Read Jeremiah 51:59-64. V59 The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah,…when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah into Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. And this Seraiah was a quiet prince.
Seraiah was chief chamberlain. Today he might be likened to an army quartermaster. In any case, he was a quiet prince. There is something to be said in defense of quietness. In our fast-paced, noisy culture this virtue is often maligned and tagged as a weakness. The macho man and the assertive woman find no time for quietness in the day’s activities, no place for a quiet spirit in the inner universe of their thoughts. The Apostle Peter wrote, however, that a meek and quiet spirit is in the sight of God of great price (1 Peter 3:4). As a matter of fact, there is some doubt as to whether one ever really knows God until he or she becomes quiet before Him. The Lord Himself commands, Be still, and know that I am God (Ps. 46:10).
Every warrior of the Cross knows that sometimes the victory is won, not by doing something, but by waiting on God. The classic illustration of this truth is found in Exodus 14:13. Fear ye not, said Moses to the Israelites who were being pursued by Pharaoh’s chariots. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord. Indeed, Egyptians by the thousands who were one day menacing and intent on Israel’s destruction were forever beneath the waters of the Red Sea the next!
So we come back to Seraiah, the quiet prince. That blessed combination of royalty and poise is the birthright of every Christian! We can be quiet because when we pray about everything we have the peace of God, which passeth all understanding (Phil. 4:7). And we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people (1 Peter 2:9). Quietness is no accident; you have to plan for it. Carve out some minutes every day during which you will be absolutely still before God, allowing Him to speak to your heart.
This devotional was written by Dr. Robert A. Cook. You can subscribe to his free email articles and listen to his Spirit-filled 15-minute messages at www.walkwiththeking.org. Used with written permission.
