A Delicate Whisper

Chaplain Michael Mann

I wonder how many are like me…occasionally going through times when we really need to and want to hear from God but for some reason don’t…or can’t.

An incident, recorded in 1 Kings 19:11-13, took place in the Prophet Elijah’s life that for me speaks to such times.   

11 Then (God) said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his coat and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave.

In the margin of my Bible the phrase “still small voice” is translated “a delicate whispering voice.”  

Elijah didn’t hear the Voice he needed to hear in the excitement and noise of the wind, earthquake or fire…He heard it in a delicate whisper. That got me to thinking about what it means to hear a whisper.

      Hearing a whisper implies closeness in proximity. We simply cannot whisper from across a room.

      Hearing a whisper requires active, attentive listening. Whispers are not heard by casual listening nor do we often share something in a whisper with those of a cavalier attitude who do not pay attention.

      The most intimate, impactful or special whispers cannot be rushed or planned. There is an aspect of time spent with someone with no other agenda than time spent together.

While hearing His delicate whispers requires of us some effort verse 13 indicates that such whispers are the most impactful and contain privileged information. Note again, “So it was, when Elijah heard (the delicate whispering voice), that he wrapped his face in his coat…” 

When do you bury your face in your coat or hand? I think it’s at times when we are embarrassed (not the case here) or deeply touched by something.

I have a picture in my mind of this old Prophet, who has spent so many years with God, being so deeply moved by what he has heard in that delicate whisper that he is buries his face in his coat. Then I realized one more thing about delicate whispers.

     It presupposes a certain level of relationship. You don’t normally whisper in the ear of a stranger. You whisper in the ear of someone you know and with whom you are comfortable. Such whispers…

                        that touch us the most deeply,

                                    that impact us the most significantly,

                                                that move us greatly…

are whispers shared by lovers.

Prayer: Father, today, please help me to hear Your delicate whisper - even in the business that I can’t do anything about.  Please, give me an ear that can hear Your whisper.  And, help me to find times to be quiet, to slow down, to spend time with You with no other goal than spending time with You, so that when I need to hear Your delicate whisper I can and will. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.