THE NEED OF THE MOMENT
[p. 515] THE NEED OF THE MOMENT
It is in the light in which this meeting is held that I ventured to read this scripture, remembering that the local assembly has proved her place in the service of ministry. In 1 Corinthians 1: 2 that assembly is addressed as “the assembly of God which is in Corinth”, meaning that it is the local company that is in mind. Corinth being a city, a city in which the Lord appeared to Paul the apostle and said, “No one shall set upon thee to injure thee; because I have much people in this city”, Acts 18: 10. The Lord indicated, therefore, that He was singling out Corinth as a city in which He should have an assembly, and it should be large. There were gifts in that assembly according to the first chapter, and God had set them there; moreover, it is said in chapter 12, before the matter of gift is mentioned, that no one could say, “Lord Jesus”, unless in the power of the Holy Spirit. Thus the assembly there was signalised by the presence of the Spirit in it, and the Spirit would make much of the Lord Jesus. He would say, “Lord Jesus”, in those who were ministering. Then again, it is suggested in chapter 14 that if the whole assembly should come together in one place, room should be made for prophetic ministry, the prophets were to be free to speak, for God had set them in the assembly. The order in which the gifts were set there is apostles, prophets, teachers, and so on, so that the assembly was properly furnished for the exercise of ministry, and, of course, ministry was and is for the edifying of the body of Christ; clearly not to make much of any minister especially, but to edify the body of Christ, “until we all arrive at the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, at the full-grown man, at the measure of the stature of the fulness of the Christ”, Ephesians 4: 13.
[p. 516] Now in the light of all these facts, I ventured to read these verses in 2 Chronicles, because they furnish opportunity to call attention to a section of Scripture that is freighted with spiritual power, with spirituality, and with personality distinguished by God in His testimony. It is the beginning of the second book, the first book closing with an account of the end of David’s reign. According to 1 Kings, David was enfeebled by age, but evidently in the closing chapters of the first book of Chronicles he has been strengthened specially by God, and we are reminded in this of God’s special interest in those who minister the truth to the saints, as is said here, “thy great people”; not that the Spirit of God would eulogise the saints specially, but if He says “thy great people”, He refers to them in an abstract sense; that is, as those who are born of God, redeemed by the blood of Christ, and indwelt by the Holy Spirit; they are, therefore, great.
David was evidently strengthened of God to speak to them at this juncture. The first book, as I said, gives us the closing ministry of David. He is there recorded as having died, and certain ones wrote his life, showing how important a minister he was. It is said, “Now David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. And the time that he reigned over Israel was forty years: he reigned seven years in Hebron, and he reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem. And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour; and Solomon his son reigned in his stead. And the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer; with all his reign and his might, and the times that passed over him, and over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the countries”, 1 Chronicles 29: 26 - 30. Thus, according to the way Scripture presents the facts, he was the most distinguished [p. 517] than up to that time who had reigned in Israel, and in his closing remarks recorded in 1 Chronicles 29, he speaks of God as the Head; it is a very remarkable thing that he should speak thus of God. We speak of Christ as the Head, which is right, of course, for He is Head of the body, the assembly; but David spoke of God as Head, and in this way enriched the remarkable address that he made to God in the sight of all the people. And so, as I said, the section affords great richness. Anyone who has read it, that is to say, the closing chapters of the first book and then the opening chapters of the second, which speak of Solomon, will know that what I say is true, that we are dealing with one of the richest sections of Scripture, and I believe that it is in keeping with the facts here tonight to say that we have recently come through a time marked by peculiar richness of fellowship and ministry.
So I am encouraged to refer to all this, that the dear brethren may be encouraged, especially all the young men who are here. I do not speak of the young women, because I am speaking rather for the moment of gift, having in mind the importance of gift. It is said in Ephesians 4: 7, “But to each one of us has been given grace according to the measure of the gift of the Christ”. But then there are specific gifts to which I have already referred, that is to say, “some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some shepherds and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints; with a view to the work of the ministry, with a view to the edifying of the body of Christ”. So that as I said, the young men are in mind in this word. There are old men here, of course, and David represents the old. He dies, for God has a right to His children and God is taking him even as He took Enoch. But David, representing the old men, was not jealous of his son. He knew from God Himself that Solomon was to reign [p. 518] in his stead, and he had no jealousy in his heart towards him. That is a matter also that all young brethren should be concerned about, that they may not in any way be jealous about their elder brethren.
To confirm what I say, I refer now to the second book of Kings which presents to us the successor of Elijah, that is Elisha. It is said, Elisha poured water on the hands of Elijah (2 Kings 3: 11), which would mean that he was not at all jealous of his great superior who was taken to heaven. He aspired to be like Elijah, but he was not jealous of him. He poured water on his hands, so as to make his ministry better, and that is the spirit that should lay hold of all the young men here; not to be jealous in the least degree of the elder, but if possible to render their ministry more effective in their old age, because old age has its advantages. It has its disadvantages, as most of us who are old know, but it has its advantages; that is to say, it has the advantage of experience, experience with the brethren, experience with God too, which would mark the twenty-four elders in the book of Revelation. That thought is taken from David. It was he who inaugurated the idea of twenty-four in the courses of the Levites and the priests and the workers of all kinds under his rule. They were divided into twenty-four courses in general, and that was to facilitate and to implement their service. It is a most important section in that sense, because it leads into the book of Revelation, which is the closing book of the New Testament, in which David has a peculiar place, the Lord Himself referring to him, speaking of Himself as He that has the key of David, showing what a place David had in the divine mind. In the end of that book the Lord says, “I am the root and offspring of David”. That is to say, He was greater than David, as the root of David, but then He was the offspring of David, and therefore David comes in for a great place, as indicated [p. 519] in what is said about him in this section of Scripture, in the books of Chronicles.
Now as to youthfulness. In the twenty-third chapter of the first book it says, “And David was old and full of days; and he made Solomon his son king over Israel. And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites. And the Levites were numbered from thirty years old and upward; and their number, by their polls, man by man, was thirty-eight thousand. Of these, twenty-four thousand were to preside over the work of the house of Jehovah; and six thousand were officers and judges; and four thousand were doorkeepers; and four thousand praised Jehovah with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith. And David divided them into courses according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari”, 1 Chronicles 23: 1 - 6. These are features of David’s government, David’s service in Israel. He was an old man, and knew he was to be replaced by his son. Earlier he had had in his mind to build the house, and Nathan said to him, “Do all that is in thy heart; for God is with thee”, 1 Chronicles 17: 2. But Nathan spoke too fast, for Jehovah intended to set up Solomon instead of David. David, hearing this, was quite subject, and now he is ready to make his son, Solomon, king in his stead. This is to say, we have David and Solomon together on the throne, showing that there is no thought of rivalry, which is one of the most baneful things that can be amongst us, especially in ministry. The old and the young are to serve together, and the young are to implement the service of the old in due course.
And so, dear brethren, I have been encouraged as I said, to read from this section, because it brings out David in this peculiar light, in this peculiar way in which God would honour him. He honoured him in a degree more than any before him, but Solomon [p. 520] even more; that is to say, David had to take account of this, but yet he made Solomon his son king. “And David was old and full of days; and he made Solomon his son king over Israel”. So that he and Solomon were on the throne together. It is to bring out the unjealous attitude of a spiritual man, and that is the point that is in one’s mind. There are the elder brethren here, and we are thankful, too, for the young ones. I can see from where I am standing a great many faces of young men. There is a great need for them, and much room for them, and the elder ones are not at all jealous of them; they are making way for them. But, at the same time, the elder have to be supported, and that is how Elisha supported Elijah, in that he poured water on the hands of the prophet. He would implement his service by refreshing him, and that is the point that is in one’s mind.
So we get now in this passage in the second book this wonderful prayer, as if God is being honoured by Solomon. He said to Solomon, “Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said to God, Thou hast shewn unto David my father great loving-kindness, and has made me king in his stead. Now, Jehovah Elohim, let thy word unto David my father be firm; for thou hast made me king over a people numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me now wisdom and [p. 521] knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this thy great people?”. Now God is above and Solomon is below, but Solomon has it proposed to him by Jehovah that he should ask, and that is the point that I would make now, so as to make much of the opportunities of prayer. The need is great and wide, and the labourers are comparatively few, and there is therefore room; and God is ready to give. “Ask, and it shall be given you”. And so here, Solomon made this remarkable prayer: “Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge, this thy great people? And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thy heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of them that hate thee, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked for thyself wisdom and knowledge, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king, wisdom and knowledge are granted unto thee”, 2 Chronicles 1: 10 - 12.
Now that is my advice in closing as to all these dear young brethren who are here. The thing is to ask of God whatever is needed, “ask of God, who gives to all freely and reproaches not” (James 1: 5), because of the need. The first thing is to find what need there is, and then seek to meet it, and God will not fail to give us the gift that is required. “Desire earnestly the greater gifts”, we are told. Why not have the greater gifts? God has them and has furnished them. I believe the Spirit has brought them all down here, and they are to be distributed as they are needed, and it is a question therefore of calculating what the need is, and then asking of God. Ask of God what will meet the need as you see it, and then be doing; that is the idea.
And so, as I was saying, God says, “Wisdom and knowledge are granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches and wealth and honour, such as [p. 524] none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall any after thee have the like”. A great opportunity is open to us. I have been in this country now for a considerable time, and I have seen great evidence of interest among the saints, more than I have ever seen before, and it is a great encouragement and stimulation. I am speaking, not to myself or the elder brethren, but to the younger ones, so that, dear brethren, as discerning the need that is evident, we may ask God for what will meet [p. 522] the need, because a great work is opening up to us. I might mention South Africa, where I have been also, for the work of God is progressing in all these countries, to say nothing of Europe and America, but now I am just speaking of these southern countries. There is a great work in progress and there is a great need for workmen, and the Lord would thrust us into the field. I am not saying that we should give up our employment; I do not believe we should. I am rather hesitant about that. I have not done it myself, and I believe, generally, young men are safer at their employment, but they should seek to see what is needed and apply themselves to the work, and the Lord will give them understanding and what is needed in the way of gift and ability.
One was encouraged to speak in this admonitory way, dear brethren, to suggest something that I see is needed, and that is for the young men to get to God and find out by discernment, by prayer and watchfulness, what is really needed amongst the saints. There is a great people in these southern countries. Are they properly cared for? Is there enough ministry? Is there example, for that is, perhaps, the most needful thing of all, example for others as to what is right, and especially in the matter of discipline, how discipline is to be carried on; for it was the way of God, I believe, from the days of Enoch, the seventh from Adam, that there should be discipline. His name signifies discipline, and the thought that is before one is that we should seek to know how to carry on discipline. David knew how to do it. He was, as I said, a ruler. He reigned forty years, which is remarkable; and we are told where he reigned. We are told too, the number of children he had, and so forth; so we are to learn from example, from what we see in him. Now Solomon has replaced him. He is set on the throne,
[p. 523] and David has gone, the Lord having taken him, and Solomon elects to pray to God. God says, ‘You had better ask, Solomon. Ask!’ The Lord says in the gospels, “Ask, and it shall be given to you ... knock, and it shall be opened to you”, Luke 11: 9. In that wonderful chapter He says if we ask the Father He gives us the Holy Spirit. “How much rather shall the Father who is of heaven give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” Think of the magnitude of that gift! You may say, That is for young people; but it is a matter of the ability we should have for ministry, as well as for the young people. Young brothers and sisters, of course, need the Holy Spirit, and that is one of the first questions that should be asked of young people wishing to come into fellowship, ‘Have you received the Holy Spirit?’ But if you are to serve in the ministry, it is supremely important that we should ask, and be sure that we have the Holy Spirit, not merely as a theory but as a fact.
So at Ephesus, one of the greatest fields Paul laboured in, he said to the twelve men, “Did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye had believed? And they said to him, We did not even hear if the Holy Spirit was come”, Acts 19: 2. They say that they did not know. So we must be on our guard that we are not ignorant of what is needed in the service of God, and be sure that we have the Holy Spirit, with all the wealth that comes in in this connection. Jehovah says to Solomon, “Because this was in thy heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of them that hate thee, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked for thyself wisdom and knowledge, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king: wisdom and knowledge are granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches and wealth and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall any after thee have the like”.
So I close with these thoughts, dear brethren, and again refer to what I have said, that there is the need of ability for service, the need of instruction in discipline, and first how to discipline myself. That is the first thing to learn, how to discipline oneself, how to keep oneself right, and then to be an example to others. As Paul says to Timothy, “Faithful men such as shall be competent to instruct others also”, 2 Timothy 2: 2. There is a need, not only of being instructed oneself, but of instructing others, that we may be able to impart something in the way of teaching or instruction to our younger brethren and sisters.
I now refer to the sisters, because they are needed, and one has often questioned why it is that we have no gift among the sisters. Philip the evangelist had four daughters who prophesied, and while I have often spoken of this I repeat it, as I feel it is necessary now to bring it forward, that there is very little, if any, gift among the sisters. Yet there was gift at the beginning, and the women are told in 1 Corinthians 11 what to do if they are praying or prophesying; they are to keep their heads covered. That is a remarkable chapter. Before we come to the truth of the Lord’s supper we have the thought of headship. It says, that every woman praying or prophesying is to have her head covered. Well, one may say, that is nothing at all; but it is something. What God enjoins is something and cannot be ignored, and if we ignore it we shall never prophesy. What flows out from it is gift, and I am only just mentioning, I might say hesitatingly, the thought of sisters having gift; but why not? If they had it at the beginning why not now? I put that question, why not now? The Spirit of God is here, and I verily believe He has brought all the gifts with Him from heaven.
“[p. 525] Having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which ye behold and hear”, Acts 2: 33. It was a question of gift, and those persons were used to convict people, who recognised them as those who had knowledge. They enquired from the other apostles, as well as Peter, and they said, “What shall we do, brethren?” Peter is ready to tell them what to do.
So, dear brethren, I would urge all to get these matters well in hand, that is to say, the instruction that is needed in service that is open to you. “Whatever thy hand findeth to do, do with thy might” (Ecclesiastes 9: 10), and the Lord will be with you.