Knowing When to Keep Silent
Wednesday’s Verse:
From Proverbs 17:28 ESV
“Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.”
Watching the evening news can make your stomach drop. Everyone is talking. Loudly. Quickly. Passionately. Often without thinking. Proverbs slices through the madness with this: Sometimes wisdom requires silence.
Lutherans believe in sin. Including sins of the tongue. Words matter. Our words can tear others down, deceive them, and incite rage and anger. Luther explains this well in the Small Catechism. In the explanation to the Eighth Commandment, he writes that we are to “defend him, speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest way.” Wow.
Proverbs 17: 28 doesn’t mean we should sit in silence our whole lives, never offering an opinion. But it does call us to humility. Before you speak, ask yourself: Is this true? Is this helpful? Is this kind? Love encourages. Love speaks patiently.
Jesus Himself obeyed this proverb. Think about it. Jesus Christ remained silent before His accusers. Why? Because His answer was perfect and seated in truth. He wasn’t concerned with beating someone in an argument or getting his point across. He silenced himself not out of ignorant stubbornness, but trusting His Father’s plan.
May we look in the mirror each day and realize how foolish we sound when we speak before thinking. But may this proverb become our principle of life. Thanks be to God that when we fail. We can return to Christ each day for forgiveness. For new hearts. For words that give praise to His name.
✝️ A Prayer for Today:
Lord God, guard my lips so that I might say what is pleasing in your ears. Give me patience in times when I am expected to speak. For the times that I speak without thinking. Give me forgiveness. Fill my heart and mouth with words that only bring glory to you, my Lord and Savior. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
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