GOD’S SERVANT RECEIVES A COMMISSION OF JUDGMENT
“Go, return on thy way to the wilderness”I Kings 19:15
Elijah is told to depart in faith: “Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus!”
He receives a threefold commission from the Lord, and with it strength to his faith, and provision for his journey. “When thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria.” This is a reply to Elijah’s first complaint, “The children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant.” “I will appoint them a rod of correction,” is the Divine answer. “Hazael, the servant of the Syrian king, shall go through the briers and thorns for me. Go, and anoint him to be king over Syria!” Hazael afterwards became king, and a severe scourge to the children of Israel. He burned their fortified towns, slew their young men, and barbarously treated those whom nature in its most savage state might have pitied. He served the Lord as the staff of his indignation, and was one of the storms which were to go before Jehovah, overturning the mountains and rending the rocks; and, when he had finished his work, he was laid aside. Thus the Lord knows how to make use of the vessels of wrath; at one time as channels, through which he pours forth his indignation upon those who have not known him, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon his name; at other times he uses them as shepherds’ dogs that serve to keep his flock together, and to bring back the wandering sheep.
Brethren, who knows what our own churches have still to experience? We are at present evidently under Divine forbearance; can any one of us say how long it will last? It cannot be expressed, how much mercy has already been expended upon us. Yet how many are there who really thank God, and are heartily devoted to his service? Suppose the Lord were suddenly to remove all his true children from the midst of us, and leave the impenitent to themselves — would our population suffer a very perceptible decrease? Or is it not the case with ourselves as it is everywhere else; that the little flock of Israel among the Canaanites is like a drop in the ocean, and like the little stars which, in a tempestuous night, twinkle only here and there among the black and stormy clouds. Are not a great part of our people dead, though many of them hear the sound of the Word of life? This is very awful! For years together they have assembled in our congregations, but they seem only less and less sensible of the value of revealed truth. They have no hunger and thirst after it; no relish for it. Neither the thunder of the law, nor the sound of its trumpet, has any effect upon them; nor does the sweet melody of Divine grace, and of the promises of God, melt their hardened and worldly hearts. Many of our people are lukewarm — neither for or against — neither cold or hot; they hear the words of Christ but they do them not. Surely, if they continue in this state, he will reject them with abhorrence. A great part of our people praise Christ and the world with the same breath; they bow themselves before God and mammon in the same ceremony. They desire to be merry with the children of this world, and to be blessed with the children of God; they wish to possess Christ but will not, for his sake, part with the world. Such is by far the majority of persons among us; whether high or low, rich or poor. What will be the consequence of all this? May the Lord have mercy upon us! For, if we go on in this way, nothing but evil can be prophesied concerning us! The patience of God has an object, but we are defeating it. Who knows whether it may not soon be said to some angel in heaven, “Go now, and appoint this or that man for an Hazael; and let this deceiver, or that son of deceit, be placed over such and such a church!” Who knows whether the preachers who now stand in your pulpits may not be the last who shall ever offer the gospel of peace to our unthankful churches, and whether the destroyers are not already training under the hand of Satan, and only wait for our departure to take possession of our places with the torch of the false prophet in their hand, kindled from the bottomless pit! Perhaps, in a few years, all faithful preaching among you will be at an end; the people will have become foolish and dissolute; the Lord’s flock will be taken away, and his fire extinguished to the very last spark. And when the righteous are removed from among us, and no holy hands bear up the ark any longer, its overthrow and ruin must be the result. “Oh that thou hadst known, even thou in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace!” Yet forty years, and perhaps our Ninevehs will be overthrown; and wherever “the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together!” Awake, therefore, and sit down in sackcloth and in ashes; let every one turn himself from his evil way, and from the iniquity of his hands. Who can tell if God will not turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger that we perish not!
My brethren, if a. sword of the Lord pass through this congregation — and a sword will surely come — oh that it may not be Hazael’s or Jehu’s sword, but the sword of Elisha — the two-edged sword of the Spirit, which is the word of the living God! This good sword, with which he takes the prey from the mighty, may the Lord sharpen more and more, that it may better do its office among us, and pierce, and divide, and penetrate in a greater degree than it has hitherto done! May it cast down the proud into the dust — drive the carnally secure from their refuges of lies — cut away self-righteousness and so wound them that are whole, that they may resort only to Jesus for healing!
“Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O Most Mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty; and in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and by thine arrows let the people fall under thee!” Psalm 14:3-5. “And may the prople which are left of the sword find grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when thou goest to cause him to rest!” Jeremiah 31:2.
Excerpt from Elijah the Tishbite
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Bekijk de hele uitgave van dinsdag 1 juli 1969
The Banner of Truth | 20 Pagina's
Bekijk de hele uitgave van dinsdag 1 juli 1969
The Banner of Truth | 20 Pagina's