THE wise man tells us that there is “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.” It is not always easy to know when to speak; and it is very difficult to know when to keep silence. But there are times when silence is clearly the right and only course, and some of these I now wish to name.
When God convinces a sinner of his sin, and shows him that in himself he is ruined and lost, then a man must be silent. “Now we know that what things so-ever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” (Romans 3:1919Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (Romans 3:19).) All must be brought here, either by grace in this life, or at the day of judgment.
When God sends trouble upon a man, the effect is to produce a holy silence. Thus David says: “I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because Thou didst it.” (Psalm 39:99I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it. (Psalm 39:9).) He was so troubled by his grief that he could not speak; and others since his day have trodden the same path.
When a man has enemies or false friends who speak wicked things against him, then he may very wisely be silent. This was the course pursued by David, and he himself tells us this: “They that seek my hurt speak mischievous things. But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.” (Psalm 38:1313But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth. (Psalm 38:13).) And again: “I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good.” (Psalm 39:11<<To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.>> I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. (Psalm 39:1), 2.)
4. But the Lord Jesus Christ is in this our great Example. “And when He was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.” When Pilate questioned Him, He “answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marveled greatly.” Then Pilate asked Him, “whence art thou?” But Jesus gave him no answer. The Lord stood unmoved amid all the scorn and shame. He was indeed the pattern for us. “He opened not His mouth; He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.”
5. It is also a time to keep silence when we are insulted. A worldly man may resent an injury; but a Christian never. He has a far better method. When Rabshakeh sent an insulting message to Hezekiah, he first instructed his messengers not to answer; and then went and spread the letter before the Lord. This is always a wise and a safe course of conduct. How much strife would be prevented, how much fighting spared, if we always adopted this course!
No doubt all public men, all servants of God, editors of magazines, preachers of the gospel, at times get communications that are likely to wound them. It would clearly be impossible to answer all of them. We have not the time. We are to be patient toward all men, and even go out of our way at times to reply to very unworthy letters; but we may not take any notice of some. We even receive letters which are no honor to the writers, and feel how easy it would be to reply and to crush the arguments used; but we have the Master’s example to follow. He was once silent before Pilate: one day Pilate will be silent before Him.
O how safe are they whose minds are kept in perfect peace, resting in Him! May I by grace be enabled to follow Him. “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps; who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth; who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.”
This kind of silence is also effective in silencing the unkindness or bitterness of others. “For so is the will of God, that with well-doing ye may put to silence (muzzle) the ignorance of foolish men.”
July 5th, 1905.
WILLIAM WILEMAN.