SPIRITUAL DIGNITY
[p. 282] SPIRITUAL DIGNITY
(Summary of Reading)
Our thought is to consider the spiritual dignity in which God would have us appear here in the power of the anointing. The verses we have read suggest spiritual stability and dignity, and these two things are essential to our being here in any way as representative of God.
Anointing has a great place in Scripture. We find the first reference to it in Genesis 28: 18, where it is stated that Jacob poured oil upon the top of the pillar. Thus it is evident that the house of God was to be characterised by the anointing. It is first presented from the divine side, Aaron himself being anointed without blood, and the tabernacle was also anointed with him; Leviticus 8: 10 - 12. This anointing of the priest, also of the king and prophet, of which we read later, presents Christ in three official positions. Thus we see in type how Christ was anointed according to the thoughts of God. In becoming Man He was anointed with the Spirit and came out here in holy dignity. God has also, in the unfolding of His thoughts, shown us that He would have a people here clothed with the dignity suggested in the anointing.
What an immense field is opened up for our consideration in connection with Christ as anointed of God and occupying these three official positions in divine dignity! The personal dignity of Christ is presented in Hebrews 1, and then we read in Hebrews 2: 3, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him?” The Lord Himself is the Speaker, and the anointing shows his personal dignity: “God, even [p. 283] thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows”. Hebrews 1:9.
The divine thought in anointing the tabernacle and all that was in it, also the altar and all its utensils, and the laver and its stand, is unfolded to us in Christ. Moses sprinkled of the anointing oil on the altar seven times. The altar typifies Christ as the One who should suffer. It indicates the moral power and dignity that marked Him in suffering. God’s thoughts of Christ personally are unfolded before that which typifies His death and God’s drawing near to us in Him is spoken of. It is well for us to cherish the divine thoughts of His moral dignity. It is said of the olive tree that by it they honour God and man; Judges 9:9. It was due to God that He should have the first place, and the Lord Jesus took the place of dependence here for the glory of God. When Jesus was baptised and was praying, the heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on Him. He stood up in the synagogue in Nazareth as the anointed Man and at once referred to the prophecy of Isaiah, thus clearly showing that He would not speak in His own name but as anointed of God and taking the position of man in dependence on God. Thus God is honoured by the Lord Jesus from the outset of His ministry but man is also honoured as being found in his right place of subjection to God. The words which proceeded out of His mouth were, therefore, in keeping with the anointing; they wondered at the gracious words though their hearts were not affected. They were not prepared to hear the truth from His lips but led Him unto the brow of the hill where on their city was built, that they might cast Him down headlong. Here we see what is involved in the thought of the altar being anointed seven times. The altar being thus anointed was to call attention to the moral greatness of the Person of Jesus as the suffering One here upon earth.
[p. 284] God Himself has been revealed in Christ, not only as meeting our need, but in His own greatness; Christ was the effulgence of “his glory, and the expression of his substance”. Hebrews 1:3. Observe the dignity of the movements of Jesus as He passed through the midst of those enraged because of His telling them the truth. We read that He went His way and descended to Capernaum. He continued His service of grace in holy dignity in the power of the anointing and was equal to all the opposition. He is seen in His path of service here as answering to the altar being anointed seven times. What awful opposition was brought against Him at the close of His life in this world! But that only shows us more clearly how He passed through it all in the majesty of His own Person. Truly He was the Antitype of the altar anointed seven times.
It is our privilege to follow Him. Look at Paul and Silas in the prison at Philippi! They were there in the power of the anointing. It is one thing to meet together and speak of the things of God, but let us remember there is the other side, namely, our path through this world, full of opposition to Christ. We are His witnesses here and that involves suffering. The question is, Are we willing to follow Christ thus? If we are, God will maintain us in the dignity of the anointing.
In the synagogue of Nazareth they had to bear witness and wonder at His gracious words, but to those who are His the dignity of the anointing shines out far more in His suffering. It was His testimony of grace and truth that brought out the opposition of men against Him. True dignity, therefore, is seen more in the way we accept suffering, in whatever way it may come.
The holy anointing oil (Exodus 30) was composed of the “best spices”, myrrh being mentioned first, and there was a careful balance maintained in the [p. 285] compound. Suffering was in view; indeed, it points to the spirit of Christ as suffering in this world. This spirit is to mark us as following in His steps.
In the Old Testament the order of the anointing is priest, king and prophet, seen in Aaron, David and Elisha. All these features are seen perfectly in Christ. The anointing oil was poured on Aaron’s head without blood, thus showing that Christ was anointed above His companions. Leviticus shows that Christ was anointed on the ground of what He is personally. The tabernacle, the altar and all connected with it were anointed, and then Aaron, without blood. Christ is thus anointed in relation to the universal order of things before He died. His ministry was the unfolding of what the tabernacle represented, The anointing of Aaron brings in the thought of the whole universe, so that the universe is dignified by the anointing. We can see from these types what an important thing we are brought into.
In looking at the history of the world we see a continual effort to maintain outward dignity. This is generally seen in connection with kings and royalty. Where royalty is set aside people must have something else instead, such as money, learning, etc., which ends in Babylon, because all is connected with the wrong man. God calls our attention to a universe where He will have His own dignity. For the present moment it is a moral dignity, but soon it will all be manifested in glory, for if we suffer, we shall also reign with Him. The eyes of the thief on the cross were opened to see Jesus as typified in the altar anointed seven times; He was then enduring extreme suffering, The thief discerned in this His royalty. He said, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom”, Luke 23:42. The purple, the royal colour, was seen in the suffering Man, Jesus. What moral glory shone forth in Him here below! He is said to be “Lord of glory”. God is the “Father of glory”. We should trace glory to its source. Stephen was in correspondence with the glory. “They were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake”. Acts 6:10. He came out in the power and dignity of the anointing. This was seen in his wonderful address to the Jews and it shone out from him when “he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge”. Acts 7:60. He acted in the same spirit as the Lord Jesus Himself. In His prayer on the cross, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do”, Luke 23:34 we see the glory of the grace of God, The correspondence with this in Stephen is most striking.
When we come to the king we see that David is anointed in the midst of his brethren. What comes out in regard of him is that he was ruddy and of a beautiful countenance. The prophet retires to his house and David is now to come forward to do God’s work. Paul says to the Corinthians that he came not with excellency of speech or wisdom to them; his dignity among them had been more evident in the way he had suffered in faithfulness to God. What a wonderful thing to see a poor saint suffering for the name of Christ. Peter says, “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you”. 1 Peter 4:14. It is in suffering that God’s Spirit rests on us. Even the sight of the angel rolling back the stone and sitting upon it is not as great morally as seeing a saint suffering here for the name of Christ. We should be prepared to suffer. The Spirit of glory and of God rested upon Paul and Silas in the Philippian prison. If we are not a suffering people we do not represent God. “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake”. Philippians 1:29. We are not now being persecuted as saints in past ages, but nevertheless we get as much suffering as we are prepared for. We may pass through real [p. 287] suffering in our spirits on account of the state of the people of God.
Timothy was encouraged to be a partaker of the afflictions of the gospel and we should likewise take our share in the suffering. “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution”. 2 Timothy 3:12. Such may even suffer at the hands of their brethren; and then, being here identified with the testimony involves that we come under the notice of men, who are sure to persecute us in some way. Peter helps us much in connection with the various ways sufferings come upon Christians. Speaking of Jesus he says, “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously”. 1 Peter 2:23. Think of the dignity of Jesus standing before Pilate! He answered not again. God has anointed us so that we may appear here in dignity even in suffering. Paul says, “For thy sake we are killed all the day long; and we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter”, Romans 8:36. And then he could add, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us”. Romans 8:37.