Refused the Charmer's Enticements
By Clarence Santee
THE wisdom of the serpent is often mentioned, but wherein that wisdom lies is not so often made clear. One practical lesson taught from the wisdom of the serpent is given in Ps. 58:4, 5. Speaking of the wicked, the psalmist says, "They are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear; which will not harken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely." Some dangerous animals can be charmed by certain kinds of music, and diverted from their purpose; but the "deaf adder"—not so by nature, but that "stoppeth her ear" when the danger from the charmer is present—pursues its course. Closing its ears, it hears nothing to divert it. The Saviour commended its wisdom to His disciples: "Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." Matt. 10:16. It is said of Christ: "Who is blind, but My Servant? or deaf, as My Messenger that I sent? . . . seeing many things, but Thou observest not; opening the ears, but He heareth not." Isa. 42:19, 20. "Deaf," "He heareth not." He saw many things, but He did not see. How can this be possible? — While surrounded by many voices, calling Him to worldly honor, fame, wealth, power — "All this power will I give Thee, and the glory of them," said one — yet He was attentive to but one voice. It was the Father's voice calling to duty. "Mine ears hast Thou opened," were the words of the Saviour. Ps. 40:6. Again, "The Lord God hath opened Mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back." Isa. 50:5. THE CHARMS OF SIN AND REBELLION
Closed, by His own choice, to the voices "charming never so wisely," His ear was ever opened to the voice of His Father. It is only when we do not close the ear to the voice of charmers, that we become rebellious, or turn "away back." Our first parents were not wise as the "deaf adder that stoppeth her ear." They harkened to the voice of the charmer, and ruin and death became the heritage of the human family. Refusing to stop the ear to the tempter, brings more sorrow into the world to-day than all other curses combined. If men and women would heed the injunction of the Saviour to be "wise as serpents," closing the ear to all suggestions leading away from the one object to be attained, how different the world would soon become! Rehoboam, son of Solomon, listened to the counsel of young and inexperienced men, and lost ten of the twelve tribes of Israel. 1 Kings 12:12-16. Jesus laid strong emphasis on the proper use of the ear. "Take heed what ye hear." Mark 4:24. And "take heed . . . how ye hear." Luke 8:18. These injunctions are the sure path to safety and peace. "What ye hear" needs no comment. But "how ye hear" may be perplexing to some. This expression embodies the question of the spirit in which you hear, the intent for which you hear, the use you expect to make of that you hear. One has well said, "If there be no hearers, there will be no speakers of evil." There is great force in the simple Japanese figure of three images bound together, one with its hands over its ears, the next covering its eyes, the third covering its lips; the evident lesson being, Take heed what you hear, see, and speak. With these lessons learned and applied, no man will go far astray. In ancient time, there was an offering made when a leper was cleansed. Lev. 14:14-18. In this cleansing, the ear was the first thing to be cleansed. The blood of a lamb, representing the blood of Christ, was taken by the priest, and touched upon the ear first, then upon the right thumb, and the large toe of the right foot. The ear must be cleansed until it will listen alone to the voice of the Master. Then there will be success in cleansing the actions, represented by the blood touching the hand and the foot. After the blood had been applied to the ear, the hand, and the foot, oil, representing the righteousness of Christ, was taken by the priest, and first sprinkled seven times before the Lord, showing faith in the complete righteousness wrought out by the Saviour for the individual; then a part of the oil was touched upon the blood that had been applied to the ear, the hand, and the foot. The righteousness of Christ is imparted only where the blood of Christ has cleansed. It commenced where sin entered this world, in the hearing, then was imparted to the actions. Lastly, some of the oil was placed upon the head, the seat of the mind, in this way giving assurance of keeping power for time to come. "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts," is the counsel of God. Isa. 55:7. With the fountain purified, the stream can bear life and health to all who come under its influence. The Christian life will be fragrant with blessing.