THE VASTNESS OF DIVINE UNDERTAKINGS
THE VASTNESS OF DIVINE UNDERTAKINGS
JT This scripture suggests to us the vastness in the divine mind of the undertaking which is foreshadowed here. To ordinary eyes it would appear as if Solomon were going to build a huge city, so many men — one hundred and eighty-three thousand — were employed, and one would gather that the house of the dimensions given in the next chapter would not want a great deal either in material or builders. We must note the vastness of the undertaking in the divine mind, so that there may be a corresponding idea in our minds. The result may not appear as it is in the mind of God if we look on outward things; but the Holy Spirit would impress upon us that it is a very great and stupendous work. We have to look at the result in its intrinsic worth. What is foreshadowed here is intended to convey to us that what we are occupied with is very great. The question is, what have I to do? What am I employed in, occupied in? None of these men were to be idle, they were not to be in each other’s way, and there was no confusion. God would call attention to the greatness of the thing we are brought into; the building is still going on, and material is still being brought in. Material is not easily procured, it is not to hand. There is a vast undertaking on, and a great deal to be done. Perhaps there has been a little neglect of rough work, and religious zeal has lapsed as in the days of Ezra; they settled down then to a very quiet time, they dwelt in ceiled houses: it required energy to get material from the mountains. To go up to the mountains requires a good deal of zeal; it is rough work. Yearning after souls is seeking material.
[p. 257] The confession of Peter in Matthew 16 brought into sight the foundation. Matthew 15 is the rough work that preceded the stones being brought in. The woman there is not yet a stone but on the way to it. At the end of the chapter we read, we get stone-squarers; there were great stones and costly stones which the king commanded to be brought. Rough work is most important, but we do not care about it. God has His own estimate of things, it is a great undertaking. It is well to keep this in view, especially in a “day of small things”. Zechariah 4:10.
Ques Would occupation with such a chapter lead us to what is universal?
JT The Lord went out to the borders of Tyre and Sidon. The saints are not to be content with the children of the saints coming in; there is material to come from “regions beyond”. It is for us to consider how to get that material into the assembly. God would impress on us that we must not underestimate the work; the amount of workers shows us that. The apostles remained at Jerusalem, out of the region of material for the house. It involves exercise to go up to the mountain. Ephraim was given the hill country (Joshua 17); it was said to him, “If thou art a great people, then get thee up to the wood and cut down for thyself”. Joshua 17:15. If you are great, set to work and do something.
Ques What about sisters having part in the work?
JT Yes, we are all called to the work; it is a question of knowing what part I am to have in it. The overseers would indicate the differences in the work. The first thing is to accept the obligation, the next the levy. There are no volunteers, we are put under tribute; the obligation is put on us. We have our work cut out, and plenty of it. Matthew 13 gives the extent of the field — the world. We are too cramped; we should move out into the region of Tyre and Sidon. In the days of Haggai God said.
“[p. 258] Go up to the mountain and bring wood and build the house”; Haggai 1:8 and they did so. The prophet spoke and the people began to move. The dates show the rapidity of exercise and movement. If believers could but see the vastness of the undertaking! “Who hath despised the day of small things?” Zechariah 4:10. In these days it is a great thing to get light on what was the mind of God at the beginning.
Ques Are we slack because we are deficient in light?
JT We get the prophetic word. The prophets stirred up the people, and Haggai shows the result came at once. Let not your hands hang down; God will carry out His work in grace — who will join in? God is not asking for volunteers; it is an unfulfilled obligation if we do not join in the work. God will make difficulties disappear; the great mountain will become a plain; Zechariah 4:7. God is working with people. We want to get a sense of the extent and the greatness of the undertaking in God’s mind; it requires many workmen.
Ques What was the difference between the building of the house in Solomon’s days and the rebuilding in Ezra’s days?
JT Things are necessarily on a smaller scale in Ezra’s days; the main thing then is that we are not to let go the glory of the first house, that which was at the beginning. The latter glory of the house shines out now on our present position. We want the light of what was in Solomon’s days, but we work on in Ezra’s days and are encouraged as in the light of Solomon’s days. I think Acts answers to Solomon’s days, and Ezra and Nehemiah to 2 Timothy days. The overcomer in Philadelphia has the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven in view. You usually find in Scripture something in reserve, “He himself knew what he would do”. John 6:6. God kept John in reserve, and now we have the wonderful light of the city.
[p. 259] We do not always know even at the beginning of a reading what the Lord has for us, but the point is to give Him room. Peter might desire to have things a certain way, but the Lord says, “What is that to thee?” John 21:22. The Lord reserves His right to bring out His reserves. Daniel had more light than Ezra and Nehemiah, but he was not at Jerusalem. He was greatly beloved and he was given to understand what would befall his people at the end of the days, and it was said to him, “Stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent”. Daniel 10:11. John leaned on Jesus’ bosom. Who could have told that Saul breathing out threatenings was God’s man in reserve, but the Lord knew what He would do. Paul knew God had revealed His Son in him; he had great strength in hewing. The Lord says to Paul at Corinth Acts 18:10, “I have much people in this city”. The stones had to be squared! Paul said, There is much rough work to be done here; so he laboured there for eighteen months. God is with us today; the governmental conditions generally in the world are intended to help. When God works with us nothing interferes.
Ques Would the work at Corinth be rough work?
JT Yes, Paul preached “the word of God” there, he brings in the mind of God. David had prepared the material for the house, but it was reserved for Solomon to build it. He had been brought up in the affections of a son, and he had great conceptions of the undertaking. We get the beauties of the house more in 1 Kings 6.
Ques What would cutting down the timber be?
JT It was like Saul — he fell to the ground. Then Ananias brought him to the sea, as it were, and told him to be baptised. The timber was to be carried down in rafts on the water. The eunuch also accepted the water in baptism. We come out of death for the structure. God takes us out of death (Romans 6), we are baptised in the name of the Lord:
[p. 260] and in the truth of our baptism we commit ourselves to the Lord. Now Solomon is going to build and Jehovah gave him wisdom. He lays the obligation on all, he raises a levy. He sent them to Lebanon to be one month there and then two months at home. He treats his workmen with the utmost consideration. The Lord is not a hard taskmaster; He says, “Come ye yourselves apart ... and rest awhile”. Mark 6:31. He considers for us in our toil; He took rest Himself and sleep. A servant needs that: constant toil makes us hard in spirit, we lose the heavenly character; we need the home, the rest of the assembly. Solomon had great stones and costly. We come now to what he is doing, he is looking after the stones personally. They are not put in yet.
Ques What is the thought of the foundation?
JT Zerubbabel put the headstone on; Christ is the Foundation and the Headstone. We are at the end now; the Lord is putting on the headstone. The Lord is working at the finish, the grace of Christ is bringing all together, beautifying the house. As the corner Stone it is how He is known and held in the affections of His people. Wheat and oil in verse 11 suggest the Spirit of Christ that would give character to these activities. Wheat affords strength, oil is not anointing oil here, but food that gives heat, producing energy and thus promoting a good constitution.
There is an interesting touch in the last verse as to the stone-squarers — Giblites. They give the finishing touches to the stones. The chips are knocked off before we find our place amongst the saints. In the next chapter (verse. 7) we see there was neither hammer, nor axe, nor any tool heard in the house while it was in building. Stones were finished before they were brought to the house. Very few of the Lord’s people are built in. Living stones fit into their niche without giving friction.