" My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith The LORD, for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."
The article " Of Him, and through Him, and to Him—all things," has brought before us a solemn, but much needed, word, in a day of such tremendous' energy and activity on man's part, not only' in the political but also in the religious world; and, " Be still, and know that I am GOD," is almost unheeded. Even the Lord's beloved people are apt to be carried away and affected by what they see and hear around them; such as "0 times are changed and we must adapt ourselves accordingly." What! Is GOD changed? Are His thoughts changed? Let His word answer. " I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." (Mal. 3:66For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. (Malachi 3:6), read also vv. 16-18). " Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever." (Heb. 13:88Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (Hebrews 13:8).) Therefore HE who " loved the church, and gave HIMSELF for it " (Eph. 5:2525Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (Ephesians 5:25); cf. John 13:11Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. (John 13:1).), loves her now, as much as ever: and wherever there is the obedience of faith to act upon His word in Matt. 18:18,2018Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 18:18)
20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20), they will find that He, is faithful. Again, in the Old Testament, repeated in the New, " The Word of our God shall stand forever." (Isa. 40:88The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. (Isaiah 40:8); 1 Peter 1:2525But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (1 Peter 1:25).) It is just as true now before God (and to faith) that, " There is One body " as when first written (Eph. 4:44There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (Ephesians 4:4).) for the Other Comforter, the Spirit of truth, the Lord Jesus said would " abide with you forever." (John 14:16,1716And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:16‑17).) The Holy Spirit in the Word of God speaks of a certain class thus, " the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it," having shortly before given the very solemn warning, "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief." (Heb. 3:12; 4:212Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. (Hebrews 3:12)
2For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. (Hebrews 4:2)) And now fellow believer turn with me to a very precious scene in 2 Sam. David had it on his heart to undertake a certain service for the Lord. He tells the prophet, who replies, " Go, do all that is in thy heart," adding, what he had no authority for, "the Lord is with thee." But, "it came to pass that night," He whose thoughts and ways were as much higher than the thoughts and ways of even a David backed up by the prophet Nathan, as the heavens are higher than the earth, sends the latter to the former with a message unfolding His thoughts and ways-read vv. 5-17. Is David disappointed at the thwarting of His plans? Oh no. He goes right in and "sat before the Lord." How sweet! Read Psa. 32:77Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. (Psalm 32:7). But the " hiding place " is not only used in time of trouble, but also when enjoying God's word, see Psa. 119:113,114113SAMECH. I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love. 114Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. (Psalm 119:113‑114). Dear reader sit down, before the Lord, and ponder over that exquisite scene in 2 Sam. 7 David had had many experiences of God's goodness, but this seems the climax. Overwhelmed with the unfolding of God's thoughts and God's ways, his heart basking as it were in the warmth and sunshine of God's love and grace, turns away from all that is of man ("Is this the manner of man, O Lord God?") and, lost for words to express himself-" what can David say more unto Thee?" The writer of Psa. 139 (cf. last clause of ver. 20, with that Psalm), linking God's word with His heart, reaches the Source of all blessing, THE HEART OF GOD.
Would that we who are so richly blessed, and at such cost knew more of what it is to go in and "sit before the Lord." There would be a deeper developing of the affections of the heart Godward as we drank in more and more of His thoughts and His ways, and, without any effort, the thoughts and ways of men would have less influence upon us-the whole tenor of our lives would be affected and any service undertaken would savor less of man and man's thoughts (self or other men's) and more of HIM in whose presence we had been sitting:—and when we met together there would be more of what has been already referred to,—Mal. 3:16-1816Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. 17And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. 18Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. (Malachi 3:16‑18).
Having had before us the Fountain of all our blessing, " THE HEART OF GOD," it will be in keeping with the character of "The Remembrancer " and a fitting close—stirring one another up by putting in " remembrance " to keep in mind The End that God has in view: "That God in all things may be glorified through 'Jesus Christ."
" The end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober and watch unto prayer; and above all things have fervent charity [` love] among yourselves, for charity shall cover the multitude of sins, use hospitality one to another without grudging; as every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to Whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:8-118And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 9Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 10As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:8‑11)).
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