Henry Law
Genesis 8:7. He sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.
Blessed are they who find their constant pleasure ground in the riches of the Bible! They commune with the mind of God. They listen to a heavenly voice. They bask in rays of purest light. They feed in wholesome pastures of refreshment. They fear no poison from the weeds of error. No devious path can lead their steps astray. Wisdom from above guides sweetly. The Spirit, as high Teacher of the Church, instructs the students. They advance safely, happily, from grace to grace. The lessons are vast, as the mine from which they spring. They are pure as the realms to which they call. They warn of sin – its filth, its misery, its end. They unfold Jesus in all the glories of redeeming love. They exhibit holiness, as the road to holy heaven.
Taken, with editing, from Law’s Beacons of the Bible.
Reader, heed a salutary admonition. Study the Bible, as holding treasure for your soul. Study with earnest prayer. Study with eternity spread out before you. Study with the lowliness of a poor sinner before a speaking God. Study with faith devoutly grasping every word. Close not the volume without enquiring, Is sin more hateful, the world more worthless, the flesh more treacherous in my sight? Is Jesus brought nearer to my adoring soul? Is my heart won to more entire devotedness? Am I more resolute to live for Him who died for me? The living Word should thus give life.
But this teaching is more than mighty in its matter. It is attractive in its varied mode. It charms by inexhaustible diversity. It summons all creation to its service. It traverses the universe of things alive and lifeless. It uses all their stores, as handmaids to profounder truth.
A few flowers, culled from this spacious garden, will illustrate this. It looks above, and from the wonders of the firmament brings testimony to redemption’s nobler work. The sun in the heavens proclaims the Sun of Righteousness. The glory of the lovely light typifies “the true light”. He said, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (Jn 8:12). The glittering star has a gospel voice: “I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star” (Rev 22:16). It looks to the earth, and Christ is seen everywhere. The stately tree, the fragrant flower, the flowing stream, the living stone, the riches of the mine, and all the length and breadth of its immensities call us to adore “the chiefest among ten thousand”.
So too the world of animated life inculcates thoughts of highest significance. The lion ruling the forest in his might; the ox, not ignorant of its owner; the ass, quick to discern its master’s crib; the washed swine returning to the mire; the gentle flocks reposing in the meadows; the goats cast out from the fold, and other species, warn by their particular behaviour. Each seems to say, Immortal souls may have deep profit by observing me.
Among them the birds occupy their places. To each of this class some specialty belongs. These differing behaviors are not given in vain. The mind which framed the diverse instincts writes on each some admonition. Sometimes the moral is distinctly drawn. Sometimes nothing but the habit of the winged one is stated. The reader is left to ponder it in meditative prayer.
Such is the case of the first bird named in Scripture. Its notice is brief. It appears when the waters of the deluge had partially abated. Noah had been told by God what God alone could tell. The coming of this ruin had been distinctly fore-announced. No human means could ascertain when thus the floodgates of heaven would open and all the fountains of the great deep be broken up. This then was taught by a revealing voice. But God had not revealed the moment of departure from the ark. He instructs sufficiently, but not superfluously. What reasoning powers can discover, no inspiration will unfold. When ordinary means suffice, no miracle will interfere. Noah by natural resource must learn when earth again shall be dry ground.
He seeks help from the birds of the ark. He selects the raven. He sends it forth. “Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made, and he sent forth a raven” (Gen 8:6,7). In vain he waited. There was no return. It brought no tidings. Its wings beat not again against the window of the ark. It sought no more admission into its former shelter. “It went forth to and fro.” It wandered up and down. It found some resting-places, perhaps on the loftiest crags of the re-appearing mountains. It was content to perch on any height. It was well pleased to feed on any floating carrion. It cared not where it perched, or where it gained support, so long as it had no restraint. It left the ark, pleased to escape. It left the ark, never to re-enter.
My soul, mark well this wandering raven. It gives a warning; it speaks of disappointment. Noah expected its return with a tale of earth’s revival. But it came not back. It cheered him not with an assurance that the destroying waters were assuaged and desolation’s reign was past. It never said, Go forth; walk up and down in peace; peril has ceased; earth is again a dry abode.
From all the streams of teaching flowing from this spring, let that be heard which is most vitally instructive. Let us then first observe an emblem of the moral law. Doubtless no such lesson is primarily designed. But profit may be incidentally deduced, when not originally meant. The soul intent on holy growth may gather flowers in a field tilled for another crop.
It is sadly true that many turn to the law for life, for peace, for righteousness. But can its voice proclaim these blessings? It is indeed a code: godlike in majesty, sublimity and truth. It is seated on a glorious throne. It is a picture of Jehovah’s mind. It shows the features of His eternal essence. It is wondrous in brevity, infinite in extent. Love is the substance of all its requirements. Love shines, as the dazzling crown, upon the brow of the law. Love is the one channel of its course. But still it is so boundlessly expansive that its wide arms embrace each thought, each word, each work of all who ever trod, or shall tread, earth.
It announces that deviation from pure love is utter abomination in God’s sight. It points to heaven and cries, Love is the one atmosphere of that bright home. Nothing breathes there but love. It stands as a guard before the shining gates. It drives back all transgressors of its grand enactment.
View now the sinner’s breast, when penetrated by the Spirit’s light. Conscience instantly accuses of transgressions, many as the moments of existence, towering high as mountains piled on mountains – extending in multitude, as all the sands of the ocean’s shore – embodied in each act, sounding in each word, staining each thought. Will the law draw softly near, wipe away all tears and silence fears? Will it bid gloom to disappear? Will it diffuse the calm of heavenly peace? Will it show wrath appeased, vengeance satisfied and deathful weapons laid aside? Far otherwise.
The raven brought no happy tidings. The law can tell no tale of comfort. It leaves the soul in deepest cells of uttermost despair. It pays no soothing visits. It has no cheering note. It has no messages of reconciliation. It raises not from terror’s agonising depths. It only affrights with its inexorable threats. It thunders, Give me my due; pay the full debt contracted by offence. But the insolvent cannot pay. Therefore the curse must fall. Thus it inflicts banishment from God, exclusion from the realms of blessedness, consignment to the prison of hell. Thus it piles anguish upon anguish, which never can relax until the ages of eternity shall cease.
Reader, study the law profoundly. Ponder its breadth, its length, its depth, its height. Gaze with open eye upon its perfect purity. Mark well its large and just requirements. Realise your own infinite shortcoming. See your whole life as one mass of violation. Mark how it fastens condemnation on you. View its high barrier, excluding you from heaven. Weigh its strong chain, dragging you to hell. Receive the inevitable truth. It has no word of peace. It never pardons. It gives not life. It surely dooms to death. Expect not help from it; rather flee far from it. If you escape not, it will surely slay you. The raven cheered not the inmates of the ark. The law brings no relief.
Noah, disappointed, sends forth another messenger. The dove speeds her gentle way. She tarrys not. She soon relieves the anxious fears. Her welcome wings are heard again. Joy brightens at her glad return. For in her mouth she shows an olive leaf plucked off (Gen 8:11).
This leaf relates a happy story. The waters have abated. The destroying element has subsided. Peril has fled away. Security again smiles. The detaining doors may now be opened. Earth is again green. Solid ground invites returning steps. Let thanksgivings now rise. Let praise ascend. Let man re-occupy his renovated home.
Here is a lovely emblem of the gospel. What the law announces not, is sweetly published by glad tidings from above. Thrice welcome news resound from heaven. Floods upon floods of joy unspeakable issue from Zion’s heights. Full salvation is revealed. On earth peace, good will toward men, are gloriously proclaimed.
Hearken, children of men. Give ear, my soul. Would that all earth’s sons, from east, from west, from north, from south, could be the audience! Would that all might hear the faithful sayings of the blessed gospel! Christ is the first and last, the sum and substance of this noble word. Christ chosen, sent, anointed, accepted of God. Christ – wondrous in His person, the mighty God – is therefore infinitely glorious to save. Christ, very man, is therefore entirely qualified to represent the family of Adam. Christ, loving from everlasting to everlasting, with love knowing no origin, no end, no intermission, no degrees – with love always unchangeably the same, perfect, pure, intense, enduring.
Christ, hanging on the accursed tree, laying down His life a sufficient ransom price, by His blood closing the gates of hell, quenching God’s fiery wrath, paying all demands, satisfying every claim, glorifying every attribute, washing out each crimson stain of all His ransomed flock. Christ, gloriously fulfilling every title of the glorious law, saying to each command, I fully have obeyed; and then transferring the vicarious obedience, as divine righteousness, to His bride the Church – her robe for heaven, her lustre in the courts above. Christ, purchasing the Holy Ghost and sending Him to bless the Church with all His powers to teach – to sanctify, to comfort, to adorn, to beautify.
Christ rising from the grave is a proof that God is satisfied and all redemption fully earned, an earnest that the ransomed in their turn shall put on the beauties of a resurrection body, worthy of a resurrection state. Christ ascending to the right hand of the majesty on high, representing all His people in Himself, bearing their names upon His shoulders and His heart, receiving all gifts for them, pouring down all blessings on them. Christ, coming to change the living and to raise the dead, to execute eternal judgement, to fill all heaven with glory, to awaken the eternal song of never-ending hallelujahs.
O my soul, what a flood of tidings of great joy! Spring forth to welcome them. Stretch forth your arms to clasp them. The law frowns condemnation. The gospel thus smiles salvation. The wrath is gone. Destruction’s billows are no more seen. Dismiss all fears. Annihilate your shivering doubts. Tremble no more. Open the gates of liberty. Go forth, as Noah, upon the renovated earth. Walk up and down in the green pastures of delight. See all around you redolent of peace. Enjoy. Give thanks. Lift up the voice. Sing praises. All things are yours: the world, things present, things to come – all are yours, and ye are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s (1 Cor 3:21-23).
Following the gospel voice, we dwell as lords of a wide universe of peace. We lie down in green pastures; we feed beside still waters. The hand of love makes full provision. Goodness and mercy follow our steps, as the attending shadow. This gospel flies from heaven, assuring us that God, even our own God, shall bless us. Thus, like Noah’s dove, it calls us forth to liberty and joy. All glory to the gospel of free grace! All glory to the gospel of eternal life!
But mark again the raven. We may learn much from its departing flight. Without unduly giving wings to fancy, we may here trace silly worldlings in their silly ways. To such, the gospel ark is not a welcome home. Its holy boundaries are uncongenial. They flee its pious inmates. They shun its righteous shelter. The easy yoke chafes as an enfettering chain. The light burden is as heavy bondage. They give the wing to their unbridled passions. They are carried away by wild desires, craving appetites and raging lusts. Their feet speed hastily from spots where Christ is the one testimony, where God is lovingly adored, where eternity in vivid colours is brought near.
O my soul, take warning. Make the gospel ark your constant dwelling place, your much-loved home, your safe retreat, your all-protecting shelter. Dwell in Christ and Christ in you. Abide in Him and He in you. Nestle sweetly, rest securely, in the screening refuge of His wounds. Stray not away from Him.
There is a beacon too in the raven’s restlessness. It wanders to and fro and never settles. Worldlings wandering from Christ find no repose. Tossed up and down, they lead a weary life. Hurried hither and thither, they are strangers to all peace. Some vain allurement offers rest. They seek it only to take early flight. Another spot invites. It promises much, and disappoints the more. Behold the fretting waters of the troubled sea. They represent the constant motion of the unfixed mind. Thus always craving, never satisfied, the weary votaries of earth drag out their uncalm days.
O my soul, have you found Christ? The true believer sweetly sings, “I sat down under His shadow with great delight, and His fruit was sweet to my taste” (Song 2:3). Shall God say of Zion, “This is My rest for ever; here will I dwell; for I have desired it”? (Ps 132:14). And will you not respond, Christ is indeed my rest for ever? Nothing shall tempt me from my home of joy.
The raven’s food is another beacon. What nurture could it find in the drowned waste? What but the putrid remnants of the floating carcases? Thus worldlings starve their souls amid the husks and carrion of their pleasures. Their maxims are false, and therefore poisonous. No wholesome nutriment is there. Their cup of joy at best is insipidity. Contrast the banquet-house of faith. The Word luxuriantly contains supplies to cheer, to strengthen, to refresh. The promises, what animating cordials! The truths of the cross, what a well-stored table! Jesus is the bread of life. The soul partakes and lives. The prospect of the heavenly rest, what a rich feast! “Eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.” The love of Christ, how invigorating! “Thy love is better than wine.” Reader, be always a guest at this table and “eat . . . that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.”
If any worldling should peruse this page, may his eye not turn again to that poor cheat, the world. May it look to Christ and never look away! He is a sure rest. He is a safe refuge. He is a treasury of all delights. He satisfies, till the full soul can hold no more.