I Samuel 16:2
But Samuel said, “How can I go? When Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” And the LORD said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’
This is an interesting passage. Samuel is worried that Saul would kill him if he learned that he's going to anoint another as king. The Lord instructs him to describe half the mission, "to sacrifice to the Lord".
This is not being completely forthright. Some would be uncomfortable with that. I heard a message delivered on this years ago. Here is the passage that was used: "Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be wise in his own eyes" (Proverbs 26:5). The speaker used Corie Ten Boom as an example. The Ten Booms lived near Amsterdam and hid jews in her home during the Second World War.
Nazi soldiers would search homes in search of jews. The eventually came to their home. Corie was comfortable with lying to the Nazis as they were evil on an evil mission. Her misdirection was saving lives.
Some have very strict consciences that would have a difficult time with this. In today's passage the Lord directed Samuel to describe only half the mission. Saul was a fool who was only concerned about himself and his kingdom. He would certainly take drastic measures to protect it. Samuel was aware of that and was worried.
Jesus also limited His words based on who He was talking with. As He was teaching, the rulers of the day came and tried to trap Him with His words. The began by asking Jesus by whose authority are you teaching, etc. He could have answered them by saying, "The Father has sent me". He didn't do that as He understood they were evil trying to trap Him. So, He gave a condition. "I'll answer you, if you answer Me. By whose authority did John come?" They understood that either a yes or no would get them in trouble, so they said, "We don't know". Jesus responded, 'And Jesus said to them, “Nor will I tell you by what authority I do these things"' (Luke 20:8). Evil people don't have to be engaged with.
Once I had business dealings with some bad individuals. I attempted to repair the relationship with a meeting. They said they would comply. A couple of months later, they were back to their cruel behavior. I distanced myself by hiring someone to take my place in the role. I no longer trusted them and worked with them only through this mediator.
There a phrase, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me". The first time the bad person is to blame. We should have learned from them and not engaged with them the second time. If we do, then we are the fools.
Some may say, "That doesn't appear to be forgiving." There's a difference between boundaries and forgiveness. We are commanded to forgive, but we aren't commanded to keep the relationship. In fact, we are told to distance ourselves if the other individual doesn't keep their end of the bargain (Matthew 18:16,17).
Coming back to the original topic about our speech. We are to be truthful people. Jesus says in Matthew 5:37, "But let your statement be, 'Yes, yes ' or 'No, no'; anything beyond these is of evil." However, we see that we can limit our speech when we are dealing with evil people. Instead of telling the entire mission, Samuel was instructed to tell only half. This doesn't justify lying, but to hold back or not engage with some people.
Lord, give us wisdom with our words. Help us to be truthful, but also to be wise when we are with some who seek our harm.