before the Lord . . . .” Zech. 2:13. “Let all the earth keep silence before Him!” Hab. 2:20. “But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.” Isa. 7:20. It is not only the wicked, according to the usual understanding of this word, who cannot be silent, but it is the old man in whom dwells nothing good. Spiritually speaking, this is the very reason that nothing but mire and dirt are “cast up.” The human soul is exceedingly restless and causes only harm even if it is ever so well-meaning and caring. Therefore it must be silenced! The words “Be silent, all flesh” and “Let all the earth keep silence” are extremely necessary. However, this restless soul cannot be silent as long as it continues to live. What a masterly work and what grace that Jesus Himself has poured it out into death, so that we also, while we live and by faith in His work, can surrender it into the death of Christ, so that we can always and forever rest from it! Glory to God! As it is written: “For we who have believed do enter that [God’s] rest.” It is indescribable and amazing that in the time of the old covenant, before the work was finished and before there was any death of Christ into which to surrender your soul, David could say: “Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul . . . .” Ps. 131:2. This must necessarily give us much hope that we, by faith in the work of Christ, can now put an end to all the usual unrest that in every way and situation causes so much harm and trouble. It is no wonder that the Scriptures say a woman’s adornment should be a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God! Oh, how gracious she then is, also in the eyes of people, and how pleasant it is to be together with her! How absolutely indescribably good it is to be at rest within when something is happening! How good it is to be together with people who possess such rest! Let us compete in silencing our soul in the coming days, compete in entering into rest, and thus compete in making it pleasant for our fellow brothers and sisters and our fellow man! Motto: Enter into rest!Elias Aslaksen