Between the shortest and the longest Psalms we have the middle verse of the Bible: "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man", Psa. 118:8. Then follows: "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes, " thus amplifying the wisdom and importance of trusting the Lord only. Again Psa. 146:3 warns us, "Put not your trust in princes.” Such clear warning is intended to guard us lest we be carried away by pleasing personalities and accomplished influentials.
One, and One only, is far above all others who is worthy of our entire confidence, God's Perfect and Faithful Servant, Prophet, Priest, Prince, Captain, Head, Chief, Shepherd and Leader. All glory to Him "the Faithful and True Witness".
The divine record shows that all others are liable to failure. Every dispensation is a witness to this—and increasingly so in their extended course until God can no longer forbear (Gen. 6; 2 Chron. 36, etc.). Furthermore, yet awful to contemplate, the greater the privileges the more ignominious becomes the failure! Whenever man is placed in responsibility he ever proves his shameful inability. Malachi and Laodicea are loud witnesses to this.
Our own lamentable lack of devotedness to Christ, our indolence in searching His holy Word and our lack of applying it to our daily walk, is the root cause of our leanness of soul.
Some of us can recall when most of those who ministered did so out of full hearts for the glory of Christ with liberty to minister to both heart and conscience, and we relished their faithful word. Fellowship in the Spirit was sweet, and was enjoyed by most. Prosperity, luxury and class distinction were things which the saints set little value on then, and those who were "well off" used it for the Lord and His work, rather than for their own pleasure and indulgence.
But what a change we now see! "How is the gold become dim!" Faithful conscience-searching ministry is no longer regarded as "Christ-exalting" by many. Where it is most needed, it is frowned upon, resisted and called LEGAL, with the intention of muzzling the speaker. They use such clever expressions as, "such ministry is only faultfinding, as it only occupies us with self instead of with Christ." Worldly abominations are thus tolerated that dishonor Christ. How applicable are the words, "What do thine eyes wink at?" (Job 15:12). Instead of faithful reproof, muteness prevails because of fear of giving offense (Prov. 29:25)! Correction, admonition, warning, reproof and rebuke are avoided where most needed. Smooth, ear-tickling words are given because they are preferred and considered to be more edifying! Courageous faithfulness is becoming rare!
It is because of this very state of things in these last declining days that the apostle urges us to "be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus...Commit thou to faithful men...Reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears, and they shall turn away their ears from the truth" (2 Tim. 2 and 4). "Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things" (Isa. 30:10). "They abhor him that speaketh uprightly" (Amos 5:10). John Wesley said,
"Shall I, to soothe the unholy throng
Soften Thy truth,
Or smooth my tongue?"
"O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err" (Isa. 3:12); and again (Isa. 9:16), "The leaders of this people cause them to err." How solemn to think that it was the leaders that were charged with the decline and departure of the people! Is not this a voice to us today?
When faithful Jeremiah cried out against the abominations in the Lord's house, it was the princes who saw to it that the man who was disturbing their "peace" was effectively stopped. "The princes were wroth with Jeremiah and smote him and put him in prison" (Jer. 37:15). "The princes said unto the king, we beseech thee, let this man be put to death for speaking such words... for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people... Then took they Jeremiah and cast him into the dungeon" (Jer. 38:4).
Later on, with the remnant brought back in Ezra's day, not all was as it should have been; for we are told (Ezra 9:1,2) that "the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations... the holy seed have mingled themselves with the peoples of the land: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass."
The prophet Micah also had to rebuke the heads and princes (Mic. 3), and the Lord in Mic. 3:5 says, "The prophets that make my people err... cry, Peace." Micah further declares that "the heads and princes... abhor judgment, and pervert all equity... (in) Jerusalem... The heads thereof judge for reward... yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us?" Such did the "heads" and "princes".
Regarding this, Mr. Darby wrote that "Nothing can be more offensive to Jehovah than that... His people should clothe themselves with the privilege of His presence, and use this pretension to honor self and justify evil, or maintain a divine claim in spite of it" (Synopsis). It is the same in Jer. 7; "saying The Temple of the Lord, The Temple of the Lord, The Temple of the Lord... and come and stand before Me... and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations"! How boldly the enemy has intruded and leaders remain mute!
Some boldly declare that ministry which exposes evil will only cause divisions. They fail to recognize that the Lord's hand is upon us even though the mischief of the enemy is at work.