Know the Time
“A time to keep silence, And a time to speak…” (Ecclesiastes 3:7).
This verse is an extraction from a poem related to the appointed times of life. It is a faith statement inspiring confidence in God. Contrasts are used to indicate there is a time and place for the variables of life. We are to respect the fact there are contrasts in life, in simple summary, there are highs as well as lows in life.
This Bible passage is one of the most referenced in the Bible among Christians as well as non-Christians. It is distilled wisdom, wisdom in bite size phrases.
This part of the poem contrasts silence and speech. Each has a time and place. To confuse them is to disrespect both. Mark Twain frames it this way:
“It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.”
In conversation if you allow the other person to do most of the speaking they will leave the conversation feeling you are a wonderful conversationalist. If you dominate the conversation they might well feel you are boring. Don’t speak because you have to say something. Speak because you have something to say.
When you can improve on silence… speak.
Many speakers must have been absent in speech class when a “dramatic pause” was discussed. A brief pause clearly dramatizes the thoughts it separates. So, in personal conversation it ties thoughts together. A brief pause is indeed a valuable time of silence.
Conversation is like a tennis match, your opponent hits the ball to you and you return it to your opponent. A conversationalist is not an opponent, but the analogy is simple. Even if you don’t know as much about the topic as the other person you can keep the conversation going by asking simple analytical questions. Avoid questions needing a simple yes or no.
The most important conversation is called prayer. It is simply mentally if not vocally talking to God. He does not answer orally, but He does lead a praying person. He invites us, “Be still and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46: 10). This verse invites us into the presence of God, reminding us of His love and peace.
The Hebrew word for “know” is “yada” signifying deep, relational knowledge. It’s the same word used to describe intimate relationships. It reveals how vital God considers our relationship with Him.
Knowing the setting of a Scripture often helps us to understand its relevance.
This verse was written by Moses when the Israelites were trapped between Pharaoh’s army and the Red Sea. In this moment of crisis, Moses reassured them that God would guide them. We, like they, need to stop struggling, rely on and respond to the Lord. When we do our conversation of prayer will come full circle.
It is then our fear is overcome by faith, our panic is replaced by His peace.