DIVINE FORMATION IN THE WILDERNESS
J. G. Chalmers
Stephen speaks of “the assembly in the wilderness”, Acts 7: 38. In the epistles to the Corinthians the assembly is viewed as in the wilderness, that is, in a contrary scene. The expression “in the wilderness” is used in the first verse I read and I have the impression that the Lord would have us to be engaged with what God is doing in the saints in these adverse conditions. These trees typify the product of the formative work of the Spirit in the saints, as it says here, “the hand of Jehovah hath done this”.
In the world around us we are confronted with the meanness and despicableness of man after the flesh; with humanity corrupted by sin and becoming daily more and more degraded, yet marked by pride and bombast; and by persons who are wholly governed by what is natural.
When we come amongst the saints we discern something that is altogether different morally as a result of the work of God in grace. We see the cedar—the dignity and excellence of men in Christ; the acacia—an incorruptible order of humanity; the myrtle—the spirit of the meek and lowly Jesus; and the oleaster—persons who are governed by what is spiritual. Then God says, “I will set in the desert the cypress, pine, and box-tree together”. Let us notice that, dear brethren, “I will set … together” these three trees. They are types of persons who have been changed morally by the effect of the word of God. In a later chapter where it speaks of the word of God not returning to Him void, but doing what He pleases, and accomplishing that for which He sends it, that section finishes thus—“Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress, and instead of the nettle shall come up the myrtle” (Isaiah 55: 13). O, dear brethren, think of the grace of God, He who has taken up persons from a variety of circumstances and so different in temperament, changed them morally and set them down together in local assemblies to work out the truth together in love. What a triumph of grace in desert conditions! We are to “see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of Jehovah hath done this”. What God is doing by the Spirit in the saints is a great field for consideration and the Lord would encourage us to be more occupied with it.
In the beginning of the section read in Isaiah 60 the saints are taken account of typically as assembling—“Who are these that come flying as a cloud, and as doves to their dove-cotes?”
It is a great sight for heaven, and for ourselves, to see the saints assembling, as Luke says, “we being assembled to break bread”, Acts 20: 7. In the sphere of privilege we can look round upon the saints who have stood together in the truth in adverse conditions and who have weathered every testimonial storm, and we can see the same persons as “the cypress, pine and box-tree together”, and they are beautifying the place of God’s sanctuary. The sanctuary is where God dwells in holy conditions and where there are never any disturbances or storms, where peace reigns, as a hymn says—
The peace of God there reigneth
In undisputed sway,
Flows like a tranquil river
Its restful, endless day
‘Letters of C. A. Coates’, p.399
O, dear brethren, it is God’s own work, as Paul says, “He that has wrought us for this very thing is God”, 2 Corinthians 5: 5. It is really wonderful that God is forming us and fitting us to beautify His dwelling place. May the Lord help us then to consider what God is doing in each other so that we may have a greater appreciation of each other and that there may be a fuller response to the God whose workmanship we are.
Word in meeting for ministry, Lossiemouth
25 September 1984