Job 13:5

Seeing The King

I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; But now mine eye seeth thee. Job 13:5.

Once upon a time there lived in a far-away land a poor man who had one little son. The boy's mother was dead, and as he had no brothers or sisters to play with he was often very lonely.

Not very far from where the boy lived was the palace of the great King. But although his sovereign lived so near the boy had never seen him; for this King had the power to make himself invisible, and it was only those whose eyes had been touched with a certain eye-salve who could behold him.

Now the boy's father worked for the King and he went twice every day to the palace. In the morning he went to get orders for the day's work. In the evening he gave an account of all that he had done, and received the royal pardon for the mistakes he had made.

The boy always looked forward to the hour when his father came home at night. For then the man took him on his knee and told him stories about the King, and of how great, and wise, and kind, and good he was.

And he told him, too, about the beautiful palace and how some day, when his work was done, he was going to live there with the King always, and never be hungry, or cold, or tired any more.

Sometimes the boy asked why his father worked for the King, and the father always answered, “Because I love him and he loves me and has done so much for me. Although I am only a poor man he calls me his friend, and it is always the King's friends who work for him. First they are his friends and then they are his servants not because they have to be, but because they want to be.” The boy used often to puzzle over that answer, but his father always said, “Some day you will understand.”

Now the more his father talked about the King, the more the boy wished to see him. It was all very well hearing about him, but how much better it would be to see him for himself! But his clothes were very old and shabby and he was afraid to enter the royal presence in rags.

One night his father had been talking to him as usual and at last he could contain himself no longer. “Oh, Father,” he said, “I wish I could see the King.” And his father replied, “Then you shall see him.” The boy could hardly believe his ears. “May I really and truly go and see him?” he asked. “Are you sure he would really wish to see me?” “Why, of course,” replied the father, “do you not know that the King has issued an invitation for anybody to come to him who wants to come?” “Then why doesn't everybody go?” asked the boy. “Ah,” said his father, “that is because some people are so foolish as not to want to go.”

The boy felt very happy that at last he was really and truly going to see the King, but suddenly he remembered his shabby clothes. “Oh, Father” he said, “I can't go in these rags and I have no money to buy new ones. I'm afraid I can't see the King after all.” But his father answered, “Don't you know that he would rather have you come just as you are?” “And when shall we start?” asked the boy. “May we go tomorrow morning?” But his father replied, “No, we shall start to-night. It is never too soon to go to the King.”

So they set out for the palace in the darkness and at last they reached the gates. The father gave the password to the sentry and immediately the gates were opened and they found themselves in a large courtyard. Crossing this they reached the palace and the father led his son through some corridors till they came to the King's presence chamber. The door was shut, but the man knocked and immediately a kind voice said, “Come in.” They entered at once and the little boy felt very excited and rather shy.

But when he got inside he was much astonished. The room was beautiful, far more beautiful than he had ever imagined, but to all appearance it was empty. At one end stood the throne, but apparently it was vacant. Then he remembered the eye-salve, and just at that moment his father spoke. “I have brought thee mine only son, oh gracious King. He desired to see thee and to know thee.” And the kind voice replied, oh, so gently, “Welcome, little boy, I have been waiting for you, and I am glad you have come so soon. They call me ‘the Friend of little children' Would you like me to be your friend?”

And the little boy fell on his knees before the throne and said, “Indeed, oh great King, it is too much to ask, but if thou wilt be my friend, then I shall be thy servant all my days, even as my father is.” Then the King replied, “Little boy I am your friend. Put your hand in mine.”

So the boy put out his hand although he could not see the King and immediately he felt it grasped by a hand that was kind and strong. Then his eyes were touched and something that was darkening their vision fell away, and he saw the King in his beauty.

The boy bowed his face to the ground but the King lifted him up. He set him on his knee, and put his kind arms round him. And he told him how much he had loved him and longed for him to come to him, and how, now that he had once found his way, he must return very often until the day arrived when he should come to live with him for ever. Then he set him down very gently and bade him “Good night,” and the father and son set out on their homeward way.

But the presence of the King seemed to go with them, and all the way something was singing in the boy's heart. And at last he said, “Oh, Father, you didn't tell me half of how good and great and loving he was. It is far, far better to know the King than just to hear about him. And now he is going to be my friend too!”

Boys and girls, there is a great King who wants to be your Friend. You have heard about Him often from your father and mother, from your minister or your teacher. But there is something far better than hearing about Him and that is seeing Him and knowing Him for yourself. There is no comparison between the two.

Do you know Him like that? It is never too soon to begin to know the Friend of little children and He invites everybody to come to Him. How can you make Him your Friend? Just by putting your hand in His. Then He will anoint your eyes with the eye-salve of faith and love, and you will see Him in His beauty. And He will lead you safely through life's joys and sorrows and temptations till at last He brings you to dwell with Him for ever where you will behold Him face to face.