ADMINISTRATION (6)

^[p. 363] ADMINISTRATION (6)

1 Samuel 16:11 - 13; 2 Samuel 8:1,2; 2 Samuel 8:15-18; 1 Chronicles 23:1 - 6; 1 Chronicles 29:1-12; 1 Chronicles 29:23-25; 2 Chronicles 1:7-13

JT The phase of our subject tonight is the administrations of David and Solomon. It seems right to read these scriptures so that at the outset the brethren should have in their minds the magnificence of the administrations depicted, particularly in David and then in Solomon. It is not simply that these two men are mentioned as great administrators, but we can see that with both, Christ was in the mind of the Spirit. We, therefore, having the Spirit of Christ, are able to enter into the matter from the outset in having these scriptures before us.

A point of importance to notice is that in 1 Samuel, in approaching the truth as to David, the history of king Saul is recorded first to show how successful he was, although the spiritual eye can see that he failed, even at the outset, in not finding the asses. He failed in other incidents also, but particularly in the charge given to him to overthrow the Amalekites. He did overthrow them, but in doing so he disobeyed the word of Jehovah and failed in the most manifest way. He was told to destroy the Amalekites and all that they had, but instead of that he saved the best of the cattle and king Agag himself. He spared them because it was a question of the best, and it refers to nature’s best being spared. And so a solemn word has to be said as to him by Samuel in chapter 15:10, “And the word of Jehovah came to Samuel, saying. It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king; for he is turned away from following me, and hath not fulfilled my words. And Samuel was much grieved; and he cried to Jehovah all night”.

Then, when he said he had hearkened to the word of Jehovah and considered he had done very well, whereas ^[p. 364] he had disobeyed the word of the Lord, Samuel said to him, “Has Jehovah delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in hearkening to the voice of Jehovah? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, attention than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and self will is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, he has also rejected thee from being king”. This is all set out before we reach David the king, as he is called in Matthew; but it is surely that we all, as having part in this great service of administration, might aim at being faithful in pursuing the truth in our services. In doing so we are manifestly fulfilling the word of God. Our ministry should take the character of the word of God. So David, in contrast to Saul, is set before us here as one who is characterised by fulfilling the word of the Lord. It is said of him, in Psalm 89:20, “I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him”. And so it is said in chapter 16: 12, “And he sent and brought him in. And he was ruddy, and besides of a lovely countenance and beautiful appearance. And Jehovah said. Arise, anoint him; for this is he”. It is as if God was resting in David, the word meaning beloved. So it runs on, “And Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren”.

It seems to me the brethren would do well to start with this thought of his being anointed in the midst of his brethren. It says further, “And the Spirit of Jehovah came upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah”. It suggests that the matter is now in good hands.

RWS In chapter 13:14 Samuel says to Saul, “But now thy kingdom shall not continue: Jehovah has sought him a man after his own heart, and Jehovah has appointed him ruler over his people; for thou hast not kept what Jehovah commanded thee”. Would what we have in chapter 16 be the fulfilment of this word ^[p. 365] as to David?

JT Quite so. That was a prophetic announcement as to David although his name is not mentioned. We should all notice that, because it is an important matter. His name is not mentioned, but clearly he is mentioned; and it seems as if Saul must come in as a warning to us. All of us, as the Lord’s people, are engaged in some way in this great matter of administration, and we have the warning in the preceding scripture as to Saul. He seemed to do well at one time according to the narrative. It says in chapter 14:47,48, “And Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies round about, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines; and whithersoever he turned himself, he discomfited them. And he did valiantly, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of their spoilers”. Now it is remarkable that this could be said of him, and the natural eye would say that Saul did well. He appeared to be a successful king, whereas in truth he was not. He proved unfaithful, and it seems to me to be necessary that we should all pay attention to what is set out here, by the Spirit, before we actually reach David by name, and we should be warned in relation to our ministry, so that it can be said of us as it is said of David, that he did the will of God.

ANW Why should a man like Samuel mourn after Saul, seeing God had rejected him?

JT Does it not suggest to us that though in the main we are serving well, we may be influenced adversely at times? He mourned for Saul and Jehovah had to mildly rebuke him. Then he fails in discernment as to the eldest son of Jesse. It is said, “And it came to pass when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely Jehovah’s anointed is before him. But Jehovah said to Samuel, Look not on his countenance”. That shows that he was diverted in his mind. The best of us ^[p. 366] may be affected unless we are watchful, as the Lord said in the great servant gospel, “But what I say to you, I say to all. Watch”, (Mark 13:37). We are to be observant. And so in this book we have it said of Abigail, “Blessed be thy discernment”. Sisters are sometimes more discerning than brothers as to certain difficulties that may arise. Samuel recovered himself, and Jehovah helped him to do it, which He is always ready to do. Samuel, being fully recovered, says, “Are these all the young men?” verse 11. He soon fell in with the position when David came in. Jehovah says, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he. And Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren”. In a way we have to learn to anoint one another as we see from the scripture in Mark 14. The woman, who is doubtless Mary of Bethany, anointed the Lord’s head. It was not God anointing Him now, but she did it. So here, Samuel anoints David, though, of course, representing God in doing so.

APT Was Barnabas mistaken in regard to John Mark? Is there a danger sometimes of being mistaken as to whom the Lord may be using?

JT Quite so; and one good address is not sufficient to determine the fitness of one serving. “The Spirit of Jehovah came upon David from that day forward” gives the idea. The Lord sets us before each other; we are to be before God, of course. David was anointed in the midst of his brethren, and doubtless they all fell in with it in regard to David for the moment, so that if God is using a brother, we should discern it and fall in with it.

ANW It is remarkable how much is conveyed to Saul of Tarsus by Ananias at his conversion. He put his hands upon him and said, “Saul, brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus that appeared to thee in the way in which thou earnest, that thou mightest see, and be filled with the Holy Spirit”, (Acts 9:^[p. 367] 17).

JT The Lord needed to put Ananias right, also. He is always ready to put us right, and will do it in the presence of the brethren, too.

DP Why was David kept out of this important meeting? Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel, but David was not there.

JT I would say that Jesse was remiss spiritually. Where was David? Why did he not bring him with the others? Your own father, or your own wife, or your own son may be remiss, and this is often true in matters that come up. The very best of us may be remiss in these matters, and hence the warning we have here so lengthily set before us as to the history of Saul, after the apparently successful showing he made at the beginning.

JTJr Saul influenced the people generally, no doubt, and Jesse, as ignoring David, would be an evidence of this influence.

JT No doubt Saul would be an ideal in Israel. He was head and shoulders above his brethren — a distinguished young man — the people’s choice. But he was not discerning, nor was he discerned in his true character by the people, and this showed itself so often.

TNW Were you going to say something more about anointing one another?

JT Well, just in the sense in which the woman at Bethany anointed the Lord. She evidently anointed His feet, too. She had right thoughts. She had His head and His feet in mind. Anointing His head would refer to His ministry and His administration, and so we have in the Song of Songs 3:11, “Go forth, daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him”. It is the feminine subjective idea of anointing.

CAM I suppose the Corinthians were anointing one another in some sense. They were reigning as kings, but they did not appreciate the right Man.

JT Well that is apt to happen. We might be found ^[p. 368] flattering each other as ministers. I remember well enough many years ago when there was a set of brethren known as evangelists, and they knew each other, and had a sort of fraternity in themselves, but it all came to nothing. Of course, we are always liable to that sort of thing making special friends or placing special interest on special things in the sense of flattery.

AR Do you think that Barnabas anointed Paul in Acts 9? He brought him to Jerusalem.

JT Well, he committed himself to him. Paul needed him at the moment. He had no status in Jerusalem and Barnabas was a good brother. He took him and brought him to the apostles. On the other hand, Paul himself went to Jerusalem to make the acquaintance of Peter, because he recognised the leadership of Peter. God had given Peter a place, and he recognised it.

JAP To Timothy, he says, “Lay hands quickly on no man”, (1 Timothy 5:22). Would that support what you are saying?

JT Just so, I think that is good. It is right that we should recognise a man according to the gift and ability that he has. We read of leading men among the brethren, but we should not commit ourselves quickly. There should be the evidence in the brother of reliability, and when that is present, we should not be slow in being fully in line with what the Lord is doing in such a one.

TEH The apostle refers to having put his hands on Timothy, which would show how he committed himself to him.

JT He refers also to the imposition of the hands of the elderhood which refers to a plural committal. All these things enter into what we are saying. We see how Paul and the elderhood committed themselves to Timothy and it shows how we may commit ourselves to the brethren who are ministering faithfully.

CAM Do you think that one important thing to bear in mind is that gift is a universal matter? We might ^[p. 369] find in a certain part, that a certain one is anointed, perhaps without regard to the qualifications necessary and to the Lord’s thoughts in a universal way.

JT Just so; there might be personal selection or preference. There is no doubt that that entered into the feeling that arose between Barnabas and Paul when Barnabas selected John Mark. A heated feeling arose between those two well-known brothers; but then God singled out Paul, and He was with him. Barnabas, although he is recognised later, was out of the way for the moment; you might say that he was shelved for the moment. Well, we do not want that; hence we ought to be careful as to those who should be supported, and if there be anything to be corrected in any servant, it should be corrected.

SM Is a proper state found in chapter 13 of the Acts? When they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate me now Barnabas and Saul”.

JT Quite so; they were in accord with what the Spirit of God was doing, because that is the point there. It was the Spirit — not God nor the Lord. “The Holy Spirit said. Separate me now Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them”. And the brethren laid their hands upon them and let them go. But they were sent forth by the Spirit. The elders did not send them. That is another point of importance. While we would expect and look for a brother to have the approbation of the local company, he is to be directly under the command of the Spirit.

GP How do you understand David’s lamentation relative to Saul in chapter 1 of this book?

JT It is what might be called spiritual generosity. David was a great man morally as well as a great king. He made the most of Saul and Jonathan. Saul was God’s anointed. David respected the anointing and therefore he did not slay Saul. We need to watch what God has ^[p. 370] recognised at any time, such as in Saul or even Joab and be careful as to personal feelings arising. They had dedicated things to the house of God and they are recognised so that we cannot condemn them wholly. We cannot condemn Saul entirely. There was something good in him at first at least.

WWM Would you say it is important to think of David with the sheep? He was not exactly recognised at this meeting, but God had seen him caring for the sheep and saving them from the lion and the bear. These were the qualities that brought him out and qualified him to be an administrator later on.

JT That is good. “I have found David”. God did not wait until he was called in by Jesse to find him. God had found him long before. So it is that God finds every minister in secret before he is in that place; so it is with every brother that is taken up in service.

AEW In the book of Ruth it says, “And they called his name Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David”, chapter 4:17.

JT Just so. That is the first mention we have of David, and it is to show the line from whence he came. The first historical mention we have of David is in chapter 16, but he was found by Jehovah long before, which is a very important point. It says, “I have found David”. He did not wait for the meeting in chapter 16 to find him. He knew he was there. Indeed, from his birth he was found; and so with Paul; from his birth he was set apart by God.

JTJr I suppose it is instructive that David is immediately put in touch with Saul. He has to be near a man like Saul who has an evil spirit.

JT He is used of God to relieve Saul. It is a very remarkable testimony to grace. The evil spirit was driven away by the ministry of David; showing what a man can be before he is recognised in full.

FHL Immediately after the anointing among his ^[p. 371] brethren it says that the Spirit of Jehovah came upon David from that day forward. You would expect great spiritual acquisition after a brother is anointed among his brethren?

JT Yes; there was a little appreciation in the man who spoke of him, 1 Samuel 16. It would show that he, too, as well as God, had found David. We might read the scripture that alludes to it. It says, “And the Spirit of Jehovah departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from Jehovah troubled him. And Saul’s servants said to him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubles thee. Let our lord now speak; thy servants are before thee: they shall seek out a man, a skilful player on a harp; and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well. And Saul said to his servants. Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me. And one of the young men answered and said. Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skilled in playing, and he is a valiant man and a man of war, and skilled in speech, and of good presence, and Jehovah is with him”, verses 14 - 18. Recognition amongst the brethren comes gradually, and apparently it was not known by many that David had such qualifications, but this man who spoke so well of him did know. Jehovah found him before Jesse called him; and now this man has found him. It takes time for gift to come into full evidence and acceptance among the brethren, and we have to be patient. David had patience. So it is for all of us to heed the word in chapter 13 of Mark, which is the servants’ gospel: “But what I say to you, I say to all, Watch”.

AR When David comes in, the Spirit’s comment relates to what he is personally. Does that have a bearing on service?

JT Personality is a very great thing in service. We all cannot take part in the service on the platform. We ^[p. 372] are to be such as the brethren love; persons that are wanted in the houses of the saints, and persons who can help the saints spiritually.

APT Is there an administrative feature in feeding the sheep?

JT There is; it came out there, just as we have been noticing with Moses. He fed the flock of Jethro and led them to the right point, to mount Horeb, the mount of God, where they could get food and help. So that David is showing what he is. He is qualifying for the service of God; so that he left the sheep with a keeper when he had to go to the army. He said, ‘Is there not a cause?’ His brethren reproved him for going to the army, and leaving the sheep. What about those few sheep? they said. David had left them with a keeper. That is to say, he was an elder as well as a warrior. That is a thing that often comes before us; not simply what we are on the platform, but what we can do to help the brethren and save them personally.

APT We need to get around and see the brethren in their homes.

JT Quite so. We should now pass on to the second book of Samuel and then to Chronicles. The second book is to bring out how David served; how he administered; how he fought; how he carried on his wars; and how successful he was in bringing about subjugation. It is a matter of great importance that the spirit of subjection should be brought about in the saints by those who are leading amongst us. That is what was in mind in reading chapter 8 of the second book. It is said, “And after this it came to pass that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them”, verse 1. We have often noticed that in Joshua’s day it was not a matter of subjugation of enemies, but destruction; whereas under David there is grace to bring about subjugation. So the enemies became subject to David, and he set garrisons amongst them so as to subdue rebellion. It is a great ^[p. 373] matter in administrative service to bring about a state of subjection among the brethren.

CAM I suppose it needs great skill to counteract the expressions of will that are sometimes made. Will is, I suppose, one of the greatest difficulties we have to contend with.

JT If, instead of being subject to his brethren, a brother leaves, and says, he will not come back again, it is just that he is taking things into his own hands in self-will. Such people say, they are going out of fellowship, but that is more than simply leaving a few brethren; it is rebellion against God.

CFE It says in verse 2, “And he smote the Moabites, and measured them with a line”.

JT That is another thought. There was one full line to keep alive, and two lines to put to death. These are dispensational thoughts, I would say, but at the same time the spirit of grace is seen in the one full line by which David kept some alive. It is the power to keep alive spiritually. The bearing of the thought of putting to death now, in our case, would be simply that some must be withdrawn from, They are not fit for fellowship: but keeping alive is one full line. It is one idea of keeping the brethren alive.

RWS Would the way this chapter starts, “And after this it came to pass”, allude to the wonderful impression that David had of Jehovah as he sat before Him in the house. Does he come out in that spirit of grace?

JT Nathan’s chapter, which is chapter 7, precedes this. I was thinking of Nathan’s chapter, that we should read it, but there is hardly time. Nathan comes in to help the minister. There is a peculiar element in the service of God in Nathan the prophet. He represents the spirit of prophecy, which is for the good of David and his reign. The servant can count on the spirit of prophecy coming in to help him, and so in chapter 7,

verses 1 - 3, it is said, “And it came to pass when the king dwelt in his house, and Jehovah had given him rest round about from all his enemies, that the king said to Nathan the prophet. See now, I dwell in a house of cedars, and the ark of God dwells under curtains. And Nathan said to the king. Go, do all that is in thy heart; for Jehovah is with thee”. That is Nathan’s service, and undoubtedly the spirit of Nathan affected David’s heart. Nathan’s name means gift, and while he had to be adjusted, and David, too, as to who should build the house, yet he is in full sympathy with the desire of David’s heart. It is an element that helps the servant and imparts the right spirit to him. David is on a right line and Nathan supports him. This wonderful chapter precedes the one we have read, and I believe that it is morally before it as affecting the servant and making him fit for subjugation. And then he sets up a system of rule for the government of the nation. It was not simply that he was king or ruler, but he had officers; we may call it his cabinet, and its members are named in the latter part of the chapter. It is the system of David, as we might call it.

CN Verse 1 reads, “David took the power of the capital out of the hand of the Philistines”.

JT That is the idea of Rome. It is the idea of a central power by which the people are held in subjection. David took it out of their hands. In regard to our own position now, it would be to deliver the saints from metropolitanism. The full expression of metropolitanism is seen in Rome. The contrast to that and what is over against it, is Jerusalem which is above, which is our mother. Metheg-ha-ammah means the metropolis. It was the city, the capital, or mother city.

GP Would you say more is gained by subjugation than by destruction?

JT Surely; that is the contrast between Joshua and David: David preserved the people in subjection,

^[p. 375] although there are two lines for death. All that would be dispensational, but the thought that enters into the moment is the one full line for life.

ANW The end of verse 2 says, “And the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts”. It must be excellent administration, to subdue in such a way that they bring gifts.

JT That is the idea, I am sure. Chapter 7 is really magnificent. I would say that it is the most magnificent in 2 Samuel and, as remarked, it forms a background for David’s success in chapter 8.

AR In chapter 8 the kingdom is extended. The kingdoms of Moab, Ammon and Edom are all subdued.

JT It is universal testimony, because David was operating in relation to the Euphrates, the utmost point of the land that God gave to His people. David is going to take it all.

AR Will Christ claim all these territories when He comes to reign publicly?

JT Just so; when He comes. His reign will be universal, over against what has been in Rome, the modern Metheg-ha-ammah, the capital or mother city. The end of the chapter says, “^[p. 378] And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice to all his people. And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was chronicler;” (meaning he kept account of things) “and Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was scribe; and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief rulers”, verses 15 - 18. He made an excellent selection to support him in the kingdom. It is now not simply the reign of David, but the kingdom, which is an administrative system.

JAP Would these men be like Timothy, Titus and Luke who were with Paul?

JT Paul and his company would be the idea.

AR ^[p. 376] Does the kingdom of God involve a system?

JT It does. The kingdom is very prominent in Matthew and Luke, so that it can be seen that Christianity involves a system. Therefore, in Matthew it is not simply who was there, but what was there: “Behold, more than Jonas is here”, (Matthew 12:41). It is the kingdom, and it is energised by the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God is down here in the assembly.

JS David executed justice and judgment.

JT That is the point. He executed judgment and justice to all his people. He was a real governor. He tells us at the end of his reign what a king ought to be, he must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

DP In reference to the garrisons, would you say the apostle Paul in sending Titus to Crete would be setting up a garrison there?

JT I think so; I think they are like local assemblies as in contrast to the metropolitan idea. The Spirit of God has local spheres through which to maintain the order and rights of God so that the gospel might go forth. That is the idea in the garrisons.

RWS Does extending the kingdom to the Euphrates bear on our day?

JT I think so. I think the Lord is helping us. We have been speaking now and again about the young men. They are called conscientious objectors, but that is a poor description, although true. It is not enough for these young brothers, for they have done far more than objecting to taking life. They have borne testimony to the truth of the gospel and have gone all over the world. That is not for nothing. It is remarkable how the brethren have been made universal in their outlook and how the young men have spoken about the Lord and have been a witness to Him universally. That is remarkable to me and we are hopeful for all these young brothers, that the Lord will bless their service in all these places where they have been. We are to come out to rule,

^[p. 377] and morally we are ruling now with our influence. When we come home, what influence have we in our houses and local meetings? Hundreds of young men in the British Isles and in Europe and Australasia and America have been carrying the testimony with them and we ought to know how much we owe them. It is glorious to be able to recount it, especially in regard to England where there are far more of the brethren in the military forces than there are here. I believe God is using the influence they have had in regard to the general position among the nations.

AMacd Will that influence be carried on in sonship?

JT That is the idea; the grandest thought for us is sonship. God is bringing many sons to glory, and He is bringing them to glory now, so that they will be able to witness for Christ. The glory shines.

CAM The fact that there are in existence varied types of enemies does not mean that the saints have not the victory. The saints really have gained the victory.

JT It is remarkable how they have escaped morally and have come home undamaged to take their part in divine things. One has felt, as moving among the brethren, that God has preserved His people so that they have not lost, but have gained through recent years of pressure. The question now is for the younger men to work it out.

JTJr So that things have to be done, and the idea of a cabinet is to get the things done in the various departments. The younger men as now returning should be fitted by what they have been through to take on responsibilities.

JT That is very good. Let us notice the various departments that are suggested in the men that are mentioned by name. In verse 13 it says, “And David made him a name when he returned”. That would allude to the glory of God in the saints. And then we are told,

“And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice to all his people”, meaning that it was universal. “And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was chronicler”. Now, notice, there is a chronicler and a scribe as well, meaning an accurate account was taken of matters. Things are known and we can revert to them at any time. It is an important thing that we should be able to recall what is being done in the kingdom of God. Things come up constantly that may be taken up as models, or as establishing principles that stand, and this chronicler would be able to tell you what happened at a certain time which would correspond to what is happening now, which is always important. And then a scribe is an accurate man. There was a scribe and a chronicler. But then we are told that Zadok, who has great distinction and is carried forward into the book of Ezekiel, is the son of Ahitub. He and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was scribe; and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada (a good brother) was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites. Things are well looked after in the kingdom of heaven.

GVD Do you feel that the proceedings of assembly meetings should be recorded?

JT I would not like to make much of that, but it is well that we should carry them in our minds. As to this, I can recall a good deal that has been told me by persons who were eye-witnesses of what happened during the last one hundred years, and I have seen a good deal too. It is important that we recall things when certain conditions arise in administrative matters, so that illustrations can be given of how God came in at a certain time. We can count upon Him that He will do the same thing again, or maybe better.

WWM The Spirit brings things to our remembrance. “But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all ^[p. 379] things, and will bring to your remembrance all the things which I have said to you”, (John 14:26).

JT That is good. We should look now at the end of David’s kingdom and the divine side of things in his administration. We have referred to his wars, but the music and the ordering of the Levites, and above all the twenty-four courses of the priesthood, all came out under his administration. We have the twenty-four elders in the book of Revelation, which allude to the twenty-four courses, and the book of Chronicles leads up to establishment of these courses. We have a recapitulation in chapter 23: “And David was old and full of days; and he made Solomon his son king over Israel. And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites. And the Levites were numbered from thirty years old and upward; and their number, by their polls, man by man, was thirty-eight thousand. Of these, twenty-four thousand were to preside over the work of the house of Jehovah; and six thousand were officers and judges; and four thousand were doorkeepers; and four thousand praised Jehovah with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith”, verses 1 - 5. This is the beginning of the twenty-four courses of administration in service that are so famous throughout the history of Scripture, running into the book of Revelation, as remarked. It says, “And David divided them into courses according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari”, verse 6. Going back to Numbers, he carries out the administration under the number twenty-four.

CAM The book of Revelation seems to take us right on into heaven.

JT Quite so; the thing to see is what goes into heaven, because heaven is much larger than earth. We were speaking of it in prayer last night. It struck me very much that the earth can be measured. We have been speaking of the young men traversing it; but who can ^[p. 380] measure heaven? What a realm it is. The Lord Jesus has gone beyond all the heavens. Heaven is infinite, and therefore what is of God must go into that; what comes from God goes to God.

CAM Moses says, “From eternity to eternity thou art God”, (Psalm 90:2).

JT Quite so.

RWS What do the twenty-four courses represent?

JT Well, our brother reminded us that the book of Revelation takes us into heaven. The twenty-four elders are seen in heaven as well as the four living creatures, and they refer to eternity. It is a question of love, and how love operates, so that things are always right.

JTJr Would the key of David in Philadelphia be a link, too? The key must be a great thought.

JT I have often thought of the place David has in the book of Revelation. We have the key of David in the early part of the address to Philadelphia, and then, at the end, the Lord says, “I am the root and offspring of David, the bright and morning star”. The thought of David runs into eternity. The Lord sprang out of David, we are told; I mean, the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ is linked in that wonderful way with David in the book of Revelation. It is a question of the refinement that comes out in the administration of David.

AR What is the significance in changing from twelve to twenty-four?

JT Well, twelve is an administrative number but twenty-four is a double dispensational number. It is a number covering two dispensations. The idea of dispensation is God’s way of dispensing what He is Administration is the dispensing of what God is.

ANW Is the Lord greater as seen in David than is Solomon?

JT I would think so. I think, morally, David is the ^[p. 381] greatest thought.

ANW I thought your reference to this feature of his passing through into eternity would confirm that. Solomon would be more connected with the millennium.

JT It is remarkable that Christ is said to be the root of David. David sprang from Him, in that sense, but this link is remarkable.

FNW Does Paul, in effect, write David’s epitaph, bringing out the moral excellence of this dispensation? “For David indeed, having in his own generation ministered to the will of God, fell asleep”, (Acts 13:36).

JT What a great triumph that was! What a moral triumph! Jehovah said, beforehand, that he would do all His will.

JTJr Linked up with that is the thought of the psalmist, which comes in here, too. He is the sweet psalmist. He is not only administrative, but he is a man that can keep you occupied with good music.

JT Notice that the doorkeepers are the same number as the musicians, showing that if we are to have good singing, we must have good door keeping. The singing will not be maintained on the right level unless we see that the right material comes in.

APT Would there be a suggestion in John 20 that the singing would be good? The doors were shut.

JT Just so — “for fear of the Jews”. We must keep the legal element out.