Question about God's intentional silence...


Somebody asked a little question about God's choosing to be silent:

Neat Site.  Plan to come back to it.

I am working on a devotional and I stumbled on your web site.

In My Utmost For His Highest, Oswald Chambers writes on October 11 about God's Silence.  It is a very challenging thought.  What I am trying to find are Biblical passages that substantiate Mr. Chambers' concept of God's silence.
 
How do we handle it when God chooses to be silent -- not only on an issue; but to our requests (ie: Prayers).   Mr. Chambers suggests that this is God "trusting us" with His silence.

Is there a Biblical basis for this?

I tend NOT to doubt Oswald Chambers.  But, I am having trouble locating anything in the scriptures that suggests that God is ever intentionally silent.

Any clues, leads or suggestions for me?

I wrote back with a couple of clues:

Perhaps:
 
1. 2 Chron 32.31 ["This same Hezekiah closed the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the city of David. Hezekiah prospered in all his works. 31 So also in the matter of the envoys of the officials of Babylon, who had been sent to him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart."]

2. The entire silence of God toward Job's entreaties...as a means to prove the purity of Job's love for God

3. The whole purpose of trials (one of which is obviously the necessary 'gap' between request and answer) includes the 'waiting' as part of the testing (How Long, O Lord?! -- kinda stuff). This is very intentional by God, for our good/development.
 
Perhaps these are themes which support his understanding...?
 
hope this helps,
glenn miller


The Christian ThinkTank...[https://www.Christianthinktank.com] (Reference Abbreviations)