THE earnest inquiry of the bride is, “Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?” and the response given her is, “If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the Shepherd’s tents.”
The bride says, ― “Tell me,” and the answer is personal― “If thou know not, O thou fairest among women.” How different when our Lord Himself tells us anything, compared with learning it at second hand! This was illustrated by different incidents attendant on the resurrection of Christ. When the women (and Mary was one of them to whom Jesus had appeared and said, “Go tell my brethren, that I ascend to my Father, and your Father; to my God, and your God”) who had been at the sepulcher, returned, and “told these things unto the eleven and to all the rest, their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not;” but when two disciples were on their way to Emmaus, and “Jesus himself drew near and went with them,” and expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself, they said one to another, “Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked with us by the way, and when He opened unto us the Scriptures?” It is even so still when He is near and speaks to our hearts. The reason why there is so much cold Christianity is, that so many of even the people of God hear of the risen Christ only by report, and it is more like the recital of an idle tale than the personal interchange of thoughts and affections with a living Saviour.
1. “O THOU FAIREST AMONG WOMEN.” The Bridegroom’s voice speaks in tones of endearment. How the language of love insinuates itself into our affections! Love is the very element of spiritual communion―the, soul of Christianity. It is that which is the very nature of God; and when we are made “partakers of the divine nature,” we dwell in love; and when our blessed Lord speaks to our hearts, the word finds them capacitated to respond to His voice. The heart of Christ is ours. His love constrains us. His voice, saying “O thou fairest,” puts us all in movement; He wins our affections ere ever we are aware. He Loved the Church, and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it; and He regards all its members with the most endearing affection.
“A day is coming when many fair ones will be seen―there will be the king’s daughter all glorious within the Jewish bride, and many other daughters―nations converted to the Lord; but this one will be the fairest of the fair.” The Beloved gives no answer to her particular questions; He addresses herself; He speaks forth His unchanging love. She may have much to bemoan in herself; much may be said to her dispraise by others; but His first word is one which intimates His continued love.
He appreciates her beauty, though others and herself may call it blackness. For there is, in the ease of His saints, a heart-beauty which He who alone looketh on the heart can perceive. The hearts of His people are His, and He has only to say, “O thou fairest among women,” to bring out the fairness of the heart which He only can perceive. In the world beauty is regarded according to its outward appearance; comeliness is due to the symmetry and proportions of the parts, and the complexion―and such skin-deep beauty soon fades, and such comeliness turns to corruption; but the beauty of the heart, mind, and spirit, as well as the fair proportion of a life given to Christ, like the apostle’s who said, “For me to live is Christ,” is a beauty that Christ appreciates, and which will never fade.
“While,” says one, “the pious are despised by the world as possessing nothing of loveliness, Jesus, looking on the heart, beyond the mere accomplishments of persons and manners, beholds the saints as the fairest of all.” Heart has very little, if anything, to do with the fashionable world. The most accomplished there is most heartless. Speaking of the Court of Louis XV., a writer observes, ― “Generations of luxury had given to the manners of court minions the polish of steel, and its hardness to their hearts.” All is outward polish and grace, while inward deformity and corruption. The devotee of fashion is at best but a whited sepulcher, beautifully garnished to the eye, but full of all uncleanness; his courtly bearing, an embroidered pall, which it has been the whole business of his life to weave, covering from the view of men, perhaps of himself, spiritual loathsomeness and death. God, who is love, begins His estimate of beauty by taking into consideration, first of all, the heart, and the heart purified by love. Whatever our outward circumstances, though unfavorable in appearance as those of Lazarus, we are beautiful in His eyes if the heart be pervaded by the Holy Spirit and be set on the Lord Jesus Christ. What a word is that in Romans―Beloved of God! Christ’s first word is one of love, “O thou fairest among women,” and there never will be a last word, for the love of Christ is perennial in its flow, like the river of the water of life, which proceedeth from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2. “IF THOU KNOW NOT.” ―This would seem to indicate an ignorance which the Bridegroom had a right to expect should not have existed. Why need to ask? Why be away from His side? Communion seems to have been interrupted. We know that there is no such thing as fellowship with God being broken; but our conscious enjoyment of communion may be broken. We ought to be in close fellowship with our Lord continually, the best thing is to be thus: the next best is to use every diligence to have it restored when it is not enjoyed. Most part of God’s people, it is to be feared, have not been without these interruptions to communion. It is sad that we should be ignorant when the Word of God is shining with noonday brightness, and the Holy Spirit is present to guide us into all truth. The case of Balaam asking counsel is a beacon against inquiring of God about matters that are clearly revealed. When Balak sent messengers to him to come to him and curse Israel, he inquired of God whether he should go with the men. “And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them: thou shalt not curse the people, for they are blessed” (Num. 22:1212And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed. (Numbers 22:12)). This was a plain and peremptory prohibition; but when Balak “sent yet again princes more and more honorable than they,” and urged him to come to him, he said to them, “Tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the Lord will say unto me more.” What “more” did he want after receiving the Lord’s absolute refusal? But he loved the wages of unrighteousness, and God permitted him to go, that He might show the “error,” “perverse way,” and “doctrine of Balaam,” as a warning against professing ignorance when God’s word on the subject is as plain as the sun shining at noonday.
Why ask guidance of God about matters of clear revelation? There need be no asking of direction about such things as partnership in business with the unconverted, marriage with an unsaved person, being members of philanthropic societies where Christ and Christianity are excluded, or about association in religious fellowship with the world; for “the Spirit speaketh expressly” on such points when he says, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” But it must be granted that there is such a thing as honest ignorance; and the true bride of the Lamb that wishes to be sincere and without offense until the day of Christ, is honestly ignorant on many points, and needs information and guidance; and it will surely be given her by her gracious Bridegroom, that she may not wander in aimless uncertainty.
3. “THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE FLOCK.” ―He does not say where He feeds―that our souls must find out. He said to His apostle, “Have I been so long time with you, and hast thou not known me, Philip?” And He says here, “Go thou forth by the footsteps of the flock,” etc. Christ is our great model, and He hath left us an example that we should follow His steps; but there are things in which we have also examples of men of like passions with ourselves, “whose faith follow,” says the Spirit. We are to follow their faith, not their failure.
The father of the Jewish nation, and also the father of the faithful, Abraham, was one whom the God of glory called to go forth from the land of idols, and trust the Almighty; and he went forth, not knowing whither he went. God had said, “Get thee out from thy country, thy kindred, and thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee.” “If thou know not,” “I will show thee:” but you must go forth first, as a matter of faith. God expects the obedience of faith from His children. “Abraham believed God and obeyed,” and thus has left his “footsteps of faith” all through the Word of God, that we may see in his faith and fact, as in others, of that galaxy of faith in Hebrews 11., “the footsteps of the flock,” and go forth by such footsteps. Said Paul, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11.) Again he says, “Brethren, be ye followers together of me, and mark them that walk, so as ye have us for an ensample” (Philip. 3:17).
“The footsteps of the flock” lead us out of the world. No Israelite, on the night of the exodus from Egypt, needed to be at a loss to know what to do; for full direction had been given them—the blood had sheltered them―the roasted lamb had been eaten―all was in readiness, and the whole flock of Israel went out by night under the leadership of Moses and the guidance of the glory cloud that went before them. Their path was illumined even in the night of judgment by the heavenly brightness of the presence of the God of Salvation. The footprints of the flock all pointed out of Egypt, and towards the glory of God. And so is it with us: the grace and word of God set us in movement. “Let us go forth, therefore, unto Him, without the camp, bearing His reproach” (Heb. 13:1313Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. (Hebrews 13:13)).
“Chant we the homeward lay,
The written counsel minding;
Whilst in the light of day
Our leader’s footsteps finding.”
Faith always sets the soul in motion Christ-ward, and He has gone forth from everything of earth by the Cross of Calvary, and we are to be following “His steps,” and the footsteps of His flock, which in all ages have marked an outward movement from the world in its every form. Daniel and his brethren went forth even when under the power of Babylon. David went out from Saul’s court. Paul went forth from Judaism, and counted all his gain but loss that he might win Christ, and he sought the footsteps of the flock, for “he assayed to join himself unto the disciples,” and kept by the flock of God. Hearing, reading, knowing, and enjoying Christianity are not enough: we must “go forth by the footsteps of the flock:” go forth from “companions,” “false teachers,” “traditions of the elders,” worldly associations, and every species of human invention in the way of ecclesiastical institutions, and following the footsteps of the flock of God, as you see them in apostolic times, be leal-hearted, loyal, and true to our Divine Shepherd. True Church position is laid down in the Word, both doctrinally and practically, and nothing but culpable ignorance keeps any saint from knowing it, and nothing short of setting self above Christ can make any one refuse to take it. Be not always on the inquiry; but “go forth” at once, and dare to be true to Christ, though the heavens should fall. Abraham, Moses, David, Peter, Paul, and John, were men of faith and their actions proved it: they all went forth at the call of God, and counted not their lives dear to themselves. We must be in the place of faith if we are to be honored to do the works of faith; or enjoy the reward of faith. Abram on the hilltop, in communion with God, could deliver Lot from the power of the kings, and even benefit others: but Lot could work no deliverance, because he had coveted the well-watered valley, pitched his tent toward Sodom, and eventually had sat as a magistrate in the gate of that doomed city.
The solemn midnight cry, “Behold the Bridegroom! go ye out to meet Him,” has been sounded out of late years with a clearness and distinctness such as have not been heard since the days of the apostles, and the Bride of Christ is going forth to meet Him from everything of self, sin, Satan, and the world―not in spirit only (which is a delusion) but practically, rejoicing that they are counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. Paul does not say, “I suffered the loss of all things for Christ” spiritually, but remained within the camp of Judaism, and got the place, and opportunity of service for my brethren, for which my training fitted me, and by my position, talent, and education, had influence among them that no other man could have; but he gave up Judaism immediately that God revealed His Son in him, came out at once like an honest man really, and “suffered the loss of all things for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus.” This is a day when you will find the great body of professors saving themselves in a most adroit and pious manner, and shirking the cross as soon as some practical demand is made upon them for the sacrifice of self: interest for the glory of Christ, and the promotion of His objects, truth, service, and testimony. Such conduct may give them well-watered plains, ease, comfort, and connection by marriage with good worldly society in Sodom; but where in all this is that faith which will be found unto praise, and honor, and glory, in the appearing of Jesus Christ.
“The footsteps of the flock” are now difficult to find in such a broken condition of the Church as we now have; for where is “the flock of God”? We must look to the Word of God alone to find these “footsteps,” so as to be sure that we are right; and there is really no difficulty in seeing in it “the footsteps of the flock,” as it existed in apostolic times. All the Christians were together, being all of one accord, of one mind, and separated to God from the world, and the religion of man in the flesh: they celebrated the dying love of Christ together on the first day of the week; worshipped God by the Spirit together continually; continued in prayer, praise, and loving fellowship, and were all one family over all lands; and all who had any gift from God for ministry, used it freely for the good of the whole body. Teachers taught, pastors fed the flock, evangelists carried the testimony of the gospel to the world, and brought in souls by conversion into the Church which centered around Christ Jesus, and not anything of man or earth. The interests of men were disallowed, and the objects of Christ, Himself, His saints, and His work engrossed the attention of the saints, and they lived only for Christ’s glory.
But if you hold up the mirror of Holy Scripture to the religious assemblies of our day, where will you find a perfect reflection of this apostolic church? Yet nothing could be more unseemly than for young Christians to be sitting in judgment on “the Churches.” Happy is it for us all we do not need to do so: we have simply to look for and follow “the footsteps of the flock,” as we find them in the New Testament. This saves us from wandering hopelessly in the modern ecclesiastical mazes of man’s “many inventions,” and spending precious time to no good purpose.
Where Christ is the center―not man; where there is liberty of worship, and freedom for the exercise of all the divinely-given gifts the Lord may have bestowed in the unity of the one body, for the edification of itself in love; where holiness is maintained, purity of doctrine and godliness of life, and every link with the world broken, there you have “the footsteps of the flock;” and where these are wanting, however venerated, patronized, or imposing any of man’s institutions may be, they can have no claim on the consciences of the saints of God. “Not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is,” and the very genius of Christianity, which is gathering by the perfect love of God, by the Holy Ghost, through the word of the gospel, to a perfect Christ who is Lord of His Bride, Head of His body, which is dwelt in by the Holy Ghost, who is administrating this new work for Christ; all this teaches us that Church fellowship is regarded as of supreme importance in God’s eyes, and not to be made a matter of convenience, far less of self-will.
Why is it that young Christians so soon lose their freshness and first love? Because of their lack of true Christian fellowship. They may be converted in a warm evangelistic meeting, where the spirit of life and love is breathing; but they go back to places where there may be no gospel, or no Christians who have any truth to help them on in the Christian course; and there being in such a fellowship is like a spark of fire falling into a pool of water. Christians who have the good sense and conscience to go where the truth is fully preached, Christ alone exalted, and where the saints of God are gathered by the Spirit for worship and the breaking of bread, apart from the world, and in the unity of the body of Christ, grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ; and instead of losing their first love, their love abounds more and more in knowledge, and in all intelligence; and an apostle, were he here, would write to such of their “work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 1:33Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; (1 Thessalonians 1:3)); and on sending a second letter, he might thus write: “Your faith groweth exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth” (2 Thess. 1:33We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; (2 Thessalonians 1:3)). It were a libel on the Holy Ghost to say that first love must wane. It does so generally; but why? The first love of the Church of Ephesus never waned, until there arose among themselves men speaking perverted things, to draw away disciples after them, and grievous wolves entered in, “not sparing the flock” (Acts 203And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia. (Acts 20:3).) They ate their meat “with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God,” as long as “they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in prayers.” When Christ is our only center and object, and we are gathered to Him alone, our love will increase more and more, and we will make progress in the divine life: but we must not think to enjoy spiritual prosperity, and make advancement in love, grace, knowledge, and Christian experience, unless we follow “the footsteps of the flock;” for divine ends are compassed only by using divine means. We are expected by God to avoid self-will and all affecting of singularity, by taking the good old way, the beaten path, “the footsteps of the flock.” “The footsteps of the flock,” as given in Holy Scripture, lead to Christ Himself leaving self, men, and all human ecclesiastics entirely out of the question. Christian fellowship on the divine basis is of very great importance.
“The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His and let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. Follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Tim. 2).
“Where the Saviour is the center
Wouldst thou be?
Naught unholy there may enter,
Evil thence must flee.
There, O there, ‘tis Himself, Himself alone,
Thro’ the blood pour’d forth to shield us,
Thro’ the balm divine that heard us,
Thro’ the Holy Ghost who seal’d us,
Sinners saved shall own!
“Here, the Christ of God confessing,
Wouldst thou be?
Perfect joy and peace possessing,
By the truth made free?
Look, O look, to Himself, Himself alone!
Jesus! Author of salvation,
Only Hope in tribulation,
Till He change to adoration
Every tear and groan.
“Jesus! Lord! Thy grace and glory
Are our plea;
Watching, waiting, we adore
Thee, Till Thy face we see.
Soon, O soon, to Thyself, Thyself alone,
Drawn by cords too strong to sever,
Bound, by links divided never,
We, caught up, shall reign forever,
Share with Thee Thy throne!”
4. FEED THY KIDS BESIDE THE SHEPHERDS’ TENTS. ―Communion with Christ is always to be maintained, also fellowship with His saints; but the ministry of the Word is not to be neglected. The language may indicate nearness to Christ, when beside the tents or His shepherds; out it suggests to us that the under-shepherds of the Chief shepherd are to be stuck to by the Church, if her young ones are to be properly fed. “Lovest thou Me?” said Christ to Peter. He answered, “Thou knowest that love Thee.” “Feed My lambs.” As the books, companions, and training of youth have a great influence on the afterlife for this world, so is it in the Church of God. The thoroughness of the gospel we believed, and the decision of the person who was instrumental in our conversion, will tell powerfully on our afterlife.
And it is of all importance that young Christians keep close to “the shepherds’ tents,” and do not wander away into places where they can receive no spiritual instruction, or only very imperfect views of divine truth. It is heart-rending to see the apathy of Christians with regard to their growth in the knowledge of Christ; and that some make no conscience of listening to the worst preaching within their reach! They are not so idiotic in temporal things. They go to those shops that are known to keep the best goods, and they would not think of buying inferior or adulterated goods, either. For food or wear, if they knew it: and yet you will find them frequenting places of worship where they acknowledge they get no food for their souls―or very inferior or adulterated food. They know that there is splendid food within reach of them― they meet With Christians who attend such places, who put them to the blush by their love, devotedness, service in the gospel, and knowledge of Holy scripture; and yet they will not “go forth by the footsteps of the flock,” and get “beside the shepherds’ tents.”
And what can we think of those who attend “places of worship” actually and openly connected with this present evil world, and where they “glory in their shame”? The apostle John saw the mother of harlots sitting on the beast, drunk with the Mood of the saints and of the martyrs of Jesus; sad yet the Spirit takes for granted that some saints are even in connection with her, for the Spirit’s “word of exhortation” is, “Come out of her, my people!” Where may saints not be? silly sheep! The lord have mercy on His saints for their unfaithfulness to Him, and deliver them from starving their own souls, and dishonoring Him, and being a stumbling-block to the world. In Christ’s day there was a vast number of shepherds in Israel; but He looked upon the multitude and had compassion upon them, because they were as sheep without a shepherd, etc. Christ gives shepherds to feed His flock, and, says an old writer, “When the devil wants to cry down truth, and spread error, he draws souls away from the shepherds’ tents.” If any person were seeking to draw saints away from a full-Christ ministry, be very sure that it is of the devil. It is of the greatest importance for young Christians to be filled with truth for their own spiritual well-being, stability, progress, and usefulness; end it should be the aim of older Christians to teach them as much as they themselves know, and take them with them “beside the shepherds’ tents,” that those who are well-taught ministers of Christ may teach them more deeply in Divine things. There is truth which would sanctify them, which they may never know otherwise. It is well for Christians to meet together for prayer and praise; but “the Church of the living God” is not only the true place of worship, but the center of knowledge, for it is “the pillar and ground of the truth,” ―there is truth nowhere else, and there you will get it “as the truth is in Jesus;” and as “God hath set in the Church teachers,” Christ will give them, through His servants, such teaching as will produce “holiness of the truth” ―not mystic or self-imposed piety.
Beloved, make conscience of personal communion; of spiritual worship; and of growth in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ:― and that you may do so, give good heed to His gracious words: “Go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds’ tents.”
“Lead Thou on, Thou chosen Shepherd:
Thine the voice we list to hear:
Pressing on, ‘mid hostile legions;
Fearing naught, for Thou art near.
Onward, onward, would we follow,
Nevermore, through grace, to roam;
Past the stranger-scenes of sorrow,
We have Guidance, Rest, and Home!”