NOTES ON SCRIPTURE 1895 NO. 16
NOTES ON SCRIPTURE 1895 NO. 16
Here we have the christian’s character among men. In chapter 10 we get the christian’s place with God, in the holiest. In chapter 12 we get his prospects and [p. 59] possessions altogether outside this world. His first characteristic among men (chapter 13) is brotherly love. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another”. (John 13: 35) The more your heart realises that Christ has been rejected, and that He is not here, the more you care for everyone belonging to Him. Secondly, you are to be hospitable (verse 2). Thirdly, you are to be really considerate for your brethren, entering into their sorrows, if they are in prison or in adversity, seeing you are yourself also in the body. Marriage, God’s ordinance, is honourable. Let your conversation or intercourse among men be without the love of money, content with your circumstances, “for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”. The widow (2 Kings 4) learned that only a pot of oil, where there is faith, can supply more than is required. Many are cast down by their circumstances, instead of looking to God to use the little He has given to meet their need. “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”. This was the greatest favour vouchsafed to the Old Testament saint; it remains true to us, but there is also a much greater favour for us, that is having “part with me”. Christ truly has come to our side, but now He desires that we should go to His side. How few answer to His desire that we should have part with Him! In verse 7 the leaders are those who are gone before. In verse 17 the leaders are those who are present. “It is a good thing that the heart be established with grace”. Grace is the contrast to law and works. Grace is altogether apart from the man in the flesh, and every acknowledgment of the man in the flesh diverts you from the great supper, that is, from your portion in the Father’s house. “We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle”. To serve the tabernacle was religion after the law, your altar, your worship, indicates your place with God, you cannot rise higher than your altar. You may know every one’s state by his altar. Jacob at El-elohe-Israel is different from Jacob at Bethel. We are now privileged to come into the presence of God in company with Him who is a great Priest over the house of God, but as we are with Him there, we have to go forth unto Him without the camp here (the camp is any ordered system on the earth) bearing His reproach; instead of seeking or maintaining any position here, we are to be as unrecognised as He was. By Him we offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, praising God and doing good to men in general, and communicating to our brethren. Finally, obey them who guide you, because they must give account. There is no greater joy to a servant than to see souls prospering in the truth, while on the other hand, it is an ever-present sorrow to him when anyone is not thus prospering.