Just as Christ here by the Spirit and the Finger of God expels the devil, so also He still today imparts His victory against the devil and transfers us out of the kingdom of the devil into God’s kingdom of grace through the Spirit and the Finger of God; that is to say, through the Word and holy Sacraments. For the Word and the holy Sacraments are nothing else but the Finger of God which He lays into our ears and upon our eyes. The power of the Holy Spirit is in these means. Through them He works in us faith and rebirth, along with renewal, so that we are redeemed from the kingdom and the power of the devil.
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Excellent Quote. This reminds me of the hymn “Herr! auf dein Wort soll’s sein gewagt.” I must confess I did not understand the import and validity of the term Finger of God before, and I must correct my translation. Here are the two pertinent stanzas:
2. Hier bin ich, habe meine Lust
an dir und deinen Worten,
nichts liebers ist mir sonst bewußt:
schleuß auf die HErzenspforten
und sende deinen Geist,
der ein Tröster heißt,
ein Feu’r, ein Thau, ein Band,
ein Hauch, ein Brunn’, ein Pfand,
ein Öl, ein Finger Gottes.
3. Komm, Tröster! hilf und steh mir bei,
komm Feu’r und mich entzünde,
komm Thau und mein’ Erquickung sei,
komm Band und selig binde,
komm Hauch erweise dich,
komm Brunn’ und nässe mich,
komm Pfand, wend’ alles Leid,
komm, schaffe in mir Freud’,
komm, Finger Gottes nieder.
Perhaps my translation should therefore go:
2. Lord, here I stand, and love but this:
Thee and Thy Word Immortal,
I know naught else so full of bliss:
So now, to my heart’s portal
Thy Holy Ghost confer,
Called the Comforter,
A Fire and Fountain both,
Thaw, Breath and Binding Oath,
God’s Finger of anointing.
3. Come Comforter, my Help and Stay,
Come Fire, with warmth possess me,
Come Quick’ning, thaw my frost away,
Come Seal and Bond to bless me,
Come Breath, be now revealed,
Come Font, waters yield,
Come Oath, my cares set free
Come work Thy joy in me,
God’s Finger, come descending!