“WHICH THINGS THE ANGELS DESIRE TO LOOK INTO”
NOTES AT A BURIAL
It is of great interest to us (as well as full of comfort) to see the Lord’s and also the Holy Spirit’s record of the interest which these holy beings take in what God is doing as to man on the earth. I refer especially to Luke’s writings, where the Lord is before us as Son of man, compare Heb 1: 14 and Eph 3: 10.
At His birth they chronicle the beginning of God’s good pleasure in men. It is the beginning of the second Man, Luke 2: 14 NT. “Good pleasure in men” refers to the new order—the second Man. Then at the beautiful threefold parable of Luke 15 (when the prodigal passes by faith from the first man to the second), they again witness and joy, in their measure, in the delight of God. They again come into evidence. “Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth”, Luk 15: 10.
But they reach the climax, I think, of their service and delight when the believer passes out of this world (by death) before the Lord comes. The angels come before us here again, but it is in their final service to the believer, Luke 16: 22.
“And it came to pass that the poor man died, and that he was carried away by the angels into the bosom of Abraham” Luke 16: 22 NT. The funeral, so to speak, started from his death-bed! and so it is now. So was it with our dear brother, lately here, and so will it be for me and for you, dear brethren, if the Lord does not come, for this in Luke is but a typical case.
From Helps for the Poor of the Flock—vol 20, 1915
‘Loved with the Same Love
Jesus, Lord, in full enjoyment
Of the Father’s love;
This is Thine eternal pleasure,
Now as Man above.
We—God’s house—Thou, Lord, art over,
Giving us to know
How we stand in all that favour
Known by Thee below.
No less measure, now we know it,
Now, Lord, as Thou art;
Here—there—in the Father’s favour,
Sanctified—apart.
Lord, this joy Thy love has given,
Passing human thought;
Joy, as men before the Father,
Thus Thy love has wrought.
God and Father! ’Tis Thy pleasure
That we now should be
Conscious of this present favour,
And eternally!
[note—The Father’s love is now set upon us, on the earth, as upon the Son when He was here.]
Weybridge
From Mutual Comfort—vol 9, 1916