Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded

by H. J. Vine.

“Recover us Again”

There is a response awakened in many hearts by that deep-toned chord of Psalm 85:6, “Wilt Thou not revive us again: that Thy people may rejoice in Thee.” The word “revive” could be read “recover” (khaw-yaw, the same as in Isaiah 38:9).

The answer of God in Isaiah 57:15 is rich with encouragement. There the same word is again used, “Take up the stumbling-block out of the way of My people. For thus says the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose Name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to recover the spirit of the humble, and to recover the heart of the contrite ones. For I will not contend for ever.”

Recovery is His own work. We are shut up to Him for this. We may desire it, and pray for it, but He Himself is the great Recoverer. “None can recover (khaw-yaw) his own soul” (Psalm 22:29). We are therefore to turn to Him, and to none other. Happy, however, is the man that sings, “He restoreth my soul.”

Nor is it the way of God to simply recover to the former state, but rather to something higher and more blessed than was experienced before. Nevertheless, there are instances where there is no recovery at all. When those fell, who were connected with that remarkable system of angelic administration, which has Satan for its chief, there was no word of recovery for them that we have recorded, but the opposite. Nor do we read of any for apostate Christendom. It becomes Babylon eventually; and the cry is heard in Revelation, Babylon is fallen, is fallen! In one hour her judgment comes and the smoke of her torment rises up for ever. There is no recovery.

On the other hand, when man fell through Satan’s deception, recovery through our Lord Jesus Christ, the seed of the woman, is at once promised; and that, not to a state of innocence as before, but to holiness, in a paradise no longer upon earth, but above—“the paradise of God.” Also to the nation of Israel, when it failed as to the purpose for which God took it up, promise was given through the seed of David, our blessed Lord and Saviour after the flesh, of recovery to glory and blessing beyond anything they have yet known. Having said these few words as to the main facts of recovery, we may pass on to the more particular.

Recovery Illustrated

The outstanding illustration in the Old Testament is Hezekiah. The Spirit significantly presents this thrice in 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, and Isaiah. A miraculous sign was also given in connection with Hezekiah’s recovery, on the sundial of Ahaz (Isaiah 38:8, 22). He was recovered to rejoice in and to praise the Lord. “He had been sick, and was recovered (khaw-yaw) of his sickness”; and he said, “The living, the living, he shall praise Thee, as I do this day.” It was a blessed instance of recovery to the Lord, to rejoice in Him. In the ways of God—with Israel particularly, this vividly painted picture is presented to us by the Spirit, to depict those ways illustratively for our encouragement and edification—“written for our learning.” It is framed in the central division of Isaiah, as an historical section, between the public and the moral divisions of that threefold book.

The understanding of this illustration is a rebuke to unbelief, and to the lips that say, “There is no hope of recovery.” Such words, though the users themselves may not mean it, limit the blessed God. The miraculous sign, and the recovery of Hezekiah, picture for us that which God does through Christ, through His death and resurrection, so that we may rejoice in Him. What can He not do for our blessing and for His own glory? He has already raised our Lord, Leader and Head from among the dead! Are the saints of God to lie down and repine in an unhealthy state of soul sickness? or are they, in spite of the breakdown in the assemblies, to heed the word, “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice”? He is the Head of the assembly. Our eyes are to be directed to Him, and the Spirit is here to do this for us. He is our hope, and not one good thing promised in connection with Him shall fail. All is Yea and Amen in Him.

We have said that Hezekiah was recovered to rejoice in the Lord. Ahaz, his father, had not done that which was right in the sight of the Lord; but Hezekiah did not therefore say, Israel has failed and all hope is over! He looked first to himself, and “he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord” (2 Chronicles 29:2); going back, not to such bright examples as Joash and others, but to the beginning, to David, “according to all that David his father had done.” We are not left in doubt as to where the beginning is to be found for the saints of God today. We are told in Colossians 1:18, “He is the Head of the body, the assembly: who is THE BEGINNING, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence.” The beginning for us is Christ, the Son of the Father’s love, risen from the dead.

Then Hezekiah opened the doors of the house of the Lord (verse 3), which his father had shut (28:24); and, mark, he did this in view of “all Israel” (verse 24), although he was king of but two tribes. God’s original thought filled his heart and mind. “Love to all the saints” necessarily fills the hearts of those who know the love of Christ, for He loves all the members of the body of which He is the risen and glorified Head. What sanctification and cleansing followed Hezekiah’s action! and how rich was the offering made to the Lord! Seven bullocks, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven he-goats for a sin offering; all speaking of the perfection of Christ in His work of putting away sin. This lies at the foundation of all true recovery, and must be entered into experimentally. Reconciliation and atonement were made for all His own in the blood of that offering. We read, They made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel; for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.” The Lord and all His people were in view. Notice the wealthy burnt offering that went up wholly as a sweet smelling savour to the Lord. Seventy bullocks, one hundred rams, and two hundred lambs (v. 32)! “And when the burnt offering began, the song of the Lord began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David, King of Israel. And all the congregation worshipped.” We are also moved to worship today, as we see CHRIST, WHO IN HIS GREAT LOVE GAVE “HIMSELF FOR US AN OFFERING AND A SACRIFICE TO GOD FOR A SWEET-SMELLING SAVOUR” (Ephesians 5:2).

Difficulties Overcome

Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people. Then he sent letters to “all Israel,” that they should come to the place of Jehovah’s Name, to Jerusalem, to “keep the Passover to the Lord God of Israel.” Mark again, “to the Lord,” not simply to have a good feast for themselves! Some scorned the letter-bearers and laughed (30:10); needless to say, they missed the revival; but others responded. “Let Hezekiah look after the few in Judah,” the mockers might say, “we belong to the ten tribes.” Others, however, recognized that the House of God—the place of Jehovah’s name and presence—was at Jerusalem, and they went up out of the ten tribes. The Levites outvied the priests in sanctifying themselves. Humbling and confession marked the people gathered before the Lord. Some, though their hearts were right, were not “cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary” (verse 19), “yet did they eat the Passover otherwise than it was written.” This was a serious matter; “but Hezekiah”—like the Lord who intercedes for His own today at God’s right hand—“prayed for them.” And the Lord hearkened to Hezekiah (verse 20). Is it any wonder that we read, “So there was great joy in Jerusalem (verse 26)?

God gave them one heart, and difficulties were surmounted. The recovery was very bright and blessed. It was to the Lord, as we said, not the recovery of the nation of Israel, that is still to come when Christ returns; but we are told, “Since the time of Solomon, the son of David, King of Israel, there was not the like in Jerusalem.” A later revival under Josiah went even beyond this, notwithstanding that the reign of wicked Manasseh intervened, for “there was no Passover like to that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet” (35:18). Hezekiah’s revival was blessed; Josiah’s was more blessed; but the most blessed is yet to come, when our Lord Jesus Christ, Israel’s true King, shall return to them, and when they shall return to Him. Like Thomas, they will worship, saying, Our Lord and our God. Their restoration will be like life from the dead. He will be as the dew to Israel, and they shall be like the lily; their roots shall spread like the cedar’s, while the branches of Israel’s tree shall be beautiful; the children shall rest beneath its shadow; and with the corn, and the oil, and the wine, they shall be filled abundantly with the blessing of the Lord. He shall be their delight, and they shall bless His holy Name. He will rejoice over them with singing; and they shall rejoice in Him, and worship with gladness of heart. So far will this recovery surpass all others, that we read, they shall be “a name and a praise among all the people of the earth” (Zephaniah 3:20).

Now what are we taught by all this which is recorded for our learning?

Surely, first that there is such a thing as recovery, and that God Himself is the great Recoverer: also, that though the greatest is still in the future, yet, like Hezekiah, we may first do the right thing ourselves before the Lord, and then act in the sense of God’s grace for the blessing of “all” His own. As we have seen, the Lord and all Israel were before Hezekiah when he opened the closed doors of the house of God. The assembly is the house of God today, not a building of cold stones. Difficulties arose in Hezekiah’s time, and so they have ever since; but their hearts were right Godward, and in answer to prayer, healing was granted by the Lord; faith triumphed, and the sound of their joy, of their blessing, and of the voice of their prayer, reached up to heaven. Entering into the divine favour into which we are taken in Christ today, our hearts also may well exclaim: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ; according as He has chosen us in Him, before He even chose Israel—before the world’s foundation, that we should be holy and blameless BEFORE HIM in love.

“Return unto ME,” He said over and over again to Israel. He remembered them, the kindness of their youth, the love of their espousals, when they went after Him (Jeremiah 2:2); and when they were far from Him, He chastened them in His faithfulness to bring them back. “Yet,” five times He says in one chapter, “have ye not returned unto ME” (see Amos 4:6, 8-11). All was in view of that, as He reiterated again and again. “Seek ye ME, and ye shall live,” said the Lord; “but seek not Bethel” (the house of God); seek HIM who made the seven stars and Orion, the Lord is His Name (5:5-8). In our Lord Jesus Christ He is now made known to us. He is fully revealed now; as He said, “He that has seen Me has seen the Father”; and in Him, raised from among the dead, we have redemption through His blood, and are brought to God in the One who makes Him known. It is therefore our privilege to rejoice in Him. Well may we worship and adore.

The Shining Path

The path of the just shineth more and more to the perfect day. The apostasy of Christendom cannot alter that. Clearer and clearer, brighter and brighter, as the darkness is passing, shineth that blessed path till the full perfection of the day of glory breaks. The downward way of evil men and seducers may become blacker and blacker; the upward path of the just is shining more and more. And hark! when the night is darkest about the world around—Jesus speaks! What does He say to His assembly, the bride? He speaks of that which is dearer than all else to her heart—dearer than herself. Of Himself He speaks! for He knows she loves Him, and like music divine in the stillness of night the sweetest of strains reach her ears and her heart, “I JESUS, … the root and offspring of David, the bright morning star.” At once she responds, in harmony with the Spirit who is here to glorify the blessed Son of God. “Come,” say the Spirit and the bride in response to the presentation of the Bridegroom. With deep spirit-begotten desire she calls for Him to come.

What a blessed result from the work of the Spirit of God throughout the long centuries since Pentecost, and that after He has been grieved so much. Now He has the heart of the assembly for the Lord. She is recovered to Him. He is all in all to her. And is not this last view of the assembly in the Bible disclosed for the encouragement of those who know the precious love of Christ? Most surely! And is not God by His Spirit recovering us to the Lord Himself today, so that, filled with His love and glory, our hearts may be set a-longing to see Him; and as we await the rapturous moment of His coming, we may be assembling together before Him even now, to worship in spirit and in truth; and that the melody of our praise, the glad notes of the true worshippers, may be welcomed, along with our rejoicings in the redemption that is in Christ Jesus before our God and Father?

“While we wait the Bridegroom’s coming,

We would joy before Thy face,

Bless Thee for Thy rich redeeming,

Sing the glory of Thy grace.”

Redeemed and Reconciled

“I have redeemed this valuable watch!” remarked a man to his friend, who replied, “I could purchase one at the jewellers just like it!” “That may be true, but you could not have obtained this one, for you had not the right of redemption. It is mine, and I only had that rights.” God has redeemed those who have believed in His beloved Son at a great price. He had the right to do so, and the redemption wherewith we are redeemed is eternal (Hebrews 9:12). Believers are not simply purchased, they are redeemed by the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18).

The man already referred to, through a quarrel, became alienated from his old friend. In this case it was not redemption that was necessary but reconciliation. The two things are quite different. One has to do with judicial rights, the other with the desires of the heart. God desired our reconciliation to Himself, as well as our redemption, and He secured it through our Lord Jesus Christ, even as we read: “Reconciled to God by the death of His Son” (Romans 5:10). “And you that were sometime alienated … yet now has He reconciled” (Colossians 1:21). Both redemption and reconciliation are connected with the grace of God. What no works of ours could procure, His wonderful grace has brought to pass for us; and wonderful, wonderful indeed, that grace is!

The believer can truly give thanks to God, “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). Knowing, too, that in Christ “we have redemption” (Colossians 1:14); yea, he can “also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the reconciliation” (Romans 11:5 New Translation); for the peace and rest which are found in the perfect righteousness of redemption are his, as are also the favours and rejoicings of reconciliation. Although they are distinct things, both are ours in Christ Jesus. We are redeemed and reconciled to God in Him, and both are based upon His completed work at the cross. It is important that we should understand and be established in these great verities of our faith.

The former is very prominent in the types of the Old Testament, while the latter in its true meaning is reserved for the New, for it is here we have the full revelation of God’s love. Among the many striking types given by the Spirit for our edification, that of Boaz and Ruth stands out as one of the most beautiful in regard to redemption. Boaz, the mighty man of wealth, was of the kindred of Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law. To Ruth she said, “My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?” She sought this rest and well-being for the young Moabite widow in Boaz, for he had the right of redemption; and he worthily proved himself to be the kinsman-redeemer indeed! for in the gates—where judicial questions were considered, before the elders—all was settled, and the witnesses declared their satisfaction (Ruth 4). On the ground of this redemption Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. Soon the worthiness of our Lord Jesus Christ will be publicly celebrated. Then shall we gladly sing to Him the new song, “THOU ART WORTHY! … THOU HAST REDEEMED” (Revelation 5:9). Soon, too, shall the bride, the Lamb’s wife, be seen shining with the light of the glory of God! (Revelation 21:9-11). Redemption’s work in redemption’s day shall fill heaven and earth with redemption splendours, and the glory of the Redeemer shall be worthily proclaimed.

The love of God seeks also man’s reconciliation to Himself; and if righteousness is prominent in redemption, the deep desires of His heart are shown in regard to reconciliation. This is eloquently expressed in the words of 2 Corinthians 5:20, “God as it were beseeching by us, we entreat for Christ, be reconciled to God.” Such words could not be used in regard to redemption. His love desired the reconciliation, though we did not. Even in regard to sinful Israel we read, He stretched out His hands to a disobedient and gainsaying people (Romans 10:21). He waited upon them with long-suffering, but they refused; and it is to the glory of His own grace that we have been brought to Himself. Rich in grace and in mercy too, He produced a response to His love in our hearts, having discovered to us the distance and distress we were in. It was the wanderer who felt his need, that came back to his Father! It was the confessed sinner, that returned and received the best robe, the ring and the sandals! It was the one who found out he was lost, that returned home! It was the one who was dead, that became alive again! The favours and the rejoicings at the feast were concerning him (Luke 15). This brought out the irreconcilable enmity of the elder brother, who said he had never transgressed. It shows that man at his boasted best is thoroughly alienated from God’s thoughts of love—from that which gives PLEASURE TO HIM! And, though entreated to go in, he would not yield to the Father’s gracious beseechings. Like self-righteous Israel, be scorned the outstretched hands, and the divine merry-makings of reconciliation were definitely refused. They that are in the flesh cannot please God, however cultured in religion they may be. Neither redemption nor reconciliation are accepted by them.

On the other hand it is deeply pleasing to the believer to know that God Himself is both glorified and gratified by these two divinely designed blessings; and those who enter into them by faith give pleasure to His heart—whose love counselled them—and by so doing it is shown that the enmity and alienation (which once estranged them from what was agreeable to God) are gone, and communion in mind and heart with Him in these glorious realities is theirs instead. Intimacy has taken the place of enmity. Nearness is now theirs instead of alienation. Oneness of thought and feeling marks them in regard to these righteous and rich providings of His great wisdom and love. Estrangement is therefore gone for ever.

“How great the grace wherein we stand—

The favour of our God:

’Tis joy and peace on every hand,

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

This is according to the good pleasure of His will, and to “the praise of the glory of His grace,” just as the fullness of redemption redounds to “the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:6, 14). Redemption brings us to God in righteousness for His own glory. Reconciliation sets us before Himself in rejoicing for His own pleasure. Both place us in His presence infinitely suitable and eternally agreeable to His own fullness—we are “redeemed” and “reconciled”.

Rejoice Evermore – Pray Unceasingly

God has graciously unfolded to us the wonderful thoughts that filled His heart concerning His beloved Son before the ages of time began to roll. What exceeding grace is this, and what cause we have, in consequence, to lift up our hearts in joyful praise to Him!

A steady, strong saint of God is one who values this. He greatly rejoices in the purpose of God’s love in Christ. He knows that “the purpose of God according to election” must stand, and stand firmly; it cannot be moved. He also knows most surely that that purpose, so quickly ripening, will very soon be publicly manifested in great glory, fruitful to God’s eternal praise, and be presses forward to that day.

Pray with all Perseverance

In connection with this, however, we need to be on our guard against a Satanic subtlety which ensnares the minds of many in regard to prayer, stealthily steals into the unwatchful Carelessness as to persevering prayer. A kind of fatalism creeps into the spirit, into the believer’s heart. Cold correctness in terms and expressions may remain, and the truth of the Epistle to the Ephesians, that God works all things after the counsel of His own will, still be spoken of. Nevertheless, prayer becomes dull, formal, and selfishly narrow, lacking fervency, frequency, sympathy, and intelligent urgency. But the significant fact should be carefully noticed that it is in the Epistle to the Ephesians, in which the eternal purpose of God is spoken of, that we are warned in this very connection of the devil’s artifices. Praying in the Spirit “with all perseverance,” as well as at “all seasons,” is enjoined at the end of it, crowning a sevenfold list of invincible armour pieces, for preservation practically, in the present struggle (chap. 6).

It should also be remarked it is for “all the saints” that prayer is to be made. This will preserve us from a sectarian or party spirit, which is so fatal to the saintly warrior. We are also here told to pray that the “mystery of the gospel” may be boldly told out; and thus we shall be maintained in heart and mind with God in communion about both; and kept back from the selfish and hurtful narrowness which has so effectually enfeebled numbers of Christian soldiers. Boldness is indeed needed, for in its final issue, although the mystery of the glad tidings makes known an order of marvellous blessedness, it involves the eventual overthrow of the present system of nations. We may therefore well be told to pray with all perseverance.

Pray with Joy and Thanksgiving

It is also clear that prayer should not be despondent. It is to be persevering truly, yet to bring in a tone of despondency is to dishonour the One from whom we rightly expect. Paul spoke of “making request with joy.” This may well be the case with us also, knowing the all-sufficiency of our blessed God and Father upon whom we are happily dependent. He is able to do far exceedingly above all our asking, or even our thinking. Colossians 4:2 likewise tells us to “persevere in prayer,” but at the same time adding, “watch in the same with thanksgiving.” As we think of the grace and greatness of God our Father, we have good reason to pray with joy and with thanksgiving; yea, in all things to give thanks.

How grateful, too, it is to Him who loves us to see our hearts thus turning to Himself. He observes His own with divine interest and pleasure as they are journeying heavenward.

Sitting one day in a café I saw a young convert enter accompanied by two relatives. I knew of him, but be did not know me. I wondered if he would give thanks to God for his meal. I felt keenly for him. Young in the faith and surrounded by worldlings, I knew he would need to have divine courage. I was filled with joy as I saw him bow his head and give thanks to God. He had no idea that a sympathetic stranger was observing him; but how encouraging it is for us to know that our God and Father Himself lovingly observes His own, and values the prayers and thanksgivings and praises that rise from their hearts.

No Limitations

Many impose limitations as to prayer where God does not. We are to be always in the spirit of prayer, for we are exhorted to “pray unceasingly.” When we are thus characterized, our conduct and conversation, whilst always with grace, would be such that we could at once turn happily and reverently to God in prayer and speak freely to Him. The two short verses of 1 Thessalonians 5 are of immense importance, “Rejoice evermore. Pray unceasingly.” Prayer and joy travel happily together, hand in hand along the path of faith to the heavenly goal on high.

“Preserve me, O God,” our Lord Jesus Christ prayed as He trod the path; but He added, “My heart is glad, and My glory rejoices.” He saw also the goal before Him and continued, “Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16). We learn in Him who knew the purpose of God so intimately the importance of prayer.

Limitations as to place are also sometimes made, but in 1 Timothy 2:8 we read that men should “pray in every place,” whilst verse 1 exhorts that “all men” should be remembered; for our Saviour God desires that “all men should be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.” The risen Man Christ Jesus, who once gave Himself a ransom for all, being now the one Mediator, the only Mediator of God and men. Prayer and thanksgiving is consequently to mark us for all men in every place.

Encouraged in Prayer

May it be ours to be encouraged by these scriptures in unceasing and persevering prayer; and may we make happy and intelligent progress in the same through the knowledge of our God and Father, from whom we may well ask with joy and confidence. There is no need to be discouraged. His resources are inexhaustible, and the armour provided is perfect and invincible. (1) The girdle of truth. (2) The breastplate of righteousness. (3) The preparation of the gospel of peace. (4) The shield of faith. (5) The helmet of salvation. (6) The sword of the Spirit, God’s Word. (7) PRAYER.

Our God is the “God of all encouragement,” as well as “the Father of compassions;” therefore, if we have been ensnared, or become careless, we can wake up now and give ourselves to prayer in the Spirit:

“WITH ALL PERSEVERANCE;”

“AT ALL SEASONS;”

“FOR ALL THE SAINTS;”

“FOR ALL MEN;”

“AND IN ALL PLACES.”

Very soon God’s purpose in Christ of everlasting glory will be seen bursting forth in beauty and splendour, brightening all with its blessed beams. To that gladsome time we are hastening onward; and now, if we would run well and worthily, prayer in the Spirit must be the breath which constantly and inspiringly fills the lungs of our souls: making us speed forward, superior to mundane and Satanic influences; giving us wing for flight and joyful communion with God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ on the journey.

“Haste thee on from grace to glory,

Armed by faith, and winged by prayer,

Heaven’s eternal day’s before thee

God’s right hand shall bring thee there.”

This ends our reading for this session. Until next time, have a great day, and God bless.