By REV. JOHN A. MACDONALD, Applecross.
THERE are great depths in the chapter before us. The Apostle points out, that all the sacrifices and ceremonies under the Ceremonial Law were merely shadows of good things to come, and could not therefore of themselves take away that which God abhorreth, namely sin. Hence the reason why Paul stresses upon the “holy brethren,” as he calls the Hebrew believers, to whom he is writing, to look to the sacrifice which God the Father had provided, even His only begotten Son. In Him alone they were to place their hope and confidence for an endless eternity. Indeed, this is good news for sinners that He so completely satisfied Divine Justice with the sacrifice which He offered of Himself upon the accursed tree, that none other shall ever be required.
The Apostle further teaches our constant need of a truly humble spirit, that we put our hope and confidence in the blessed Redeemer, seeking always to crucify pride, self-dependence, self-deceit with all manner of hypocrisy; thus our confidence in Christ becoming such that we can truly say “and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in Him not having mine own righteousness.” (Phil. iii. 8, 9).
In meditating upon the above portion of the Word of God, let us draw your attention to five things:—
I. That these Hebrew believers had “confidence” in their Redeemer.
Prior to their conversion, these Hebrew believers had no confidence nor belief in Christ as the Messiah nor in any of the New Testament Scriptures; the veil of sin being on their hearts. When awakened by God’s Holy Spirit, they realised the total corruption of their whole nature through the fall, and were brought further to a deep realisation of the truth that, “by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Gal. ii. 16). This, along with a consciousness of their actual transgression and an awakened conscience apprehending the solemn truth, “Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them,” caused them to realise how vain it was to look to the law for salvation. Through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit they were enabled to confide in Christ alone for salvation. Self-importance, self-sufficiency, and self-confidence must of necessity receive their death-blow before a poor sinner can say with the Psalmist “O Lord, my hope and confidence is placed in Thee alone.” (Psalm lxxi. 1). O! what confidence the people of Scotland had in the Bible as the inspired Word of God, until the Higher Critics as well as other “enemies of all righteousness” began to attack God’s Holy Word; thus filling the minds of many with doubts and suspicion as to the authenticity of God’s Word. It is sad to notice how little confidence people have in the Truth, in its claims and authority in our day. The vast majority proceed in ways pleasing to themselves irrespective of what God’s Law commands. Want of confidence, belief, obedience and love to the Truth as it is in Jesus shall doubtless incur God’s displeasure as sure as Achan’s sin grieved the Most High and brought many sufferings upon Israel.
No Confidence in the flesh
The Bible says of the righteous that they have no confidence in the flesh, being brought to see that, “Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (I Cor. iii. 11).
Confidence in His Blood
These Hebrew believers had full confidence in Christ’s atoning blood to cleanse them from all manner of corruptions and indwelling sins, which often caused God’s people in every age to cry with the Apostle Paul “O, wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Rom. vii. 24). O! that He would bestow upon us the confidence the Israelites had in Egypt in the blood of the Paschal Lamb sprinkled upon the door posts and lintels of their dwellings. Their confidence was such that they had their shoes on their feet and their staff in their hand ready for their journey out of Egypt. Blessed be His name, they were not disappointed in that the destroying angel passed by immediately He saw the Blood. “When I will see the blood I will pass over you.” (Ex. xii. 13).
Confidence in His Atonement
In His Atonement God’s people see by faith the love which was in Christ’s heart for the redemption of His elect people from eternal misery. All that the Father committed to Christ, He did willingly for their salvation. No one ever heard a complaint from Him. It is in the light of all this that we understand the wonderful Scripture which says “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John xv. 13). By His atonement Divine Justice was forever satisfied, the law exalted, and death and the grave robbed of their power: “I will ransom them from the power of the grave, I will redeem them from death; O death, I will be thy plagues, O grave, I will be thy destruction.” (Hosea xiii. 14).
II. The exhortation relative thereto: “Cast not away therefore your confidence.”
God does not give His people or Church in this world any grace or gifts with which they can dispense during life’s journey. Oh, no, for nothing would please the accuser of the brethren better than that they should dishonour their Creator by casting away their confidence in Him. Hence the solemn warning, “Cast not away therefore your confidence.” In the form of a serpent he succeeded in making our first parents commit this heinous sin against which death three-fold was threatened; “for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Gen. ii. 27). Oh, the misery this has brought into the world, and shall bring to men and women in the world to come, unless repentance unto life is bestowed. The person who casts away his confidence in the Bible as “the only rule to direct us,” in the worshipping of God privately and publicly and in praying for his own soul’s salvation is bound to become a prey to him who is going about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Indeed, it makes one sad to think and know of the many young men and women who left the Highlands of Scotland for our cities and towns in pursuit of employment, etc., etc., and who evidence by their absence from the means of grace, having no family worship, and their following the ways in which transgressors go that they have no further confidence in what God says in His Holy Word, in His Church in the world, and in what their godly parents taught them with a view to their eternal welfare. That heart must be as hard as flint, who despises, departs from and forsakes such parental admonitions.
In troublesome times
Troublesome times are times when we must continue more and more to place our confidence in God, in His Church, however small and despised, as she was in the days of the Prophet Isaiah when the man of God enquired thus: “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?” (Isaiah liii. 1).
It is obvious from the manner in which Moses addressed Hobab, his father-in-law, that Moses’s confidence or faith in God’s covenant with his elect Israel was becoming increasingly stronger and stronger, notwithstanding the trials of the wilderness; “We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said, I will give it to you: come thou with us and we will do the good: for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel.” (Numbers x. 28). Our beloved Church has come through trials upon trials ever since we have made a stand on the side of Truth in 1893. But, blessed be His Name, we did not cast away our confidence.
We are as confident as ever we were, that we are where Rev. D. MacFarlane, Dingwall; Rev. Donald Macdonald, Shieldaig; Rev. J. S. Sinclair, Glasgow; and Rev. Neil Cameron left us. In this way let us resolve with David in saying: “Though war should rise against me, in this I will be confident.” (Psalm xxvii. 3). The Apostle further asserts the readiness of all to backslide, Peter as well as Demas (2 Tim. iv. 10) if restraining grace as well as saving faith be not vouchsafed. Thousands followed Him for the sake of the loaves and fishes, but the moment He expostulated with them to labour; “not for the meat which perisheth,” etc., we learn that many went back. (John vi. 66).
“Cast not away therefore your confidence.” He is the unchangeable One with whom nothing is impossible; “He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Heb. vii. 25). Herod’s frown did not cause the Church to cast away or lose confidence in His Almighty power. On the contrary, the Church prayed earnestly for Peter’s deliverance although he was under the sentence of death, tied with chains, imprisoned between two soldiers; “and the keepers before the door kept the prison.” God hearkened to their cry, while in His righteous indignation He permitted Herod to become a prey of worms. (Acts xii. 23). Let the persecutors of Christ’s Cause tremble. Ah! friends, let not the power of darkness cause you cast away your confidence in the doctrine and principles of the Reformation, and in Calvinism which is so much in our day held up to the ridicule by a carnal world. Beware of the person who will suggest and maintain, that any kind of religion will do for eternity, that all denominations are alike; and what does it matter as long as we have the Bible. Believe not the lie, neither “cast away your confidence” but believe that only such as are made willing and obedient shall eat the fruit of the land. The advice which a godly father gave his son when leaving home is applicable here: “Attend that Church which keeps closest to God’s Word and makes your tether shortest in sin.”
Peter thought his confidence could never be shaken, no, supposing he were to face death for his beloved Saviour, but alas, how sad to read: “Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied them all, saying, I know not thou sayest.” (Matt. xxvi. 69, 70.) God’s people feel their need of grace, being in living exercise continually, lest they too cast away their confidence. After sweet tears of repentance, however, Christ bestowed again upon Peter the “joy of his salvation” as the One who is at God’s right hand to give repentance unto Israel.
When death visits your family: even then child of God, remember and seek to obey the Holy Spirit’s counsel “Cast not therefore away your confidence.” Cleave to Him in the hour of distress saying with Job: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.” Like Mary and Martha in the hour of their distress, with their beloved brother dead, and the Master tarrying when they sent for him; all which was sufficient to dishearten them only that the grace of confidence was active “in the day of trouble great.” The confidence of the hypocrite would certainly have failed. On the contrary their’s stood the test and upon His arrival they welcomed Him with the words: “Lord, if Thou hadst been here my brother had not died.” “But I know, even now whatever Thou wilt ask of God, God will give it Thee.” Their confidence received “a great recompence of reward” when their beloved brother was restored to life again. Caleb and Joshua as faithful men received “a great recompence of reward,” in that they entered in to the land of promise. The Prophet Isaiah was commanded of God to encourage and strengthen His beloved Ones in a similar way: “Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; He will come and save you.”
III. What they had need of, “patience.”
At the outset, the people of God are not so conscious of their need of this grace of “patience,” as of other graces; because in this their first love to Christ they find unspeakable pleasure of being in the company of God’s people, praying meditating, and singing God’s Praise; not realising that there is a “howling wilderness” before them. The Apostle here affirms that the Lord knows His people’s peculiar needs along with all the trials and afflictions they shall be confronted with during their sojourn here; but such is His love and tender compassion for them that He speaks not so much of the trials as of grace to help in time of need, “ye have need of patience.” He told the Church (in the Acts of the Apostles) that it was through much tribulation they would enter into the Kingdom of God.
Patience to run the race
In the 12th chapter of this Epistle, Paul reminded the Church of her being compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, and, therefore, to run with patience the race set before her. This vale of tears is the place to test our patience. By patience is not meant one single grace, but all the graces in living exercise in the soul of the believer, we believe. In running a race there must not be any relaxing if we are to receive the reward. Doubtless there shall be rough roads, storms, and tempests, but holy patience and confidence in the Captain of their Salvation, who opened a way in the Red Sea, will enable His people to surmount and be more than conquerers through Him that loved them.
Patience, because of furnaces of afflictions ahead
Both Prophets and Apostles had need of patience, and, indeed, every chapter of God’s Word bears testimony to the abundant grace or patience bestowed upon them in every hour of need. “Abraham was tried.” O, Abraham’s need of patience the day God commanded him to offer his darling Isaac for a burnt offering; to bind him to the Altar, and to take the knife to slay him. Patience did her perfect work in the hour of trouble great when the heavens bore testimony to Abraham’s love to God, saying: “For now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.” (Gen. xxii. 12). Job, who was the most patient man, was also severely tried, but when the trials were ended “he came forth as gold.” The book of Job was indeed the balm of Gilead to many of God’s dear people in their afflictions. There are some yet in our midst who heard the honourable servant of Christ, The Rev. Neil Cameron, Glasgow, relate an experience he had when a man spat in his face. “My reason for being so patient with him for doing so was that I remembered that they also spat in my Saviour’s face,” he said. It is indeed a mark of grace upon you that you feel your need of patience to endure all things for Him who “endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” (Heb. xii. 3). “Ye have need of patience,” because however severe and prolonged your trials, sickness, and temptations may be, remember His were greater. “There is no sorrow like unto my sorrow.” (Lam. i. 12). In this way, seek grace to learn of Him “who, when He was reviled, reviled not again, when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.” (1 Peter ii. 23).
IV. Whose will they were to do; “the will of God.”
Self-willed persons. All by nature prove by their walk and conduct in the world that they are self-pleasers, self-willed and without any desire to do the Will of God. Paradise was promised our first parents upon their doing the Will of God, on the other hand, in doing their own will death three-fold was promised. Notwithstanding the momentousness of the threat, they proceeded to do their own will. Ah, the misery this has brought upon all mankind. It is entirely the Holy Spirit’s work to make a willing people in a day of His power. (Ps. cx. 3). Self-willed Herod as well as self-willed Pharaoh, and others learned in the way of judgment that God will punish the children of disobedience. Obedience is better than sacrifice. Those who have tasted that the Lord is gracious seek to do His will, obey His Commandments, and walk humbly with their God. It is futile to conclude that we are doing “the Will of God” merely because we attend a place of worship once or twice a year and participate in the commemoration of Christ’s death, while we frequent the dance-hall, the theatres, the gambling-dens, and all other worldly frivolities which alienate men’s minds and affections from the ways of holiness; thus failing to yield obedience to His blessed Holy Will.
His Will for both time and eternity
(1) Time, day by day, and year by year, we must proceed to do His revealed Will, contending for the faith, and worshipping Him publicly and privately on Sabbath and week-days, whatsoever opposition we may encounter until we accomplish as an hireling our day. (Job xiv. 6). Moses did His Will, then God graciously gave him a view of the land of promise, and further honoured him with a secret sepulchre, so to speak. This shows how precious in the Lord’s sight is His saints’ death, and the grave wherein they sleep until the blast of the last trumpet, after which they shall rise to a life that shall never end. The Holy Spirit also bears testimony of David, that, “after he had served his own generation by the Will of God, fell on sleep.” (Acts xiii. 36). Let us beware, dear friends, because we are easily tired in God’s service, and let us give the more earnest heed to the warning Paul gave the Galatians: “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Gal. vi. 9). In time His people did His will in much weakness and many imperfections. But their efforts were precious in His sight, because of Him who said, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” (John xvii. 4). (2) Eternity: Throughout eternity His servants shall continue to serve Him in perfection, holiness, and love. Be of good courage, child of God, who found unspeakable joy and gladness in serving the Lord Jesus Christ on earth, you shall do His will world without end; “And His servants shall serve Him: and they shall see His face and His name shall be in their foreheads,” (Rev. xxii. 3, 4).
V. Promises to be fulfilled: “that after ye have done the will of God ye might receive the promise.”
The promises of the Gospel are yea and Amen in Christ Jesus. Nothing can ever happen which can prevent God from being unfaithful to His promises, both to the righteous and to the wicked. To the latter His promises are woeful, especially those which pertain to the eternal world. Outer darkness, the lake of everlasting burning, the worm which dieth not, with unceasing weeping is what God promises the wicked. The man who hid his talent in the earth (Matt. xxv. 30) as well as the rich man found this to be perfectly true. Unto the righteous, however, God made and accomplished wonderful promises. To Abraham and Sarah He promised a son. To them this seemed impossible now that they were old, “and well stricken in age”; but in God’s appointed time Sarah bare Abraham a son. It was when the Disciples obeyed the command, “launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a draught,” (Luke v. 4) that “they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their nets brake.”
Promises which relate to eternity
The promise here spoken of, however, has a direct reference to the great eternity to which we are fast hastening, we believe. “After,” relates to the end of their various activities here. In this way, the Apostle seems to suggest; “after” ye have performed those weighty duties; “after” ye have endured hardness, and “after” for my sake and the Gospel’s, ye have “forsaken houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children or lands,” (Matt. xix. 29) then the sure fulfilment of the promises which could never be accomplished here. “After” your sorrows, and “after” your temptations, then a crown of joy and gladness which you shall ever wear: “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion, with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isaiah xxxv. 10). At the marriage in Cana of Galilee Christ kept the good wine till the end. You who often fear through manifold temptations, and a sense of your utter unworthiness of being made a partaker of the redemption purchased by Christ, shall before long have the promises of the 45th Psalm fulfilled to you whatever Satan may suggest: “With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the King’s palace,” (Psalm xlv. 15). Indeed, the promises which relate and shall have their accomplishment in time are unspeakably precious, and indispensable to the Church of God in the world; as David said, “Unless thy law had been my delight, I should have perished in my afflictions.” (Psalm cxix. 92). “Ye might receive the promise”; such promises are the Church’s golden jewels, but the promises which relate and shall have their fulfilment in Heaven are the Church’s diamond jewels, so to speak. “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” (1 Cor. xv. 19).
And lastly, to His people the promise of promises is their being eternally with Himself where their sun shall no more go down, that is, where they shall never have to cry, “O that I knew where I could find Him.” O, how it gladdened the heart of the dying thief Christ’s eternal promise, “To-day thou shalt be with me in Paradise.” (Luke xxiii. 43). Indeed, let such a promise or promises gladden and elevate the minds of His people, especially those who know and have with them in this tabernacle of clay, marks and signs that their journey here is about ended. To such, the wonderful promise in Revelation vii. 17 is precious beyond words when they get a moment of Christ’s presence and a good hope through faith that, “The Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”