STILL SMALL VOICE

By Capazin Thornton

A still small voice is referred to one time in Scripture. In First Kings 19:12, the prophet Elijah has an encounter with God.

Still small voice—the back story

In the 9^th century B.C., Israel had become a nation of idol worshippers mainly because of increasingly wicked leaders. King Ahab and his treacherous, murderous, controlling pagan wife Queen Jezebel were the worst. Jezebel promoted worship of her false gods, Baal and Asherah. She had 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah. And she killed as many of God’s true prophets as she could find.

Elijah (“my God is Yahweh”) wanted to see Israel return to the Lord. He called for a “god contest,” if you will, on Mount Carmel to demonstrate that Yahweh is God.

From morning to evening the prophets of Baal called on Baal to send fire from heaven upon their altar. No response.  Afterwards, Elijah built the altar of the Lord and then drenched it, the burnt sacrifice and the wood with four large jars of water—three times. He then prayed for God to send fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice. The Lord sent fire which consumed the burnt sacrifice, wood, stones, dust, and all the water. The children of Israel fell on their faces and said, “The LORD, He is God. The LORD, He is God.” (See 1 Ki 18:17-39)

Elijah then executed the 450 prophets of Baal. (1 Ki 18:40) When Queen Jezebel learned of it, she sent a messenger to Elijah vowing to kill him in 24 hours.

Elijah fled Jezreel and went to Beersheba in Judah (about 95 miles). He left his servant in Beersheba and went a day’s journey into the wilderness. Tired, thirsty, hungry, and despondent, Elijah sat down under a broom tree and prayed to die. (1 Ki 19:3-4)

Still small voice on the mountain of God

God sent an angel to provide Elijah with food and water. Elijah then traveled 40 days and nights until he came to Horeb (Mt. Sinai), “the mountain of God,” where he went into a cave and spent the night. (1 Ki 19:7-9a)

Then the word of the Lord came to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Ki 19:9b) Without answering the question, Elijah said, “God, everybody has forsaken your covenant. All the prophets are dead. I alone am left. Now they are trying to kill me too.” (v. 10)

God told Elijah, “Go out on the mountain and stand in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” A fierce wind tore into the mountain and broke the rocks in pieces. Then there was an earthquake. After the earthquake, there was a fire. But the Lord was not in the wind, earthquake or fire.  After the fire, a still small voice (vv. 11-12).

What was the still small voice?  Sheer silence!

When Elijah heard these things (the sound of rocks shattering, rumble of an earth quake, fire sizzling, and then silence), he wrapped his face in his mantle and went and stood in the entrance of the cave, where he waited for God to speak. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “Elijah, what are you doing here?” (v. 13)

When Elijah stood on the mountain of God in the presence of the Lord, when God had his undivided attention, then God spoke and gave Elijah clear perspective, fresh revelation, and new direction.

Still small voice—atmosphere of God’s presence

The still small voice has often been defined as a soft whisper. While God may speak to us in a soft whisper, in this account God did not speak to Elijah in a soft whisper. The still small voice is not so much a way God speaks to us as it is the atmosphere in which He speaks. It is the atmosphere of His manifested presence.

It is the atmosphere birthed from genuine, unadulterated worship. Where we have surrendered all, our concentration is totally on the Lord, and we worship and adore Him. As we stand in awe of Him, a holy hush ensues. Sheer silence! His glory fills our heart and the atmosphere around us. Suddenly, God speaks. Refreshing words, new songs, fresh direction come from the presence of the Lord.

“Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, LORD.” Ps 89:15 (NLT)

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Capazin Thornton is a Christian speaker and author in Orange County, California.