“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened…and the tongue of the dumb sing….” (Isaiah 35.5, 6.)
Introduction. What a difference grace makes when it enters the heart! The tongue of the dumb not only speaks, it sings. How vain to make a profession and yet live in sin. Where the grace of God is, it makes men to differ. In conversion and regeneration, God makes us as opposite from what we were before as light is from darkness, as even heaven itself is from hell. Where God really justifies he really sanctifies too; where there is remission of sin, there is also the forsaking of it.
(1) The Persons whom God has Chosen to Sing his Songs Forever. There is no difference, by nature, between the elect and others. The only reason for a difference between those in heaven and those in hell rests with divine grace alone. Those in heaven would have rejected Christ, as did those who were cast away, if grace had not prevented them. They are saints because God made them so. God chose, not the tongue of the stammerer, not the tongue that blasphemed, but ‘the tongue of the dumb,’ of those gone furthest from any thought of singing. Strange choice God has made! Strange for its graciousness! It strangely manifests the sovereignty of God! To build his palace of living stones, did he bring forth the richest marble from the quarries of perfection? Far from being white stones of purity, you were black with defilement, unfit for the spiritual temple. He has selected the worst of men to be monuments of grace. Ay, beloved, if God did not choose the base things of this world, he would never have chosen us. Cast away this Arminian thought that it was of your foreseen faith or foreseen works that the Lord chose you. Your son John is a sad reprobate; keep on praying for him; God can change his heart.
(2) A Lucid Description of these Dumb People. The first sort are those who cannot speak. The man still in trespasses and sins is dumb. He is dead; there is none so dumb as a dead man. The unregenerate are spiritually dead; it follows that they must be spiritually dumb. They cannot sing God’s praises. They cannot really confess, for they do not know the evil of sin. But God will have his darlings made what they should be. There is a sort of dumb people that will not speak. Isaiah called preachers in his day dumb dogs that would not bark. If we are dumb ministers, may God force us to speak lest we be cast away as unfaithful stewards of the gospel at the last day! A third sort of dumb people dare not speak. The Lord’s servant will often have to be dumb under trials and troubles. When Satan tempts him to murmur, he will put his finger to his lip and say, ‘Hush, murmuring heart, be still!’ Though we are dumb as to murmuring, we ought to sing God’s praises. An old Puritan said, ‘God’s people are like birds; they sing best in cages.’ God has thus made the tongue of the dumb to sing. A fourth sort are dumb, for they have nothing to say. Once we were asked if we had any reason to plead against being condemned, and we were dumb. Now we can sing, “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect?”
(3) Occasions when the Tongues of the Dumb Sing the Best. When they lose their burden at the foot of the cross. Not even the songs of angels seem as sweet as that first song of rapture from the forgiven child of God. And they sing sweetly in communion too, when in fellowship with Christ’s sufferings or glories. The best singing time is when we come to die. Many desponding children get a swan’s song before they die. Never fear death; it will be a singing time.
Selection from Conclusion. “It is a poor noise we make now; when we join the song perhaps we are almost ashamed to sing; but up there our voices shall be clear and good.”
