WISDOM - THE HANDMAID OF LOVE

WISDOM - THE HANDMAID OF LOVE

1 Kings 8:1-9; 1 Kings 8:22-28; 1 Kings 10:1-9

SMcC We were noticing in Nelson last weekend the dignity and greatness of the position that comes into view in relation to Solomon. He sets out the great thought of sonship, and the whole system of things in the opening chapters of 1 Kings in relation to Solomon’s regime, suggests in type the greatness and magnificence of christianity from the heavenly viewpoint. It is important that we should understand the greatness of christianity as presented in Christ in the assembly from the heavenly side, because we are formed generally by what engages us; and one thing to be noted too in relation to Solomon is this great feature of wisdom which seems to mark the position established in relation to him. I think that we need to understand this feature more. There would be a difference between light and wisdom. I think that the more sonship is apprehended according to the mind of God as characterising the dispensation, the more the resource linked with wisdom will be seen in operation amongst the saints in the solution of all the administrative matters. The legal system would train the legal mind to think along certain lines and would like precepts to guide and a book of definitions in administrative matters; but in Solomon’s regime we are impressed with the dignity of sonship, with which is linked this great feature of wisdom. Wisdom is the handmaid of love, and where you get sonship apprehended and enjoyed among the saints and love operating, we may expect this quality of wisdom in the local gatherings in the working out of the truth, especially on the public and administrative side. You will remember that in chapter 7, verse 13, it says, “And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre. He was a widow’s son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass, and he was full of wisdom and understanding and knowledge, to do all kinds of work in brass.” I think it would be apparent to the brethren that there is help needed in the works of brass, for while Solomon’s regime involves remarkable dignity and glory, yet the works of brass contemplate the moral question, the working out of things on the moral side. Solomon did not give the man a blue-print or a chart to operate by; it says of the man that he was full of wisdom and understanding and knowledge to do, that is, not to lecture or write a book on the subject, but to do all kinds of work in brass, especially alluding to the vessels that were in the court. I think we need to see this quality appearing on the Solomonic side where sonship is so prominent and casting its influence over the whole realm. Where it is apprehended and enjoyed among the saints, and all the liberty and the dignity that goes with it, we should expect wisdom in operation.

DAI Is this consistent with the poor wise man who delivers the city?

SMcC Well, that quality of wisdom would be seen there, in the way that he operates. Wisdom is particularly referred to, with him.

JR Is it striking that at the beginning of chapter 2 where David said to Solomon, “Thou art a wise man,” he gives instructions in connection with Shimei and the others? I wondered if you would connect that with the works of brass in a moral way.

SMcC Well, they are connected. The moral question enters into the works of brass. They seem to have a great place in Solomon’s system, especially the abundant provision for the administration of cleansing, in the sea and in the ten lavers. I thought we might see first of all, in the first section that we read, the great place that Solomon has, the matter of assembling to him which seems to be stressed so much. Then we see the place that the ark has, the paramount concern being in the opening verses as to the ark being in its place. Then in the middle of the chapter we note the great concern of Solomon and the provision that he, as a type of the Lord Jesus Christ, would seek to make, for all that might come into the dispensation, covering every matter in his intercessory service. Then in the last section we see the way the work of God appears in such as the Queen of Sheba represents, especially her appreciation of wisdom, to which she refers. She had heard of Solomon, and it says, verse 7, “The half was not told me: in wisdom and prosperity thou exceedest the report that I heard.” Then the end of verse 8, “Who hear thy wisdom.” All this stresses the great feature of wisdom. The end of verse 6 too, “It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thine affairs, and of thy wisdom.” I think that wisdom is an important quality to take account of in relation to Solomon.

RGC Is the thought in their being assembled, their coming under his influence? In 2 Chronicles 10, those who came under his influence were those that gave the right advice, were they not? “And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived.”

SMcC You notice the great place that he seems to have. I suppose Solomon is a type of Christ in one way and the ark is a type in another way. It says in verse 1, “Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the princes of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark,” then in verse 2, “And all the men of Israel assembled themselves to king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim,” and then in verse 5, “And king Solomon, and all the assembly of Israel, that were assembled to him;” it is remarkable that we should have so much made of this thought of ‘assembling to him.’ Perhaps you would say a little more as to what is involved in “assembling to him.”

SMcC I think it involves what you were referring to, the strengthening in our minds of the importance of Solomon, in the way in which he is presented here.

CAI Would it be according to 1 Colossians, the Father translating us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, then the greatness of the Son enlarged upon?

SMcC He becomes a rallying point, a focal point - a great thing to notice in relation to the truth from this viewpoint. Colossians being a critical letter, dealing with the saints in a critical position, it is important that Christ should be projected on to the view in spiritual ministry, with a view to the saints being helped over that critical juncture.

CAI So that it is not just to meet our individual setting in responsibility with liberation and deliverance as in Romans, but to help us when we come to take up collective exercises among the saints assembly-wise, as Colossians would bring before us.

SMcC So that you get the word in Colossians, “Let the word of the Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another.” Colossians is to stress this matter of wisdom; especially as the saints are shut up in Christ. They are complete in Christ who is the Head. Human wisdom must be shut out. Christ is the One who is to be apprehended as Head and no doubt for the assembly, that enters into the teaching here. The movements are governed by Christ in type in this way, as giving direction.

CAI Paul says to them, “That no one may delude you” and so on. There were certain things that we may be deluded by but not if Christ is in His place before us.

SMcC Well, exactly, so that this portion would especially stress Solomon as the assembling point. We need to be delivered from man, from man’s way of thinking and doing. The enemy would constantly divert us through man’s way of thinking, whereas the headship of Christ is to characterise matters in the assembly.

FMcC So in Chapter 3 in connection with the saving of the child alive it says, Israel “Saw that the wisdom of God was in him.”

SMcC A remarkable statement in that relation, the way it comes to light, not first of all in what he writes but what he does, his way of operating. I think that this quality of wisdom is a great one, it enters into creation. In the mediatorial operations of God in creation, it entered there, wisdom was there, but is seen now in a prime way in the great vessel that is in mind, in the type here, in Kings, in the assembly.

WHW Would you say wisdom is a feature that enables us to use knowledge?

SMcC Exactly. It is a resource, a feature of divine resource that enables us to apply light in regard to given circumstances, to work out light in regard to given exercises and circumstances.

WC The all varied wisdom of God, it speaks of, worked out in the saints.

SMcC Yes. Ephesians 3 refers to that in relation to the assembly. Constantly matters arise which become a challenge to us as to the working out of light that we have had. Well, that is where wisdom would come in.

WHW So that James speaks of the necessity of it, “If any one of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God.”

SMcC James would be very practical about the matter and about matters in general; and you feel especially in regard to the side of working out things practically, we need to seek this feature of wisdom more and more.

AM “Who has been made to us wisdom.” Christ is available in that way, our resource at every point.

SMcC It is interesting how Paul begins the Corinthian letter with reference to Christ in that way; He is “made to us wisdom, from God, righteousness, and holiness, and redemption.” So that the saints are fully furnished from Paul’s viewpoint, in the local position.

Ques Does Paul, bringing in the cross in 1 Corinthians 1 do away with the wisdom of this world? The wisdom of the wise according to this world, the cross would meet that, would it?

SMcC The truth of the cross is to exclude and to eliminate the wisdom of men. There were those that were developing their own wisdom at Corinth and the word of the cross was brought in to put out of court the natural mind, because the place where our Lord was crucified was Golgotha, the place of a skull.

WHW Have you in mind in assembling to Solomon, the people had a sense of the necessity of coming into the gain of this wisdom?

SMcC That is what I thought that the repeated allusions to the assembling to Solomon would suggest to our minds the importance of making way for Solomon in this light, and what marked Solomon, especially as we take account of the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, the wealth of wisdom that lies in Solomon in relation to practical matters.

LF It is not without significance that we have the woman of worth at the end of Proverbs.

SMcC It is a natural sequence to what comes out in the teaching in the book, that there is one that comes on to our view in whom the resources of wisdom would be expressed on the feminine side. They are presented in Solomon on the masculine side but they come to light in the woman of worth on the feminine side. On the masculine side, in what is presented in Christ, there is no difficulty; where the difficulties come in, is in the working out of the things in the assembly.

CAI In 1 Corinthians 15 where Paul refers to the distinctions of glory, the glory of the heavenly, the glory of the earthly, he brings in to view the heavenly One and says, “Such also the heavenly ones.” Does this indicate that our assemblies need to be in the recognition of the heavenly?

SMcC Because the heavenly side in the type is stressed in the teaching throughout here; and the more we understand the heavenly side of the truth in Ephesians, the more we shall be helped to work out the Corinthian side.

GWB Would you say a little more as to what you said earlier, as to wisdom being the handmaid of love.

SMcC Well, I think that we shall find that where sonship is enjoyed among the saints, and where love is free, in its movements and operations, you will find the handmaid right by in wisdom.

DRT Is there a power of attraction lying behind their assembling to him?

SMcC Well, that is important to notice in relation to ourselves. You get Solomon’s service stressed in the first verse of the 8th chapter, involving the elders of Israel, the heads of the tribes, the princes of the fathers. It is a great thing that these elements should come under Solomon’s influence, and Solomon sees the prime effect of their so coming. Then it says in verse 2, “And all the men of Israel assembled themselves to king Solomon at the feast in the month of Ethanim.” Now the seventh month is to be noted as we have perhaps noted before. It is the climax of the agricultural year, which as the brethren in this area would know better than I do, has to do with the crops. It is the month of the feast of tabernacles when the fulness of the harvest is reached and the enjoyment of it is in mind. So you find that all the men of Israel assembled themselves to King Solomon at the feast in the month of Ethanim, that is the seventh month. We find the men of Israel answering to the light or the direction presented in verse 1, and then the state of the saints coming up in relation to their movement in verse 2.

Ques Would this assembling be in relation to the purpose of God regarding Solomon - Christ as Son over God’s house?

SMcC Well, the purpose of God would underlie the whole position in Kings in regard to the house; but I think in verse 2 the feast in the month of Ethanim is a question of how the saints are getting on in their souls. How are the saints here and elsewhere getting on in the truth? It is the state that marks the saints which the agricultural year suggests; that is, the yield and development on the subjective side among the saints.

CAI What kind of crops we have?

SMcC What kind of crops we have; that is an important thing.

DAI It is an important consideration in view of the bringing forward of the basket of first fruits.

SMcC Well, it would be. The service of God is sustained by the richness of the agricultural year; but then the practical conditions among the saints are prospered through what enters into the agricultural year.

WHW You mean that there has been a spiritual ministry now, what has been the result? - it comes to light in the seventh month.

SMcC That is what the seventh month would raise with us. We have been going over the wonderful character of the ministry in the earlier part of the book; but the seventh month brings us up another side, that is, there has been much sowing as we know in these closing days of the dispensation, we have been under a remarkable ministry as to the service of God, as to Christ and as to the Spirit and as to the assembly. Now what kind of crop is coming about? That is the question the seventh month would raise.

GWB Would Gideon have something of this in mind in threshing wheat in the winepress?

SMcC Well, he was concerned about the people of God, that the food supply might be preserved from the hand of the enemy, and God honoured him for it.

WC The object of this gathering you referred to in Solomon was to bring up the ark of the covenant. Would you help us as to that?

SMcC Well, I think it is the grace of the system. The ark of the covenant stresses the great resources of grace in the system and it is important that we should understand the position from that viewpoint too, “Thou therefore, my child,” Paul says to Timothy, “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” that is what characterises the position in the last days; not only that on our side we depart from iniquity but we are strengthened for it in our constitutions on the principle of being strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. That is the ark of the covenant, that has a governing place here.

RGC So that James helps in this thought of wisdom being a handmaid of love. He describes the wisdom from above, it is first pure then peaceful, gentle, yielding, full of mercy and good fruits and so on. Is this the kind of wisdom we want to operate, especially when we come together for care meetings?

SMcC Exactly. So this word in verse 3 is to be noted. Now we have not previously had a word about the priests, in the first two verses there has not been a word about the priests; but notice how it reads in verse 3, “And all the elders of Israel came; and the priests took up the ark.” I take it that the priests suggest those, in the type, who have the Spirit and in whom the principles of wisdom would be seen operating, as having the Spirit and capacitated to think and to act for God. So they come in to the position without, as it were, a word. You see in verse 1 it is Solomon assembling the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the princes of the fathers, to bring up the ark; but when you come to verse 3 it says, “And all the elders of Israel came; and the priests took up the ark,” showing how intelligence is operating, not as in the new cart, which provided such disastrous results in David’s time, but the priests immediately move in and it says they took up the ark.

Rem The priests’ lips keep knowledge and at his mouth they seek the law.

SMcC They had knowledge of the law, they knew what to do and they knew how to do it. Luke stresses the priestly side. You will remember it says of the women they saw how the body of Jesus was laid. That is the way things were done.

Rem Further down the Levites were also brought in, the latter part of verse 4.

SMcC Yes, that is an added feature; it says, “And they brought up the ark of Jehovah, and the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent: the priests and the Levites brought them up.” As we proceed in the chapter, the truth takes on greater fulness.

WHW Is that working out in type the thought in Colossians, “ye are complete in him”? I was thinking as coming to Solomon there were the elders and the elders know their place. They do not interfere with the priests in their place and the priests know their place.

SMcC That is how it works out. So that the assembly becomes a wonderful realm in that way under the influence of the headship of Christ. Persons are functioning without one interfering with another, matters are proceeding in an orderly way. The month Ethanim, the seventh month, especially stresses a good state amongst the saints, that is promoting these kind of movements. It is a basis for these kinds of movements.

WHW There would be room here for the thought of “seeing your order” too would there not?

SMcC We have it in Colossians. What a great delight to Paul to look out upon the Colossian saints and think of them in that light.

LF If we think of our weekly history here we think of the saints characteristically gathering or assembling together to break bread. Would that come in here with the thought of assembling to Solomon?

SMcC Yes, that would come into the position because it is seen in a special way in the Lord’s day morning, the first day of the week. But one is not thinking of it particularly in relation to a special meeting, although it enters in a peculiar way into that time, because the Lord’s Supper is the fountain-head of all the gatherings; the service of God flows out of it; the preaching of the word of God and all the meetings during the week flow out of it. One is speaking of the teaching here in a general way where the ark is being brought into its proper position in the house of God; that is, Christ is being brought into the position that is rightly His. The ministry that is directing towards this end is linked with Solomon as the King.

CAI You referred to the thought of grace in connection with the ark, would you say some more about that.

SMcC Well, I think the covenant brings in the fixed purposes of God to bless. The covenant reminds us of that, the Lord brought them out from Egypt and they were brought to Himself and at Mount Horeb He unfolded the disposition of His heart toward them. He brought in what was in His mind and heart to them in the ministry of Moses there; and the ark of the covenant stands peculiarly linked with that side of things.

ATS So would the title, “in Christ Jesus,” have special force in that connection, in a day of brokenness?

SMcC Yes, it would seem to characterise the whole of 2 Timothy, would it not? In nearly every chapter there is an allusion to it.

WC In verse 4 it is referred to as the ark of Jehovah, would you help us as to that?

SMcC The ark of Jehovah is specially stressing its relations with God, not so much its relation to the people; the covenant brings in the people, it is obvious that God would make no covenant in relation to Himself. The covenant bears on the people but the ark of Jehovah represents peculiarly what Christ is to God.

CAI Would it imply the embodiment of all those thoughts and feelings in the heart of God towards us expressed in the person of Jesus?

SMcC Exactly. And the tent of meeting is brought up with it and all the holy vessels that were in the tent; the priests and the Levites brought them up. They are not instructed or told to do it but they do it showing the intelligence that enters into this movement. They are not going to leave one thought behind, all the wealth that has gone before is gathered up and brought into the position.

DAI Is it done without any set order or form, but done through instinct or through spirituality?

SMcC I should think more spirituality than instinct because when we come to headship it involves intelligence in the saints, that is spirituality, making room for the Spirit. Instincts would, of course, enter into it too, basically, but I think the importance of the feature of wisdom is that the saints are affected intelligently, and they know what to do, they know how to bring in divine thoughts, those that are needed at the right time, and in the right circumstances.

GAA In connection with this matter of things having to be done and Solomon being the focal point, I was wondering if the verse in Matthew 25 might fit in with what you have in mind; it says, “And the King answering shall say to them, Verily, I say to you Inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it to me.” Would that fit in with the line of thought that you have?

SMcC Say something more as to what is on your mind.

GAA Well, I thought the point seems to be that things are to be done, and the true Solomon being the gathering point; so that I thought that scripture would emphasise what can be done as under the Lord Himself.

SMcC Yes, it is very interesting in that section; the sessional judgment is before us there. It is making way for the introduction of the world to come with all that is linked with it on the Solomonic side; and of course the treatment of the messengers would be their treatment of Christ; so that the Lord is the focal point you mean, in the matter there.

FW I was going to ask a question as to “all the holy vessels”?

SMcC It shows the importance of having all the truth in our minds, not just part of the truth. It says, “And the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent”; now that represents all that stood related to the ministry of Moses. It is not called the ministry of Moses here but it is all that stood related to the ministry of Moses and it is brought forward and fits into the position that we have here - the priest; and the Levites intelligently doing what is required.

TRH So that while Leviticus and Deuteronomy would give us divine principles in their orderings, would wisdom make these divine principles function in a sphere of divine grace?

SMcC Well, that is exactly what is in mind. Wisdom is the great feature that we need, as to how things are made to operate. Light opens up the mind of God to us as to the truth, and as to principles; but wisdom is essential as to how the truth is to operate,

and that is the difficulty with us; I mean there is no lack in the truth. We have all the ministry and we have all the light as to the truth and principles; where the difficulties constantly come in is on the line of wisdom, as to how to make the truth operate.

TRH Paul called for it in Corinth. One wise man he called for.

ATS I do not want to divert but I wondered if you would say a word as to the quality of spiritual understanding in connection with what you are saying. The three are mentioned in Colossians; wisdom, knowledge and spiritual understanding. You have been speaking of wisdom in relation to knowledge or light; but how does the other quality fit in with things in the working out of matters administratively. The thought of spiritual understanding, how does it fit in with the working out of things. What does it mean?

SMcC You remember the reference in Ephesians to the being renewed in the spirit of your mind. Spiritual understanding I think links with that and with what our brother was saying as to what is instinctive, not with the early instincts in the believer in regard to the moral question as in Romans, like Jacob taking his brother Esau by the heel; but more what is instinctive on the principle of “We have the mind of Christ,” that is we have the thinking faculty. It is one thing to have the thoughts, but having the mind of Christ means that we have the faculty. I think spiritual understanding links with that kind of thing. Wisdom is the resource but understanding links with the faculty. We have got the right way of thinking and working out the truth.

LF Would John 20 help us? The words say there “As the Father sent me forth, I also send you.” Then he breathed into them. I was thinking of the manner in which things are done and the ability to do them.

SMcC I see, the ability to do them. The Spirit in that way helps us as to spiritual understanding;

it is a quality in the saints which is a great feature marking both the Colossian and the Ephesian letters.

GW Is it that wisdom is profitable to direct in this matter?

SMcC Wisdom is resource, understanding is not quite resource in that setting. Understanding involves our apprehension. Wisdom does not exactly involve our apprehension; it enters into the working out of what we apprehend.

WHW In assembly matters does the resource of wisdom mean that the brethren are never held up?

SMcC Exactly. That is the point in wisdom. Wisdom means that we are not baffled, we do not reach an impasse. Wisdom being the handmaid of love, there is always a way through in working the truth out.

Rem “To one ... the word of wisdom,” it says.

SMcC Well, that is what there is in the assembly, what is under the Spirit’s hand, that may be something that is needed for the particular moment, because, in the assembly, in the mystery involving Christ and the assembly we have the wealth and fulness of wisdom. A remarkable thing, as it says in Colossians “In which” not “in whom” but “In which are hid all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge.” Knowledge means the understanding of the divine mind but wisdom involves how it is going to work out.

DRT Proverbs 1: 2 - 3, “To know wisdom and instruction, to discern the words of understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom.” Wisdom is instruction in the working.

SMcC Well, it is.

WHW Do I understand that you have in your mind that any local company has this wisdom, it is available to them irrespective of whether there is a gift of wisdom in that company or not? That is a different thought, is it not?

SMcC That is another side. It is a question of what is in the assembly. The great resources that are linked with the assembly, from the Colossian viewpoint, in which (that is the mystery) are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

GWB Would this preserve us in a matter arising that is difficult, from doing what someone may think, instead of waiting on the Lord that the truth might be brought to bear in the power of the Spirit, as giving an answer to the question in mind?

SMcC We should understand how to make way for wisdom flowing from Christ in His headship, typified in king Solomon. We should make way for that amongst us so that it may operate in the solution of matters.

GWB Is not our difficulty that we are too prone to lean on what someone may think?

SMcC Well, that is native to all of us.

WHW Wisdom is said to have treasures.

SMcC Yes, they are to be brought out.

CAI Understanding would come in, in the recognition of the headship of Christ and all that is there in Him. As we have understanding in that connection there would be the availability of the resources that can be brought to bear on any matter.

GAA The sisters would have a valued part in this drawing out, would they not?

SMcC Certainly. That is the great value of the assembly in the light of Colossians involving the brothers and the sisters. It says of the mystery in that epistle that in it are hid all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge. So that as the saints stand related to one another and to Christ in a dependent way, you would expect some of these treasures to come out.

BI In our difficulties would you encourage us to be restful in waiting on the Spirit in regard to a word of wisdom. We are furnished as well in this locality as we would be anywhere.

SMcC Yes, from the standpoint in which we are speaking of it. Of course that would not preclude help through gifts of government that the Lord may have in His own provision set in the assembly. It does not militate against that, in fact it makes room for that to operate, but we should be concerned to see the resources that there are in every local company, to work out matters for themselves.

Rem So that basic to this Christ is made unto us wisdom.

SMcC Yes. Paul says in 1 Corinthians that God has made Christ wisdom unto us, but the difficulty with us comes in the understanding of that, the working out of that.

CAI What would you say as to Paul’s combat as he refers to it in Colossians 2 as bearing upon this matter of wisdom? He combats to the end that their hearts might be encouraged, being united together in love. Does combat imply that there are forces that are working against us in this respect?

SMcC He finishes chapter 1, verse 29, “Whereunto also I toil, combating according to his working, which works in me in power. For I would have you know what combat I have for you, and those in Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in flesh; to the end that their hearts may be encouraged being united together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the full knowledge of the mystery of God; in which are hid all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge. And I say this to the end that no one may delude you by persuasive speech.” That is, Paul is seeking to draw their attention to the greatness of what there is in relation to the mystery, Christ and the assembly. Especially what there is down here among the saints, the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge and that this matter involves combat on the part of Paul because the enemy is always seeking to deflect the saints from Christ in His headship.

GWB Would what you are bringing before us help us to reduce, maybe, the length of some of our care meetings?

SMcC Well, it would, because there is understanding and there is wisdom; we have to see that these things belong to the assembly. It is not that we call them in as if they were outside the room, they are there among the brethren, in the brothers and sisters, they are there in the body. The body is an organism replete with these qualities. The thing is to make room for the headship of Christ that through that kind of influence these resources may come out.

RGN This all emphasises what you were referring to earlier - the assembling. We seem to deprive ourselves so often of these resources through lack of unity.

SMcC That is where the difficulty comes in. This word assembling is a dignified word in christianity. Paul brings it up in a very dignified way to adjust them in the way they came together. We need to see the dignity that attaches to the position as we assemble together.

GWB Does what you referred to in Colossians, “being united together in love,” bear upon that?

SMcC That is the great point. We have wonderful light as to the body; where the difficulty comes in is working out the truth of the body practically. Moral distance comes in between us in our localities, it is remarkable the estrangement that comes in sometimes between brother and brother, and sister and sister, and vice versa. The body is to correct that kind of thing, so that we might be set together organically, especially under the influence of the headship of Christ.

GWB True love would not tolerate that distance, would it?

SMcC Nor would the working out of the headship of Christ, the influence of king Solomon amongst the saints, allow it.

GWB The Lord speaks to his disciples in John 15, “This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.”

SMcC Exactly. Now it says in verse 6, “And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of Jehovah to its place, into the oracle of the house.” This is to be noted; why the oracle should be brought in here is because divine speaking would be in mind. The oracle suggests the ambit of divine speaking, and that is an important thing, in this section, because all the truth is to be in our minds. The Spirit is here to guide us into all the truth. The seventh month suggests the completing of things, on the agricultural side, and the oracle suggests all the truth, the whole mind of God.

WHW Difficulties come in when we have not got the whole truth. It has been said that the truth is the only ground that we can stand together on.

SMcC Therefore the importance of whole thoughts - being in our minds. One of the things Mr. Taylor has stressed through the years is that we should have whole thoughts in our minds, that is, whole thoughts as to the truth, and whole thoughts as to the assembly.

RGC Does this involve the oracle, being marked by accuracy, acting according to divine principle?

SMcC That is, it is the mind of God here, not the mind of man. The mind of God, accuracy in the truth.

GWB Would that then suggest that having the whole truth, as you say, in relation to any matter, it would have the necessary result of setting the saints together, whereas part of the truth may have the opposite effect?

SMcC Paul is prepared to accept what the Corinthians did, he refers to acknowledging them in part, he is prepared to go on with that, but he labours to get them on to the ground of the whole truth.

DRT Do we see something of that in Acts 15, in the way wisdom dominated the situation there, Peter standing up and the mind of God is made known.

SMcC The principle of the oracle is there. Then it says in the scripture before us, and I think it is beautiful, after the reference to the oracle in the most holy place it says “under the wings of the cherubim; for the cherubim stretched forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and its staves above.” We are reminded of the balance of the truth in this way, the cherubim being symbolic beings, referring to care and protecting interest, especially as to what the ark suggests. I think that should be known constantly, the element of what is suggested in these symbols. The cherubim stretch forth their wings over the place of the ark, notice that “over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark, and its staves above.” It is as if there is this great element of judicial care, a judicial mind. I am speaking of a judicial mind in the sense of a mind that is affected by the Spirit to protect the truth, to protect the person of Christ.

WHW Would we get a suggestion of that in a spiritual way in what the apostle says in Colossians 1, when he outlines of the features of the greatness of Christ?

SMcC I think we do. I think we see in the Colossian epistle the cherubim, as we have it here, stretching forth their wings over the place of the ark and the cherubim covering the ark and its staves above. I believe that can be written over the Colossian epistle.

WHW It brings in the idea of the majesty of Christ.

SMcC That is it. We should never lose sight of that. The majesty of the Person of Christ, so that every one of us, brothers and sisters, would constantly be marked by the cherubim feature in order to counteract any alien influence that might affect our minds.

GWB What did you have in mind in regard to the place of the ark you referred to?

SMcC Well, it is interesting to see that the cherubim stands related not only to the ark, but to the place of the ark; that is the place that Christ should have among the brethren in the assembly. There would be divine care exercised as to the distinctive place that is His, as we have referred to it in Colossians, His headship.

TRH Paul’s corrective epistles would be somewhat on that line, would they not, being cherubic in character, to preserve the place of Christ in the assembly.

FMcC We have thought of the staves as the means by which the ark was carried. Do I understand that you are speaking of them on the line of protection as well, or is that the cherubim?

SMcC “The cherubim covered the ark, and its staves above.” I think there is a beautiful suggestion in that, it is the holy care that enters into the gospels. Matthew, Mark and Luke and John too; the holy care that enters into the protecting of what was linked with the movements of Christ in testimony here.

WHW It would enter into Acts 5 I suppose in Peter speaking to Ananias and Sapphira.

SMcC Yes, it would. The movement forward of the testimony as we have seen it in the Acts. Now I thought we might just allude briefly to the prayer. It is a remarkable prayer and I think it should affect our souls how, in type, we are reminded of the service of Christ in covering the dispensation, that whatever may come into it in the way of breakdown and failure, provision is made for it. It says in verse 33, “When thy people Israel are put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name and pray, and make supplication unto thee in this house; then hear thou in the heavens, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land that thou gavest unto their fathers,” then you get in verse 31, “if men have sinned,” then you get in verse 41, “And as to the stranger also,” then verse 44, “If thy people go out to battle.” It would seem as if every feature is covered in the outlook of Solomon in regard to what comes into the dispensation.

DAI Would Daniel have this substantially in his soul when he opened his window towards Jerusalem?

SMcC His doing so shows the great place the assembly as typified in Jerusalem is to have in our minds in all these matters. It is a prime matter. It is not just praying but as it says, “and shall turn again to thee and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee in this house,” that is, the stress is on God in the position into which He has come in His house, the assembly as it is in our day.

Rem In the answer that God gives He pledges Himself?

SMcC So it says in verse 28, “Yet have respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, Jehovah my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee this day.” An understanding of Solomon’s service in this prayer would infuse into us the spirit of consideration for all these matters that enter into the dispensation whether a breakdown publicly, or things that affect us locally.

ATS In a certain sense does the Lord cover the dispensation in John 17?

SMcC That would be the great link with this chapter, with this prayer. The Lord is covering the dispensation in His intercessory service there.

CAI Moses does not just rise to this because of what he is typically, do you think? He refers in a time of testing to the people being rebels.

SMcC Moses, of course, refers to a side of things that breaks down; but now this is the glory side of things. We have the heavenly side of things in Solomon and provision made for the whole dispensation. I think it is a touching reference to the intercessory service of Christ, in the type. You remember how He said to Peter, in regard to his difficulty, “Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to have you, to sift you as wheat;

but I have besought for thee that thy faith fail not; and thou, once thou hast been restored, confirm thy brethren.” We do not think enough of the intercessory service of Christ.

WHW Would we be able to read into verse 33 and the other two or three verses following it a suggestion that if there were a real difficulty that was baffling the saints, instead of having innumerable care meetings, to stop the care meetings and have prayer meetings?

SMcC And cry to God for help for the wisdom needed in the matter.

CAI God would make us joyful in His house of prayer.

SMcC He would.

GWB I was wondering in relation to what has been said whether Joshua 9 would bear on it. In that instance they failed to inquire of Jehovah. Would we be much preserved in matters that are difficult if we did what has been referred to and turned aside and inquired of the Lord?

SMcC Well, I think it is important that we should see the need of bringing divine Persons in. We should never reach an impasse in the assembly; if we do, well, it should raise a question with us as to our state because the Spirit of God is with us and the Lord is with us, so that there would be the ability to go through with every matter, not to be held up by an impasse. An impasse is really the fruit of some alien activity.

FMcC I was just wondering if Peter in prison would be something like that, but unceasing prayer was made by the assembly to God concerning him.

SMcC Well, that shows again the importance of prayer. I do not think we make enough of prayer, both privately and publicly. Mr. Raven said in America that if he had his time to live over again he would pray more.

RGC Do we get that in chapter 10, the Queen of Sheba goes to Solomon even with enigmas? What are these enigmas?

SMcC Well, she has a lot of them, you know. Sometimes the brethren have a lot of them. Bring Solomon in, that is the point. Come to Solomon, Solomon is the one that has the answer. I mean Solomon represents Christ in His headship, in that way, particularly in regard to this feature of wisdom. Wisdom is a particular feature of the operation of headship among the saints.

TRH The last section that is spoken of here is the breakdown of the children of Israel in captivity. The word is that they pray in relation to the land and to the city and to the house and to the settled place of God’s dwelling. Do all these features come in in relation to difficulties, so that these things stand, and the settled place of God’s dwelling is not disturbed?

SMcC So that these dignified thoughts should come into our minds. Solomon stood before the altar. I think we are to learn from that; what the altar represents as standing before it. The difficulty with most of us, I suppose, is, speaking for oneself, that we want to stick to our point and are more prepared to justify our point than to allow the wisdom of Christ, in the operation of his headship, to have its way in the assembly.

Rem Does the altar suggest that we may have to lay down our lives?

SMcC That would be the idea. The principle of the altar represents sacrifice and surrender. The Lord surrendered even to death, allowed Himself to go the whole way, but yet laying the basis for the shining out of God through it all.

Rem Do you think there may be, in the working out of this, a danger of having our minds made up about a matter, prior to coming together?

SMcC Especially if it excludes the operations of the headship of Christ among the saints.

ATS In regard to the Queen of Sheba, does what she did suggest how the headship of the Christ may be available to the individual believer?

SMcC Oh, I think so. I think Colossians puts it on that line; every one of us is put on the ground of responsibility as to it as it says, chapter 2, verse 6, “As therefore ye have received the Christ, Jesus the Lord walk in him, rooted and built up in him, and assured in the faith, even as ye have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. See that there be no one who shall lead you away as a prey through philosophy and vain deceit” and so on, and then he says, verse 19, “and not holding fast the head, from whom all the body.” Holding fast the head involves each of us making room for the headship of Christ.

RGC Had James been doing that in Acts 15? He has been with the true Solomon and said “Brethren, listen to me.”

SMcC So he had moral authority.

WHW We have been speaking a good deal of wisdom connecting it with administrative matters, but does it not primarily link up with leadership in regard to the service of God?

SMcC I suppose that is where it is seen in result, in the greatest way. That is, the Queen of Sheba was impressed by the ascent, the going up, wisdom entering into that matter.

DRT That is the seventh month really, is it not? Fruitfulness for God.

SMcC Think of what God will have in the assembly, that choice vessel for His own heart’s pleasure, in the wisdom that shines in the assembly. There is wonderful wisdom in the creation, but there is wisdom in the assembly involving the knowledge of redemption and other things that move the feelings of divine Persons.

CAI She appreciates the One who is the Son of the Father’s love.

SMcC Exactly.