The Silence of Death: A Good Friday Meditation

For Sheol cannot thank You, Death cannot praise You; Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness. (Isaiah 38:18)

To die is to enter into silence. Creation is a song. The birds shout forth the praises of the Most High while the trees clap their hands. "The morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy" as the Father sang the world into existence.

Among the dead no one proclaims your name. Who praises you from the grave? (Psalm 6:5)

In God's presence is fullness of joy and at His right hand are pleasures forevermore. In God's presence is continual song. The world was created to sing. Songs are to be sung from the smithy's hammer, the woodsman's ax, and the baker's oven. Songs shout forth from the mouths of babes and even from stones. All creation was meant to sing.

To you, LORD, I call; you are my Rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who go down to the pit. (Psalm 28:1)

The deafening silence of death is the silence of God. Creation is upheld by the Word of God's power; we are upheld by the Word of God. If God is to remain silent then to silence we must go; to death we must go. "If you remain silent I will be like those who go down to the pit."

Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction? (Psalm 88:11)

The grave is Destruction because the grave is decreation. When God speaks worlds are formed. When God is silent creation falls apart.

But what happens when the incarnate Word of God takes on death? What happens when divine song enters through the gates of death? What happens when the Father is silent to His own Word's cry?

At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" which is translated, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" (Mark 15:34)