SIMPLICITY AS TO THE CHRIST
[p. 135] SIMPLICITY AS TO THE CHRIST
2 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Samuel 21:3; 1 Samuel 21:8,9; 1 Samuel 23:1 - 12
In reading these scriptures I have before me the thought of simplicity. In 2 Corinthians the apostle refers to “simplicity as to the Christ”, a word which we might not expect in regard to Christ, but which we learn from the gospels has striking application to Him. Those also, who are after Christ, who have faith and are marked by His character, never fail of simplicity.
The apostle alludes to Satan’s first onslaught upon our race in introducing this matter. The serpent, he says, beguiled Eve: he was operating on the same principle at Corinth. The true Eve — the assembly — was found locally at Corinth. The apostle alludes to what precedes the marriage relation; he had espoused the Corinthians unto one Man, to present them as a chaste virgin to Christ. He had done it, showing that he had remarkable insight into the Lord’s feelings and affections. John the baptist was a friend of the Bridegroom, and rejoiced greatly at the voice of the Bridegroom. He heard it and says, “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom”. John 3:29. He says nothing about her in a concrete way as having any part in his remarkable ministry; but as a man pre-eminently affected by spiritual instincts, he recognised the Bridegroom and that the bride was His. John was unique in that the Holy Spirit was in him from infancy, controlling his faculties and senses. He had a fine sense of what was morally beautiful; he looked upon Jesus as He walked (John 1:36), and said, “Behold the Lamb of God”. Then in chapter 3:29, he rejoiced because of the Bridegroom’s voice, and his joy was full.
Now that is John the baptist; but Paul went further than he did. He heard, as it were, the very [p. 136] breathings of Christ, being near to Him. He was not a long-distance christian, as many alas, are — like Jonathan who used bow and arrow to make known his mind to David. Paul was so near to Christ that he knew what He desired. If you heard Paul preach the gospel, you would know he was presenting someone who was supremely attractive: the Son of God, He would say again and again, He loved me! He would speak of his personal relations with Christ. John the apostle conveys the same thought when he speaks of the Lord breathing into the disciples; and again when he speaks in his epistle of handling the word of life — holy, reverential intimacy with Christ in that sense, such as is fitting; for love delights in nearness, it abhors distance. So with both John and Paul, you have a suggestion of nearness; like the mighty men of David, who heard his desire and broke through the garrison of the Philistines to bring water to him. It was the devotedness of personal attachment, personal affection in these mighty men.
So in going into Corinth Paul had the desires of Christ before him. The Lord says to him, “No man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city”. Acts 18:10. He assured him of safe conduct, for He knew what was in Paul’s heart; not simply that they should be converted, but that they should be espoused to Christ. Supreme simplicity marked the espousal; he himself was very simple, he was a craftsman. But for all the simplicity, the most wonderful work was going on. Think of such a ministry as that! Every convert in that town, in the apostle’s mind, was part of what was espoused to Christ. Even as to his speech he says, “I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified”. 1 Corinthians 2:2. He would bring in Gethsemane and the cross, but all was in simplicity, so that the youngest there would understand that their faith “should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God”. 1 Corinthians 2:5.
Then there was this transaction, “I have espoused you unto one man, to present you a chaste virgin to Christ”. 2 Corinthians 11:2.
One of the most baneful features in the history of the assembly is men seeking a party following. There were such at Corinth. “Ye walk as men”, 1 Corinthians 3:3 says Paul; that was what was going on. Paul only had one Man in his mind in his preaching. Some said they were of Paul, others of Apollos, others of Cephas. “Who is Paul?”, 1 Corinthians 3:5 he says. He did not mean this question for himself alone; he meant it for all these leaders in Corinth who sought a following among the saints.
Now I beg you to take note of this espousal to Christ. I do not believe any young person, brother or sister, is fit to be espoused in a natural way according to God, until such an one is espoused to Christ. If young people were more concerned about being espoused to Christ, they would find their legitimate desires fulfilled under the government of God. You have Christ first: it is God’s way. He has title to us, He has redemptive rights over us.
Well, the Corinthians were taught that they were espoused to one Man and Satan saw that. He saw what God was doing, what Paul was aiming at, and he sought to spoil it. Hence the apostle says, “I fear ... as the serpent deceived Eve by his craft, so your thoughts should be corrupted from simplicity as to the Christ”. The first letter however became effective, but there remained the danger among others, that the saints should be corrupted in their minds from simplicity as to the Christ.
Now I want to show you briefly how this simplicity is worked out typically in David. I take him for the moment as a type of the believer. There is a readiness with him to take on whatever was divinely available in his service or for his spiritual help, avoiding pretension. As he appears in the presence [p. 138] of Saul on that great day of Elah, Saul proposed that he should be robed in his dress and his armour. David acceded at first, but as he moved on he said, “I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them”. 1 Samuel 17:39. They were in accord with Saul’s mind and the mind of the Philistines, but entirely out of keeping with him, and so he puts them off. Young men should beware of imitating persons who, like Saul, are marked by official place and reputation.
David wisely laid aside the showy habiliments of Saul, and took for the conflict what he was accustomed to. We are told there was a pocket in the shepherd’s bag which he had, indicating the simplicity of his equipment. His weapons were a sling and stones and a staff. All was simple, such as he was accustomed to use. It may be remarked here, that it is well to use artillery in connection with the enemy, but artillery service will never do with the brethren. So David selects five smooth stones out of the brook, water-worn doubtless and thus made suitable for his purpose; for spiritually it is a question of the word of God, not a matter of show or man’s device. It was extremely simple, and the result showed that such warfare is effective.
When we come to chapter 21, David is definitely rejected; he is under pressure. But he maintains his simplicity, he comes to the priest at Nob who says, “Why art thou alone?”. 1 Samuel 21:1 I wonder how many of us have had the experience of being alone as rejected. I am thinking of the solitariness of Gethsemane and Calvary. All forsook the Lord and fled. He looked for comforters and found none. It was a solitary matter, and the Lord would have us to know what it is to be alone in rejection. But although in such circumstances David retains his simplicity, he says to the priest, “What is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present”. 1 Samuel 21:3 What have you there? That is all: no [p. 139] pre-arranged affair of sending word beforehand to have things ready. You see it is simplicity we need if we are to get on in the things of God and be effective in His service. David was content to accept what Ahimelech had, and he explained what perhaps the priest had overlooked that “the bread is in a manner common”. 1 Samuel 21:5 In his simplicity the believer is intelligent and sets other people at rest.
Then David asks, “And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword?”. 1 Samuel 21:8. He needed one. As you set out in reproach you need bread to sustain your heart, and you need a sword. We are to take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. As to bread, there is abundance from heaven, but it is what is available that you take. God will bless that. In feeding the multitude the Lord used what a little boy had, five loaves and two fishes. That was what was there; it was “simplicity as to the Christ”.
As to the sword Ahimelech says, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine ... behold, it is here”. 1 Samuel 21:9. That sword was a type of death. Ahimelech knew something about the death of Christ typically, but what was he doing with death? Even nominal christians recognise the death of Christ, but what are they doing with it? Ahimelech says, “It is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod”. 1 Samuel 21:9 By death, we are told, the Lord has annulled him that has the power of death (Hebrews 2:14). Satan used death to terrify the souls of men; the Lord took it out of his hands and has put it into the hands of christians. Not only is the death of Christ available for salvation, but it is available for a weapon; I am to put to death the deeds of the body; I use death as a weapon for that. This priest apparently did not use it; he knew what it meant historically, but Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension are present realities. The foundation of christianity is that death has taken place, the [p. 140] meritorious death of Christ. It is done never to be repeated.
Christianity implies not only that Christ died for us, but that we die; there is the present application of death. David here says that there is no sword like that; “give it me”. The state of things was disclosed in the way the sword was held; it was wrapped up. There was no present application of the death of Christ, nor does it appear that the ephod was being used, for the sword was wrapped behind it. It was a mere official order of things without the corresponding living state. “But if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live”. Romans 8:13. You are a priest unto God by the Spirit in a practical way. You have the sword in your hand; you use it against yourself. It was used by Christ, but it is now in your hands. Death is yours, as the apostle said to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 3:22). David takes the sword of Goliath and goes on.
I pass on to chapter 23; it shows how David took up the priesthood. Chapter 22 tells of the destruction of the old order of priesthood. Abiathar fled after David and told him that the Lord’s priests had been slain, but instead of using him at first, David acts as priest himself; he enquires of the Lord. He acts simply in bringing, in a priesthood that is according to God. Every young christian needs to have part in that, but before you talk about entering into the holiest, enter your closet; that is the thing to do first of all. The Lord tells you to enter your closet and shut the door, and pray to your Father in secret. There is often a desire to know something about entering the holiest, but very little is said about entering the closet, yet that is what the Lord enjoins. Pray to your Father in secret and He will reward you openly. Do not put oil on your head or adorn yourself when you go in to God; you will be graced spiritually when you come out. Moses’ face shone [p. 141] when he came out. God will reward you openly, God will honour you. There is an evidence on your countenance that you have been in with God.
David here enquires of the Lord; it was effective; it was simple and the Lord says, “Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah ... . I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand”. But now a serious matter occurs: the people David is serving are traitors. We may have to serve people who do not love us. The Lord served people who did not love Him, and so it was with David here, he delivered Keilah, but they were ready to deliver him up. In great simplicity, using the ephod, he enquired of the Lord, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me up?”. Whatever there is of God, use it, for “all things are yours”. 1 Corinthians 3:21. Not only is death ours, but Paul is ours, and Cephas is ours, so we may use them. The servants all belong to the saints. David uses the ephod indicating his simplicity and how the new order of priesthood took form. Thus as we are simple, using what God makes available to us, we progress in the truth and become effective in the service and worship of God.