The people of Israel endured many centuries of silence from God, as his prophetic word to them ceased. They also lost the blessing of their land, their temple, and their freedom. But God left his people with the promise of a future hope: that the Anointed One would come to bring salvation to Israel, and indeed to the whole world. In the meantime, the intermediate silence was deafening. The church also waits for the return of Christ, but the silence is different. God's voice is heard through his Word and Spirit, and we have been given the task of inviting sinners into his kingdom. We are to be a people oriented around the expectation of his imminent return, and that should change the way we live.