"Neither Murmur Ye"

by J. MCCORMICK | Category: Neither Murmur Ye | May 1962

"There are diversities of gifts" (1 Corinthians 12. 4). The Spirit divides to each one severally even as He will (1 Corinthians 12.11). Note - " as He will," not as we will. Gifts have been given by the ascended Lord (Ephesians 4.8). Overseers have been made by the operation of the Spirit of God (Acts 20.28). Saints are exhorted to know them ... to esteem them exceeding highly in love for their work's sake ... to obey them (1 Thessalonians 5.12, 13; see also Hebrews 13.17). To challenge this divine order by rebellion is to despise God and His word: as in the past, so in the present, judgement must begin at the house of God (1 Peter 4.17). Let us beware lest in this matter, by our careless words and attitude, we are found questioning God as to His choice of men.

So depraved had Dathan and Abiram become in their reasonings that now they compare the good land to which God had called them with that which they had left behind, and speak of Egypt as "a land flowing with milk and honey" (Numbers 16.18). Surely their minds must have been seriously warped thus to judge! Many there are who think of the way of the Lord thus. They would go into Egypt for their sustenance. They would drink at its broken cisterns. They would eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of excess in order to satisfy a perverted mind. No wonder the vile deed of Numbers 16 is held up as an example for all time, that we should flee these things! Jealousy, envy, faction and rebellion, mingled with their murmurings, all called for the righteous and severe judgement of a holy God. He removed them in His wisdom, taking the leaven from the midst of Israel. Let us consider these things, and, beloved, "Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer" (1 Corinthians 10.10).

As though the experience of the past day had not touched their hearts, the people again murmured on the morrow. And this time we need to take careful note of the circumstances. Their murmuring was not caused by a lack of food or water or of fleshly satisfaction or a display of envy or jealousy. It was now an open murmuring at the righteous judgement of God.

"But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD... and. ... they looked... and, behold... the glory of the LORD appeared ... And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. And they fell upon their faces" (Numbers 16. 41-45). There is no reasoning with them as at other times. This sin calls for the immediate intervention of God. What of the men against whom the people had murmured? They are on their faces before the LORD interceding on behalf of an erring people. Seeking to make propitiation before an angry God, see Aaron with his censer among the people, "between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed. Now they that died by the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, besides them that died about the matter of Korah" (Numbers 16.48-49). Oh, the awfulness of the judgement of God against the murmurers!

Have we a present-day parallel to this? We have indeed. How thankful we should be that we live in a day of boundless grace, when God does not always reach out His hand in present judgement upon the bodies of the sinning ones, though it is made manifest in the Scriptures that His judgement should be upon those who had sinned, and the discipline of His people should be seen in present operation. How much will the judgement-seat of Christ reveal of the terrible havoc wrought among those who are together of God, by the murmurings of those who are within, setting aside the judgement of God and the word of God! Consider the incident of 1 Corinthians 5, where a man was put away from the church of God in Corinth for the sin of fornication. His sin was truly great. He had seriously offended against the will of God, and, in order that the assembly might be cleansed, excommunication was the sentence pronounced. What was to be the attitude of the assembly toward such a wicked one? Were they permitted to continue in social fellowship, while he had no spiritual fellowship? What saith the Scripture?

"But now I write unto you not to keep company, if any man that is named a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no, not to eat" (1 Corinthians 5. 11). This is no controversial issue, there can be no reasoning. The judgement of God has been given, both as to the excommunication of the sinning one, and as to the subsequent conduct of brethren and sisters toward him. Whatever may be our sympathies, the word of God is clear. "Not to keep company ... no not to eat." "But", we may say, "that is harsh". Would it not be better to help the sinning one by being friendly? Perhaps by inviting him to the home so as to win him back to the Lord? Why did God command him to be put away? Why did He command others not to keep company and not to eat with him? Does not the Most High in His infinite wisdom know how to deal with an erring saint that we dare to bring forth our ideas against His explicit word? Indeed, we do well to abide by the scripture, and if we carry it out to the letter the sooner shall we see the repentance which God intends by His discipline. What, then, if like those in the past we speak and act in defiance of God's word? We ourselves will be found as rebellious persons and the judgement of God will surely follow.

It may be that a brother or sister has been walking disorderly, saying or doing things which they ought not. Again God speaks of judgement upon such: "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which they received of us" (2 Thessalonians 3.6). This is not a case of one being put away from an assembly, but is one of the discipline of God within the assembly. And, perhaps, it would be in a case such as this that the murmurers may arise. Friendly disposed saints may be over-sympathetic, and not inclined to put into effect that which God has commanded. They may consider the leaders of the assembly to be harsh in their judgements. In effect they may be like those of Numbers 16 and say, "Ye have killed the people of the LORD." This would surely be a most serious offence, and one which God could not overlook. His righteous demands must be met, and if one is found who, in a disorderly way, is setting aside the plain teaching of Scripture, and by his words and conduct is dishonouring God's house, then the word of God is "withdraw yourselves". The object of the discipline is repentance toward God, and, if carried out according to the Scriptures, results will be seen.

But some may be rebellious and refuse to carry out the discipline. What then? These place themselves in the same position exactly as ?hose who murmured in the wilderness. They complain against God's will and set themselves in opposition thereto. The word concerning them is :- " And if any man obeyeth not our word by this epistle, note that man, that ye have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed" (2 Thessalonians 3.14). What if this is further persisted in? A saint cannot go on indefinitely setting aside the judgement of God against the sinner. Then, as a self-chooser and rebellious person he must find his place outside the house of God (see Titus 3.10-11). All this because of an inward, or maybe an outward, murmuring at God's righteous dealings with His people. How careful we should be to submit to His ruling, and ever to be found seeking the honour of His house! Let us not murmur against our leaders when it is needful to apply the word of God to those who err, for that murmuring will lead further into sin, and what havoc can be wrought through it! Wherefore, beloved, "Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer" (1 Corinthians 10.10).

Now, having seen the circumstances of their murmuring, and some of the lessons to be learned therefrom, let us note briefly where they murmured.

"Ye murmured in your tents" (Deuteronomy 1. 27).

"(They) murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD" (Psalm 106.25). In their tents! In their homes Is not this where most murmurings begin? In the family circle. Listen to the father complaining and grumbling before the family. Listen to him as he speaks unwisely of those who may be found in the church of which he is a part. Note how the children take in the word spoken to bear fruit in days to come. Yes, it is in the homes of saints that the first seeds of murmuring are sown, with disastrous results. Families can be ruined, children taught to despise those who are over them in the Lord, only to manifest in later life the fruits of such sowing in making shipwreck concerning the Faith. But murmuring in the home does not remain there. it will not be long before the word will be true of them "the people were as murmurers" (Numbers 11. 1). This is beyond the family circle now. It has entered into their social life. Just imagine the grumblers in Israel going from tent to tent with their complaints, as they met in the social round of life. How their trials and difficulties would be magnified, and all through those two men, they complained-Moses and Aaron! So it may be today going from saint to saint, laying complaints, criticising, speaking evil regarding many things. No! Murmuring does not stay in the tent. It spreads. Sooner or later it will be manifest as Israel's came to be, by murmuring in the congregation (see Numbers 16.41). This would tell us of assembly life, and as murmuring grows it becomes more serious in the sight of God.

Note how the judgement of God is seen operating in these cases (see Exodus 15, 16 and 17). In their inexperience God apparently overlooked the murmurings. But from Numbers 11 onwards, the murmurings were more serious, leading to open rebellion. And as the sin increased, the judgement of God became more severe.

Then notice, that in every case we have noted the murmurings are against Moses and (or) Aaron but God looks upon the sin as much deeper than that: He says, "They murmur against Me" (Numbers 14.27). Let us remember that, while we are apparently murmuring against men, God, who interprets all things aright, says that it is "against Me". May we all heed the words of wisdom:

"Murmur not, brethren, one against another that ye be not behold, the Judge standeth before the doors" (James 5.9).

"Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer" (1 Corinthians 10. 10).

J. MCCORMICK | May 1962
Neither Murmur Ye