Lesson 10: God’s Silence
Lesson 10 from Seeking the Truth: A Study of Authority by Rhodes Davis.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
During the Reformation, two approaches to God’s silence were offered: What God has not specifically prohibited we are free to pursue.
Martin Luther
What God has not specifically authorized we are prohibited from pursuing. God’s word provides the answer to these contrasting views. The book of Hebrews directly addresses the issue of God’s silence. In Hebrews 7, the writer discusses Jesus as our high priest under the new covenant. He necessarily infers that since the priesthood changed, there must be a change of law, Hebrews 7:12. The priesthood had to change because Jesus could not be a priest under the Old Law. “For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe nothing concerning priesthood Hebrews 7:14. The writer argues that God’s silence prohibited one from Judah serving as a priest. In the Old Law, God specifically chose the Levites to serve as priests (Numbers 3). God did not have to say, “I have taken the Levites—not the tribe of Ruben, Simeon, Judah, Dan, Asher…” When God specified one tribe, it necessarily excluded all other tribes from serving. God did not serving as priests, but when He specified the tribe of Levi, it implicitly priesthood. Consider the example from the previous lesson about Noah and the ark. When God commanded Noah to build the ark out of gopher wood, God did not have to name every other type of wood as prohibited materials. When God specified one type of wood, all others were excluded. In Numbers 9:1-14, some wanted to partake of the Passover feast but were prohibited because they were defiled. Moses could not just grant an exception for them because God specified when Israel must observe the feast; it would be presumptuous on his part to change it. Moses presented the case before God and
God
who was defiled or on a journey. Only God can grant exceptions to His law. In the New Testament, the argument over circumcision arose over what God did not command. Some teachers were telling the Gentiles that they had to be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses in order to be saved. In teaching the Gentiles, the apostles told them that they “gave no such commandment,” Acts 15:24. In the absence of a command, the teachers were not free to tell the Gentiles to be circumcised and keep the Law. Silence and Expediency The silence of the scriptures prohibits us from adding something that God prohibited by exclusion. However, an expediency is not an addition to God’s command but a way to facilitate observing God’s command. Consider the example from lesson 7 regarding the command to sing praises to God (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). Expedients to help us fulfill the command to sing include song books, handouts with the lyrics printed on them, a song projected on an overhead display, and a song leader. Any of these or none of these can be used and we can still fulfill the command to sing. None of these expedients is another kind of music. However, when we play instruments, we introduce another kind of music into the worship. God commanded singing, he necessarily excluded playing. Instruments have existed since the time of Genesis. If God wanted to command instruments for use in worship He could have done so, but he did not. In 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 we find the principles related to giving. We are to give as we have prospered. We could give the money in cash or write a check. We can use metal plates, baskets, or designate a drop box to collect the money. These are expedients to help us fulfill the obligation to give. We cannot have bake sales, raffles, spaghetti suppers, solicit donations from business, offer advertising space, or other means of fund-raising. This is another type of contribution different from giving of our means, therefore, it is prohibited. Paul warned the Corinthians not to go beyond what was written, 1 Corinthians 4:6. John tells his readers that if they do not abide in the doctrine of God, they do not have God, 2 John 9. We must do what God has commanded and go no further. We do not have the right add or remove commandments,
Questions for Discussion & Study
- Explain the following verses as they relate to silence: Acts 15:24 1 Cor. 4:6 2 John 9
- 2. Does the silence of the scriptures conflict with expediencies? Explain.