Works by a Poet and Psalmist
'SILENCE IS GOLDEN'
3-26-2006
Psalm 39:1-3
Solomon in Ecclesiastes 3:7 says to us that like all
things in the seasons of life that there is, 'a time
to be silent, and a time to speak'. I like the way
this master of Gods wisdom in the proper order of
things puts silence, before speaking. His father
David had obviously taught him well. In this Psalm
David talks about controlling his tongue and what he
could have said in the midst of true temptation to
speak out of turn. I'm sure even for David holding
back what he strongly felt like saying was very
hard, just as it is for most of us to do.
There is a great deal of teaching and thought these
days on the prophetic and being a prophet. The word,
'prophet' in the Greek is: ''profetes'' which
literally means to, 'speak forth'.
There is however it seems very little teaching
anymore on being silent, taming the tongue,
self-control and, 'holding back' as apposed to
speaking forth. It is my earnest belief that to be a
great teacher, speaker or even a prophet is to know
how to first be a good listener and also to know how
and when to speak, or not to for that matter. The
Bible clearly instructs us in many places to be,
'quick to listen and slow to speak'. That every idle
word will be judged!
I find it a bit ironic in a way that one of the
wonderful miracles Jesus performed was to heal the
deaf and the dumb. But then of that very dumb one
who was healed, to be required a self control over
what was spoken, once gaining the ability. Perhaps
we all need to be more mindful of dumbing ourselves
down!
+++MUTE+++
AH TO BE
DUMBING DOWN
BY CHOICE
LOCKING THIS JAW
MUZZLING MY MOUTH
TO TIE MY OWN TONGUE
CHOOSING TO BE SILENT
INSTEAD OF SPOUTING OFF
THAT SEEMINGLY
PERPETUAL STREAM
CAPPED OFF AND SEALED OVER
WHO CAN TAME THIS FIRE?
THIS FIREMAN, I DESIRE
I'VE SEEN THE DIRTY BURN
OF WHERE THE FLAMES FLEW
AND THEN BURNT THROUGH
THIS HOUSE OF ASHES
CHARRED AND LAYING
IN RUINS
I WILL SET A SENTINEL
A WATCHMAN OVER MY LIPS
THAT PERHAPS AT LAST
NOT TO SUFFER SORROW
AT WATCHING SINKING SHIPS
ALL HANDS ON BOARD
LOST TO THE SWIRLING DEPTHS
BECAUSE I COULD NOT HOLD BACK
MY FLAG LIKE FLAPPING QUIPS....
GENE JOHNSON (COPYRIGHT 2006)
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