A HALF HOUR — TWO DAYS

The Lord Himself has said of His people, “O that there was such an heart in them, that they would fear me,” (Deut. 5:29). And we read of Agur, the son of Jakeh, “Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man. I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy” (Prov. 30:2, 3). Those Bible saints, and those “ancients” have in times past said so much, about which we meditate more and more as we advance in years.

The aged John Warburton, a minister in England, once wrote to his son, who also was a minister, but only recently in the ministry and still inexperienced, “How glad I am with your letter, because I noticed that you also are on the beggar’ s list; your father has been on it for more than 50 years, and in my old age I must be on my knees more than ever before.” Alas in our days that language is not understood too well.

Speculative knowledge takes such a lofty flight, as though it was a contest to determine who shall be the greater. A friend who died many years ago, once said, “All that is of us, and of man, brings us in the height, but what comes from above humbles us.” We seldom hear of such instructions anymore. Now it is more criticizing and debasing one another, than sitting at each other’ s feet to learn, and because most people think they have knowledge, consequently there is not much bending of knees anymore. However, it is but a sad sign if we think to know it so well and as a result speak of such high things. It would be more profitable for ourselves and for the congregation, if our inner life might be more evident as in the humble childlike prayer of David in Psalm 25:2 “Unto me, O Lord Jehovah, show Thy ways and teach Thou me.” The prophetical ministration of Christ has a meaning and value only for people, who in themselves do not know it. In Luke 11:1, the disciples asked the Lord Jesus “Lord, teach us to pray.” And Thomas in John 14:5: “Lord, we know not whither Thou goest; and how can we know the way?” You must not understand our writing to be as though I am pleading for “ignorance.” No, far from it. We must need be teachers, utilizing the time that is granted us and because of the instructions that have been given us. When Philip, one of the disciples of Christ, said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us,” He received this humiliating answer, “Have I been so long a time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father: and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?” It is also a deep humiliation that we know and understand so little of God and of Divine matters. But ah, friends, it continually brings us in rememberance of what has happened in our deep fall in Adam. There we have freely and voluntarily lost the image of God, there we have also lost the true knowledge of God, and our understanding is darkened.

And now even though that image may again be restored as in the beginning, by grace, there still remains so much blindness and ignorance from that deep fall, that we must continually be instructed by God, and to be made susceptible to learning. How great is the condescending goodness of God, that a Triune God never becomes weary of instructing His people. In His people the promise is fulfilled, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way.” God Himself will lead them safely onward. Christ is and remains for them a prophet mighty in deeds and words. Indeed, that blessed Holy Spirit comes to enlighten their darkened understanding and leads them into all truths. He is that always active Spirit, also in the teaching and applying of the mysteries of the gospel.

Besides, he that is able to receive it, let him receive it. Time and again we must learn it by renewing, because we so often forget it. By nature we are far from being eager to learn. But it is more often “O fools and slow of heart” Luke 24:25, And as we sing in Ps. 75:4; “I said to the fools, Deal not foolishly and to the wicked, lift not up the horn.”

More then 30 years ago, I accompanied an old servant to visit another minister who was sick and shortly thereafter was also to be relieved of his office to inherit the reward, which is promised to the faithful servants. The conversation was about the wise and foolish virgins out of Matt. 25, which was read that morning. The sick minister asked the other minister, (who had known each other for many years) and often speaking from heart to heart: “To whom did you belong when you read that at the table this morning?” The other minister said, “I fear to the foolish, because I have never yet been wise.” And I can still see the tears trickle over the face of that minister because of the deep impression, which filled his heart during the conversation. No, that was not just talk, without feelings, but rather impressions which were impressed upon him from above. Then man does not intend to honor himself, otherwise it is only talk to make some show before man. I often think back to those conversations with delight; to those words, “sprinkled with salt.” Especially now when I have to miss it so much, I often think — had I only valued it more. But to return to our subject. By now, everyone must have understood, that especially for a minister the heavenly instruction, is of the greatest necessity in his ministry.

(con’ t.)

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