“When He was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice... Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees... said... Master, rebuke Thy disciples. And He answered... I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out” (Luke 19:37-40).
Stones are cold, hard, lifeless things, yet, being mentioned over 170 times in Scripture, they surely present vital principles for guidance as well as exhortations intended to stir and warm our hearts.
Stones were used in Old Testament times to execute judgment for example, law breaking (Num. 15:36; Deut. 13:10), rebellion (Deut. 21:21) and immorality (Deut. 22:21,24). But they also were among the blessings of the promised land suggesting strength, solidity and durability (Deut. 8:9).
Stones were used for a memorial of God’s ways of grace with His people (Josh. 4:19), as well as for weapons of battle (1 Sam. 17:40).
Though used to insult God’s king (2 Sam. 16:6,13), stones also built God’s house (1 Kings 5:18).
“Precious stones” were offered to God (1 Kings 10:2), “great stones” were used in the temple, and cast off stones in rebuilding Jerusalem (Ezra 5:8; Neh. 4:2).
The Lord Jesus warned His loved but rebellious, haughty earthly people that mere outward “position” without inward “faith” is worthless before God. “Think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham” (Matt. 3:9).
The Jews felt that their “position” as Abraham’s descendants secured God’s blessing. But the Lord Jesus told them even lifeless rocks could, through God’s power, be made to produce true children a family of worship which their unbelief had denied Him.
Not only could God make stones a people to satisfy His heart, but they could also be made to cry out in protest if there was refusal to render due and worthy praise to the Messiah Deliverer and King as He entered Jerusalem (Luke 19:37-40).
Surely we would say the most momentous time that “stones cried out” was after the blessed Saviour Himself had cried with a loud voice of victory from that awful cross (Luke 23:46), “It is finished” (John 19:30). Then we read that “the earth did quake, and the rocks rent” (Matt. 27:51). Was not the rending of those rocks a mighty cry of agony uttered from all creation when its Creator laid down His life? Yet, what eternal glory and blessing has resulted from His mighty work of redemption! Those who morally were by nature lifeless stones before God are now, by faith in His finished work, living stones.
The Lord Jesus was that living stone, which the builders cast away as worthless (1 Peter 2:4,7). Now, by His matchless grace, believers are also called living stones not to execute judgment, not to go to be used in war with one another, and surely not to be used to cause grief to our Lord (like the stones Shimei cast at David 2 Sam. 16:6), but rather to form a spiritual house in which God by His Spirit dwells (1 Cor. 3:16-17). And we, living stones, are now able as holy priests to offer to our God that acceptable praise of which our Lord is so worthy.
May we then living stones willingly and joyously sing out the glories and praise of our blessed Lord Jesus so that creation does not have to cry out in protest against our spiritual coldness.
“They sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy... for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests.... Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever” (Rev. 5:9-10,13).
Ed.