“The Lord’s Host,” as of old with an earthly people, may fitly be used to distinguish those—now a spiritual people, whom He has redeemed. He has in His mighty love delivered them from the “world,” the “flesh,” and the “devil,” through the redemption which He has wrought; putting them in full acceptance before God; an acceptance known and enjoyed by faith. This is the common lot of all who are His, of every child of God. “When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” (Ephesians 4:88Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Ephesians 4:8)). He first went down into the condition into which sin had brought man; into the “lower parts of the earth,” broke asunder the last stronghold of the enemy; led captive those who were captives to Satan, and so perfectly and completely delivered them, that He can now use them against the enemy as instruments of His power.
Now, not only has He given us, by the calling of His grace, to be “holy and without blame before him in love;” but He has also seated us “in heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” as to our present place before Him. Nor is this enough. It is not sufficient that we should possess these, our blessings, and our place by faith; He would also have us to realize consciously the wealth of our portion in Him.
Of what use would be all the riches of India, even to one who possessed it by an unchallengeable title, if he did not realize his possessions, so as to use and enjoy them? So with the things of Christ— “Our own things.” We may be assured of it that they offer a wondrous field for diligence of heart, to realize and enjoy them, and to put others into possession of them also. But we may also be assured that this requires purpose of heart, with a right condition of soul, and self-denial and devotedness: faithfulness, too, with that which is “another man’s,” that God may entrust us with the “true riches” (Luke 16:11-1211If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? (Luke 16:11‑12).)
There is a wide difference between being, in the abstract, possessors of these heavenly riches, and the active realization and enjoyment of them, as of our place in union with Christ.
We shall hope, if the Lord will, to examine these things in detail; with the activities of those who have entered upon their heavenly warfare, let us add, with diligent hearts; and we will then endeavor to exhort one another while it is called today, and encourage one another, or be encouraged, as the Lord may distribute to each of us in His own wise way.
We will divide our meditations, therefore, into three larger divisions, viz. —
1. The heavenly place, in Christ Jesus, which is ours as the people of God, through the redemption that is in Him.
2. Being there—the condition of soul which is needed, that we may realize our “own things.” This will embrace three special phases: —
1. The practical dealing with flesh and self, consequent on our place in Him. 2. The condition of soul needed to meet the enemy. 3. How the presence of the Lord is ensured, and “good success” in our spiritual warfare. And,
3. The realization of our heavenly inheritance and the deliverance of others. In short, the activities of “the Lord’s Host” under the leadership of a heavenly Christ.
The striking analogy between the Book of Joshua and the Epistles to the Ephesians and Colossians, has been a fruitful theme of meditation and blessing at all times —amongst the Lord’s people, even when the analogy has been but faintly seen. Our meditations will be based chiefly upon these Scriptures which offer such a rich field for the study of the Lord’s people. “Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:44For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:4)); and “All these things happened unto them (Israel) for ensamples; and they are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come” (1 Corinthians 10:1111Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. (1 Corinthians 10:11)). Not only then, have we the immense field of the “Law of Moses and the prophets, and the Psalms,” for our learning, patience, and comfort; but we have in a special way the “things” which happened unto Israel, under the specific dealings of the Lord, presented to us as warnings and encouragements by the way.
May He bless His people, and stir up their hearts’ energies in the way that He can own and bless, for His name’s sake! May we not only have divine sensibilities as to the truth, and as to the blessedness of these things which pertain to Christ; but may we have the divine energies also in seeking His face, that we may know and enjoy the things that are freely given to us of God!