"ARISE, SHINE! FOR THY LIGHT IS COME"
A.B.Parker
There is an interesting connection between the passage read and Genesis 38, where two children were born to Tamar, one of whom was named Zerah, which means 'rising', the other Pherez, which means 'breach'. A typical connection is that Israel, having had the first opportunity to receive the ministry of the Spirit after Christ was installed at the right hand of God, refused it, drawing back the hand so to speak. The glad tidings were preached "beginning at Jerusalem" (Luke 24: 47) and Paul invariably went first to the synagogue and to the Jews, but when they rejected the word he turned to the nations. The gentiles received the word. They 'broke forth', receiving the light which reached its height at Ephesus where the whole counsel of God was made known. Pherez 'broke forth', so to speak. Mr Taylor referred to the birth of Pherez as "the power that works in us", Eph 3: 20 (see N.S. Vol. 44 p.460).
The passage we have read shows that Zerah's day is coming, when Israel shall arise and shine, for her light will have come. There will be no drawing back on Israel's part then. God has no pleasure in those who draw back. Therefore, what an appeal this scripture should have in relation to any tendency to lethargy. Paul quoted it in writing to the Ephesians. He applied it to the present moment, saying "Wake up, thou that sleepest, and arise up from among the dead, and the Christ shall shine upon thee", Eph 5: 14. He refers to our light, beloved brethren! He says the Christ shall shine upon thee. Israel's light will come soon, when the kingdom is set up and Jerusalem will be the influential centre of the earth and the kings shall bring their glory to it. What a day it will be for Israel when Isaiah 60 is fulfilled! But our light is shining now; the Christ is shining upon us. O, what light! We may thrill with anticipative joy when we think of the millennial day, but, dear brethren, the present is our day. It is not as spectacular, outwardly, as the millennium will be, for that will be a day of public display, in which we will have our part, truly, but the part we have in it will depend upon the measure in which we have taken on the shining of our day. This is what will fit us to have part with Christ in the consummation of God's ways with man in flesh and blood. At times God had repented that He had made man; but having given all things into the hands of a Man - the man Christ Jesus - His ways with men will be brought to a glorious completion: God will be vindicated for having created man in responsibility in flesh and blood before He introduces the eternal day.
The present moment, dear brethren, is one of outstanding light - our light! It is not characterised by great public demonstration. Indeed our life is hid with Christ in God; but I believe that God presently is preserving a remnant for the heart of Christ - 'a lamp for David' is being maintained and I believe will be carried right through to the rapture. Scripture seems to indicate this. Whether we are in it or not is a question we should raise with ourselves, but I believe that God will see to it that hades' gates will not prevail against a remnant which answers to the heart of Christ; it will be preserved until He comes for His saints. We want to be in it! Let us then be concerned that we do not fall into lethargy, that we do not go to sleep; but if we do, that we hearken to Paul's strong appeal: "Wake up, thou that sleepest, and arise up from among the dead, and the Christ shall shine upon thee". How urgent he was that none should miss the shining!
Dear brethren, do we want to miss the glory and privilege of the day we are in? Are we going to allow sleep to creep over us? I believe that rather it is our desire that we be maintained in spiritual energy and freshness, so that as we are together our meetings take on fresh life and character and the light that has been recovered to us is truly shining amongst us. Men of God have been used to bring in recovery of the truth - particularly as to the service of God which is the height of Paul's ministry to the Ephesians - and that truth is available to us. The ministry is on our bookshelves. Does it have the place it should have in our hearts? Are we moving on in our souls in life and increasing freshness? This is the point of the apostle's appeal: that we do not become lethargic, that we do not fall into a folding of the hands, that we do not say, It will not matter if I do not get out to the meeting this evening. Let us support, in the fullest way, the occasions of gathering which are available to us, taking on the peculiarly blessed light that is shining for us in this wonderful day of recovery. May the Lord encourage us in it.
BROOKLYN, N.Y.
8 June 1976