SO SHALL YE PROSPER by H. C. Miller

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 14, 1869

“SO SHALL YE PROSPER.”

By H. C. Miller

Says the apostle John: “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper.” Christ desires that his church and people prosper. In order that such may be the case, he has established gifts in the church. “And he gave to some apostles; and some prophets; . . . for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,” as a whole, and for each individual, as well.

As in temporal matters men seek for the path that shall be prosperous to them in worldly things, so should the child of God seek for the path of prosperity in all spiritual things. All have a greater or lesser degree of anxiety to prosper in the divine life. The word of the Lord plainly declares how we may be prospered. Thus we read, in 2 Chron. xx, 20, that “they rose up early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.”

In order to understand the case, and the full force of his exhortation, let a brief review of past history be taken. Israel had been a united, powerful, numerous, and prosperous people; but the students of their history mark with pain their gradual decline from being “the head,” until they become “the tail.” See Deut. xxviii, 13. God tried to prosper them, but they would not walk in his ways, nor according to his direction. “Moreover, all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen.” God visited in wrath. One calamity after another came upon them; the ten tribes revolted, and Israel was divided; their enemies triumphed over them, and they were wasted and scattered. “And the Lord God of their fathers sent unto them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling-place; but they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy.” 2 Chron. xxxvi, 14–16.

Under various kings, Judah prospered or suffered, accordingly as their rulers were good or evil; but they gradually grew weaker, by continual rebellion against God, until the reign of king Jehoshaphat. Under his good government they began to prosper again. See chap. xvii. Joining affinity with sinful Ahab, the prospering hand of God is withdrawn for a time. But when reproved by the prophet Jehu, he repents of his folly and is prospered again. The time comes when the children of Moab and Ammon, and others, united for the conquest of Judah, and marched upon them.

Their previous departures from God had, no doubt, left them weak and trembling, and they fear and tremble in view of their state. Their enemies are more and mightier than they. With their whole heart, both king and people seek unto their God. The king, in the presence of the congregation of Judah, calls upon the Lord for help. Then upon Jahaziel came the Spirit of the Lord, in the midst of the congregation; and he said: Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat. Thus saith the Lord unto you: Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of the great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. They were directed what to do, and how to proceed. They were not to fight in the battle, but were to follow the directions given to stand still at a certain place, and “see the salvation of the Lord.” It was a time to try faith. They were to march toward the whole powerful host of their enemies, unprepared to engage them in their own way, believing in God that he would fight the battle and gain the victory. But they and the king believed in the Lord’s prophet. And as they marched out the next day, the king stood, and as they went by, exhorted them in these words, “Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.” They obeyed and prospered. The Lord overthrew the foe.

It is not necessary to speak of the many who would not believe, nor of the adversity that visited them. The whole history of the kings is full of them. Read and ponder them well. But we would notice some of the instances of prosperity following belief in the testimonies of God’s prophets, and where there had been grievous errors on the part of those to whom the reproof was sent. The case of Ahab is to the point: “But there was none like unto Ahab, who did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord.” Yet at the terrible prophecy of Elijah, Ahab trembled, and “rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.” Because he thus believed to the humbling of himself in the sight of the Lord and all Israel, he received a measure of prosperity. 1 Kings xxi, 25–29.

When David believed the word of the prophet Nathan, and confessed his sin and humbly repented, his great sin was forgiven, and afterward he prospered. 2 Sam. xii; also chapter xxiv. See the case of Josiah, 2 Kings xxii, 18–20.

The case of the Ninevites is also full of encouragement to the reproved. They believed the prophet of the Lord, and repented at the preaching of Jonah. God spared them and their city. These are not idle tales—mere fiction—but solemn, sober truths, narrations of facts. And these all happened unto them for ensamples, and they are written for our admonition and instruction, upon whom the ends of the world are come. We learn by these cases to tremble when God speaks, and to do more, when reproved, than simply to say, The reproof is true. We should heartily repent, by confession and putting away the evil as far as is in our power.

Our lines have fallen in perilous times. Yet how hard to fully sense it. How feebly we comprehend the perils of these days. Moral pollution is everywhere; and its black, stifling vapors blunt the senses. Sin is looked upon so often, as to rob it of its hideousness. Only by the grace of God, by the aid of his Holy Spirit’s anointing our eyes that we may see, can we expect to escape. The prophet has described the times thus: “The Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.” He that killeth a man is as if he killed a dog. Now and then, among the children of God, astonishing apostacies take place, making Heaven sorrow, and wringing the hearts of the faithful. Men who have stood high, who have labored in the work of love, listen to the tempter, yield to the lusts that should be bridled, and, in a moment, go down: God help us who remain, to be warned, to anxiously seek God for safety and strength. God has a truth still, though men prove false, the right way may still be discerned by earnest, willing ones. A people will be purified, 144,000 will be saved, redeemed from among men. God has reserved them in Israel. You and I may be of the number, dear reader. But in order to do it, we must follow the rule, we must overcome as they are said to have overcome. “They overcame by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their testimony.” Not the little feeble speech they uttered in meetings. We do not understand it so; but the testimonies of the Spirit to the church and to individuals, pointing out particular sins in them, sins that other churches and other individuals are not guilty of. They apply to them particularly. Hence, it is appropriately called “the word of their testimony.” By faithful obedience to it they become cleansed from that sin, and the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin.

Let the people of God take courage at this, and cherish the gift of prophecy in our midst. Believe its words; so shall ye prosper. It is in view of the close nature of the work that would be done by the Holy Spirit among men in the last days, by faithful reproving of sins, and the proneness of men to resist because their hearts are so filled with pride and evil, that the prophet Malachi asks, “But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap.” The dear Saviour, in the heavenly sanctuary working to save his people, beholds in us dross that dims the fine gold. He says but little about the gold, but sends kind words of advice to those he loves, sharp reproofs, cutting testimonies, in order for our purification, until his own lovely character is developed in us; until his own lovely face is reflected in the pure gold. How kind in him, the only one who can see our whole faulty hearts, to thus do. And we are to overcome by the blood of this dear Saviour, and by these testimonies he is sending.

Yet some, not discerning this, but deceived by Satan and their proud hearts, are flattering themselves that they can climb up some other way. These testimonies, we know not whence they are, say they, when their errors are pointed out. We will take the Bible, but we will not believe this testimony. They reject it, and try to persuade others to go with them. We have watched the course of such, and we have seen, as the result, that the whole present truth is soon lost sight of, and infidelity and Spiritualism envelops them in their foul embrace. Plain as these things are to the view, others are still ready to launch out upon the same dangerous stream. Some, perhaps, are already embarking—some who have been reproved, and others who are affected by their influence, are preparing to go with them. To such, we stand as did Jehoshaphat, and we cry, we lift up our voice, we entreat you with tears, we beseech in our Lord’s name to hear the word of the Lord, “Believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.” But this course, you are about to take, ends in ruin and certain destruction. Hear how God deals with men—how he will deal with us. “He preserveth not the life of the wicked; but giveth sight to the afflicted. He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous; but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them forever, and they are exalted. And if they be bound in fetters and be holden in cords of affliction; then he showeth them their work, and their transgression that they have exceeded. He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasure. But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword,” &c. Job xxxvi, 7–12.

Praise the Lord for his tender mercy, and for the comfort his promises bring. I am weak and sinful, foolish in wisdom, prone to wander. I have sinned deeply, and am reproved; but God forbid that I should turn from a kind Saviour, though he chasten me. The desire of my heart is, that I may return from my ways, to duty, obedience, and the right way. I need the counsel of Jesus. I may wander from the way again; but I pray that I may not shut out, by unbelief and rebellion, the only voice that can warn.

“Oh! do thou always warn My soul of evil near, When to the right or left I turn, Thy voice still let me hear. “Come back! this is the way, Come back and walk therein. Oh! may I hearken and obey, And shun the paths of sin.”

I may be reproved again; if so, may it be for errors not now seen; not the same old sins once pointed out, but something I am ignorant of. And let this refining process go on; let the purifying fire go through my heart until I am clean, and able to offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Until my offerings shall be as pleasant unto the Lord as those offered in days of old, as in the ancient years. Nor will I doubt or shrink because the reproof is very sharp and cutting. For I read that “the word of God is quick and powerful

and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Heb. iv, 12.

I must go where saints are going. I must see the holy angels. I must dwell in the heavenly city. I must partake of the fruit of the tree of life. I must see the King in his beauty. I must hear Jesus sing praises unto the Father, in the midst of his church. I must join in the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb. I must be a sharer of all the joys, and the glories, and the complete fullness summed up in the words, eternal life at the right hand of God. And in order to gain this, shall I esteem the putting away the evils in me to be a sacrifice? Sacrifice, indeed! sacrifice signifies a loss of something. But putting off the old man with his deeds, ceasing to do that which is evil that we may receive no hurt, but, on the contrary, all that is good—call not this sacrifice. This is no loss, but great gain. The Lord help us to accept of any, and all, the means to this end.

A word, in closing, with those who begin to have doubts as to the heavenly nature of the testimonies. Do not talk those doubts before your weak brethren, and cause them to stumble; but take them to the Lord in prayer. He who dictated, by his Spirit, the word of reproof and instruction, is willing, by the same Spirit, to enlighten the understanding. Go to him. Tell him your doubts freely. Ask him to make it plain, to help you war against the enemy. He will do it. I know it. And when Satan is roused, and is making a great ado about some testimony given; when men tauntingly say, in a way calculated to touch and appeal to your pride: “Now you surely don’t believe such testimonies!” then stand stiffly, stand firmly, and, conscious of their divine origin, say in your might, I do believe them to be true, and to be the testimonies of God’s holy Spirit. You will thus be strengthened. In conclusion, let us all remember these words: “Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.” Amen.

H. C. MILLER.