WHAT IS SPECIAL FOR THE HEART OF CHRIST
1 Samuel 30: 18–20; Philippians 4: 1–3; 1: 9–11; Malachi 3: 13–18
GCMcK I was struck recently by a sense of the value the Lord puts on the saints. I suppose we see one another at the best at the Supper and have some sense of how precious to the Lord is the pure affection and devotion on the part of the saints. I wondered if we could consider a little what quality or character of things draws out the Lord’s affections and satisfies Him. He is looking for something special; He is entitled to do so, the One who has so loved us. While He values every element of faithfulness, I believe He is looking for something that meets His affections.
I wondered if this first scripture might establish something of the thought in our minds, in that David takes certain flocks and herds which they drove before the other cattle and says, “This is David’s spoil”. There is something special for David. This is a chapter of recovery and a number of persons are greatly blessed. Persons are recovered and there is great spoil. But there is something specially for the heart of Christ; it is not defined here. I wondered if during this reading we might be helped to have some sense of it, what it is that the Lord can find His satisfaction in, a fitting result of what He has done for us.
Malachi expresses the thought more clearly, but I thought before we go on to Malachi it would be good to consider how the epistles show us what the early assemblies were like. We can tell from the ministry that is given, the letters that are written, something as to their state and what would be pleasing to the Lord.
The assembly in Philippi was a specially attractive assembly. We might think of what there was specially about the Philippians that calls forth such approval on the part of Paul. It is one of the two assemblies he describes as his crown. That is why we read in chapter 4—how much he loved them—“So that, my brethren, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown”. If they were Paul’s joy and crown there was something special about them, and if it was a joy to Paul how much to the Lord. There were various elements in Philippians the brethren might help to fill out; the thought of what is excellent comes into the epistle. There is admonition too, and adjustment that is always necessary for us, but the challenge is what there is in our localities which has a special character, some special devotion, something that you might say is “David’s spoil”.
Malachi brings out the thought very clearly, especially in the phrase that is used as to those that spoke often one to another, “they shall be unto me a peculiar treasure”. I have not read earlier in the book but no doubt it would be familiar to the brethren. There was a condition of things where what was unacceptable was being offered to God, and there was a priesthood that despised God’s name. But there were at that time persons, not described in any official sense, but just as to what was in their hearts and affections. There might be some pointer in that for ourselves in times of declension, how there might be something that is a “peculiar treasure”, something special. These are the thoughts one had in mind for this reading.
JW Do you think that what we have in Samuel, David’s spoil, is really the peculiar fruit of his own exercise and service?
GCMcK Yes, I think that is right, peculiarly Christ’s in type, the fruit of what He has done for us. Of course the scope of the chapter is wide. Amalek’s attack and the devastation it had caused, so many of the people taken into captivity, the women and the children, the scope of it speaks of the great result of Christ’s work in securing recovery for God, the recovery of the race I suppose. But then, in the midst of what many persons are benefiting from, there is what is peculiarly for David, for Christ. It would be right to say that He is worthy of something special; how much He has loved us; He has given Himself for us.
JW Would David’s spoil be something peculiar for himself in the recovery of his two wives? I think what there is for Christ is really in the assembly, in assembly features found when He comes among His own, something peculiar for His own pleasure.
GCMcK Yes, I think that. They had taken the women and children and wives, but all are recovered. It shows that what is recovered involves what is especially for Christ’s heart, something that is formed in affection for Him. The two wives would suggest that.
DJH Recovery always has something special in view; it is not just that you are recovered to where you were before, but there is something special in addition, what is for Christ.
GCMcK I think that is right, a very important principle. So that, while declension leaves its own mark, recovery brings fresh light into the soul; there is something special secured through it. So while there is no premium on declension and departure, clearly there is divine triumph in what is secured through recovery. We are all recovered persons. We might say it somewhat glibly, but if you think back over the history, especially those of us who are a little older, we have been recovered. But in that recovery, has there been something special for Christ’s heart?
DJH We need to see, alas, the enemy has been active against what is for Christ. We need to see that from what is recovered there is something special secured for Him which was not there before.
GCMcK Yes, that is right. You remember the days after 1970, when there was a great release from bondage. That raised certain exercises as to what direction the saints would take as released, and as recovered to the truth. The test in those days was whether we were going to go on in a certain renewed, bright committal to Christ, or whether we would take advantage of the situation to please ourselves, and to use licence from the liberty that was then afforded. I think that runs on as we are brought into a position of great favour; how are we going to use this favour that we are in at the present time, in this recovered position?
DJW It says of David that he strengthened himself in Jehovah his God (1 Samuel 30: 6). If you look at him as a type of a believer in that way, we are all recovered persons, but that has involved deep personal exercise with God and with the Lord. That would be intended to produce the features that are like Christ, so that there is a greater valuation of one another as we take account of what one and another has been brought through.
GCMcK Yes, I think that entirely. Recovery is not simply to a position, it is not simply outward, or even what is said. Declension too begins inwardly. I have been quite arrested recently by the Lord’s word to Ephesus in Revelation. He describes so much that is pleasing to Him, and then He mentions one thing lacking, “thou hast left thy first love”. Revelation 2: 4. Then He says He might have to take their candlestick away. There were some things pleasing to Him, but something had gone. Recovery involves an inward development of things.
DJW That inward side of things would develop a greater knowledge of God, so that there is greater intelligence in the way of response to His heart.
GCMcK So that formation may enter into the soul through such an experience. You might say it is an abnormal route to go into declension and recovery, but God uses it so we have a fresh apprehension of Him in our souls, in His recovering power and in His grace.
MM Joshua broke the power of the Amalekites. Should it encourage us that although Satan is active still in a broken day the work of recovery can go on?
GCMcK Yes, quite so. Here the Amalekites are successful; there was certain failure in leaving Ziklag exposed. Amalek would speak of a special satanic attack, not simply the malice of men. Satan is against everything that is for God, but over against that there is a divine triumph, and despite all Satan can do, a spoil for Christ.
PM We have often been taught that the assembly holds the ground that Christ will take up publicly in the world to come. Does she do that because she knows the heart of the One who will take up that ground?
GCMcK Well, there is no doubt much in what you say. One of the great thoughts as to the assembly is that what is of Christ is seen in her, and that is really sustained as there is a formation of Christ in the saints. Is that so?
PM That can only be the testimony, if Christ is formed in the saints, Christ in you.
GCMcK Yes, that is how the ground is held. The official side cannot be taken up again because of the failure of the church, but the moral and formative side can go through, and it involves what is special. There are “other cattle” here, and no doubt they had their value, but there are cattle that speak of what is specially for Christ’s heart, “David’s spoil”.
DEB I was thinking of the passage in the book of Titus which sets out God’s objective in displaying His grace, that He might redeem us, and purify to Himself a peculiar people. Is that something of what you have in mind?
GCMcK Yes, it is, so that redemption has in view what is for Himself. We are rightly taken up much with what the work of Christ has been for our blessing, but His thought is a “peculiar people”, a people that are special, zealous for good works.
PJW I was thinking about the three mighty men that broke through and brought the water back to David. That was something special, was it? He would not drink it but he poured it out before Jehovah. These were persons who were zealous. They knew what was for David’s heart and knew his longings.
GCMcK Well, I think that. It is a question then of knowing that. As we proceed perhaps we will get more of an impression of what would be for the heart of Christ, and then we would have to go on from there; the three mighty men had an exploit to secure this, danger was involved in it. That might be a challenge to us. How much is there of this zeal and energy in view of what is for Christ’s heart?
DJR How can you help us as to what is involved in that? Just because of their being with David did not mean to say that they knew what was in his heart. There were wicked men, men of Belial there, who had been involved in the battle. There were those who were weak and exhausted, they had not been in the battle but they received spoil too.
GCMcK Simply being with David is not the only matter, it is a matter therefore of what is in the heart. What came out of these wicked men was what was in their hearts, a selfishness I suppose, something that was most unlike Christ. But David comes in and makes a statute and ordinance for Israel, showing the generous character of things that he would establish, where all would get blessing. Later in the chapter he presents of the spoil of the enemies of Jehovah to the elders of Judah, to his friends. There is a great circle of blessing flowing out of this, but the first thing is what is for David, his spoil.
JW Do you think the thought of spoil is something additional to what there was before? In David the most refined spiritual feelings come out, and I wondered if the exercise as to Ziklag and what was involved in that would bring about refinement as it is faced. Would that have something to do with what is for Christ’s heart in spiritual refinement?
GCMcK Yes, I would say that. David himself typifies in the Old Testament a certain spiritual excellency and refinement, especially as bearing on the service of God as well as in other matters. I think what you say runs along with what we have been trying to bring out. We could ask ourselves the question, Is there something that was not there before? If I have failed and been recovered, is there something that was not there before? I am not saying there is not, because I believe there is, but it would be a challenge to each one of us.
AM Is there a suggestion in the flocks and herds of what is held together? You spoke of the other cattle and said there would be a value on the other cattle but there are the flocks and the herds, what is held together. That is something special that the Lord delights in in the saints.
GCMcK Yes, I think it does. We could develop that thought as to the flock, and how we are the subject of divine care and how we move together. We could develop it on the line too of what was available for sacrifice in view of the service of God, because that is one of the things we have been secured for. In a sense that is another way of saying what we are trying to speak of, we are recovered as valuable.
MM Is there a distinction between being recovered and being brought back?
GCMcK Well, it says David recovered all in verse 18, and then in verse 19 David brought all back. I am not sure of the distinction. Please help us.
MM There must be something for us in the scripture you have drawn attention to. Does it indicate a development? As a recovered person I am recovered, but then I am brought back.
GCMcK Brought back perhaps suggests the distance, the exercise that had to be gone through. The completeness of recovery is in view, there is nothing missing in the effective work of Christ.
TJH Is there a point as to who brought them back? He brought them back. It is not that we wander out of fellowship and wander back in. It was he who brought them back.
GCMcK Yes, you might have said David and his army, the four hundred, brought them back, but the point is what Christ has done and that endears Him to our hearts.
Perhaps we could move on to the epistle to the Philippians. My thoughts are not totally formed and I would be glad of what the brethren might draw from the epistle. There are only two assemblies that are spoken of as Paul’s joy and crown; one is the Thessalonian assembly and the other is the Philippian assembly. I thought there might be some special features that we could detect. The first chapter brings out much as to their fellowship with the gospel “from the first day until now” (Philippians 1: 5): consistency marked them. Then there is Paul’s desire that there might be the judging of and approving the things that are more excellent; not simply that they might be intelligent as to these things (that would enter into it) but “in order that ye may be pure and without offence for Christ’s day, being complete as regards the fruit of righteousness”. Now in that there is something that speaks to Christ of what He has in mind in the assembly—a completeness—a complete answer to what He died for.
JW The reference to Christ’s day is very affecting really. He will have His day and what is precious to Him will be displayed in that day.
GCMcK Paul seems to be constantly looking forward to that day, and what would be the fruit of his labours at that time; “my joy and crown” would really look forward to that day. There is to be some token of the value of his service in Christ’s day—a day of satisfaction for Him, a day when everything that He died for, everything He had laboured for is going to come to light for His heart.
JSG Would it be helpful in connection with Christ’s day to think of what the Lord expressed in prayer to the Father, referring to John 17, where His special desire as to those that the Father had given Him was in His mind, and then the special place that He would have where His own would behold Him in His glory.
GCMcK Yes, “that ... they also may be with me, that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me”, John 17: 24. It seems to be a peculiar privilege, that particular allusion of the Lord in prayer, is it? It is not a glory we share, but the Lord’s desire is that we should be there to take account of the glory He had as the great Accomplisher, you might say the One who has recovered and established all for God.
JSG I was wondering if you thought as to what was special for the Lord is connected there with those given to Him of the Father.
GCMcK Yes, I think that is right, in His prayer He comments on their qualities and what had come to light; not simply that they were the subject of divine ownership, but that they had received Christ’s words. So you can see that He is calling the Father’s attention, if we can use that expression, to the qualities that are developed in these men—how pleasurable to Him they were, “those whom thou hast given me”, John 17: 24.
RHB What was excellent—do you have more in mind about that?
GCMcK Well, we value what is good or what is better. We have these expressions in scripture—“better things” for example (Hebrews 6: 9)—but excellent seems to suggest something that is very special, and this is more excellent. It is Ephesian light reflected in experience down here below.
RHB Can you help us as to what those things are? I think they are commended for judging of and approving of the things that are more excellent. I would like to know what they are.
GCMcK I would like to know too. I think it is more excellent things as having a bearing on what is pleasing to Christ in the saints in this scene. What special assembly features are pleasing to Christ.
RHB I have been thinking of what Peter says, “that ye might set forth the excellencies of him who has called you” (1 Peter 2: 9), and he quotes that passage in Exodus where God says “then shall ye be my own possession out of all the peoples—for all the earth is mine”, Exodus 19: 5. They were to be His own possession. This is something that God has had in His heart from the outset, that there might be something exquisite and exclusively for Himself. I think your connection with what is in the saints, that scripture would bear out, setting forth the excellencies of Him.
GCMcK In a sense what is most precious and excellent, what Christ is looking for, is really Himself, features of Himself. That is where you will find the greatest excellence, and you have quoted, “the excellencies of him who has called you out of darkness”. It is really features seen in Christ which can be seen in the saints, and I think we can trace that in Paul’s exercises as to the Philippians, that they might be more like Christ.
PJW Does the psalmist not say, “To the saints that are on the earth, and to the excellent thou hast said, In them is all my delight”, Psalm 16: 3?
GCMcK Very good, the excellent. In this dispensation we are given intelligence to understand that the excellence that is worked out in the saints means that they are brought into accord with Christ in a practical way—Philippians is practical.
DMS In the subsequent section from where you read, commencing at verse 8 of chapter 4 you get certain excellent things. Do you think that brings out the character of the believer? You get it also in Colossians chapter 3 as to the things to be put on, the excellent things. It goes on in that scripture ending in God’s praise.
GCMcK Yes, quite so. The scriptures being brought forward help to give a description of these excellent things, especially I think in this connection as to features of the new man that can appear in the saints, “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of compassion” (Colossians 3: 12) and so on. I think that there is a reason why it is in the epistle to Philippians we get the down-stooping of Christ brought in; there is a touch of excellency there, which perhaps the Philippians had not quite attained to.
DJW I wondered that because the exhortation in chapter 2 is “let this mind be in you” (Philippians 2: 5), that is, it is not just a picture on the wall as seen in Christ in its perfection, but it has to be developed in us.
GCMcK Exactly. How beautiful that, when bringing in adjustment to the Philippians on the point that seemed to be lacking, completeness of unity and oneness, Paul takes the opportunity to set a kind of jewel in scripture; and it is a jewel, the precious features in the down-stooping mind of Christ. He wishes that to be in the saints. That is surely one of the excellent things to judge of and approve.
DEB One of the things that Paul is praying for in verse 9 of the first chapter is “that your love may abound”. It is a question that might be faced as to whether it is our love that is abounding, or our theory, or knowledge, but Paul is concentrating on that one thing.
GCMcK Yes, I think so. He had just alluded to the fact that they had Paul in their hearts; it is clear there were persons with formed affections. There was love for Christ developed, but then that love seems to be a kind of base from which there could be an abounding. The movement is in the direction of excellency and what is really heavenly.
AJMcS We have been reading in Twickenham in the second and third epistles of John the last couple of weeks. Both of them begin with the expression “love in truth”. We have been seeking help to understand exactly what that means. Could you help us as to that please?
GCMcK What help have you had then?
AJMcS Well, what we came to is that love, particularly in the last days, must be governed by the truth, would you think?
GCMcK Yes, that is right. God’s love is a holy love. You cannot think of it allowing what is not according to the truth. It is God’s nature and to be developed in the saints. I think holiness and love go together.
AJMcS So, where man was removed, God was expressed. The two things go together, the expression of God’s heart and the removal of all that is obnoxious to God. I wondered whether in 2 and 3 John we see these features coming in. In 2 John it is the way that that would operate, in not receiving those who do not hold the Father and the Son; and in the third epistle it is in receiving those who have gone forth, taking nothing from the Gentiles. Love would operate in the reception of such persons, do you think?
GCMcK Yes, I think that is right. And so if we are looking at the things that are more excellent, the more we judge of and approve these things, the more we will have a kind of resentment at what is not in keeping with that, and what would impair these things, what would destroy them really in our affections and minds. The devil wants to do that; he wants to deprive us of the most holy and precious things. We find that generally, the humanity of Christ, the deity of Christ, and the blessed way in which God has been made known in revelation, these are precious things and the enemy is out to remove these if he could, or to damage these in our minds and hearts.
JW Would Lydia be an example of what you are speaking of? The Lord opened her heart to attend to the things spoken by Paul. Would that be involved in what you are bringing before us?
GCMcK Yes. We are speaking of what is for the heart of Christ; Paul had a specially heavenly ministry, precious teaching as to the assembly and as to the body. There was something that Paul was imparting to the saints which was extraordinary; it was something that had been kept in reserve; he was given the commission to bring these things out and I think some of these more excellent things really relate to Paul’s ministry.
QP I was noticing recently that in 2 Corinthians where Paul says, “For we must all be manifested before the judgment-seat of the Christ”, immediately before that he says, “Wherefore also we are zealous, whether present or absent, to be agreeable to him”, 2 Corinthians 5: 9, 10. I just wondered if that would link on with the thought of being agreeable to Him in view of the Lord Jesus Himself going over matters with us.
GCMcK Yes, that should be an individual exercise with us for we will all be manifested there. It is a solemn scripture. There should be a deeper exercise as to what is pleasing to Christ; perhaps a little more zeal in regard to that. Valuing features of Christ as seen in the saints would help us; perhaps we need sometimes to be a little more severe on ourselves. We tend to be severe on others but we need to be severe on ourselves.
JW Would the idea of circumcision enter into it, being severe on ourselves. I was wondering if what is peculiarly for the pleasure of Christ is to see the truth in expression; knowing the theory and the terms is important but to see it in expression.
GCMcK Well, I think that is what was so special about the Philippians, that they were so active and so zealous—“that both in my bonds and in the defence and confirmation of the glad tidings ye are all participators in my grace”. He says, “from the first day until now” you have been committed and zealous, and then he alludes to their gifts to him. That was something a little extraordinary that came in, “for also in Thessalonica once and even twice ye sent to me for my need (Philippians 4: 16)—once would have been fine, but it was twice, and we understand it was in a short period of time. There was something special there in activity practically.
JW Yes, there was. It raises the exercise, Where is Paul’s ministry in expression today? It has to be held but where is the expression?
GCMcK It has to be held first, to be apprehended first and guarded in the teaching, and in the light of it; but then, if we take the epistle to the Ephesians as a guide, the wonderful, heavenly light that has come in as we have in the first three chapters, must then produce something to correspond on the practical side, otherwise it is simply light. Having light is not essentially what is special; it is being in keeping with it.
PM He speaks in chapter 2 of them “holding forth the word of life, so as to be a boast for me in Christ’s day”, Philippians 2: 16. That is more than holding the light, is it not? Is that the expression of what Christ is, the word of life?
GCMcK I think that is good. “Do all things without murmurings and reasonings, that ye may be harmless and simple, irreproachable children of God”, Philippians 2: 14, 15. You can see the quality that is in mind in the saints. “Holding forth the word of life” I think suggests a certain energy of life, holding it forth in speech, and in testimony, and in conduct.
RWF At the heart of that has there to be the knowledge and enjoyment on our part of communion?
GCMcK Yes, I think that. What underlies everything publicly is what is within, and therefore communion with Christ is very important. One of the features in Philippians is that Paul speaks so much about his own exercises to them. I wonder why that was. He was free do to so. There were such bonds of affection between them, that he was free to bring out his own individual exercises. What was Paul himself in his inward exercises?
DJH We have been reminded that he does not represent himself as an apostle here, it has been said it is Paul as a Christian. So these are features that have to be seen in us.
GCMcK Yes, exactly, and he can impart these things; he imparted his own life to the Thessalonians; he was free to impart to the Philippians what his inward communion really was, his deepest exercises and his love for Christ and his energy; he imparted that. What a test that is! We speak over the truth with the young people, but can we speak about what we are inwardly in our affections?
DJH I thought of that in relation to the reference to John’s epistles, it speaks of mouth to mouth; it is not exactly mouth to ear or face to face; it is mouth to mouth, an inward impartation.
GCMcK I think that is what it is, an impartation, which is a very fine thought in the line of communication. Impartation involves closeness and affection, and what is almost intangible. It might not even be in word, it might be in example and influence.
RWF What Paul disclosed from his heart was actually in the heart of Christ. I have often reflected as to this epistle and other epistles, that Paul had his own exercise and his own thoughts, but it was given to him to know much of the heart of Christ Himself. That is what comes into expression in his words, is it not?
GCMcK Yes, I think that. And so he is able to tell the saints in chapter three to imitate him, to follow in his steps, “fix your eyes on those walking thus as you have us for a model”, Philippians 3: 17. He was able to set himself forward as an example to them. He says elsewhere, “Be my imitators, even as I also am of Christ”, 1 Corinthians 11: 1. It all leads back to Christ, that is where the excellency lies.
AJMcS You have referred to this local assembly as being one of the local assemblies that Paul regarded as his crown. In Revelation chapter three we have a local assembly that has its own crown—Philadelphia. I am just wondering if there is some link between the Philippian epistle and the expression that we have as to Philadelphia, “that no one take thy crown”, Revelation 3: 11. If the Philippian epistle was worked out in exercise and personal attachment to Christ, then there would not be any danger (if we had that crown) of anyone taking it.
GCMcK For Philadelphia the crown in some sense would embody these things that are more excellent, held in the affections of the saints and formed too. You can see how pleasing Philadelphia is to Christ in their faithfulness in smallness and weakness, having a little power, but it was what was formed. A crown you especially value. It is the very best thing you have, the last thing you would want to lose. I suppose we would say that if in any measure we arrive at what is special for the heart of Christ, we do not want to lose that, we want to hold it fast, do you think?
AJMcS Yes, I do. I was pulled up this morning by reading Mr Stoney where he said that you will not find Laodicea in the systems of men (Vol. 4, p.178). Laodicea relates to Philadelphian light without Philadelphian power. Is the antidote to that vital personal attachment to Christ? Would that keep us from losing any crown we might have, finding ourselves in Laodicea?
GCMcK I would think that. We know that it happens very easily, that we could slip into a Laodicean condition of things, an indifferent kind of self-satisfied condition of things. What we were at this afternoon is to see if we can avoid going on that track, but rather that we might have more energy and zeal and devotion in love for Christ, so that there might be something formed that is pleasing to Him, not self-satisfaction in a poor state as in Laodicea.
QP There is a reference in the prophet Isaiah, “In that day will Jehovah of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the remnant of his people”, Isaiah 28: 5. I wondered if it is really Christ Himself who is the crown as He is held in our affections.
GCMcK Yes. It has often been said that Philadelphia’s crown is really Christ Himself.
That has to be understood, of course. I suppose it involves the precious link the assembly has with Christ, that Christ is her crown really.
DMS I was just wondering, when you were speaking of Paul’s particular exercises that he could speak of, and his own particular love for Christ: I would like some help as to this question of first love of which the Lord speaks to Ephesus, whether that is something that seems to be peculiarly precious to Christ. He speaks there of their works and things that they had done, and much of it commendable, but there seems to be something peculiarly attractive to the Lord in this thought of first love. I would like a little help as to that.
GCMcK Well, one thing the Lord’s addresses to the assemblies show is He takes account of everything that is positive, in fact He does that first, but I can see that the Lord is quite demanding; He will not accept anything less than first love. I use the word ‘demanding’ for want of a better one. It is first love He wants, and it had appeared in Ephesus; He was not going to be satisfied with something second-best.
DMS You might have thought looking outwardly, that the works would have shown that there was real love for Christ there, so what is the Lord peculiarly looking for then? It is actually more than works.
GCMcK Yes, it is first love and it is first works, the kind of works that come from first love.
PJW As typically perhaps in Jeremiah, “I remember for thee the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land not sown”, Jeremiah 2: 2. Would that connect with first love, do you think?
GCMcK Yes, I think so. And, again, that raises the whole question, Am I duller today than I was before? Have I declined in my affections? Most of us would have to say that often we do find that; but there can always be recovery. In the address to Ephesus it comes by way of repentance. Think of repenting of the fact that we do not love Christ as much as we used to, are not so active in zeal for Him! It becomes a moral recovery, does it not?
DJH There is a reference in the ministry I came across once, as to first love being developed affection for Christ. I was thinking, as you say, it is not declining but it is developing by experience with Him and communion. It develops, does it not?
GCMcK It does indeed. There is something in Mr Darby’s Letters (Vol. 3, pp.215, 216) as to developed affection, then he says ‘concentrated affection’. He makes the distinction that Christ forms them, your affections are formed round Him. It would suggest something of what we are speaking of.
I thought of reading earlier sections in Malachi but the brethren would know the general setting of the book. We might enquire as to how it is that this company of people here are so pleasing to Jehovah, “a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared Jehovah”. I wondered if we could look at the qualities that come out in these persons, and enquire as to how this appears in a time of declension.
RHB Does the background of declension make it more precious?
GCMcK Yes, I am sure it does, it makes the peculiar treasure shine all the brighter. Yet, it is not just that, because a peculiar treasure, as the footnote says, goes back to the scripture you quoted earlier, “my own possession”. It goes back to God’s original purposes and thoughts. So that is what is arrived at in some sense.
RHB I was just thinking that the prevailing conditions described here, in our own day would tend with us to put self first, and this portion so precious that you are speaking of might fail from our hearts. But they are a peculiar feature in the overcomer in such days (you referred to Philadelphia—“hold fast what thou hast”), clinging on and jealous as to what is available for the heart of Christ, in a day when that is becoming an increasing rarity, even among those that profess His name, do you think?
GCMcK Quite so. There must have been overcoming with these persons in Malachi, because they are quite different from all that was around, from the prevailing talk and behaviour. The features that marked them, (we often speak of this but we may get a fresh touch) were that they feared Jehovah, that is the first thing; they spoke often one to another, suggesting interest in the truth, you might say; then it says later on, “and that thought upon his name”. That is what is accredited to these persons; there must be much in that.
JW What would you say would promote the fear of God in us?
GCMcK I think that might go back to the time of our conversion. I think it has been said there must be a time in your life when, even for a moment, you face the prospect of a lost eternity; you understand what sin is and where it would take you apart from the mercy of God. As delivered from that through grace, and the work of Christ and faith, you would never forget that you have been delivered from a lost eternity. I do not think you can go on in a way that disregards God if that has come into your soul for a moment.
JW I think that is helpful. The malefactor says to his fellow, “Dost thou too not fear God … ?”, Luke 23: 40. Evidently he had come to that himself.
GCMcK Quite so. “There is no fear of God before his eyes”, Psalm 36: 1. What a thought that men should be in such a state. It would seem from what the priests and others were saying in Malachi, that there was no fear of God with them at all; they were defying and arguing with Him, contradicting Him; no fear of God there.
PM Is it maintained in the consciousness of the holiness of God? That is something that we grow in the appreciation of, is it not?
GCMcK That is an element that begins, I think, in the glad tidings. It comes in very early in Romans, “marked out Son of God in power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by resurrection of the dead”, Romans 1: 4. That is introduced at the very beginning, and it suggests that there might be a development of what holiness is; not only what sins are in their character, but what sin is, and how the holiness of God would resent it. What more would you say?
PM I wondered if it came into expression in those who spoke often together in the beginning of Luke. There was a holy atmosphere there.
GCMcK Yes, there was. What a remarkable view Luke gives us that there was an atmosphere and an area where the incoming of Christ could be rightly received.
DJW Simeon and Anna would be examples of what we are speaking of, two of such persons referred to in Malachi. Simeon was just and pious, expressing the appreciation he had of the babe as the Lord came in. Then of Anna, it says that she spoke of Him to those who waited for redemption in Jerusalem. They spoke often one to another. The conversation would have been about Christ, do you think?
GCMcK I think that is right, there is direct link. Now, was Simeon a priest? He is said to be a man in Jerusalem; the question is, is he a priest? The reason I am saying that is because the challenge in Malachi to a very large extent is as to priesthood. Now, I think Simeon was, if not a priest by tribe or by position, then he was one morally, in the way he takes Christ into his arms, and the way he blesses and addresses God. There is a priestly feature there, if not official, certainly moral. That links very much with those that feared Jehovah. The priesthood had broken down in Malachi, but there were essentially priestly features in these persons, would you say?
DJW That is right.
AJMcS Why exactly had the priesthood broken down, what was the problem?
GCMcK I am not sure if there is any special feature; breakdown and declension belongs to the first man, the fallen man. These persons had been brought back into the land, given special favour in being recovered from the captivity; they were recovered persons and yet they broke down. It makes it more serious, at any rate. Have you a thought?
AJMcS Well, in reading through these books recently I think there are two features that are outstanding the way that they did break down. One, of course, is materialism, quite clearly set out in Haggai; the other is wrong associations, for it is quite clear, particularly in Nehemiah towards the end, (in Ezra as well) that the priesthood had become involved in wrong associations, and the high priest particularly. I just wondered whether that is a salutary word for us. If we set ourselves for the things of this world then it will be vain for us to serve God. If we get ourselves linked up with wrong associations, whether it is socially or religiously, then the features of priesthood will break down with us, do you think?
GCMcK Yes, I think so. These are two of the greatest dangers that exist amongst us at the moment; one is that there is so much affluence, we are so well-off and we could use what God gives us materially for self-indulgence, and lose priestly tone. Also if there is a breakdown in separation there will be impairment; these most excellent things will begin to slip out of our grasp. What is for God will suffer. That is a great issue in Malachi, what had been offered. Is there a priestly state where what is offered to God is acceptable to Him?
CS Does it help to trace things back to their roots? Declension is characterised by unbelief, whether it be manifest in a tendency to drift towards materialism or anything else. Recovery is characterised by faith.
GCMcK Yes, declension means there is an inward darkening of vision, and it would relate to faith, as to how divine Persons are before us vitally. Recovery means that there is a resumption of a sense of relationship with divine Persons in a living faith. Something you can notice as to these persons in Malachi, is that the things that are said about them are the features that are commended in Phinehas earlier in the book. We could perhaps look at chapter 2, verse 5—“My covenant with him was of life and peace, and I gave them to him that he might fear; and he feared me, and trembled before my name”, Malachi 2: 5. Now these features reappear in those who are a peculiar treasure. They feared Him and they thought upon His name.
MM Were they persons that would typically be of one mind in the Lord?
GCMcK I think they would be. They spoke often one to another, and they would be in accord in their thoughts because everything was governed for them by the fear of Jehovah, and by what belonged to His glorious name. Thus I think the appearance amongst us of what is special for the heart of Christ involves an inward recovery, a priestly recovery, fearing God and thinking on His name. What would you say about “thought upon his name”?
RHB I think it bears on what you have been saying as to what in inward affecting what is outward, they thought upon His name. God saw that, did He not? He understands our thoughts afar off, and He Himself was an object to them. Is that the force of it? You have more in mind as to His name. It is not here the name of God as we know it now, is it? What was your thought as to that?
GCMcK What you say is right and helps us. His name includes what is due to Him, I suppose. We gather to the name of Christ, and that means that we have respect for all that is due to Him. In this book God has to say that He is a great king. He has to assert Himself as to how ill He is being treated by His people. But those that thought on His name would value His name, and would be zealous for what belonged to Him.
JW Would Phinehas, when he acted as he did jealously, be thinking of God’s name?
GCMcK Yes, quite so. What a blemish it was, not only on the people, but on the glory of God that His people should be so led astray by wrong associations, and in the direction of idolatry, which would really remove everything that is priestly. So Phinehas was a remarkable person; he is given this covenant of peace. It is interesting to trace it down; in Phinehas there is a line of priesthood that is especially faithful in scripture. There is a line of priesthood that is removed, Abiathar is set aside. Eli’s line in the priesthood does not continue, it is set aside, but you get a priesthood that goes right through. It comes right down from Eleazar through Phinehas, down to Zadok. You will find it in Ezekiel, for it runs right down to the descendants of Zadok in the millennium. There is a line of priesthood that goes right through, an element of faithfulness to God that is outstanding. Zadok stood faithful when Israel went astray. I think that is one of the appeals to us, whether there is going to be what is for God and for Christ now.
DJW I was wondering about the setting of these verses. In a day of small things and declension the enemy would suggest that it is wrong to serve God, of what profit is it that we should keep His charge. He would put those suggestions to us, do you think? Faithfulness would be that we may be just a few, but keeping His charge would relate to the sustaining of what is pleasing to Him in the places in which we have been set, do you think?
GCMcK It does not say how many these persons were but they were there, those that feared Jehovah, and spoke often one to another. It may have only been a little company, but the quality would be there, the fearing of God, the treasuring of His name and I think a priestly state, where the priesthood officially was in such declension. There was a priestly state, without the official side. I think that is necessary amongst us if there is going to be what is special for the heart of divine Persons.
AJMcS The action of Phinehas stopped the plague. So many of the children of Israel died at that time, and I thought there might be some link with what we have in Galatians, one or two links actually. Paul goes so far as to say as to those who troubled them, he wished they had been cut off because they were spoiling the truth of the gospel, and Christianity was almost gone. Also Paul withstood Peter to the face, not in order to speak disrespectfully of anybody, but in order that life might be preserved. That was like Phinehas’ action, to preserve the saints.
GCMcK Yes, the enemy is forever active and there is a need of that kind of priesthood, faithful priesthood. No matter if Israel goes astray there is a faithful priest. The continuance of things depends on the maintenance of that, and it is a practical and no doubt a suffering matter. It was a strange thing for a priest to do, to go with a javelin; it was not what, you might say, appears to be a priestly action, but it was, because it was what was necessary at the time. Well, if our affections are taken up with what is going to be for Christ, we might be prepared for these exercises.
Reading at Havering
16 December 2006
KEY TO INITIALS
R. H. Brown
G. C. McKay
D. J. Roberts
D. E. Burr
A. J. McSeveney
C. Smith
R. W. Flowerdew
A. Martin
D. M. Smith
J. S. Gray
Martin
J. Walkinshaw
T. J. Harvey
M. Matthews
D. J. Wright
D. J. Hutson
Q. Poore
J. Wright