One of the great gifts God has given humanity is the ability to hear. Hearing and deciphering sound really is quite remarkable when you study the workings of our inner ear. If given the choice between being deaf or being able to hear, no person would opt for not hearing.
Except for David. In Psalm 38 that was the choice he made. In fact, he went even further, choosing also to not be able to speak. In verse 13-14 said, “But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear, like a mute man who does not open his mouth. I have become like a man who does not hear, and in whose mouth are no rebukes.”
Why would he choose to be deaf and mute? It was in response to what his enemies were saying about him. The preceding verse says, “Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek my hurt speak of ruin and meditate treachery all day long.”
The king’s adversaries were speaking of his ruin, plotting ways in which to remove him from power. So David chose not to listen. He acted as if he were deaf. He didn’t respond with his words, but kept his trust in the Lord who anointed him for service. In verse 15 he said, “But for you, O LORD, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.”
I am willing to bet you have had people speak of your ruin and meditate on your treachery. Take a page out of David’s playbook and choose the high road. Don’t respond in kind. Learn to close your ears and bite your tongue; drown out the naysaying and focus on what you are doing. Make yourself deaf and mute, and let the Lord answer instead.
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