Be Silent or Speak God's Word

“And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul. Nothing is better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines. And Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any border of Israel, and so I shall escape out of his hand.” (1Samuel 27:1)

When Saul pursued David to kill him, I imagine that it was a desperate time for David. And when we get desperate, we forget God’s promises to us. We panic and always think the worse. And that is what happened to David. He forgot that He’d been anointed by Samuel to be king. This was very uncharacteristic of David.

Since youth, David had worshipped God. “And Jehovah said to Samuel, How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I will send you to Jesse of Bethlehem. For I have seen a king for Me among his sons.” (1Samuel 16:1) God chose David out of all the men in Israel while David was a youth caring for his father’s sheep.

David listened to God’s direction. He trusted God. And God had helped him many times. “And David said to Saul, Your servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock. And I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb out of its mouth. And when it rose against me, I caught it by the beard, and struck it and killed it. Your servant killed both the lion and the bear. And this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God.” (1Samuel 17:34-36) His heart was righteous toward God and wouldn’t stand for God’s Name or reputation to be slandered. Samuel tells Saul that God has chosen a new king, a man after God’s own heart. “But now your kingdom shall not stand. Jehovah has sought Him a man after His own heart, and Jehovah has appointed him to be leader over His people, because you have not kept what Jehovah commanded you.” (1Samuel 13:14)

Now when Saul sought to kill him, David panicked. In his desperation he speaks without thinking. In that desperation he forgets God’s anointing on him. He forgot what he knew about God. God says what He means. And when He says something, it will be done. Even evil Balaam told Balak who wanted him to curse the Israelites, he could only bless the Israelites because that is what God had told him to do. “God is not a man that He should lie, neither the son of man that He should repent. Has He said, and shall He not do it? Or has He spoken, and shall He not make it good? Behold, I have received word to bless. And He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.” (Numbers 23:19-20) ) In our desperation we need to remember what God has said. If God said it, it’s a done deal. No matter what fear comes against us, God’s Word will triumph over fear.  

Fear is a demonic force that makes us weak in our body and our soul (mind, will and emotions.) Paul defined it as a spirit. In desperation we have to remember that and rebuke it in the Name of Jesus. We need to realize that we have the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God indwelling Who is a Spirit of power, of love and a sound, clear and accurate mind. “For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2Timothy 1:7) Fear will cause dismay which is a total loss of courage. “Do not fear; for I am with you; be not dismayed; for I am your God. I will make you strong; yes, I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness.” (Isaiah 41:10) Later David wrote in Psalm 23, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalms 23:4)

When Moses led the people out of Egypt and came to the Red Sea with the Egyptian army closing in on them, the people cried out fearfully. Moses said, “Jehovah shall fight for you, and you shall be silent.” (Exodus 14:14) That was a good  word. “...be silent.” Don’t speak words of fear, agreeing with what the devil is doing. But agree with God. And if you must speak, speak what God has said. Agree with God. Agree with what God has said.

In closing, remember that in desperation even David lost it temporarily and agreed with the enemy, the devil in Saul, that wanted him dead. When David faced Goliath, he was confident and courageous because what Goliath was saying was an affront to God. What the devil tells us in our desperate times is also an affront to God. It is the opposite of what God says in His Word. If we must speak at such a time, we should choose God’s Word to speak and not agree with the devil who brings about fear and defeat. But speak God’s Word which is Truth and will bring peace.

Let us pray:

Father God thank You for Your Word which is alive and powerful and able to do what You say. I thank You that it cancels the lies of the devil. Help me in my difficulties to watch my tongue which can speak death or life.  Let Your Word and Your life be on my tongue. Help me to recognize the devil’s affront to You. Help me to not agree with those lies. I ask that by the power of the Holy Spirit I may be alert in hard times because that is when the enemy takes advantage. Help me to be vigilant and alert to his wiles. I thank You Lord that I can speak strength and life to any situation when I speak and agree with what You have declared. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.