Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Under His Shadow

Till He Come
Communion Meditations And Addresses
By C. H. Spurgeon

(Not published in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit.)
First Published 1896.

Chapter 2.
Under His Shadow.


A BRIEF SACRAMENTAL DISCOURSE DELIVERED AT MENTONE
TO ABOUT A SCORE BRETHREN.

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1.

I MUST confess of my short discourse, as the man did of the axe which fell into the stream, that it is borrowed. The outline of it is taken from one who will never complain of me, for to the great loss of the Church she has left these lower choirs to sing above. Miss Havergal, last and loveliest of our modern poets, when her tones were most mellow, and her language most sublime, has been caught up to swell the music of heaven. Her last poems are published with the title, “Under His Shadow,” and the preface gives the reason for the name. She said, “I should like the title to be, ‘Under His Shadow.’ I seem to see four pictures suggested by that: under the shadow of a rock, in a weary plain; under the shadow of a tree; closer still, under the shadow of His wing; nearest and closest, in the shadow of His hand. Surely that hand must be the pierced hand, that may oftentimes press us sorely, and yet evermore encircling, upholding, and shadowing.”

“Under His Shadow,” is our afternoon subject, and we will in a few words enlarge on the Scriptural plan which Miss Havergal has bequeathed to us. Our text is, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” The shadow of God is not the occasional resort, but the constant abiding-place, of the saint. Here we find not only our consolation, but our habitation. We ought never to be out of the shadow of God. It is to dwellers, not to visitors, that the Lord promises His protection. “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty:” and that shadow shall preserve him from nightly terror and ghostly ill, from the arrows of war and of pestilence, from death and from destruction. Guarded by Omnipotence, the chosen of the Lord are always safe; for as they dwell in the holy place, hard by the mercy-seat, where the blood was sprinkled of old, the pillar of fire by night, the pillar of cloud by day, which ever hangs over the sanctuary, covers them also. Is it not written, “In the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion, in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me”? What better security can we desire? As the people of God, we are always under the protection of the Most High. Wherever we go, whatever we suffer, whatever may be our difficulties, temptations, trials, or perplexities, we are always “under the shadow of the Almighty.” Over all who maintain their fellowship with God the most tender guardian care is extended. Their heavenly Father Himself interposes between them and their adversaries. The experience of the saints, albeit they are all under the shadow, yet differs as to the form in which that protection has been enjoyed by them, hence the value of the four figures which will now engage our attention.

I. We will begin with the first picture which Miss Havergal mentions, namely, the rock sheltering the weary traveller: “The shadow of a great rock in a weary land” (Isaiah 32:2).

Now, I take it that this is where we begin to know our Lord’s shadow. He was at the first to us a refuge in time of trouble. Weary was the way, and great was the heat; our lips were parched, and our souls were fainting; we sought for shelter, and we found none; for we were in the wilderness of sin and condemnation, and who could bring us deliverance, or even hope? Then we cried unto the Lord in our trouble, and He led us to the Rock of ages, which of old was cleft for us. We saw our interposing Mediator coming between us and the fierce heat of justice, and we hailed the blessed screen. The Lord Jesus was unto us a covering for sin, and so a covert from wrath. The sense of divine displeasure, which had beaten upon our conscience, was removed by the removal of the sin itself, which we saw to be laid on Jesus, who in our place and stead endured its penalty.

The shadow of a rock is remarkably cooling, and so was the Lord Jesus eminently comforting to us. The shadow of a rock is more dense, more complete, and more cool than any other shade; and so the peace which Jesus gives passeth all understanding, there is none like it. No chance beam darts through the rock-shade, nor can the heat penetrate as it will do in a measure through the foliage of a forest. Jesus is a complete shelter, and blessed are they who are “under His shadow.” Let them take care that they abide there, and never venture forth to answer for themselves, or to brave the accusations of Satan.

As with sin, so with sorrow of every sort: the Lord is the Rock of our refuge. No sun shall smite us, nor, any heat, because we are never out of Christ. The saints know where to fly, and they use their privilege.

“When troubles, like a burning sun,
Beat heavy on their head,
To Christ their mighty Rock they run,
And find a pleasing shade.”

There is, however, something of awe about this great shadow. A rock is often so high as to be terrible, and we tremble in presence of its greatness. The idea of littleness hiding behind massive greatness is well set forth; but there is no tender thought of fellowship, or gentleness: even so, at the first, we view the Lord Jesus as our shelter from the consuming heat of well-deserved punishment, and we know little more. It is most pleasant to remember that this is only one panel of the four-fold picture. Inexpressibly dear to my soul is the deep cool rock-shade of my blessed Lord, as I stand in Him a sinner saved; yet is there more.

II. Our second picture, that of the tree, is to be found in the Song of Solomon 2:3: “As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my Beloved among the sons. I sat down under His shadow with great delight, and His fruit was sweet to my taste.”

Here we have not so much refuge from trouble as special rest in times of joy. The spouse is happily wandering through a wood, glancing at many trees, and rejoicing in the music of the birds. One tree specially charms her: the citron with its golden fruit wins her admiration, and she sits under its shadow with great delight; such was her Beloved to her, the best among the good, the fairest of the fair, the joy of her joy, the light of her delight. Such is Jesus to the believing soul.

The sweet influences of Christ are intended to give us a happy rest, and we ought to avail ourselves of them; “I sat down under His shadow.” This was Mary’s better part, which Martha well-nigh missed by being cumbered. That is the good old way wherein we are to walk, the way in which we find rest unto our souls. Papists and papistical persons, whose religion is all ceremonies, or all working, or all groaning, or all feeling, have never come to an end. We may say of their religion as of the law, that it made nothing perfect; but under the gospel there is something finished, and that something is the sum and substance of our salvation, and therefore there is rest for us, and we ought to sing, “I sat down.”

Dear friends, is Christ to each one of us a place of sitting down? I do not mean a rest of idleness and self-content, - God deliver us from that; but there is rest in a conscious grasp of Christ, a rest of contentment with Him as our all in all. God give us to know more of this! This shadow is also meant to yield perpetual solace, for the spouse did not merely come under it, but there she sat down as one who meant to stay. Continuance of repose and joy is purchased for us by our Lord’s perfected work. Under the shadow she found food; she had no need to leave it to find a single needful thing, for the tree which shaded also yielded fruit; nor did she need even to rise from her rest, but sitting still she feasted on the delicious fruit. You who know the Lord Jesus know also what this meaneth.

The spouse never wished to go beyond her Lord. She knew no higher life than that of sitting under the Well-beloved’s shadow. She passed the cedar, and oak, and every other goodly tree, but the apple-tree held her, and there she sat down. “Many there be that say, who will show us any good? But as for us, O Lord, our heart is fixed, our heart is fixed, resting on Thee. We will go no further, for Thou art our dwelling-place, we feel at home with Thee, and sit down beneath Thy shadow.” Some Christians cultivate reverence at the expense of childlike love; they kneel down, but they dare not sit down. Our Divine Friend and Lover wills not that it should be so; He would not have us stand on ceremony with Him, but come boldly unto Him.

“Let us be simple with Him, then,
Not backward, stiff or cold,
As though our Bethlehem could be
What Sinai was of old.”

Let us use His sacred name as a common word, as a household word, and run to Him as to a dear familiar friend. Under His shadow we are to feel that we are at home, and then He will make Himself at home to us by becoming food unto our souls, and giving spiritual refreshment to us while we rest. The spouse does not here say that she reached up to the tree to gather its fruit, but she sat down on the ground in intense delight, and the fruit came to her where she sat. It is wonderful how Christ will come down to souls that sit beneath His shadow; if we can but be at home with Christ, He will sweetly commune with us. Has He not said, “Delight thyself also in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart”?

In this second form of the sacred shadow, the sense of awe gives place to that of restful delight in Christ. Have you ever figured in such a scene as the sitter beneath the grateful shade of the fruitful tree? Have you not only possessed security, but experienced delight in Christ? Have you sung,

“I sat down under His shadow,
Sat down with great delight;
His fruit was sweet unto my taste,
And pleasant to my sight”?

This is as necessary an experience as it is joyful: necessary for many uses. The joy of the Lord is our strength, and it is when we delight ourselves in the Lord that we have assurance of power in prayer. Here faith develops, and hope grows bright, while love sheds abroad all the fragrance of her sweet spices. Oh! get you to the apple-tree, and find out who is the fairest among the fair. Make the Light of heaven the delight of your heart, and then be filled with heart’s-ease, and revel in complete content.

III. The third view of the one subject is, - the shadow of his wings, - a precious word. I think the best specimen of it, for it occurs several times, is in that blessed Psalm, the sixty-third, verse seven: “Because Thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice.”

Does not this set forth our Lord as our trust in hours of depression? In the Psalm now open before us, David was banished from the means of grace to a dry and thirsty land, where no water was. What is much worse, he was in a measure away from all conscious enjoyment of God. He says, “Early will I seek Thee. My soul thirsteth for Thee.” He sings rather of memories than of present communion with God. We also have come into this condition, and have been unable to find any present comfort. “Thou hast been my help,” has been the highest note we could strike, and we have been glad to reach to that. At such times, the light of God’s face has been withdrawn, but our faith has taught us to rejoice under the shadow of His wings. Light there was none; we were altogether in the shade, but it was a warm shade. We felt that God who had been near must be near us still, and therefore we were quieted. Our God cannot change, and therefore as He was our help He must still be our help, our help even though He casts a shadow over us, for it must be the shadow of His own eternal wings. The metaphor is, of course, derived from the nestling of little birds under the shadow of their mother’s wings, and the picture is singularly touching and comforting. The little bird is not yet able to take care of itself, so it cowers down under the mother, and is there happy and safe. Disturb a hen for a moment, and you will see all the little chickens huddling together, and by their chirps making a kind of song. Then they push their heads into her feathers, and seem happy beyond measure in their warm abode. When we are very sick and sore depressed, when we are worried with the care of pining children, and the troubles of a needy household, and the temptations of Satan, how comforting it is to run to our God, - like the little chicks run to the hen, - and hide away near His heart, beneath His Wings. Oh, tried ones, press closely to the loving heart of your Lord, hide yourselves entirely beneath His wings! Here awe has disappeared, and rest itself is enhanced by the idea of loving trust. The little birds are safe in their mother’s love, and we, too, are beyond measure secure and happy in the loving favour of the Lord.

IV. The last form of the shadow is that of the hand, and this, it seems to me, points to power and position in service. Turn to Isaiah 49:2: “And He hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand hath He hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in His quiver hath He hid me.”

This undoubtedly refers to the Saviour, for the passage proceeds: - “And said unto Me, Thou art My servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent My strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely My judgment is with the Lord, and My work with My God. And now, saith the Lord that formed Me from the womb to be His servant, to bring Jacob again to Him, though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and My God shall be My strength. And He said, It is a light thing that Thou shouldest be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give Thee for a light to the Gentiles, that Thou mayest be My salvation unto the end of the earth.” Our Lord Jesus Christ was hidden away in the hand of Jehovah, to be used by Him as a polished shaft for the overthrow of His enemies, and the victory of His people. Yet, inasmuch as it is Christ, it is also all Christ’s servants, since as He is so are we also in this world; and to make quite sure of it, we have the same expression in the sixteenth verse of the fifty-first chapter, where, speaking of His people, He says, “I have covered thee in the shadow of Mine hand.” Is not this an excellent minister’s text? Every one of you who will speak a word for Jesus shall have a share in it. This is where those who are workers for Christ should long to be, - “in the shadow of His hand,” to achieve His eternal purpose. What are any of God’s servants without their Lord but weapons out of the warrior’s hand, having no power to do anything? We ought to be as the arrows of the Lord which He shoots at His enemies; and so great is His hand of power, and so little are we as His instruments, that He hides us away in the hollow of His hand, unseen until He darts us forth. As workers, we are to be hidden away in the hand of God, or to quote the other figure, “in His quiver hath He hid me:” we are to be unseen till He uses us. It is impossible for us not to be known somewhat if the Lord uses us, but we may not aim at being noticed, but, on the contrary, if we be as much used as the very chief of the apostles, we must truthfully add, “though I be nothing.” Our desire should be that Christ should be glorified, and that self should be concealed. Alas! there is a way of always showing self in what we do, and we are all too ready to fall into it. You can visit the poor in such a way that they will feel that his lordship or her ladyship has condescended to call upon poor Betsy; but there is another way of doing the same thing so that the tried child of God shall know that a brother beloved or a dear sister in Christ has shown a fellow-feeling for her, and has talked to her heart. There is a way of preaching, in which a great divine has evidently displayed his vast learning and talent; and there is another way of preaching, in which a faithful servant of Jesus Christ, depending upon his Lord, has spoken in his Master’s name, and left a rich unction behind. Within the hand of God is the place of acceptance, and safety; and for service it is the place of power, as well as of concealment. God only works with those who are in His hand; and the more we lie hidden there, the more surely will He use us ere long. May the Lord do unto us according to His word, “I have put My words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of My hand.” In this case we shall feel all the former emotions combined: awe that the Lord should condescend to take us into His hand, rest and delight that He should deign to use us, trust that out of weakness we shall now be made strong, and to this will be added an absolute assurance that the end of our being must be answered, for that which is urged onward by the Almighty hand cannot miss its mark.

These are mere surface thoughts. The subject deserves a series of discourses. Your best course, my beloved friends, will be to enlarge upon these hints by a long personal experience of abiding under the shadow of the Almighty. May God the Holy Ghost lead you into it, and keep you there, for Jesus’ sake!

For more chapters of this wonderful book:

Chapter Three - Under The Apple Tree

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

A Freed Servant Choosing To Remain With His Master - McGee

The following is from two different passages in J. Vernon McGee's Thru The Bible Commentary, and portrays how the laws concerning a freed servant choosing to stay with his master out of love and devotion for him and for his bride is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ choosing to go to the cross for us, out of love to us, His bride.

A Freed Servant Choosing To Remain With His Master - by J. Vernon McGee

The Law Concerning Master and Servant Relationships (Exodus 21:1-6)

In Exodus 21 we come to social legislation. This part of the Law is an important issue at this time because the Israelites had been slaves in Egypt.

Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them.

If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing [Exod. 21:1–2].

These two verses clearly state that the Israelites could never permanently make one of their own brethren a slave.

If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him.

If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out by himself.

And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:

Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for ever [Exod. 21:3–6].

This remarkable law states that if a man is a slave, after seven years he can go free. If he was married when he became a slave, he can take his wife with him. If he married while a slave, that is, if he married a woman who was already a slave of his master, at the end of seven years he could go free, but his wife would still belong to the master. He would be free but his wife would not. He could, however, if he loved his wife and master, decide to stay of his own free will. If he decides to stay, his master is to bore his ear lobe through with an awl signifying that he will serve his master forever.

This is a beautiful picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. He came to this earth and took upon Himself our humanity. And we were all slaves of sin. He could have gone out free. He could have returned to heaven, to His position in the Godhead, without going through the doorway of death. He did not have to die upon the cross. But He willingly came down to earth and took upon Himself our humanity. “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:8).

Psalm 40:6–8 goes on to say, “Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” This passage refers to Christ, because Hebrews 10:5–9 tells us that it does. It was fulfilled when our Lord came to this earth. “Wherefore when he cometh into the world [speaking of Christ], he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me [it was not only his ear that was “digged,” or bored through with an awl, but God gave Him a body which He will have throughout eternity]: in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.” Christ was “made like unto His brethren.” He chose not to go out free without us. He could have left this earth without dying, but He said, “I love My Bride. I love the sinner.” So He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross so that He could redeem us from the slavery of sin. What a picture this is of Christ — placed right here after the giving of the Ten Commandments.

Theme: A Messianic Psalm Predicting The Crucifixion Of Christ (Psalm 40:6-9)

Now the following is quoted in the Epistle to the Hebrews:

Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.

Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,

I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest [Ps. 40:6–9].

This is a marvelous psalm that follows the preceding one which reveals the frailty of man.

“Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened.” Now notice how this is quoted in Hebrew. 10:5, “Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me.” Now, wait a minute. Is this misquoted? Critics of the Bible say, “Oh, here is an error, a contradiction in the Bible. In Psalm 40:6 it says, ‘… mine ears hast thou opened …’; and in Hebrews it says, ‘… a body hast thou prepared me.’

The Holy Spirit is the author of the Bible. He wrote the Old Testament and the New Testament. He wrote both Psalms and Hebrews, and He has a perfect right to change His own writing. When He does, there is always a good reason.

Now let’s consider the background. In Exodus 21 there is a law concerning servants and masters. If a man became a slave to another man, at the end of a certain period of time he could go free. Suppose during that period he met another slave, a woman, they fell in love and married and had children. When it was time for the man to go free, he could leave, but his wife and children could not go with him because she was a slave. What could this man do? He could decide that because he loved his master and his wife he would not leave. “Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for ever” (Exod. 21:6).

The psalmist is referring to this custom when he says, “mine ears hast thou opened.” When the Lord Jesus came to this earth, did He have His ear thrust through with an awl? No, He was given a body. He took upon Himself our humanity. He identified Himself with us and He became a servant. And He became a sacrifice. “Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire” — God did not delight in all the animal offerings in the Old Testament, but they pointed to the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now notice what Isaiah says on this subject. “The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back” (Isa. 50:5). This verse is prophesying the humiliation of the Servant (Christ) who would come to earth. When the Lord Jesus came down to this earth and went to the cross, His ear wasn’t “opened” or “digged”; He was given a body, and that body was nailed to a cross. My friend, He has taken a glorified body with nail prints in it back to heaven, and He will bear those nail prints and scars throughout eternity that you and I might be presented without spot or blemish before Him. You see, He did more than have His ear bored through with an awl; He gave His body to be crucified because He loved us and would not return to heaven without us.

My friend, this is a marvelous messianic psalm that reveals the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ because He loved us.

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

In The Interpreter's House

A Dreamer And His Wonderful Dream

The Story of John Bunyan and The Pilgrim's Progress


by Alfred P. Gibbs

Chapter Five - In The Interpreter's House
 

After Graceless had recounted his experiences to Goodwill, he was taken a little way along the road in order that the true path might be pointed out to him. When they came to a certain place Goodwill said, "Look before you. Do you see this narrow way? This is the way you must go. It was builded by the patriarchs, prophets, Christ and His apostles, and it is as straight as a rule can make it." Graceless replied, "Are there no turnings, no windings, by which a stranger may lose his way?" To this Goodwill answered, "Yes, there are many ways that butt down upon it, but they are crooked and wide, whereas the true path may always be distinguished by the fact that it is straight and narrow." Then Graceless inquired whether Goodwill would help him off with his burden but Goodwill told him that he must be content to bear it until he should come to a place where it would fall off without any effort on his part. 

As Graceless prepared to continue his journey, Goodwill further informed him that a short distance along the road he would come to a house owned by a person called the Interpreter. He was to knock at the door and tell him who had sent him. He would then be admitted, and shown many excellent things that would teach him things which would stand him in good stead for the remainder of his journey. Thus advised, Graceless made his way along the straight and narrow path, until he came in sight of the Interpreter's house at which he knocked. 

WHO IS THE INTERPRETER? 

Soon someone came to the door and inquired who was there. Graceless replied as Goodwill had directed him and asked for the Master of the house. When at length the Interpreter came, Graceless was welcomed with these words, "Come in; I will show thee that which will be profitable to thee." It may be well before entering with Graceless into the Interpreter's house to explain of whom his is a picture. The Interpreter is a picture of the Holy Spirit, the third Person in the Godhead, whose sole work and delight it is to reveal Christ to the pilgrim. The Lord Jesus, just before He ascended to the right hand of the Father, said to His disciples, "It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment... He shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you" (John 16:7-14). Ten days after the ascension of Christ this promise was fulfilled, and on the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came down, and from that time has been in this world to do what Christ said He would do. 

The Holy Spirit's first work with the unsaved sinner is to convince him of his sins, and of his helpless and hopeless state in that condition. He it is that causes the sinner to realize his fearful burden of sin and guilt. If any of my readers are beginning to see their real deep need of the Saviour, it is because the Spirit of God is using the Word of God to produce this conviction of sin. Next, He presents through the Scripture, God's way of salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus and His work of reconciliation. He opens the eyes of the soul to see that, "all that was needed to do and to pay, Jesus has done in His own blessed way;" when the sinner realizes the glorious truth that all his sins were laid by God on Jesus when He hung on Calvary's tree, and that Christ's death has eternally satisfied God on account of his sins; when, as a lost sinner, he receives the Lord Jesus as his own Saviour; that very moment the Holy Spirit enters into him, indwells him, and seals him as God's own child (Ephesians 1:13-14). This is the new birth. This is what is involved in becoming a new creature in Christ Jesus: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Thus the believer is said to be the temple of God because the Spirit of God dwells in him (1 Corinthians 3:16). It has been well put in this way: 

"Soon as my all I ventured on the atoning blood,
The Holy Spirit entered and I was born of God."

The Holy Spirit's work with the believer is to take the Word of God, and through it, lead the child of God into all truth, and especially to glorify the Lord Jesus in all things. How much the Christian needs His divine guidance, His leading and controlling hand! As one has beautifully expressed it, 

"Every virtue we possess, and every conquest won;
And every thought of holiness are His alone."

The Holy Spirit, though unseen to our eyes, is nevertheless just as much a Person as is the Lord Jesus. He is not a mere influence, but a distinct Person who can be grieved, quenched, and resisted (Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; Acts 7:51). Let us see to it that we do not reject or resist His strivings. May it be ours, as we go through the Interpreter's house, to pay good heed to all we see and hear, and take good care that we neither resist nor quench the Holy Spirit as He seeks to impress our hearts with the lessons He would have us learn! 

A CANDLE LIT 

The first act of the Interpreter after Graceless had entered, was to have a candle lighted, and then He asked Graceless to follow Him. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105). It is very important to remember that the Spirit of God only interprets to the child of God what He has already caused to be inspired in the Word of God. These are the days of new religions and false cults, all claiming to be revelations from God by the Spirit. How are we to test them? By the light of the inspired Scriptures. The Bible is the complete revelation from God. Nothing can be added to it or taken away from it, and God Himself declares: "To the law and the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isaiah 8:20). 

THE PORTRAIT OF A TRUE BELIEVER 

The first scene to which Graceless was conducted was the framed picture of a man with a grave countenance. His eyes were lifted up to heaven; the best of books was in his hand; the word of truth was written upon his lips; the world was behind his back; he stood as though he pleaded with men, and a crown of gold was over his head. When Graceless inquired what this picture represented, the Interpreter told him that it was a description of a real Christian who could be recognized by the characteristics seen in this picture. What a searching lesson is this for all who profess to be believers on the Lord Jesus! It is one thing to profess to be a Christian, but another thing to prove by the life lived, the reality of having been regenerated by the Spirit of God. Christ said: "By their fruits ye shall know them," and this applies to Christians as to everyone else. Let us look at the picture a little closer, and test ourselves by it and see whether we are real, or merely imitation Christians. 

You will notice that this man's face was turned heavenward. This teaches us that a true believer in the Lord Jesus will be a heavenly minded person, because he has been born from above (John 3:3), and is going to dwell eternally above. In the meantime, while living in this world, his citizenship, and all he holds dear, is in heaven. Thus the Christian is more interested in heavenly things than in earthly things: "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself" (Philippians 3:20-21), and, "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:1-2). 

Next notice that the best of books, the Bible, was in his hand. The true child of God will love, revere and study the Word of God and will say like David, "The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver" (Psalm 119:72). And again, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee" (Psalm 119:11). And once more, "O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day" (Psalm 119:97). We next see that the law of truth was upon his lips, thus indicating that not only did he study God's Word, but that he also sought to tell it to others. 

The world was behind his back. The Christian should be recognized by the fact that though he is in this world, he is not of it; and that he is obedient to the Word which says, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father but of the world" (1 John 2:15-16). He should be able to say like Paul, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Galatians 6:14). The Christian thus turns his back upon all the vanities of the world and its lusts. 

Next, see what he is doing. He is pleading with men. The really born again person counts it the greatest privilege of his life to present the Person and work of Christ to others. He gladly confesses Christ as his Lord and loves to show forth to sinners far and near the praises and virtues of Him who has brought him out of darkness into His marvelous light. In other words, he obeys the command of his Saviour who said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). 

Last, but by no means least, the crown of gold over his head signifies that the fearful Christian is looking forward to the glad day, when, at the coming of his Lord and Saviour, he shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. It will be ample compensation for all the trials and difficulties of life's path to hear Christ's "Well done thou good and faithful servant! ...Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!"

DOES THIS PORTRAIT MIRROR YOUR LIFE?

Would it not be well for each professing Christian to examine himself in the light of this picture, and ask himself the questions, "Am I really what I profess to be? Do unsaved people see by my life that I am a citizen of heaven? Do I really love His Word? Is His Word of truth upon my lips? Have I turned my back upon the world that crucified and rejected my Redeemer, or am I so mixed up with its pleasures and vanities that no one sees any difference in me? Do I desire and love to speak to others of the Saviour, and seek to lead them to Him? Am I looking forward to the coming of the Lord, when at His judgment seat, all my life with its motives and works shall be revealed and rewarded; or shall I be ashamed at His coming?"

The world has no time for half and half Christians, but it does respect the one who backs up by a godly consistent life what he professes by his lips to be. Make sure that you are really a Christian, and then seek to live for Him so that the world will see Jesus in you. Someone has put it thus: 

"You are living a Gospel, a chapter each day; 
By the deeds that you do, by the words that you say. 
Men read what you are, whether faithless or true. 
Say -- what is the Gospel according to -- you?"

THE ROOM FULL OF DUST

The Interpreter next took Graceless by the hand and led him into a large room that was full of dust, for it had never been swept from the day it was built. After they had looked at it awhile, the Interpreter called to a man to come and sweep it clean, so the man began to sweep violently; but all his sweeping did was to cause the dust that was lying thick on the floor to rise in clouds and fill the room, caused Graceless to be almost choked by it. When Graceless had witnessed the uselessness of such means to clean the room, the Interpreter asked a maid that stood by to sprinkle water on the dust; which, when she had so done, the room was then cleaned with pleasure. 

Graceless asked the Interpreter what was the meaning of all this. He was told that the room was an illustration of the heart of man by nature. The dirt, dust and filth was a picture of the sins that had defiled the whole of man with its corruption. The person with the broom was an illustration of the vain attempt to cleanse the heart by the deeds of the law; but the maid with the water was a symbol of the Gospel with its sweet and precious influences, which, when received into the heart by faith, caused the defilement to be put away, and the heart to become a habitation for the King of Glory. 

LAW VERSUS GRACE

How briefly and well has John Bunyan illustrated this great truth of the difference between law and grace. The Law, which utterly condemns the best; and Grace, which fully and freely saves the worst! Let us examine this scene a little closer. What a graphic description this is of the human heart by nature! It may not be a pleasing picture, but it is true; God has declared that "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9) and the Lord Jesus has given to us His analysis of the heart in these words, "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and defile the man" (Mark 7:21-23). This is the heart of each one by nature as seen by God. The heart, of course means that part of our being that is the origin of our thoughts, words and actions. The Scriptures declare that as a man "thinketh in his heart, so is he."

The man with the broom illustrates the effect of God's holy and righteous law upon the heart. When the sinner reads the ten commandments, and sees therein the righteous requirements of God's holiness; there is immediately aroused within him a sense of the sinfulness of his heart. Thus the reading of God's law causes sin to appear exceedingly sinful, and shows him how vile and bad he really is. At the same time it does not, and cannot, cleanse him from his sins. God's Word speaks of this in Romans 7, where Paul says, "I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence . . . when the commandment came, sin revived . . . that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful."

We repeat again that the law was given to show the sinner his need of Christ. The law is thus like a mirror that reveals the defilement, but does not cleanse it. It is like a plumbline that shows the crookedness, but does not, and cannot straighten. It is like a measuring rod or rule by which we may see how far we have come short of God's standard, but it cannot bring us up to this divine requirement. It is like a weight in the balances of God's scales of righteousness, but it only serves to show that we have all been weighed in the balances and found wanting. The law though holy and just and good, cannot justify the sinner before God, but can only condemn him because he has broken it. 

The maid with the water is a splendid picture of the Gospel or the good news concerning the work accomplished through the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for poor, guilty and unclean sinners. His death on the Cross has forever satisfied all the righteous demands of the law against us. His resurrection was God's seal of complete approval of His finished work of reconciliation. The Lord Jesus now ever lives to save all who will open their hearts to the Gospel message; and, ceasing from all self-effort, will trust themselves implicitly to Him as their own personal Saviour. When the Saviour has been thus received, He cleanses the heart from sin and takes up His abode there. Listen to His own word, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20). Seek no longer to cleanse your own heart by attempting the utterly impossible task of keeping the law, but 

"Just now, your doubtings give o'er;
Just now reject Him no more;
Just now, throw open the door --
Let JESUS come into your heart!"

He will then do what the law cannot do; "for the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" (John 1:17). 

PASSION AND PATIENCE

The next scene to which Graceless was conducted was a very strange one. He was taken into a room where two boys were seated. One was named Passion and the other, Patience. Passion was very restless and discontented, while Patience sat quiet and content. When Graceless inquired why Passion was so discontented, he was informed that the Governor of the house had promised each of the boys the best things at the beginning of next year. Passion did not want to wait until the good pleasure of the Governor, but desired all his good things now, and that was why he was grumbling so much. While Graceless looked on, he saw a man with a great bag of treasure approach Passion and pour at his feet the rich and rare treasures he was carrying. This bag contained gold, silver, precious stones, worldly pleasures and all those things which the natural man imagines will give him satisfaction. When Passion saw this wondrous display at his feet he was greatly delighted and began to play with them. Every now and then he would laugh Patience to scorn for preferring to wait until the next year, but as Graceless watched, a very peculiar thing happened. In a moment, without any warning, all the treasure with which Passion was so gleefully occupying himself, turned into a heap of worthless rags and dust and ashes, so that he had nothing left of all his riches. 

At this Graceless asked the Interpreter to explain the meaning of this scene. He was told that the two boys were figures or pictures of two classes of people in the world. Passion was an illustration of the person who lives for this world alone and for its so-called treasures, pleasures, popularity, pride, and lust. Such a person has no time for God or for Christ; neither does he give any thought to his sinful condition or the judgment that awaits the one who dies in his sins. All he lives for is what he can get out of this present life. He spends all his time, talents, wealth, health, character, and his soul in trying to satisfy himself with the things of the world. Inasmuch as all his treasure turned to worthless rags and ashes, so death will usher the worldly person into an awful eternity, and he will have to leave behind all those things that occupied his heart on earth. 

Patience, however, in contrast to Passion, was a picture of a child of God, a Christian, who having been born from above, and having his citizenship in heaven, was content to wait with paience for that time when the true riches and pleasures that last for ever shall be his eternal portion in the life that is to come. In that glorious Celestial City where the moth and the rust doth not corrupt and where the thief does not break through and steal, the believer will enjoy to the full those eternal riches and pleasures that are the heritage of every born again person. The Bible assures us that "the things which are seen are temporal [or passing away]; but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18) 

This is a needed lesson for all to learn, for these two classes are still in the world today, and you, my reader, belong to one or the other. If, up to this time, you have been making plans for this life only, you are like Passion. Though you may possess considerable treasure and enjoy the pleasures, popularity, and the fashions of this world; yet remember that the Bible declares that "The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever" (1 John 2:17). 

WHERE ARE OUR TREASURES?

A fool has been well defined as one whose plans all end in this life. Does the plan of your life end with the grave, or does it go beyond and provide for your eternal blessedness? Will the stroke of death take from you all you have, or will death usher you into that glorious place where in His presence there is fulness of joy, and at His right hand pleasures for evermore? Be wise while you have your health, strength and soundness of mind and, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things [that is, the necessary things of life] shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). Remember that "godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come" (1 Timothy 4:8). The question that the Lord Jesus asked needs to be carefully pondered: "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36). 

How much better off was Patience, who, through he had little of this world's goods, was rich towards God and had great treasure in heaven! How much better it is to know one's sins are all forgiven; to enjoy peace with God; to be satisfied with His fellowship; to be filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory, and to look forward with eagar expectation to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ who shall take all who love Him into His presence! In heaven there shall be no more sorrow, no more pain, no more sickness, and no more death; but unspeakable joy, eternal health and endless glory! 

If you are not yet a Christian, you may become one while you read this. Take your place as a lost sinner and believe the good news of the Gospel, that Christ died for your sins. Accept Him as your own Saviour and confess Him as your Lord. Then like Patience, you will have the peace of God on earth for time, and the glories of heaven for all eternity. Those who live only for this world will have the rags and ashes of a Christless life, the sadness of a Christless death, and the fearfulness of a Christless eternity. 

Chapter Six - More Of The Interpreter's House

The Generations Of Adam And Jesus - Quote by Arthur Pink

The following quote is from a book by Arthur Pink entitled The Four Gospels which I am currently reading. It seems fairly good overall. In it, the author shows the differences between the four Gospels - how each one is unique and presents Jesus in light of the purpose of that particular Gospel: Matthew presents Jesus as the King of Kings, King of the Jews; Mark as the Servant of the Lord; Luke as the Perfect Man, the Son of Man; and John as God, the Son of God. If you want to dig in deeper on this theme, please click on the title of the book above to download it for free. Otherwise, enjoy this interesting excerpt from the chapter on Matthew.

The Generations Of Adam And Jesus

The first thing which arrests our attention is the opening verse. God, in His tender grace, has hung the key right over the entrance. The opening verse is that which unlocks the contents of this Gospel — “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.” The first five English words here are but two in the Greek — “Biblos geneseos.” These two words indicate the peculiarly Jewish character of the earlier portions of this Gospel, for it is an Old Testament expression. It is noteworthy that this expression which commences the New Testament is found almost at the beginning of the first book in the Old Testament, for in Gen. 5:1 we read, “This is the book of the generations of Adam.” We need hardly say that this word “generation” signifies the history of.” These two “books” — the book of the generation of Adam, and the book of the generation of Jesus Christ — might well be termed the Book of Death and the Book of Life. Not only does the whole Bible center around these two books, but the sum of human destiny also. How strikingly this expression, found at the beginning of Genesis and the beginning of Matthew, brings out the Unity of the two Testaments!

In the book of Genesis we have eleven different “generations” or histories enumerated, beginning with the “generations of the heavens and the earth,” and closing with the “generations of Jacob” — see 2:4; 5:1; 6:9; 10:1; 11:10; 11:27; 25:12; 25:19; 36:1; 36:9; 37:2 — thus dividing the first book of the Bible into twelve sections, twelve being the number of Divine government, which is what is before us in Genesis — God in sovereign government. From Exodus to Daniel we find government entrusted, instrumentally, to Israel, and from Daniel onwards it is in the hands of the Gentiles; but in Genesis we antedate the Jewish theocracy, and there government is found directly in the hands of God, hence its twelvefold division. Twice more, namely, in Num. 3:1 and Ruth 4:18, do we get this expression “the generation of,” making in the Old Testament thirteen in all, which is the number of apostasy, for that is all the Law revealed! But, as we have seen, this expression occurs once more (and there for the last time in Holy Writ) in the opening verse of the New Testament, thus making fourteen in all, and the fourteenth is “the book of the generation of Jesus Christ.” How profoundly significant and suggestive this is! Fourteen is 2 x 7, and two signifies (among its other meanings) contrast or difference, and seven is the number of perfection and completeness — and what a complete difference the Coming of Jesus Christ made!

Saturday, November 4, 2023

Some Quotes By Oliver B. Greene

Some Quotes By Oliver B. Greene


I like this statement by Oliver B. Greene on John 3:15:

“Jesus on the cross was heaven's best for earth's worst.”

A few pages later in his commentary on the Gospel of John, he has this paragraph:

“Notice that God told Moses exactly what to do, and Moses obeyed. God also told the Israelites what to do: they were simply to ‘Look, and live.’ The only way a dying Israelite could be healed and have life was to look to the brazen serpent. He was not to touch it nor speak to it; he was simply to LOOK upon it. The only way the unbeliever can benefit from Christ’s death on Calvary is to look to Him in faith. No matter how near death an Israelite was, if he had strength enough to open his eyes and look upon the serpent of brass he was instantly healed. In the same manner, regardless of how weak one’s faith may be, any poor sinner who will look to Jesus and sincerely believe and trust will be saved. Sincere faith brings salvation.”

A little bit later:

"The invitation to the sinner is to 'whosoever' - no one is excluded. No matter how feeble the faith may be - (it is not the quantity of faith, but in WHOM we believe); no matter how sinful and wretched the person may be, if he believes he has everlasting life."

My comments:

Like a grain of mustard seed - even a little bit of true faith is noticed by our Saviour. Like several of the characters in Pilgrim's Progress, they still made it to the Celestial City, even if they were lame or afraid (example, Master Ready-to-Halt and Master Feeble-mind).

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Some Great Quotes By Spurgeon

Some Great Quotes By Spurgeon:

“True saints have a religion that has entered into their very blood, changing their nature, and permeating their being, so that it is part and parcel of themselves. Practical Christianity is the only real Christianity. If your religion can be laid aside I would advise you to get rid of it; for a real Christian could no more lay aside his godliness than he could unscrew his head.”

“Suppose that 20 troubles should come to us in a day and that we should flee to God 20 times with them? I think that we might almost pray to God to send 20 more troubles, so that we might flee to Him 40 times a day! Any reason for going to God must be a blessing to us, for going to God is going to bliss! So we may even turn our troubles into blessings by making them drive us to Him.”

Some Good Quotes By Matthew Henry

Some Good Quotes By Matthew Henry

This is a neat quote by Matthew Henry about God answering prayer:

Psalms 10:17
LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble:
thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:

In what method God hears prayer. He first prepares the heart of his people and then gives them an answer of peace; nor may we expect his gracious answer, but in this way; so that Godʾs working upon us is the best earnest of his working for us. He prepares the heart for prayer by kindling holy desires, and strengthening our most holy faith, fixing the thoughts and raising the affections, and then he graciously accepts the prayer; he prepares the heart for the mercy itself that is wanting and prayed for, makes us fit to receive it and use it well, and then gives it in to us. The preparation of the heart is from the Lord, and we must seek unto him for it (Prov. 16:1) and take that as a leading favour.

Here is another encouraging quote by Matthew Henry about God’s covenant with His people:

Hosea 2:19-20
And I will betroth thee unto me for ever;
yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment,
and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.
I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness:
and thou shalt know the LORD.

The nature of this covenant; it is a marriage-covenant, founded in choice and love, and founding the nearest relation: I will betroth thee unto me; and again, and a third time, I will betroth thee. Note, All that are sincerely devoted to God are betrothed to him; God gives them the most sacred and inviolable security imaginable that he will love them, protect them, and provide for them, that he will do the part of a husband to them, and that he will incline their hearts to join themselves to him and will graciously accept of them in so doing. Believing souls are espoused to Christ, 2 Co. 11:2. The gospel-church is the bride, the Lambʾs wife; and they would never come into that relation to him if he did not by the power of his grace betroth them to himself. The separation begins on our side; we alienate ourselves from God. The coalition begins on his side; he betroths us to himself.

Quote by Matthew Henry on Hebrews 10:34 (contrasting with verse 1):

What it was that enabled them thus to bear up under their sufferings. They knew in themselves that they had in heaven a better and a more enduring substance. Observe, [1.] The happiness of the saints in heaven is substance, something of real weight and worth. All things here are but shadows. [2.] It is a better substance than any thing they can have or lose here. [3.] It is an enduring substance, it will out-live time and run parallel with eternity; they can never spend it; their enemies can never take it from them, as they did their earthly goods. [4.] This will make a rich amends for all they can lose and suffer here. In heaven they shall have a better life, a better estate, better liberty, better society, better hearts, better work, every thing better. [5.] Christians should know this in themselves, they should get the assurance of it in themselves (the Spirit of God witnessing with their spirits), for the assured knowledge of this will help them to endure any fight of afflictions they may be encountered with in this world.