I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.
The verse describes taking heed to one's ways and bridling the mouth while the wicked or non-professing person is present. The restraint goes so far as being dumb with silence and holding peace even from good, making no reply when wicked, unbelieving men confront with insincere, trapping and exasperating questions meant to provoke a hasty retort. The resolve to restrain speech in that presence can swing to the opposite extreme of keeping silent when there is opportunity to speak a timely word, and withholding timely speech in that way stirs sorrow.
The verse teaches refusing to answer even when one could speak in self-defense, remaining silent and leaving vindication to God. Job stumbled at this point by trying to justify himself, when he would have done better to remain silent. Jesus fulfilled the pattern by keeping silent before His accusers and seeking strength from His Father rather than supplying further grounds for accusation, so that His provokers received nothing of the kind they sought.
Maintaining such silence costs the greatest effort and requires more than human wisdom. At all times there is the promise that it is the Spirit of the Father speaking through the servant. The psalm containing the verse is a prophetic word picture revealing Christ's inner experience, including His life-and-death struggles with the enemy, and showing how He suffered when tempted.
The verse describes taking heed to one's ways and bridling the mouth while the wicked or non-professing person is present. The restraint goes so far as being dumb with silence and holding peace even from good, making no reply when wicked, unbelieving men confront with insincere, trapping and exasperating questions meant to provoke a hasty retort. The resolve to restrain speech in that presence can swing to the opposite extreme of keeping silent when there is opportunity to speak a timely word, and withholding timely speech in that way stirs sorrow.
The verse teaches refusing to answer even when one could speak in self-defense, remaining silent and leaving vindication to God. Job stumbled at this point by trying to justify himself, when he would have done better to remain silent. Jesus fulfilled the pattern by keeping silent before His accusers and seeking strength from His Father rather than supplying further grounds for accusation, so that His provokers received nothing of the kind they sought.
Maintaining such silence costs the greatest effort and requires more than human wisdom. At all times there is the promise that it is the Spirit of the Father speaking through the servant. The psalm containing the verse is a prophetic word picture revealing Christ's inner experience, including His life-and-death struggles with the enemy, and showing how He suffered when tempted.