LOCALITIES YIELDING FOR DIVINE PLEASURE
J. G. Chalmers
Micah 5: 2; 2 Samuel 23: 15–17; Genesis 43: 34
We are in the day of small things. Bethlehem typifies the assembly in its local expression, and in Micah it is said to be ‘little’, yet the Spirit would not occupy us with its littleness but rather with what comes out of it for God. He would have our minds and affections rest on these words, “Out of thee shall he come forth unto me …” That refers, of course, to the actual incoming of the Lord Jesus, for He was born in Bethlehem. No human mind can compass the infinite delight that God found in that Babe, and in the life of Jesus in its absolute perfection and moral excellence. Our brother has reminded us of the oblation in Leviticus 2, the first part being for God and the remainder for the priesthood. What choice food for our souls! The Lord Jesus is now in glory and we are here, set in different localities, many small, none very large, and the Holy Spirit is actively operating that Christ should be formed and expressed in us, and that primarily is for the pleasure of God. It is a great matter then that, in days of such outward smallness, our localities can yield much that is precious to the heart of God as Christ in character is expressed in us.
In 2 Samuel 23 it is the same place, Bethlehem. David is in the cave of Adullam, with the Philistines encamped in the valley of Rephaim, and he longs for a drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem.
These three mighty men who break through and bring David water represent what has the character of an affectionate assembly response now. Christ is in rejection, and He feels it.
What is Philistine is entrenched in the public position, and He feels that too, the heartless formality of mere religion, so cold and unresponsive. He has great regard then for those places where there are faithful brethren, fully identified with Him in His reproach, walking in true separation and exercised to be marked by the moral features of the assembly. Such know the Spirit and the limitless resources in Him. As near to Christ, He imparts to them a sense of His longings, and they, in love for Him, are prepared to overcome every obstacle and draw upon the exhaustless depths of the Spirit’s resources to provide a fresh, living response in assembly affection to meet the longings of His heart. Surely He is worthy! The Lord Jesus really appreciates such response. Indeed, it is touching that what the saints provide is taken up and used by Christ in what is so precious to His heart, the service of God.
In Genesis 43 it is Benjamin, and there is a close link between Benjamin and Bethlehem, for he must have been born near it (see Genesis 35: 16–18). In Psalm 68: 27 he is called “little Benjamin”. He was like Joseph, having the same mother, and the place that he had in Joseph’s affections is indicated in his portion being “five times greater than the portions of them all”. He reminds us of the disciple whom Jesus loved. At times Joseph’s dealings with his brethren seemed rough, but he knew what he was after, that Benjamin should come to light. And so it is that at times Christ’s dealings with us seem to be severe, but His objective is that He should see Himself morally in us. Benjamin represents “He that overcomes”.
There is much to overcome today and as we consider what is held out to such in Revelation 2 and 3 there is great incentive to be overcomers. What is offered is like Benjamin’s portion. It says here that Joseph had portions carried to them “from before him”, which suggests to us that what we get is fresh, that with which the Lord Jesus is currently engaged, which becomes the food of those who are pleasing to Him.
Well, dear brethren, the days of reproach and smallness publicly will soon be over; the opportunity of ministering assembly-wise to the pleasure of God and the heart of Christ in a hostile world will soon be gone for ever, never to be repeated. May our concern be that our localities may yield increasingly for the pleasure of God, and may we have a deepening sense of the Lord’s approval in an abundant flow of spiritual food.
Word in meeting for ministry, Lossiemouth
20 September 1977