Uplifting by G. B. STARR

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 24, 1908

Uplifting

By G. B. STARR

G. B. STARR

“When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.” Job 22: 29.

God has here put a word in our mouths that we are to speak to souls that are cast down,—a word of courage, a message of hope. “Thou shalt say there is lifting up.” No discouraging, disheartening word is to be spoken. Souls cast down and depressed are not to remain in that condition. God has made bare his holy arm, his strong arm, his long human arm, in the person of Jesus, in the sight of all the nations, to lift up the fallen, the cast down and discouraged. Jesus has a firm hold upon the throne of God, and by the tenderest of ties, in taking our own nature, he has linked himself to the human family, for the express purpose of lifting us up. God’s arm is for the mighty uplifting of weak humanity.

The first time the word lifted is used in the Bible is in connection with the lifting of a soul out of trouble: “They drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit.” Gen. 37: 28. Joseph’s fine coat had brought him into trouble, or rather the pride of heart fostered by his father’s partiality, of which his long-sleeved tunic was an evidence, had angered his brethren. They were to wear the short-sleeved working coats, while he, the gentleman, in long sleeves, was destined for a higher position. Then those dreams,—the eleven sheaves bowing down to his sheaf, and the sun and moon and eleven stars all making obeisance to him,—added to their resentment. He evidently made a mistake in wearing his best coat on this journey to his brethren; and others since that day have made the mistake of wearing their dress suits when they ought to have had on their working clothes. But the time had come when God saw best to deal with both Jacob and Joseph. The offending coat, dipped in blood, brings grief to the father’s heart, and Joseph’s experience in the pit converts and humbles him. God, who saves the humble person, began then to lift up the prisoner of the pit. God had first lifted him out of himself while dealing with him alone in the pit, and then he so ordered it that the same men who had put him into the pit must lift him out. God kept right on lifting Joseph until he placed him next to the king upon the throne. So in like manner will God lift every soul who will submit fully to his dealings. From the horrible pit and miry clay (Ps. 40: 1-3) of sin, he will lift us and continue to lift us, until he places the “overcomer” upon his throne, next to the King, as he did Joseph. Rev. 3: 21.

“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3: 14, 15. In order that sinful man might be lifted up, Jesus, the sinless substitute, must first be lifted up on the cross. “I, if I be lifted up, . . . will draw all men unto me.” He will draw them up to his side upon his throne. There is mighty lifting power in the cross of Jesus. “Lift him up,” and he will draw and lift the beholder.

“In loving-kindness Jesus came, My soul in mercy to reclaim, And from the depths of sin and shame Through grace he lifted me. “He called me long before I heard, Before my sinful heart was stirred; But when I took him at his word, Forgiven, he lifted me. “His brow was pierced with many a thorn, His hands by cruel nails were torn, When from my grief and guilt forlorn In love he lifted me. “Now on a higher plane I dwell, And with my soul I know ’tis well; Yet how or why, I can not tell, He should have lifted me. “From sinking sand he lifted me; With tender hand he lifted me; From shades of night to plains of light, O, praise his name! he lifted me!”

“Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance; feed them also, and lift them up forever.” Ps. 28: 9. “I will extol thee, O Lord; for thou hast lifted me up.” Ps. 30: 1.

Wahroonga, N. S. W., Australia.