Recovery, or The Return Journey As typified by the "Songs of Degrees," Psalm 120-134
Part 3
In 2 Timothy 2 we learn something of the results of these builders. A "great house" has been built. It is no doubt much larger than the foundation which the "wise master builder had laid." The great house contains vessels of various materials-some to honor and some to dishonor. That which is called the house of God in 1 Tim. 3:1515But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:15), is now likened to a "great house" (2 Tim. 2:2020But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. (2 Timothy 2:20)). A man is told to purge himself from the vessels of dishonor and he "shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work." He is told to "Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call upon the Lord out of a pure heart." v. 22.
In 1 Corinthians 3 we have the "wise master builder" who has laid the foundation. Then we have the exhortations to the builders; every man is to take heed how he builds. The good builder will take heed to the foundation that has been laid and also to the material that he uses. The bad workman will have his own interests before him and will introduce false materials, evidently to make a great showing in the eyes of man; but these materials will not stand the test of the fire in that day (1 Cor. 3:12-1512Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Corinthians 3:12‑15)). The Lord has given us how every man's work shall be tested in that day in order that it might search and exercise our hearts now; and it is very searching to realize that in that day all of that which we may have thought commendable will be burned up, though we ourselves may be saved, yet so as by fire. There may be a mixture in our lives-some things done for Him which will be of the nature of gold, silver, and precious stones, which will stand the test, and some things in which self has entered in and will not stand the test. The Lord alone will be the Judge of what the proportions really are in our lives.
Then there is a "corrupt" workman whose sole interest is to corrupt or defile the temple of God. Such will be destroyed; no doubt such answer to the "wolves" of Acts 20:29 and Jude 1010But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. (Jude 10), 11.
In 1 Cor. 10:2121Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. (1 Corinthians 10:21) we read of the "Lord's Table" and the "table of demons." Here we have the Apostle contrasting that which the Spirit of God set up, with the false worship of the heathen—that which man, led on by Satan, set up before Christianity appeared. This brings before us something which is almost entirely overlooked in Christendom; i.e., the identification of the worshiper with the table at which he partakes. The Apostle shows this principle had been true of Israel of old by their being partakers of the altar at which they ate. But the Apostle is not here speaking of the tables set up by the man speaking perverse things, or the bad workman of 1 Corinthians 321Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; (1 Corinthians 3:21). Neither is he referring to those he mentions in 1 Tim. 1:19, 2019Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: 20Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. (1 Timothy 1:19‑20), who have overthrown faith and a good conscience. In the days of the apostles the bad workmen were not permitted to go this far in their mixture of good and bad workmanship. This was spoken of as that which was to come afterward.
Could anyone dare to say that this mixture of bad and good which could not be classed as the table of demons must be the table of the Lord? Why then the call to purge oneself from the vessels of dishonor? Do we not have here that which the bad workman introduces to make the great house which ends in Babylon? In Revelation 188Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. 9And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, 10Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. 11And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: 12The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, (Revelation 18:8‑12), Babylon is announced as becoming the habitation of devils. God's people are exhorted to come out of her and not be partaker of her sins. Historically, the fall of Babylon takes place after the true Church has been translated, so it would seem that none of His people of this dispensation would be in her at that time. It may possibly be that in the time of the tribulation, some of the remnant may have been attracted by her false pretensions and gone in only to find out her true character later. The exhortation then would be to God's people throughout the ages, so that whenever the Babylonish traits were discerned, there should be a coming out of her. This would be for us when the state has assumed the great house character of 2 Tim. 2:2020But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. (2 Timothy 2:20), but for the remnant of the future day in Israel, it will be whenever those Babylonish traits are manifested and especially when she publicly endorses the antichrist and his idolatry (2 Thess. 2:8-128And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:8‑12)).
In Laodicea the church is filled with pride at its human institutions, but is characterized as "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." It has lost the sense of what the Lord values. It is not called upon as a body to repent; but His own who are there, whom He loves, He rebukes and chastens. Why? Is it not that they may hear the voice of the One who is outside but who is knocking at the door of the heart of the individual? What an appeal: "If any man hear My voice." His desire is to have communion with every one of His own. What would be the result of individuals hearing His voice and supping with Him? Would not this very fact unite all together around Himself?
From the above, we see that the Lord expects His own to have discernment as to being in a false position. Perhaps He may have to rebuke or chasten us in order for us to see it, especially so when our eyes are upon self, man, or some other object than Himself.
In the epistle to the Hebrews, often called the book of contrasts, we have the new position of those who are the Lord's, contrasted with what had formerly been their portion before Christ came. Now, owing to His rejection, such ground is set aside by Him, as Shiloh of old had been. These contrasts lead up to the last chapter, where the Lord is seen as gone forth outside the camp. Evidently this is an allusion to what was done in Exodus 33 when Moses caused the tabernacle to be set up outside the camp on account of idolatry being introduced there. Here in Hebrews the Jews are looked at as having introduced human traditions which ended in rejecting the Lord when He came to His own (John 1:1111He came unto his own, and his own received him not. (John 1:11)). He is looked upon as gone outside (Heb. 13:12, 1312Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. 13Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. (Hebrews 13:12‑13)). Are we not to learn from this that that which man introduces, corrupts that which had been set up originally by the Lord, so that when there is no power within to deal with it, it finally becomes necessary to leave it and go forth unto Him outside the camp where He is?
At Corinth the Apostle has to tell them that they are carnal-that they were unable to discern the deceitful workers and the false apostles from the true. In 2 Cor. 10:3-53For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (2 Corinthians 10:3‑5) we have the secret of discernment; namely, the casting down of reasonings and then bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. How careful it should make one in what he may feel led to put forth, that it may not be simply something of the restless spirit of man within-using untempered mortar. Long ago one wrote, "Every Christian, however simple, can watch the spirit in which friends hold and set out their views" (G.V.W.).
The latter part of Psalm 127 speaks of millennial blessing, and the Scriptures abound in the promised blessings for that day. They flow out freely when the Lord has been given His rightful place in the midst of His people-when His house has been built in dependence upon Himself.
"They shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate." v. 5.
Also of the promise to Philadelphia: "Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee." Rev. 3:99Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. (Revelation 3:9).
The prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, after the return of the remnant, had to stir up the people when their interest lagged. They showed them that they could not expect blessing in seeking their own personal things while the Lord's house stood idle. Our blessings are not earthly, but spiritual; but they flow out from the same One whose desire has ever been to dwell in the midst of His redeemed people (Exod. 15:1717Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O Lord, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established. (Exodus 15:17); Matt. 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)).
Psalm 128 goes on to full millennial blessing. "Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD." v. 4.
"The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life." v. 5.
Is it not striking here, the expression "shall bless thee out of Zion"? He has once more taken up His place in the midst of His people and can bless them out of Zion. Zion speaks of grace in His choosing a place where He could go on with His people when all else had failed (Psalm 78:56-7256Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies: 57But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow. 58For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images. 59When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel: 60So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men; 61And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand. 62He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance. 63The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage. 64Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation. 65Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine. 66And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach. 67Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim: 68But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved. 69And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever. 70He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: 71From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. 72So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands. (Psalm 78:56‑72)). The priesthood had failed and also the king of His choice, David (2 Sam. 24:14-2514And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the Lord; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man. 15So the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beer-sheba seventy thousand men. 16And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the Lord was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite. 17And David spake unto the Lord when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house. 18And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the Lord in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite. 19And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the Lord commanded. 20And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground. 21And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the Lord, that the plague may be stayed from the people. 22And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood. 23All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The Lord thy God accept thee. 24And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 25And David built there an altar unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel. (2 Samuel 24:14‑25)).
Does not the Lord's gracious provision of Matt. 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20) provide a rallying point at this present time when much failure has come in, as was prophetically foretold in Revelation 220Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. (Revelation 2:20) and 3? There are those who are called upon to be overcomers, such as are brought before us in 2 Tim. 2:22-2622Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 24And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. (2 Timothy 2:22‑26) and Heb. 13:11-1611For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. 12Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. 13Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. 14For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. 15By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 16But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Hebrews 13:11‑16).
We have now reached another climax; we have now the house, the city, and millennial blessing. Perhaps it might be asked, What more could be added? But the Lord would prepare the heart more as to Himself personally. So far, we have heard more about the outward things; we have still the Person of the Lord to be brought before us, so we go back and take another beginning.
The natural man can glory in the outward work of the Lord even from a humanitarian or sentimental standpoint; but we learn from the parable of the Sower that though there may be a certain outward joy in the beauty of the Word, unless there is a work within the heart, the profession will be given up when difficulties or persecutions arise. When "buying of the truth" comes in, the natural man will consider the cost too great and give it up.
Psalm 130. Though sufferings for His sake are necessary to prove and make good the work in the soul, yet the Lord would not have us dwell on those things. Our hearts are prone to do this-dwell on what we have endured or given up for Him-but this brings in pride, so He cannot leave us there. He takes us aside here in this Psalm and shows us something of the wretchedness of our own hearts. He does this by allowing the light of His Word to shine upon us. This shining forth of the light of His Word was that which had aroused them no doubt in Psalm 120, but it is more intensified to them here. It reminds us of the brightness of light above the noonday sun which broke forth upon Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:3-93And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. (Acts 9:3‑9)), and the voice that came with it revealing to him that Jesus of Nazareth, whom he despised, was now in glory. All this made him see the utter vanity and worthlessness of his former life and also of the traditions which he was blindly following.
The Lord does not allow the newly aroused soul of the 129th Psalm to remain where he could take credit to himself, but by the light of His Word leads him to self-judgment that he might not go on in his own strength, but that he might in his weakness receive strength from above which the Lord alone can supply. Psalm 130 shows the great depths of exercise through which they had been led.
"Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, 0 LORD." V. 1.
This reminds us somewhat of that which Jonah passed through when he said, "The waters compassed me about, even to the soul; the depth closed me round about... I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me forever." It was not, however, until he could say, "Salvation is of the LORD," that deliverance came. See Jonah 2:5, 6, 95The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head. 6I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God. (Jonah 2:5‑6)
9But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord. (Jonah 2:9).
In our Psalm he is brought to say,
"If Thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, 0 Lord, who shall stand?" v. 3.
But he receives the answer which gives him peace:
"But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared." v. 4.
And this brings in the desire to wait upon the Lord.
"My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning." v. 6.
David no doubt had many experiences in watching for the morning when hunted by king Saul, longing for the morning light to dispel the dangers of the night. So it is beautiful to see his deep exercises for the Lord spoken of as surpassing anything else through which he had passed.
The true hope of Israel can now be rejoiced in on account of His loving-kindness and plenteous redemption (v. 7), and is the leading on of the soul in becoming a true worshiper. This is begun here on earth and continues beyond this scene, as is seen in Revelation 5 for the heavenly people, and in Revelation 14 for the earthly people.
Psalm 131. We have here one more experience through which David, though the anointed of the Lord, had to pass before being enabled to carry out the great desire of his heart—one more experience in his training depicted by this Psalm which lasted over a period of several years.
It has been suggested that this little Psalm was the exercise of David's soul when criticized by his elder brother on the occasion of his being sent by his father to the army camp too see how his brethren fared-the very occasion of David's meeting Goliath. He was accused of "pride" and "naughtiness of heart" resulting in the neglect of his duty as that which brought him there. But it was really the father's care over them which sent him there. (1 Sam. 17:17, 1817And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren; 18And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge. (1 Samuel 17:17‑18).)
"Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me." v. 1.
What an exercise for the Lord's anointed to pass through, and has not many a saint endured these same trials from those content with formal things, when exercised about his place or seeking the pathway marked out for faith in this world?
The result of this exercise we get in the next verse: "Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child." v. 2.
What does weaning speak of? The freeing from the world's influences, and perhaps more, the things of nature. We eventually have to learn as to our individual path and joy in the Lord, that it must not depend upon anyone else-nature's ties or gifted servants. There must be the going on in quietness in one's soul apart from all this. One remembers a remark heard some years ago that the trees planted by the rivers of water are not dependent upon the showers, though they welcome them. One can never take the stand that all one has to do is to follow a certain gifted individual, and all will be right. This is not behaving and quieting oneself as a weaned child. The pathway of the child of God must often be individually between himself and the Lord, such as worship and some decisions which have to be made individually before Him. There are other times, however, in service and in the interpreting of the Scriptures, when it is well to seek godly counsel with others, so as to have a check upon ourselves (Gal. 2:22And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. (Galatians 2:2)).
The results of the exercise produced here would be anything but an effected spirit of piety. The experiences passed through have been such that that which is merely on the surface would either be driven inward and so the work deepened in the soul, or else be given up.
The closing expression of this Psalm is very significant: "Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and forever." v. 3.
Who could not but say that when Israel shall arrive at the state produced here, they will be ready for the fullest blessing? And can we not say it would be so of us too? These exercises through which David passed made him realize it was only through dependence upon the Lord that the. Philistine could be overcome.