"A VEIN FOR THE SILVER"
David Duthie
The book of Job has been referred to as the textbook of creation. In it many things are spoken about that are not even touched on in Genesis. Also, whereas the Psalms have the Jew primarily in mind, Job has more the Gentile, and therefore it must bear some relation to ourselves in the present time. The verse read speaks of "a vein for the silver". No doubt this would be literal, one of the proven facts of creation, but God also uses creation to indicate what is in His mind; He certainly did to Job. Therefore I seek help to speak in a moral and spiritual way of the silver vein, which might suggest redemption and its scope. But before I do I would like to say a little as to the Redeemer. Job also spoke of the Redeemer; he says "I know that my Redeemer liveth, and the Last, he shall stand upon the earth" (chap 19: 25), "the Last" being a divine title (see Rev 22: 13). Job speaks of it in the sense that it was future. For him this was the case, but how much he understood what he said I could not say, only that he knew it. Now we do not speak it in the same sense. We can speak from the point of view that the Redeemer has indeed stood on the earth and by His standing on the earth He has been marked out as one distinguished above every other man. Beloved, how distinguished Jesus is!
As to the manner of His coming into manhood, into a body prepared for Him, the angel's testimony declared that ''the holy thing ... which shall be born shall be called Son of God", Luke 1: 35. The Redeemer has to be one who had absolutely no part in any liability. Every other man was part of a fallen race and added to the guilt. Jesus in holiness was apart, yet being who He was, and in the condition into which He came, He was equal to and qualified to redeem. When He actually came all heaven was aglow and in rapture; "Glory to God in the highest", the angel said, "and on earth peace, good pleasure in men", Luke 2: 14. Never before had there been such a moment. Again, after thirty years of mostly secret history in which He grew in favour with God and men, He moved out and identified Himself feelingly and sympathetically with the godly remnant. How beautiful! How the quality and character of that humanity shone, finding heaven's approval! The genealogy in Luke's gospel goes back to Adam, thus establishing, on the principle of grace, the fact that the Lord Jesus was related to all men. When He began to preach in the synagogue in Nazareth He was distinguished there also; it says that they ''wondered at the words of grace which were coming out of his mouth", Luke 4: 22. This, as so many other instances in the life of Jesus, shews that as Redeemer He was not only equal and qualified but He was also willing. The gospel is presented that this glorious Person, the One whom Job spoke about as "my Redeemer", may become yours. In dying He "by the eternal Spirit offered himself spotless to God" (Heb 9: 14), pleasing to the last moment when God chose to make His soul an offering tor sin. God chose through that precious death to work out redemption. Atonement was made, redemption's price was paid in the shedding of that precious blood. In resurrection He was selected, raised up from among the dead by the glory of the Father, and now - He has entered into heaven itself. From this position of highest exaltation and in virtue of His glorious accomplished work the "vein for the silver" of which Job spoke has now been opened up. I suggest that it is to be located in Romans 3: 24.
Earlier on in that epistle man's responsible, guilty condition is shown and he is under charge. God then brings forward what He has secured in Christ, what is available for faith to lay hold of: "being justified freely by his grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God has set forth a mercy-seat, through faith in his blood". Redemption is in Him and involves that every charge has been fully met. For the believer all is cleared, he is forgiven, justified, and that freely: what an offer on Gods part! As it is traced through, the vein tor the silver again appears in Ephesians 1: 7. Redemption there places the believer in the area of God's purpose where all the blessings in God's heart of love are to be known. How precious the knowledge of being accepted in the Beloved, and of knowing God's favour! That is what the younger son in Luke 15 was brought into, he was lost and he was found. I would venture to say that the finding involved the work of redemption, he was brought back. In being brought back he was clothed in the best robe, the ring was put on his hand, shoes on his feet, and the fatted calf killed. Out of the fulness of his heart God is ready to share what He has found for His own satisfaction; the word is, Let us eat and make merry. Furthermore, the vein for the silver continues and is again seen in verse 14 of that chapter. There it has to do with the redemption of the body: how precious!
The love of Christ is such that it will not be satisfied until it has its objects in conditions of glory, the redemption of the acquired possession. This we await as Romans 8: 23 tells us. The believer awaits transformation when he will have a body like unto Christ's body of glory. In the meantime the Holy Spirit is available for present enjoyment and help. Paul says "in whom also, having believed" (that is in Christ) "ye have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the earnest of our inheritance". As I understand it, the sealing is tor God, the earnest is for the believer, and as is referred to elsewhere in Scripture, the anointing is for testimony (see 2 Cor 1: 21,22 ). The work of Christ has brought all these blessings within the range of humanity and they are held out tonight tor the acceptance of faith. The word in Revelation 5: 9 acclaims the Lord Jesus as the One who has redeemed to God by His blood out of every tribe, and tongue, and people and nation. How glorious is the Redeemer and how extensive His work in redemption!
May each and every one of us tonight grow in appreciation of the Redeemer. May each one know what it is to locate tor themselves the "vein tor the silver" and may the Lord Himself be pleased to use the word to this end, and for His own glory.
EDINBURGH
1993
PRAYER
1 Thessalonians 5: 17,18; James 5: 13
Pray without ceasing, pray!
God's throne's a throne of grace.
His power exceeds the greatest needs
Of those who seek His face.
In everything give thanks,
E'en when the heavens seem brass.
The Father's love is e'er above
Whatever comes to pass.
If one should suffer ill,
His sickness find no balm,
Then let him pray and in this way
His prayer begets a psalm.
But persevere in prayer,
This is our subject part,
Though our request may have to rest
'Till God has searched the heart.
In Spirit we must pray,
And ne'er repeat in vain.
The Saviour's name God's ear must claim
And thus our cause maintain.
Then prayer will turn to praise,
And praise to worship lead.
God justified, hearts satisfied,
For we have met His need.
PRAISE
Praise without ceasing, praise
The Saviour for His love;
'Tis He who came His own to claim,
And holds them there above.
He found us in our sins,
And suffered for them all
On Calvary's tree, so that we're free
To answer to His call.
Our calling is from heaven,
We know the Christ as Head,
In glory bright He dwells in light,
Who suffered in our stead.
Our Lord will come again
To earth where once He trod.
Like Him we'll be - the Firstborn He.
All glory to our God!
J.C.Evershed