1892 158 It is ever important to distinguish things that differ, particularly in the things of God, as Timothy was enjoined by the apostle to rightly divide the word of truth. Seeing too that responsibility flows from privilege, the blessing of the latter should be known, so that the former should be intelligently entered into and carried out. The truth of this is clearly shown in the earthly people of God, from whom with God's blessing an instructive lesson may be gathered. Distinctive privilege and blessing, in its manner and continuance, is set forth in Deut. 11, where Moses, in verses 10-12, contrasts Egypt from whence they came out with Canaan into which they were going. In the former the seed sown was watered with the foot, as a garden of herbs; but the latter was a land of hills and valleys, drinking water of the rain of heaven, a land moreover that Jehovah cared for, having His eyes always upon it "from the beginning of the year unto the end." The distinction was therefore most marked; in the one was application to human means by which fruitfulness came, whereas the other wholly depended upon its supply from heaven. The rain must come from above to water the land, and this the Lord made dependent upon the people's obedience, who were to "hearken to His voice and obey His commandments," yea they were to love and serve Him.
Obedience therefore was the appointed means for the giving of the early and later rain, which was most needful for the continuance and enjoyment of their blessing. The book of Deuteronomy significantly sets forth the mind of the Lord as to the people's conduct in the land, and is rightly termed the book of obedience. Hence the needed word "Take heed to yourselves" lest strange gods, and other things rather than Jehovah, His land, and His things, should have any place with them, and thus involve judgment; a special form of which shut up the heaven, and withheld the rain, so that blessing ceased. How important therefore to yield an obedience, consistent with their given position, and privileges; to remember the word of the Lord, in the confidence of His promised care, crowned with the truth that the eyes of the Lord would be always upon the land. Surely such a promise implied no failure of blessing, if the people answered to their privileges, assured that He is ever faithful to His own word. But alas! the scriptures give unmistakeable testimony, that the breakdown is ever with man, and that all blessing dependent on him fails from Eden onward.
The brightest day that Israel ever knew was when Solomon their king sat on the throne, certainly as to manifested glory and blessing, despite the recorded fact, that continuous failure and unfaithfulness had previously marked them; not least in the time of the Judges, when the enemy frequently possessed the produce of their land, whereas abundance in peace and liberty, was enjoyed in Solomon's day. He, and not David, was favoured to build the house of the Lord, where the ark of the Lord found its resting place, and the glory of the Lord filled the house. It was then that Solomon was told that the name of the Lord would be in and His eyes upon the house. Thus a double privilege so to speak comes out, not only the Lord caring for the land, but dwelling in His house. In 2 Chron. 6 is given the wonderful prayer of the king, in relation to the Lord dwelling in His temple. Among the many things anticipated by him, as a resource in failure, he in verses 26 and 27 speaks of heaven being shut up, and no rain, because of their sin, adding "If they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin," Jehovah would hear, and send needed rain from heaven.
Thus Deut. 9 is bound up with 2 Chron. 6 as to the land and the house of the Lord; Moreover, obedience finds its central place in Israel's king, who is enjoined to walk before the Lord, according to all His commandments, otherwise the throne, temple, and land, would be destroyed. All their privileges were thus linked up with obedience, yet coupled with a gracious resource, should failure come in, a resource which, it is evident, they failed to use in time of need. Not only did Solomon sadly fail, but most of the kings after him, particularly those of Israel, so that the time came for the heaven to be shut, and the rain to cease. King Ahab committed the crowning sin leading up to this, for he not only married Jezebel, but reared an altar for the worship of Baal. At this crisis, the prophet Elijah appears to Ahab, with the solemn words "As the Lord God of Israel liveth before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word." 1 Kings 19:1. Such a judgment wrought sorrow and desolation in the land, but with no lasting effect upon king or people, notwithstanding the public witness Jehovah gave to Himself by Elijah, to the overthrow of Baal and his worshippers. Though recovered for a time, Israel and their kings (and in the end Judah also) sank deeper into sin, with no true self-judgment, or turning to the Lord, so that they were finally carried captives into a foreign land; thus ending their Canaan blessing, under given responsibility.
Thanks to an ever-faithful God, blessing lost through Israel's unfaithfulness, only made way for the unconditional promises, and unfailing resources, of Jehovah, both as to the people, and the land. Though Israel became barren and destroyed herself, hope still remained in Him, Who was first in His promise, but last in fulfilment; yea it was at last that God sent His Son, whilst as to purpose, He was first. The two samples in promised blessing as to the land and throne were unconditionally given, before the responsibility of Deut. 11 or 2 Chron. 6. For by Abraham and David, Jehovah had declared, that the land should be possessed, and the throne filled so as never to be lost, or to pass into Gentile hands. This most assuredly awaited the coming of Him, Who was Abraham's seed, and David's Son, though as to His person, it was before the former, and the root, yet no less the offspring, of the latter; the One in, and by Whom, the land should be possessed, with all its promised blessing and fruitfulness. This, Gen. 12, Gen. 15, and Gen. 22 plainly state, that Abraham's seed should possess the land; no less does a failing David anticipate and speak of One infinitely beyond his typical son Solomon, when "The God of Israel said, the rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God; and he shall be as the light of the morning when the sun riseth, even a morning without cloud, as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain." 2 Sam. 23:3-4.
If Matthew's Gospel presents Jesus specially as Israel's Messiah, the true son of Abraham and of David, Luke also blessedly speaks of what the angel Gabriel stated. "He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest, and the Lord shall give unto him the throne of his father David; and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." Luke 1:32-33. Thus all real interest blessing invests itself in Him Who was presented to the nation according to promise and prophecy, the One to Whom at Jordan's banks the heavens were opened upon Whom the Spirit descended and abode upon, Him, and the Father's voice said, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." But as in the past, there is persistent failure as to such distinctive privilege, for they not only refuse to own their Messiah, but finally they join together saying, "This is the heir; come let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance." Matt. 21:38. Not one only, but all the Gospels, bear witness to the rejection of Christ the beloved Son of God; for in answer put to the final question of Pilate, "What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? they all say unto him, Let Him be crucified."
Thus the cross terminated hope of blessing for God's earthly people, on the ground of their responsibility, involving them in a judgment infinitely greater than shutting heaven in Elijah's day. But the cross fully proving the guilt of Israel (no less of man generally) has manifested fully what God is in infinite love and grace. For there the question of sin was raised and for ever settled by His beloved Son, Who by the grace of God tasted death for every man. The sin of man, and its alone remedy, found an answer at the cross, where Jesus by His death and shed blood not only secured the glory of God, and eternal salvation, but laid a holy and righteous basis for all blessing, both for the heavens and the earth. Notwithstanding all the past, crowned with the hatred and rejection of God's Christ, all blessing lost by Israel and man will be established and more than made good, in and through Him now exalted, with other blessed purposes before Him in the hour of His absence. Yet the apostle Peter declared, that God shall send back Jesus "whom the heavens must receive, until the times of restitution of all things." For to Him, as the apostle Paul states, are given the sure mercies of David. Already, therefore, is the future of Israel and the land clearly made known, when infinitely more than was enjoyed in Solomon's brightest day will be realised under Him, Who will not only reign gloriously in Jerusalem but from the river unto the ends of the earth. In that day will righteousness and judgment be united, and Israel brought under their new covenant blessing, when Jehovah will blot out their transgressions and remember their sins no more. Indeed it will be said of them, "Thy people also shall be all righteous, they shall inherit the land for ever." Isa. 60:21. Then blessing will flow from the throne of the true David, causing mountain, hill and valley, to yield abundantly; yea, "the plow-man shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed, and the mountains shall drop sweet wine," and Jehovah's unfulfilled promise will be realised, "I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be plucked out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God." See Amos 9:13-45. Thus Israel will be securely blessed, having been made willing in the day of Jehovah's power, and fitted for an obedience in character with their distinctive blessing. The glorious privileges for Israel and the earth, recorded in Ps. 72, will be entered upon, when the prayers of the typical David will be ended; and the long rejected Messiah will reign gloriously to the joy and satisfaction both of Israel and the nations, for "All kings shall fall down before him, all nations shall serve him." Then will happy and blessed Israel answer to the words "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him and bless his name, yea"; in grateful obedience they will worship continually; saying, "Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever; and let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and amen." G. G.