How can we discern when to speak or remain silent in God's service? Opening the Scroll: Ezekiel 3:26 in Context “Moreover I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth, so that you will be mute and unable to rebuke them, for they are a rebellious house.” The Divine Muzzle: Why God Silenced Ezekiel • Judgment sign: Israel’s stubbornness would be mirrored in Ezekiel’s forced silence. • Protection of the message: When God later loosened Ezekiel’s tongue (Ezekiel 33:22), every word carried undeniable authority—no needless chatter diluted the warning. • Training in obedience: The prophet learned that even a God-given message must be delivered only at God-given moments. Principles for Discerning Speech and Silence 1. Obey the specific prompting of the Spirit. – Jesus promised: “For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” (Matthew 10:20) 2. Recognize timing as sacred. – “There is… a time to be silent and a time to speak.” (Ecclesiastes 3:7) 3. Guard against word-inflation. – “When words are many, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.” (Proverbs 10:19) 4. Let love govern expression. – “Let all that you do be done in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:14) Practical Questions to Settle Before Speaking • Has God clearly given me this message through Scripture or godly conviction? • Is the timing conducive to edification, or will it provoke unnecessary resistance? • Am I speaking to exalt Christ or to vent my feelings? • Will silence communicate humility and trust more effectively right now? Indicators That Silence Might Be God’s Will • The audience is hardened and not yet receptive (cf. Matthew 7:6). • Emotions are running high; wisdom calls for cooling down (James 1:19). • The matter involves confidential counsel or unresolved facts (Proverbs 25:9). • God’s Spirit withholds peace about sharing in the present moment. Indicators That Speech Is Required • Clear opportunity to confess Christ (1 Peter 3:15). • Injustice demands a prophetic voice (Proverbs 31:8-9). • Silence would be disobedience to a direct biblical command (Acts 4:20). • The Spirit grants a burning conviction that withholding truth would harm souls (Jeremiah 20:9). Cultivating Holy Discernment Daily • Soak in Scripture—God’s voice tunes our ears. • Practice listening prayer, yielding every conversation to His lordship. • Seek wise counsel; godly friends confirm or caution (Proverbs 15:22). • Review the day: where did speech build up, where did silence preserve peace, where did either fall short? Repent and adjust. Encouragement for the Servant Ezekiel’s locked tongue was not a sign of God’s displeasure with him, but a tool of precision for a rebellious generation. Our words and our hush can be equally anointed when they align with His timing. Let Him decide when the tongue should move—and when it should cling to the roof of the mouth—so that every syllable resounds with heaven’s authority. |
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