LifeLink Devotions for Monday, August 18, 2025

Silence is scary – especially for someone as impulsively vocal as I am. But according to an old saying, ”Silence is Golden.” The whole saying goes like this – “Speech is silvern, but silence is golden.” In the Bible, the wisdom of King Solomon said that there is “a time to speak and a time to be silent.” I have the speaking part down real well. It doesn’t turn out well many times, but I certainly speak a lot. It’s the silence part that needs a lot of work.

King Hezekiah’s representatives were being verbally bashed by the commander of the Assyrian army. They were being told that they had no hope of surviving unless they surrendered. But after the audible assault was over, they remained silent. They were under orders to do so. They obeyed. Hezekiah wanted information. He didn’t want debate. This was a battle that would be won by the Lord’s power not by man’s reason. That’s the lesson we need to learn and apply more frequently in our lives.

There are numerous passages about silence in the Bible. I have narrowed them down to the two areas that may need the most work.

When verbally attacked, follow the example of Jesus

Matthew 26:59-63 “The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death.   But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward   and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”   Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?”   But Jesus remained silent.”

Isaiah 53:7 “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.”

When we are under attack from others, or even if they just make a decision or mistake that affects us negatively, be silent. Leave it in God’s hands.

When angry at someone, think a long time before you speak

Psalm 4:4 “In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.”

Proverbs 17:28 “Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.”

Don’t respond to people in anger. Be silent until you can respond rationally and not emotionally.

But we must not always be silent. The Bible teaches that we must use our words to build others up instead of tear them down. Unfortunately we tend to be silent or speak the wrong things when we could be speaking the good things.

The church of Jesus Christ would be a whole lot better place if we would learn to speak when we should and be silent at all other times. Be silent when it hurts others. Be silent when we need to hear from God. But speak up when it helps others and draws them closer to Jesus.

Pastor John