ANSWER TO REPROOF
D.J.Hutson
We had before us at the weekend the matter of reproof, which comes in in the first verse that I have read, and one has been concerned of late, for oneself as much as for others, as to these occasions for prophetic ministry that we have week by week. It is a great privilege for us to be able to come together and to have many with whom we can walk in fellowship, walk together in the truth, and to have many vessels under the Lord's hand available to the Spirit that the word of God may be found among us. It is not so with all our brethren, as we know, for in the smaller gatherings it is not possible to have this occasion from week to week, or other occasions for that matter. We can easily, if I may speak for others, become so accustomed to these occasions, and occasions of fellowship in this city month by month, that we may be together without the exercise that we should be in in relation to the word, but just come that we may have a good time together, receive the word of ministry which may come to us to encourage us, or perhaps which we may feel is for some other brother and we hope he gets help from it.
Habakkuk was concerned as he looked forth to see what would be said to him, "what I shall answer as to my reproof''. I wonder if we are each one of us exercised as to what answer we give to the word that comes to us. It calls for an answer in us, each one. Again I say I speak as much for myself as for any, but it does call for an answer, and Habakkuk was exercised as to what he should answer as to his reproof when the word came to him. It says that Jehovah answered him: "Write the vision, and engrave it upon tablets, that he may run that readeth it"; so it is to be something which remains. We are thankful that that which comes among us is something which is to have a permanent place in, may we say, the library of the assembly, not something to be forgotten, although one is often challenged, if one were asked as to what we had before us, for instance, on this occasion last week. So it says that it is to be engraved upon tablets. Maybe that would connect with what the apostle speaks of as "fleshy tables of the heart", (2 Cor 3: 3), something that is written there indelibly and permanently with a view to a result; as it says: "that he may run that readeth it".
I just suggest that the answer that Habakkuk gave to his reproof is seen in chapter 3. Jehovah had spoken to him but now he speaks to Jehovah, he answers as to his reproof, and he says "I heard the report of thee, and I feared". It is right that we should do that; if the word of God comes to us it calls for a holy, reverent fear. The word of God brings us into the presence of the God whose word it is, and so it behoves us that we should be marked by this fear of which he speaks: "I heard the report of thee, and I feared". Then he goes on to speak to Jehovah as to the revival of His work in the midst of the years. How we can do that, for there is what we can thank God for in the way of recovery which is proceeding in other parts; but would this be our prayer, beloved, in answer to the reproof, in answer to the word that we have, that we might be promoting conditions among us in this city so that there might be a revival of the work of God among us? A revival in each one of us also so that we might be that little more quickened in relation to what the Holy Spirit has on hand at the present time, and that there might be conditions in which there might be seen the work of God in recovery in persons being brought in and added - increasing numbers available to the Lord in this city and in other parts, and maybe other places where as yet there is nothing established of assembly character. Surely the word would have this effect. The psalmist could say in that long psalm: "quicken me according to thy word", Ps 119: 154. That would be the reviving effect of the word of God as it comes among us, and we would lay ourselves open to it as we are rightly found in the fear of the God whose word it is.
And so it results in something with this prophet, and I would say again we are speaking of one man; it is just the prophet, just one person. It might be you, dear brother; it might be me; it might be you, dear sister, or another. It is just one person who is exercised to hear the word and to answer, and he is replying in this way, and it results with him in confirmation. Our brother who has just spoken has referred to the full assurance. Think of the assurance this prophet has, that whatever may be taken away, whatever the disasters, whatever the conditions of famine or whatever it be, he says "Yet I will rejoice in Jehovah". Here is a man who has the full assurance of faith and he is fully committed, and he says "I will joy in the God of my salvation". He goes on: "Jehovah, the Lord, is my strength, and he maketh my feet like hinds' feet, And he will make me to walk upon my high places". But then he says "To the chief Musician. On my stringed instruments"; that is, that what he had answered he now feels has a place in the service of song, has a place in the service of God, and he commits his answer to his reproof to the hand of the chief Musician. How it would be, beloved, that as we answer to our reproof, as we take heed to the word and as it brings about a result with us, we can commit it to the Lord so that it is available to Him that there might be a richer note under the hand of the chief Musician in the service of God. He says "On my stringed instruments". He is going to have his part in it himself, but then it is to be brought into assembly circulation, so that as I said, although this is one man who is waiting, concerned that he might give an answer, yet now the answer is given and a result is worked out in him, a result in this way in the furtherance of the knowledge of God, and now it is to be available under the Lord's hand in view of there being enrichment in the service of God in the assembly. I believe that this is what our concern should be, beloved, as we come to these occasions so frequently, that there might be an answer from us each one and that as a result the service of God might be enriched. In the Name of the Lord Jesus.
LONDON
22 February 1983