One particular root of evil against which we need ever to be on our guard shows itself by “an evil heart of. unbelief in departing from the living God” (Heb. 3:12). The pathway of restoration is that of a return, not to observances of an outward sort, but to Himself, and nothing short of that. “If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith Jehovah, return unto ME” (Jer. 4). As regards His people, blessed be His Name, our God is satisfied with nothing less than their heart, and this, not in the sense of what they can be to Him, but in what, rather, He can be for them. “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glorieth glory in this, in that he understandeth, and knoweth me, that I am Jehovah which exercise loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth: for in these things I delight saith Jehovah” (Jer. 9), and we too, as believers, should earnestly seek “that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
May we never forget that our blessing as believers is linked up with the glory of our God and Father, and of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, with the honoring of the Holy Spirit, and subjection to the word of His grace and cannot be divorced! The Scripture is enough to prove this, “the church ... was edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost was multiplied” (Acts 9:31). Though our lot be cast in the perilous times of the last days (so fast closing), it is good for us to know that what is essential abides—the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, in all their varied relationships to us, together with the living and abiding word of His grace, forever settled in heaven. Departure, however, is so easy, as we know to our cost. The apostle Paul could say, “not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.” Bearing this in mind will make us distrustful of, and give us to judge, ourselves, and this is always well. It will also serve to make us practically meek and lowly—and how healthy for us is this we can see from Isa. 29, “the meek also shall increase their joy in Jehovah".
Further, Jehovah says, “I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against ME"; and as concerning Himself, “Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.” Do we wonder then, such being the case, that He adds, even about the very things He had ordained for them, “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me, saith Jehovah: I am full of burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats, I delight not"; and “Bring no more vain oblations incense—it is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting"? Coming down to church times, how deeply solemn is the word to Ephesus (notwithstanding all that the grace of the Lord Jesus led Him to commend), “Nevertheless, I have against thee that thou hast left thy first love. Remember, therefore, from whence thou art fallen; and repent, and do the first works” (Rev. 2)! It was, in His eyes, a tremendous fall. Persisted in, the consequences would be most serious.
Let us ask ourselves the question, beloved, Are we declining in the enjoyment of His love, the love of Him who “loveth us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood,” Who “loved the church and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be wholly and without blemish.” “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it even as Christ the church” (Eph. 5:25, 29). In view of such faithful and undying love, beloved, if we have wandered in any way, let us, with deep repentance, his back to Himself; and may we with increasing watchfulness be wary of “the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines” —of everything that would mar for a moment our communion with Him! Jehovah could say to His people of old, “Therefore will Jehovah wait that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted that he may have mercy upon you: for Jehovah is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him” (Isa. 30). Such are some of the ways of Him who is our Father.
Oh! the blessedness of seeking Him! In that wonderful sixty-fifth chapter of Isaiah, Jehovah says, “I am sought of them that ask not for me; I am found of them that sought me not,” and adds, “And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor (i.e. the place where Achan the son of Carmi, was buried, who took of the accursed thing, Josh. 7) a place for the herds to lie down in for my people that have sought ME.” And again, as showing His willingness to bless such, “It shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” (verses 1, 10, 24).
May then both reader and writer be of those who fear the Lord, and speak often one to another, for in Malachi's days there was such a company, in regard to whom it is said that “Jehovah hearkened, and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared Jehovah and that thought upon HIS NAME"! Resulting blessing shall be the portion of all such, to His glory and praise.
W.N.T.