ISAIAH 53:7 – He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.
THEME OF THE DAY. SOMETIMES SILENCE IS GOLDEN. It can be a source of great blessing, much needed encouragement, and lift many a downcast believer out of the pit of discouragement. It also may cause irreparable damage in a relationship, slice a person to the core of their being with great pain, and bring much dishonor and confusion in one’s profession as a Christian. This “it” is our speech – the use of our tongues either for much good or much harm. And here is an additional word of warning for those people who are simply talkers. You know the kind, and maybe you are the kind. It is the person who talks a lot, easily dominates small group interactions, is slow to listen, and just has to voice an opinion or input in any conversation. Here is the warning. It comes from the wisdom of King Solomon – When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent (Proverbs 10:19). We may paraphrase his words like this . . . “You may be a talker, but think about it. The more words you just have to speak, the higher goes the percentage that you will sin, and not a little.”
When it comes to conversations among people, and especially when it comes to living for the Lord Jesus in an increasingly godless society, there are going to be difficult talks. We will be misunderstood. We will be slandered. We will be verbally assaulted. We will be met with antagonism. We will suffer some form of “verbal” persecution. And too often, Christians get dragged into fruitless, even harmful conversations, that become combative, emotionally charged, and end up creating hostility between unbelievers and believers, and not because of the Gospel but due to our uncontrolled speech. But don’t think this is just a danger when we are engaging a Christ-less world. How many times have we been in “heated” theological debates with other believers that profited no one, caused tension in everyone and surely displeased the Lord. Please avoid these “debates on truth” if we sense either from ourselves or those we are engaged with a defiant heart not willing to be grace-filled in the dialogue. But again, this damage from our speech and ease of sinning with many words goes beyond unbeliever/believer and believer/believer conversations. Even in families – marriages and parenting – we may get irritated, impatient, and lose control of our speech and do damage to spouses and children because we failed to exercise restraint and control.
Well, in today’s scripture, we find the example in the Lord Jesus in the wisdom of knowing when to speak, what to speak and how to speak. The setting in this portion of Isaiah is our Lord’s unjust trial, scourging and abuse at the hands of sinful man. Here we view the innocent God-man who had every right to verbally defend Himself against all the false accusations made of Him, and yet . . . silence. He opened not His mouth.
Friends, there are times, probably a lot more than we realize, that silence is golden – to say nothing is the greater exercise of wisdom and spiritual maturity than saying anything. Defend truth? Yes, but do so by first asking and relying upon the Lord of truth to enable us to discern when to speak, how to speak, and in a manner that honors Him and His truth.
PRAYER: “Father, help me to be wise in the use of my tongue knowing when to speak, what to speak, and how to speak.”
QUOTE: “Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and realize we don’t always have to say something or have the last word.”