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Bekijk het origineel

Dr. H. F. Kohlbrugge The Language of Canaan (12)

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Dr. H. F. Kohlbrugge The Language of Canaan (12)

8 minuten leestijd Arcering uitzetten

Pilgrim has spoken of the north wind and the south wind and of the Spirit who teaches him to bring his petitions to the Lord. He has experienced many difficulties during his journey. He carries the burden of the old man, which causes him to sigh and to shed many tears. Kohlbrugge speaks of the many temptations which there are for the true pilgrims on their pathway through this world.

Next Pilgrim comes to the house of the publican.

A warm welcome

Ask-Freely. Did you notice the words on top of the gate: “Knock and it shall be opened unto you”?

Straight-Forward: Indeed. There were a few before the gate who said that I had but to knock, yea, to pound on the door, but because I looked so awful, I did not have the courage to do so. Thus I remained lying as dead before the gate, with someone else I found there. My sighing went up. Suddenly a very kind man opened the door and said that I had knocked, and he was sent to call me in. Thus, led by his hand, and more stumbling and slipping than going, I came in.

Ask-Freely. And then you came into that royal hall, where you can see the city of the King, to which we are traveling, as clearly as if one had already come to it. What did you receive there?

Straight-Forward: I received, my friend, some refreshing tonic. To me it was as with the brothers of Joseph when he warmly welcomed them. He seemed familiar to them, although they did not know him.

Ask-Freely. And what was the effect of that refreshing tonic?

Straight-Forward: I became very sorrowful and had a strong longing to see the King in His beauty. But this was followed by an even deeper despondency, because I looked so awful. And in this royal hall everything looked splendid. I was so ashamed that I wanted to hide myself.


The traveler on the narrow path is pictured as a poor beggar, but one who received wonderful refreshments. However, this did not make him proud, but made him realize even more how unworthy he was. And, as mentioned before, he was brought into a bath. After having been washed, he rejoiced and had peace with everything. Heaven and earth had become new, and he himself was totally different from what he had been before.

However, the pilgrim's way will continue with its ups and downs, its trials, and its surprises. Pilgrim describes some of the depths he has gone through, but also how the Lord led him safely through it, and he says that he never had anything lacking.

Going on the right path

Ask-Freely. How do you think the end of the way will be?

Straight-Forward: Just like the beginning of the road; yea, even higher and steeper. It will be so high that no human effort can bring you there, and no human eye would recognize the path to the city.

Ask-Freely. Right now our path, as far as I can see, looks quite level and wide.

Straight-Forward: That makes it even more dangerous. Those who are from the city of destruction have also made their worldly or religious-worldly path near our road in order to deceive all those that are not from our way.

Ask-Freely. This is quite distressing. How do we proceed now?

Straight-Forward: Here our King is crucified, but here on this road also He has left unerasable footsteps for all His pilgrims. And with His cross He drew an indelible line of separation. Let us watch those footsteps and this line of separation closely and be careful that we do not go along with those others. Then we will safely come through it.


Pilgrim then describes extensively all that one can find in the big city which some called Jerusalem, but some of our forefathers called Sodom and Gomorrah. He especially warns against false religion, the blind guides of the blind. They mention the name of the King and His Spirit, but they use Him as money of merchandise in order to pay their debts themselves. They lean upon their own strength and will, and they maintain themselves.

The travelers continue on their way.

The King's upholding hand in all tribulations

Ask-Freely. Now our path goes through barren desert. The sun burns on our head, the sand under our feet. Is this the valley of Baca? I am consumed by thirst, and at a far distance I see a lion coming toward us.

Straight-Forward: When the lion is a good distance from us, another lion will come, which will rend him in pieces. In the meantime, write down on this paper the words “I thirst,” and cast that written page on the hot sand. Then you will see a fountain springing up; it will become a brook, then even a stream of water.

Ask-Freely. What a wonderful effect these words have! Now I see that the desert has suddenly changed into a fruitful field.

Straight-Forward: Do you see that pasture far away? There you see cows, lionesses, wolves, and sheep walking and feeding together. The one does not do any harm to the other. Do you know from where that comes?

Ask-Freely. I think that the grass causes them to do this, but far away I see a little boy who is playing with an adder, as if it were an eel. How is that possible?

Straight-Forward: That is possible because it is a child. This boy is not afraid of the adder. Therefore the adder is afraid of the child and does not dare to bite it.

Ask-Freely. Oh, that I also might be such a child!

Straight-Forward: Let us then also be as helpless and simple as a child. Then our foot will tread upon the adder, and we will ride upon the lionesses as a child on the back of a dog. No animal will harm us if we may follow that which is good.

Ask-Freely. But I am of the opinion that people have done much harm to you, and then I will not speak of what I have experienced of them myself.

Straight-Forward: Truly, my brother, but was this not always the way in which our King fulfilled the good things He has promised to us? Is it not written in Psalm 66:12, “Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads”? And was it not so that when the brothers of Joseph thought evil against him, the Lord meant it unto good? Did not our King say unto Shimei, “Curse David,” in order to teach to pray what we read in Psalm 109:28, “Let them curse, but bless Thou”? Was it not our King who allowed our blessed brother John to be beheaded in order that He would surprise him the more with His glory?

Ask-Freely: That is true, and I must admit that when they took away the straw, the King gave wood. When they took away the wood, the King gave iron. When they took away the iron, the King gave silver. And when they took away the silver, He gave gold to them.

It was as we read in Mark 10:30, “But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions.”

Straight-Forward: I am glad to hear this from you. But do you know what I always do in all the evil that comes upon me?

Ask-Freely. You are no doubt taking a little medicine from the words of Psalm 25:7, “Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions,” and also from Psalm 5:8, “Lead me, O LORD, in Thy righteousness, because of mine enemies.”

Straight-Forward: Indeed, so it is. If we may bow under the mighty hand of our King, then He will also exalt us again at the day of His glory.”


Also in this portion we read some of Kohlbrugge's own painful experiences. How often was he misunderstood, and how many enemies opposed him! He was cast out of the Reformed state church, but whatever they took away from him, the Lord made it well with Himself. When he was allowed to bow under Him, his King gave him grace and honor. This King he may recommend to others.

May also many of us learn to bow before Him, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is so faithful and gracious to those who expect it only from Him.

— to be continued —

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Bekijk de hele uitgave van donderdag 1 november 2001

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Dr. H. F. Kohlbrugge The Language of Canaan (12)

Bekijk de hele uitgave van donderdag 1 november 2001

The Banner of Truth | 30 Pagina's