The Spoken Word – Sunday, April 7, 1940
In a day when sensational and unrestrained publicity sometimes makes men seem to be what they are not – in a day when unchecked propaganda ignores truth and fact and sways the judgment of men, it is refreshing to recall the tersely-stated words of the writer of Proverbs: “Remove far from me vanity and lies; Feed me with food convenient for me.” It is pleasant to think of that day when all things shall be what they seem to be, and when all men will seem to be what they are. Then shall we stand before God, unable to conceal our thoughts and desires with words and gestures that contradict the things that we are thinking and the motives that we are concealing. In the meantime we yearn for the time when the news that we hear and the things that we see and the rumors that confuse and contradict will be known and trusted quantities in a world where seemingly no report may now be accepted at its face value.
It seems that men have often been inclined to look for unusual manifestations from the Lord, and in looking for spectacular signs have forgotten that the Lord’s way is the way of law and order; the way of the ceaseless movement in the heavens, of the regularity of the seasons, the way of a boy growing into manhood, and the way of a tree’s flowering and of the sun’s ripening. The Lord God does not need to speak to men in great voice (although He may do so at His choosing), for He has planted in them a voice of conscience and Inspiration which, unless it has been suppressed or tampered with, speaks as truly as truth itself. On this thought there comes this text, “And behold, the, Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains and break in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake – – – and after the earthquake, a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire a still small voice.” And in that still small voice onward came the Lord.
The attitude with which men approach the Lord is not greatly different from the attitude with which they approach their fellow men. There are some who, not having earned their daily bread, nevertheless feel free to demand it.. Likewise, there are some who, not having kept the commandments of God nevertheless feel free to expect His blessings, and find rancor in their souls if such blessings are not forthcoming. Even as there are some who rely upon the mercy and generosity of other men, rather than on their own merits so are there many who needs must ask the Lord to be merciful rather than just, for justice would not be good enough for them.
April 7, 1940
Broadcast Number 0,555