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  DOTH NOT THE EAR TRY WORDS? AND THE PALATE
  by F.B. Meyer
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Summary: The sermon emphasizes the importance of discerning the voice of
God through the Bible and recognizing it as distinct from the voice of
strangers.

Topics: "Discernment", "The Authority of Scripture"
Scripture References: Job 12:11, Psalm 119:105, Isaiah 30:21, Matthew 7:15-20, John 10:27, John 16:13, Romans 10:17, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12

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DESCRIPTION
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F.B. Meyer emphasizes the importance of discerning the truth in words,
comparing the ear's ability to judge speech to the palate's ability to
taste food. He encourages believers to apply a spiritual test to the
Scriptures, recognizing the unique quality and divine authority present
in God's Word. Meyer highlights that true followers of Christ can
distinguish His voice from others, urging listeners to seek God's
guidance in developing this discernment. The sermon calls for a humble
approach to understanding Scripture amidst scholarly challenges,
affirming that the Holy Spirit speaks through the Word.

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CONTENT
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Doth not the ear try words? and the palate

tasteth its meat. Job xii. 11 (R.V.).

THERE is no appeal from the verdict of our palate.We know in a moment
whether a substance is sweet or bitter, palatable or disagreeable. Now,
what the taste is to articles of diet, that the ear is to words, whether
of God or man. More especially we can tell in a moment whether the fire
of inspiration is burning in them. This is the test which Job proposed
to apply to the words of his friends; and it would be well for all of us
to apply the same test to Holy Scripture.

The humble student of the Word of God is sometimes much perplexed and
cast down by the assaults which are made on it by scholars and teachers,
who do not scruple to question the authorship and authority of large
tracts of Scripture. We cannot vie with these in scholarship, but the
humblest may apply the test of the purged ear; and it will detect a
certain quality in the Bible which is absent everywhere beside. There is
a tone in the voice of Scripture, which the child of God must recognise.
This is the interesting characteristic in the quotations made in the New
Testament from the Old. All the writers in the later Revelation detect
the voice of God in the Old; to them, it is the Divine utterance through
holy lips. Hearken, they cry, "the holy Ghost saith." God is speaking in
the prophets, as He spake in his Son.

It is one of the characteristics of Christ's sheep that they know his
voice, and follow Him, whilst they flee from the voice of strangers. Ask
that the Lord may touch your ears, that they may discern by a swift
intuition the voice of the Good Shepherd from that of strangers; and for
grace to follow immediately He calls you.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/fb-meyer/doth-not-the-ear-try-words-and-the-palate/
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