Glad Tidings by Oscar Hill

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 23, 1911

Glad Tidings

By Oscar Hill

OSCAR HILL

“I WILL make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.” Isa. 13:12.

We have here one of the precious gospel promises given through a prophet for the encouragement of the people of God till the great work of redemption is completed. It is glad tidings of salvation. It is not only salvation from sin, but also a complete redemption from all the effects of sin.

The apostle Peter, in speaking of our salvation, says, “Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you.” He further says of them, “Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven.” 1 Peter 1:10, 12. In verse 11 he says it was the Spirit of Christ which was in them; and in 2 Peter 3:2, A. R. V., the apostle says, “Ye should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets.” In verse 5 he speaks of some who, not caring to remember what the prophets have said, “wilfully forget.”

We often meet with persons who claim to be Christians, and yet will say they have no use for the prophecies of the Old Testament Scriptures. Let us examine Isa. 13:6-13 and see if the judgments and promises there given do not extend even beyond our time: “Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. . . . Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.” Verses 11-13 read: “And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.”

These words must have their application at the same time as the words of Rev. 6:17: “For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” When this time of the wrath of God shall come, then the promise, “I will make a man more precious than fine gold,” will be visibly fulfilled to all the people of God. Now it is a matter of faith with each of us. “But we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”

The apostle Peter speaks of “exceeding

great and precious promises” being given unto us, that by these we “might be partakers of the divine nature.” As these promises were given for this purpose, they are a means of grace to lead us nearer to God.

Then let us treasure up in our minds these precious promises which the prophecies contain, meditating on them till we are indeed partakers of the divine nature.

Santa Ana, Cal.