Lesson 258: "The Touch of the Master's Hand"
Stradivari built more than eleven hundred violins in Italy three hundred years ago and only some six hundred survived. “His craftsmanship is still unsurpassed” (Tinnsten). Swedish researchers are hoping to unravel the secrets behind the unique sound of a Stradivarius violin; an acoustic mystery that has fascinated music lovers and puzzled scientist for centuries. Is it the wood? Is it the chemicals? Is it the strings? Or is it perhaps the touch of the master’s hand?
Scientist and scholars for years have searched the scripture trying to unravel the mysteries of God and His wonders. No amount of education or brilliance can answer the question of who God is or where He came from. “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was God” (John 1:1)! Since “they” cannot come up with a satisfactory “human” answer to the existence of the world and its universe, it is explained scientifically as the “big boom”. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1)! The parting of the Red Sea has been said to have happened because of strong wind currents, drought and of course the waters being only ankle deep. “The Lord said to Moses; ‘raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the waters’”; “and the waters were divided” (Ex. 14:15-16, 21-22). “The sun stopped in the middle of the day” (Jos. 10:13-14)! Accident? “Elisha died and was buried. Some Israelites threw a man into his tomb and when the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life” (2 Kings 13:20-21)! Fairy tale? A man with leprosy came and said; “Lord, if you are willing you can make me clean”. “Jesus touched him and said; ‘I am willing. Be clean’. And immediately he was cured”. Jesus took seven loaves of bread and fed more than four thousand (Matt. 15:34-38). He healed the paralytic (Mark 2:3-12); cast our demons (Mark 5:1-8); freed a woman from twelve years of suffering (Mark 5:25-29); gave sight to the blind (Luke 18:35-43); died on the Cross and rose again on the third day (Luke 23:26, 46; 24:7). Were all of these miracles magic or the touch of the Master’s Hand? I know what I believe and whom I have believed in (2 Tim. 1:12b)!
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But he held it up with a smile.
"What am I bid, good folk?" he cried.
"Who'll start the bidding for me?
A dollar, a dollar ... now two ... only two ...
Two dollars, and who'll make it three?
"Three dollars once, three dollars twice,
Going for three" ... but no!
From the room far back a gray-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow.
Then wiping the dust from the old violin
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet,
As sweet as an angel sings.
The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said, "What am I bid for the old violin?"
As he held it up with the bow.
"A thousand dollars ... and who'll make it two?
Two...two thousand, and who'll make it three?
Three thousand once and three thousand twice ...
Three thousand and gone!" said he.
The people cheered, but some exclaimed
"We do not quite understand ...
What changed it's worth?" and the answer came:
" 'Twas the touch of the master's hand."
And many a man with soul out of tune
And battered and scarred by sin
Is auctioned cheap by the thoughtless crowd
Just like the old violin.
But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul, and the change that is wrought
By the touch of the master's hand.
O Master! I am the tuneless one
Lay, lay Thy hand on me,
Transform me now, put a song in my heart
Of melody, Lord, to Thee!
~ Myra Brooks Welch ~
