Psalms 73:15. If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
That was very wise of Asaph. He thought but he did not speak. Some persons say, "You may as well out with it." You may as well keep it in; nay, a great deal better. If you have it in your own heart, it will grieve yourself, but if you speak it out, you will grieve others. If you wear sackcloth, brethren, wear it round your own loins, but do not wear it as your outside garment. There is enough sackcloth in the world without your flaunting it before everybody else’s face. If you must fast, remember your Master’s words, "Thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head and wash thy face, that thou appear not unto men to fast." He gave us that precept in order to avoid pharisaic ostentation; but we may also follow it from another motive, namely, that we may not spread sorrow in the world. There is enough of depression of spirit, enough of despondency, enough of heartbreak, without our saying a word to increase it among the sons of men.
"Bear and forbear, and silent be:
Tell no man thy misery,"
Lest thou bring another into it, unless, indeed, thou meet with a strong man who can help thee. Then thou mayest tell thy sorrow to get relief. But tell it not to the children.
Psalms 73:15. If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
That was very wise of Asaph. He thought but he did not speak. Some persons say, "You may as well out with it." You may as well keep it in; nay, a great deal better. If you have it in your own heart, it will grieve yourself, but if you speak it out, you will grieve others. If you wear sackcloth, brethren, wear it round your own loins, but do not wear it as your outside garment. There is enough sackcloth in the world without your flaunting it before everybody else’s face. If you must fast, remember your Master’s words, "Thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head and wash thy face, that thou appear not unto men to fast." He gave us that precept in order to avoid pharisaic ostentation; but we may also follow it from another motive, namely, that we may not spread sorrow in the world. There is enough of depression of spirit, enough of despondency, enough of heartbreak, without our saying a word to increase it among the sons of men.
"Bear and forbear, and silent be:
Tell no man thy misery,"
Lest thou bring another into it, unless, indeed, thou meet with a strong man who can help thee. Then thou mayest tell thy sorrow to get relief. But tell it not to the children.