Romans 3:9-20
What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one;
11 no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
13 “Their throat is an open grave;
they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of asps is under their lips.”
14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 in their paths are ruin and misery,
17 and the way of peace they have not known.”
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
I heard only small portion of the conversation between my wife and her seat mate on a recent flight. What I heard, however, (or more accurately, didn’t hear) was stunning to me. Silence. In the middle of the somewhat earnest conversation about children and family, there was suddenly no conversation. The silence was powerful evidence that Diane had struck a nerve and brought this woman to a place of sincere self-examination. There was no more argument. Although the conversation was very friendly (she was seeking help connecting with her son), the woman seemed defensive in the face of her own confusion and inability to influence her son in a good direction.
I later learned that Diane had simply asked, “What are you afraid of?” It was a powerful question in that moment and silenced the woman long enough perhaps for her to reflect rather than emote. I remember a similar occasion when I was brought to a powerful silence when asked a question I had to reflect on rather than offer an immediate answer or an excuse. It brought me to a place of humility and blessing. I didn’t need to figure out an answer. I needed to receive grace.
Paul writes that the law speaks to us so that “every mouth may be stopped…” Such silence is needed for the sake of our own eternal wellbeing. For if we go on and on, blithely excusing our behavior, justifying ourselves, and proving our point we will never enter into the place of true righteousness and justification. That is because we have no righteousness of our own. There is no excuse for our behavior. We cannot prove our point before God. We are accountable to God, and truly have nothing to say in our own defense.
That is true of us all: “None is righteous, no not one.” That ought to give us pause. That ought to silence us. And in that moment of silence the Good News of God may be heard in all its sweetness and joy. But if we are babbling on, offering excuses, defending our cause, blaming others we will miss it. We will be eternally lost. Is it time for you to “be still and know that [the Lord] is God”? (Psalm 46:10) Such silence brings the golden opportunity to seek the righteousness of God. That Good News is sweet in the ears of those who are silent before God.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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