YAHWEH'S MOUTHPIECE

Today’s post is a branch-off from the last post – Your Words. It’s not a direct gleaning from Israel’s journey to Canaan, but a subject extended from the last post. The emphasis is still on our words, but we are approaching it from another angle. Have a delightful read.

“You are advised to remain silent because anything you say or do can be used against you in the court of law.” This is a statement you must have heard, at least in movies, when an individual is arrested by the Police. Let’s apply this to our lives Christians.

We, as believers, are constantly under watch by the accuser and whatever we say or do can be used against us in the court of heaven, and even on earth. While Jesus was on earth, the Pharisees were always on the watch to find ought against Him through His words and actions. “And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor” (Luke 20:20). They were constantly looking for a way to get an utterance from him by which they might lay a charge against Him.

Of these Pharisees, Jesus said, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.” Jesus here reveals that the one whose works you follow after is your father. Their mode of operation was after the pattern of their father, the devil. We must not be ignorant of his devices lest he gets an advantage of us. We are charged to be sober and vigilant for “your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

Lest satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

2 Corinthians 2:11

He made a case against Job and got God’s permission to afflict him. The goal was to get him to curse God. He said, “put forth thine hand and touch all that he hath and he will curse thee to thy face” (Job 1:11). But in all, Job sinned not with His lips neither charged God foolishly. The devil constantly puts believers under intense pressure just to get a word with which he’ll lay a great accusation against them.

What do you say when under pressure? When it looks like the world is about to crash on you, what do your lips utter? It is important to be very careful when under pressure. The accuser is on the lookout and whatever you say or do can be used against you.

They come with questions to hear what you will say that they might through what you say slay you.

Another area to exercise caution when the sons of Belial come. Like the Pharisees, they come asking questions. Remember what Jesus called them, hypocrites. They are like unto whited sepulchers which appear beautiful but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones. They come with questions to hear what you will say that they might through what you say slay you. The charge they laid against Christ before the high priest to get Him crucified was based on what he said. “This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days” (Matthew 26:61). Though they were without understanding, what they heard Him say was the charge they could lay against Him. Their goal had always been to get a word from Him with which they could lay a charge against Him. This had been their preoccupation.

Truly, we must be ready to give an answer to anyone that asks us a reason of the hope that is in us with meekness and fear, but we must also be swift to hear and slow to speak (2 Peter 3:15; James 1:19). We must wait for it to be given us what we shall speak, as Jesus has promised. “For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay or resist.” (Luke 21:15). In all of the attempts of the Pharisees to, as Matthew put it, entangle Him in His talk, they left confounded.

There are two things we can learn from Jesus – discernment, and silence. We must be able to perceive the motive for questions posed at us lest we be deceived and entangled. Seeming sincere questions could be snares set by the adversary. Watch it! The temptation that brought the fall of man started with a question. Paul wrote to the Galatian church about false brethren who came privily to spy on their liberty with the intention of putting them into bondage (Galatians 2:4). That tactic is still used by the old serpent.

Seeming sincere questions could be snares by the adversary. Watch it!

Jesus also used silence. They brought a woman caught in adultery, asking what should be done to her. His response to them was silence before He, by wisdom, dismissed them all. During His trial, questions were thrown at Him back and forth, but He answered them not a word. Actually, they didn’t have sufficient, or even any grounds to try Him and crucify Him. The trial was a platform to put Him under pressure and from His words, get grounds against Him. We experience this in our interactions with unbelievers. They come with accusations and require our response. The wisdom at that point is silence else you be ensnared.

Do not be too eager to display your knowledge of scriptures. Not all questions asked need to be answered, at least not the way they want the answers. “Should we pay tribute to Caesar?” They wanted a “Yes” or “No”, but that wasn’t the right answer to their question. Not all questions posed to us are to be given a “Yes” or “No”. It is not mischief but wisdom as God prescribes. It is not wisdom for deception but wisdom against the deception of the serpent.

“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore as wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” (Matthew 10:6).

May the Lord give us wisdom and help us to discern and guard ourselves against the deception of satan and his sons. Amen.