Understanding of the Times
By J. B. Blosser
OF the number that came to David to Hebron when the Lord was gathering unto him the hosts of Israel, it is written of the children of Issachar that they “were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.” Also of Zebulun it was said: “Such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank; they were not of double heart.” 1 Chron. 12:32, 33. Now in this gathering time when the Lord is marshaling the hosts of Israel for the last mighty conflict, we need men that have “understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do;” that “all their brethren” might be “at their commandment;” as it was said of Zebulun, “Which could keep rank; they were not of double heart.” What Do the Times Indicate?
Many things; but so far as they concern “what Israel ought to do,” they indicate that Israel ought to arouse, and by the compelling power of God’s love, give his last message of love to the world in this generation. This can be done, if all these men of war, who can “keep rank,” should come “with a perfect heart.” “Keeping rank” depends on a “perfect heart.” The enemy of souls realizes this, and he is plying his arts of deception as never before to get the workers to divide their energies, thereby causing them to “break rank.” Frequently we hear of a canvasser’s being enticed into some enterprise that promises remuneration, and that will take only a small part of his time; but it proves to be a camel’s head entering in, and occupying more and more of his time, or rather, the Lord’s time, until he finally has none left for the work to which the Lord had called him. The only remedy for this dangerous deception is a “perfect heart.” “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.” With All Implements of War
It was said of that mighty army that they were furnished “with all manner of instruments of war for the battle.” So it should be now. God has many kinds of instruments to use in accomplishing his work. Yet it is by the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” that our manner of working is made effectual. Whether the minister, the Bible worker, the medical missionary, or the canvasser is used, it is the word in the hand of the Spirit that does the work. In no more effectual way can this sword be used than by placing the books that God’s Spirit has caused to be written, in the homes of the people; and as the Philistines, after capturing the ark of God, recognized that the hand of the Lord was upon them on account of the ark, so these books placed in the homes of the people will do their work, and many will recognize the hand of God upon them on account of the books containing God’s truth overturning their idols. The power attending the reading of these books is recognized. Not many months ago a prominent minister stated that they were losing twenty-five hundred of their number each year, and that fifty thousand more had their faith in their creed shaken by reading our literature. Another said that on one occasion two or three of our workers circulated in one day more literature than their denomination ever published on the Sabbath question. It is usually the case that the enemy more accurately estimates the damage done by the different batteries directing their fire upon them, than the ones who are doing the shooting; for they are where they can see and feel the effects. So at the present time our opponents recognize that we have not23large numbers, but our literature more than makes up for our lack in numbers. God wants us to understand this, and to appreciate it more fully. He says: “O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end! How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the Lord had shut them up? For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.” Deut. 32:29-31. You see God wishes them to understand how “one shall chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight.” Then he refers us to our enemies to answer the question. But we find them telling us that one or two men put more literature in their ranks than a whole denomination of them ever published, and that this is what is scattering them, and causing victory to our efforts. So it is this that the Lord wants us to be “wise” about. It is estimated that fully one half of those now rejoicing in the light of truth were convinced by reading our literature. Truly the Lord would have men that have “understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do,” and there should be thousands who can “keep rank” because they have a “perfect heart,” going forth to scatter the literature like the autumn leaves. J. B. BLOSSER.