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Psalm 39; Jeremiah 11:1–17; Romans 2:1–11
He Never Said a Mumbalin’ Word
They crucified my Lord,
and he never said a mumbalin’ word;
they crucified my Lord,
and he never said a mumbalin’ word.
Not a word, not a word, not a word.
They nailed him to a tree,
and he never said a mumbalin’ word;
they nailed him to a tree,
and he never said a mumbalin’ word.
Not a word, not a word, not a word.
They pierced him in the side,
and he never said a mumbalin’ word;
they pierced him in the side,
and he never said a mumbalin’ word.
Not a word, not a word, not a word.
The blood came trickalin’ down,
and he never said a mumbalin’ word;
the blood came trickalin’ down,
and he never said a mumbalin’ word.
Not a word, not a word, not a word.
He bowed his head and died,
and he never said a mumbalin’ word;
he bowed his head and died,
and he never said a mumbalin’ word.
Not a word, not a word, not a word.
—Songs of Zion, 101
Silence can be underrated. In today's culture, words seem to win the day. Words on TV, words in magazines, words on Twitter or Facebook, words on blogs, the war of words. Who is the loudest with words is often heard, but in the pause and space between the words, there is the break, the silence. It is often overlooked and not heard, yet there is the music of silence. Words come out of silence and return to silence. If there was only noise, we wouldn't know what silence was nor could we distinguish it from noise or words. Sometimes, we need to be silent. Jesus demonstrates this at such a tragic time.
He's being crucified, nailed to a tree, pierced in his side, blood trickalin; down, and he eventually died. He could have said a lot of things to his oppressors, but "he never said a mumbalin word." Never. "Like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth"; (Isaiah53:7b). Not a word, not a word, not a word. Sometimes not saying a word is the best thing to say; words can be weapons, and as the saying goes, silence can be golden. Jesus was just present to the moment. He didn't say anything with his mouth but said it all with his body. "This is my body, which is given for you" (Luke 22:19).
That what was said in the silence. You could see the Word speaking
this without saying any word whatsoever. Sometimes, we may
underestimate the role of silence in the spiritual life, but it can be
constructive and helpful and the most appropriate response. It was for
Jesus. How about you?
Prayer for the Day
Word of God, help me to know when to speak and when not to say a word.
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