Nothing To Say

by H. Darke, Vancouver, B.C. | Category: General | Feb 1961

While we are warned by the wise man not to be "rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God" (Ecclesiastes .5 2), it is hard to understand the silence of some of God's people in their worship Godward and in their testimony manward. David wrote in Psalm 39.2, 8, "I was dumb with silence ... then spake I with my tongue ..." What caused the change from dumbness in verse 2 to speech in verse 8? Was it not the musing and the kindling fire?

The age in which we live is one of such hurry and tension that the people of God run the grave risk of losing the art of musing (Psalm 39. 8), which is alternatively rendered " meditation" (Psalm 5.1). This is indeed serious, and it would not be long before it was reflected in the Remembrance, the prayer meeting, and the gospel and ministry meetings. Precious, living, devotional thoughts of the Person of Christ would be replaced by dead words and vain utterances. It must be recognized, then, that quiet musing on the Lord Jesus and on His great work at Calvary is an essential part of our Christian experience, and we must be ever on our guard that the home and the assembly do not become invaded by worldly pressures and worries which are sweeping over the personal lives of men and women today.

There are two incidents in the life of the Lord which provide a lesson and an answer to the question before us. The disciples had been engaged in active service, and they rehearsed to Him the things which they had done and taught; but there was no quietness, no peace, in their surroundings. In fact, "they had no leisure so much as to eat " (Mark 6.31). The Lord quickly brought to an end this absence of restfulness by saying, " Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while ... And they went away" (81, 32). It is almost suggestive of Psalm 23, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures." Whether we do it voluntarily, or are forced by the Lord through circumstances, we must learn to "Be still, and know that I am God." This is an experience to know and enjoy, as well as a verse to quote! How often can we truly say,

"My thoughts and meditations are so sweet

Of Him on whom I lean, my strength, my stay,

I can forget the sorrows of the way"?

We sing it, but do we experience it ? Despite all the comings and goings, and the demands upon our lives, we must "come apart," we must sit and muse. It is only then that we can get an understanding of the change which came over David in Psalm 39. "My heart was hot within me," he said. "While I was musing the fire kindled: Then spake I with my tongue." Oh, beloved, when we gather to remember the Lord each Lord's day are our thoughts distracted or occupied with things which are foreign to the occasion? Or do we quietly sit and muse on Him, letting our thoughts go to the place of the altar, its Victim, its holy fire ? Oh, the sufferings of Calvary! the intense grief and sorrow! the cries, the groans, the tears, the agony, the loneliness, and all that was involved in the cry, "My God"! As we muse are we moved by the heart-rending cries which escaped the parched lips of the Saviour as He " suffered, and bled, and died." "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? ..." " I thirst ..." "My heart is like wax ..." "My strength is dried up ..." "My tongue cleaveth to My jaws ... Oh, the kindling fires of Calvary! Surely, as we sit and muse on such scenes we cannot remain silent. It is ingratitude to do so. Let us then be like David,

"Then spake I with my tongue."

God loves to hear His Son well spoken of. Therefore "through Him then let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which make confession to His Name." (Hebrews 13.15)

The other lesson concerns the Lord's visit to the Bethany home of Martha and Mary (Luke 10). Mark the contrast in the two women. Martha was distracted, anxious, troubled. Mary, the picture of composure, sat at His feet. The words, "But Martha was cumbered about much serving" (verse 40) literally means that she was "dragged in all directions"; and in consequence she was anxious within and troubled without. This is an illustration of what the child of God should not be; much serving, but no peace of mind, no rest, no tranquillity. "Martha, Martha" (one can almost hear the pleading tones of the Master), "thou art anxious and troubled about many things ..." Much service, many things! "But one thing is needful: for Mary hath chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." Mary harkened and mused, and what a vision filled her gaze! Is not this the experience we should all know?

"Oh, to be nothing, nothing;

Only to sit at His feet."

There is much service to be rendered, many things to be done, but not to the exclusion of the good part. We must know the quietness, the nearness of communion with Him at the place of musing-at His blessed feet. But first of all, we must hear the Lord's word, as Mary did. (Please read Psalm 1.)

Was it not as one who, like Mary, had "chosen the good part," which would not be taken away from him, that John Newton, as he mused upon the sufferings of Immanuel, whose Name, in his ears, sounded sweeter than any music, was constrained to write :

"Did the Lord a Man become,

That He might the law fulfil,

Bleed and suffer in my room,

And can'st thou, my tongue, be still?

No - I must my praises bring,

Though they feeble are and weak;

For, should I refuse to sing,

Sure the very stones would speak"

(Hymn 817, P.H. & S.S.).

H. Darke, Vancouver, B.C. | Feb 1961
General