Revelation. 2:17.
First of all, look at the words separately. “Hidden,” and “manna.” The manna was rained down from heaven to earth to meet the need of the hosts of Israel. It was bread from heaven (Ex. 16).
Christ Jesus, the son of God, in love and grace to us, came down from heaven to earth to give life to our souls, and to become, as God manifest in the flesh, the food of our souls forever (John 6). To feed upon Christ now, as the manna, is to have fellowship with Him in His path of humiliation, suffering, and rejection down here – as the “man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” Fellowship with Him as the once lowly Jesus, will be to us as our manna from heaven, our living stream from the smitten rock, and our cloudy and fiery pillar during our journey through this wilderness world.
But why is it called “hidden manna”? When it came down from heaven it was spread around the camp, open to all, and the people gathered it early in the morning. But the Lord commanded Moses to “take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the Lord, to be kept for your generations!’
“The golden pot that had manna” was kept in “the Holiest of all,” as a memorial for the children, when in the land, of their fathers’ wilderness fare. But it had a deeper meaning to the heart of Israel’s God. It shadowed forth the lowly Jesus ministering to the need of the people, in and around Jerusalem, and openly before all, yet despised and rejected of men; but owned of God, and honored of Him with the highest place in heaven.
To eat of the hidden manna is to find our joy, our delight, our strength, in communion with the once, lowly, suffering Jesus, but now exalted glorified Christ, at God’s right hand in heaven. If we walk in faithfulness to Him, in the midst of such scenes of unfaithfulness as we have to pass through, in these days of worldliness, and open, unblushing infidelity, we shall need the sustaining power of the hidden manna, the true and living bread. He is the only true wilderness fare for God’s strangers and pilgrims in this desert world. The remembrance of what Jesus was as the obedient, patient, subject man on earth, is well fitted to nourish our hearts, amidst the many trials and difficulties of the way.
Closely connected with “the hidden manna” we have the “white stone.” This is the secret, but real, expression of the Lord’s good pleasure, in our path of service for Him amidst general unfaithfulness. And so expressed as that none, save those to whom it is expressed, can ever understand it. He assures the heart of the overcomer, now, of the divine approval.
But O! what will the “white stone” be in heaven? To have the full, intimate, personal, expression of the Master’s approbation! To have it now, in the secret of communion, is peace to the conscience, joy to the heart, and strength in service. Communion with Himself must always be the first thing, if we would go on happily and steadily. When you know the Master’s mind as to your line of service, you can be calm and tranquil, even amidst the conflicting opinions of others. A servant out of communion, and not knowing the Master’s mind, must fall under the power of circumstances, and be unstable in all His ways.
The “white stone,” I believe, is the only remedy for such a state of things. It is the secret link of communion between the heart and Christ Himself. In the light of His presence, the path is cleared, and the heart is assured.
“In Thy presence we are happy; in Thy presence we’re secure;
In Thy presence all afflictions we can easily endure;
In Thy presence we can conquer, we can suffer, we can die;
Wander ‘ring from Thee we are feeble; let thy love, Lord, keep us nigh.”
O! what need there is for such communion in such times! The professing church, long ago, having left her first love, is now far away indeed from Christ. To follow her would be to go back to the depths of the world, “even where Satan’s seat is,” and where the doctrine of Balaam (type of ecclesiastical covetousness, and of seducing the people of God (Num. chapters 22-24), and of the Nicolaitanes (type of the abuse of grace in the most hateful form), are taught.
There is, then, but the one thing left for us, namely, to follow Christ according to His word. To keep the eye of faith fixed on that “hidden” One, and the heart filled and occupied with Him. So shall we have, even now, in the midst of a general apostasy, the “white stone” – the secret pledge of His presence and approbation as to our path, and of His delight in ourselves.
“To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” Revelation 2:12-1712And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; 13I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. 14But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. 15So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. (Revelation 2:12‑17).
Thou hidden Source of calm repose!
Thou all-sufficient Love divine!
My help and refuge from my foes,
Secure I am, for I am Thine;
And, lo! from guilt, and grief, and shame,
I’m hidden, Saviour, by Thy name.
Jesus, my All in all Thou art,
My rest in toil, my ease in pain;
The medicine of my broken heart
’Mid storms, my peace; in loss, my gain:
My smile beneath the tyrant’s frown;
In shame, my glory and my crown.
In want, my plentiful supply;
In weakness, my almighty power;
In bonds, my perfect liberty;
My refuge, in temptation’s hour;
My comfort ’midst all grief and thrall.
My life in death, my All in all.