Practical Thoughts on Bible Subjects.
By John Nevins Andrews
It is often painful to give reproof, yet it is a duty which cannot be neglected. Some persons, from lack of experience, or from error in judgment, may be incapable of administering reproof by word of mouth. Let such do it by their example, or if some word must be spoken let them do it with real humility and reserve. Many of this class have done great harm by their utter lack of heavenly wisdom. Observe Nathan's course with David. A terrible crime had been committed by David. A most severe and cutting reproof was called for. But only witness the wisdom of Nathan. It was not merely to rebuke David, it was also to save him from utter ruin, upon the brink of which he stood, that Nathan labored. Few persons could have given to such a man, in such a snare of Satan, a reproof so wisely directed that it should lead him to genuine repentance. The 51st Psalm is the language of that repentance which does not need to be repented of. Let those who are reproved by the testimonies of the Spirit of God read that Psalm again and again. Drink deep into its spirit. It is infinitely wiser than to yield to the stubborn hardness of our natural heart, and to the sorrow of the world that worketh death. DAVID'S SPIRIT WHEN REPROVED.
"Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice." Ps. 51 : 8. Language can hardly be found to express with greater force the effect of the terrible rebuke upon David. The blow had broken his bones. Now what did David do? Did he say I am utterly disheartened; it is no use to make further efforts? This would be the language of most persons. They would say with Cain, "My punishment is greater than I can bear." Gen. 4 : 13. It was not the sin but the punishment that troubled Cain. Instead of seeking the face of the Lord he went out from his presence, and to drown his reflections built a city. Not like this did David. He is anxious about his sin. So anxious that he makes a public confession which he puts on record for all coming time. And so zealous to return to God that he prays to be purged with hyssop, and washed till he is whiter than snow. He knows the joys of God's salvation, and he never could be satisfied till these were returned to him. How admirable is this spirit in David. Why not we manifest it when crushing reproof breaks our own bones? "He that sacrificeth of a thing wrongfully gotten, his offering is ridiculous; and the gifts of unjust men are not accepted." This is from the Apocrypha [Ecclus. 34 : 18], but it is worthy of serious attention. We cannot divide with the Lord things wrongfully obtained and so bribe him to allow us to retain our unjust gains by giving him a part. What can we do with such money? Use it to make restitution, and remember to add something to it when you restore. See Luke 19 : 8, 9. The righteous dead shall be raised to immortality at the sound of the last trump. 1 Cor 15 : 52. This trumpet is sounded at the descent of the Lord from Heaven. 1 Thess. 4 : 16. It is called the trump of God. It is the signal by which Christ sends the angels after his saints. Matt. 24 : 31. Zechariah says the Lord God shall blow the trumpet. Zech. 9 : 14. Isaiah calls on all the inhabitants to hear when the Lord blows the trumpet. Isa. 18 : 3, 4. When the great trumpet is blown then those who are ready to perish shall come and worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem. Isa. 27 : 13. This is not the trump of the seventh angel. This is a literal trump and shall be literally heard. That is a symbolical trump like the six which precede it. They have not been literally heard. This one will not be. The fulfillment of predicted events has marked their sounding. So of the seventh trumpet. One is blown by the Son of God, the other by an angel. Therefore the trump of God is not the same as the trump of the seventh angel. The trump of the angel begins to sound before the close of human probation. Rev. 10 : 7. A period of time denominated, i. e., years, at the commencement of his voice is occupied in the finishing the mystery of God. But not so with the trump of God. When that sounds, in an instant all the righteous are changed to immortality. But if this be not the seventh trumpet why is it called "the last trump?" The answer I think is this : The trump of God has been heard upon the earth before. When God spoke the ten commandments his trumpet was literally heard. Ex. 19 : 16 ; 20 : 18. It shall be heard again when the Son of God descends. That will be the last trump. The one event was the Father's descent, the other the descent of the Son in the Father's glory. Matt. 16 : 27. There is an intimate connection between the two events. Heb. 12 : 26. This always involves the ceasing to do evil. Whatever passes for repentance that allows a man to retain any of his sinful ways, or to continue any of his sinful acts, or to return to any of his own sins after a time, is a repentance that needs to be repented of. How forcible are the words of the Apocrypha, Ecclus. 34 : 25, 26 : "He that washeth himself after the touching of a dead body, if he touch it again, what availeth his washing? So is it with a man that fasteth for his sins, and goeth again, and doeth the same ; who will hear his prayer? or what doth his humility profit him?" WHAT GOD GAVE MAN AT CREATION.
"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Gen. 2 : 7. Observe it does not say that the breath of life became a living soul, but that the man formed of the dust of the ground became a living soul. In other words, the man became a living person. What was it then, which God gave to the man he had formed? The language of Job 33 : 4 clearly states the answer : "The Spirit of God hath made me, and THE BREATH OF THE ALMIGHTY hath given me LIFE." This, then, is what God gave to man, even LIFE. Not unconditional life; the man was created to answer the pleasure of his wise Creator. Rev. 4 : 11. If he fulfill this gracious purpose of his Maker he shall continue to live, and when his probation is accomplished, and his fidelity proved, he shall have life with no condition. A333life this, as certain never to end as the life of Him who made him. But if he fails in his probation, his right to live is forfeited. Mankind have been favored with a second probation. Their first was, in a state of innocence, that they might become confirmed in virtue. They failed in their probation, and their innocence was lost. They have a second probation in which to recover their lost innocence, and to become established in virtue. The angels that sinned, did this against greater light than man, and hence can have no further probation. Man sinned being tempted by their chief, and God gives to men a second trial. But they must in it meet and overcome the temptations of the evil angels. The failure in our first probation brought death upon all our race. The life that we now have has no immortality to it. "What is your life?" says James. "It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." James 4 : 14. Yet such as ourselves may life forever. This life is long enough for the recovery of our lost innocence, and for our establishment in virtue. Life eternal, which is ours now by promise, shall at the close of our trial be our infinite reward.