THREE RALLYING CALLS
N. T. Meek
Isaiah 8: 20; Judges 7: 18; 2 Chronicles 23: 11
These scriptures have an exclamation mark connected with them. They are jubilant expressions, with maybe an element of a rallying call. Such calls have occurred in church history. There is yet going to be a real, wonderful, powerful call, about which we have sung (Hymn 380) when the Lord comes and His own are called away. Let our hearts dwell on it, beloved, and not only the rapture but the appearing.
This scripture in Isaiah is a call to the law and the testimony, it is important and we need to be reminded of it. The law has authority and what is always needed is that our words and actions should be governed by the law and the testimony, and where this is so we are largely freed of confusing elements and side issues. We are governed by God’s law and are here for His testimony; for this we need to be devoted. Mr. Darby spoke of a lack of devotedness among the brethren and he mourned it. He said it goes with authority but, in stressing authority we are not to forget the call to be devoted. He feared that we might have the terms so clearly, good as that is in itself, but we also needed to be devoted to Christ. A believer might be able to speak about the ground of fellowship, but there is also need to hold in devotedness what is committed to us. Mr. Darby feared that the devotedness was being lost.
The truth should have such a sway amongst us that we are preserved from evil. The testimony is something which is seen, and in the lives of believers there should be something that is seen, held in devotedness to Christ and to the truth.
We need to think of our localities. What can be said of our own locality? Think of the week-night meetings.
It seems that there is at, the moment peculiar pressure and stress in business and commerce.
At one time it was factory workers who had to work overtime, but now it has become common in other occupations, and one fears what a hold the practice might get. It could lead to evening meetings becoming almost extinct. One fears to see it happening—“To the law and the testimony! If they speak not according to this word, for them there is no daybreak”.
We do not want to be lost in the darkness; we speak in affection but let us go by the principle of law and we must maintain the testimony.
In Judges 7 there is a very peculiar set of circumstances. It is an interesting book, things do not go the expected way. The power of Midian affected the people of God and they were impoverished. Gideon was a humble man; he asks about the dew on the fleece. Then numbers come down to three hundred men. How many of us are thoroughly committed to the Lord?
Someone used a hammer (see Judges 4: 21), another the jaw bone of an ass (see Judges 15: 15), but in this matter God seems to take things up Himself. This chapter speaks of a cake of barley-bread falling into the camp (see verse 13), an unusual procedure; it has been likened to the Reformation and Luther. He made a stand and some things he held and did were irregular but nevertheless God blessed it. The cake of barley-bread tumbled into the camp and came to the tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it; and the tent lay along. All this is God’s acting, let the glory be His! Now there is this call, “For Jehovah and for Gideon!” (verse 18).
I do not know that we are ever called to any man save Christ; let Him be our object and theme! We are not called to any other name, not even Paul, but we are indebted to faithful men, and to persons of this character represented by Gideon who preserve and sustain the saints in days of pressure. We could say, ‘For Jehovah, and for those who preserve and feed the saints!’ Find them in your own locality, those who are committed to feeding the saints, and maintaining the Lord’s just rights.
There should be concern about that element in the locality, persons who are strength and support. There should be no question about our appreciation of Jehovah, and there should be no question about our appreciation of that element which takes the brunt of things in our locality, they are to be supported, not undermined. We should appreciate and value those who undertake this kind of work in our localities. Priestly persons need constantly to be strengthened, to be supported; I am speaking of the principle of it. We are obligated to provide food that strengthens the priest (see Deuteronomy 18: 3, 4). Faithful men keep our localities; truly faithful men would also be affectionate, both characteristics are to be in one person.
Most of us could sketch the background of the scripture in Chronicles. Things were not too healthy in Israel at this point. A woman, Athaliah by name thought she had destroyed all the king’s sons. But there was another woman, Jehoshabeath, who had taken one of the king’s sons and hid him for six years. Athaliah did not know that this son had escaped. These two women might have passed each other in the street. Athaliah would pass Jehoshabeath unaware of the true situation, but, after passing, Jehoshabeath would perhaps quietly smile.
She was in the secret. The son who had escaped, Joash, was to her “the hidden man of the heart”—the hidden son was treasured. Jesus should be that to us, “the hidden man of the heart”, 1 Peter 3: 4. That is what a believer finds that Christ is.
The time arrived when the matter came into the public eye, and this young king is to be put on the throne, and Jehoiada the priest sets the matter going. The great point was to get this young king established on the throne. Everything proceeds and “they brought forth the king’s son, and put the crown upon him, and gave him the testimony, and made him king ... and said, Long live the king!” Is there anything that corresponds to that? Yes, the Lord Jesus is hidden, but He is not going to be
hidden always. There will be a day when He will come out in public display. There will be believers who will say, “Long live the king!” Will you be able to say, “Long live the king!”?
Some will be able to say it more deeply than others. We do not want to be ashamed at His coming. Who will have the strongest voices to say in that day, “Long live the king!”? I think it will be those who have been faithful to Him in His absence. There will be persons who have suffered in the time of His hiding and they will reign with Him. I would like to be able to say it whole-heartedly rather than with a feeling of shame. How many opportunities we miss, we cherish Christ in our hearts, but fail to speak of Him when we could. Let us not be ashamed at His coming. Let our lips take up the call “Long live the king!”, because personally He is even more wonderful than His reign. May we all be helped to keep that coming day in our affections, for His name’s sake.
Substance of an Address at Bexley
5 October 1991