The Touch Of The Master’s Hand

© Copyright 2013 PJ Stassen

All Rights Reserved

‘Know thyself’? If I knew myself, I’d run away.

-          Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe, 1749-1832.

                                                                               
   This is not a hymn, but a poem by Myra Brooks Welch that emphasizes the incredible power of Jesus Christ to change the lives and destinies of people, no matter who we are or what our history. Yes ... Jesus still saves!

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The Touch Of The Master’s Hand

(Myra Brooks Welch, 1878-1959)

‘Twas battered and scarred and the auctioneer
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 of them cried
“We do not quite understand …
What changed it’s worth?” Swift came the reply:
” ‘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.

A mess of pottage, a glass of wine;
A game, and he travels on.
He is 'going once', and 'going twice',
He's 'going' and almost 'gone'.

But the Master comes and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul and the change that's wrought -
By the touch of the Master's hand.

(Click on the YOUTUBE logo in the top right-hand corner of this post for Tex Ritter's memorable reading of this poem)

Piet Stassen

eLiterature/eLiteratuur:

1. Scribd Publishing Site:  www.scribd.com/PietStassen (ENGLISH & AFRIKAANS)
2. eBook: 'Evolution: The Science That Evolved Into A Fairy Tale' (ENGLISH)  
3. eBook:  'Bertrand Russell Revisited: Rebuttal Of Bertrand Russell's 'Why I Am Not A Christian''(ENGLISH)
4. eBook: 'Meditations & Contemplations: A Reader For Both Atheists And Creationists' (ENGLISH)
5. eBook: 'Conservation, Rhino Poaching And Hypocrisy' (ENGLISH)
6. eBook: 'Why Darwinism ('Evolution') Does Not Make Sense' (ENGLISH)
7. eBook: 'Names And Titles Of Jesus Of Nazareth (ENGLISH)'
8. eBoek:  'Darwin Of Christus: Suid-Afrikaners By 'n Kruispad!' [AFRIKAANS].
9. eBoek:  'Bevryding Van Die Anti-Evangelie Van Ateisme-Evolusionisme' [AFRIKAANS].
10. eBoek:  'Name & Titels Van Jesus Christus' [AFRIKAANS].
11. eTracts, Christian (Free, Downloadable):  Free, downloadable Christian eTracts for free distribution (ENGLISH)
12. eTraktate, Christelik (Gratis, Aflaaibaar): Gratis, aflaaibabre Christelike Traktate vir gratis verspreiding (AFRIKAANS)

Bibliography

1.  AboutOne HandTyping. 'The Touch Of The Master's Hand'. Accessed At <http://www.aboutonehandtyping.com/storiesfolder/master.html> [online] 2013.
2.  Andrews, Allen (1969) Quotations For Speakers And Writers. Newnes Books. Hamlyn Publishing Group Ltd. London.

3.  FindAGrave. 'Myra Brooks Welch'. Accessed At <http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=21747021> [online] 2013.
4.  LifeIsReallyBeautiful. 'The Violin Player: The Touch Of The Master's Hand'. Accessed At <http://lifeisreallybeautiful.com/4838/the-touch-of-the-masters-hand/> [online] 2013.
5.  TurnBackToGod.  ‘The Touch Of The Master’s Hand’.  Accessed At <http://www.turnbacktogod.com/poem-the-touch-of-the-masters-hand/> [online] 2013.