Silence

Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,
for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking
that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.

Luke 21: 5-19

I am (and this shouldn’t surprise anyone) uncomfortable with silence. But Christ’s “wisdom in speaking” might be exactly that:

Though harshly treated, he submitted
and did not open his mouth;
Like a lamb led to slaughter
or a sheep silent before shearers,
he did not open his mouth.

Isaiah 53: 7

  "Prepare yourself no speeches,
 and mount no sure defense."
 The Lamb before us teaches
 his perfect eloquence:
 His look alone beseeches;
 the Word no word expends.
 His silent love he preaches,
 himself his evidence.
 
  How did you meet their violence
 with nothing on your tongue?
 Or bear the weight of silence
 while on the cross you hung?
 Not for your own survival
 could words from you be wrung.
 Do you in your revival
 sing when the hosts have sung?
 
  Give to me, Lamb, your stillness
 when I am handed in,
 when my time nears fulfillment
 and my world meets its end.
 My words are all my shielding,
 but you in silence stand:
 Be with me in the yielding;
 in silence, take my hand.