(ii) Edward Walkinshaw

2 Samuel 6: 11; 1 Corinthians 1: 11; 16: 15,16

There are three households referred to in these passages, beloved brethren, and no doubt the Spirit of God has recorded them for our teaching. They are brief references, but I think there is a point for all of us in each of them and at any rate for those of us who have households. In the first case we find a household which is blessed by Jehovah. It is our desire, and faith would say, that the household of our brother and sister will be blessed as they cherish the ark. Now the ark is a type of our Lord Jesus Christ, as most of us would know. The question arises with all of us as to whether we cherish Him in our households. The Lord would exercise us about this and at the same time encourage us so that He might have the first place in the household. Those of us who are older are challenged by that and I suppose that everyone is. It was only in the house of this man for three months. It was in the house of another man, named Abinadab, for many years. The question arises whether this man instructed his household. Did he give instruction to his two sons who drove the cart with the ark on it? He might have had opportunity to do so. Our family reading is most important - reading the Scriptures and prayer so that all of us, and especially younger brethren, may be instructed in the greatness of our Lord Jesus Christ. The ark, as most of us would know, was the same outside as it was inside, covered with gold. How wonderful is the person of Christ. If only Abinadab, who had the ark in his house for so many years, had taught his sons, one would not have ventured to touch the ark. He would have respected it and recognised that it was the centre of the divine system at that time. I wonder if we feel like that. I did hear a remark some time ago: Has the family reading and prayer in our households waned, or is it given up? Circumstances are difficult, of course, with the present pressure which many brethren are under, but I believe the Lord would exercise us that we might in our homes have some touch day by day about our Lord Jesus Christ, so that when we come to our assemblings we might know how to behave - not to be forward or, so to speak, touch the ark, but to learn to cherish it. I am sure that our brother and sister will keep this before them, so that Christ is cherished in their home and not given just a formal recognition. This of course applies to all of us. It says "Jehovah blessed the house of Obed-Edom". May all our households be blessed in this way and, in particular, the household of our brother and sister. May they keep Christ before them in their household and cherish Him as the ark was cherished in the house of Obed-Edom.

Then we have the household of Chloe. They were faithful, faithful I suppose to Paul. They were used of the Lord to bring Paul's teaching to the Corinthians, to correct, encourage and admonish them. I suppose they might well have suffered somewhat from the kings of Corinth for disclosing the details to Paul. Paul did not say, I have been advised of the divisions but I will not mention any names. He says, The house of Chloe have shown me. Faithful they were, as he was too. Not only may our households be blessed, and that of our brother and sister, but may we all learn to be faithful to the truth and to bring in Paul and his teaching. Christendom has departed from him. What about ourselves, dear brethren? Are there any features which show that we have departed from Paul? Are we somewhat like the Corinthians? The Lord would raise these questions with us, I believe, not to discourage us, but to encourage us on the right road, so that our households might be pleasing to Him.

The next household is one devoted to the saints. I can look around here and see those that are devoted to the saints for service; not devoted to service - that might make something of them - but devoted to the saints for service. I believe that as these things are kept before us the Lord would help and strengthen us in what has been called the divine standard as to Christ and the assembly. They will lead to it, I believe, and we all, and our young couple especially, would need to understand that no two persons can be an ultimate object for each other. They must, as one, have Christ as their object with His interests before them. That will minister to their own natural happiness in their home and in their relations both with Him and with the brethren. May the Lord encourage all of us, and again may I say in particular our young brother and sister as they set up their household, that they may be devoted to the saints for service. May it be so with them and with all of us for His Name's sake.