BETTER THINGS
[p. 482] BETTER THINGS
Proverbs 21: 9, 19; Proverbs 15: 16; Zechariah 4: 1 - 14
It occurred to me as before the Lord, that these Scriptures would furnish suggestions suited to the present occasion. The book of Proverbs is intended to furnish instruction for us in our relations with one another, and our relations in the testimony of God — indeed I may say, in regard to our place in the assembly. The book corresponds with Colossians 1 in which it is said that we are to give thanks to the Father “who has delivered us from the authority of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love”. These words convey much, and should touch our hearts both as to the delivering power of the Father from the authority of darkness, and as to the affections proper to the kingdom of His dear Son. Many of us, more perhaps than we are aware of, are under the authority of religious principles and doctrines because of their antiquity and their settings. There are denominational systems which also have authority over our souls. Millions are held under that authority. Their consciences are untroubled, because of the darkness which holds authority over their souls, and they remain where they are under the domination of that darkness, thus depriving the Lord, if they are christians, of His rights in them, and depriving the saints of their fellowship. The words in Colossians are very pungent with precious suggestions. “Giving thanks to the Father, ... who has delivered us from the authority of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love”.
The book of Proverbs amplifies these words. He who speaks says he was a son unto his father (chapter 4: 3). These chapters one after another unfold the thoughts of Solomon, the son of David. It is the Son, and the Son clothes all His thoughts with affection. He is not arbitrary, but of course the One who is Son is Lord [p. 483] also. He has sometimes to resort to strong measures, to use the rod to enforce His rights, but it is always in love. It is the Son who is Lord, but what is behind all is His love. We are in the kingdom, not here of the Lord, but of the Son of His Father’s love — a thought that should flood our souls, delivering us in our affections; as indeed the Lord Himself says, “If therefore the Son shall set you free, ye shall be really free”. The affections of the Son are behind all these words in Proverbs. His thoughts are broken up for us into great detail, for, after all, our lives are made up of detail, and Proverbs takes account of that, and furnishes instruction that fits into the detail of our experiences. These verses I read contemplate the comparative degree. You will find much of that in this book — the word “better” comes in frequently.
In the first verse I read you have a suggestion that “It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman, and a house in common”. “Wide house” is given in the margin as “house of society”, it is a house in which you are forced into the society of one who is repugnant. You can see the application of this to certain religious settings, where certain doctrines and practices are adopted, and as in them we are forced to maintain social relations with persons who are objectionable to us because of our conscience and the work of God in us. The work of God in a man is certain to make him different from those in whom it is not; so that, if I am in the same house — to use the illustration — in the same religious association with persons who are not converted, or if converted, who are worldly, and I am different from them, I am yet forced to maintain relationship with them. Not that I hate them, but their unregenerate state renders them objectionable to those who are affected by the work of God. The “contentious woman” signifies that there is no peace between those in whom God has worked, whose consciences are active, who [p. 484] love the Lord Jesus, and who seek to keep His commandments and those in whom there is no work of God. It may be, the latter are ignorant of the commandments or they are unaffected by them, but at any rate, peaceful conditions do not exist.
What is contemplated is a state of things where the work of God is rendered inactive by worldliness, and by rivalry and all that goes with it, and wisdom would make a way out for us. Not necessarily by the enforcement of direct Scripture, but by a wise word that points out a certain position as better than the one in which you are now found. Why not take it? The “corner of the house-top” is not very desirable, nor does it afford much comfort on a cold winter’s night, nor is there much room for society, but you see wisdom presents the idea in the extreme. Not that you will be forced to come to that, but it is better to face it than to be in such trying company, day in and day out. A contentious woman portrays the system. A woman, referred to in this way, invariably signifies a system of things without any guiding principle, without headship. It is a system that is rampant, it does what it pleases; headship, as I said, is not there. The simple way, according to the wise man in Proverbs, who for us is no less than the Son of God, is to take the better course. That course will not violate any divine principle. The Son would not tell us to do anything that we should not do. He is simply putting the thing to you in the comparative degree, that the worst he portrays is better than the position in which you are now found. Hence the wise believer will act on this and move out, even if it be into loneliness — the corner of a house-top. It is better to be in this place, than where your soul and your conscience will have no rest, where you are constantly troubled. Much might be said as to what you will come into. I am not speaking of that for the moment. It is the idea of the better course, and the relief that comes in when you take it.
[p. 485] In verse 19 the thought is pursued, but instead of a house-top, you have “a desert land”. It is not a very inviting place. I recognise that, and one would be sympathetic. But still, it is better to dwell there than in a system where your soul has no peace; where there is nothing that is in keeping with the divinely formed instincts that you possess. It is better to dwell in a desert land. You might say you could not do that. Solomon is putting the idea in the extreme. He is showing you that, even at its worst, it is better to dwell there, than that you should be where there is no peace, and where God is necessarily shut out, His will being disregarded.
We know how Israel came into the wilderness. It was intended to be a wilderness. The wilderness of Sinai was not an accident, it had been formed by God centuries before He used it for the discipline of His people. That is true as to everything. The Red Sea also was there, centuries before God used it as a type of the death and resurrection of Christ. Other circumstances also, under the government of God, are ready for Him to use when the time comes. The wilderness of Sinai was a divine preparation, as was the land of Canaan. The land of Canaan was the main objective, but the wilderness was also a preparation of God. Israel went into it. It was better to go into it than to remain in Egypt where they had no peace. The Spirit of God depicts Egypt as to what it was. We have to go by what the Spirit of God says. I accept no estimate based on things said by the rebellious. To a man who is rebellious, to tell a lie is a small matter. When Israel talked about the flesh-pots of Egypt and all the fine dishes they ate, they were simply telling lies. The Spirit of God depicts for us the true state of things in Egypt. God knew their bondage and heard their bitter groanings. He came down to deliver them. They did not have to dwell alone in the wilderness; nor will any christian who steps out of the house of the brawling [p. 486] woman, where God has not His place and where conscience is never at ease; such will find that God has a place for him, and He will be with you Himself as He was with Israel. He journeyed all the way with them. He was with them in the desert, and shared all their afflictions. “In all their affliction he was afflicted”. He was with them. Is it not worth while taking the step to have such company? It will not be loneliness, you will have companionship, and that of none less than God Himself; besides, you will have others like yourself, who have moved on the same lines and reached the position you have reached — those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart (2 Timothy 2: 22).
Turning now to chapter 15 we have “the fear of the Lord”, which having, one might have to come into smaller things which we naturally do not like. “Better is little with the fear of Jehovah than great store and disquietude therewith”. That is, you have big buildings and much else that the eye can see, but there is trouble spiritually. There is no peace. One might say, See what I have to leave. There is much going on in these organisations, even dances in the church houses! The world is there. There is much, I quite admit, for the flesh, but then what is there for your soul? Your soul has divine requirements. What about the fear of the Lord? Is it not better to have a little where the fear of the Lord is? How restful the soul becomes as you are brought into a realm where the fear of the Lord is.
“Flee also youthful lusts, but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, and with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart”, 2 Timothy 2: 22. The atmosphere is delightful to the soul that is born of God, where people fear the Lord, and call upon Him out of pure hearts. How rare pure hearts are in this world! There is no “if” in that verse in Timothy. Such hearts exist, it is for you to find them; there are those following after righteousness, faith, charity, and peace, and calling on the Lord out of pure hearts. The fear of [p. 487] the Lord is there. You come into this and all that it means. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”. You find that where people are calling on Him out of a pure heart. It is most restful to sit down with them in a prayer meeting. How their hearts are burdened with the cares of the assembly of God, and yet what joyful songs are rising to God! — for He is there. Heaven hears the earth through them. It is no myth. Most of us here know what I am speaking of. There is no question of being alone where the fear of the Lord is.
He goes on to say (verse 17), “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith”. A stalled ox is a big thought and denotes plenty, but then what is it without love? Suppose a man had everything without love. What is it? Nothing! “And now abideth faith, hope, love; ... and the greater of these is love”. I am speaking of the comparative degree. It is not ‘the greatest’. There is faith and hope on the same level, but love is the “greater” of these. There are just two degrees there, the one is great, but love is the greater. Love abides. Love is the life of heaven. God is love. Now can we afford to go in for the stalled ox, prepared in plenty, and not an atom of love therewith? We cannot, if we love God and love the brethren. We would say, I would rather have a dinner of herbs with love. If I am natural or fleshly I should prefer the stalled ox; but the dinner of herbs is much more to be desired, with love. You will be fairer and fatter, like Daniel and his companions, than all the wise men of Babylon if you feed on what God provides, refusing the world’s fare. The point is love. I am being outwardly reduced all the time. There is nothing better for a christian than that he should be made smaller in this sense. The wise man is showing me how I should become reduced. I have the best thing in the universe. I can never afford to do without it. I want to show you, how all these things work out in the [p. 488] position in which we find ourselves today. Many of us here, and thousands more, are, in measure, in the reality of them. We find ourselves greatly reduced. We are in a position that is despised in this world. It is under reproach. But as I have been pointing out, we have peace for our souls, we are free to serve and worship God according to His appointments. Thus while there is reduction outwardly there is this inward enlargement. We are where love is. “If a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned”, Song of Songs 8: 7. If I have the tongue of angels, and have not love, I am nothing. “Though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing”. Love never fails; it is of God. “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments”, 1 John 5: 2. Love resists and overcomes all the vicissitudes of time. This great thing is available and enjoyed in outward littleness and reproach. Most of us here know something about it, and are concerned that you might join us, not in a mere religious community, but in what is here for God, it is a question of pursuing the wise man’s instruction. He puts you on the way. There is much in this way that these verses do not indicate. But the way of life is upward to the wise, and he departs from hell beneath. It is life to love the Lord Jesus as knowing His love and to love one another. It is better to have a dinner of herbs with love, than the stalled ox with hatred.
This brings us to the littleness of which this Scripture in Zechariah speaks. It is a day of small things, dear brethren, but a day of great resources, as this chapter shows — a day of great potentialities, and a day culminating in glory. Those who are in this state of things, this day of small things, are coming out victorious at the end! They are laying up for the future. It is remarkable how much Luke speaks of money, especially after chapter 15. There he brings in the prodigal and [p. 489] the house, where he presents in the most beautiful way the gospel and its full results: there is music and dancing in the house. It is an appeal specially to young people. There is one man present who is out of sympathy with it all. He has not an atom of sympathy in his heart, not a thought in common with that whole scene — a matter of disgust to him — a terrible state of soul. He will not go in. The next chapter tells you about a steward who has got notice to leave his great position. He had been employed by a very wealthy man, and the steward being a wise man provides for the future. The word “future” on the stock exchanges of the world is a hackneyed term. It means that I buy commodities for delivery in the future, with the hope that they will be much more valuable then than they are today. But this steward looks ahead, so as to have an abode in the future. He is using the present for advantage later. We are in the day of small things, but what we have will be outwardly enormously enhanced in value. That is the position today — what enters into this meeting would hardly be looked upon by the religious leaders of this world as of any importance, but it is going to increase in value until it is of great magnitude. Those who do not have it now, will not have it then, and they never will have it. The Lord will say, Depart from Me, ye workers of iniquity, I never knew you.
This chapter in Zechariah contemplates a day of small things. He and Haggai correspond pretty much to the two sons of oil. These two men were prophets; they told out the mind of God, and while they prophesied they built. They joined with Zerubbabel and the others who built the house. The man who has the mind of God today will work. The more I have the mind of God the more active I shall be. I shall use every ounce of strength so that the work of God may prosper. “I am doing a great work”, Nehemiah said. As the apostle Paul is about to pass away to be with the Lord he says to Timothy, “make full proof of thy ministry”. There is so much to do, and it must not be neglected. The Lord has need of young men and young women in His service. If any saint be bedridden he can pray. There is nothing more necessary or more serviceable than prayer, that the work of God might be promoted. Sleepless hours of the night can be well spent thus. As I said, Zechariah and Haggai prophesied, and at the same time they were helping the builders. I have not a doubt that Zechariah would carry a stone up a ladder to a mason to put on the wall if needs be. The apostle Paul gathered sticks and put them on the fire — he would do anything that was necessary. The Lord said, I am among you as He that serves. Such is the Lord Jesus in His humility.
Well, Zechariah is waked out of his sleep and he sees certain things; and he wants to know what they are. There is not enough questioning. We may not get our answers at the time, but the Lord will give us understanding in all things. Zechariah wants to know what the things were. “So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?” See what respect the prophet had for the angel. He is a man who deserves special respect himself; but you will always find that a true learner in divine things is respectful. Indeed it is a matter of great importance that we have respect for one another. If we do not respect each other we shall not love each other, nor shall we have confidence in each other. We must have respect for our leaders, and for one another. The prophet says “my lord” to the angel. We are apt to be radical. It is most objectionable to the Lord. Michael is called an archangel, and no doubt there are others. Ordinary angels would have respect for these. The angel here is the messenger of God, and the prophet respects him. So it is that ability, experience, or anything in a brother or sister that is of God, that is of moral weight or worth, is to be respected. We are [p. 491] maintained in humility of mind in this way. The person does not look for it, but God looks for it. Zechariah gets his answer (verses 6, 7). The latter half of the chapter confirms this. This servant of God is marked in the most beautiful way by this feature. You can understand how restful Zechariah would be after his interview with the angel. Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans may have their days, but everything, as spoken and as promised, is going through triumphantly in the Spirit’s power — not a future power but present power — the power that works in us. It is that the saint might see what resource he has — “these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof” (verse 11).
The word comes to Zechariah that Zerubbabel is to lay the foundation stone. What religious activity there has been for eighteen hundred years in Europe and its outgoings! What structures have been built up! The book of Revelation shows that God deals with it all in judgment, but what is built according to the mind of God is going through. The foundation and top stone will exactly correspond. The top stone will be laid on by the same hands that laid the foundation. “And he shall bring forth the headstone with shoutings; Grace, grace unto it”. How important that we should maintain that principle in our preachings, ministry, and intercourse one with another. A movement like this here in this town will be despised. Who despises it? God does not. Those who understand do not. The question in verse 10 is, “who hath despised the day of small things?” We are to be encouraged, and to have our eyes open, and see the support for it, that we may not resort to fleshly means, nor the leaven of the clamorous woman. We are to maintain the principles of this chapter. What was started in the foundation will be carried through. How great it is to have part in it!
In verse 14 we have “two sons of oil”. The word “sons” is significant there. The suggestion as to the [p. 492] matter considered in these figures is of adequate testimony and maturity. It is not a partial thing. It is seen fully in the Son of God. The Lord Jesus answers to every thought in God’s purpose as to man. In Him everything is carried out and done perfectly.
What underlies the title “The Son” is the deity of the Lord Jesus. No one else could have this title. In Hebrews He inherits a more excellent name than angels, “For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?” Hebrews 1: 5. Throughout that chapter it is the Son, it is a divine Person in that relationship which involves subjection. There are those who would seek to force back that relationship into absolute deity, thus making the Lord inferior to the other divine Persons in absolute deity. It is not the truth. The Lord Jesus is equal in deity. He never had a place of inferiority, relative or otherwise, in absolute deity. He was in the form of God. “Christ Jesus; who, subsisting in the form of God, did not esteem it an object of rapine to be on an equality with God; but emptied himself, taking a bondman’s form”, Philippians 2: 5 - 7. That is the scriptural truth as to the Person of the Son. Sonship is unique in Him, but Galatians shows how the saints are brought into it. As seen in Zechariah it suggests the idea of maturity, and that the testimony is rendered in spiritual power. It is alluded to in Revelation in the two witnesses, matured men representative of an adequate testimony for God among the Jews by and by. Meantime it is to be found among the saints today — the testimony carried on in full maturity, not by human wisdom, nor by human resources, but by the power of God (1 Corinthians 2: 5).
May the Lord encourage us on these lines, and grant that the brethren may pursue them. There will thus be blessing and enlargement.