words? The Bible talks about a few people who were left speechless. What left them without words? What was it that left them unable to respond? Let's take a look...
A prophet was left speechless.
One day as Daniel stood at the edge of the Tigris River, an angel appeared to him, clothed in linen and gold, with a face like lightning, eyes like lamps of fire and a resounding voice like a mighty choir (Dan. 10). This angel told Daniel of the mighty things God was about to do. Daniel described his response, saying, “…when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling… I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.”
A priest was left was left speechless.
An angel of the Lord appeared to Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, in the temple and told him of the son to be born and of the mighty things God would do through him. When Zacharias came out of the temple, the people were waiting for him but “he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless” (Luke 1:22).
Soldiers were left speechless.
Paul went out one day, armed with “letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou , Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest … And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man” (Acts 9:1-7).
The host of heaven was left speechless.
John witnessed a great multitude in heaven who “…cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen” (Rev. 7:10-12). Then, as the seventh seal was opened, revealing the power and holiness of God, “there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour” (Rev. 8:1).
An apostle was left speechless.
Peter knew a “joy unspeakable and full of glory.” (1 Peter 1:8.) What was the source of this joy that left him speechless? Peter rejoiced in “the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.” 1 Peter 1:19-21.)
Have you been left speechless?
Each of the people mentioned above were left speechless as they stood in awe following an encounter with the holiness, power or love of God. Have you encountered the holiness, power and love of God? The Lord of all creation demonstrated His holiness, power and love when He gave his Son to die in our place and raised Him up on the third day. Shouldn’t this, above all else, leave us speechless?
Consider the King of glory who took on flesh, became a man, suffered and died as the Lamb of God in your place. Consider the resurrected Christ who is seated at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for you and living within you. Paul considered this and was left speechless. He said, “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift” (2 Cor. 9:15).
Like Paul, I know I don’t deserve an encounter with the holiness, power and love of God, but He has chosen to demonstrate His love for me anyway. If you have had a similar encounter with God, I pray that you still have an awe that leaves you speechless and can say with me…
Thanks be unto God for His amazing gift that leaves us speechless!
And I am speechless, I'm astonished and amazed
I am silenced by Your wonderous grace
You have saved me
You have raised me from the grave
And I am speechless in Your presence now
I'm astounded as I consider how
You have shown us
A love that leaves us speechless
"Speechless'
lyrics by Steven Curtis Chapman & Geoff Moore
©1997 Sparrow Song/Peach Hill Songs (BMI)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhL13_F8rpI
Thanks be unto God for His amazing gift that leaves us speechless!
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A prophet was left speechless.
One day as Daniel stood at the edge of the Tigris River, an angel appeared to him, clothed in linen and gold, with a face like lightning, eyes like lamps of fire and a resounding voice like a mighty choir (Dan. 10). This angel told Daniel of the mighty things God was about to do. Daniel described his response, saying, “…when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling… I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.”
A priest was left was left speechless.
An angel of the Lord appeared to Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, in the temple and told him of the son to be born and of the mighty things God would do through him. When Zacharias came out of the temple, the people were waiting for him but “he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless” (Luke 1:22).
Soldiers were left speechless.
Paul went out one day, armed with “letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou , Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest … And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man” (Acts 9:1-7).
The host of heaven was left speechless.
John witnessed a great multitude in heaven who “…cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen” (Rev. 7:10-12). Then, as the seventh seal was opened, revealing the power and holiness of God, “there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour” (Rev. 8:1).
An apostle was left speechless.
Peter knew a “joy unspeakable and full of glory.” (1 Peter 1:8.) What was the source of this joy that left him speechless? Peter rejoiced in “the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.” 1 Peter 1:19-21.)
Have you been left speechless?
Each of the people mentioned above were left speechless as they stood in awe following an encounter with the holiness, power or love of God. Have you encountered the holiness, power and love of God? The Lord of all creation demonstrated His holiness, power and love when He gave his Son to die in our place and raised Him up on the third day. Shouldn’t this, above all else, leave us speechless?
Consider the King of glory who took on flesh, became a man, suffered and died as the Lamb of God in your place. Consider the resurrected Christ who is seated at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for you and living within you. Paul considered this and was left speechless. He said, “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift” (2 Cor. 9:15).
Like Paul, I know I don’t deserve an encounter with the holiness, power and love of God, but He has chosen to demonstrate His love for me anyway. If you have had a similar encounter with God, I pray that you still have an awe that leaves you speechless and can say with me…
Thanks be unto God for His amazing gift that leaves us speechless!
And I am speechless, I'm astonished and amazed
I am silenced by Your wonderous grace
You have saved me
You have raised me from the grave
And I am speechless in Your presence now
I'm astounded as I consider how
You have shown us
A love that leaves us speechless
"Speechless'
lyrics by Steven Curtis Chapman & Geoff Moore
©1997 Sparrow Song/Peach Hill Songs (BMI)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhL13_F8rpI
Thanks be unto God for His amazing gift that leaves us speechless!
Home Page More Articles