Jottings

by J. Miller | Category: Jottings | Nov 1951

The last words of men are sometimes embalmed in the memory and so retained in the fragrant spices of remembrance, and the first words of the Lord in the Old and New Testaments, in Malachi and Revelation, are words of remembrance also. Ere the hush of the Divine Voice in the silence of centuries fell upon God's wayward people Israel, the Voice in inspiration is heard saying, "Remember ye the law of Moses My servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, eve n statutes and judgements" (Malachi 4.4). Moses was dead, as God said to Joshua when He returned from his burial. "Moses My servant is dead" but in contrast to man's mortality, the law lived; it was God's living oracle. Gods word, as said Isaiah and Peter, and ali the faithful believed it, "liveth and abideth." It is as static as eternity, and as fo mdational as the foundations of God's throne, and lives throughout all ages as does the voice which spake it. "Remember ye the law"! This is the measuring line to measure men's ways and works. It is the square and plummet to determine accurately whether m in are built to the standards of truth and righteousness and whether their works are upright and square. "To the law and to the testimony! if they speak not according to this word, surely there is no morning for them," or "light in them" (Isaiah 8.20). The word "light" is morning here (see A.V. marg.). It will be the light of morning which will show both men and their works, as they have been in this present night and darkness. The revealing light of morning is coming, but alas! many will not enjoy that morning light, having lived and died children of the darkness and not children of light and of the day.

"Remember ye the law," was a call to both priests and people. The conduct of the priests relative to God's house and altar was deplorable. "I have no pleasure in you, said the LORD of Hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand." They brought the blind and lame to God's altar. The worst, not the best, was to be the LORD'S portion. The priest's lips should keep knowledge," but how could he preach "the law of truth" when his own ways were so far from God's truth I It was impossible! By divine appointment the priest was God's messenger to His people. But it happened according to the proverb

A wicked messenger falleth into evil But a faithful ambassador is health (Proverbs 13.17)

Not only had the priests gone astray in the matter of the LORD'S portion the people also were astray in the same thing

Ye are cursed with the curse , for ye rob Me even this whole nation

Bring the whole tithe into he storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the LORD of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it" (Malachi 3.9-11).

The law as given by Moses would have been the Corrective to these things, if remembered, applied and carried out. David, who valued the law as few men have done, said, The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul" (Psalm 19.7).

Wherein men went wrong the law was the true and accurate restorative. There is law in everything and everywhere, but it is Satan's work to get men to act contrary to law, which, while it is the law of Jehovah, is as truly the law of man's own being and well-being. Consider the ten commandments and it will be seen how truly this is so. The law is against murder, adultery, theft, lying. It is all summed up in-" Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

As in Malachi we have God's last words to His people Israel in the Old Testament, so in Revelation we have His last words in the New. There was but a remnant together in Malachi's time, and in the midst of that remnant there was a smaller remnant of those that feared God and thought upon His name (Malachi 3.16, 17). For these a book of remembrance was written before Him. So also there was but a remnant together in Revelation chapters 1. to 3., in the seven churches which were then in Asia. In certain of these there were those whose hearts were out of touch with the Lord who walked in their midst, whilst others were true to Him. "Thou hast a few names in Sardis which did not defile their garments" (Revelation 3.4), and we also read of " the rest that are in Thyatira," a number distinct from those whom the woman Jezebel sought to seduce (Revelation 2.20, 24). So that here also there was a remnant of faithful ones in the remnant of that time.

The church of God in Ephesus which had known some of those wonderful experiences of the early days of the work of the apostles, knew also the bitterness of men departing from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4.1). Timothy was left by Paul in Ephesus to stay, as far as possible, the swift4loaing waters of false teaching, of which Paul prophesied in Acts 20.29, 80 (1 Timothy t. 8). It was a herculean task, and faithful and gifted Timothy applied himself to the task, but on swept the waters of apostasy, and by the time of Paul's second letter to him evil teaching had gained so great a hold, through men such as Hymennus and Philetus, that a separation became necessary of the Lord's true-hearted followers from those in whom the evil teaching ate as did a gangrene. So the apostolic word was, "If a man therefore (out-) purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, meet for the master's use" (2 Timothy 2.21). The separation which took place in Ephesus was a cruel and harrowing experience. Those that remained faithful to the word that Paul and Timothy had ministered to them were liable to fall a prey to the depressing effect of the aftermath of these things, as miners after a mine explosion are liable to suffer from the dangers of the after-damp, or the "black-damp" of the nines.

Thus we read of the remnant that formed the church in Ephesus

"I have this against thee, that thon didst leave thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I came to thee, and will move thy lampstand out of its place, except thou repent" (Revelation 2.4, 5 R.V.M.).

"Remember the law," said Malachi; "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen" says the Lord, through John. How can a home be ruled without law and without love? A home without law is a chaos, and a home without love is misery. How can the house of God exist without law and without love? It will be but chaos and misery. Shall we remember? Shall we take stock? Remember these are amongst some of the Lord's last words in the Old and New Testament, before the Voice of the Lord was heard no more speaking in inspiration as He had done in past years. Let us while we wait for the Lord keep our lamps trimmed and bright and the fire of love for Him warm and fervent, and also, let us make His word our guide and comiort in the hours of the present night, until the dawn of day.

J. Miller | Nov 1951
Jottings