HANDFULS

F. C. Mutton

Leviticus 2: 1–3; Exodus 9: 8–10; Ruth 2: 15, 16

I just have a simple impression, dear brethren, really flowing from a chat with a brother yesterday in which he referred to the matter of a handful. It set me reflecting on this matter, which comes into Scripture, and I think, as you reflect upon it, it involves what is vital and essential. It is seen most preciously where we read in Leviticus 2, the priest presenting Godward what is spoken of as “his handful” of the oblation. This, of course, is the presentation Godward of our appreciation of the manhood of Jesus. Is it not remarkable that what will fill the universe and fill eternity can yet be related to one individual’s handful? So precious is the matter, so concentrated and so infinite in its holy preciousness and quality, that one handful can be presented Godward with infinite acceptance. I love this expression

“his handful”—“and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial thereof on the altar, an offering by fire to Jehovah of a sweet odour”. It is Christ as treasured in the affections and the holy minds of the saints. It is what goes up to God, we might say, through the hands of His people, “his handful”.

I would just like to leave this impression of how much the Father values your appreciation of Christ—“his handful”, your formed impression. It is something which is in my hand, something which, if it is not an unsuitable expression, I have a grip of, I have taken hold of it by the Spirit in

intelligence and affection and appreciation of Christ and, therefore, with priestly energy it can be presented with holy emotion and feeling Godward. This surely would be the principle of the service of God in which we merge. It must be, in one sense, what is individual, but then we merge and we are one, and yet each one bringing forward what is his in formed appreciation of Christ. Well, beloved brethren, I would love to rise to this priestly privilege more, including our daily communion and relations with the Father. It may be just an impression—a handful is not great in volume or quantity or maybe in time, it is just that outwardly small and yet essentially so rich and precious appreciation of Jesus, just a touch maybe from the Scriptures by the Spirit, just a thought—it might be something from a hymn going through the mind—and it is like this handful that goes up with infinite acceptance to the Father.

Then we have this same thought in a very different setting in the striking allusion in Exodus 9. Moses and Aaron were told to take handfuls of ashes of the furnace. It must relate to the understanding and appreciation in our measure of the death of Christ, the “ashes of the furnace”. The death of Christ is to affect us profoundly in our whole outlook and here it affects our outlook as to the world, as to Egypt, but, if I may say so just simply, it does not necessarily take a very profound impression of the death of Jesus to affect one’s outlook on the world, just a handful will do it, just some real, formed impression of what the death of Jesus means. Paul says, “the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6: 14), and it may be a young person’s impression of the cross and of the dying of Jesus that puts a certain moral stamp on the world as a place to which he does not belong and from which Christ has been rejected. How safe and preservative such an impression is!

So it says that these handfuls were taken “and let Moses scatter it toward the heavens … And it shall become fine dust over all the land of Egypt …”, as if for me now, in the light of the death of Christ, the fine dust is covering the world—that is, it is covered by the fact that it crucified the Lord of glory; it rejected my Saviour; the only thing it could give Him was a cross. That is enough to mark the world for the believer in its true character. Then also its true character emerges in these boils; the corruption comes out. Well, may the world be thus judged by us. Let us never forget that what characterises the world is the crucifixion of our Lord, it is “Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified”, Revelation 11; 8.

The last reference, in Ruth, relates to handfuls of provision. The Authorised Version, I think, says “handfuls of purpose”. The harvest was going on and here is a young believer earnestly following up the truth according to her measure, and Boaz, a type of Christ, gives commandment that she was to glean without being reproached or hindered, but not only that, they were deliberately to draw out for her some ears out of the handfuls, “and leave them that she may glean”. I feel sure that this is to enter into our comings together, dear brethren. There are those who are more advanced and mellowed and taught in the truth, and it is very much for them, I am sure; it is not that we would segregate the brethren, but do not let us ever forget these “handfuls of purpose” for those who are, shall I say?, just beginning to glean. I am sure the Lord would have this in His mind, and, indeed, I think this kind of meeting would have that character. It does not consist of

long addresses, it has the nature of “handfuls of purpose”, and, as we have prayed, the Lord would surely provide just what is needed for every stage of exercise and growth; but, on our part, may we be subject to the Lord because I think He would have us take care that in every occasion there are these “handfuls of purpose” that under His hand will cheer and build up and nourish and encourage even the youngest among us. May it be so for His name’s sake.

Amen.