BROTHERLY RELATIONSHIPS
D. J. Hutson
1 Samuel 16: 4–13 (to “his brethren”); 2 Corinthians 5: 16–18; Romans 8: 28, 29; Matthew 18: 15, 20
One thing, dear brethren, which has been very evident as we have been together, specially perhaps to those of us who have come from other parts and have not met many of our brethren here before, is the strength and affection of the brotherly relation. I felt it would be of the Lord that we should speak of our brotherly relations, not simply as to what they are for ourselves to enjoy, for we have all enjoyed these relations together over these three days, but to take account of them as to what they are as for God and for Christ; for the brotherly relation and the enjoyment of it is not. I think it would be right to say, an end in itself. It is something
which, as we know to our sorrow, the enemy is set against. After the fall of man, it says that Eve bore Abel his brother (Genesis 4: 2), and the number of times that Abel is referred to as
‘the brother’ is very significant. But Cain, it says, “was of the wicked one, and slew his brother”, 1 John 3: 12. Satan is against the brotherly relation and he would do all that he could to disrupt these happy relations which we have enjoyed together, but God is very jealous as to it.
One might just in passing refer to the prophet Amos, where there is judgment upon various nations in the first chapter, and as to them he says, “For three transgressions, and for four”
(Amos 1: 3), so it would seem that the fourth that is mentioned is that which brings about the irrevocable judgment of God. In relation to Tyre, it says the fourth was that he “remembered not the brotherly covenant” (Amos 1: 9), and as to Edom, that “he pursued his brother with the sword, and cast off all pity” (Amos 1: 11). It seems that that feature is peculiarly precious to God, and as it is attacked He has very severe judgment in relation to it. I say that in passing just to emphasise not the negative side but the positive side of the value of the brotherly relation as taken account of by God Himself. Elsewhere we were looking at Psalm 133,
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (verse 1).
Good and pleasant for us, but I believe it would be right to say it is good and pleasant for God because there He “commanded the blessing, life for evermore” (Psalm 133: 3). We have experienced something of it as we have been dwelling together in unity over these three days.
We have experienced the blessing of eternal life in these conditions that have been provided.
So I wanted to speak in relation to this scripture in Samuel, not so much as to the history that we often dwell upon, but just where I closed to note that it says that he was anointed “in the midst of his brethren”. It is a very striking thing when you consider it. First of all in
the chapter we get the rejection of Saul, then we get the rejection of Eliab, and then as to the others, “Jehovah has not chosen these”. You might say they are all put out of court, and yet they form an area where David can be anointed in the midst, the same persons whom Jehovah rejects. And that is why I read in Corinthians, because I believe they were brought in with a view to David having his place in the midst on the basis, as we would say according to the teaching in 2 Corinthians, of reconciliation. It says there, “So that we henceforth know no one according to flesh”, and later, “if any one be in Christ, there is a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold all things have become new—and all things are of the God who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and given to us the ministry of that reconciliation”. God has reconciled us to Himself; so in that sense, these brethren as coming into the gain of reconciliation were reconciled in order that they might be for God’s pleasure, and in order that they might form a place where David, Christ typically, could be glorified in their midst. So “the old things have passed away”. It does not say they will pass away. Now reconciliation is an accomplished fact, accomplished in the death of Christ and “the old things have passed away”, and if our brotherly relations are to be maintained, it is not as dwelling upon the old things. Sadly, as we know, we are still in a mixed condition and the old things in that sense may still raise their head; but as before God “the old things have passed away” and “all things have become new—and all things are of the God who has reconciled us to himself”.
So it says, “if any one be in Christ, there is a new creation”, and the secret of the preservation of brotherly links is to view one another as God views us, that is, in Christ, with the old things passed away in the light of new creation. And I believe it was on that basis, as we would apply it in the type, that David’s brethren were retained. Although in the first place rejected, as we might have read earlier, “that one died for all, then all
have died” (2 Corinthians 5: 14), they were all put out of court, yet on the other hand they were all retained in order that David might have his place among them. So it is not simply that these happy relationships are for our enjoyment, but that there might be a place where Christ may come and find congenial conditions and where His glory may shine. I believe it is right to say that all we receive in the way of blessing is to that end. We ourselves are not the end, and whilst we have much that we can be thankful for in the way of blessing, we need to see what the end is, and ultimately the object is God Himself. It is very important to see that.
I believe it has been referred to during the meetings as to the gospel. Many stop short at the side that the gospel is God for man, but the great point in the gospel is that man is to be secured for God. So we have to see these things. They are our blessings, how great they are, that come to us in the gospel, but they all have in view that we might be secured for God.
That is what redemption is. A person redeems what belongs to him. God asserts His claim over us in redemption, and also, as we are saying, He has effected reconciliation, whereby not only the distance between man and God has been removed but the man has been removed; and what now remains is that which is spoken of as “in Christ ... new creation”. I just bring this forward, beloved, that we might be concerned as to it. It would help us in our relations together to see that not only is it that we might have these happy times such as we have enjoyed together, but that we might be concerned as to what part there is in them for Christ Himself, and whether there is that suitably working amongst us that He might be glorified in our midst.
Well I read in Romans 8 because there again we have the wonderful fact that we have been predestinated to be “conformed to the image of his Son”. I suppose we could bring to mind what John says, “we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is”, 1 John 3: 2. But if we are to be like Him when we see Him as He is, it is in view of His place. Thank God for our place, as He could
say, I go to prepare a place for you (John 14: 3), and His place is our place in that sense. But then He must have His distinctive place, and if we are to be conformed to the image of God’s Son it is “so that he should be the firstborn among many brethren”. So that again, our blessing is in order that He might have that place, that He might be “the firstborn among many brethren”. And so I read the previous verse, “we do know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to purpose”. I used to think that you could take comfort from that, that however things may seem to be it will all come right in the end. But I think it is far more than that. What does it mean when it says, “all things work together for good”? I believe it means that God is working at the present time in view of these relationships being strengthened among us. You might say we sorrow, and we do, as to the numbers that once we walked with who are no longer available to us; but would I be here in Denton in a circle of affection all divine, among the brethren were it not for the circumstances through which we have passed, sorrowful though they have been? They are working together for good.
I believe it is a secret for us to go forward in these days, not to be occupied with what the enemy is doing and may have done in the way of scattering, but to see what the Lord is doing in it all. We shall see then that it is working together for good, and it is securing these blessed and happy relationships together, all in view of His having a greater place amongst us. So it says, “that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to purpose”. This is according to His purpose, marked out as we have been before time, chosen in Him before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1: 4), and, although for our infinite blessing, in order that He might be the Firstborn among many brethren. I bring this forward, beloved, and I feel the need of help in expressing the thoughts in one’s mind; but I think you will understand that we need to see the
grandeur, the greatness, of all that is involved so that we may not just be complacent in these relationships, but may see the value of them as before God and as in Christ. I believe there is a danger if we do not view them from that point of view, and sadly we may have seen the tendency to it, that the happy relationships we enjoy as in Christ may degenerate into what is merely social. May the Lord preserve us from it, but I believe it is as we view these relationships at this level, that we shall be preserved in them at the divine level, as we view one another in new creation as in Christ with the old things passed away.
I refer briefly to Matthew, and I do not want to be negative in relation to it at all. There are things which come in among us because of the condition in which we are, but I want to draw attention to the positive side, it says, “If he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother”. Let us be faithful with one another. If anything does come in, let us keep short accounts, keep short accounts with God. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness”, 1 John 1: 9. We have an Advocate with the Father, “he is the propitiation for our sins; but not for ours alone, but also for the whole world”, 1 John 2: 2. Let us keep short accounts in that respect; but what I had in mind here in Matthew is that we might keep short accounts with one another so that we might gain our brother and so that these conditions might be maintained. And again there is an objective in it. That is why I read verse 20, “For where two or three are gathered together unto my name, there am I in the midst of them”. You come back to it again that the brotherly relationships together are not an end in themselves, but they are to provide conditions where the Lord Jesus can say, “there am I in the midst of them”. May the Lord help us in these things, for His name’s sake.
Address at Denton
25 May 1998