We May Hear No Audible Sound, Yet He Speaks to the Soul—
God's Law Written on the Heart—We May
Know Him if We Will
To the common understanding, a voice is nothing short of an audible sound. Education has so fixed this standard as the common guide, that when one is found with no power of vocal utterance, he is said to have no voice. Yet the mute individual is not at a loss to make his minutest desires readily understood. His method of communication is no secret, because it is executed by visible signs, either in writing or by digitation; yet it is a voice, silent though it be, because it conveys intelligence, and carries an influence, the same as though audibly spoken.
Thus the apostle Paul is made to say that when certain ones were put to death because they were unfriendly to the Jewish faith and customs, he gave his "voice" against them. Acts 26:10. But the root word here used is not phone, the one expression throughout the New Testament for "voice," but psephos, which means a small pebble. By this being cast as a quiet ballot, it signified the sentiment of the voter, and so stood for his voice or will.
GOD'S VOICE IN CREATION
It is through certain acts, not always the same, that God's voice has been expressed in His administration of earthly affairs. The first record of the kind is that of the creation of the world. Then God spoke, and the very things He had in mind at the instant, at once appeared in tangible form. Although no visible substance emerged prior to its being named in the call to existence, God spoke, and it was. Ps. 33:6, 9; Heb. 11:3. We do not know how God spoke into chaos, or what within it had ears to hear before any essential part of creation was formed; but we do know by faith that "He spoke," and everything necessary to a world's equipment responded.
Herein is the mystery of God's voice. His creative acts reveal that His process of declaring the divine liking is as potent when exercised over unorganized matter, as when practised upon mortal mind; also that the system employed to control intellectual faculties is no less unsearchable than that by which world elements were called into being. This becomes more evident when the history of divine revelation is brought under review. One man alone in Old Testament story was brought face to face with Jehovah in counsel, as one friend converses with another. All others with whom heavenly intercourse was to be held must be content to receive it through a vision or in a dream. Num. 12:6-8.
Here again human scrutiny is at fault; for we are not able to declare accurately the properties of these heavenly methods, neither is it positively known just how the impressions of the divine mind are made upon the human. That it is done as quickly and effectively as was the creative act, may be drawn from a single case of inspired history.
GOD'S VOICE TO SAMUEL
The prophet Samuel was instructed to go to a certain family in Bethlehem, and from one of its sons anoint a king to guide the destinies of Israel. The particular individual to be thus honored was not named in the commission, for the reason, perhaps, that God preferred to instruct as to that on the spot, and so prevent the possible mistake of a faulty memory in names. So upon arrival at the place, the prophet ordered the sons of the household to stand before him. Looking at the eldest, a fine specimen of manhood, Samuel's mind inclined toward setting him apart for the high office. But as hands were about to be laid on in the ceremony of consecration, the Lord suddenly halted the service, with information that the one considered was not the chosen of Heaven, for certain well-defined reasons. The same result was reached in the case of each of the following six as they passed under examination. 1 Sam. 16:1-13.
The anointing of a king to rule Israel was a great responsibility, because to make a mistake in selection would be a lamented calamity. But the prophet had been assured that one of the sons of this family had been chosen for king, and that all which remained to do was to anoint him for the office. What was to be done after the rejection of all the supposed sons of Jesse as they came forward for examination? Again in His refusal to accept any of those presented, how was God's mind so quickly and accurately made known to the prophet, since there is no record of any audible voice being heard in the communications given, and it had moreover been declared that none besides Moses could talk with God face to face, as with a friend?
One is shut up to the conclusion that the prophet's instruction was by some silent conference through which he learned the divine will, and which made him entirely sure of his ground of operation. Hence finding that all the sons viewed were alike discarded, the prophet turned with confidence to the head of the family, demanding to know where another son might be found.
The father admitted having another son, but considered him too young to have weight in the matter before them. This one, he said, was in the field herding sheep. "Send for him at once," was the order. Upon his appearance, the Lord made known, in the same mysterious manner as with the other sons, that this one, the boy David, was Heaven's chosen king.
It is thus readily seen that the right course to be taken throughout this program entirely depended on listening to God's "still small voice," the same that led Elijah from his wilderness hiding to anoint Elisha as prophet in his stead. 2 Kings 19:12-16.
GOD IMPRESSES HIMSELF UPON ALL
It is the same now. Hence the mystery of God's kingdom, in all its administrative functions, has been committed to the knowledge of all who will receive it. Mark 4:11. Every one may have the voice of God reveal to him constantly the path in which he should walk; not by some audible command, but by the quiet voice of God upon the conscience, that perceptive yet unknown quantity implanted in man by Him whose spontaneous knowledge was to lead the image of the infinite in His own type of righteousness. John 10:4, 5. Through this sensitive contingency the Master's voice was to be heard, calling to duty, as against possible directing agencies tending in an opposite direction.
So firmly was this attribute riveted in man by creative power, and so positively in harmony was its original likeness with the audible voice heard later on Sinai's height, that down into the very depths of heathen mental incompetence it yet acts a certain part in directing careers. Referring to this Heaven-reserved avenue for meeting man's needs amid conflicting environments, the apostle says that one removed from the written law of Heaven, and yet acting the requirement of that law, simply shows the operation of the law written upon the heart, being witnessed by his conscience either excusing or accusing him in what he does. Rom. 2:14, 15.
Truly God has amply provided man with every facility for mental association with perfect influences. No one, therefore, can, in his final rehearsal, complain that opportunity for linking11with Heaven was lacking in his case, since it is the privilege of every one, in faith, fervently to ask:
"Speak to my soul, dear Jesus,
Speak now in tenderest tone.
Whisper in loving kindness,
Thou art not left alone."
J. O. C.
