The Project Gutenberg EBook of Separation and Service, by James Hudson Taylor This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org Title: Separation and Service or Thoughts on Numbers VI, VII. Author: James Hudson Taylor Release Date: August 21, 2008 [EBook #26384] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SEPARATION AND SERVICE *** Produced by Free Elf, Verity White and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net Separation and Service OR THOUGHTS ON NUMBERS VI, VII. BY J. HUDSON TAYLOR. London MORGAN & SCOTT, 12, Paternoster Buildings, E.C. CHINA INLAND MISSION, Newington Green, N. PRINTED BY WOODFALL AND KINDER, LONG ACRE LONDON CONTENTS. [Pg 5] Separation and Service. PAGE Introductory 7 Part I. SEPARATION TO GOD: Numbers vi, 1-21. Institution of the Order of Nazarites 11 Implicit Obedience 13 Entire Consecration 16 Holiness to the Lord 19 Unwitting Defilement 22 The Heinousness of Sin 23 Cleansing only through Sacrifice 25 Acceptance only in Christ 27 The Presentation of the Nazarites 33 The Law of the Offerings 35 The Burnt-Offering 39 The Sin and Peace-Offerings 41 Part II. THE BLESSING OF GOD: Numbers vi, 22-27. Why Found Here? 44 The Real Meaning of Blessing 49 The Three-fold Benediction 52 The Blessing of the Father 53 The Second Person of the Trinity 60 The Blessing of the Son and Bridegroom 63 The Lord, the Spirit 70 The Blessing of the Holy Spirit 73 Sealing with the Name of God 80 Part III. PRINCELY SERVICE: Numbers vii. The Constraint of Love 89 God's Delight in Love-gifts 90 Free-will Offerings 93 Gladsome Acceptance 96 According to his Service 101 The Dedicatory Offerings 107 The Display of the Gifts 109 The Person of the Offerer 113 The Importance of the Altar 117 Separation and Service. Numbers vi, vii. INTRODUCTORY. For many years these chapters had no special interest to me; but I have never ceased to be thankful that I was early led to read the Word of God in regular course: it was through this habit that these chapters first became specially precious [Pg 6] [Pg 7] to me. I was travelling on a missionary tour in the province of Cheh-kiang, and had to pass the night in a very wicked town. All the inns were dreadful places; and the people seemed to have their consciences seared, and their hearts sealed against the Truth. My own heart was oppressed, and could find no relief; and I awoke the next morning much cast down, and feeling spiritually hungry and thirsty indeed. On opening my Bible at the seventh chapter of Numbers, I felt as though I could not then read that long chapter of repetitions; that I must turn to some chapter that would feed my soul. And yet I was not happy in leaving my regular portion; so after a little conflict I resolved to read it, praying to God to bless me, even through Numb. vii. I fear there was not much faith in the prayer; but oh! how abundantly it was answered, and what a feast God gave me! He revealed to me His own great heart of love, and gave me the key to understand this and the previous chapter as never before. May God make our meditations upon them as helpful to others as they were then and have ever since continued to be to myself. Much is revealed in these chapters in germ which is more fully brought out in the New Testament. Under the Old Covenant many blessings were enjoyed in measure and for a season, which in this dispensation are ours in their fulness and permanence. For instance, the atoning sacrifices of the seventh month had to be repeated every year; but Christ, in offering Himself once for all, perfected for ever them that are sanctified. The Psalmist needed to pray, "Take not Thy Holy Spirit from me;" but Christ has given us the Comforter to abide with us for ever. In like manner the Israelite might vow the vow of a Nazarite and separate himself unto God for a season; but it is the privilege of the Christian believer to know himself as always separated to God. Many other lessons, which are hidden from careless and superficial readers, are suggested by these chapters, which the Holy Spirit will reveal to prayerful students of His most precious and most perfect Book. The portions we have selected consist of first a short chapter, and then a very long one, which at first sight appears to have no special connection with it. But on more careful reflection we shall see that the order of the subjects referred to shows that there is really a natural and close connection between them. We shall find that Separation to God is followed by Blessing from God; and that those who receive large blessing from Him, in turn render to Him acceptable Service: service in which God takes delight, and which He places in everlasting remembrance. PART I. Separation to God. Numb. vi. 1-21. THE INSTITUTION OF THE ORDER OF NAZARITES. The first twenty-one verses of Numb. vi. give us an account of the institution and ordinances of the order of Nazarites. And let us note at the outset that this institution, like every other good and perfect gift, came from above; that God Himself gave this privilege—unasked—to His people; thereby showing His desire that "whosoever will" of His people may be brought into closest relationship to Himself. It was very gracious of God to permit His people to become Nazarites. Israel might have been "a kingdom of priests;" but through their own sin they had nationally forfeited this privilege, and a special family had been set apart to the priesthood. God, however, still opened the way for individuals who wished to draw near to Him to do so, and for any period which their own hearts might dictate. But it is important to notice that though the vow might only be one of temporary consecration, yet it involved while it lasted an ABSOLUTE ACCEPTANCE of the will of God, even in regard to matters which might appear trivial and unimportant. So, in the present day, God is willing to give to His people fulness of blessing, but it must be on His own lines. Though we are not our own, it is, alas! possible to live as though we were; devotion to God is still a voluntary thing; hence the differences of attainment among Christians. While salvation is a free gift, the "winning Christ" can only be through unreserved consecration and unquestioning obedience. Nor is this a hardship, but the highest privilege. Let us now look into the law of the Nazarite. IMPLICIT OBEDIENCE: verses 3, 4. "He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried. All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the [Pg 8] [Pg 9] [Pg 10] [Pg 11] [Pg 12] [Pg 13] kernels even to the husk." The first thing that we note is, that as the obedience of Adam was tested in the Garden by the prohibition of one tree—a tree pleasant to look upon, and good for food—so was the obedience of the Nazarite tested. He was not forbidden to eat poison berries, nor was he merely required to abstain from the wine and strong drink which might easily become a snare; fresh grapes and dried raisins were equally prohibited. It was not that the thing was harmful in itself, but that the doing the will of God, in a matter of seeming indifference, was essential to his acceptance. Not less true is this of the Christian Nazarite. Whether he eat or drink, or whatsoever he do, the will of God and not self-indulgence must be his one aim. Christians often get into perplexity about worldly allurements by asking, Where is the sin of this, or the danger of that? There may be danger that the questioner cannot see: Satan's baits often skilfully conceal a sharp hook; but supposing that the thing be harmless, it does not follow that it would be pleasing to God, or spiritually helpful. The fruit of the vine is a type of earth-born pleasures; those who would enjoy Nazarite nearness to God must count His love "better than wine." To win Christ, the Apostle Paul gladly suffered the loss of all things, and counted them as dross and dung for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus his Lord. The things he gave up were not bad things, but good—things that in themselves were gain to him; and Christ Himself for our redemption emptied Himself, and came to seek not His own, but the will of Him that sent Him. The highest service demands the greatest sacrifice, but it secures the fullest blessing and the greatest fruitfulness. Christ could not remain in His Father's bosom and redeem the world; missionaries cannot win the heathen and enjoy their home surroundings; nor can they be adequately sustained without the loving sacrifices of many friends and donors. You, dear reader, know th Master's choice; what is YOURS? is it to do His will even if it mean to leave all for Him, to give all to Him? ENTIRE CONSECRATION: verse 5. "All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the Lord, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow." We have already seen that God tested the obedience of the Nazarite in the matter of food: pleasing God was rather to be chosen than the most tempting cluster of grapes. But in the foregoing words we find that his obedience is further tested, and this in a way which to many might prove a more severe trial. God claims the right of determining the personal appearance of His servant, and directs that separated ones should be manifestly such. To many minds there is the greatest shrinking from appearing peculiar; but God would often have His people unmistakably peculiar. We sometimes hear the argument, "all the world" thinks this, or does that, given as a reason for our doing likewise; but that is an argument that should have no weight with the Christian, who is commanded not to be conformed to the world. While we are not to seek to be peculiar for its own sake, we are not to hesitate to be so when duty to God renders it necessary, or when the privilege of self-denial for the benefit of others calls for it. Further, this command again reminded the Nazarite that he was not his own, but was utterly the Lord's; that God claimed the very hair of his head. He was not at liberty to cut or trim it as he saw fit, nor to wear it as long or as short as might be agreeable to himself. So absolute was God's claim upon him, that not merely while his vow lasted was that hair to be recognised as God's possession, but when his vow was fulfilled the whole of it was to be shaved off, and was to be burnt upon the altar. Like the burnt-offering, it was to be recognised as for God's use alone, whether or not any utilitarian purpose were accomplished by the sacrifice. So now, in the present dispensation, we are told "the very hairs of your head are all numbered"—so minute is God's care for His people, so watchful is He over all that affects them. It is beautiful to see the fond love of a young mother as she passes her fingers through the silken locks of her darling child—her treasure and her delight; but she never counts those hairs. He only, who is the source of mother-love, does that! And shall not we, who are not our own, but bought with a price, gladly render to Him all we are and have—every member of our body, every fibre of our being, every faculty of our mind, all our will-power, and all our love? HOLINESS TO THE LORD: verses 6-8. "All the days that he separateth himself unto the Lord he shall come at no dead body. He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die; because the consecration of his God is upon his head. All the days of his separation he is holy unto the Lord." Here we have a most solemn and important prohibition—to refrain from all uncleanness caused by contact with death. Death is the wages of sin: the consecrated one was alike to keep aloof from sin and from its consequences. No requirement of God's Word is more clear than the command to honour and obey our earthly parents; but even for his father or mother a Nazarite might not defile himself: "he that loveth father or mother more than Me, is not worthy of Me." [Pg 14] [Pg 15] [Pg 16] [Pg 17] [Pg 18] [Pg 19] [Pg 20] But let no young Christian think lightly of the requirements of parents, when these do not conflict with God's written Word. Young Christians are sometimes distressed because their desire to preach the Gospel to the heathen has been opposed by parents: such should be encouraged to thank God for the obstacle; and to seek by prayer its removal. When they have learnt to move man through God at home, they will be the better prepared to do the same thing in the mission-field. Where there is fitness for the work, the way will probably be made plain after a time of patient waiting. These verses teach us that mere contact with death is defiling: how vain then is the imagination of the unconverted that by dead works—the best efforts of those who are themselves dead in trespasses and sins—they can render themselves acceptable to God! The good works of the unsaved may indeed benefit their fellow-creatures; but until life in Christ has been received, they cannot please God. UNWITTING DEFILEMENT: verses 9-12. "If any man die very suddenly by him, and he hath defiled the head of his consecration; then he shall shave his head in the day of his cleansing, on the seventh day shall he shave it. And on the eighth day he shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons, to the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the priest shall offer the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering, and make an atonement for him, for that he sinned by the dead, and shall hallow his head that same day. And he shall consecrate unto the Lord the days of his separation, and shall bring a lamb of the first year for a trespass-offering: but the days that were before shall be lost, because his separation was defiled." A most important truth is here taught—that even unwitting contact with death might bring sin upon the Nazarite. Sometimes we are tempted to excuse ourselves, and to forget the absolute sinfulness of sin, apart altogether from the question of premeditation, or even of consciousness, at the time, on our part. The one who became defiled, was defiled, whether intentionally or not; God's requirement was absolute, and where not fulfilled the vow was broken; the sin-offering had to be offered, and the service recommenced. THE HEINOUSNESS OF SIN. The teaching here, and that of offerings for sins of ignorance, is much needed in this day, when there is a dangerous tendency in some quarters to regard sin as misfortune, and not as guilt. The awful character of sin is shown to mankind by its consequences. Man's heart is so darkened by the Fall, and by personal sinfulness, that otherwise he would regard sin as a very small matter. But when we think of all the pain that men and women have endured since the Creation, of all the miseries of which this world has been witness, of all the sufferings of the animal creation, and of the eternal as well as temporal consequences of sin, we must see that that which has brought such a harvest of misery into the world is far more awful than sin-blinded men have thought it to be. The highest evidence, however, of the terrible character of sin is to be found at the Cross; that it needed such a sacrifice —the sacrifice of the Son of God—to bring in atonement and everlasting salvation, is surely the most convincing proof of its heinous character. Death was brought into the world by sin; and, like all the other consequences of sin, it is loathsome and defiling. Man seeks to adorn death; the pageantry of the funeral, the attractiveness of the cemetery, all show this. The Egyptian sought in vain to make the mortal body incorruptible by embalming it. But we have to bury our dead out of our sight, and the believer is taught to look forward to the resurrection. CLEANSING ONLY THROUGH SACRIFICE. Let us not lose sight of the fact that the accidental death of any one near the Nazarite—that the thoughtless putting forth of the hand even—might violate his vow of consecration as truly, if not as guiltily, as an act of deliberate transgression; in either case all the previous time was lost, and the period of consecration had to be recommenced after his cleansing. And that cleansing could only be brought about through sacrifice; the sin-offering must die; the burnt-offering must die; without shedding of blood there could be no remission. So serious was the effect of transgression—and yet, thank God, it was not irremediable. The bearing of this on the life of consecration to God in the present day is important. Nearness to God calls for tenderness of conscience, thoughtfulness in service, and implicit obedience. If we become conscious of the slightest failure, even through inadvertence, let us not excuse it, but at once humble ourselves before God, and confess it, seeking forgiveness and cleansing on the ground of the accepted sacrifice of Christ. God's Word is, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." This cleansing must be accepted by faith, and a walk "in the light" be at once resumed. And shall we not reverently ask and trust the Holy Spirit to guard and keep us from inadvertence, and to bring to our remembrance those things which we may be in danger of forgetting? ACCEPTANCE ONLY IN CHRIST: verses 13-15. [Pg 21] [Pg 22] [Pg 23] [Pg 24] [Pg 25] [Pg 26] [Pg 27] "And this is the law of the Nazarite, when the days of his separation are fulfilled: he shall be brought unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation; And he shall offer his offering unto the Lord, one he-lamb of the first year without blemish for a burnt-offering, and one ewe- lamb of the first year without blemish for a sin-offering, and one ram without blemish for peace-offerings, and a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, and wafers of unleavened bread anointed with oil, and their meat-offering, and their drink- offerings." Having seen the character of the vow of the Nazarite, and of the ordinances to be observed should the vow be violated, the case of a Nazarite who has duly fulfilled his vow is next dealt with. He has carried out all God's requirements, and his conscience is void of offence: before God and man he is blameless. May he not now congratulate himself, and claim some measure of merit, seeing he has rendered to God an acceptable service, and among men has borne a consistent testimony? The offerings to be made on the conclusion of his vow give an impressive answer to this question, and bring out the important difference between being blameless and being sinless. Having fulfilled the ordinances he was blameless; but the necessity alike for sin-offering, for burnt-offering, and for peace offering, remind us of the sin of our holy things; and that not our worst, but our best, is only acceptable to God through the atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ. While, however, the best services of the believer can neither give full satisfaction to his own enlightened conscience, nor be acceptable to God save through Jesus Christ, it is very blessed to know how fully all his needs are met in Christ, and how truly he is accepted in Him, and enabled to give very real joy to God our Father, which issues in the bestowal of His richest blessings. Very imperfect—sometimes worse than useless, is the attempt of a little child to please and serve its parent; but where the parent sees an effort to do his will, and to give him pleasure, is not the service gladly accepted, and the parent's heart greatly rejoiced? Thus it is our privilege to be Nazarites, only and always Nazarites, and through Christ Jesus to give joy and satisfaction by our imperfect service to our heavenly Father. The following anonymous lines, taken from a leaflet,A beautifully illustrate this thought:— I was sitting alone in the twilight, With spirit troubled and vexed, With thoughts that were morbid and gloomy, And faith that was sadly perplexed. Some homely work I was doing For the child of my love and care; Some stitches half-wearily setting In the endless need of repair. But my thoughts were about "the building," The work some day to be tried; And that only the gold and the silver, And the precious stones should abide; And, remembering my own poor efforts, The wretched work I had done, And, even when trying most truly, The meagre success I had won; "It is nothing but wood, hay, and stubble," I said; "it will all be burned— This useless fruit of the talents One day to be returned; "And I have so longed to serve Him, And sometimes I know I have tried; But I'm sure, when He sees such a building, He will never let it abide." Just then, as I turned the garment That no rent should be left behind, My eye caught an odd little bungle Of mending and patchwork combined. My heart grew suddenly tender, And something blinded my eyes, With one of those sweet intuitions That sometimes makes us so wise. Dear child, she wanted to help me; [Pg 28] [Pg 29] [Pg 30] [Pg 31] I knew 'twas the best she could do; But oh, what a botch she had made it— The grey mis-matching the blue! And yet—can you understand it? With a tender smile and a tear, And a half-compassionate yearning, I felt her grown more dear. Then a sweet voice broke the silence, And the dear Lord said to me— "Art thou tenderer for the little child Than I am tender for thee." Then straightway I knew His meaning, So full of compassion and love; And my faith came back to its Refuge, Like the glad returning dove. For I thought when the Master Builder Comes down His temple to view, To see what rents must be mended, And what must be builded anew; Perhaps, as He looks o'er the building, He will bring my work to the light, And, seeing the marring and bungling, And how far it all is from right, He will feel as I felt for my darling, And will say as I said for her— "Dear child, she wanted to help me, And love for me was the spur; "And, for the real love that was in it, The work shall seem perfect as mine; And because it was willing service, I will crown it with plaudit divine." And there, in the deepening twilight, I seemed to be clasping a Hand, And to feel a great love constraining me, Stronger than any command. Then I knew, by the thrill of sweetness, 'Twas the hand of the Blessed One, Which would tenderly guide and hold me, Till all the labour is done. So my thoughts are never more gloomy, My faith no longer is dim: But my heart is strong and restful, And mine eyes are unto Him. Published under the title, "The Voice in the Twilight," by Holness, 14, Paternoster Row, 6d. per hundred, post free. THE PRESENTATION OF THE NAZARITE. Let us now look into the law of the Nazarite when the days of his separation were fulfilled. The first thing that strikes our notice is, "He shall be brought," not, he shall come. Why is this? and why is it that the law is so explicit as to every detail of ritual and service, scarcely leaving any room for voluntary action?—we say scarcely, because in the twenty-first verse there is one little clause, "Beside that that his hand shall get," which does leave room for additional tokens of gratitude and love. The answer seems to be, that the voluntary part of Nazarite service lay first and chiefly in the surrender to become a Nazarite. In that position he was not his own, as we have pointed out, and the Master whom he served naturally and consistently directed the service. Again, does not, "He shall be brought" imply that, Nazarite as he was, he still needed priestly ministration to present [Pg 32] [Pg 33] A [Pg 34] [Pg 35] himself, and his finished service, before the Lord? And our High Priest, who is now able to keep us from falling to the end of our surrendered service, waits to present us with exceeding joy, "faultless before the presence of His glory"—"holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight." THE LAW OF THE OFFERINGS. When we come to the offerings enumerated in v. 14, we notice that they are mentioned in the almost invariable order of enumeration—first the burnt-offering, then the sin-offering, and lastly the peace offering; but when in v. 16 we come to the offering up of the sacrifices, we notice that as always the sin-offering is the first to be offered. It is somewhat remarkable that the actual order of offering, and the order of enumeration should not correspond; and it is likewise noteworthy that the sacrifice which was always offered first, when offered at all, was comparatively insignificant in point of value, and much less frequently called for in the services of the Levitical ritual. For instance, in Numbers xxviii, xxix, the daily offering was a burnt-offering of a he-lamb morning and evening, with the corresponding accompaniments of fine flour mingled with oil, and a drink-offering of wine. On the Sabbath Day an additional burnt- offering of two lambs with their meat-offering and drink-offering was required. At the time of the new moon, the additional offering was of two bullocks, one ram, and seven lambs, with their meat and drink-offerings, for a burnt- offering, while one he-goat sufficed for a sin-offering. The same offerings were offered at the Feasts of Passover and Pentecost. On several other occasions the offerings were nearly of the same proportions; while during the Feast of Tabernacles the offerings commenced with thirteen bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs for a burnt-offering to one he-goat for a sin-offering. The same disproportion of number and value may be noticed on many occasions between the sin-offering and the peace offering. A striking example of this was the sacrifice of peace-offerings made by Solomon on the dedication of the temple to the number of 22,000 oxen, and 120,000 sheep. We cannot but see that teaching of the most important character is to be gathered from these facts; and is it not clear that while the need of forgiveness and cleansing is never to be lost sight of, it is not intended that a sense of the presence and defilement of sin should be the prominent feature of the service of God? On the great Day of Atonement Israel's sin was confessed and put away; and thenceforward the daily and the Sabbath worship was that of whole burnt-offering. At the special festivals a he-goat was sacrificed for sin; but, as we have seen, the burnt-offerings, which speak of acceptance by, and devotion to, God were the principal features. It is the purpose of God that in the present dispensation His people should have and enjoy full assurance of salvation through the offering of Jesus Christ once for all; and more than this, should know that He who "died for their offences, and was raised again for their justification," henceforth "liveth unto God;" in order that His people may likewise "reckon themselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God, in Jesus Christ our Lord." In Jesus Christ there is no condemnation. In Jesus Christ, the law of the Spirit of life hath set me "free from the law of sin and of death." By the will of God "we are sanctified, through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all;" and by "that one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." THE BURNT-OFFERING. To return to the order of enumeration: the burnt-offering is always mentioned first, because it is the highest in character, and gave most pleasure to God. It was wholly the Lord's; no part of it was eaten by the priest who offered it, nor by the offerer who presented it, it was all and only for God's satisfaction. When Noah offered his burnt-offering, the Lord smelled a sweet savour, and blessed him and his posterity. When Abraham in purpose offered up his son Isaac, God said, "By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, ... that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed; ... and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." The burnt-offering tells us of the perfect and accepted righteousness of Christ, in virtue of which the imperfect believer and his imperfect service are accepted by God. But it also reminds the believer of his privilege to surrender himself as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, which is to be the reasonable (intelligent) service (that is, ritual or worship) of each day and hour. THE SIN-OFFERING AND THE PEACE-OFFERING. The sin-offering, as its name indicates, recognized the offerer as guilty and defiled, but obtaining forgiveness and cleansing through the death of the victim in his stead. We see Christ as our sin-offering in Isa. liii. 4-10. But guilt removed still leaves the believer needing the imputed righteousness of Christ, and acceptance before God, which are the aspects of Christ's death foreshadowed, as we have seen by the burnt-offering. Lastly, the peace-offering—part of which was consumed on the altar, while part was the portion of the priest, and the remainder furnished a feast to the offerer and his friends—shows us God and man feasting together on the perfect work of Christ. He that sanctifieth and those who are sanctified, find their full satisfaction in Him, and in Him alone. He has made peace by the blood of His cross. He has given us His own peace. We are called to let His peace rule in our hearts. And if we will but bring our burdens and cares to Him, we are promised that the peace of God shall guard and [Pg 35] [Pg 36] [Pg 37] [Pg 38] [Pg 39] [Pg 40] [Pg 41] [Pg 42] garrison our hearts and thoughts in Christ Jesus! PART II. The Blessing of God. Numb. vi. 22-27. We have already seen the grace of God making provision that His people, who had lost the privilege of priestly service, might draw near to Him by Nazarite separation and consecration. And not as the offence was the free gift: those who had forfeited the privilege of priestly service were the males only, but women and even children might be Nazarites; whosoever desired was free to come, and thus draw near to God. We now come to the concluding verses of Numb. vi, and see in them one of the fullest forms of benediction to be found in the whole Word of God. The thought naturally arises, WHY IS IT FOUND HERE? And the reply is twofold. There is the Divine side. Flowing from God's heart of love first came the privilege of Nazarite consecration; and then, by the act of consecration, His loving heart is so gladdened that it further overflows in these rich benedictions. Looking, on the other hand, at the human side, we may learn that the soul which is fully consecrated always receives the blessing of God. Where that blessing is not enjoyed, there is always something unreal or defective in the consecration. It may be that we have separated ourselves to carry out our own will, or thought, or plan of service, instead of surrendering ourselves and our will, to learn and to do His will. But it is real consecration to GOD that puts us into the position in which He can pour out His richest blessings upon us. The prodigal was a son of the father all the time; but when he preferred his will to the will of his father, his way to the way of his father, his management of his share in the property to his father's management, it issued but in ruin and misery —in hunger and nakedness and shame. The fact that he was a son was of no avail to him in the "far country," in the place of self-will and self-management. But as soon as he arose, and with true repentance and submission came back to the father's house, willing to serve, and to do his father's will, he found himself restored to his father's heart, and to all the privileges of sonship: the fatted calf was killed, the best robe was put upon him, once more he had shoes on his feet and a ring on his hand, and joy and gladness filled the home. How many Christians there are who, in their self-will and attempted self-management, find themselves day by day full of sorrow, or full of care. Trying to keep themselves they are not kept; trying to be happy they are often unhappy; trying to succeed they fail; and they can but confess that their life is very different from that ideal life described in Ps. lxxxix. 15- 18: "Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: They shall walk, O Lord, in the light of Thy countenance. In Thy Name shall they rejoice all the day: And in Thy righteousness shall they be exalted. For Thou art the glory of their strength; And in Thy favour our horn shall be exalted. And in Thy favour our horn shall be exalted. For the Lord is our defence; And the Holy One of Israel is our King." Instead of this many practically know very little of peace "which passeth all understanding," of joy that is literally "unspeakable"; adjectives far more moderate would be found strong enough to express all they know of oft-troubled peace and intermittent satisfaction and happiness. Many there are who fail to see that there can be but one lord, and that those who do not make God Lord of all do not make Him Lord at all. The slightest reservation in our consecration shows that we hold ourselves as our own, and consequently at liberty to give Him as much or as little as we think fit. If we recognize Him as Lord and Master, we have nothing to withhold, and nothing of our own, for we, and all we have, are already His. But then, in return, all He has, and all He is, become ours. Oh! blessed Portion! Who would not wish henceforth to have no private property in himself—in his members—in his possessions—in his family— in his affections; but, in fullest consecration, to acknowledge and recognize God's right and to be no longer a robber of God? "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this [Pg 43] [Pg 44] [Pg 45] [Pg 46] [Pg 47] [Pg 48] wise ye shall bless the children of Israel ... And they shall put My Name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them." Here we have the blessing that God delights to give to those who have dedicated themselves and their all to Him. Before considering it in detail, let us notice, first, how spontaneous and unsought is this blessing from God—the Lord commanded Aaron and his sons to bless Israel, to put His Name upon them; and declared His own unalterable purpose, "I will bless them." And then, let us ask ourselves the question, what is THE REAL MEANING OF BLESSING? We frequently use the word so vaguely as to lose much of its preciousness, and to overlook the primary meaning in some of its secondary significations. For instance, we use it frequently as a synonym of praise, and in speaking of blessing God, we think of praising Him. But blessing does not merely mean praise, for God blesses us. Again, sometimes we use it for some gracious gift, as when we speak of the blessing of peace or of plenty. But blessing does not only signify gift, for when we bless God we do not give to Him peace or plenty. Blessing is the moving of the heart towards an object of affection and complacency. The out-going of the heart is naturally accompanied by gift or ascription, as the case may be. When our hearts bless the Lord, we sing a song of praise to Him for the great love wherewith He hath loved us; but the blessing is not the song—it is the feeling that prompts it. When the Lord blesses His people with peace and plenty, it is His open Heart that moves His loving Hand. Again, blessing is always accompanied with joy; it is a joy, and it gives joy, both to the giver and the receiver. A little child playing with his toys may be both happy and satisfied. But it hears the mother's footsteps, it sees the mother open the door, and instantly the toys are dropped and forgotten; the little arms are stretched out, and the little feet are running to meet the welcome mother. Nor is this all; the great, motherly arms are as quickly stretched forth towards the child, and with longer steps the mother hastens to meet the little one, and clasps it to her bosom, the loving little arms entwining themselves around her neck. But whose heart is the more glad? The little one's heart is full; and the mother's heart is also full; but her capacity is greater, and so her joy is deeper. And is not this true of our Heavenly Father? When His heart blesses ours, and ours blesses Him, we are full of joy; but His heart is infinitely greater than ours, and His joy in His people as far exceeds all their joy in Him, as the infinite exceeds the finite. Let us always remember in connection with blessing that the deep heart-feeling is the primary thought. "Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy Name." The praise of the lip may be insincere; the blessing of the heart cannot be. THE THREE-FOLD BENEDICTION: verses 24-26. "The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: "The LORD make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: "The LORD lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." We have dwelt upon the meaning of blessing—the moving of the heart towards an object of affection and complacency, and noticed that this is naturally accompanied by gift or ascription, as the case may be. When love overflows, loving words, loving embraces, or loving gifts instinctively follow. In the light of the fuller revelation of the New Testament we can scarcely fail to see in this three-fold benediction the overflow in blessing of the Father, of the Son, and of the Spirit; and we may read it as follows:— "Jehovah, the Father, bless thee, and keep thee: "Jehovah, the Son, the Bridegroom, make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: "Jehovah, the Spirit, lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." So read, we see in these words fuller beauty and appropriateness. Let us now notice the first clause in particular. THE BLESSING OF THE FATHER. Considered as a father's blessing could anything be more appropriate than "The Lord bless thee, and keep thee"? Is not this just what every loving father seeks to do—to bless and keep his children? He does not find it an unwelcome task, but his greatest delight. Offer to relieve him of the responsibility and to adopt his child, and see what his reply will be! Nor may we confine ourselves to paternal love in thinking of this subject; but rather take it as parental love, embracing also the love of the mother, for "Thus saith the Lord, ... As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you." We all know how the mother-love delights to lavish itself on the objects of its care. With a patience that never tires, and an endurance almost inexhaustible, and a care all but unlimited, how often has the mother sacrificed her very life for the welfare of her babe. But strong as is a mother's love, it may fail; God's love never. "Can a woman forget her suckling child that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee." [Pg 49] [Pg 50] [Pg 51] [Pg 52] [Pg 53] [Pg 54] [Pg 55] It was one of the objects of our Saviour's mission to reveal to us that, in Christ Jesus, God is also our Father. How He delighted in bringing out this precious truth the Sermon on the Mount bears witness: "Glorify your Father." "Love ... bless ... do good, that ye may be the children of your Father." Be "perfect, even as your Father." "Thy Father ... seeth." "Your Father knoweth," etc., etc. And well may our hearts rest in the thought which so satisfied His heart, that God is indeed our Father. And what a glorious Father He is! the source of all true fatherhood and motherhood. We have often walked in the fields in the early morning, and have noticed how the rising sun has turned each dewdrop into a glittering gem; one ray of its own bright light makes a little sun of each of the million drops that hang from the pendent leaflets and sparkle everywhere. But it is helpful to remember that the glorious orb itself contains infinitely more light than all the dewdrops ever did or ever will reflect. And so of our heavenly Father: Himself the great Source of all that is noble and true, of all that ever has been loving and trust-worthy—each beautiful trait of each beautiful character is but the dim reflection of some ray of His own great perfection. And the sum-total of all human goodness, and tenderness, and love is but as the dewdrops to the sun. How blessed then to confide in the infinite and changeless love of such a Father—our Father in heaven! How safe too! "There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in His excellency on the sky. The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." Ofttimes where the love of earthly parents has not failed, yet have they been powerless to bless and to keep. The cruel tyrant has tortured the parent in torturing the child; while there has been no power to deliver. And in the presence of human want or suffering how impotent has the strongest human love oft proved to be! Not so the love of our heavenly Father: His resources and His power are as inexhaustible as His love; and they are blest and kept indeed whom He deigns to bless and keep. May we not add "they only"? The foolish prodigal imagines that he can secure greater happiness for himself when no longer curbed by his father's presence and will; such always come to want, and, alas! do not always return quickly to the home where reconciliation and blessing alone are to be found. He is poorly kept who tries to keep himself; and though the pleasures of sin may for a season gratify, they can never satisfy!B "Jehovah, the Father, bless thee, and keep thee." It is an individual blessing: and it includes every form of blessing, temporal as well as spiritual —"My God shall supply all your need"; and this "according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus," not according to our consciousness of need. He is able to bless, able to make all grace abound—to so wonderfully abound towards us, that we always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: He is able to keep—to keep us from falling, to keep us from all evil. And not only is He able, but He has already "blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ," and He wants us, His children, to know and to enjoy the love that is the source of all blessing: the love that can never by finite words express its fulness: the love that eternal ages will never exhaust! "Best of blessings He'll provide us, Nought but good shall ere betide us; Safe to glory He will guide us, Oh, how He loves!" When we speak of God as a Father we must not forget that He is only such in its full meaning to those who have become His children by faith in Christ Jesus; and that the sad and solemn words of the loving Saviour to the unconverted were, "Ye are of your father, the devil." The prodigal was a backslider: when furthest from home he could yet think and speak of the privileges of his father's house. THE SECOND PERSON OF THE TRINITY. The second clause of the blessing is the blessing of the Son, which is not less full and appropriate. Through eternal ages the Son of God, He became, in the fulness of time, the Son of Man. The Brightness of His Father's glory, the Sun of Righteousness, He came to manifest, as well as to speak of, the Father's love. He became the Light of the world, as well as the Lamb of God; but in each aspect doing the will, as well as the work of God, He thus revealed the wondrous love and grace of the Father, and His own perfect Sonship. The Father's will included Christ's glad reception of all who come to Him, His meeting all their need—saving, sanctifying, satisfying, keeping, raising up at the last day—His giving Himself for, and giving Himself to, all those given to Him of the Father. He is indeed a wonderful Saviour! What light the incarnate Word of God (Who is Light) has thrown on the written Word of God! The law in its legal requirements He has fulfilled, bringing in everlasting righteousness, which is imputed to all those who are indeed in Him. He has also fulfilled the Law in its manifold typical aspects—Himself the Temple, the Priest, and the Sacrifice; Himself the Altar, the Offerer, and the Victim; Himself the Lamp, and the Priestly Trimmer of the lamps (as He is also the whole Vine, and yet the Life of each individual branch of the Vine). Time would fail us to enumerate the various objects and acts of typical service which were all fulfilled in Him. He too is the Bridegroom, from whose wounded side the Bride is being formed; and He is waiting for His Bride, who will soon be caught up to meet Him in the air. The true Solomon is He whose glory we shall share, and not only so, but whose presence will be the ever-satisfying portion of His chosen Bride. [Pg 56] [Pg 57] [Pg 58] [Pg 59] B [Pg 60] [Pg 61] [Pg 62] The Bride eyes not her garment, but her loved Bridegroom's face; I shall not gaze on glory, but on my King of grace; Not on the crown He giveth, but on His pierced hand: The Lamb is all the glory of Immanuel's land. May the Holy Spirit give us more and more to realize the practical bearing of all that is thus revealed of the glory of the Person, and the fulness of the work of our Saviour and King! THE BLESSING OF THE SON AND BRIDEGROOM. Jehovah, the Son, make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto Thee. The first clause of the three-fold blessing told of the going out of the heart of the invisible Father; now, when we come to the blessing of the Son, we read, "The Lord make his face shine upon thee," or, in other words, make visibly manifest His favour towards thee. The Son of God is the Kinsman who has the right to redeem, the Friend who sticketh closer than a brother, the One who has come, not only to be the Light of the world, but in an especial sense to be the Light of His own redeemed ones. There was no need in Israel of a kinsman-redeemer in times of prosperity; but when bereavement and poverty afforded opportunity to the creditors to seize the possession, then a kind and wealthy kinsman-redeemer was a blessing indeed. We are reminded of the beautiful history of Ruth: how sweetly the gracious words of Boaz fell on the ear of the young stranger, and what blessing that kinsman brought into her heart and life! The Friend that sticketh closer than a brother is precious at all times, but never so valued as in times of adversity; and the very expression, "The Light of the world," tells us of the darkness that sin has brought in—a darkness, alas! not only around, but also within. The shining of the face of Jehovah, the Son, dispels the darkness and the gloom, manifests the presence of the Friend in need, and shows us the Redeemer, who not only delivers, but becomes the Bridegroom of the soul. "Make His face shine upon thee." The face is perhaps the most wonderful part of the wonderful human body. Of all the faces that God has made no two are exactly alike, even when quiescent; and though we do occasionally meet with those that bear a very close resemblance, intimate friends, who know the play of the countenance, never mistake. And why is this? Because God has so ordered it, that the face shall reveal the character and feelings of the individual. And it is the purpose of God that the heart of Christ shall be revealed to His people. That heart might have been full of love, and we might never have known it; but it is the will of God that "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God" should be revealed to us "in the face of Jesus Christ." How well we know in actual life what the light of the countenance means! How the mother's smile brings light and gladness into the heart of the child! How the welcoming look of a friend is at once understood! In Daniel ix. 16, 17, the prophet prays, "O Lord ... I beseech Thee, let Thine anger and Thy fury be turned away from Thy city, Jerusalem; ... and cause Thy face to shine upon Thy sanctuary that is desolate." Where there is the shining of the face we know there is more than forgiveness; there is favour and complacence. In the thrice-offered prayer of Psalm lxxx, "Cause Thy face to shine, and we shall be saved," the salvation of Israel is counted upon as the result; and in Psalm lxvii, we find that the shining of God's face upon His people is further to issue in His way being "known upon earth, His saving health among all nations." It is, however, when we consider Him in the relationship of Bridegroom and King that the tenderness and preciousness of this blessing are most fully seen. A truly royal Bridegroom: "in His favour is life," and to Him we can approach at all times, without any fear that He will hide His countenance, or that He will not hold out to us the golden sceptre. Queen Esther might tremble for the result of her boldness, but our King ever welcomes the approach of His Bride. When her heart cries out, "Let him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth," He is ever ready to bring her into His chambers; indeed it is often the Bridegroom who has to allure the Bride,C rather than the Bride who has to seek the favour of the Bridegroom. It is only when she has treated him with neglect or disobedience that she finds herself in darkness. And what is not His favour to a loyal and true-hearted Bride!...