The Lord said to Jeremiah: “Stand in the court of the Lord’s house, and speak … all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word.” The Bible records Jeremiah’s faithful obedience, and the price of that faithfulness: “Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the Lord had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die” (Jeremiah 26:2-8).
Of course, it’s not always wise to say everything — Solomon teaches us that “in the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19). It is a precious virtue indeed to refrain your lips, and remain silent!
But there is “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak” (Ecclesiastes 3:7). If God reveals to us His will, and tells us to transmit it to His people, will we have the courage to tell all, diminishing not a word? Or will we omit the harsher parts of the message, not to cause offence to our audience?
May the Lord give us the faithful obedience of the prophets!
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