Jun 16 – But The Lord!

“And the high priest arose and said to Him, ‘Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?’ But Jesus kept silent.” (Matthew 26:62,63)

Here we see Lord Jesus giving silence as His answer. Many rose up and gave false witness against Him. Yet Jesus, standing before the high priest, did not try to defend His own righteousness or justify Himself. He remained silent.

The Bible says: “There is a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.” (Ecclesiastes 3:7)

Jesus preached the Word of God in the wilderness. He taught in the synagogues. When He stood upon the mountain, multitudes gathered before Him, and He opened His mouth and taught them.

But when the woman caught in adultery was brought before Him and many accusations were raised against her, He quietly bent down and wrote on the ground. Only when they continued questioning Him did He say: “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” (John 8:7). Then He became silent again. Those who came to stone her quietly departed.

At times, silence itself becomes a mighty weapon. There have been people who accomplished great things through silence. The well-known Thomas à Kempis wrote in the introduction of The Imitation of Christ: “Silence is my friend; prayer is my companion.” Another godly man said, “Reduce your conversation with people; increase your conversation with God.”

Do you know what King David experienced? “I said, ‘I will guard my ways, lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, while the wicked are before me.’ I was mute with silence, I held my peace even from good.” (Psalm 39:1,2)

What was the result of this? The next verse says: “My heart was hot within me; While I was musing, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue.” (Psalm 39:3)

When we remain silent, the Lord will speak for us. He will plead our case and fight our battles. The Lord says:

“For Zion’s sake I will not hold My peace, And for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, Until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, And her salvation as a lamp that burns.” (Isaiah 62:1)

Children of God, if you speak for yourself, the Lord may remain silent. But if you remain silent before Him, the Lord Himself will fight for you. Will you give Him room to fight your battles?

The Lord has taken responsibility for all your matters. He will accomplish everything for you.

Verse for further meditation: “But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him.” (Habakkuk 2:20)