198 One Lord, one Holy Name [ZEC. XIV. which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light. O day of gloom, shines at last! day of sadness, yet where a ray of brightnesss So at a Christian's deathbed, Fear startled at his pains and dreary end, Hope raised her chalice high.' This life, as it draws to an end, seems dark and sad, but faith sees the brightness of the eternal morning beginning to dawn. 8. And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be. 9. And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one. From Jerusalem there went out over all the earth the living knowledge of the true God. 'Salvation is of the Jews,'' to them were committed the oracles of God.' Other nations had gifts of science or art or government, but through the Jews came to us the knowledge of sacred Truth. Grant, Lord, that this spring may never be dried up, but flow always for our comfort, whether in happy or in dark hours. 10. All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king's winepresses. II. And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited. 6 Other mountains sink and become a plain, the sacred Mount alone is lifted up and becomes the centre of all regards. Jerusalem no more needs encompassing hills (as it is written, the hills stand about Jerusalem'), for God alone suffices for its guard. In the Apocalypse this imagery is carried further: Jerusalem appears there clothed in bridal beauty, coming down from God to bring His presence among men; its walls and gates are jewelled, its light never fails, its streams and foliage are unwithering, all curses have left it. May I, Lord, be a steadfast and faithful citizen of Thy Holy Jerusalem on earth, that so I may be accounted worthy to dwell at last in that City which Saints have longed to see. 12. And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; VER. 19.] Keeping the Feast 199 Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. 13. And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the Lord shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour. 14. And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance. 15. And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague. Plague, confusion, ruin wait upon God's enemies. Nay, they deal death to each other; their wealth becomes a spoil to God's people. I may not see this visible destruction come upon the bodies or goods of offenders; but I know that as we sow, so we shall reap. Those who deliberately choose evil will find they have chosen to their own destruction. When any plague comes upon me or mine, let me profit by the chastisement to survey my ways and repent, while time is given. 16. And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. 17. And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. 18. And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the Lord will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. 19. This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. The Feast of Tabernacles, or festival of autumn joy, was a sojourning in booths for eight days, in remembrance of the wilderness journey. Lamps were lighted to recall the pillar of fire, water poured out as a token of the smitten rock, God's law read to revive the memory of Sinai. Believers rejoiced to recall God's mercies wrought for Israel of old; they pictured themselves as travelling through the wilderness under celestial guidance towards an everlasting home. They had gathered in the fruits of this world's summer, but they felt that this world could not satisfy all 200 Holiness unto the Lord [ZEC. XIV. desires. Let us, too, learn to keep this feast, thankfully and hopefully; if with some regrets for the bright past, yet with good hope for the eternal future which draws near. 20. In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the Lord's house shall be like the bowls before the altar. 21. Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the Lord of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts. Faith makes even common things sacred. The horses' bells and the earthen vessels used for common purposes become as sacred as the bowls which hold the atoning blood of sacrifice. Such is the transforming power which devotion has. It takes homely duties, humble offerings, works and observances of daily life, and turns them into holy sacrifices that are accepted on God's Altar. It puts out of sight all that is temporal and imperfect about church worship. It lifts prayers and praises right up to God's Throne. MALACHI CHAPTER I THE burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi. Yet ye say, 2. I have loved you, saith the Lord. Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the Lord: yet I loved Jacob, 3. And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness. 4. Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the Lord of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the Lord hath indignation for ever. While the Jewish state had risen again from its desolation, Edom had never recovered. Its ancient royalty was gone, its mountains waste, its fortresses a ruin. Israel beheld and wondered at God's partial mercy. Why had He chosen, blest, enlightened, restored the posterity of Jacob, the younger brother, while the posterity of Esau, the elder, remained outside covenanted mercies, outside the hope of restoration? Reading these verses, I, too, marvel and say, 'Why is it that my lot is different from that of many? God has bestowed on me, with a plentiful hand, blessings of this life and means of attaining a better. He has borne with me in my wanderings, pardoned my transgressions, put faith and hope in my heart. All around me are souls enslaved by Satan, or walking in darkness; they know not of a Saviour, they are unable to rise and walk heavenward. What thanks ought I not to pay to undiscerning Love? What efforts should I not make to impart my blessings to others? 5. And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The Lord will be magnified from the border of Israel. Israel is convinced of God's love to her, when she beholds the fruitless efforts of Edom to resettle their ancient state. Israel 202 The Lord's Table profaned [MAL. I. sees that it is of God's gift alone that His people has been scan His 6. A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? God chose priests to be His sons and servants. He exalted them to so high a dignity, brought them so near to Himself, bound them by closest ties of gratitude and duty; yet they had forgotten their invisible Father and Lord. It is most easy to get into the way of performing sacred duties as a mere form. We forget that we are the ministers of a present God, courtiers under our Sovereign's eye; that He sees through us and knows what kind of service we bring. Certainly I should regard my parents' opinion, while they were looking on; certainly I should conform myself to court ceremonial, while my sovereign was in presence. How is it that my religious duties are done so slovenly, omitted so lightly? 7. Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the Lord is contemptible. 8. And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the Lord of hosts. 9. And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the Lord of hosts. 10. Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand. To offer worthless beasts for sacrifice was strictly forbidden in God's law; yet the priests allowed worshippers to do this, and said it did not matter. They treated God as they would not have treated an earthly potentate. O that I could carry the spirit of these verses into the preparation of religious teaching, the arrangement of Church worship, the adornment of God's House! The best, |