NOT EVIL SPOKEN OF
D.E.Burr
I have been impressed by these two references in this passage, that evil should not be spoken of, firstly as to the word of God and secondly as to us. Whoever the 'us' may be at any time would not quite be the point. We are not saying it applies to those present, those we are in fellowship with and not to others, but it certainly does apply to us, it applies to those with whom we walk. So that we can look at this scripture as giving us a word for the present time, that as far as we are concerned the word of God and the testimony as committed to us should not be evil spoken of. Now all the detail in the passage is to that end. There is much here that we could speak of, item by item, but the point is that we are to be maintained in it, that the word of God and ourselves may not be evil spoken of. Now in a sense that is negative. There is a sense in which it is happier to do things, to believe things, to behave in a way because it is right in itself, because of a love of doing what is right, what is characterised by righteousness and holiness, as has already been referred to. But if we cannot be maintained on that level, beloved brethren, we can be maintained, if we will bear the word, as to doing what is right in order that evil may not be spoken.
Now there are plenty of people about who would speak evil; who would speak evil of the word of God and who would speak evil of us; but Paul anticipates that in his word to Titus, that we are so to conduct ourselves that we should be in our manner of life and our testimony those that cannot be evil spoken of. The word of God is extensive; it includes mainly the Scriptures, but then what God may say at any time. The preaching going out week by week has that character and the word of God is thus amongst us; if it is there it is to be upheld and not evil spoken of. So that we each here are responsible, and our brother and sister as setting out on a new pathway take up this kind of responsibility. They may not have embarked on that path with this in view, but nevertheless, as having embarked on it, by obligation this falls to their lot, to see that the word of God and the testimony are not evil spoken of.
Marriages sadly sometimes become occasions when what can be spoken evil of enters in; we have to acknowledge that. There are other marriages to take place, if the Lord will, during this year and we do not want them to be an occasion when what is evil can be spoken of. But as found in the truth and as setting out from this standpoint our brother and sister have added responsibility in asking for this type of meeting and in hearing the word of God for the occasion; they have the responsibility of bearing the word that is given and of maintaining it. God will bring us back to these things and we are thus entrusted with the maintenance of what is right and commendable in every way. So that as starting out in this way of life our brother and sister have it laid upon them that their way of life is to be such that the word of God and the testimony, as far as they are concerned, cannot be evil spoken of.
There is perhaps no need to go into the detail; my saying anything about it will not add to it. The passage does not deal with gift or relative abilities and standings, but we have elder men addressed, elder women, young women, younger men addressed. That would take us all in, everybody of responsible years, that there is a word here for you and you can read it, you can study it, find out what it is, and it is a word of direction into a path of sobriety, a path of separation from the world, a path of having regard to the word of God and of being related rightly at all times to the brethren. "That he who is opposed may be ashamed": persons may look for discrepancies, look for a difference between what we say and what we do, how we comport ourselves when we are together and at other times, what any may allow in their homes, and so forth. "He who is opposed", who is looking for these things, is not to find them. Maybe he will find what is right, what is commendable; and as looking round, even though he be looking for faults, for trouble, for difficulties, he will have to say that he can find no evil thing to say about us.
Well, beloved, this is practical. Each one of us is to see that this level of things is maintained and to realise the quality, the sacredness, the value, of what has been committed to us. It has been committed to us in view of preservation, in view of maintaining the truth at the highest level. If there is evil which can be spoken of it is because one of us has given occasion for it. I commend these thoughts to all, to our brother and sister before us in particular, that they may be devoted and addicted to what carries with it a divine commendation. For His Name's sake.
LONDON
15 May 1976
AT A MARRIAGE (ii)
HOUSEHOLDS
D.L.Stewart
Leviticus 23: 15-22; 1 Timothy 3: 4,5
It is understood that this section in Leviticus represents the present dispensation, the greatest of al! dispensations. In the previous section we have the wavesheaf which relates to Christ personally in resurrection and all that is secured in Himself uniquely for the pleasure of God That is followed by the fifty days which refers to Pentecost. What we have in the verses read is the suggestion of the greatest possible wealth that is for God's pleasure and service. The seven yearling lambs without blemish and the young bullock and the two rams for a burnt-offering, along with the sinoffering and peace-offering, speak of what is connected with this day in which we have part. I do not want to dwell on the details but in verse 22 we have working out amongst the saints a time of mutual joy and happiness and wealth, the ability to bring in care when it is needed, the heart that would go out to the stranger; and these things are meant to be secured in a practical way in our day .
I think it would be right to say that what comes to light in this whole section, what comes out in this dispensation, is connected with the dwellings or households of the saints. The Acts of the Apostles would confirm the importance of households. The offerings that are to be waved before Jehovah are to be waved with the two wave-loaves of the firstfruits which come out of the dwellings of God's people. Much depends upon individual exercise, but so much depends upon the exercises of our households. It is a challenging word for us all. Our young brother and sister with us in this occasion indicate the start of a household, a new household. We might say they get a good start. The exercise is to maintain things in view of something for God coming out of this household. Divine Persons are interested, and also saints here and in the city and part of the city where the new household is to be; all are concerned about this matter.
Now it does not say whose household these loaves came out of; it is left for every one to take up this exercise. It does speak of them being of two tenths of fine flour, like the meat offering which refers to Christ Himself, that kind of humanity which is marked by even conditions. This is the fine flour which is to be found in our households. What a challenge that is for any household because all of us would have to admit and confess that things in households tend at times to be somewhat uneven. The fine flour of the oblation was priestly food and that is the kind of food, speaking of Christ in manhood, that is to be found in an exercised household. It would be the result of discarding the features of every other kind of man and giving Christ His true place. So there needs also to be the action of the fire to nullify the working of the leaven of sin.
This brings home to us the need for knowing how to conduct one's house. This section in 1 Timothy 3, dealing with overseers and ministers, is a word to the head of the house. There is a double reference in this chapter to "conducting his own house well". The Lord is greatly interested in how our houses are conducted. It requires strength and manhood and grace and wisdom and patience, all this and more enters into it; but the great thing that the apostle is setting before us is to conduct one's house well. Our brother needs to take this on. There are young people here, and a time like this reminds us of taking on responsibility. It makes a tremendous difference in a young brother's life when he faces up to things and takes on responsibility, becomes a man, has "done with what belonged to the child" (1 Cor 13: 11) and begins to develop in manhood according to God, manhood that would conduct the house according to God's thought. What a thing it is to have such a house in this scene, with all the deterioration that marks things in this world. The apostle's concern here is about conducting one's house well, and knowing how to do it. The Lord as Head is ever available as the source of wisdom and help. This chapter speaks about the assembly of God, and about taking care of it down here, and the great concern of all our hearts would surely be to have part in this. The exercise of conducting one's own house and doing it well is indicated as the way of real progress in this. It was said of the Lord Jesus when He was here, "He does all things wall" (Mark 7: 37); and He would have us all, and He would have our young brethren start from to-day, to take on responsibility and have things done well in regard of the house, for His Name's sake.