The Ear of the King and The Finger of God – Gospel Magazine
(Gospel Magazine 1876)
If I can but get the ear of the King, I am fully assured “all is well”. No matter what the difficulty, trial, care or perplexity, the true breathing God-ward of prayer in the heart is sure evidence of success in the court of heaven. We can set our seal that the testimony given by the Apostle John is true: “If we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petition that we desire of Him”.
Brethren in the Lord, is it not so? Does not experience testify that there are times when by the savour upon our spirit in the act of asking, we know, we become assured, that we have indeed obtained a hearing – that the Lord is bowing down His ear to us? (Psalm 86:1) Boldness and access with confidence ensues, and we are as sure of the answer as if we had it already in our possession. Faith realises a God at hand, and not afar off; so nigh unto us in all that we call upon Him for, that we can bless Him for the very trials that send us so near unto Him. And so sweetly does some word of His living testimony fit in, as it drops into the mind for the occasion, that it seems as if it had been written for that special need of ours, its suitability is so wonderful!
To doubt the issue is impossible; as when the angel did wondrously, and Manoah and his wife looked on (Judges 13:19), so may we, for the Lord will work for us, and we shall hold our peace. Thus, at the time of trial, when all human help seemed to fail, the special rendering of Psalm 18:6, as is found in 2 Samuel 22:7, came with power upon the mind, and the reason why the Holy Spirit suffered the two renderings of the passage to remain was explained by the double force of the expression, “Did hear my voice; my cry did enter into His ears,” for the result proved that it “did”.
Then, while we rejoice at the “ear of the King”, we shall stand amazed at “the Finger of God” (Luke11:20). If but the finger be so omnipotent, what is the arm of the Lord? The finger casts out devils; it touches lepers and heals them; it enters deaf ears and loosens dumb tongues – yea, even when about to be led to prison and the cross, touches the ear cut off by the disciple’s sword, and restores it. Let us dwell on these marvellous records, that we may have high views of our God incarnate, having parts like ourselves – an ear! a finger! but both almighty!
“Bow down thine ear, O LORD!” Put forth “the finger of God” on our behalf and of those dear to us in the flesh and in the Lord.
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