A WORD FOR THOSE WHO ARE DEAF

(This was published now many years ago and written, I understand, by my grandfather. The need for its message is still apparent. Editor)

C.E.Burr

In moving about amongst the people of God one is increasingly struck with the number of those who are afflicted by deafness, and we should be greatly lacking in the grace of our precious Lord if we did not feel deeply for them. What tender movements there were with Him as to such! How He sighed and then relieved! We have no doubt been impressed with the spiritual significance of this, but we must keep in mind that they were actual cases which the Lord relieved and which the Spirit of God makes use of in the Holy Scriptures for our instruction.

It has often appealed to oneself when listening to precious ministry which is calculated to move the heart, that this one and that one hears nothing of what is said, and were it not that another kindly interpreted to them or passed notes, as well as finding the hymns or scriptures for them, they would know but little of what the Lord is bringing before His saints for their edification. Then, too, in the prayer meeting, not knowing what is said in detail in prayer, they are unable intelligently to say Amen. Above all, who else can estimate the lack for such on the Lord's day morning? One knows that such are present and glad to be there to enter into the spiritual gain of what is unaffected by their limitations, but we who are able to hear our brethren speaking to the Lord Jesus about His great love, or speaking in praise and adoration to God about His dear Son and about His own purposes of love and grace, about His home, His rest, and of the place which the saints have with Christ before His face, appreciate a little what a loss is theirs who hear nothing of all this in a physical way.

It may be that you are afflicted in this way. At one time when your hearing was good, with what relish you were present at all the meetings, following with keen enjoyment and interest all that was said, supporting with your "Amen" the prayers and thanksgivings which were uttered, profiting much by the various meetings; but there came a time when it became a definite strain to catch what was said, and you wished those who took part would speak a bit louder and more distinctly; and then perhaps you ceased to hear altogether, until you may have questioned in your own heart whether there was any good purpose in continuing to go regularly to the meetings; you may even have stayed away. My heart moves much toward you. I feel your loss intensely. I would that one could do something to relieve it. May the Lord in His grace pour into your heart much of His own compassions and love, so that as the stillness increases all around, you may more and more enjoy that precious intercourse and communion with Him, compared with which all else falls into the shade.

But to go back a little to this supposed suggestion of staying away from any one or other of the gatherings together of the saints of God. I would speak with all tender regard for your great loss in not hearing your brethren when they speak, but why should you also be deprived of seeing them whenever you can? What a joy it is to look upon the saints. How much else we see as we go through the world. What a lot there is that is an offence to those who know something of what is suitable to God. Hence what a cheer to look upon one's brethren, one's spiritual relatives, the family of God, to watch their faces as they speak together. How we see them light up with joy and holy animation! Why should one deprive oneself of the benefit of this because of the loss of another valuable faculty?

Then, too, the sitting together with those we love in Christ and who love us, the hearty shake of the hand, the affectionate greeting: what warmth there is in it! We may well attend to, and participate in it, as often as possible. I have frequently heard it said of a meeting where large numbers have been together: It is good to get together and to see each other, apart altogether from what is said; and many who are deaf continue to come, and express themselves in similar terms, although, as they say, they hear but little.

We all know something of what family life is, the various occasions when we in our home circles are found together. Perhaps some have left home and are married, having homes of their own. Yet how we love to see them, how they love to come from time to time to enjoy the original circle. Suppose one of them was stone deaf, would they keep away because of this? - the thought is intolerable, love could not stand it. Were one so to act, how it would affect the rest. How they would miss them, and no doubt go after them, giving them to understand that they cannot bear that they should stay away because of this infirmity, but that it should be a greater reason why they should be present to get all that they can. And not only to get, but to bring, and impart that added warmth and affection which cheers, and gives courage (see Acts 28: 15).

Beloved brother or sister, as one in the family of God, you have your part in what belongs to that family as much as others, and you can bring your measure of divine love into it. How the saints are cheered and encouraged by your continued presence amongst them! How it supports and stimulates them if you come! Perhaps you are where things are very weak outwardly. How they need you on every occasion so that you may impart strength to their earnest desire to continue faithfully witnessing together for the sake of Him who loved them and gave Himself for them; they cannot bear the thought of giving up. I have known of one aged sister coming regularly and being often the only one with just one brother. Were you in a place like that, would you not wish to do all you could to cheer and support such a one? thus ministering the grace of Christ to one of His own. I am continually impressed with the feeling, how much in every meeting depends upon the spiritual state of those who come, their nearness to Christ. The tone of the meeting is determined by this. I remember one very aged, deaf, and almost blind sister who unquestionably was a valuable asset to her meeting, the tone of which was always raised by her presence. She said she could always tell when it was a good meeting.

What valuable Levitical service is open to such, yea, what priestly service, may we not say? The Lord said of such a one who filled the house with the odour of her ointment: "She hath done what she could".

May it be yours to find abundant opportunities to support the testimony of our Lord in this adverse scene, as knowing the heart of Him who ever acts in wisdom and in love, and who makes no mistakes, but puts each in the place He would have them in, and furnishes them with all the necessary material, and provides the occasions for the use of that material.

I would not close without a word for any who may chance to read this who are not afflicted in this way. With what tender care Christ has watched over you. How many of His dear servants He has used to water the tender soil of your heart so that it might readily yield fruitfulness to the shining of the Sun of righteousness. There are those about you maybe to whom He would use you are a little aqueduct to convey some of the precious streams of living water from our glorified Fountain Head. This too would prove valuable Levitical service. Perhaps you are accustomed to sitting next to a personal friend in the meeting, or amongst those who are your natural relatives, but there may be one of your spiritual relatives in another part of the room, sitting all alone, and to whom you could perform a little act of service by passing on to them a little of what you are able to hear. May the Lord Jesus Christ Himself guide and richly bless you in all you do for Him and His own.