Psalm 40:10 – WHEN SILENCE IS NOT GOLDEN
There are many times when the old saying is true. Silence is, indeed, golden. There are many times when it is best to remain silent rather than say something that will cause discord or strife or something that you will later be sorry that you said it.
But there are other times when silence is not golden.
There are times when we are wrong if we remain silent.
If we know someone is innocent and remain silent we are wrong.
If we know someone is being misrepresented and remain silent we are wrong.
If we know that someone needs to hear what God has to say on a subject and remain silent we are wrong.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, 7 – To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: [2] A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted… A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
When is it wrong for a Christian to remain silent?
When is it necessary for a Christian to speak?
I believe we find the answer tucked away in Psalm 40:10
I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.
King David is giving a personal testimony here.
He is telling us that there were times that he didn’t remain silent in his life. He had to speak out.
Most of us are reluctant to talk about God. God is not a popular topic of conversation even among Christians. And men, generally speaking, are even more reticent to talk about God than women are.
David knew how to speak for and about God when he was supposed to. Let’s see if this verse can help us be prepared to speak up when we should.
I would like to suggest to you that speaking for God when we should is the last step of a threefold process. The threefold process is:
THINK!
Before we can talk, we must have something to talk about.
We need to think about God before we can talk about God.
There are five things mentioned in this verse that David talked about God. Therefore, he had to think about them first. So I challenge you to think about these five things.
1. THINK ABOUT GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS
I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart;
Has it ever occurred to you that God is righteous?
That He can’t stand what is wrong?
That He is opposed to anything the least bit questionable? Psalm 145:17, Psalm 119:42
We need to think about our righteous God’s opinions of things that we encounter in every day life. Often He gives you his opinion in His Word.
What does our righteous God think of abortion?
Exodus 20:13 – Thou shalt not kill.
Remember that life begins at conception, not at birth.
What does God think of sexual immorality?
Hebrews 13:4 – Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
What does God think of homosexuality?
Leviticus 18:22 – Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
What does God think of stealing, bearing false witness and covetousness?
Exodus 20:15-17 – Thou shalt not steal. [16] Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. [17] Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.
Not all of God’s righteous opinions are stated in the negative.
Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
These qualities are reflections of God’s righteousness.
2. THINK ABOUT GOD’S FAITHFULNESS
I have declared thy faithfulness
Lamentations 3:22-23 – It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. [23] They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
For thousands of years the sun has come up every morning and set every night. God is faithful.
God has given you abilities so you can earn a living and/or take care of a family. God is faithful.
God has provided you with food and clothing. God is faithful.
God is available to answer you prayers. God is faithful.
God has provided you with friends and loved ones. God is faithful.
And this is only the beginning of a list that can and should go on and on.You should think on how God has been faithful to you specifically.
3. THINK ABOUT GOD’S SALVATION
When we think about what great sinners each of us is, we can get depressed. Isaiah 64:6
But when we start to think about what Jesus did for us to save us, we can get encouraged. Isaiah 53:3-6
And when we think that Christ death for us means that salvation, deliverance and forgiveness from sin, is a free gift of grace that is already paid for, we should be ecstatic! Ephesians 2:8-9
4. THINK ABOUT GOD’S LOVINGKINDNESS
I have not concealed thy lovingkindness…
God loves you.
If you are saved, God loves you as His own child.
If you think you know how to love your children, think how much more powerful God’s love is for you!
od loves you enough to indwell you through His Spirit.
God loves you enough to encourage and help you.
God loves you enough to never leave or forsake you.
God loves you enough to meet your needs.
God loves you enough to never separate his love from you. Romans 8:35-39
5. THINK ABOUT GOD’S TRUTH.
I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.
Jesus prays for us in John 17:17 – Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
God’s Word is truth, therefore, we need to be thinking about His truth. We can not share God’s truth until we know God’s truth. We can not know God’s truth until we get into His Word. 2 Timothy 2:15
THANK
We will not be able to speak effectively for God until we are thankful to God.
Sharing God’s blessings are the reflection of a thankful heart.
God’s wants us to be thankful.
Mankind has had a problem with a lack of gratitude. Romans 1:21
God’s Word tells us to be thankful. Psalm 107:1, Ephesians 5:20, Philippians 4:6-7
I challenge you this week to give specific thanks to God in five areas. I think you can guess what they are.
THANK GOD FOR HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS – Naming specific ways He has shown Himself to be righteous.
THANK GOD FOR HIS FAITHFULNESS
Reflect on how He has been faithful to you this very week.
The specific needs He has met and the specific blessings He has given.
THANK GOD FOR HIS SALVATION
If you are truly saved you should be thankful for salvation every day. Think! Where would you be if the Lord hadn’t saved you?
If you aren’t saved, you need to trust Christ this morning!
THANK GOD FOR HIS LOVINGKINDNESS
As you think of ways God has shown His love for you be sure you thank Him.
THANK GOD FOR HIS TRUTH.
And as God has been gracious to show you his truth and help you understand it, make sure you thank Him.
THINK
THANK
TALK
The more I think on these truths, the more thankful I will be.
The more thankful I am, the more likely I am to share them with others.
When it comes to these truths, silence is not golden!
I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.
I MUST TALK ABOUT GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS
I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart;
Should God’s righteousness be in my heart?
Yes it should! We need to think about it and thank God for it.
But David’s point is that it did not stop in his heart.
David knew what was right in God’s eyes and said so!
We know that abortion is wrong in God’s eyes, and when we know that someone is considering one, we need to lovingly tell them it is wrong in God’s eyes and warn them. We need to also help them through the pregnancy anyway we can.
We know that homosexuality is wrong in God’s eyes and we need to be ready to explain the position. Marriage in the Bible is always between a man and a woman. And there is coming a day when Pastors like me will be asked to perform “same sex marriages”. When we refuse we will be thrown in jail.
We know that lying, cheating and stealing are wrong in God’s eyes, and we must speak up when we are asked to lie, steal or cheat or see others do it.
These are just a few examples.
We must realize whenever we speak up for what is right in God’s eyes, there is a good chance that we will be ridiculed. Psalm 34:19, 2 Timothy 3:1-2
I MUST TALK ABOUT GOD’S FAITHFULNESS
I have declared thy faithfulness
I have shared with you how God took care of us on our trip to Brazil. I declared His faithfulness.
Whenever God does something special for us that shows how faithful He is, we should not keep it to ourselves. We should share it.
When we share with unbelievers, we are giving them reason to believe.
When I share with believers, such as in our evening church testimony time, I am encouraging them. Hebrews 10:24-25
I MUST TALK ABOUT GOD’S SALVATION
I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation:
God did not save you so you would be silent. God saved you so you would talk.
In fact, if you don’t make profession of faith, if you don’t profess Jesus Christ as Savior, I’d be concerned if I were you. Romans 10:9-10
If salvation is the greatest gift you have ever received, you should want to share it.
You talk about hunting, fishing, children, spouses, sports, and a host of other things because you appreciate them.
How much do you appreciate the Lord Jesus?
I MUST TALK ABOUT GOD’S LOVINGKINDNESS
Those who are not saved need to know that God loves them. John 3:16
Those of us who are saved need to reassured of God’s love.
Often, a personal reminder of God’s love is needed by Christians.
Don’t hesitate to remind fellow Christians of God’s love and care for them. Many of them are hurting.
I MUST TALK ABOUT GOD’S TRUTH
I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.
There needs to be more fellowship among Christians.
I don’t mean more coffee and donuts.
I mean more times when we sit down and discuss God’s truth.
I mean more times when we share with each other.
Remember, there are times when silence is not golden.
WE NEED TO THINK
WE NEED TO THANK
WE NEED TO TALK