RECOVERY TO THE BEST

R. N. Hesterman

Isaiah 51: 1, 9–13; Malachi 3: 6–10; 1 Peter 2: 21–25

I was affected by the reference in our hymn to the faithfulness of our Lord Jesus amid departure and how the word of God would affect us with regard to our relationships with divine Persons and our preparedness to return to the way that God has called us to, a standard which is being upheld at the present time.

Chapter 51 of Isaiah, where we read, speaks of the remnant of Israel and I thought we could relate it to the recovery period in which we ourselves are. Verse 11 says, “So the ransomed of Jehovah shall return, and come to Zion with singing; and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads”. Those that follow after righteousness and that seek Jehovah are exhorted to “look unto the rock whence ye were hewn”. The purpose of God and His ways would come before us as we consider our present position. Are we intelligent as to how God’s purpose stands in relation to ourselves? I read from Peter’s ministry because it was to Peter that the Lord said,

“On this rock I will build my assembly”, Matthew 16: 18. Here in Isaiah it is to Israel, “Look unto the rock whence ye were hewn”. As a type it would point to the fact that we should be able to consider ourselves as, according to the purpose of God, called into the assembly of firstborn ones, being assured of our place.

There are many who have departed from the conscious enjoyment of this light, that is, of being part of the assembly. Peter as a recovered vessel

would be particularly feeling in the epistle as to such as had departed, that they might be brought back. Peter speaks as to certain ones who were going astray as sheep but now had returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of their souls. The appeal over the weekend has affected one as to our communion with divine Persons. The fact that many have departed, I think, is due to their relying upon men, fearing man. And that comes into our first scripture,

“I, even I, am he that comforteth you—who art thou, that thou fearest a man that shall die, and the son of man that shall become as grass?”

Well, the scripture in Isaiah encourages us that there will be a recovered remnant that will return to Zion and enter into God’s thoughts for Israel. The word in Hebrews is that there were many that fell in the wilderness on account of not hearkening to the word (Hebrews 3: 17). In the present day it is important that we take account of and consider the word that comes to us in its detail. Although in the Song of Songs it is the little foxes that spoil the vines, the word of God is calculated to affect us in the details of our lives. The standard of the truth has come down to us and has been set out for us in Paul’s ministry in detail.

To refer now to Malachi, God is appealing—“Since the days of your fathers have ye departed from my statutes, and have not kept them”. In our time it would refer to the details of the truth. The Lord speaks of His commandments in John, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14: 15). I think the key to being kept in the sphere of divine favour and the sphere of salvation is to attend to the commandments of the Lord, the details of the truth. It is when we neglect and depart from the good teaching that we tend to go astray.

Well, one would be mindful humbly that this truth certainly bears on oneself, but the appeal at

present is general, that there are many who have departed from the way that God has prescribed. What favour has been ours to have the gain of what has come down to us in the ministry. The turning aside has been through fear of man and the neglect of these details of the truth that are so important. In a time of recovery the appeal is to return. We carry exercises, but also have the responsibility to hold on to the truth to which we have been recovered.

Think of Nehemiah’s time when the wall of Jerusalem was broken down. Nehemiah, with a few men, committed themselves to building the wall in chapter 2. When we reach Nehemiah 12 it says in verse 43, “And the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off”. The appeal is to return so that we may prove the salvation of our souls as Peter speaks about it in his first epistle. But it is not only that, where I read in Malachi it is, “Bring the whole tithe into the treasure-house, that there may be food in my house, and prove me now herewith, saith Jehovah of hosts, if I open not to you the windows of the heavens, and pour you out a blessing till there be no place for it”. The sphere of blessing is in taking up our assembly privileges. The assembly, as we were recently reminded, is a vessel in which God is going on with complete thoughts, thoughts as to Christ, thoughts as to His purposes and counsels, and our portion with Christ before the Father. The note to “it” (Malachi 3: 10) is ‘a blessing, to superabundance’. One is affected, and may we all be rightly affected by the current departure.

Persons are really not taking part in the superabundance of blessing because they have diverted from the statutes of faith, from the details of Paul’s ministry. One thing leads to another; distance comes in as we neglect the features of the truth that are so precious and important in the Lord’s mind. Our communion with divine Persons is thus dimmed.

So it is not a return to a place first, but it is a return to God, to Jehovah, verse 7—“Return unto me, and I will return unto you”. As we respond to God’s word the fear of man is removed and we have God before us. God delights as He is thus provided with the basis to draw near to us. He would come in faithfully and give us to know consciously that nearness.

A sphere of blessing is our portion and we are caused to find our place in it. May we have every fear of man, and every obstacle, removed and move towards God so that He may come in from His side to lead us into the place where we may enjoy those blessings that He has in mind for us.

I just want to refer to Peter briefly. John at the end of his gospel relates how Peter was fully restored. He becomes a shepherd and a teacher. But I think we can view Peter as an example and as a comfort to our souls with regard to recovery in the practical working out of it. Peter had to go a certain route in order to be fully restored, and he is sure to lead you to the right Person and the right place. He says, “Ye ... have now returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls”. So may we find our strength in the true Rock, the Lord Jesus Christ. All our blessings are centred in Christ and He is the key to our present joy and salvation. Not only is our eternal destiny secured in Christ, but as we answer to the Lord’s word and frequent His presence we prove that He is the Overseer of our souls, as Peter tells us. That must have been his experience. The need for the salvation of our souls was brought to our attention recently and Peter would point to the assembly, such a sphere of safety. The assembly is where God finds His return, where we are offering spiritual sacrifices, as in the earlier part of the chapter,

“Acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2: 5). It is according to God’s great purpose that we might be brought into this service of offering spiritual sacrifices to Himself.

Today things outwardly are declining, but while there may be a general departure in Christendom we can see, as in the remnant of Israel, that God will have the final say. He will bring persons into blessing and the light of His thoughts for them. May we respond now so that we may come into the enjoyment and gain of it all. It is not only in the future that God will bring all to fruition, but I believe it is at the present time, as at the end of Luke, “They ...

returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God”. The final thought and objective in returning is that we return to give God glory. One cleansed leper out of the ten in Luke 17 returned to give glory to God. Well, may we also prove that there is salvation in returning to God, returning to the truth as it has been laid down in detail. There is also a place for us and a service that we ought to be engaged with, giving God what is rightfully due to Him. May the Lord bless the word, for His name’s sake.

Word in meeting for ministry, Plainfield
26 April 1983