THE SONGS OF DEGREES - STEPS TO THE HOUSE OF GOD

^[p. 80] THE SONGS OF DEGREES — STEPS TO THE HOUSE OF GOD

As to the Songs of Degrees, I do not remember saying that there were seven steps. I think “degrees” should be translated ‘steps’. There are fifteen steps, and they describe the exercise of soul which the captives of Israel had before they reached the house of God. I think there is a voice to us in this day from them. The house of God is in ruin now, but every heart true to the Lord is set for reaching the place where His honour dwelleth. In the time of the captives there was the house in Jerusalem, and for us there is the house of God still on the earth.

But mark! In the time of the captives they were estranged from the house; they had to be extricated. The house was to be formed, but they had to pass through much exercise before they reached it. Now, in this day, the house has not to be formed, but we have to be extricated from the moral distance from it into which we have lapsed, and when we are thus extricated we are sure to find it. The assembly, which is the house, began with Christ’s rejection. It is the only spot on the earth where He is at home. He has been rejected, and He has taken His seat at God’s right hand, but He comes to His own — His own building, and there He teaches His own as to His interests here, while He — a greater than Moses, declares the Father, so that we are made acquainted with His things, and the holiness which becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever. It is not heaven, but we are in the presence of Him who is supreme, above all the evil here, and the true Peter (or stone) passes from the natural side of things here to the other side of death to join Him in the assembly where He is in our midst. We do not join Him merely as our Saviour; that He was here, but as the Son of God — Son over God’s house; otherwise we reduce the assembly to a believer’s meeting.