In 2018, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) designated September 25 as National “If You See Something, Say Something” Awareness Day.

The slogan actually dates back to the day after 9/11 when the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority trademarked the slogan and began its campaign to motivate us to be aware of suspicious activity and know how to report it to law enforcement.

Then there’s the biblical roots of the slogan.

Moses, hiding in the wilderness from Egyptian law enforcement, saw something suspicious—a bush that was burning but not consumed—and he said something when God called to him from the bush: “Here I am.” A right response when God calls.

Moses also had a right response when God revealed himself as “the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”—he hid his face and was afraid to look at God. Sometimes seeing something means not saying anything as you bow in silence before the Holy God.

In the Book of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego saw the over-the-top golden image King Nebuchadnezzar made and said something—no, they wouldn’t serve his gods or worship his golden image. And yes, they did see that furnace over there. Scripture is very clear that only “these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace” (Daniel 3:23).

Then King Nebuchadnezzar saw something and said something: "Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” (Daniel 3:24)

It was that fourth man who prompted Nebuchadnezzar to make a declaration of the one true God: “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.” (Daniel 3:28) Sometimes, for a glory-seeking leader, seeing something means saying something totally unexpected.

The ultimate if-you-see-something-say-something person in Scripture is John the Baptist, who saw Jesus and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) And the next day, when John saw Jesus again, he said the same thing: “Behold the Lamb of God!” Sometimes seeing something, or someone, is to extend the invitation to come and see the only One who takes away our sin.

The psalmist also extends an invitation to taste and see that the Lord is good. And for those of us who have tasted and seen the Lord’s goodness, his forgiveness and loyal love, it’s our turn to say something to the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind to come, to taste and see that the Lord is good and then sit down together at the banquet.