Witley
February 26 Manor Rd., Mar 28th
Deut
9.29. It was but a short time ago[1] that I
was seeking to pass on a few thoughts upon that wondrous vision given to
Daniel, and recorded in Chap 10 that I was really arrested by the use that was
made there of the word “Yet”, and as I meditated upon it afterwards I was even
more impressed with the use that is made of it in other passages of Scripture
and I want by God’s help to direct your attention to a few of them this
evening. And I think we shall see something of an element of wonder in each of
them and those words which occur in one of the Alexander Hymns seem to express
the thought that lay behind each instance I hope to bring before you O wonder
of wonders[2]. Not
just a wonder but I wonder which is unique and more wonderful than all other
wonders. God looked in love and grace upon his people downtrodden and ill
treated in Israel Egypt and a most wonderful deliverance was
accomplished in one would’ve thought that after such a gracious act towards
them, they would never turn away from Him again but during the brief space of
40 days and 40 nights they wandered away so far that they not only made a
golden calf to worship but even attributed to that idol the work of deliverance
that they knew quite well and was accomplished by the Living God. And God
disowns them and speaks of them as Thy people to Moses and threatens to destroy
them but Moses prays He is faithful and telling them of the greatness of their
sin. He does not spare them. He strips them of every vestige of
self-righteousness and lays them there before a Thrice Holy God, but it is in
the presence of that Holy God that we see Moses is the real man of God that he
was. He had been with God for 40 days and 40 nights and God has delivered to
him the two tablets of stone, and as he appears before them discovers their sin
and he not only costs those tables of stone out of his hands, and breaks them
before their eyes, but he cast himself down for another forty days and 40
nights and neither did eat bread or drink water because of all their sin and
tells us that he was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure of the Lord, but
he prayed pleading the glory of the Lord as a basis and used this word “Yet”
they are thy people[3].
In spite of their sin and the base ingratitude and terrible rebellion Yet they
are thy people. Is it not a wonder of wonders? God did not continue to disown
them but straightway comments to to deal with them as His own. Now turn to Dan
10 where we have an account of Daniel’s vision. He saw God in His Majesty and
the impression it made upon him was such that all his comeliness was turned
into corruption. So great was the penetrating light of the glory of God that
Daniel saw himself as he really was and as we really are that we feel
absolutely unfit for His Holy Presence. Yet heard I the voice of His words[4], and
wonder of it all is that God has not let him sink in silence and obscurity into
outer darkness. So vile[5] I am how
dare I hope to stand in the pure glory of that Holy Land. Before the brightness
of that throne appear Yet there are hands outstretched to draw me near. And
here we have a very precious Scripture in Ezek 11. 16 I know it refers
primarily to Israel but it can be truly spiritualized. Although I have cast
them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the
countries. Yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where
they shall come. Is it not another wonder of wonders Israel are scattered
because of their own willful choice. Yet God has prepared them a meeting place,
a sanctuary, a place of worship, where they may have dealings with Himself.
That spiritual rock followed them, and that meeting place is at every corner of
the earth where man desires to meet God. There is a place where Jesus sheds the
oil of gladness on our heads. A place than all besides more sweet. It is the
bloodstained mercy seat[6]. Beware
of ever thinking of meeting and Holy God in any other place. Without shedding
of blood there is no remission[7]. And the
sanctuary mentioned here is of the same character as that first meeting place
ordered by God from Sinai. And the wonder of all that is God has made such
provision for us sinners. Do I hear someone saying Oh that is all Old Testament
Scripture and it does not apply in these New Testament Days. Do not be
deceived, the same principles are in evidence and the same word is used in the
same gracious manner. Here we have words from the lips of Him who spake as
never men spake John 11. 25 I am the resurrection and the life he that
believeth in me though he were dead “Yet” shall he live. Here sin is viewed as
having done its worst, and caused the death of its victim Yet shall he live.
What triumph is seen here. What is the death in this verse. Spiritual death is
a severance of the soul from the source of life. I was once called upon on
Christmas Day 1917 to go out to Military Camp to repair a breakdown in the
electric lighting plant[8]. The
whole camp have been severed from the source of power and it was but the work
of a few minutes when I had discovered the source of the failure. Two broken
wires joined up and a new main fuse and all was well. Gross darkness prevailed
over the whole camp, but though it was dead & lifeless “Yet” it was made to
live. And you may be dead in trespasses & sin. Yet you may be quickened and
made to live. And again in Rom 5. 6-8. We have a little word used three
times showing very briefly the wonders of the matchless grace of Jesus when we
were without strength and while we were yet sinners. And there are two
scriptures I would like to couple. It doth not yet appear what we shall be but
we know that when He shall appear we shall be like Him[9]. Do I
hear someone say Yes WHEN.. Yet a little while and He that shall come will come
and will not tarry[10]. Yet a
little while. It may be perhaps today.
[1] 6 November at a cottage meeting in Manor Rd., Milford
[2] The reference is perhaps to Alexander's Gospel Songs edited by Charles M. Alexander
Publisher: Fleming H. Revell Co., New York, 1908 see http://www.hymnary.org/hymnal/AGS1908 . Charles McCallon Alexander (1867–1920) a native of East Tennessee, was a popular nineteenth-century gospel singer who worked the evangelistic circuit for many years. Over the course of his ministry, he toured with R. A. Torrey and John Wilbur Chapman.
This hymn is by Ada Ruth Habershon (1861-1918) best known for her 1907 hymn "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" She was involved with a circle that included Moody and Spurgeon
1 Thro’ the gate of the city they led Him still
Bearing His cross;
Till He came to the summit of Calv’ry’s hill,
Bearing His cross;
As a sheep by the shearers is meekly led,
He endured it for us, and no word He said,
Bearing His cross.
Refrain:
O wonder of wonders, can it be
All for me, all for me?
O wonder of wonders, can it be
All for me?
2 Tho’ he knew what it meant, yet He turned not back,
Bearing His cross;
And He patiently trod all the weary track,
Bearing His cross;
Though the tree was so heavy, ‘twould not compare
With the burden of sin which He carried there,
Bearing His cross. [Refrain]
3 They had never been able to lead Him thus,
Bearing His cross;
If He had not been willing to die for us,
Bearing His cross;
For He laid down the life which He took again,
And the joy set before Him surpassed the pain—
Bearing His cross. [Refrain]
4 All the burdens are gone which He took that day,
Bearing His cross;
Nevermore will He travel that blood stain’d way,
Bearing His cross;
When we See Him in glory enthroned on high,
How we’ll thank Him that thus He went forth to die,
Bearing His cross. [Refrain]
[3] This full story is told in Exodus 32 but is recalled by Moses in Deuteronomy 9 from where this phrase comes
[4] Daniel 10:9
[5] The word vile was used in the November 6 address on Daniel 10 but drawing from a Charles Wesley him rather than Scripture
[6] Words from a hymn by Hugh
Stowell (an Anglican clergyman), in The
Winter’s Wreath, a Collection of Original Contributions in Prose and Verse,
1828. Stowell rewrote & republished the words in 1831.
From every stormy wind that blows,
From every swelling tide of woes,
There is a calm, a sure retreat;
’Tis found beneath the mercy seat.
There is a place where Jesus sheds
The oil of gladness on our heads;
A place than all besides more sweet;
It is the blood bought mercy seat.
There is a scene where spirits blend,
Where friend holds fellowship with friend;
Though sundered far, by faith they meet
Around one common mercy seat.
Ah, whither could we flee for aid,
When tempted, desolate, dismayed,
Or how the hosts of hell defeat,
Had suffering saints no mercy-seat?
There, there, on eagles’ wings we soar,
And time and sense seem all no more;
And heaven comes down, our souls to greet,
And glory crowns the mercy seat.
Oh, let my hand forget her skill,
My tongue be silent, cold, and still,
This bounding heart forget to beat,
If I forget the mercy seat!
[7] Hebrews 9:22
[8] Lloyd was in the Pioneer Corps during the first world war were his experience with electricity as a gardener was made use of, particularly with the Royal Flying Corps. Perhaps in this incident he was called away from the airfield to a nearby military camp. See The Bridge to Airpower: Logistic Support for Royal Flying Corps Operations on the Western Front, 1914-18 Peter Dye Naval Institute Press, 15 Sep 2015
[9] 1 John 3:2
[10] Hebrews 10:37