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THE LAW OF THE HOUSE

I would emphasise the importance of right moral conditions among the people of God. There is a danger of moral conditions not being in keeping with the light and privileges that are ours. In these scriptures recovery is in view, and the people of God are called upon to take account of the divine pattern of the house as a standard by which to measure their conduct. They are reminded that God will never depart from His own standard of what is suitable to His dwelling-place.

We need to be constantly reminded at the present time of what is properly characteristic of the assembly; it is the place of God’s throne, where His rights a.re maintained; it is the place of the soles of His feet, where He walks; it is where God dwells in the midst of His people; and it is that with which His holy Name is connected. All this calls for exercise as to conditions which are suitable, because of the law of the house, which is that it is “most holy”.

The law of the house is the basis of all true assembly discipline. This involves indeed most serious heart searching before God for each brother and sister whenever the necessity for such discipline arises, but it is nevertheless obligatory on the saints to maintain the holiness of the house. There is perhaps a danger, sometimes, of confusing the law of the kingdom and the law of the house. The law of the kingdom—regulating us in our relations with one another—is that I forgive until seventy times seven. I always carry forgiveness in my heart, as in the sense of the way God has forgiven me in Christ, and Christ has forgiven me, see Eph 4: 32, Col 3: 13, and it is there to be called forth to any extent. But in the assembly it is a question of what is due to God’s holy Name, and the law of the house applies. All its statutes are to be kept and done.

In considering the Lord in manhood here, we get an impression of One in whom all that was morally suitable to God was found, so that the Holy Spirit descended as a dove, and abode upon Him. In the second chapter of John’s gospel we see Him, marked by zeal for God’s house, cleansing it of what was unsuitable. What had place there might have been of long standing and be regarded by some as convenient, but the Lord had no regard for considerations other than the law of the house. In Ezekiel 44 we see the serious results that may follow on unfaithfulness, and on the other hand the great compensation that accrues when true separation to God is maintained. The Levites who went astray after idols, though given a place as ministers in the sanctuary, having oversight at the gates of the house, are debarred from drawing near to God, and from the most holy things. On the other hand, those who remained faithful are given the holy privilege of drawing near to present the fat and the blood—their exercises have resulted in their becoming enriched with the true appreciation of the excellence of Christ and of His precious death, and with ability to present it acceptably. But here again the necessity for the maintenance of suitable moral conditions is insisted upon. They are to be clothed with linen, and not to permit anything that would excite the flesh. Practical righteousness and holiness are to characterise them completely, from the head downwards.

As thus maintaining true separation to God, not only in withdrawal from idolatrous systems of religion, but in suitable moral conditions in every sphere of life, we shall not only be able to take up acceptably the highest service Godward, but shall be able to distinguish between holy and profane, between unclean and clean, and to exercise right judgment, according to God, in matters of controversy. “They shall teach my people the difference between holy and profane ... And in controversy they shall stand to judge: they shall judge it according to my judgments”.

Substance of an Address — place and date not given

From Words of Grace and Comfort 1934

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