The Stones would cry out.

""if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." Luke 19:40

Anyone want to give a try at explaining what Jesus is talking about here? This winter I have been working on balancing river stones. I have done a lot of construction work so it goes pretty fast. I can balance four or five stones in less than a minute. You kind of get a feel for it. I do not think this is what Jesus was talking about though.

All of creation attests to the glory of God.

“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into
song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” (Isaiah 55:12)

Do not forget that Adam was made of the dust of the ground.

I take it literally. The Earth itself would cry out for him.

Romans 8:19 (ESV) For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.

Nothing is impossible for God. Jesus could of turned rocks into bread. Satan knew He could but that would be rebelling against the Father at that typical time. If even the people was to completely be wiped, God tells us his creation would still cry out for him. Basically putting the concept that we are not forced to worship God, but in worship we are exclaiming that God is worthy of worship. That God doesn't need our worship to fulfill anything on His end. Without us, even God's creation would worship Him. So why worship? Because in us exclaiming God, we are noticing the Almighty power and need for God. All the wonderful attributes of God should cause any Intelligent person to put that in perspective. It also should cause any God fearing individual to worship in thankfulness knowing where we stand in comparison to God described in scripture.

Stones are used in the bible to represent the unseen bride of Christ the church

1 Peter 2:5 and ye yourselves, as living stones, are built up, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

When Jesus was challenged with a law of the fathers that he called a brood of vipers .The faithless Jew that refused to call no man one earth father walked away in unbelief (no faith).

They were trusting in their own corrupted flesh. rather than having the exclusive faith that comes from hearing our father rather by men on earth like Abraham for the Jew or Peter for the Catholics,.

One of the what I call think not doctrines.

Matthew 3:9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

Or according to Catholisicim same principle different name.

Matthew 3:9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Peter to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Peter .

This is hyperbolic language. In other words, even inanimate creation (stones) would praise Christ audibly if necessary, and if humans did not). However, one day all the living creatures in the universe will acclaim and worship God and Christ as the Lamb and it will be audible.

And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. (Rev 5:13(.

I like your post but I think it was what Jesus was talking about, besides, we are made of the dust of the earth anyway ..
I think sons of God here in vs 7 were all earth creation including rocks
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Reminds me of the Eagles song about: "Don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy" As a general rule I have to have a radio playing when I drive to cover up the sounds of the wheel and the other noise we hear. The point of the song is: "Lighten up while you still can - don't even try to understand - Just find a place to make your stand - and take it easy". Nature itself makes a lot of noise. Usually rocks make noise because of the wind. Still there is the sound of crickets and birds and the flow of the water in the river and all of that. There is a disney movie about the sounds of the Artic, they call it Freeze or something like that. I do not know if that is what He is talking about or if there will be something in addition to what we already hear and experience.

linked to this saying, also:

and to the Devil trying to tempt Him to turn stones into bread in the wilderness - which links to Massah / Meribah, where the children of Israel taken out of Egypt cursed God, accusing Him of rescuing them in order to kill them, their children and their animals ((Exodus 17:1-7)). there Moses cried out to the LORD saying 'they are almost ready to stone me!' -- their murderous thoughts toward God being directed by proxy at Moses.
there, they were given water from the rock to drink. Christ is the true Rock ((re: 1 Corinthians 10:4, Daniel 2:34, Isaiah 28:16 etc)) and gave them true water to drink ((re: John 4)) by His word He spoke to them. and the ones He speaks to in Luke 19:40, they also sought to murder God, and in judgement not one stone would be left upon another 'because they did not recognize the time of God's coming to them' ((Luke 19:44))

He takes away hearts of stone and replaces them with living hearts - hearts out of which living water flows.

to sort this out, we're going to need to look into just about every place a stone or stones is spoken about in scripture. it was a stone that crushed the head of Goliath, and a stone at the mouth of the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea where they lay Jesus - rolled in front of the door by the strength of men, and rolled away by divine power. the women on the way in the morning wondered, who will roll it away for them?

Mostly we need to look at the women caught in adultery when Jesus said: "“Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?” 11“No one, Lord,” she answered. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.” (John8:11) because Jesus died in our place so that we could live.

are the stones crying out in this passage?
what do they say?
or is someone not keeping silent - in which case, what are they saying, that the stones would if they do not say it?

eventually we should land here:

the immediate stones Jesus is referring to in Luke 19:40 are the stones of the city of Jerusalem - of which He also remarks, not one will be left on another. Jerusalem, who is guilty of the blood of the prophets, and at that time, about to be guilty of the blood of God.

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● Matt 3:9 . . God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

Well; I suppose making people from stones couldn't be any more difficult
than making them from soil.

● Gen 2:7 . . And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

The breath of life is pretty amazing. It's so powerful that it can make rock
and dirt alive, sentient, and self aware.

This is kind of a silly thought, but if God can give stones a voice, then it's
actually possible for Him to make your own hands speak; i.e. "talk to the
hand" would become a reality and people might even be able to use their
own hands as an iPhone instead of an Apple Inc. device. Of course they'd
still need to purchase a service.
_