theWord Commentaries

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Excerpt #1 PREVAILING INTERCESSION Chapter 12

PREVAILING INTERCESSION

“As long as Moses held up the staff with his hands, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites gained the upper hand.” Exo 17:11

Alarms soon trouble the advancing host. Amalek attacks their rear. Esau’s tribe has evil will against the house of Jacob. The birthright sold, the blessing lost, had deeply laid the seeds of malice. And now occasion ripens hatred into fierce assault. Believer, the race of Cain, of Ishmael, of Esau still lives. Be ready. Their hate is sure. Their wily steps are near. When least expected, they will plot their worst. How shall such foes be met? He who follows Christ must neither flee nor yield nor fear. He must stand fast in faith, and he must kneel in prayer. So Moses teaches. He commands Joshua, ‘Choose some men, and go out, fight.’ Heaven’s crown sits only on a warrior’s brow.
But carnal weapons are impotent alone. In fighting, by not fighting, we prevail. So when Joshua struggles in the plain, Moses wrestles on the hill. He seeks the summit, bearing the rod. Prayer brings all heaven to the aid. Thus Israel’s hands are strong or weak as those of Moses rise or drop. Large Gospel lessons here expand before us. We may roam up and down this field and find no end in gathering precious fruit. But one especial tree calls us to shake its richly-laden boughs. Moses interceding on the hill shows Jesus interceding on the higher heights.

Come then, my soul, with joyful wing fly upward. It is good, it is wise, it is blessed, to be much with Jesus in the suffering valley. Faith visits often the manger, the garden, and the cross. It seeks all sin’s remission in the stripes, the wounds, the agony, the death of the bleeding Lamb. But these amazing truths are but the porch of more amazing glories. Hence it delights to follow Jesus in His bright ascent, to gaze undazzled on the throne, to mark His present doings by His Father’s side.

What? Is He still engaged in work? Wondrous tidings! Hear, all who call Him Lord—He ever loves you, and ever labors in your cause. His eye is never turned away. His hands cannot hang down. His heavens are the office-chamber of your soul’s concerns. Do you ask, What is His work? Listen, the Holy Spirit cries, ‘He ever lives to make Intercession.’ His every day and every hour is ceaseless energy of interceding love.

Do you add, But what is Intercession? An intercessor stands between two parties, pleading for the one to look with favor on the other. The parties here are God the Father, and poor worms of earth. ‘If any man sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.’ Before the Father, then, the Mediator pleads. But is not the Father an overflowing ocean of free grace? Is it not His grand delight to crown His sons with all heaven’s blessings? Why, then, shall prayers, like constant incense, move Him to give what He is unwilling to withhold? Salvation’s scheme is wholly ordered to show forth love in brightest rays. It is to aid this end, that Intercession has its place.

Believer, what kindles flames of comfort in your heart? What decks your brow with smiles, when trials and temptations throng? Is it not a view of Jesus pleading at God’s right hand? The thought is rapture, peace, and victory. Remove the Advocate, and all your hope goes down in gloom. Christ prays, because He loves so much. He prays, because the Father loves not less. Intercession is the fair fruit of their co-loving heart.

Next, see for whom this Intercession strives. Imagine a father begging for his much-loved son, a mother for her first-born child, brother for brother, friend for friend, the ardent bridegroom for his darling bride. What cries! What tears! What earnestness! What moving words! What melting arguments! What strong appeals! What fervor of desire! What bold resolve to gain the petition! But all these ties, with all their warmth, converge in Jesus. In Him there is the father’s deep affection, the mother’s tenderness, the brother’s zeal, the friend’s devoted sympathy, the bridegroom’s burning love. He urges, These are My children—the travail of My soul—the offspring of My wounds—My sister—My spouse—My beloved, around whom My heart has been entwined forever—the bride of My Father’s gift, and of My loving choice—My portion—My jewels—My crown—the sheep of My pasture—My wealth—My delight—the members of My mystic body—the very apple of My eye. Such prayer is as the heart-strings strained. Reader! are you one with Christ? Then all day long, and all time long, He wrestles thus for you.

Excerpt #2 Willing Servant Chapter 15

THE WILLING SERVANT

“But the slave may plainly declare, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children. I would rather not go free.’ If he does this, his master must present him before God. Then his master must take him to the door and publicly pierce his ear with an awl. After that, the slave will belong to his master forever.” Exo 21:5-6

As in nature’s field, so in Israel’s story, almost every object reflects Christ. Happy the hand which holds a key to open the rich treasure’s door! Happy the soul which learns the art of feasting at the hallowed table! To see Christ now by faith is heaven begun. To see Christ soon in glory will be heaven complete.

The narrative before us seems at first glance to tell but a simple incident of domestic life. A Hebrew slave is the subject of the story. His period of servitude is past. All claims have therefore ceased. He has now the option to breathe freedom’s air. But freedom has no charms for him. Attachment binds him to his master’s home. His dearest joys are there. His hearty language is, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children. I would rather not go free.’ A new ordinance is appointed to sanctify this willing offer of perpetual service. The judges must bear witness. An inflicted wound must also be a visible and enduring seal: ‘Then his master must take him to the door and publicly pierce his ear with an awl. After that, the slave will belong to his master forever.’ Willing consent is thus proclaimed. The testifying brand is fixed. And a beloved work, while life shall last, is grasped by self-devoting hands.

It may perhaps come as a new thought to some, that in this servant’s choice, and in this constant love, Jesus reveals Himself. But doubts are worse than folly, when the Spirit speaks from His high seat. Read, then, the 40th Psalm. There faith ascends in heaven-high flight. It hears the eternal Son in close communion with the eternal Father. It catches these wondrous notes. ‘Sacrifice and offering you did not desire but my ears you have pierced.’ Jesus announces the amazing fact. Father, My ears are pierced by Your hand.

Here is a grand truth. Read it, O sons of men. Read it, my soul. Hell sees it and turns pale. Heaven sees it and resounds with praise. These words state at once, that Jesus becomes man. They speak of ‘ears.’ None can have these, except they wear the garments of our flesh. We have the Spirit’s comment. He writes in after pages, as a co-equal clause, ‘a body You have prepared Me.’

But more than this is taught. The ears are ‘pierced.’ Here a clear finger points to the Willing Servant’s pledge. We see the God-man stooping to the lowest grade. He seeks a servant’s office, and a servant’s toil. Jehovah’s Fellow is Jehovah’s workman in the labor-field of grace. For God to take us into heaven, and on the throne of worlds, would be grace beyond all thought. But for God to become man in lowest bonds of servitude, is grace which none but Jesus’ heart can know.

We have, then, in this abject state, a speaking portrait of Christ’s love. This image is the sweetest fountain of His people’s peace. It is the deepest mystery set forth in simplest terms. Hence Scripture, laboring to reveal the Lord, presents the Servant’s motif in repeated terms. The Father’s voice announces, ‘Behold My Servant, whom I uphold.’ And again, ‘Behold I will bring forth My Servant the Branch.’ Jesus meekly adds, ‘I am among you as he that serves.’ The Spirit echoes, ‘Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God—but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a Servant.’ He is a servant, whose time and toil are not his own. Strong obligations bind Him to execute another’s will.

Reader! come now and mark THE SERVICE to which God calls His Son. It is to build the fabric of salvation. What strength, what zeal, what might, what wisdom, what patience, what endurance, what self-sacrifice, are needed! Survey the hindrances. In depth they reach to hell. In height they mount to heaven. Their breadth and length extend illimitable arms. A countless multitude of immortal beings lie in the vile quarry of vile sin. They must be rescued from this misery’s cell. They must be made fit with all-beauteous grace. Each soul is black with stains more countless than the ocean’s sands. These stains must disappear. Each owes a debt of infinite amount. This must be cancelled. Each is most justly sentenced to eternal woe. This sum of wrath must be endured. Each is weighed down beneath the Law’s stern curse. This burden must be borne away. Satan has riveted his iron chains around each. These fetters must be broken off. The walls of his dark prison-house enclose them. The mighty barrier must be leveled. They are all loathsome in most filthy rags. White clothing must be wrought for them. In each the nature is estranged from God. This must be changed in every pulse and every feeling. A new heart must be implanted. Old things must pass away. Grace must commence its new-born reign. They are as scattered outcasts in a wide world’s wilderness. All must be brought to hear one Shepherd’s voice, and feed in one most holy fold. All must be set before the Father’s throne, clear of all guilt, free from all charge, as pure as God, as blameless as heaven, as bright as eternal day.

Such is Jehovah’s gracious will. Not all the hosts of angels or of men can render aid. Deity’s whole might is needed to subserve this cause. There is a train, also, of revealing types. They must be accurately answered. There is a volume of prophetic promise. All must be fulfilled. There is a fearful catalogue of righteous threatenings. All must be executed. Each holy attribute presents strong claims. Each must be fully satisfied. God would be cast down, His empire would be a broken reed, His sovereignty would be a shadow’s shade, unless justice remains just, and truth continues true, and holiness shines forth inviolate. It is no easy task to render these attributes their due honor. But such is the service which must be performed.

O my soul, rejoice, be glad, give thanks, shout praises; a willing Servant undertakes to do it! O my soul, rejoice, be glad, give thanks, shout praises, while you draw nearer and behold the fulfillment. The time to work arrives. Will Jesus now draw back? It cannot be. ‘Lo, I come,’ is still the language of His willing heart. He must, then, stoop to put on human flesh. He must be one in lowly nature with our race. He shrinks not. He lies a babe of Adam’s stock. He takes our kinsman’s place. He, for whom heaven is no worthy home, is cradled, as the lowest child of earth. Jehovah’s service, man’s redemption, demands descent to depths thus low. Salvation’s Servant must go slowly on through every stage of suffering life. Be it so. It is His food and drink to do His Father’s will. We find not one reluctant pause. He dwells unknown in a despised town. He toils, as workman, with a workman’s tools. Each cup of degradation is wrung out. The final scene, the bitterest effort, comes. Will Jesus flinch? He hastens forward to meet all.

Go with Him to the garden of woe. There torturing agonies collect, which human thought is far too weak to grasp. The sufferer stands laden with His people’s guilt. He is not spared. Wrath rushes down with outpouring fury. He meekly bows before the just infliction. The Willing Servant pays the whole debt, bears the whole curse, receives each crushing load, exhausts each vial of wrath. All heaven hears the voice, ‘I have glorified You on the earth—I have finished the work which You gave Me to do.’

And now the cross is upraised. The scaffold stands. Will Jesus hesitate? He is the Willing Servant to the end. Man’s bitter hate drives in the nails. Hell makes its direct assault. The Father hides His smile. All earth, all heaven, desert Him. But Jesus willingly serves on, until the mightiest of all mighty words sounds forth, ‘It is finished.’ Yes! Salvation is accomplished! Redemption is secured! Each type is answered! Every payment is paid! Each penalty is thoroughly endured! The curse is drained! Satan is vanquished! Hell’s borders are broken down! His people are all free! The Father’s will is done, the holy service is performed, Jehovah’s Servant has acted out the glorious work! ‘It is finished!’

O my soul, you may indeed stand fearless on the rock of this completed service. The work is done, is fully done, is done forever. The heavens again receive Him. The Servant enters with a Victor’s crown. There He still serves. Salvation’s building consists of countless stones. All must be found, and fitly framed together. They lie on many a mountain’s brow, in many a hidden valley, on many a distant plain. Each is a precious soul. Each must abhor the loathsomeness of self, and rejoice in Jesus’s blood, and cling with sincere faith to His saving arms.

By day, by night, without one moment’s pause, Jesus pursues the work of winning souls. He sends His Spirit on the wings of love. He calls and qualifies ministering pastors. At His command they raise the beacon of the cross. Devoted missionaries break all endearing ties, and seek the outcasts beneath tropic suns, in ice-clad rocks, and amid tribes which Satan holds in death-cold bonds. Thus Christ still serves the purposes of grace. A mighty voice cries, Come! And all who are ordained to life obey. Onward the healing waves will roll until the blessed company is complete. Then comes the end. The glorious plan is gloriously finished. The kingdom is delivered to the Father. The Willing Servant shows the collected mass all gathered in, all saved. Not one is lost. Not one is absent. Each member of the mystic body fills its place.

Reader! at that day where will be your place? Oh! pause. Put not the question away from you. Perhaps you sigh, I would like to be numbered with the saved, but how can I have hope? Tell me. Where is your fear? Is it lest the tremendous billows of your sins should swell above His willingness to save? If all the guilt of all the lost multiplied and magnified beyond all power to count or measure, weighed heavily upon your conscience, still venture to His feet. The willing Jesus will not cast you out. His heart, His love, His zeal, His pity, His bleeding wounds, His undertaken office, all forbid it. Let not His acts on earth, let not His voice from heaven, be in vain.
Did misery ever seek relief from Him, and not receive more than a ready welcome? Fly forth in spirit to the bright saints in light. The testimony from each rejoicing heart is one. They all give glory to a willing Jesus. With united voice they tell, that when they cast their ruined souls upon Him, He tenderly embraced, and sweetly cheered, and fully pardoned, and entirely saved. Hear now His voice. Throughout the Bible, and from faithful lips, it still is sounding—Will you? Will you be made whole?

Be persuaded then. Tarry not. Let this accepted moment find you a willing suppliant at a willing Savior’s cross. None ever perished because Christ would not hear. None ever fell into the burning lake because He turned from the beseeching cry.

But stay, there is another word. It seals perdition on all who stand apart. Take heed, lest it enclose you in its hopeless doom. ‘You will not come to me, that you might have life.’

Excerpt #3 The Name Chapter 25

THE NAME

Then Moses said, “I beseech You, show me Your glory.” And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim My Name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” Exo 33:18-19

Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed His Name, the Lord. And He passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord God, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished.” Exo 34:5-7
Earth owes much to supplicating lips. Abundant harvests have been reaped from a little seed of interceding grace. An instance meets us here. A tree of glorious truth rears its high head. Its wide-spread branches have been refreshing shade to multitudes of every age. But where its birth? A hearty prayer was breathed. The noble plant sprang up. Believer, in every place, and at every time drop seeds of prayer. The crop may live when your short race is run.

The suppliant here is Moses. He thirsts for clearer knowledge of his God. He had seen much, and therefore burns for more. He cries, ‘I beseech You, show me Your glory.’ It is a large desire. But gracious souls crave all that God can give. It is a large petition. But large petitions honor the Giver and are honored by Him.

Mark the reply. “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim My Name, the Lord, in your presence.” God’s glory is His goodness. His goodness is His glory. His Name is the page in which these wonders shine.

Reader! have you this holy wish? Do you long to see this glory, to taste this goodness, to feast at the banquet of this knowledge? Come then in faith. Come in the lowliness of humble awe. The Lord is passing by. He speaks. Heed His proclaiming voice. “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished.”

A retinue of glory issues from the courts of heaven. Each image shows some glimpse of Him, whose full display would blind our mortal sight. The foremost in the group utters the name, ‘Lord’ or ‘Jehovah.’ Oh! wondrous sound! It casts the mind back through the ages of eternity gone by; it bears it forward through eternity to come. It loudly tells that through the past, the present, and the future, One is. It pictures Him as ‘I am,’ before time was—’I am,’ when time shall be no more. It robes Him in all the majesty and dignity and grandeur and boundlessness of changeless unity. It exhibits Him as the sole great fount of every stream of life.

O my soul, such is your Lord. Great beyond thought! vast beyond grasp! immeasurable by human line! untraceable by human search! But from this lofty throne His eye was ever fixed on you! Through all infinities, your image filled His heart. His age is immortality; He grants the same to you. Will you not adore and reverence and bless Him, and love and praise and serve Him?

Before another sound is heard, Jehovah’s name is doubled. ‘The Lord, the Lord.’ The repetition bids us look again. It tells us that thought upon thought must search the mysteries of the great ‘I am.’ The soaring wing must soar still higher. Our praise must only pause, to recommence its endless work.

‘The Lord, the Lord God.’ The title ‘God’ is now co-joined. This speaks of power and strength. God is unbounded in His sovereignty! He sits indeed upon an omnipotent throne! He wields the scepter of unlimited control! His right hand is all power! He speaks, and it must be! He works, and who can hinder? Pile worlds on worlds, His mere breath can drive them into nothingness. Collect all multitudes from earth and hell, His foot can drive the mass to dust. Shall then powerless man vaunt against God? How can a rebel stand when God shall gird Himself with wrath? Sinner, be wise in time. Vengeance comes on apace. It strides resistless in its force. There is no refuge but at Calvary’s cross!

Believer, this name flies down on wings of peace to you. Know the full might, which is your full support. This God is your shield. What foes can harm? He is your sword. Who can assail? He is your fortress. Are you not safe? He is the wall of fire round about you. Who can break through to wound you? He has promised life eternal as your portion. Who can prevent it? He is bearing you in His own arms to heaven. Who can pluck you from His grasp? This God is your full salvation. Therefore you shall be fully saved.

‘The Lord, the Lord God, merciful.’ The voice proceeds to open out Jehovah’s heart. This heart is mercy. As the sun abounds in sparkling rays, the sea in drops, the sky in glittering orbs, so God is one vast treasure-house of mercy. This is the brightest jewel of His crown. It overtops the heavens. It outlives all time. It outshines all perfections. It is the riches of His riches.

But what is mercy? It is that sweet and tender love which has a tear for all distress, which grieves in grief, and sorrows in sorrow, and yearns over misery, and only lives in healing wounds, and calming anguish, and converting sighs to joy. This Mercy looked on man in his lost estate. It marked the present suffering and the future woe. It tarried not. It found a full and perfect remedy, even a God-man’s life and death!

The Father is all mercy. A Savior called, a Savior sent, a Savior accepted is the proof. Jesus is all mercy! The manger, the garden, the cross, the blood, the righteousness, the never-ceasing prayer, proclaim it. The Spirit is all mercy. His striving in the heart, His light-diffusing presence, His guidance to the Savior’s arms, His many visits of consoling love, His rich outpourings of renewing grace, bear witness to this truth.

Reader! whatever be your misery, come to this God, and mercy will relieve it! Paul knew the burden of tremendous guilt, but he ‘obtained mercy.’ The penitent pleaded, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ Floods of peace over-flowed. The wretched blind beggar cried, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.’ Jesus stood still. The answer lingered not. ‘Go your way, your faith has made you whole.’ The sorrowing mother supplicated, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David,’ and all relief was given.

Mercy still reigns in heaven. Bring then your sins, they shall be pardoned! Bring your tears, they shall be wiped away! Bring your conscience-wounds, they shall be healed! Bring your sighs, they shall be lulled to rest! Bring your need, it shall be all supplied! Bring your difficulties, they shall be smoothed.

‘Merciful and gracious.’ The view is changed. Another facet courts the eye. Grace shows its beauteous form. As mercy pities misery, so grace is helpful to unworthiness. Mercy brings balm for wretchedness. Grace hastens to demerit’s aid. Mercy finds tender motive in man’s woe. Grace has no impulse but from God. The world presents a hateful front. The wide-spread field is rank with mad rebellion’s weeds. There is no shame, no penitence, no downcast look, no weeping eye, no sobbing breast, no wringing hand, no prayer for pardon, and no cry for pity. Sin follows sin as wave on wave. But grace springs forth, free as God’s freeness, vast as God’s vastness. It says, ‘I love because I love. I will save because I will save. I will redeem from hell because I will redeem.’

It has no cradle but God’s own heart. It has no spring but God’s own purpose. But it is a worthy offspring of that worthy source. It girds itself to wondrous work. It draws Salvation’s plan. It leads forth Salvation’s captain. It chooses Salvation’s heirs. It consummates Salvation’s scheme. It lays the first stone. It adds the top-stone. It cannot rest, until the shout be heard, Grace to it, Grace to it, forever!
Reader! merit is as far from you as east from west. Your only possession is sin. But you may shine in glory, because God is grace. Oh! hasten to Him. Take pardon as a free-grace gift. Seek heaven as a free-grace prize. But if your pride rejects free grace, your own deserts will be the undying worm.

“Merciful and gracious, long-suffering (slow to anger).” The citizens of Zion sometimes quake, lest grievous guilt should drain all mercy and exhaust all grace. A ray next shines to dissipate these clouds. Behold Me, says the Lord, I am long-suffering. Here is a plank, on which the wave-tossed soul may rest. What! though the annals of the heart are but a sin-vile tale. What! though each day, each hour, is but the hot-bed of provoking evil. What! though the holiest prayers are often solemn mockery, the holiest works but incense to self-love. Still, vengeance stops its hand, and blessings pour their blessing-showers down.

If angels’ patience ruled for one hour, would it be so? No! Man’s whole race would be a shattered ruin. But He who reigns is a patient God. Hence, where offence abounds, His patience rises higher. We live because our God forbears. But the day comes when boundless patience finds its bounds. Sinner, when God’s patience can no more bear, then your long sufferings will no more cease.

‘Merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.’ But while patience still is patient, may not the stores of goodness fail? It cannot be. God’s goodness is Himself. While He has life, it is His life to scatter goodness round. Believer, come to this tree. Its boughs forever bend, and all its fruits are goodness. Drink of these waters. They ever flow, and all the stream is goodness.
Truth is the handmaid which provides and scatters far these never-failing gifts. A covenant oath is pledged, “I will certainly bless you richly.” Heb 6:14. Truth then must die before the hand of goodness can hang down. Abundant truth secures abundant goodness.
‘Keeping mercy for thousands.’ O my soul, hearken to the melody of this sweet note. The thought may sometimes rise, that mercy visits but a favored few, that the rare gift enriches but rare souls. No! mercy’s arms are very wide. Mercy’s heart is very large. Mercy’s mansions are very many. It has brought saving joy to countless multitudes. It has saving joy for countless yet. The doors stand open. Thousands have found. But there are stores for thousands yet.

Will any hesitate? Will any sigh, ‘There cannot be this hope for me?’ Why this fear? Is the reply, ‘My iniquity forbids it’? This Name sweeps down such obstacle. It cries, The Lord is a God, ‘forgiving iniquity.’ Is it added, ‘But my transgressions are so vile’? The Name still speaks, The Lord is a God forgiving iniquity and transgression. Is it further said, ‘But my sins appear in countless multitudes’? The Name continues, Our Lord is a God forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.

If all the sins of all the lost, if all the filth of all the fiends in hell, were piled on your one conscience, flee to the cross, plead this sure word, and as our God is true, He will be found forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.

But if you fail to cast yourself on Christ, there is no other refuge. This word of richest comfort is stern condemnation to all who stand in their own guilt. “He will by no means clear the guilty.” No sinner can take unpardoned sins to heaven. No soul unwashed can enter there. Evil must have what evil earns. Christ our Surety appeared bearing our sins. He was not spared. Wrath seized Him. Vengeance took its due. In Him, all who are His are cleared, because His death is theirs. Out of Him, all who have sin must die, because their sins are theirs.
“The Lord, the Lord God, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished.” Reader! such is God’s saving Name. Oh! hear it now, and with the ear of faith. It is not heard in hell.

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