NOTES ON SCRIPTURE 1895 NO. 41

NOTES ON SCRIPTURE 1895 NO. 41

1 Samuel 17: 57; 1 Samuel 18: 1 - 4; Luke 5: 4 - 11

In the type we see that it is not so much the work which David had wrought that occupies Jonathan, but David himself. Many believe in the work of Christ who are not in the fulness of His grace, because they have not come to Himself It is remarkable that all through Luke’s gospel, from the first announcement to the shepherds in chapter 2, on to the thief on the cross in chapter 23, the main point, the moment of assured blessing, is when the believer has come to Himself. Himself is the “good part” which shall not be taken away, and Himself is the “manifold more” for every loss in following Him. Peter was very exemplary in placing his ship at his Lord’s disposal and subject to His word. At Christ’s word he let down his net for a draught, and so great was the take that their nets were broken, and the ships so filled with fishes that they began to sink. Peter, instead of being entranced with delight at the great earthly favour shown to him, falls down at Jesus’ knees and says, “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord”. (Luke 5: 8) He realises that he is in the presence of God.

Now Peter had the two marks of a godly Jew; his conduct was excellent, and he was highly favoured by God. But he so felt his unfitness for Christ that he asked Him to depart from him. Peter has now come to Him, and the Lord says to him, “Fear not”; he now knows the heart of Christ, perfect love casts out fear. It is like Jonathan to David, but Peter does more than Jonathan did; he leaves all and follows Him. In the gospel the main point is that the man, the child of Adam, who had dishonoured God, is displaced by the Man Christ Jesus, who has glorified God where the child of Adam had dishonoured Him; and when this is absolutely known, you are in the fulness of the gospel of God.

There are three great steps. The first is Romans 3: 25, Christ is the mercy-seat; and as you believe in Him, have faith in His blood, you have forgiveness of sins, typified by Exodus 12. Secondly, you believe that God has raised Christ from the dead; now you are justified by faith, you are in the favour of God, and you have received the Holy Spirit. Thirdly, you have so appropriated His death, you are so cleared of ^[p. 89] the flesh in His death, that in His life you approach Him in glory; and you find that the nearer you come to Him, the more assured you are that there is a ministration of righteousness from the glory; that you can be in company with Him in glory, and then you are free from yourself. You are beside yourself; “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty”, (2 Corinthians 3: 17) and the effect of this is that beholding the Lord’s glory you are transformed into moral correspondence to Him; you are so far like Him. Thus you can see the importance of having the Lord, the Saviour, personally before your heart.