"We change—He changes not;
Our Christ can never die:
His love, not ours, the resting place,
We on His truth rely."
(Hymn 84, verse 4)
I would like to read several Scriptures:
Hebrews 1:10-1210And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: 11They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; 12And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. (Hebrews 1:10‑12) "And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thy hands: They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail."
Dear friends, we are living in a world that is full of change. On every hand we see change. But isn't it blessed for us to know that there is One who changes not? In connection with that verse we read in the Song of Solomon, I think that the quality that we value most of all in a friend whom we have learned to love, admire and think a great deal of is that they do not change. If they change we feel disappointed, because we liked them the way they were. But something happens and they change; perhaps in their attitude. As time goes on we also change; in our physical condition too. It is a changing world. But isn't it very blessed, dear friends, that we have One who changes not?
I would like to speak a little about that because I believe that is what will sustain us in a world like this. We so often get frustrated and disappointed as we see the constant change in this world. People hardly know what to do because the job is uncertain, friends are uncertain, everything seems to be so uncertain. Banks fail, the weather pattern changes; it just seems that we are constantly reminded of change. But isn't it very precious that we can sit here this afternoon and be occupied with a Friend who is altogether lovely? There is nothing that we would ever want to alter, because He is so perfect in everything—perfect in love, perfect in grace, perfect in faithfulness. That is what is pictured in the meat offering when it speaks about the fine flour. When we think of friends we usually think of one who has some particularly outstanding virtue. So we say, that person is very generous, or very thoughtful, or very kind. We single out something in which they excel. But we have a Friend who equally excels in everything! He excels in love and in grace; and if you and I need correction (and we do sometimes), He knows just exactly what we need, and ministers that correction to us and wants us to see that it is His hand that is in it.
So when we see this world so constantly in the process of change, how precious it is to read in Hebrews 1, "But thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail." Whether it is a child, a young person or an adult, we can have this same Friend. He understands your childhood. Even in the Millennial Jerusalem it tells us that the streets of the city will be full of boys and girls playing. It tells us, too, that "when I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child." We don't always understand children, or what is going through their minds. But isn't it lovely that the Lord understands even the child? He tells us that in that happy time for this earth when the Lord Jesus has His rightful place, in that Millennial day, that then the children will be able to play in the streets, and there will be no accidents. Everything will be under the Lord's wonderful care.
Then, too, as we grow older, we have new desires as young people and we want certain things. Isn't it blessed to know that this is the kind of a Friend we have—One who understands? He watched your body and mine before they ever entered into this scene as living persons. It says in Psalm 139:1616Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. (Psalm 139:16), "Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them." You don't have any other Friend like that, who knows all your physical and emotional makeup and who understands you perfectly. But this One does. And, isn't that verse lovely, and does it not touch your heart, "this is my beloved, and this is my friend?" But He is not one who changes like earthly friends do. It says, "I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."
We are changing all the time. When we have a friend who changes, who was once close to us and then changes and is not so close, and who perhaps does some unkind thing to us, it is hard for us to take something like that. But this Friend, in spite of all our changes, loves us just the same. It has often been said that the assurances in Scripture of the Lord's love for us were always given at times when we might have least expected them. In the book of Deuteronomy, after forty years of wilderness, of murmuring, complaining and displaying what was in their hearts, when Israel came to the very end of that journey, it tells us, "Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand." Those forty years of their murmuring and complaining hadn't changed this Friend. He loved them and they were in His hand. Then we turn over to Jeremiah and we find that the people had gotten so far away that God was going to have to cause them to be carried into captivity. Their state seemed beyond remedy, as the Scripture says; and so the prophet Jeremiah with tears had to warn them that they were going to have to go into captivity. But did this change the Friend Israel had, and that we have? No, it says in chapter 31, verse 3, "Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."
Then, later, a little remnant had been brought back from the captivity, and we read in the book of Malachi about the things that went on. They said it was vain to serve God; they offered to Him the lame and the blind—that is they didn't offer the best to Him; they gave Him that which was second class, something they would not give to the governor. They would not do the things that were pleasing to Him. They were not obedient to Him. But how does He begin the message to them when He speaks about all those shortcomings and failures? Oh, listen to the way the book of Malachi opens: "The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi, I have loved you, saith the Lord."
Then we come over to the New Testament and we read of Martha and how the Lord had to speak to her; she was finding fault because Mary was sitting at His feet. We might have had an idea that the Lord had a little more affection for Mary because she was more devoted, and she sat at His feet. But when it speaks about the Lord's affection to them, it says: "Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus" (John 11:55Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. (John 11:5)). Yes, Martha's name comes first; the one who perhaps would have had the least reason to have expected that.
And then we read those letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3. He felt grieved that they had left their first love. And we have to hang our heads and acknowledge that it is true of us as well, is it not, brethren? We have lost that fresh affection for the Lord Jesus. But in the very last one, the letter to the Laodiceans, it says (Revelation 3:1919As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. (Revelation 3:19)), "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." So, how precious this is: "I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." I think many of us, and especially as we get older and look back, can say that certainly if the Lord's love to us was dependent on the way we had acted as believers, it would be a very small amount. But how precious to know that, "this is my beloved; this is my friend;" the One who does not change. "I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."
Then we read also in Hebrews 13, where the Lord was speaking about their leaders who had spoken to them the Word of God, and He has to add that little word, "whose faith follow." My father often used to say, "Remember, it does not say "whose failures follow.”’ We do see failures in ourselves, and perhaps in one another as well. And sometimes we follow someone else who has done something wrong. But it says, "whose faith follow." And then it tells us that there is a inplicitly; there is One who never fails. So, after * telling us that we could imitate the faith of those who had sought to instruct us in the things of God, He points us again to this unchangeable Friend, "Jesus Christ the same, yesterday, and today, and forever." Surely, brethren, when we think of this it is so encouraging to our hearts.
I believe it is so important not only to know this blessed One, but to realize that He has laid down in His Word all that we need for our pathway. We are living in a world of constant change. I suppose if we looked back fifty years ago none of us would have arrived in the same way that we did today; some arrived by airplane; some arrived by car. It is a changing world. But let us remember that moral and spiritual values do not change. That is, God has certain standards that He has established in His precious Word; and it gives us peace, knowing this unchanging Friend that we have, that the counsel He gives us does not have to be brought up to date. Anyone working in the business world today knows very well that constantly the planning and the way things are done are being changed. New bulletins are being issued about changes constantly. But isn't it lovely that we can take up a Book like this and know that, although the last part was written about 2,000 years ago, it is still perfectly up to date? It gives us just exactly what we need to live in 1985, and soon in 1986 if the Lord leaves us here. It does not have to be brought up to date. It is suited to us.
I say to those who are young, and to those of us who are older, how important it is that we go by this blessed Book. This wonderful Friend that we have, this unchanging Friend, has marked out a path for us here in this world; and, going by it, as it tells us in Proverbs 3:1717Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. (Proverbs 3:17), "Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace." So I want to encourage you, and I want to encourage my own heart, to be like that little remnant we read of in the last chapter of Isaiah: it says that they trembled at God's Word. They were afraid. When we are traveling we are not always acquainted with the area in which we travel, and we watch the signs very carefully. We are afraid that we may miss a sign, and it isn't always easy to find our way back. Sometimes if you miss the right sign you may go miles out of your way, and it is just because you were not watchful. Those signs were set up for our good. And, brethren, God has written His Word for our good. His divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness.
We do not have to seek the wisdom of this world in moral and spiritual things. We may need their instruction for those things that have to do with the way we travel, or the way business operates, etcetera. But morally, we have divine standards, and I trust that each one of us will realize this. I say this to you dear young people who are here today: You are being told that the older folks are outdated; they have certain stringent ideas, etc. But I ask you to search the Word of God and to go by this blessed Book in forming the pathway of your life. You will find that there is real blessing in walking in that path that God has marked out in His Word. And He has not left anything that is of importance without some direction for us (Jeremiah. 10:23).
Now, please turn with me to Jude: "Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write to you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (verses 1-3). Here we can see that God is setting before us "the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. A book was written by Charles Stanley entitled "The First Years of Christianity, and What is the Church." When he wanted to bring before us, as the Lord's servant, what God had shown us in His Word as to what Christianity really is, and what the Church is, he went right back to that which God had established in the beginning. Here we find Jude in a day of break-down and apostasy, he did not say, "we have to adopt a few new ideas because things are changing, and there is a great deal of compromise and people giving in on this and that." Instead he said that it was necessary for him to write and exhort them that they should, "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."
I believe that it is so important for us in all the matters that have to do particularly with the Assembly. We need to go to the Word of God. The Assembly does not operate on tradition. That came into Israel, and the traditions of the Pharisees became so important that sometimes the Word of God was set aside so that they could carry out their own tradition. Here the Apostle Jude brings before them the great importance of "the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." So we need to read over and over again those Epistles which have been written because they give us divine instruction as to the Person and the work of Christ, for that is the foundation of all. How very, very important that we be clear as to the Person and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Assembly is the pillar and ground of the truth. So, in these days when little things are beginning to slip in, we must earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. There is a large segment of Christendom today who are actually teaching that our blessed and holy Lord Jesus could sin; they tell us that He did not sin, but that He could! And it is amazing to learn some of the important names in Christendom who are going along with this teaching.
Oh brethren, let us form our standards of what we believe from the Word of God and not from what is generally accepted around us today. Because, in this precious Book we have the faith once, not twice, not renewed, but once delivered unto the saints. The blessed truth of the Lord's coming and all the precious things that have been made known to us in the New Testament. How should we gather? Is it just that we should set up our own ideas, or do we have instruction in the Word of God so that we can know that we are gathering according to His mind? There may be many nice Christians who really love the Lord Jesus and who want to please Him. We have to leave them with the Lord. But your responsibility and mine, individually as well as collectively as an Assembly, is to go by God's precious Word. Let us learn it well; let us be well acquainted with the Truth so that we would gather according to the Word of God; that we would gather to the precious Name of the Lord Jesus only; that we would gather as members of the body of Christ.
The Apostle was very much concerned in that day of break-down and ruin that there would be that exercise. And I say to each one of us, to those who are a bit older: Sometimes we who are older tend to forget that there is constantly a new generation coming up. They see things being done and they do not know why. I remember a young person in one Assembly, gathered to the Name of the Lord Jesus: She went and broke bread at some other place; and a brother when mentioning the fact said, "she knew better than that." I said to the brother, "Perhaps she knew that the brethren disagreed, but I am not sure that she knew why for herself." You and I should know why for ourselves. We need the faith once delivered unto the saints. We need to know what it is to be gathered according to the Word of God. If we have learned that blessed and precious truth of the one body and gathering as members of the body of Christ, how precious it is to our hearts. We find in the Old Testament that they did not build the wall around Jerusalem until they had first built the temple. The temple came first, and then they built the wall. What would separation mean if they did not have the temple? But the temple came first, that place which spoke of the Lord's glory and His presence among His people; the wall of separation came after that. These things are so important!
There is another thing that is creeping in today and that is the teaching about free will. Many people do not stop to realize that in teaching that system of things they really are supposing that there is some good in man. Because if man of his own will would receive Christ, then there must have been something good in him to make the good choice. It is true that man is responsible and the Bible says that every one shall give account of himself to God. But if you and I were left to ourselves, we would never choose Christ. God had to do a work within us. Mr. Darby once gave a simple example to illustrate this: Suppose I put in front of a person an apple and an orange. The person hates apples, and he loves oranges. I say, "you can choose which ever you like." I give him the freedom of choice. But how is he ever going to choose the apple? He hates apples. What would ever make him choose the apple? I would have to do something inside him to make him choose the apple. And that is what God does. "No man can come unto me, except the Father which bath sent me draw him" (John 6:4444No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:44)).
We need to realize the total ruin of man; there is nothing good in man. As the Scripture says, "In me, (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing" (Romans. 7:18). So man goes on his willful way until God intervenes. There had to be a work of God for my sins at Calvary, and there had to be a work of God in me, or I would never have received the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior. This does not in any way destroy responsibility. Man is responsible before God, just as a man who breaks into your house is responsible. If you offer to pardon him and he refuses the pardon, it does not mean that he is now no longer responsible. So God offers to pardon man; but his will is so bad that he refuses the pardon. However, he is still responsible and will have to answer to God as a responsible person. But you and I have learned something of the grace of God, who has picked us up and saved us! So in all these things we need to watch and to remember that it is the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. Let us hold fast that precious deposit of truth that has been committed to us!
Now, turn to Matthew 19:3-63The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? 4And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. (Matthew 19:3‑6): "The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." Verse 9, "And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery."
I believe that these things are written in God's Word as a message to us of the importance of marriage, and the solemnity of the marriage union. In these days when it is looked upon very lightly there is, perhaps, a tendency for even Christians to be affected by the light attitude that the world has toward marriage. We need to get back to what God has said. What did the Lord Jesus do? He said, If you want to know God's mind about it you have to go back to the beginning, because the Lord does not change. I believe that we need to receive these things today. We know that sometimes the relationship is not as happy as it should be. It is sometimes strained. And, certainly, every effort should be made to promote love. It has often been said that for a happy marriage the husband needs to be one hundred percent for his wife, the wife one hundred percent for her husband, and both together one hundred percent for the Lord. I believe that is why it says, "A threefold cord is not quickly broken."
That is what God has planned and ordered. But in this day and age people look upon marriage very lightly and say that those are just "old fashioned" ideas; Now it is a much easier outlet just to divorce and re-marry. This is very solemn. When we think that the marriage relationship is a picture of Christ and the Church; that the woman in her position represents the Church, and the husband in his position represents Christ, who is the bridegroom of the Church, it brings in real responsibility. And that is the pattern that is brought before us in the Scriptures. "Husband, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it. "
So we have what God has given. But when you talk to people you find that they have all kinds of changing opinions. I heard even a Christian say one time, "Why. I couldn't live with that person if he didn't love me." Instead of recognizing that there is a way to overcome, even where there is a lack of love, that was her attitude about it. But it is not according to Scripture. The Scripture says that a responsibility has been taken on, and it is a solemn responsibility before God. I mention this because I believe that all these things are the work of the enemy to try and destroy the divine standard, that which God has established in His precious Word. Let us go by this that God has set down in His Word and there will be blessing in it. When we think of the kind of a Church that Christ loved; how wonderful His grace toward us! Did we always love Him like we should? Did we always respond to His claims like we should? But, did He cease to love? No! He is ever the same. So it says, "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." So this brings before us the responsibility of marriage.
Now, turn to 1 Corinthians 11:3-53But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. 4Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoreth his head. 5But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoreth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. (1 Corinthians 11:3‑5): "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered, dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven." This is another thing that we see is changing in society. There is a complete changeover in the idea of the place that God intended the man to occupy, and that He intended the woman to occupy. It has been said that if I, as a man, decide that I am going to be the head, I have no more right to it than my wife. But if God put me in that place, then I have a responsibility. And that is the difference. People set aside the Bible and say, what right has the man to that place any more that the woman? But it was not man who chose that place; it was God who ordered this.
So I say to those who are men: It is a tremendous responsibility to fulfill the place that God has given to the man: to give that leadership in love, kindness and understanding. It does not mean that he is not to accept any advice from his wife. The Lord on one occasion had to say to Abraham, "In all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice." Sometimes it is very important that we listen to the advice of the partner that God has given us; because the partner is not at all inferior. But God knew that the man could never fill the place of leadership properly alone, so He made a helpmeet. Not one that was inferior; but one who could share in every way and help him to fulfill the place in which God has put him. How lovely this is. Any man who has experienced this in his home would say, "while I rely a great deal on the help that my wife gives me, I feel the responsibility to give Godly leadership." So we see that God has planned this.
Then, too, if the woman is not filling the place in the home, the man is not able to do so. She can go out and fill a place in the business world, perhaps, but the man is unable to take the place that she has left vacant. That is why it tells us in Isaiah 3:1212As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths. (Isaiah 3:12), "As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths." Once God's order is set aside, then the home is spoiled and the children grow up to be just what it says, "oppressors;" because they have not the proper leadership in the home that God intended the parents to provide. So we see how that men try to change the things that God has given; but you and I are to go back to the very first principles that God has established. May I say it kindly to the boys and to the girls: Hearken to what God has said and realize the responsibility that God has given to you as a man, and the responsibility He has given to the wife as a helpmeet. How beautiful it is when it is carried out in God's order; what happiness there is. God did not form Eve from Adam's head, or from his feet, but from his side; to be his support and his helpmeet. What a happy order God has established!
I am saying these things because in this changing world we do not realize how much of what the world is doing and what it says is affecting us so that we are not careful to follow the instructions of God's Word in the Assembly. We are not careful to recognize what a very, very serious thing divorce is and how God says that He hates it (Malachi 2:1616For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the Lord of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. (Malachi 2:16)). Then, too, as we see the disruption of this order that God had planned—all the happiness and joy that God had planned when the husband and wife are in their right and happy relationship—how it is all spoiled. Oh brethren, we have God's Book; we have the One who changes not!
Turn to Ephesians. 6:1-3. "Children obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth." Here, when God speaks about honoring father and mother, He says, "it is the first commandment with promise." In other words, He goes back to show that He had established something in connection with that relationship. Perhaps you have noticed that in the book of Proverbs the first seven chapters are all taken up with the father and the mother giving instruction to their family. Read those chapters for yourself and you will see that every one begins with, "my son," or "hear the instruction of a father." It is the whole plan that God had for the instruction of the children in the home.
And then, too, that they should honor father and mother. As one who is a little older than some here, I can say that in my observation I have never seen the blessing of God on children who did not honor their father and mother. I believe that when you see children who honor their father and mother they come into that special blessing that God speaks of. I want to say to you dear young people, I was a very imperfect father. Perhaps some other fathers will say the same, that they were not always the father they should have been; nevertheless, I believe God would still have you honor them. Perhaps the day will come (if the Lord does not come before) when you will be an imperfect father or mother too. But it is important that we recognize that God has established an order. So I just want to say to all you children and young people, never speak disparagingly of your parents. They may not be perfect; they may make mistakes; but always honor them.
"Honor thy father and mother." While you are not under their authority after you are married, you still ought to honor them. They still are in that place God has put them in. In other words, God has set up something in this world, something that does not have to change with changing times. When men bring in all these changes they only spoil that which God has planned for man.
Romans. 1:25: "Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen." We do not need to read all the verses in this chapter, for I am sure that many of us who have read these verses realize that it is a picture of what took place in heathendom when they gave up the revelation that God had given to man, and they changed everything.
It says, "They changed the truth of God into a lie." The Bible shows us that man is a triune being: spirit, soul and body. It has often been said that we ought always to make every decision in our lives in that order. The spirit, which is the intelligent God-conscious part of our being; the soul, which is the seat of the appetites and desires; and the body, which is the physical. Whenever you are going to make a decision, such as the line of work that you are going to take up, always get before the Lord and ask Him. Then make it intelligently, as looking on into the future; you might get into something where you would not be happy, or where you would not be able to fully honor the Lord. Think it out and get before the Lord; pray about it, and search His Word. You do not want to get into some unequal yoke or something dishonoring to the Lord. So, the first thing is the spirit. And then the soul. You say: "Why, I like this." The Lord Jesus could say, "To do thy good pleasure, my God, is my delight..." (Psalm 40:88I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. (Psalm 40:8) new translation.) You will find that if you are in the path of the Lord's will, you will like it, because the Lord is not going to put you into something that you will not be able to enjoy if you are in the path of His will. Then, the last is the physical. Men reverse the order; they usually say, Body, soul and spirit. Everything in their minds is planned in the very opposite direction from the way God intended it to be.
In the first chapter of Romans we see that God gave up man. He gave him up as to his spirit, and he worshipped idols; He gave him up as to his soul, and all his horrible desires displayed themselves in all kinds of lustful things; and then their bodies suffered because their bodies were given over. Their whole being was given over because, "they changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator." That is what is coming in today.
So when we are making decisions, whether it is where you are going to live, whether it is the partner you are going to choose, or the line of work which you are going to follow; always ask first of all, can I honor the Lord in that? Can I give Him His rightful place? Will I be in something that is not according to His Word? Then, if you find that He directs you in this, you say, I can enjoy it because I believe it is where the Lord wants me to be; I believe that it is His will for me. Then your body takes you there. But man did not want God's plan. He changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator. That is what is coming in today, known as "humanism," to replace the wisdom and direction of God's Word.
Now, in closing, turn with me to several Scriptures: •1 Chronicles 12:3232And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment. (1 Chronicles 12:32). "And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment."
Here we find, perhaps, what should be our own attitude in a day like this. The verse in Ecclesiastes tells us not to inquire why the former days were better than these. We can spend a lot of time saying, "I wish things were like they were five years ago, or ten, etc. Or we can just say, "The Lord is going to give me grace, if I look to Him, to find the path that is pleasing to Him and to live to please Him in 1985, and in 1986. We must press on, brethren; we have to live in this generation. And the Lord is able to give us grace to, "serve our generation by the will of God." I believe it is so needful for us. We cannot change the conditions in this world; and we may not be able to change many other things that we would like to see very different. Maybe your job is very trying; maybe your home situation is not easy; maybe the school where you go is very difficult; and there may even be trials in the Assembly. But I want to assure you that this wonderful Friend that we spoke of in the beginning is sufficient for you. "This is my beloved, and this is my friend." He can fill your life with peace and joy in the midst of a world that is constantly changing and full of unrest and uncertainty. He has a way by which you can live and, "serve your generation." I like that little word "serve;" because, "none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself." If you seek to live to please the Lord Jesus, you are going to serve your generation; because others are going to look on and they are going to see in you a person who has found victory in a generation where everything seems to be going to pieces.
There is a very interesting feature about those men of Issachar: If we could take the time to read the chapter, it speaks about the ones from the different tribes who came out to make David king. In every one of the twelve tribes but one it gives a certain number of people who came. (I hope we are making the true David, the Lord Jesus, supreme in our lives.) It is a most interesting thing to see that the only one of the twelve tribes that it does not tell how many there were, is the tribe of Issachar. And in that tribe there were men who had understanding (200 in all), to know what Israel ought to do; "and all their brethren were at their commandment." May I just pass on a little word to those of us who are getting older? May the Lord help us to have an understanding about the times in which we live. I believe that the young people will listen if they feel that we understand. There are two things that the human heart craves; they are understanding and love. If you talk to someone and, after a few minutes, sense that they do not understand what you are saying, you feel frustrated and, perhaps, you say no more. But if you feel that the person loves you and that he understands your situation, then, perhaps you will listen to him; perhaps that person can help you.
May the Lord give those of us who are getting older more of that understanding and love! I believe that we can thus be a help. It has been mentioned often in these meetings that our dear young people are in a generation and in a situation that some of us older ones know very little about. But we should have an understanding, and love. Here in the tribe of Issachar, we read that these heads of the people had this kind of understanding, and that "all their brethren were at their commandment." They were not looking back and saying, "Oh, it wasn't like that when I was young." They were not inquiring why the former days were better than these. They were trying to encourage those living in the very time in which they lived, when things were at a state in Israel that were perplexing and trying.
And, what is the final remedy for it all? Brethren, it is to have our eyes on the Lord Jesus. We cannot change the situation; but isn't the passage in 2 Corinthians very lovely: "We all with open face beholding...the glory of the Lord, are changed?" The Lord does not change. The world has changed; but because, sometimes, we have had part of the world rub off on us, we need to change more into His likeness. He is the unchanging One. How can this be? Oh, it is by occupation with the Lord Jesus, that wonderful Savior, that wonderful Friend. "This is my beloved, and this is my friend!" If you know Him as your Savior, He can do for you what He has done for others.
In a world where there is so much change we have in the Word of God that help, that instruction, those firm things that God has established, so that we can go on in peace, having divine direction from the very Person whose name is, "Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Father of Eternity, The Prince of Peace." May we turn to Him and may we have our eyes upon Him. The result will be a change in us to make us a little more like the One who changes not.
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