MATERIAL FOR CHRIST'S BUILDING
MATERIAL FOR CHRIST’S BUILDING
Matthew 16:13 - 18; Song of Songs 8:5; Song of Songs 3:6 - 11; Song of Songs 6: 10
I desire to show, beloved brethren, that the assembly today is being formed and developed in the light of Christ, and under His influence. Now if we are to have part in the assembly, and then to develop in it, we must first have a right apprehension of Christ; we must know who He is. The enemy would seek to discredit Christ, if not by direct attack, then by hindrance and diversion of the light. But Christians should say what is right and true about Jesus; they should confess that He is divine, yet verily a Man.
So the Lord in Matthew 16 raises the question with the disciples: “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” Men arrive at conclusions in a more or less careless way; it is a question here of what is said, not of what is believed: “They said, Some, John the baptist; and others, Elias; and others again, Jeremias or one of the prophets”. Then the Lord turns to them and says, “Who do ye say that I am?” Some say but little about the Lord; among the brethren He is known. It is all right there; but to limit Him to them is unworthy, He looks for confession among men. Peter here answers the Lord’s question; he says, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God”. Earlier they had said, “Thou art the Son of God”, Matthew 14:33, but here, what is confessed is the result of revelation: the light in Peter’s soul at this time was the direct outcome of revelation; the Lord takes account of it as such.
In Romans 1 we read that, he is “marked out Son of God ... by resurrection of the dead”Romans 1:4 — but here the confession is the result of revelation, a revelation from the Father. It shows that if we say something about Him, it must be based not only on [p. 214] what came out in Him, but on a definite transaction in our souls with God as to who He is. The knowledge as here cannot be attained by reading, by ministry, or by aught else than a transaction between our souls and the Father in regard to Him. There must be a spiritual transaction, and there can be no right speaking about Him apart from this. We must be in the clear light of the Person of Christ as Son of the living God, and further, there must be not only believing, but saying. It is in this way that confession comes, and I stand out as material for the structure which Christ builds, through my confession. I qualify thus as material for the assembly.
Now this belongs not only to the advanced, but is for the very youngest, for the least developed, who can say these things about Christ. You stand out as material for the assembly which Christ is building — His own structure — by your confession of Him thus. This structure is composed of certain ones who say certain things about Christ, that He is the Son of the living God. What He sets up is living, the stamp of God is upon it — it lives.
This is supported in the Old Testament. In the Song of Solomon the question is raised, “Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?” Song of Songs 8:5. In Matthew the Lord raises the question as to Himself; the answer is immediate, for the revelation is there. We need not stagger at the thought of revelation, for the apostle in Ephesians 1 prays that the saints might be given the “spirit of revelation in the full knowledge of him”, Ephesians 1:17. But here in the Song of Songs, as we have read, the question is as to this one — Who is she? You may have no anxiety as to your distinction if you lean on Christ. The great blot on the Reformation was that the leaders leaned upon the world; they received support from the world. Their privilege was to have leaned upon the Beloved, to have been [p. 215] supported by the arm of Christ, by whom the worlds were made, but they turned to the State; they missed their privilege.. Well, the Lord’s arm is still available; His love is still what it ever was: “Hereby we have known love; because he laid down his life for us”, 1 John 3:16. We need turn to no other.
There is no direct answer as to who she is, for she is to be known by the features which mark her. He says, “I awoke thee under the apple-tree”. The believer is awakened under the influence of Christ. In chapter 2 the apple-tree is used as a figure of Christ. He stands forth as an apple-tree in the midst of the trees. So the believer is awakened under the influence of Christ. The mother is the feature in the saints that would care for and nurture others, that would bring them forth into the light and under the influence of Christ. Do not be afraid of the maternal side among us. The disciples left all and followed Jesus, but then as actuated by the maternal spirit, they would seek others. Andrew first found his brother Philip, and then serves very effectively in bringing Peter also to the Lord. So the remnant brought the assembly forth in that way, under the apple-tree; it is brought forth under the influence of Christ.
Now in chapter 3:6 the question is raised, “Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?” We have to recognise that as coming under the influence of Christ, we come also under the scrutiny of God. The pillars of smoke were the result of the sacrifices in the wilderness; the smoke was the witness of the fire which went up upon the altar. But with the smoke, there was also the perfume of the myrrh and the frankincense. We must suffer, beloved, that we may be in accord with Him who suffered unto death. The Lamb’s wife in the Revelation is in full accord [p. 216] with Him; if He is the suffering Lamb, she, too, is a sufferer. But then with the acceptance of the suffering there are all “the powders of the merchant”; there is that which beautifies as the result of a transaction: we have surrendered something, but we have gained the fragrance of Christ. So if she comes up from the wilderness like pillars of smoke, showing that there is the full recognition of what is due to God, that is our privilege — it is given to us to suffer with Him — but then there is what beautifies, “the powders of the merchant”.
Then verse 7 calls attention to His couch; it is His couch. Her labours are not for herself, but for Him. Sixty mighty men are about it; they are there to defend His couch; His rest shall be secured. This is a test for any company. Are there those there who will defend His couch? What an opportunity for us, beloved, to come forward and defend His rest; to protect things; to hold the sword, so to speak; to be set for the defence, because of alarm in the nights.
Then verse 9 gives another thought; it presents His own handiwork; something He has made for Himself: a palanquin of the wood of Lebanon. That is not ordinary wood. The saints are not ordinary people; they are not governed by ordinary feelings, by common impulses; they are dignified as the handiwork of Christ. He made its pillars of silver, its support of gold, its seat of purple. Then the midst thereof was “paved with love”. Christ now is everything to this assembly. It is dignified material right through, and the midst thereof is paved with love from the daughters of Jerusalem. Love is the thing that goes right through into eternity; so love avails amongst the saints. In verse 11 the invitation is to “go forth ... and behold king Solomon”.
Now turn to chapter 6: 10. Just think of this development under Christ. We are looking east, and [p. 217] what we look at is reflected in us. There is no lost hope, no disappointment; as He arises in the soul He is reflected in the countenance. The idea of the moon is reflection; there is nothing dark about it; the assembly is fair as the moon, clear as the sun. If we are in the shining of Christ, we shall have no hidden motives. Our looking forth will be as the dawn; the coming glory is reflected in our hearts, and there is that too which strikes terror in the heart of the enemy. Satan has anguish as he sees the development of the work of Christ in the saints. There is military power which is terrible — “terrible as troops with banners” — military power which will shortly come out of heaven with Christ for the subjugation of all that opposes.