Digibron cookies

Voor optimale prestaties van de website gebruiken wij cookies. Overeenstemmig met de EU GDPR kunt u kiezen welke cookies u wilt toestaan.

Noodzakelijke en wettelijk toegestane cookies

Noodzakelijke en wettelijk toegestane cookies zijn verplicht om de basisfunctionaliteit van Digibron te kunnen gebruiken.

Optionele cookies

Onderstaande cookies zijn optioneel, maar verbeteren uw ervaring van Digibron.

Bekijk het origineel

Dr. H. F. Kohlbrugge The Language of Canaan (6)

Bekijk het origineel

+ Meer informatie

Dr. H. F. Kohlbrugge The Language of Canaan (6)

13 minuten leestijd Arcering uitzetten

The conversation between Straight-Forward and Ask-Freely has described something of the life of a true pilgrim on his way through the desert to the Promised Land. We heard about the marriage with the first husband, “Do-This.” In this husband Kohlbrugge describes the relationship between the awakened sinner and the law. He also speaks about the second husband, who was willing to marry her after the first husband's death.

Although this pilgrim experiences her own barrenness and helplessness, she will still be a mother of many children. Christ has encouraged and comforted her in her sorrow and promised that she will be the mother of many children.

The Bridegroom

Then Ask-Freely wants to know more about this Bridegroom.

Ask-Freely: What do you call this Bridegroom?

Straight-Forward: I cannot express this Name, for when my heart is filled with His Name, I nearly faint, and I have no strength anymore. On the one hand, His Name is so beneficial for all my weariness; but on the other hand, I then begin to cry, “Oh, when will I be delivered from this miserable life?” Then I hardly can bear my strong longing for Him.

Nevertheless I will try to say a little about His Name. That Name is “The Lord, my King and my God.” He has so many other names. I call on His Name whenever people say that it is impossible for iron to float and wood to sink, and then that which is impossible happens. If I am at my wit's end, I mention His Name, and He gives counsel. When everyone says that I will be devoured in the lion's den, I mention His Name, and no lion will touch me with his teeth or claws. When everyone says that it is too late for me, I call upon His Name, and He extends the day as far as He wants. And when ten thousands gather against me to capture my stronghold, I mention His Name, and they either become friends or flee.

Ask-Freely: What does your King look like?

Straight-Forward: He is white and ruddy (Song of Solomon 5:10). One of my royal friends composed a poem about Him, and I like it so much, it is as if I made it myself, because it speaks the language of my heart. Furthermore, I have other friends, among whom are a publican and a physician, who also described Him as He really is (Matthew and Luke).

Ask-Freely: Once I saw a picture of Him, on which was written, “The Most Despised and Rejected One.” On another picture was written, “Crucify Him!” and “Behold the Man!”

Straight-Forward: Oh, then you have seen Him laden with my sins. As such, He is most precious to me, and as such I worship Him here on my way and sing of Him, “Thou hast set my feet in a large room” (Psalm 31:8b).

Ask-Freely: Are you always sensibly pleased with His beauty and His love?

Straight-Forward: I am ashamed to say it. I often see myself as such an insensible, awful, monstrous lump of flesh, yea, as a beast and unwise calf before Him. Sometimes I leave Him without saying that I love Him, or without asking Him anything or bringing my complaints to Him. Sometimes I distrust Him, as if He would allow me ever to fall in the enemies' hands and to perish. Oh, how often I disagree with the rough way I have to go, almost wishing I never had chosen that way instead of the smooth way that leads to destruction. In such times He, with His crown of thorns and with His scarlet robe, does not seem to be lovely in my eyes anymore. And concerning His love, my heart is often like a stone, it is so hard and cold.

Ask-Freely: What happens then?

Straight-Forward: No matter how stormy and dark it ever becomes, the sun comes out again, and then the cold causes me to sit down in the warm rays of the sun. Then I often feel better right away, and the bitterness of my soul is removed.


Kohlbrugge describes the practice of the life of a pilgrim. Wholeheartedly he has surrendered to His Lord and King Jesus, who has taken his heart. His Name is as an ointment poured forth. His soul longs after Him as a hart panteth after the waterbrooks. In Him he finds all he needs; nothing is too hard for Him. His Name is Counselor, and He is a strong Protector in the midst of all his enemies. The pilgrim knows what He looks like. He is white and ruddy, and also most precious as the sin-bearing Lamb of God. However, sometimes the pilgrim feels so cold and ignorant, and he even suspects his Bridegroom's love and care. But in spite of his infirmities, unexpectedly the Sun of righteousness shines upon him, expels the cold of his heart with His beams, and gives balm for his wounds and sorrows.

To be small

Ask-Freely: Does it not trouble you that you are so small?

Straight-Froward: So small! See, you say that, too; everyone says it. I see none but tall people, and they all look down upon me and say, “What does that little one want? What is he doing here?” Then I become even smaller and smaller and feel so sad and grievous. I would give everything to be a little taller. When I am alone, then I lie prostrate on the ground and stretch out myself as a worm unto its Maker. But sometimes it comforts me that the Lord alone decides the right measure and length, that I will not lack anything, and that, at His time, I will come to full growth, according to His greatness. I now can leave my growth to what He feels is best. The Lord humbles the high mountains of Bashan, and He will exalt the humble, lowly hill of Zion. Sometimes I also meet three friends with the names of Joshua, Caleb, and David, and they tell me that the giants are slain—Goliath, Og, and the children of Anak. Only the Lord must be exalted, and it is better for one to be small and brave than to be high-minded.

The hardships of the journey

Ask-Freely: What do you think of your journey?

Straight-Forward: What do I think of it? It is as if I increasingly go backward instead of forward. Often this has made me sad.

Once I passed a rope factory, where a person was making a rope, and I saw him, while he was working, going backwards. The rope maker seemed to guess what I was thinking. He looked at me and said, “My way is backward, but the work is right.” I said, “Thank you very much,” and I never forgot his saying. So many times I have come with a heavy heart to present my work to the Master; often He gently shows me all the shortcomings in it, but He does not return it to me, nor does He reprimand me at all. Sometimes, however,

He has said it was very good. This has happened when I was in the greatest distress and thought it was all wrong.

Ask-Freely: Can you tell me more about your journey?

Straight-Forward: When I am so lame and weary that I think I must remain lying here and that I never will finish my course, then I receive new strength, and I may say, as in Psalm 38: “He maketh my feet like hinds' feet.” Then I leap over a wall and over ravines, and I land on such narrow edges that no one can understand how I can remain standing there without plunging into the ravine. Sometimes I lie helplessly on the roadside, and then suddenly a chariot stops, and someone lifts me up. Then I think of the words in the Song of Solomon 6:12, “Or ever I was aware, my soul made me like the chariots of Amminadib,” and He places me in His chariot.

Regarding the sharp stones on the road: my Bridegroom gave me a pair of shoes, and when He sees me walking in them, He always says, “How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter” (Song of Solomon 7:1a).

When the road leads through a swamp, then I gird up my clothes, and I go through the thickest mud. Then I have to press onward; otherwise, as much as possible, I would seek for the most beautiful spots.

Ask-Freely: But what if you fall?

Straight-Forward: Even if I fell seven times, I would rise up again.

Ask-Freely: But what if you fell so hard that you could not even think of rising up again?

Straight-Forward: Wherever I fell down, there was always a merciful hand that helped me up again. When I was limping with pain, I heard a voice behind me, saying, “And I will save her that halteth” (Zephaniah 3:19).


The journey of a true pilgrim is not easy. Often it looks as if he goes backward instead of making progress. But John the Baptist said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” It is a journey with many hardships. The Lord Jesus said to His disciples, “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Often they halt and stumble and have no strength to continue their journey. But He has promised in Isaiah 46:4b, “Even I will carry, and will deliver you.”

The joys of the journey

Ask-Freely: Why do you look so black and burnt? Why are your eyes so red, as if you are always crying? Are you never joyful?

Straight-Forward: I am so black and burnt because of the sun, the sweat, and the dust. How can it be different in this wilderness? Is it a wonder that I often cry and weep? If you only knew how many internal infirmities, heart troubles, and awful fits I have, you would have pity on me. I also have such an inward zeal, which consumes me. There are many troubles inside and outside. There is truly reason enough to be sad. But cheerful? Yes! In spite of this all, I am also joyful, so much so that I seem to be beside myself with gladness.

Ask-Freely: What then is the reason of your joy?

Straight-Forward: The reason is that soon all my inward infirmities will be over. Every day I come a step closer to my Father's house. My Bridegroom has told me that I have full liberty to say, “Yet I am lovely.” One day everything will turn out right, and He will wipe away the tears from my eyes. He has but to say to me, “O how lean you are, royal child,” and then before long my youth is renewed and my appearance is very healthy again. Thus it goes up and down in this valley of Mesech.

About his appearance

Ask-Freely: Why do you have such scratches on your face and wounds on your hands?

Straight-Forward: The enemies of my King gave me those scratches, because they hate Him as the Heir of everything. My friends and those of my own house caused these wounds in my hands, because they consider my Friend to be their enemy, and therefore they hate me, too. They hate that which they do not know. But I do not lay it to their charge, because once I also was such an enemy and did wrong. I cannot and will not walk with them in the way they go, for they walk to their destruction. But when I say this, they become angry and abuse me. However, when I compare my wounds with the wounds of the Bridegroom, then I feel no pain anymore.

Ask-Freely: The garment you are wearing, is it your own?

Straight-Forward: When I was in my misery, I was naked, and I had made myself an apron of fig leaves. I have to say that I was clothed with uncleanness, but my Bridegroom gave me a coat “without seam, woven from the top throughout.” I call this my “priestly coat.” I also received a beautiful wedding garment of white linen, and a coat entirely of gold. I will stand next to Him in those clothes. I also will wear a royal hat on which you can read, “Holiness to the Lord of the eternal marriage covenant.” He clothes me also with the most beautiful changes of raiment, such as no queen on earth ever will wear. I received all these clothes from my King, and He has more in store for me. But I bear His image in my heart. No picture of any man, no matter how fashionable he might look, can be compared with this image.

Ask-Freely: Do you always wear those clothes?

Straight-Forward: There is one coat that never will be taken off— that is the robe of righteousness. There is one other coat that I have not put on yet, though it is made to fit me; it is waiting for me for my wedding day.

To my shame, I must say that sometimes I lay down these garments and put on my old clothes. As soon as I do that, I have heart trouble, and then my Bridegroom knocks again at my door. I try to find excuses, and He walks away from me. But I cannot live without Him. I seek Him in my old clothes, until I have found Him.


The pilgrim has received many precious garments from the Bridegroom, Christ. However, so often his old nature, his flesh, still seems to prevail. Then he walks again in his old clothes. However, the righteousness of Christ, with which the pilgrim is clothed, will not be taken away from him anymore. Christ, the good Shepherd, also seeks His wandering sheep and kindles within them the flame of love and longing after Him.

He is faithful for an unfaithful people. Christ is also the great Captain, who goes before them in the battle. Weak, crippled soldiers may become more than conquerors in Him. He gives them the victory.

Straight-Forward then explains that, although he easily can put on his old clothes, he cannot take them off and dress himself in the new garments; for that he is dependent on his Bridegroom.

He also speaks of the battles he has to fight on his journey, but his King has obtained the victory for him.

— to be continued —

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Bekijk de hele uitgave van zondag 1 april 2001

The Banner of Truth | 28 Pagina's

Dr. H. F. Kohlbrugge The Language of Canaan (6)

Bekijk de hele uitgave van zondag 1 april 2001

The Banner of Truth | 28 Pagina's