The Old Violin or: The Touch of the Master’s Hand!

By Helen Jesze, 8^th October 2021

“And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

Luke 15:5-7 ESV

“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who are brokenhearted and saves such as are the crushed in spirit.”

Psalm 34:17-18 ESV

‘Twas battered and scarred,
And the auctioneer thought it
hardly worth his while
To waste his time on the old violin,
but he held it up with a smile.

“What am I bid, good people”, he cried,
“Who starts the bidding for me?”
“One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?”
“Two dollars, who makes it three?”
“Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three,”

But, No,
From the room far back a gray bearded 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 the angel sings.

The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said: “What now am I bid for this old violin?”
As he held it aloft with its bow.

“One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?”
“Two thousand, Who makes it three?”
“Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
Going and gone”, said he.

The audience cheered,
But some of them cried,
“We just don’t understand.”
“What changed its worth?”
Swift came the reply.

“The Touch of the Master’s Hand.”

And many a man with life out of tune
All battered and bruised with sin
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd
Much like that old violin.

A mess of pottage, a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on.
He’s going once, he’s 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 is wrought
By the Touch of the Master’s Hand.

Have you ever been to an auction? My father loved going to them, and sometimes he would take me, when I was a small girl. It was so exciting to see what useful, beautiful or unusual object you could buy at a low price, and to hear the bidders trying to outdo each other! But in this poem the violin that was being sold at that auction brings a marvellous lesson to us all. When Myra Brooks Welch, wrote that in 1921, I am sure she would be amazed that for decades, countless people all over the world have loved and recited her beautiful poem.

The old, scarred violin is being bidden for a few dollars, but suddenly the scene changes as an old man comes forward and picks up the instrument. Against all expectations, the music he plays is pure and beautiful and the crowd gasps in surprise. The auctioneer jumps in, seizes his opportunity and now holds up the violin and bow, and soon it is sold for three thousand dollars! They all asked:What made the difference? What gave it such worth? – The auctioneer replied it was the touch of the master’s hand!

So many of us have been like that old violin, perhaps broken and scarred through people’s actions, or the difficulties of Life, or just our own bad choices, bound by sin and habits. If we had been sold at a spiritual auction, we wouldn’t have been worth much at all. But the Master – our Lord Jesus Christ – has come to find us, cleaned us up and started to play his tunes of love and goodness upon our lives. We are now bringing forth a better, purer sound which gladdens his heart, and those around us, bringing glory to God!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you that you are the Great Shepherd, who goes in tender love after the lost sheep; the God who is looking for the broken ones to make them whole. Our life is of inestimable worth in the hands of our Master! It is your touch that makes the difference! Today we place ourselves afresh in your hands. Touch us anew with your love and the power of your Holy Spirit, we pray! Amen.