THE FLOOD AND THE ALTAR OF SWEET SAVOUR
THE FLOOD AND THE ALTAR OF SWEET SAVOUR
Your view of everything here ought to partake of that of Noah after the flood. The first thing, the altar of a sweet savour — one unbroken offering of praise, the preciousness of Christ intensified to your heart. Nothing is so acceptable to the Lord, as you see in the case of Noah.
[p. 28] So pleased was He with the expression of the fragrance of Christ from the hands and heart of His servant that thereon He makes new and most favourable terms with man, still as weak, and in nature as corrupt as ever. And herein we learn a principle of His way of acting with each of us individually. When we, after a night of storm or a time of exile in whatever form it may be, come to an end of all flesh, and each of us, believe me, has to come to it one day in some form or other; the flood must overtake every saint one way or another, and it never will be in an honouring way. If we after the flood, and when again on the land, occupy ourselves primarily and pre-eminently with the goodness of God, and His delight in us, not re-calling the past, or fearing the future, He will be so pleased that He will appoint new blessings and unbounded favour for us even in this scene; for “as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him” (Psalm 103: 13). He loveth to be gracious. The altar of burnt-offering — the presenting in one ever-continuing strain the fragrance and value of Christ is your work; mercy and favour are His answers to your work, and you will find it in everything as you delight yourself in Him. “Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart” (Psalm 37: 4). Lazarus is not only raised out of the dark prison of death, but he is freed from the grave clothes which bar his liberty, and then he sits at the table with Christ.
The Lord lead you to see how much He values your heart. “My son, give me thine heart” (Proverbs 23: 26), and the heart occupied with Christ commands every blessing from God, as it is said, “Because ye have loved me” (John 16: 27). You are now to render to Him the fruit of your lips, giving thanks to His name, and “this also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs” (Psalm 69: 31). With you the winter is over and gone, and now the singing time has come. The flood has passed, and the dove has the olive leaf in her mouth.