Threaten Not: Speak to God and Keep Counsel Close

Threaten Not: Speak to God and Keep Counsel Close

Written on 31 August 2026.

The Bible gives examples of men facing enemies without first announcing to those enemies what they intend to do. Instead of threatening, there is prayer to God, silence, and counsel kept secret.

Jesus Christ Threatened Not

The clearest statement is concerning Jesus Christ:

1 Peter 2:23 — Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

Jesus "threatened not." Instead, he "committed himself to him that judgeth righteously." The matter was placed with God rather than turned into threats against men.

Samson Spoke to God

At Samson's final battle with the Philistines, he did not announce beforehand to the Philistines what was about to happen. His words concerning vengeance were spoken to God:

Judges 16:28 — And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.

Then Samson acted:

Judges 16:29-30 — And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left. And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.

The Philistines were not given an advance threat explaining Samson's intention. Samson called upon the LORD.

Pray Behind a Closed Door

Jesus teaches private prayer:

Matthew 6:6 — But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

There is therefore no biblical requirement to announce everything that is in one's heart to other men. A man can shut his door and speak to God in secret.

There Is a Time to Keep Silence

Ecclesiastes 3:7 — A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

Silence is therefore not inherently wrong. Scripture explicitly recognizes a time for it.

Dinah and the Absence of an Advance Threat

After Shechem had defiled Dinah, Jacob's sons did not announce what Simeon and Levi were ultimately going to do. They spoke deceitfully:

Genesis 34:13 — And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister:

The attack consequently came without an advance declaration of their intention:

Genesis 34:25-26 — And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males. And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem's house, and went out.

Whatever judgment is made concerning Simeon and Levi's actions, the narrative itself demonstrates the distinction between threatening beforehand and keeping one's intentions concealed.

Vengeance Belongs to God

For the believer, Scripture gives a direct instruction concerning personal vengeance:

Romans 12:19 — Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

This fits directly with Christ committing himself "to him that judgeth righteously."

Conclusion

The biblical pattern is not that a man must advertise every thought, grievance, or possible consequence to those who oppose him.

Jesus "threatened not."

Samson called upon the LORD concerning vengeance without first explaining his intention to the Philistines.

Jesus taught a man to shut his door and pray to his Father "which is in secret."

Ecclesiastes says there is "a time to keep silence."

And Romans says:

Romans 12:19 — Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

There is therefore a clear difference between threatening men and speaking privately to God. Silence does not require trust in an adversary, and refusing to threaten does not require announcing one's thoughts or placing oneself in another man's hands.

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