"So The Carpenter Hardened The Goldsmith" 

The word used for ENCOURAGE in I Sam. 30:6 and Is. 41:7 is the same word translated 12 times in Exodus for the "hardening" of Pharaoh's heart 

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As Pharaoh’s heart was hardened  

to oppose the Word of God;  

so David’s heart was hardened  

to failure’s tempting prod. (ISam.30:6)  

 

The carpenter did harden  

the goldsmith against pain;  

lest he quit and suffer  

his work to be in vain. (Is. 41:7)  

 

Lord, let me be hardened,  

not as old Pharaoh past;  

who refused the man of God,  

and lost his son at last.  

 

But, Lord, let my hardness be  

the kind that keeps men pure;  

in a world of shameless sin,  

let love and right endure.  

 

Let my spine be stainless steel;  

not bend to sin’s delight.  

Give my lips a welded seal,  

not gossip when I might  

 

Let my tears of mercy flow,  

though other’s love wax cold.  

Let me value sacred things,  

when other’s birthright’s sold.  

 

Let my heart still laugh and sing  

while many calloused be;  

their hardness from deceitful sin,  

my hardness, Lord, from thee.  

 

Hard enough to care for souls  

lost dying in their sin;  

when all the one’s around me  

the lottery must win.  

 

Hard enough to have some fun  

with my children and wife;  

though the back is aching,  

and job is full of strife.  

 

Hard enough to kneel and pray  

though 1000 tasks still call.  

Hard enough to stop awhile,  

and throw my son a ball.  

 

Hard enough to cry awhile  

when Calvary comes in view.  

Hard enough to boldly stand  

and tell men about you.  

 

Hard enough to give a hand  

when I too need the same.  

Hard enough to yet forgive  

slanders to my name.  

 

Hard enough to help the weak,  

when I am weak and ill.  

Hard enough when I am bruised  

to care how others feel.  

 

Hard enough to date my wife,  

romantic and charming be;  

even when my weary bones  

are screaming back at me.  

 

Hardened to the selfish way  

this sinful flesh would go.  

Hardened so that bitterness  

in me cannot grow  

 

Hardened so that other men  

can find new strength in me;  

and fight the tide of wickedness  

that pulls to Satan’s sea.  

 

Hardened so when Jesus comes  

and I’m to face God’s Son;  

I can stand with multitudes  

of others whom I’ve won.  

 

As this world has hardened hearts  

against the things of God;  

so let me be hardened in  

the steps that Jesus trod! 

 

MARK BULLEN