Substitutes by M. W. Howard

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 17, 1866

Substitutes.

By M. W. Howard

Often as we peruse the sacred writings, the conviction is forced upon the mind, that God accepteth not the substitutes of man. And this fact throws great responsibility upon erring mortals, for as Paul expresses regarding persons, "Each for himself shall give account to God." It is often expressed, and doubtless far oftener thought, that it matters not what a man believes religiously, if he be only sincere. Perhaps Solomon thus thought when he yielded to the caprices of his various wives, building for each an "high place in which to burn incense and sacrifice to their gods." But for this it was announced to him "That only for his father's sake should the kingdom remain entire through his life. And when in his son's reign, the kingdom should be rent out of his son's hand, but one tribe should be given to his son for David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake.

And so it was in Rehoboam's reign when the kingdom was rent from his hand, "only the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah" remained in allegiance to him, that David my servant may have a light alway before me, in Jerusalem the city which I have chosen me to put my name there. Then Jeroboam the king, by God's appointment, of the revolting tribes, reasoned in his heart, (like the worldly wise of our own times), "Now will the kingdom return to the house of David, if the people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem." So he substituted another altar, another city, and another mount, saying to the people, "It is too much for thee to go to Jerusalem." Then substituting other priests, he ordained a feast, substituting the "fifteenth day of the eighth month, even the month he had devised in his own heart." 1 Kings xii, 27, 32, 33. But according to the sacred records, we must infer that God accepted not this substitute, even though their city Samaria and their altar on mount Gerizim came to be a synonym for Ephraim or Israel, even as Jerusalem or Mount Zion, was the Holy City which God delighted to bless. For we are soon informed that "The Lord began to cut Israel short." 2 Kings x, 32.

Though the forbearance and longsuffering of God was often tested by each portion of the house of Israel, the ten tribes were given over, or in the language of Scripture, "divorced from God" long before Judah was. Because of Judah's peculiar relation to the promised Messiah, and that God's word be not broken, the "sceptre" or governing rule did not depart from the house of Judah till the "blessing," (Isa. lxv, 8) came out of it. Then, oh then, had "they have known and comprehended the time of their visitation," how might they have been emancipated. But they "rejected the chosen One, and crucified the Lord of Glory," he that had come the King of the Jews, and their fate was sealed as a nation. The hour of crisis was past, and fatally passed. God has "sifted them among all nations" according to Amos ix, 9. Henceforth the rejecting of the Jews became the enriching of the Gentiles. See Rom. xi, 11-18; Acts xiii, 46. And blessed be God forevermore, here is a substitute that he accepteth. From this time "they that were not a people, are become a people," and God no longer "is a respecter of persons, but in every nation, he that feareth God and worketh righteousness, is accepted of him." The Jew as a nation was rejected, yet may he come individually, as the Gentile comes, one by one, exercising faith in Christ's atoning, redeeming blood. Thus they become the true Israel, whether Jew or Gentile, whom God will receive as substitutes in the future kingdom of the Son of David—"Jesus of Nazareth who is called Christ." All this is accomplished by our Great Substitute whom God accepted when Christ, "the just, died for the unjust," even "while yet enemies, Christ died for us."

But I set out to speak of another substitute, "and how am I straitened till it be accomplished." I would tread lightly, lest I be thought to criminate myself; but certainly not reverently as I show forth what might be styled a dernier resort, or if it would not excite a smile, what might be called "the last ditch" of the advocates for this substitute. In a Bible class not long since, the Sabbath came into the lesson for comment. It was unhesitatingly admitted that the Bible gave no authority for substituting one day for another, but it was decided that this was one of the "many things" that Jesus had to tell his disciples when he said, "they were not able to bear them." Knowing that the day would be changed, he also knew that their minds were still too full of Jewish prejudice to then receive them, therefore he forbore. Doubtless when descanting upon Jesus' consideration for Jewish prejudice, it was forgotten that even the hearts of men were in his power, and therefore it was not absolutely necessary that so important a matter should have been left for the mission of the "Holy Ghost, which takes of the things of God and shows them unto men."

M. W. HOWARD. Malone, N. Y.