Joshua 6:10, “And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.”
Did you notice Joshua’s command of absolute silence as they marched? What a difficult thing for people to do. Silence is a test of self-control. Ever play the quiet game? “Let’s see who can go the longest without making any noise.” If you have children, you may play that game with them to gain a little peace and quiet, but all the while it is testing the players’ self-control.
That’s actually an excellent lesson to learn, especially from a young age. People who cannot control their tongues are essentially out of control (see James 3:3-5), and do you know what undisciplined soldiers are good for? Good for nothing. If you’re saved, do you know what you are? A soldier of the cross. Are you a disciplined or an undisciplined soldier? All anyone has to do is listen to what comes out of your mouth and how much comes out of your mouth to know the answer to that question. “There is a time to keep silence and a time to speak;” (Ecclesiastes 3:7), and wise is the child of God who knows the difference. Jesus exemplified this (Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 26:62-63; 27:14; Luke 23:9), and so too must those who will move forward in faith behind Him. Nothing will halt an individual’s or a church’s progress like undisciplined, unholy speech. Be quiet before the Lord after you’ve poured out your heart to Him, and let God speak through His Word.
