THE VOICE OF THE LORD  By Leslie Barrowcliff. 8 February, 1937.

Reading Portion – Psalm 29.

As I read this psalm I was compelled to notice the recurring reference to "The Voice of the Lord".

People are so quick today to say – "Well, it was all right in those days, it was different for Moses and the prophets; God spoke to them, but He doesn’t speak to us like that!" Doesn’t He, my friends? Doesn’t He? Have you never known the inner, still, small Voice of rebuke or encouragement?

Ah! the Voice of the Lord is all-powerful. I can assure you, tonight, that the Voice of the Lord is far greater than the sound of all other voices combined. Its very essence is power – for it is the Voice of God!

In His glory and in His majesty He rides upon the storms and waves. He calls to the clouds and they pour out their rain – the lightnings respond to His Bidding and the thunders roar – all at the Voice of the Lord.

His Word is Supreme and by all obeyed. His Voice is the Voice of command which none can refuse to obey and prevail. By the Word of His mouth -–His Voice – were the Heavens created. The Earth is framed because God spake and it was done! The seas may roll and roar and rage – but they cannot pass beyond the border set by His Command.

They may foam and crash, but all in vain. He has commanded their bounds and they cannot pass. Oh the Voice of the Lord is stupendous in its power. And when the Lord Jesus was awakened from His sleep upon the stormy sea at His rebuke the waters stayed – it was the Voice of God!

And the Voice of God is wonderful and full of majesty. His laws have been settled of old and from everlasting to everlasting His Word holds sway.

The smoking volcano spouts forth its deadly contents at His Word and He has declared "The soul that sinneth it shall die"; and though men may devise ways and means of putting off death for a while, yet the Voice of God prevails, and the sinners all must die.

It is the Voice of God! And though He spake of old through the prophets He now speaks to us through His Son – Jesus Christ our Lord.

As Christ preached His Message to the multitudes – it was the Voice of God they heard. The Voice that set the sun in its place and ordained the movement of the moon and stars – the Voice that created the starry spheres was the Voice that bid the weary sinner come to Him and rest.

The Voice that spake to the sin-sick soul "Go in peace, thy faith hath saved thee" – the Voice of compassion when Jesus saw the hungry multitudes and fed them – the Voice that made the mountains shake and skip and the Red sea part that His chosen ones may pass safely through, was that same, that very same Voice.

The Voice that thundered on Sinai’s heights – "Thou shalt not covet!" was re-echoed in the Voice of Jesus – "Neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more".

The Voice that shook the Heavens and bid the lightning streak across the sky or bid the mighty thunders roar, was the Voice that said – "Peace, be still!"

He Who created the oceans vast and spans the Heavens above; He Who made the mountains steep and formed the hills in ancient time, was He Who trod the Galilean shore. And He spake as no man ever yet spake.

With authority He commanded the tomb give up its dead and still He bid the demons depart and the fevers to flee. He soothes the sorrowful soul and breaking heart and gives joy and peace to weary ones and sad.

He Who caused the earth to tremble at His Presence and at Whose Voice the Wilderness shook spent forty days and forty nights in the wilderness for you and me.

Though by His Voice He created all things, yet He came to suffer and to die.

They tried to trap Him in His speech – they tried to trick Him by His Words – but the Voice of the Lord was beyond their skill.

Although at His Word a legion of angels would have hastened to His aid yet in the Garden of Gethsemane He allowed them to arrest Him. And even then His Voice was revealed in all its power and glory and majesty, for when He asked them whom they sought and was told ""Jesus of Nazareth" – His reply, "I am He" caused them to fall back. He was still Supreme at that moment. At His Word, at His Voice, His would-be accusers fell back!

And they falsely accused Him and they led Him away to Calvary. And the Voice of God was heard – "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do!" And the Voice of God was heard to cry – "Eloi, Eloi! lama sabacthani!" as the blessed Son of God expired upon the cruel Tree.

But the Voice of God bid the grave give up its prey. The Voice of God that had bid the dead arise – now spake again, and lo! the tomb was burst, the fetters riven, and death slunk away, beaten, defeated, eternally overcome. For the Voice of God had bid the Sun of Righteousness arise!.

All Hail! Emmanuel, all Hail! Eternal Saviour Christ, all Hail! Lo! The shining orbs declare the wondrous story –

"CHRIST IS RISEN! CHRIST IS RISEN! He rose – He rose and death and Hell are conquered foes. Hallelujah!

At thy rebuke, oh Lord, the waters fled, at Thy rebuke the tomb gave up its dead! The Voice of the Lord, beloved, the Voice of the Lord still rings out today to those who are dead, dead in sins and iniquity. The Voice of God is calling: "Come now, and let us reason together ….though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool". "Come, and I will give you rest. Come, look, believe, be saved!"

And the Voice of the Bridgegroom and the Voice of the Bride will unite and say – "Come… Come… Come… and whosoever will come may come and take of the waters of Life freely".

Oh will you heed that voice tonight and will you come to Jesus now?

"Behold! I come quickly and my reward is with Me to give every man as his works shall be".

And to that Voice we make our glad reply – Yea, Lord Jesus, I come, I come to Thee!".

Leslie Barrowcliff. 8 February, 1937