We may fail in our Duty by simply being Silent.
"If thou altogether boldest thy peace at this time." 1. Esther was very likely tempted to be silent at a time when to speak was necessary to save her countrymen from destruction. We often bite our tongues because we have sinned in speech, but how often have we sinned by silence. For there is a silence that is sinful : " If he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity." It may be that a great cause is in danger. Its advocates and its opponents are pretty evenly balanced. But there is one strong man, who, if he would speak, could turn the fortunes of the day ;
ESTHER IV. 14 533
for men believe in his sincerity and disinterestedness, as well as in his knowledge and insight ; and the humbler supporters of the cause are waiting, in hope, to hear what he will say. His gifts, his influence, his experience, not only qualify but entitle him to speak a great word. But he sits in silence, or makes a speech of unworthy compromise. He lets the golden opportunity pass ; and it may be that a great injustice is done, or the cause of truth and progress is retarded for years, for want of the word which he could well have spoken.
Just for a handful of silver he left us,
Just for a riband to stick in his coat — Found the one gift of which fortune bereft us,
Lost all the others she lets us devote ; They, with the gold to give, doled him out silver,
So much was theirs who so little allowed : How all our copper had gone for his service !
Eags — were they purple, his heart had been proud ! We that had loved him so, followed him, honoured him,
Lived in his mild and magnificent eye, Learned his great language, caught his clear accents,
Made him our pattern to live and to die ! Shakespeare was of us, Milton was for us.
Burns, Shelley, were with us, — they watch from their graves ! He alone breaks from the van and the freemen,
He alone sinks to the rear and the slaves !
We shall march prospering, — not thro' his presence ;
Songs may inspirit us, — not from his lyre ; Deeds will be done, — while he boasts his quiescence.
Still bidding crouch wlicm the rest bade aspire; Blot out his name, then, record one lost soul more.
One task more declined, one more footpath untrod. One more triumph for devils and sorrow for angels,
One wrong more to man, one more insult to God ! Life's night begins : let him never come back to us !
There would be doubt, hesitation and pain, Forced praise on our part — the glimmer of twilight,
Never glad confident morning again ! Best fight on well, for we taught him, — strike gallantly,
Menace our heart ere we master his own; Then let him receive the new knowledge and wait us.
Pardoned in Heaven, the first by the throne!^
^ Biowning, The Lost Leader,
534 OPPORTUNITY
2. There are many reasons for silence. Sometimes it is due
to real and all but unconquerable diffidence, sometimes to cynicism,
but sometimes also assuredly to cowardice. The man may suppose
(that plain, uncompromising speech might alienate his friends,
' imperil his influence, or injure his reputation. In any case, the
day on which a strong and influential man fails, for such a reason,
to lift up his voice for the truth is one of the tragic days of his
life. In the Providence of God, that was the crisis for which he
Jiad come to his kingdom, and he should have bravely met it.
(1) The silence to which Esther was tempted was the silence of expediency. She knew how greatly the Jews needed relief and
/deliverance, but she feared lest if she spoke in their behalf her / own position might be compromised. It is astonishing how many I Christians can preserve a prudential silence when an evil demands
denunciation. They are anxious for their own peace. They are 1 slaves of expediency. We need to remember George Meredith's
grand words, " Expediency is man's wisdom, doing right is God's."
/ ^ The editorial declaration in a popular New York daily paper, /that a newspaper's chief concern should be with whatever will I give it a circulation, was merely the brazen statement of what has ! become with many the real philosophy of life. It is the substitu- * tion of expediency for honesty.^
(2) Esther was tempted to the silence of selfishness. True, her people were imperilled, but she was happy and free ! She had newly come to the throne. The glamour of royalty was upon her. Shall she run the risk of losing her delights ? By silence she may have permanent pleasure. This type of silence is very common, and we are often tempted to it. We dread to speak lest our ease and enjoyment should suffer thereby. It is the acute remark of one of our present-day writers, that " times of great trouble often reveal the meanness of human nature." Nothing is meaner than to be silent in presence of wrong for the sake of selfish comfort.
(Bishop Thorold spoke of people being " buried in self-love." What \ dreadful tomb !