May 27

"The dumb spake." Matthew 9:33.

THIS was a natural dumbness, the cure of which was to be one of the miracles attending the Messiah's advent: "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped; then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing."

But there is a moral dumbness, and the Saviour heals this when he makes us new creatures. Then old things pass away, and all things become new—not physically new, but spiritually new, each faculty becoming new in quality, application, and use. Thus the man has a tongue before, but not a religious one. He speaks before; but now his speech is with grace. Now he speaks of God, for God, and to God.

He speaks of God; of his perfections; of his designs; of his works and ways; of his word; of his commands and promises—a theme for angels.

He speaks for God: "On his behalf," as Elihu says; in defending his truth; in justifying his people; in recommending his service; in pleading his cause. Wisdom is necessary here, and we are to distinguish between places and seasons and characters. "A word fitly spoken, how good is it! It is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." Yet caution, though it should qualify our zeal, should not quench it. We should be courageous as well as discreet:

"And if some proper hour appear, I'll not be overawed; But let the scoffing sinner hear, That I can speak for God."

He speaks to God. And this is the best evidence of our sincerity. For many speak of God, and many for him, who never speak to him. While the world hears them, and the temple hears them, silence reigns in the closet. But the Christian's delight is in God; and the duties and exigencies of his spiritual condition will bring him often to His seat, and he will address him much in a way of adoration and confession, and intercession and prayer.