Ecclesiastes 3:7  … a time to speak.

 

  This week was challenging for me on this subject. There are so many ways to approach the meaning and concept of this verse. All day long we are speaking to one another. We live in a society where we all wish for our voice to be heard, whether it be good or bad, especially with all the political hype we see daily. I can only wonder if we would look in the mirror and say things to ourselves as we say to others if it would affect the way we speak, or maybe not make us speak at all. So, the question is, when is time to speak but more so, what should be the content of what we say? This is where it can get tricky at times. I believe that here in Ecclesiastes, it is talking about things of God, not so much of our everyday conversations with one another, but even then we should also be practicing what the word tells us.

 

Matthew 10:19  But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.

Matthew 10:20  For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

 

  I want to start off with the 2 verses. I think this will be relevant to my context. Here Jesus is commissioning his disciples to go preach the word of God to the gentiles, practically everyone. He is pretty much telling them that many people will not accept what they have to say, and they could be possibly jailed, tortured, killed. Etc.. We do know how it ended for many of them. But Jesus made it clear, do not worry about what you need to say. God’s spirit will give you what you will need to say. I think this could be a lesson for each one of us. Before we speak, are we being led by the Spirit? If we allowed the Spirit to guide us, we would know exactly when to speak and what to speak about. I do not spend very much time on social media, but have seen posts about people trying to defend God, defending their faith, trying to give reasons for this or that on what and why they believe in. Me personally, I feel I have never needed to defend God. God is most powerful, all knowing, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the beginning and the end, how could I ever feel I need, or better yet, could defend up and defend Him. The Bible did say to go and preach the good news about Jesus.

 

   A great example of this will be in Acts chapter 2. Yes, we are talking of the day of Pentecost, where the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit. In verse 14, Peter gets up and preaches the word of God to the people in the streets. He did not defend God but showed the promise of God through Jesus, death and resurrection. After he spoke, thousands gave their lives to Christ. We can say Peter with the guidance of the Hols Spirit, knew it was a time to speak.

 

Romans 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Psalm 119:46  I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.

 

 Our speaking should be edifying and giving the glory to God. Our words should be bringing people closer to Christ not the opposite.

 

Psalm 35:28  And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.

Psalm 49:3  My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

Psalm 145:5  I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.

Psalm 145:21   My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.

Proverbs 8:6    Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

Proverbs 8:7  For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

 

We can go on for a very long time on this subject. I wanted to keep it as simple and edifying to God as possible. There are times we need to speak up about things are wrong. Remember Jesus was upset in the temple?

 

Matthew 21

 (12) And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, (13) and said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. (14) And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. (15) And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were sore displeased, (16) and said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? (17) And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.

 

 Jesus had to speak up about what they were doing. A great example of how we should speak up when we know something is not right. Not so much for just for us, but more so for the population. Notice after Jesus went into the temple and over through the tables and scolded them for the things they were doing, people came to him that were blind and lame and were healed. His act and words serviced others. His words are what were needed for others to come to Christ.

 

We need to be sure when we speak it is in the right context and led by the spirit. I am going to close with this last verse. It speaks volumes. Be careful what you say.

 

Matthew 12:36-37

 (36) But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. (37) For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.