Judges 11.
THE time of testing will surely come―the day approaches when mere profession will be found vain, and when the boast of infidel and scoffer will turn to hopeless sorrow. The Lord Jesus will not tarry forever, He will not keep open the door of mercy always, but before long, surely He will draw His sword of judgment, and make war and with swift destruction destroy His adversaries. In the near presence of that day, we would earnestly inquire if you, dear reader, ‘before the heart-searching God, bow as a redeemed sinner to the name of Jesus. He is rejected among men, His glories are disowned, His honor disbelieved, but every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess Him Lord. Either in hell below, or in heaven above, His Lordship shall be owned by all men and by you.
Turn with us to the scene described in the chapters before us and learn a lesson of the last days.
The broken and discomfited army of the opposers of Jephthah, God’s appointed judge, are retreating towards the Jordan. They had avowed to rid themselves of Jephthah, and he in return had given them opportunity to repent, but vain. In their self-confidence they came on against him, yet only to prove the strength of his arm and the keenness of his sword. Despising his forbearance they reaped his judgment. And now one by one, their pride hidden, their valor gone, they steal through olive yard and vineyard down the mountain sides, hoping to reach the fords of Jordan and escape.
But as they approach the fords they see there before them a band of Jephthah’s men, and in their hands the sword of judgment. Suppliants when too late, pleaders for mercy when the day of mercy is passed, they cry one by one, “Let me go over.” But vain their desires, useless their longings. Of what avail to the thirsty sword the plea. On yonder shore are wives, daughters, babes! On yonder shore is home and peace and joy! The sword of judgment knows no refusal, righteousness alone can bid it be still.
“Let me go over,” says the fugitive, and Jephthah’s men reply, “Art thou an Ephraimite?” Art thou an enemy of Jephthah? “If he said, Nay: then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth; and he said Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce it right. Then took they him, and slew him at the passages of Jordan.”
It was plain speaking and dealing, no excuses heard, no falsehood accepted. Judgment and its sword were there, the river of judgment (as Jordan signifies) was there: mercy was gone.
What! dear reader, will you come unexpectedly to death and judgment to plead in vain for an entrance to the bright and shining land beyond? Parents there, children there, fond friends there, happiness there, and there no pain, no sorrow, no death. “Let me go over.” But you plead to the sword in vain? What is your title? by what right do you say, “Let me go over”? Art thou an enemy of Jesus? A cold formalist, a lifeless professor, a self-righteous Pharisee, a boasting infidel, a jovial scoffer? “He that is not with me is against me,” said Jesus. What art thou?
No, no, you weep when too late, and profess in vain, “I am not an enemy of Jesus.” Like the false Ephraimite men may answer nay; yet think you they shall escape judgment by deception.
Now mark this, there is a test, an infallible test, which all will be put to. We know a man by his life. “Thy speech bewrayeth thee.” “What think ye of Christ?” “Say now Shibboleth.” Let us now hear what you think of Christ? Is He your all for eternity and time? Your wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, redemption? Is He your Saviour―your peace? This is the gospel Shibboleth, and if you can speak of Jesus the Lord as those who love Him speak, you are saved. You are not against Him, but with Him, and in that case righteousness is on your side, for you belong to Jesus; He bore your judgment, and you “shall not come into judgment.” If thou shalt believe in thine heart on the Lord Jesus, and shall confess with thy mouth that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved; for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
It was only a little lisping over one word that cost these Ephraimites their lives, but their inability to pronounce that one word proved they were Ephraimites. And when a man does not confess that Jesus is Lord, but goes about in the naughtiness of his own way, it is evident he is an enemy of God by wicked works. They should have crossed the “waterflood” could they have said Shibboleth; so, if you, dear reader, from your heart own Jesus, you have no waterfloods of woe to fear. He went into the “deep waters” for you, therefore the waterflood shall not overflow, neither the deep swallow you up, nor shall the pit shut her mouth upon you. But if, fellow-sinner, you cannot pronounce His name aright, if you only think of Him as a makeweight for your shortcomings, a help for your weakness, a partial deliverer, or, it may be, a model for imitation―a mere man, then your Sibboleth will be indeed a “burden”―an everlasting burden; for you shall bow beneath the sword of judgment and divine vengeance. Own Him Lord you will indeed, but by bowing to His almighty strength and terror.
Men act as if Jesus were to be trifled with, they count the delay of the day of wrath slackness; thus, after the hardness of their impenitent hearts, they treasure up for themselves wrath against the day of wrath. Reader, has the goodness of God led thee to repentance, and to bow before the Lord Jesus, owning Him Lord to the glory of God the Father? “Kiss the Son, lest He be angry.” “See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh.” His voice is mercy; “Harden not your heart if you will hear His voice.” There remains a rest; there is a home above, a bright peaceful home, and God Himself shall wipe away all tears from off all faces there; He has said there shall be no death, no pain, no thirst, no hunger there. Will you not now, “today,” hear His voice―His voice of forbearing love bidding you, hater of Him, despiser of Him, come? Harden not your heart, we pray you. Cry now, “Let me go over.” He is love, He will not say you nay; He died that sinners might live He came and the sword of judgment smote Him, and the waterfloods overflowed Him for sinners. Doubt neither His power nor His love. Believe and be saved.
Mark you, it is He that speaks, that warns, calls, beseeches. Be dissuaded, He would say to sinners, rush not upon the sword of judgment and into eternal death. Own Him now in the day of His rejection, and He will own you in the day of His glory before His Father and the holy angels. Would that we had words tender enough, earnest enough to persuade you; for we know the terrors of the Lord as well as His compassion. Harden not your heart, poor sinner; today, while it is yet today, hear His voice.