Spurgeon on slander

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While we wait, I wanted to share this quote from Spurgeon I came across while studying for my sermon this Sunday. Concerning slander, suppose someone is saying things that aren’t true about you. What should you do?

The advice I’ve followed is to let them know, “hey, what you are saying isn’t true.” But my experience has often been that the person often isn’t even concerned about truth; they just want to sling mud. What to do in such a circumstance? Here is Spurgeon’s advice:

The wisest course that he could follow. It is of little use to appeal to our fellows on the matter of slander, for the more we stir in it the more it spreads; it is of no avail to appeal to the honour of the slanderers, for they have none, and the most piteous demands for justice will only increase their malignity and encourage them to fresh insult. As well plead with panthers and wolves as with black hearted traducers. However, when cries to man would be our weakness, cries to God will be our strength. To whom should children cry but to their father? Does not some good come even out of that vile thing, falsehood, when it drives us to our knees and to our God?

Treasury of David, Psalm 120.

This counsel is easy enough to give, but for me it is particularly challenging to follow. Yet if David didn’t defend himself against Shimei, but instead channeled Shimei’s harm into spiritual insight which still nourishes us through the Psalms, then ought we not turn the other cheek, and let the Lord be our defender as well?