Passage Read: Psalm 39-42
Meditation Verses: 40:9-10
Thought
In the previous Psalm, David tells of keeping silent in the presence of the wicked, but here he says how he proclaims the Lord's righteousness in the great assembly. He knows the wicked have no interest in hearing truth, especially when several gather together; they only encourage each other in their wicked thoughts. But in the great assembly, there David must speak of the Lord's love and truth and faithfulness and salvation. In the great assembly there is at least a mixture of people, good and bad. There he can and must speak freely of the goodness and truth of the Lord, because there even the wicked might listen, but the righteous must be encouraged to do right!
Application
Even in the presence of only one bold sinner, there is little hope of turning him to the truth by words. I can hope that maybe he'll listen, maybe he'll take warning. But when several gather together, it is hard to get them to listen. More often, it only ends in a stalemate. But where people gather together, especially if they do so to worship the Lord, there they must hear truth, they must be encouraged to believe in the Lord and walk in His ways. When the righteous gather, they must proclaim the Lord's righteousness and truth, faithfulness and salvation. There we must not keep silent.