EXTRACT – WORSHIPPERS IN A DARK DAY

It is in adversity, in the discipline of God, that the work of God shines, as is seen in this book [2 Samuel], and in no place do we see this more prominently than in this chapter. I deal with it now, because it may help us … as to how to give God His part, His due, in a day of disaster, for it is a day of disaster. Sometimes as we move along, we think of … everything being orderly – right hymns chosen, right words used in the giving of thanks, and so forth, and we almost assume that we belong to a system of things by ourselves that God can own. But that is an entire mistake. We are in circumstances that are most humiliating, and we cannot get out of them. We are in the midst of a Christendom divided into a thousand fragments, in some of which, most, alas! Christ is dishonoured. It is not that one wishes to speak against any, but everything in Christendom is my responsibility, from Rome down. Can I get out of it? I cannot. I may get out of it in spirit, as we see here, by ascending. David got far beyond the reach of Absalom in his soul in this position, but Absalom was in Jerusalem nevertheless, or coming to it. The kingdom was in revolt. Can I ignore these things? No! If I am with God, I accept them.

There is nothing now that God can own publicly. David sent the ark back; he would not take the ark, he would not assume to represent what God owned in a public way. The ark belonged to Jerusalem, and Jerusalem was about to be captured by Absalom. You see the spiritual intelligence, the features of Christ in that. He sends the ark back; he sends the official priests back, and now he ascends (v.30). That is what we want to understand. The way out is by ascending. "But David went up by the ascent of the Olives", 2 Sam.15:30. But how ascend? With tears and head covered, and barefoot. I acknowledge in all these things that my feelings are moved; as Paul says, "I tell you even weeping" (Phil.3:18) as he thought of those who were the enemies of the cross. Head covered, what does that mean? It meant for David that he had been devoid of wisdom in his conduct; he had not only sinned, but he had been devoid of wisdom; he had been woefully astray in regard of wisdom and he covered his head, and his feelings were moved, and his feet were bare. Was not God delighted with him? He was, beloved. He was acting suitably, humbly; he was owning things as they were, but he was finding an outlet. What is the outlet? The outlet is in heaven. Hence you notice the repetition here of going up. He went up, he went up, and he went up until he reached the top. It was spiritual power in secret; spiritual power in the full acknowledgment of the position.

Now what I have said is for us. This passage in 2 Samuel 20 is for us in the present time. It is to show us how God has His portion in a day of brokenness and disaster. David goes up and he reaches the top. … the summit of the mount. What mount? The mount of Olives, the place of the Spirit of God. It is the power of the Spirit; Olivet generally signifies that. It is only thus that I can ascend, and in ascending and reaching the top to worship God.

It is worshippers thus indicated, as I believe you will agree, that God is seeking. Do not speak of worship, speak about worshippers – it is the persons God seeks, and David is representative here of those who worship God. You see in him what is comely and befitting in a day like ours.

J. Taylor Vol.28 pp.170-172