05 - The Silent Week
Chapter 5 THE SILENT WEEK (February 23rd. to March 3rd., 1905)
During the space of three months before the mighty outburst of revival in Loughor, the young prophet enjoyed glorious communion with his heavenly Father. During this time he had very little sleep, for the burden of his beloved Wales prostrated him low at the Throne of Grace. Besides this, there was the overwhelming joy of the sweet seasons of fellowship in the secret place. Then during the months following the outbreak he could scarcely find time to eat or sleep, as tens of thousands crowded the villages and towns wherever it was known that he would appear. By the end of February, 1905, he must have been exhausted in mind and body.
It was at this time that the Spirit revealed to him that he must have a week of silence, no doubt for fresh instructions and anointings for further ministry. On February 22nd. Evan Roberts reached GOD’R COED, NEATH, a little before the time when he should fulfill an engagement at Briton Ferry. It was evident that he was under a great burden. Soon he made it known that he was not going to preach - that the Spirit had ordered him to be silent. With the kind permission of his host and hostess, Mr and Mrs Jones, he remained confined to his bedroom whithout speaking to anyone, not even his loved ones. All that passed between him and the outside world during these days was done in writing. Hundreds of people, including famous preachers and newspaper men from all over the world, called to see him in the house on these days, but Mr and Mrs Jones refused to let anyone go to his room, in accordance with strict instructions.
Though after this time of isolation he was the same Evan Roberts, it was noted that he had an added deep stratum. This unusual incident reveals to every student of revival that a spiritual revolution is a deep and solemn affair. One’s entire life and personality lies naked before a holy God for the transforming work of the Spirit.
While we will never know what really took place during this silent week, we do know from his spiritual diary that he received great onslaughts from the powers of darkness and that, like the Savior, he conquered. Some extracts from his diary during the 5th. and 6th. days of the "silent week" are significant:
FIFTH DAY - A DEDICATION
"I must take great care, first, to do all that God says - commands - and that only. Moses lost himself here-struck the rock. Second, to take every matter, however insignificant to God in prayer. Joshua lost himself here: he made a covenant with the Gibeonites who pretended that they lived in a far-off country while they were living close at hand. Third, to give obedience to the Holy Spirit. Fourth, to give all the glory to Him."
SIXTH DAY - A PROPHECY
- Lo, I am the Lord, who hath lifted thee up from the depth. I have sustained thee thus far. Lift up thine eyes and look on the fields and, behold, they are white. Shall I suffer thee to spread a table before Mine enemies? As I live, saith the Lord, the windows of heaven shall be opened, and the rain shall come down upon the parched earth. With flowers the wilderness shall yet be decked, and the meadow land shall be the habitation of kings. The ground shall sprout and blossom in its fulness and the heavens shall look down with laughter upon hidden riches on the earth, yielding glory unto God. Open thine hand, and I will fill it with power. Open thy mouth and I will fill it with wisdom. Open thy heart, and I will fill it with love. Look toward the west, and call thousands; toward the south, and say "Come"; toward the north, and say "Draw nigh". Look towards the east, and say "Let the sun arise and shed forth its warmth. Let life spring up. Let the nations which have rejected My name live." To kings turn thyself and say, "Bend"; To knights, "Submit ye". To the priests, "Deal out judgment, pity, forgiveness. Ye islands, seas, and kingdoms, give ear unto Me, I am the Almighty. Shall I lift My rod over you? Did I not swear by the prophet Isaiah: "I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that unto Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear"? (Isa 45:23) Later, when questioned by loving friends concerning the principle object of "THE SILENCE", he remarked:
"It was not for the sake of my mind or my body to have a rest but for A SIGN. When I asked the Lord what was the object of the SEVEN DAYS OF SILENCE He distinctly said, "AS THY TONGUE WAS TIED FOR SEVEN DAYS, SO SHALL SATAN BE BOUND SEVEN TIMES".