KI 19The testimony to the goodness of God in "not sparing His only Son, but freely giving Him up for us all"-even Jesus our Lord, was that which attracted believers together. They were added to the church; God was in all their thoughts; their hearts overflowed with the sense of His love; and their union was sustained in their sympathy of soul about Rim. They had before their eyes Jesus, evidently set forth " crucified among them" (Gal. 3:1); the love of God was shed abroad in their hearts. Beholding, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord., they were changed into the same image. The multitude of them that believed were of one heart, and of one soul. Selfishness was obliterated. Beholding the love of God -their, hearts were inflamed with love one towards another, and towards all men. Their light shone; and a testimony for God existed upon earth, created by the contemplation of Himself, " the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
" Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved" (Acts 2:41-47).
The Church was called into existence on earth, by a testimony to Jesus, risen at the right hand of God. The gospel preached with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, accomplished such effects on a multitude of persons, as we read of in Scripture.
How is the fine gold become dim! How sad the change! Where is the Church answering to the description recorded in the Acts? Surely the salt has lost its savor! Yet the very circumstances in which we are found, are being overruled for palpable blessing. We cannot take comfort in any witness for God. We cannot rejoice in any results. There is no ox in the stall, no fruit in the vine; therefore we are brought back to elementary principles, the only true principles recovered of our very necessity, even we must rejoice in God.
Strange and wonderful, indeed, is the wisdom of God in the control of circumstances. Opposites in His hands contribute to the same results. In this His very being as God is demonstrated. When Moses put his hand into his bosom at the command of God, behold, his hand was leprous as snow. Ordered to put his hand into his bosom again; it was turned again as his other flesh (Ex. 4:6,7). The very place where it became leprous is the very place where it is healed. The failure of the church shall contribute, in His hands, to direct believers to Himself, just as being at first occupied about Himself, formed the church. "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God" (Rom. 11:33).
Paul, in the twentieth chapter of the Acts, taking leave of the elders at Ephesus (after saying that he knew that " after his departure grievous wolves should enter in "), commends them to God, and the word of His grace. Peter, writing in his second Epistle, chap. 1, says, "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you, through the knowledge of God." The revelation of God is the object of scripture. "The world by wisdom knew not God;" hence the necessity of revelation. "Thou hast magnified Thy word above all Thy name." Our blessed Lord 'himself says, speaking to the Jews, "Had ye believed Moses, you would have believed me; but if you believe not his writings, how shall you believe my words," thus placing the written word as equal in authority with Himself, as indeed it is, being from Himself
How comforting this, in the general confusion around! The recognition of the ruined condition of the Church in its earthly manifestation, should lead to dependance upon God. The circumstances connected with our failure imperatively call fox this. "He only is our rock and our salvation" (Psa. 62:2). "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble" (Psa. 46). And when our souls are at peace with Him, through the blood Of Jesus, realizing by faith our portion, having and enjoying the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, "Father," how sweet to wander in the green pastures of His word, tracing His gracious ways with the children of men, using their very failures to bring before our eyes His love and faithfulness, His overflowing grace. Now, the portion of the Word before us is an illustration of this: "Elijah, a man of like passions as we are," is put before us in circumstances of weakness and failure. It is the grace of God to him in them that we desire to dwell upon. The 17th chapter of 1St Kings introduces Elijah, full of the energy and power of the Spirit of God. This sustains him through a season of unwonted trial. A witness of the righteous judgment of God on an apostate nation; supported, through the deep sufferings of which he was a spectator, by a deeper sympathy with the injured majesty of God: the rights of God vindicating His righteous judgment, and the servant fully entering into this. The 18th chapter is the triumph of his testimony over the prophets of Baal, or rather of God's faithfulness to Himself, and His own glory. In answer to the prayer of Elijah, for three years and six months the fountains of heaven were closed up; and, in answer to his prayer, there was the sound of abundance of rain. " And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel." This closes the 18th chapter, and unfolds the secret of Elijah's power: " The hand of the Lord was on Elijah." And just so long as He keeps us, we are kept. " Hold Thou me up, and I shall be safe." We forget this. After service for God, we are apt to take importance to ourselves, apart from our testimony, and then we must needs learn our weakness. The standard we bear ought to command respect; but the standard-bearer must have little regard for himself in concern for the standard. When God gives a testimony, it surely will bring into prominence before others those who are witnesses for Him. But this is far different to self-importance because of such prominence. When men have to witness to the failure of others, it is not a time to seek respect for themselves. How full of instruction is the failure of Elijah! The Lord enable us, whilst meditating upon it, to profit thereby!
"And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah bad done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongeth, to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers."
Here, indeed, is a strange contrast from the Elijah of to-day with Elijah of yesterday. Fear had taken hold upon him, where no fear was. The words of Jezebel appalled the man who had slain the four hundred prophets of Baal, and stood alone confronting the whole nation of Israel. He arose and went for his life, who the day before had put "his life in his hand" as a witness for God. How are the mighty fallen! Left to himself for a season, his weakness is manifest. And in him we may see ourselves when out of communion with the living God. Unbelief for a moment in the protection of God -and to what a sad state of soul is Elijah brought. He left his servant in Beer-sheba and went a day's journey into the wilderness, and sat down under a juniper tree, and requested for himself that he might die; and prayed to God to take away his life for he was " no better than his fathers."
The signal election of God to His service, the three years' and a half of testimony, the victory over the false prophets, the answer to his prayers in abundance of rain, the sign of God's mercy to Israel-all were forgotten. He was no better than his fathers. Ill at ease with himself, he falls out with his master, and his life, the gift of God, he requests may be taken from him. "Lord what is man? that thou art mindful of him," God's grace to himself is forgotten under the presence of a danger which only existed when he looked at himself, and would cease the moment his eye was directed to God. But he should learn himself and for our profit, "whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning." Well for us that we have such a God, gracious and full of compassion. " He remembereth our frame, he knoweth we are but dust." "A wind passeth over us and we are gone."
Striking is His grace towards his runaway servant forgetful of God's ways in the past, and perverting his sense of them in the present. "Take away my life," was his prayer to Him who lived to sustain it. "I am no better than my fathers," is his language to Him who would not see iniquity in Jacob, nor perverseness in Israel.
The heart of Elijah was overwhelmed. His own sin and weakness the cause of it. Yet God in his pity looked only at his sufferings, and yearned over the sufferer. "And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat."
How touching this kindness! How seasonable the refreshment! Words of welcome, and deeds of love, aroused Elijah, who had fallen asleep, out of love with himself and the kindest of Masters. " Arise and eat" sounded in his ears, and he looked; how vacant his gaze, how half-wakened his attention; and " behold there was a cake baker) on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again."
Sullenly he partook of his refreshment, and as gloomily he went to rest again. Such attention, at such a time, should have been doubly welcome, and called forth double gratitude; but not a word of response: his heart was too full of himself and his troubles. But the Father's eye was upon him, that eye so tender and pitiful. He knew what was in man, and his weakness could only be met out of His strength, and his wants from the storehouse of His abundance. Needy we are, and our God has grace and ability to supply all our need.
" And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for thee." How well is our nature understood. He who gave us our sympathies, how aptly can He strike the chord which awakens them -" The journey is too great for thee."
Wonderful grace! Elijah and his labors filled the heart of Elijah, and here was one admitting the weight of his burden, and soothing the sorrowing one with sympathy under it. "The journey is too great for thee." Who would not praise Thee, thou King of saints? Who is a God like unto our God? "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord." "And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights, unto Horeb, the mount of God."
And not until he was strengthened to stand before Him, would the Lord plead with Elijah. He would speak to him about his failure in the light of the grace which could pass it by. "And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of Hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life to take it away." Surely we have in these words the secret of his failure disclosed. " I have been very jealous; I, even I only, am left;. and they seek my life to take it away." One is not surprised that the servant in service should be wholly taken up with it, when we remember our weakness and folly; but we may well wonder at the grace of God in bearing with such. " And he said, Go forth and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice."
How frail and insignificant is man in the presence of the power of God. How striking His omnipotence. "Fire and hail; snow and vapors; stormy wind fulfilling his word" (Psa. 148:8). But it is not the way of God to strike terror alone by the display of his greatness. Almighty he is, yet so gracious to his children as to speak in a whisper. His power can only be delighted in when manifested for protection, as the heart of the child in the presence of danger delights in the consciousness of the ability of its father to protect it. Surpassingly gracious was this still small voice to Elijah: wonderful too its effects upon him. " It was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of Hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life to take it away."
Still himself in contrast with others, and himself surrounded with dangers, occupies Elijah. The wind, earthquake, and fire, had not shaken it out of him, nor the still small voice as yet fully humbled him. But the purpose of God to Elijah is fraught with blessing, and his way of doing it should be the comfort of after-generations, for children as yet unborn:-
" And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: and Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay."
The servant who ran away from his service, and repined at his Master; who wished that he might die and have done with it, this servant should still be re- tamed in his place; honorable commissions were entrusted to him; two kings should be anointed for the scepter by him, and a prophet sealed for his mission also. How wondrously gracious is this! Not one word has reached his ear of reproof, not one hint of his failure, until, in the recognized character of his service, and set apart for great works, in. the consciousness that he was still the called of God, and approved of by his Master, with his heart full of the blessedness of his station, then, and not till then, does the word of reproof fall upon his ears,-so gentle in the manner, yet so pregnant with meaning. When Elijah is setting off for the further manifestation of the power and will of the Lord, the Lord arrests his attention, and gives him ballast for his journey: " Yet I have left seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which bath not kissed him." How potent the communication. "I, even I," is amongst the seven thousand, leveled down with the rest in his standing, but exalted by the grace of God to be a sign-post of His gentleness, and to kindle in the hearts of others a longing for the service of Him who swayed by His grace, and that so touchingly, the weakness and self-will of Elijah.
"So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who Was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee 4 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him."-(ver. 19-21).