p. 11 | The Light of Thy Countenance by J. C. Brower

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 31, 1907

“The Light of Thy Countenance”

By J. C. Brower

J. C. BROWER

Moses, Israel's sage, was commanded by the Lord to instruct Aaron and his sons how they should bless the people of God. One of the most gracious, most beautiful, indeed one of the sublimest benedictions ever pronounced is then given. Knowing that this is the Lord's desire toward every one of his people, how can they do anything but his will? This benediction is found in the following words:—

“The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: “The Lord make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; “The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”

He who walks day by day in the light of God's countenance need not fear what man may devise, for the Lord will thwart everything that is not for the good of his people. He who knows that the Lord's countenance is upon him must flash that light upon his fellow men. No more can he hide the Lord's countenance when it shines upon him, than Moses could keep his face from shining, or Zacharias when he went up to minister in the temple in his course, and the people perceived that he had been blessed of Jehovah. We can not be lighted and conceal it, neither can man retain such light without reflecting it. The Saviour of men, for this reason, declared, “Ye are the light of the world.”

David, in the rapture of his soul, as he longed for that close relation between himself and his God, cried, “Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.” Ps. 4:6. And the Lord heard and answered that cry. So he will do by us if we really desire it.

“Ye are the light of the world.” But how many have ever considered what this means? Do we desire titles? Who ever, of earthly princes, was so gloriously titled as the child of God? If lighted with his glorious countenance, we are “ambassadors,” “saints of the Most High,” “a friend of God,” “a chosen people,” “a royal priesthood,” “an holy nation,” “kings and priests,” “sons of God.”

We are to the world what lighthouses are to ships voyaging upon the ocean from one country to another. An Eddystone is placed upon a rock-bound coast. Its function is to warn vessels, that they may avoid being wrecked. Our mission, by the Lord's strength, is to keep fellow voyagers from drifting on the rocks—from the fate that would have been ours but for the Lord's mercies, the light of his countenance upon us, yea, “that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”