A Ribband of Blue
AND
OTHER BIBLE STUDIES
By
J. HUDSON TAYLOR.
(A companion volume to "Union and Communion,"
and to "Separation and Service.")
London
CHINA INLAND MISSION, Newington Green, N.
Morgan & Scott, 12, Paternoster Buildings, E.C.
A Ribband Of Blue.
We would draw the attention of beloved friends to the instructive
passage with which the fifteenth chapter of Numbers closes; and may
GOD, through our meditation on His precious Word, make it yet more
precious and practical to each one of us, for CHRIST our REDEEMER'S
sake!
The whole chapter is full of important teaching. It commences with
instruction concerning the burnt-offering, the sacrifice in
performing a vow, and the free-will offering. It was not to be
supposed that any one might present his sacrifice to GOD according to
his own thought and plan. If it were to be acceptable--a sweet savour
unto the LORD--it must be an offering in every respect such as GOD
had appointed. We cannot become acceptable to GOD in ways of our own
devising; from beginning to end it must be, "Not my will, but Thine,
be done."
Then, from the seventeenth to the twenty-first verse, the LORD claims
a first-fruits. The people of GOD were not to eat their fill, consume
all that they cared to consume, and then give to GOD somewhat of the
remainder; but before they touched the bread of the land, a
heave-offering was to be offered to the LORD; and when the
requirement of GOD had been fully met, then, and not till then, were
they at liberty to satisfy their own hunger and supply their own
wants. How often we see the reverse of this in daily life! Not only
are necessaries first supplied from the income, but every fancied
luxury is procured without stint, before the question of the
consecration of substance to GOD is really entertained.
Next follow the directions concerning errors from heedlessness and
ignorance. The people were not to imagine that sin was not sinful if
it were unconsciously committed. Man's knowledge and consciousness do
not make wrong right or right wrong. The will of GOD was revealed and
ought to have been known: not to know that will was in itself sinful;
and not to do that will, whether consciously or unconsciously, was
sin--sin that could only be put away by atoning sacrifice.
GOD dealt in much mercy and grace with those who committed sins of
ignorance; though, when the sin became known and recognised,
confession and sacrifice were immediately needful. But, thank GOD!
the sacrifice was ordained, and the sin could be put away.
It was not so with the presumptuous sin. No sacrifice was appointed
for a man, whether born in the land or a stranger, who reproached the
LORD by presumptuous sin. Of that man it was said, "that soul shall
utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him."
This distinction is very important to make. We are not to think that
our holiest service is free from sin, or can be accepted save through
JESUS CHRIST our LORD. We are not to suppose that sins of omission,
any more than sins of commission, are looked lightly upon by GOD:
sins of forgetfulness and heedlessness or ignorance are more than
frailties--are real sins, needing atoning sacrifice. GOD deals very
gently and graciously with us in these matters; when transgression or
iniquity is brought home to the conscience, "if we confess our sins,
He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness." Even when walking in the light, "as He is
in the light," we are not beyond the need of atonement. Though our
fellowship with GOD be unbroken by any conscious transgression, it
continues unbroken only because "the blood of JESUS CHRIST HIS SON is
cleansing us from all sin."
The man, however, who would presume on GOD's forgiveness, and despise
GOD's holiness and His claim upon His people, by doing deliberately
the thing that he knows to be contrary to GOD's will, that man will
find spiritual dearth and spiritual death inevitably follow. His
communion with GOD is brought to an end, and it is hard to say how
far Satan may not be permitted to carry such a backslider in heart
and life. It is awfully possible not merely to "grieve" and to
"resist," but even to "quench" the SPIRIT of GOD.
We have a solemn example of presumptuous sin in the case of the man
found gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. He was not--he could not
be ignorant of GOD'S ordinance concerning the Sabbath. The gathering
of sticks was not to meet a necessity; his case was not parallel with
that of the poor man who perhaps had received his wages late on
Saturday night, and has had no opportunity of purchasing food in time
to prepare it for the day of rest. To the Israelite, the double
supply of manna was given on the morning of the day before the
Sabbath; and as the uncooked manna would not keep, it was necessary
that early in that day it should be prepared for food. He had,
therefore, no need of sticks to cook his Sabbath's dinner. And the
country was so hot that no man would kindle a fire from choice or
preference. His object in gathering sticks was simply to show, openly
and publicly, that he despised GOD, and refused to obey His holy
ordinance: rightly, therefore, was that man put to death.
But occasion was taken in connection with this judgment to introduce
the wearing of the
"RIBBAND OF BLUE."
GOD would have all His people wear a badge. Throughout their
generations they were to make them fringes in the borders of their
garments, and to put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of
blue, that they might look upon it and remember all the commandments
of the LORD, and do them, and might be a holy people, holy unto their
GOD, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, to be their GOD.
Blue is the colour of heaven. The beautiful waters of the sea reflect
it, and are as blue as the cloudless sky. When the clouds come
between, then, and then only, is the deep blue lost. But it is the
will of GOD that there should never be a cloud between His people and
Himself; and that, as the Israelite of old, wherever he went, carried
the ribband of blue, so His people to-day should manifest a heavenly
spirit and temper wherever they go; and should, like Moses, in their
very countenances bear witness to the glory and beauty of the GOD
whom they love and serve.
How interesting it must have been to see that ribband of blue carried
by the farmer into the field, by the merchant to his place of
business, by the maid-servant into the innermost parts of the
dwelling, when performing her daily duties. Is it less important that
the Christian of today, called to be a witness for CHRIST, should be
manifestly characterised by His spirit? Should we not all be
"imitators of GOD, as dear children," and "walk in love as CHRIST
also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us"? And should not
this Spirit of GOD-likeness be carried into the smallest details of
life, and not be merely reserved for special occasions? If we
understand aright the meaning of our SAVIOUR'S direction "Be ye
therefore perfect, even as your FATHER which is in heaven is
perfect," it teaches this great truth.
We are to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, not to
break one of the least of the commandments, not to give way to anger,
not to tolerate the thought of impurity, to give no rash promises, or
in conversation to say more than yea or nay. The spirit of
retaliation is not to be indulged in; a yieldingness of spirit is to
characterise the child of the kingdom; those who hate and
despitefully use us are to be pitied, and loved, and prayed for. Then
comes the direction, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your FATHER
which is in heaven is perfect." In the little frictions of daily
life, as well as in the more serious trials and persecutions to which
the Christian is exposed, he is to be manifestly an imitator of his
heavenly FATHER.
Now, GOD'S perfection is an absolute perfection; while ours, at best,
is only relative. A needle may be a perfect needle, in every respect
adapted for the work for which it was made. It is not, however, a
microscopic object; under magnifying power it becomes a rough,
honeycombed poker, with a ragged hole in the place of the eye. But it
was not made to be a microscopic object; and, being adapted to the
purpose for which it was made, it may properly be considered a
perfect needle. So we are not called to be perfect angels, or in any
respect Divine, but we are called to be perfect Christians,
performing the privileged duties that as such devolve upon us.
Our FATHER makes according to His perfection the least little thing
that He makes. The tiniest fly, the smallest animalcule, the dust of
a butterfly's wing, however highly you may magnify them, are seen to
be absolutely perfect. Should not the little things of our daily life
be as relatively perfect in the case of each Christian as the lesser
creations of GOD are absolutely perfect? Ought we not to glorify GOD
in the formation of each letter that we write, and as Christians to
write a more legible hand than unconverted people can be expected to
do? Ought we not to be more thorough in our service, not simply doing
well that which will be seen and noticed, but as our FATHER makes
many a flower to bloom unseen in the lonely desert, so to do all that
we can do, as under His eye, though no other eye ever take note of it?
It is our privilege to take our rest and recreation for the purpose
of pleasing Him; to lay aside our garments at night neatly (for He is
in the room, and watches over us while we sleep), to wash, to dress,
to smooth the hair, with His eye in view; and, in short, in all that
we are and in all that we do to use the full measure of ability which
GOD has given us to the glory of His holy Name? Were we always so to
live, how beautiful Christian life would become! how much more worthy
a witness we should bear to the world of Him whose witnesses we are!
May the life we are living be characterised by the growth in grace
which will glorify GOD; and may tell-tale faces, and glad hearts, and
loving service be to each one of us as "a ribband of blue,"
reflecting the very hue of heaven, and reminding ourselves and one
another of our privileges to "remember all the commandments of the
LORD, and do them."
Blessed Prosperity
Meditations On The First Psalm.
INTRODUCTORY.
There is a prosperity which is not blessed: it comes not from above
but from beneath, and it leads away from, not towards heaven. This
prosperity of the wicked is often a sore perplexity to the servants
of GOD; they need to be reminded of the exhortation, "Fret not
thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man
who bringeth wicked devices to pass." Many besides the Psalmist have
been envious at the foolish when seeing the prosperity of the wicked,
and have been tempted to ask, "Is there knowledge in the MOST HIGH?"
While Satan remains the GOD of this world, and has it is his power to
prosper his votaries, this source of perplexity will always continue
to those who do not enter into the sanctuary and consider the latter
end of the worldling.
Nor is it the godless only who are tempted by the offer of a
prosperity which comes from beneath. Our SAVIOUR Himself was tempted
by the arch-enemy in this way. CHRIST was told that all that He
desired to accomplish for the kingdoms of this world might be
effected by an easier path than the cross--a little compromise with
him who held the power and was able to bestow the kingdoms, and all
should be His own. The lying wiles of the seducer were instantly
rejected by our LORD; not so ineffective are such wiles to many of
His people; a little policy rather than the course for which
conscience pleads; a little want of integrity in business dealings; a
little compromise with the ways of the world, followed by a
prosperity which brings no blessing, these prove often that the
enemy's arts are still the same.
But, thank GOD! There is a true prosperity which comes from Him and
leads towards Him. It is not only consistent with perfect integrity
and uncompromising holiness of heart and life, but it cannot be
attained without them, and its enjoyment tends to deepen them. This
divine prosperity is GOD'S purpose for every believer, in all that he
undertakes; in things temporal and in things spiritual, in all the
relations and affairs of this life, as well as in all work for CHRIST
and for eternity, it is GOD'S will for each child of His that
"whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."
Yet many of His children evidently do not enjoy this uniform
blessing; some find failure rather than success the rule of their
life: while others, sometimes prospered and sometimes discouraged,
live lives of uncertainty, in which anxiety and even fear are not
infrequent. Shall we not each one at the outset ask, How is it with
me? Is this blessed prosperity my experience? Am I so led by the
SPIRIT in my doings, and so prospered by GOD in their issues, that as
His witness I can bear testimony to His faithfulness to this promise?
If it be not so with me, what is the reason? Which of the necessary
conditions have I failed to fulfil? May our meditations on the First
Psalm make these conditions more clear to our minds, and may faith be
enabled to claim definitely all that is included in this wonderful
promise!
THE NEGATIVE CONDITIONS OF BLESSING
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly."
More literally, O the blessings, the manifold happiness of the man
whose character is here described in the first and second verses of
this Psalm! He is happy in what he escapes or avoids, and happy and
prospered in what he undertakes.
The first characteristic given us is that he walks not in the counsel
of the ungodly, the wicked. Notice, it does not merely say that he
walks not in wicked counsel: a man of GOD clearly would not do this;
but what is said is that he "walketh not in the counsel of the
wicked." Now the wicked have often much worldly wisdom, and become
noted for their prosperity and their prudence, but the child of GOD
should always be on his guard against their counsel; however good it
may appear, it is full of danger.
One of the principal characteristics of the wicked is that GOD is not
in all his thoughts; he sees everything from the standpoint of self,
or, at the highest, from the standpoint of humanity. His maxim, "Take
care of number one," would be very good if it were meant that GOD is
first, and should always be put first; but he means it not so: self
and not GOD is number one to the ungodly. The wicked will often
counsel to honesty, not on the ground that honesty is pleasing to
GOD, but that it is the best policy; if in any particular business
transaction a more profitable policy appears quite safe, those who
have simply been honest because it pays best, will be very apt to
cease to be so.
The child of GOD has no need of the counsel of the ungodly; if he
love and study GOD'S Word it will make him wiser than all such
counsellors. If he seek for and observe all the counsel of GOD,
through the guidance of the HOLY SPIRIT, he will not walk in darkness
even as to worldly things. The directions of GOD'S Word may often
seem strange and impolitic, but in the measure in which he has faith
to obey the directions he finds in the Scripture, turning not to the
right hand nor to the left, will he make his way prosperous, will he
find good success.
The history of the early Friends in America, who would not take a
weapon to protect themselves against the savage Indian tribes, shows
how safe it is to follow the Word of GOD and not to resist evil. And
their later experience in the recent Civil War, in which no one of
them lost his life, though exposed to the greatest dangers and
hardships because they would not fight, further confirms the wisdom
as well as blessedness of literally obeying the Scripture. The eyes
of the LORD still run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show
Himself strong in behalf of those who put their trust in Him before
the sons of men. The enlightened believer has so much better counsel
that he no more needs than condescends to accept the counsel of the
ungodly.
And, more than this, the wise child of GOD will carefully ascertain
the standpoint of a fellow-believer before he will value his counsel;
for he learns from Scripture and experience that Satan too
infrequently makes handles of the people of GOD, as, for instance, in
Peter's case. Little did the astonished Peter know whence his
exhortation to the LORD to pity Himself came; "Get thee behind me,
Satan," showed that our LORD had traced this counsel, which did not
seek first the Kingdom of GOD, to its true source. Alas, the counsel
of worldly-minded Christians does far more harm than that of the
openly wicked. Whenever the supposed interests of self, or family, or
country, or even of church or mission come first, we may be quite
sure of the true source of that counsel; it is at least earthly or
sensual, if not devilish.