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95 A SON OF KOHATH

The thoughts of the son turned to one upon whose shoulders heavy burdens were con­stantly laid, while his fellows had much help in the matter of burden-bearing. Then he remembered that in the old days of the Tabernacle Service, Moses took the waggons and the oxen and gave them unto the Levites, but unto the sons of Kohath he gave none; because the Service of the Sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders. And he knew that even now some were called to be sons of Kohath.

But as he pondered this, there came to his mind a golden word: The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between His shoulders. He who is called to bear upon his shoulders the burden of the Service of the Sanctuary, is himself borne. And he knew that it was very good to be a son of Kohath.

 

96 WITHIN A FEW MINUTES

The son was troubled because so often, when he wished to lose himself in prayer, his thoughts were not of his Lord but of his children or the turmoil of the world, or the anxieties of his friends, or some problem of the work committed to him, or even of his own concerns.

His Father laid His hand upon him then, and caused him to understand that if only he would turn to Him in worshipping love he would find himself holding his children, life's turmoil, his friends, all problems, in the hush of the Presence of his Lord. And he would be quiet and free to receive light concerning the matter that lay so close to his heart. Within a few minutes it would be so.

 

97 HAST THOU COME TO THE END OF MY RESOURCES?

His thoughts said, My enemies live and are mighty; and yet I have required that they, even mine enemies, shall not tri­umph over me or over those whom Thou hast given me, my Father, for they are Thine. But I have come to the end of my resources.

His Father said, Hast thou come to the end of My resources? Is the Lord's hand shortened? Dost thou not know Him whom thou hast believed? Art thou not persuaded that He is able to keep that which thou hast committed unto Him? Know thy Lord-and thy heart shall find repose in Him. Thine enemies shall not triumph over thee or over those whom I have given thee.

And the son said, I will cry unto God most high, unto God that performeth all things for me, even the cause that I have in hand. Lord, all my desire is before Thee.

 

98 UNPROFITABLE MOURNING

The son, while thinking of many whose day had been turned to night and who were trying to find light where no light was, read words about singing lustily with a good courage. And he wondered how he could sing lustily when he had neither courage nor lusty feelings because of the desolate.

Then he remembered an Indian proverb about fire-flies. They could not banish the night. And he knew that his wisdom lay not in unprofitable mourning over those who sit in darkness, but in taking a light better than fire-flies to any within reach.

 

99 A MIGHTY WORD

The son was reminded of a mighty word and a piercing: "Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast."

"Obey that word," said his Father, "Earnestly carry forth the light; but forget not to shut thy door."

 

100 THE LITTLE INCH OF THREAD

His thoughts said, What of people who never had a chance?

His Father said to him, Trust Me not to disappoint thy trust. Dost thou think that the little inch of the thread of human life which thou seest, is all that there is to see? Think of what thou knowest and hast proved of My ways, and believe that what thou dost not know is at least as loving as what thou knowest and hast proved.

 

101 REFLECT ME

The son was grieved because some whom he had hoped to help would not even look at his Lord. They were trying to satisfy themselves with husks. They were play­ing with phantoms.

As he thought sorrowfully of those dear to him, who were so near and yet so far, he remembered how they and he together had looked at the reflection of a mountain in still water. It was the reflection that first caught their attention. But presently they had raised their eyes to the mountain. Reflect Me, said his Father to him then. They will look at thee. Then they will look up, and see Me. And the stiller the water the more perfect the reflection.

 

102 MINE IS A FOLLOWING LOVE

His thoughts said, I am distressed because of some very dear to me who have drifted away.

His Father said, They are dear to Me too.

Mine is a following love. And when they return, My love will run to meet them.

His thoughts said, What of one who walked in the straight way of faith, but, being lured by the will-o'-the-wisp of false teaching, is wandering in the swamp?

His Father said, I have stepping-stones in every swamp.

Then the son worshipped, saying, 0 Sovereign Lord, Thou Lover of souls, all the springs of my hope are in Thee. And like music played softly, melodious words sounded in his ears: These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace.

 

103 SHALL NOT THE HAND OF THE LORD BE FULLY SUFFICIENT?

Sometimes for a while it was midnight for the son; he could not see his way.

Then, just then, it often happened that a friend came to his house and he had nothing to set before him; and Moses' anxious question was his, Shall sheep and oxen be slain for them, and shall it suffice them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together, and shall it suffice them?

But soon he remembered his Lord's gracious answer, Shall not the hand of the Lord be fully sufficient?

And his Father said to him, Thou knowest the way to My house, thou canst find it even in the dark. So he went to his Father's house, and his Father gave him not three loaves only, but as many as he needed.

 

104 THE SEVERAL PEARLS

The son considered the bewildering truth that many things which helped his fellow-­Christians did not help him. What was wrong, he wondered; he himself, or what was offered for his help?

This question perplexed him till he re­membered that the wall of the City had twelve gates, and the twelve gates were twelve pearls. Every several gate was of one pearl. So there are many gates into the City, but each one is a pearl. And he knew that he must leave others to find their own gate, and be sure that he entered in by his own, for no other but his own would be a gate of pearl to him.

 

105 THE SEVEN LAMPS

The son came to see also that as the City with its twelve gates, so was that Tree of Light, the candlestick, with its seven lamps. Each lamp was like an almond flower, and each flower was a flower of light; but each was separate. And yet each almond flower was part of the candlestick of which it is written that it was one beaten work of pure gold.

The light may flow to him from one almond flower, to his brother from an­other. Not to judge the light of others, but to obey the light given to him was all that concerned him. Lord, what shall this man do? What is that to thee? Follow thou Me.

 

106 THE WEARISOME GOODNESS OF THE GOOD

His thoughts said, I am ashamed to say it, but I find the goodness of some of the good very wearisome.

His Father said, It is not their goodness that wearieth thee, but the trappings and trimmings which they so often collect­-those weary thee. True goodness is no more wearisome than the green of the Green Things of the earth. Try to ignore what will one day fall off and be forgotten. Try to see Me, thy Lord, in thy fellow­lovers. And consider, too, how wearisome thou must be to them, and yet, like thy patient angel, they bear with thee.

 

107 FELLOWSHIP

His thoughts said, Jerusalem is built as a city that is compact together, that is at unity in itself, a city knit together whose fellowship is complete. We are, as it were, parts of one another, of one mind in an house, perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Nothing less can content us. The thinnest film of separation is intolerable. But the attack on that position is persistent and violent. There is no end to it.

His Father said, Nor ever will be.

Measure the preciousness of Spiritual Unity by the persistence and the violence of Satanic attack.

The son said, Some say that the standard of love is set too high. Do little ruffles matter? they say; there are sure to be some among fellow-workers.

His Father said, Ask them to go with thee to Calvary and think that thought there-if they can.

 

108 AND PREPARETH A WAY

After a time of contrary winds and much toil in rowing, He whose name is Wonderful did wondrously, and there was a great calm.

Then the son said, Blessed be the Lord God who spoke with His mouth and hath with His hand fulfilled it. There hath not failed one word of all His good promises. Not one thing hath failed thereof.

And his Father said, Whoso offereth the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifieth Me; and prepareth a way that I may shew him the salvation of God.

 

109 THEN LOOK UP

The son thought of one who had a vision of voices, a noise, thunders, earthquakes and tumult. And behold, two great ser­pents came forth, both ready for conflict; and there came from them a great voice. Surely it is so now, said the son. And in many lands hast Thou not delivered Thy strength unto captivity, Thy glory into the enemy's hand? And though he knew that all had been foreseen and foretold, yet he was grieved and burdened; and he said, They have scoffed at the tardiness of Thy Messiah's footsteps.

Then the Comforter led him to these words: And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

 

110 LOVE, NOT HATE, IS ETERNAL

His thoughts said, The hate in the world is like a horror of great darkness.

His Father said, Love, not hate, is eternal.

Love, not hate, was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, Love was brought forth; when there were no foun­tains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was Love brought forth. When I ap­pointed the foundations of the earth, then Love was by Me, as One brought up with Me: and Love was daily My delight, rejoicing always before Me, rejoicing in My habitable earth. That which was at the beginning, that alone abideth. The woe and grief and cruelty of man to man­-these are of time. Love is of Eternity. Disbelieve this and thy heart will break. Believe it and thou canst endure.

 

111 PAIN OF CHILDREN, ANIMALS?

His thoughts said, Why was the world created? The adversary hath spread out his hands upon all her pleasant things. The wickedness of the wicked doth not cease. The pages of history are scarlet with the suffering of the innocent. 0 poor world! what of the pain of children? what of the pain of animals? That "not a moth with vain desire is shrivelled in a fruitless fire or but subserves another's gain" is no consolation. What is the gain to the moth? Miserable comforters are ye all who offer this chaff for wheat.

His Father said, It is written, "The tender mercies of the Lord are over all His works." All, not some. Trust their Creator to justify those words. Let His words be true and thy faithless fears be liars.

 

112 NOT AT... BUT AT...

The son prayed, Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and his thoughts said, How can one be glad or even peaceful when trouble is near?

His Father said, Before thy Saviour went to Bethany, when trouble was near, He was peaceful; and He said to His disciples, I am glad. For He looked not at the things that are seen, but at the things which are not seen. Canst thou not do likewise?

Look through the approaching trouble, whatever it be, to that which is beyond it. Then thou wilt find that thou canst be peaceful, and even be able to say, "I am glad." For the Lord sitteth above the water-flood and the Lord remaineth a King for ever. The Lord shall give strength unto His people: the Lord shall give His people the blessing of peace.

 

113 THERE IS A PLACE BY ME

His thoughts said, Before me continually is the grief of wounds, confusion, suspense, distress.

His Father said, Behold, there is a place by Me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock. Then, as a frightened child on a storm-­swept mountain-side would gratefully take his father's hand, and stand on a rock in a place by him, fearing no evil-so it was with the son. For he knew that though the earth be removed and the waters be carried into the midst of the sea, that rock by his Father would never be moved. And he remembered words about things that can be shaken and things that will remain. And though no small tempest lay on him, he said to the multitude of thoughts whose voices sought to disturb him, Sirs, be of good cheer; for I believe God that it shall be even as it was told me. For as His majesty is, so also is His mercy.

 

114 FRET NOT THYSELF BECAUSE OF--

The son knew some who had trusted that they would be delivered from the hand of an evil man, but they had not been delivered: the evil man had brought his wicked devices to pass and he was prosper­ing in his way. Then the son remembered the command which ran down to the roots of life and was exceedingly difficult to obey:  "Fret not thyself because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass." And he thought of another word that dealt with burning injuries: "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." And he saw that by fretting he could not help his friends. It tended only to evil doing; for it kindled a fire in him that was not a holy fire; and it made him the less able to do anything for them.

So he learned to turn the spiritual energy which he had spent in fretting, into prayer for them. And as he did so, he knew that now at last he was helping his friends.

 

115 GO TO CALVARY

Then to that son the question came. Dost thou know the way to Calvary? And following that way he saw Pilate, after he had scourged the Lord Jesus, deliver Him to be crucified. He saw the soldiers take his Lord into the common hall, and gather unto Him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped Him, and put on Him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand; And they bowed the knee before Him, and mocked Him, And they spit upon Him, and took the reed, and smote Him on the head, and led Him away to crucify Him. And they crucified Him.

"In all times of thy tribulation over the triumph of evil," said the Father, "go to Calvary."