The Parable of the Prodigal Son (2)

Rev. J. Van Haaren (1933-1983)

Translated from Offers die des avonds branden, Gebr. Koster, Barneveld, 2006

As a last resort, the youngest son went and joined himself to a citizen of that country. Actually, when reading the text in the original language, it states that he clung to a citizen of that country. The man could not get rid of him. He persisted because of his deep need, but the man had an answer for him; he will let this Jewish boy take care of his swine. Undoubtedly, the boy will decline to do that because such work was most disdainful for a Jew. To the man’s great astonishment, the young boy greedily takes on that condescending work. He is willing to do whatever is necessary, even that which is most derisive, as long as he does not have to go back home!

We can see him, exhausted and hungry, walking behind the swine, and when in the evening he has driven them back into the stall, he looks on hungrily while other servants feed the swine. Oh, how jealous he is of those swine because they can fill their bellies. If he could only have some of that food, but no one gave him anything. He is considered to be even less than a swine. How great is the misery of this young man. The Lord lets him run stuck. He uses this deep need to bring him to himself. No, need does not teach us to pray, but the Lord can use a need to bring a person to himself. What a wonder of grace it is that the Lord is willing to do that! It is God’s own work that this young man comes to himself, begins to experience his lost state, and seeks the guilt within, for he has no one to blame but himself. His father has not done it, his friends have not done it; it is all his own fault!

When God stops a person, he opens their eyes for their lost state and for their guilt which reaches unto heaven. Then it is no longer God who has done it, or Adam, but we have done it ourselves. We become a great beast before God. When the son thinks back to the house of his father, he becomes ashamed. How did he ever dare to despise it? Even the hirelings of his father have bread enough and to spare, but he is perishing from hunger! Yea, when the Lord opens our eyes, we do not only see our own misfortune, but we also see the blessedness of all those who fear the Lord. They are lying for God’s account, and they enjoy a peace which passes all understanding; they are supplied out of the fullness of Christ so that they receive grace for grace. Do you know something of that sorrow after God which works a repentance not to be repented of?

This young man begins to realize and experience his own misfortune. He longs for his father, even though he considers himself to be unworthy as a son. In his heart a sorrow after God is born which works a sorrow to salvation not to be repented of. How the gold of God’s grace shines in the hungering and thirsting after God. Even though the sinner considers his soul to be guilty of eternal death, and even though he must confess that God would do no injustice if He cast him away from His countenance forever, he cannot refrain from lifting up his hand and his eye on high. Therefore, such ones creep unto God with all their guilt and sin because they can no longer live without God. Hear the young man’s decision: “I will arise and go to my father and say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee.”

Do you notice that this young man does not only own his guilt but also assumes the consequences of it? How unworthy he has made himself of his sonship; he is not even worthy of the place of a hireling. What a blessing it would be for him if he could just become a hireling. Then he would still be able to see his father from time to time, and he would have bread in abundance. With this prayer do we not hear the prayer of the publican? How well it turned out for him. He went to his home justified. Yea, it always turns out well for people who know themselves to be unworthy, who have to accuse themselves before God but who can no longer live without God.

Are there readers who are perishing from hunger and who are not worthy to receive even one crumb? Keep courage! Lay yourself before the gate of grace and say with Esther, “If I perish, I perish.” Those who may speak in such a manner are received in grace, and they shall be satisfied with the Living Bread which came down from heaven. He who may eat of that bread shall never hunger anymore but shall live in all eternity. Therefore, “Let him that is athirst come, and whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.”

The younger son who had left his father’s house to go into the world has come to himself. All kinds of circumstances contributed to that, but ultimately it was the Lord who caused him to run stuck so that he no longer knew which way to go. The Lord opened his eyes for his lost state, his foolishness, and his sin and guilt. That is the reason that he feels the deep wounds in his soul. That is also the reason that his fatherly home draws him so irresistibly; it is not so much for bread as it is for his father that makes him arise and return home.

When God comes into our life, we not only begin to experience our need and misery, but, at the same time, a sorrow is born in our heart which will work an unrepentant sorrow to salvation. Then we will creep unto God with our sin and our guilt. Why? Because we can no longer live without God. How does that happen? Ah, perhaps you cannot see that yourself, but that is because of the drawing love of the Father.

See, there goes the young man. A long road lies before him because he is in a faraway country. Dressed in rags and begging at the homes which he passes, ashamed before God and the people, he returns, bowed down under a guilt which reaches to heaven. Yet, there is a little hope in his heart for mercy; otherwise, he would not have gone.

Is that how it is also with you? Can you no longer live without God? Does everything testify against you? Come, walk along with this young man. Abase yourself before the countenance of the Lord, and tell Him that you lie in the midst of death because of your own fault but that you can no longer continue therein. Cast yourself down at His feet. If you perish, then you will perish, but He will not do you any injustice, will He? Perhaps He will also have mercy upon you.

To Thee, O Lord, I humbly cry,
To Thee my supplication make,
To Thee I bring my sad complaint,
To Thee my bitter grief I take.

— Psalter 388:1

(To be continued)

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