THESE portions of Scripture ought to be of special interest and profit to us, as the prayers contained in them were uttered at a time analogous, in many respects, to that which now exists in the Church of God.
As to outward unity―Israel was in ruins.
The ten tribes had long since been removed from their own land, and the other two had been carried away captive to Babylon. The chastening hand of God had been upon His people for their sins. Through God’s mercy, the most part of the two tribes had been restored under Ezra and Nehemiah. But, however great might have been the sin and unfaithfulness of the people―even of the restored remnant―yet the faithfulness of God was to be counted on in spite of it all.
It is most instructive to see the position taken by the man of God in such a state of things, as we have it illustrated in the case of these three servants of God. It is the place of deep and genuine abasement and humiliation before God―and this, too, not on account of their own failures so much; but on account of the whole state and condition of the people of God.
Personally, Daniel was a particularly pious and holy man; yet he identifies himself thoroughly with the state of the people. He says more than once, “We have sinned” ―not “they have sinned,” but “we have sinned.” We find him before God in the place of “prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes.” There was true and earnest supplication, accompanied by self-denial and humiliation.
There was also the fullest acknowledgment of the righteousness and justice of God in all the chastisements He had brought upon the people on account of their departure from Him. And yet the ruined and scattered condition of the people in no wise hindered Daniel from counting on God for blessing. He could fall back on the unchanging faithfulness of God―on the fact that they were the people of God; and that His name was named upon them. But the mass of the people were not really alive to the true condition of things at all; as Daniel says―
“All this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities and understand Thy truth.”
When we come to apply these principles at the present time, we find the Church of God in ruins: true Christians scattered amongst all the denominations and sects of Christendom; and even those who own no other name and gathering point but the name of Jesus, scattered and divided amongst themselves. How many are conscious of the real condition of the Church of God, and bear it on their hearts before God in true contrition and self-judgment, as Daniel did in the case of God’s people in his day? We live at the close of the present dispensation, and doubtless near the time when the Lord will come for His people. We know from Scripture that the last phase of the history of the professing Church will be characterized by indifference to Christ, boastfulness, and spiritual pride (see Rev. 3:15-1815I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. (Revelation 3:15‑18)); these are, therefore, the very principles we should seek to avoid most of all.
The very fact that God has graciously recovered much light and truth long lost to the Church, ought to lead to a deeper sense of our failure, in responding so poorly to all His infinite grace.
But where there is genuine humiliation before God, it is sure to show itself in the practical life and walk―in separation from the world and devotedness to Christ.
The Lord says to the Church at Ephesus (Rev. 2.), “repent,” yet not only “repent,” but “do the first works.” True repentance must ever be accompanied by the practical doing of the Word, not hearing only―in a word, by the manifestation of Christ in the life and walk.
This is most important, for we live in a day when there is little or no outward persecution, in these countries at least: and, while we have to be deeply thankful for this, there is the attendant danger of seeking our own ease, and drifting into the world. If we consider the religious world (so-called), we find indifference to Christ, compromises and a giving up of truth.
This is a very solemn feature of the times; and truly nothing can be more hateful to Christ than that lack of heart and indifference to Him and His glory which is expressed in the word “lukewarm” ―neither cold nor hot.
On the other hand, have we not likewise to deplore that want of forbearance and consideration one for another which fosters party spirit? so that instead of being occupied with Christ and His interests people get taken up with the failings of others, often leading to discord and division, sometimes about matters where no fundamental question at all is at issue. These things ought not so to be, and they ought to be a real cause of sorrow and self-judgment to all who have at heart the glory of Christ and the good of His people.
It is true there is a desire for unity amongst believers―and surely we should all desire it―but even if it were possible to bring all true Christians together, this even would not meet the case unless the inward moral state which led to the failure, and which rendered necessary the dealing of God in discipline amongst the Lord’s people, were really reached and judged in His presence. There must be reality, consistency, practical godliness and unworldliness, as well as the maintenance of the truth in doctrine, if saints are to enjoy communion with God and with one another; and if they are to go on in the light and joy of His presence either collectively or individually.
Turning now for a moment to Ezra and Nehemiah―we find that they, too, bore on their hearts before God the failure even of the restored remnant of the people. They, too, fully owned the righteousness of God in all His dealings; as they say, “Thou art just,” “Thou art righteous.” And we can add our “Amen” to this, for truly all His ways are righteousness and truth, and even His rebukes are in love and for our good. It is instructive to note how both these men of God, as well as Daniel, took the place of confession and humiliation; and how both insisted on a practical walk and conduct in keeping with their place of privilege as God’s people. The true path to restoration and blessing in a day of ruin will ever be found to be the path of confession and humiliation, accompanied by a practical separation from what is unsuitable to Him who is the holy and the true. This principle is ever true.
For example, when God said to Jacob, after all his own shortcomings on the one hand, and his experiences of God’s mercy on the other, “Arise, go up to Bethel,” Jacob at once became conscious of things allowed in his house which were unsuitable to God; and so he said to his household―
“Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments.”
As already remarked, to enjoy communion with God, there must be a state suitable to Him; there must be reality, truth in the inward parts, the word governing the life and conduct and separating from things which are not consistent with His holy nature and character.
There is, truly, a need―a very serious need in these days―for turning to our God in the spirit we find expressed in the words, “prayer and supplications, with fasting and sackcloth, and ashes.” May He produce such a state of mind and heart amongst His people increasingly!
At the same time, let us ever count on His unchanging faithfulness with implicit confidence.
God was always ready to respond to the genuine turning of the hearts of His people to Him in contrition and humiliation. His counsels of grace for the glory of His beloved Son can never fail, and this is an encouragement however great the confusion in the Church of God may be. But then we must ever remember that when God graciously gives light and truth from His Word there is all the greater responsibility; and He looks for a state of soul―of heart and conscience―as well as a practical walk, in keeping with the truth He gives.
F. G. B.