Signs of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 13. (3/26/1902)

Signs of the Times

Mar 26, 1902

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 26, 1902

HIS STRENGTH.

By J. Louisa Ireland

GOD is our refuge and strength.” In His Word the Lord is constantly calling our attention to His strength. He would have us understand in a measure His ability to do and bear; His capacity for exertion or endurance; His power to resist force; His firmness and unchangeableness.

“El Capitan” in the Yosemite Valley. It rises 3,300 feet from the floor of the Valley, more than three times as tall as the Eiffel tower, the highest structure built by man.

Everywhere in nature we see manifestations of a power far beyond our comprehension. We have contented ourselves by calling it the law of nature, and passing on, failing to recognize the presence of the omnipotent One. Yet He is in every place, ready to reveal Himself to any one who desires to become acquainted with Him.

“Canst thou by searching find out God?” This question of ancient times may be answered in part. Only by searching can we find out God; yet when every moment is crowded full of His knowledge, our greatest perceptions of Him are as a drop in the ocean of infinite knowledge beyond.

Of all the things in nature which reveal His strength, the lofty mountains excel. The grass, the shrubs, the goodly trees that have withstood for years the blasts of storm and wind, are laid low by the strength of man. Even the rocks are crushed, and their testimony of endurance overcome by the operations of man. But the everlasting mountains and the perpetual hills stand as monuments of strength which man can not tear down nor destroy. So familiar are their declarations of power, we speak of great overwhelming difficulties being as mountains before us.

Who gave to the mountains their strength? and why are they set in all portions of the earth? These are the silent witnesses of the strength of our God. These are the tangible demonstrations of His power, given for His children, that they may grasp the idea of a force greater than that manifest by the mountains. These are a measure only of an immeasurable power.

“His strength setteth fast the mountains.” How sure they stand! How restful their constancy! How pleasing to frail, changeable, failing mortals is their testimony of stability, firmness, and never-failing endurance! No power can move them, save that of Him who set them fast. Before His presence the mountains quake and tremble.

The God whom these mountains reveal is the One who has put forth His mighty arm to save you from your sins. Do they speak to you of ability to do and bear? Know that in this God is even greater. Do they testify of a capacity for exertion or endurance? Let them reveal to you Him who is from “everlasting to everlasting.” Do they present to your view a mighty power in resisting force? Let them convince you of the ability of God to save you tho all the hosts of darkness are against you. Is it their firmness and fixedness that appeals to your heart? Let these whisper to you of Him who is “the same yesterday, to-day, and forever;” who is merciful, gracious, long-suffering, not willing that any should perish.

The existence of these mountains rests entirely upon the word of God. They are upheld “by the word of His power.” “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Having faith as a grain of mustard seed is simply believing God, taking Him at His word, resting yourself entirely on that word. As the great mountains are upheld by His word, so will that word uphold you. It can not fail. By believing God, the power brought into your life is even greater than that manifest in the mountains; for it can remove mountains, “and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”

This knowledge of the strength of God is within the reach of every one. Whosoever will have it, may have it; may experience it in his daily life. This is the power that will transform the lover of sin into the lover of righteousness. This is the force that will subdue all the iniquities in the heart. This is the power that delivers from the power of sin. This is the power hidden in every word which God has given to us.

Within the reach of all, yet how few avail themselves of it! How few are willing to let this power come into their lives! How few realize their need of it sufficiently to open their Bibles, and partake of the strength God has therein provided for them!

This is the power that will translate you into God’s eternal kingdom. Would you be there?

“Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace; thereby good shall come unto thee.”

J. LOUISA IRELAND.

SAUL OF TARSUS CONVERTED.

By J. O. Corliss

THE first intimation we have of the existence of Saul of Tarsus is in connection with the martyrdom of Stephen, as recorded in Acts 7 : 58. In this account, altho but a young man he is made conspicuous as the one in whose charge were given the outer garments of those who stoned Stephen to death. As his name (sought for) implies, he seems even then to have been a favorite among those of his class. Indeed, he says of himself that so constant was his devotion to Judaism that in intense eagerness to uphold the traditions of his ancestors he surpassed many who were older than himself. Gal. 1 : 13, 14. It was this intensity of purpose, upheld by most sincere motives, which evidently gave him his high standing among his fellow-men, as it was that which commended him to the mercy of God. 1 Tim. 1 : 13.

After the death of Stephen, Saul continued to rend the church at Jerusalem with his persecutions until it was scattered to various parts, where the persecuted fugitives continued to preach the Word. Acts 8 : 3, 4. So hotly did his zeal burn within him, that, having driven before him the great central church of the faith, he desired to continue the same work of devastation for the churches of other and smaller centers. He therefore went to the high priest and asked for letters recommending him and his work to the authorities of Damascus, and requesting that they grant him the privilege of arresting, and bringing to Jerusalem in bonds, all whom he found living the faith of the Gospel. Acts 9 : 1, 2.

Receiving the permission he asked, he associated with himself several other zealots, and together they set out for the northern city, one hundred and fifty miles distant. A good week's journey brought the company in sight of their destination, when suddenly, at noon-day, there streamed down from heaven a light so brilliant that, as it rested on the noted leader, he fell to the ground, unable to withstand the dazzling brightness. This was doubtless the Lord's glory, tempered to the occasion and need of the time. Had this light shone in all its splendor, Saul, in his wicked state, could not have continued in life, but would have been brought to nothing by the splendor of the Lord's appearance. 2 Thess. 2 : 8.

That this appearance to Saul was a visit from the Lord Jesus, not for his destruction, but for his conversion, is quite evident from the beseeching words which came through the great light, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?”

The unwonted occurrence of such a question proceeding from the midst of a light which could be seen to reach from heaven to earth, humbled the rabid persecutor. With subdued voice he asked, “Who art thou, Lord?” Immediately the voice from glory responded, “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.”

Astonishment beyond measure now took hold on Saul. Could it be possible that the Jesus whose followers he had so zealously persecuted, was really speaking to him from the midst of that heavenly light? As this conviction was forced upon him, he was not only humbled, but heartily ashamed of his past course. As a man of deep sincerity, he could now do nothing less than yield himself to the direction of the One speaking, who, he was sure, was the Christ for whom his nation had so long hoped.

Under such conviction, Saul again speaks, but this time with the clearest evidence of genuine repentance. He is no longer defiant in voice or attitude; his former greatness has shrunken, and he sees himself no longer one to be desired, sought for. He does not even attempt a dignified reserve before his companions. He is now so thoroughly humbled that in trembling tone he asks, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” The answer was quickly returned, “Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.” The men accompanying Saul on this occasion heard the sound of all these words, but did not understand.

No sooner were these directions given to Saul than he proceeded to follow them. Arising on the spot where he had fallen, he opened his eyelids; but to his astonishment, his eyes no longer served their former purpose. Not being able to see any one about him, he was feeling about for his bearings, when his companions came to his rescue, and led him into the city, to the house of one Judas, in Straight Street. Here he remained for three days, deprived of sight and without partaking of nourishment.

Altho Saul's coming into Damascus was so different from what he had expected, his presence there was not to be kept secret. That which God does is for a purpose, and can not be hidden, for He reveals to His people all His doings. Ps. 25 : 14. In order that the stricken one might be comforted by the revelation of Jesus Christ, He was permitted to have a divine vision of the future. In this he saw a man named Ananias coming into his presence, and laying a hand on him to free him from his blindness. But while Saul was having this view, the Lord was preparing Ananias to fulfil Saul's vision by giving him another, in

which he was instructed to go and do just what Saul saw that he would do.

When God thus instructed Ananias to go on a mission to Saul, He quieted any fear that might arise in his mind regarding the probable attitude of Saul toward him by the statement, “For, behold, he prayeth.” This was a great incentive to urge Ananias on his heaven-appointed mission, and it is still one of the strongest evidences of a man's change from ferocity to gentleness. The man who prays regularly and earnestly can ever be led in the right way. Had Saul been earnest in prayer under his former religious life, he probably would not have been the persistent persecutor that he was. Prayer that is real, earnest, heartfelt petition, by which one pleads for the necessities of the Christ-life, is the true remedy against worldliness and wickedness. Why, then, should it not be more prevalent among professing Christians? J. O. CORLISS.

WORDS TO CHRISTIANS.

By Ellen G. White

CHRISTIANS, remember that you are “a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.” Men are watching you, to see the effect of your religion. Sinners are to be saved, not alone by the preaching of the Word, but by lives that reveal the power of Christ’s grace. We are to represent Christ as Christ represented the Father. Do you realize that you are to work the works of Christ, that you are to live His life? God desires your heart to be cleansed from everything unchristlike, that you may be able to speak words in season to the weary. Live very near the mercy-seat. Then you will be enabled to reflect the light of Christ’s example. It is His desire that you shall be “blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.”

No human being can work for God in His own power. Christ says, “Without Me ye can do nothing.” Those who surrender body, mind, and spirit into the hands of God, to be controlled by Him, will see of His salvation.

Christ says, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Precious is the experience of finding rest. He who does not, day by day, learn lessons from Christ, can not appreciate the suggestions of the Holy Spirit. But he who learns daily of Jesus, making use of every means of grace, grows in the knowledge of God. Under the influence of the Spirit, his heart is filled with the peace and comfort of hope. His faith and trust are strengthened. His development in Christlikeness is apparent to all with whom he comes in contact.

The earnest, sincere performance of the work God gives, is the assurance of acceptance with Him. His word is “Go, . . . teach all nations;” and to the command is added the promise, “Lo, I am with you alway.” The Lord requires of us nothing that He does not give us power to perform. The disciples obeyed the command to bear witness for Christ, and of their experience we read: “They went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.” Of you as well as of the disciples these words may be spoken.

Do not think that you have received all the spiritual help you need. And do not think that you can obtain spiritual blessings without complying with the conditions that God has laid down. James and John thought that for the asking they could have the highest place in the kingdom of heaven. O how far short they fell of understanding! They did not realize that before they could share Christ’s glory, they must wear His yoke and bear His burdens. Those who strive for the crown of eternal life have a race to run, a battle to fight. The cross comes before the crown.

“As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name, which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” Self-righteousness finds no credit in God’s sight. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth. . . . And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.” God satisfies the yearning desire of His children for peace and holiness. He opens the eyes of their understanding to see the truths of His Word. Thus they are strengthened and established. And while they rest in His love, they are “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.”

“And we beheld His glory.” It is this beholding that the apostle Paul speaks of in the words, “We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory,”—from character to character,—“even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” He who commanded the light to shine out of darkness sheds light into the mind of every one who beholds Him, every one who loves Him supremely and shows unswerving faith and trust in Him. The heart is filled with the light that shines in the face of Jesus Christ, and with this light comes spiritual discernment,—the knowledge of the glory of God.

Our safety is in beholding Christ. When self is the object of worship, when, filled with self-exaltation, men bow to their own image, losing sight of Christ, they are in fearful danger. Christ is the light of the world. Turn your face from Him, and you walk in darkness. Keep your eyes fixed on His perfection, and you walk in the light of heaven. Through the power of the manifestation of divine glory, you constantly increase in spiritual understanding.

“And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; that ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.” “The very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

MRS. E. G. WHITE.

Restoration from Babylon

By Alonzo Trevor Jones

BY ALONZO TREVOR JONES

Troublous Times.

It seems to have been about midsummer, or late in the summer of B.C. 536, when the returned of Israel arrived in their own country, and had taken up their abode and dwelt in their cities; for their first assembly at Jerusalem for worship was at the regular annual feast of the memorial of blowing of trumpets—the first day of the seventh month.

On that day “the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem;” and under the direction of Jeshua, the high-priest, and Zerubbabel, and their brethren, they “builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt-offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God. And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries; and they offered burnt-offerings thereon unto the Lord, even burnt-offerings morning and evening.” Ezra 3:1–3.

They could not celebrate the day of atonement—the tenth day of the seventh month—in due order, because there was no temple or house yet built; but they kept the Feast of Tabernacles (the fifteenth to the twenty-second of the seventh month), as it is written, and offered the daily burnt-offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required; and afterward offered the continual burnt-offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the Lord that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a free-will offering unto the Lord. From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt-offerings unto the Lord.

“But the foundation of the temple of the Lord was not yet laid.” However, preparations were immediately begun for the building of the temple. Masons and carpenters were regularly employed, and set to work to prepare the stones and timber. They also established with Tyre and Zidon trade of provisions—food, drink, and oil—for cedar trees for the temple, to be brought from Lebanon by sea and delivered at Joppa, “according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.”

This work of preparation continued till “the second month” of the “second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem,” when they actually began work in building the temple.

“And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the Lord, after the ordinance of David king of Israel. And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because He is good, for His mercy endureth forever toward Israel.

“And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy; so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people; for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.”

In Gabriel’s explanation of the two thousand and three hundred days, he had said to Daniel of the rebuilding of Jerusalem, that “the street shall be built again and the wall, even in troublous times.” And now those troublous times began. Satan was determined to hinder, in every way that he possibly could, the establishment of the work of God in Jerusalem. He found ready instruments, in the mixed people and religion of Samaria, that had resulted from the successive transportations by Sargon, Esar-haddon, and Asshur-bani-pal, kings of Assyria, before 625 B.C. As soon as the Jews had begun to build, these mixed peoples of the land of Samaria devised a scheme so to turn to their own advantage the rebuilding of Jerusalem that, by alliance with the Jews, they could fix their power in Jerusalem and the land of Judah, as in Samaria, execute a successful revolt, set up an independent kingdom there, and dominate all the territory between the Euphrates and the Mediterranean Sea, as had been done in old time.

Accordingly when they had “heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the Lord God of Israel, then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you; for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto Him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Asshur, which brought us up hither. But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build a house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the Lord God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.”

Then the Samaritans revealed their real spirit from the beginning, and showed that their interest in the God of Israel, and their “kind” offer to help in building the temple and city, was a sheer pretense to hide their rebellious intent; they “weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, and hired counselors against them [at the court of the Persian kingdom], to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia,” a period of fourteen years.

The situation was this: The Jews had the decree of Cyrus to sustain them in all that they were doing. The Samaritans knew that it was vain to try to get that decree reversed while Cyrus lived. But the funds for the building work must all pass through the imperial treasury. These hired counselors were officials of the court and council of Cyrus, who accepted from the Samaritans bribes to be on the watch for the affairs concerning Jerusalem, and block every procedure possible. They could hold back the supply of funds: they could delay the official applications for funds: by empty technicalities they could force tedious correspondence and delay in reports: they could prevent correspondence and even messengers from reaching Cyrus, or even Daniel—in a thousand ways they could frustrate the purpose of the builders at Jerusalem.

Daniel was still prime minister at the court of Persia, and it was not a great while before he discovered that the work in Jerusalem was being hindered, and his own efforts hampered in the court of Cyrus, by influences and actions so subtle that it was impossible definitely to expose or successfully to check them. This caused him again great and anxious concern for the work of God. Yet he spent no time in attempting to arrange, or to carry on any counter-intrigue; he appealed direct to God.

By those hired counselors, the Samaritans had got their schemes to working at the court of Cyrus in the latter part of the second year of Cyrus. On the third day of the first month of the third year of Cyrus, Daniel began his appeal to God in fasting and mourning and prayer. This he continued three full weeks, before he was positively informed that his appeal was heard. Yet his appeal was heard, the very first day. But the adverse influences at the Persian court were so strong that Gabriel dared not leave the presence of the king. And these adverse influences were just then so determined and so persistent that every possible thing was done, every conceivable device was employed, and every moment of the time was occupied, during the whole of that three weeks, in the endeavor to turn Cyrus from his true course and to frustrate the purpose of God concerning Jerusalem. To defeat the subtle devices and continued efforts of the enemy, Gabriel must be ever watchful. He continued thus three full weeks. Daniel continued his earnest praying. Still the angel could not leave the presence of the king. Yet Daniel’s prayer must be answered by Gabriel in person. It was a crisis in the cause of God in the earth. Then Michael, the first of the heavenly princes, came to help him. This secured victory; the enemy’s siege was broken, and Gabriel went to Daniel by the river Tigris.

His own words in explanation of the three weeks’ delay are these: “Fear not, Daniel; for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, the first of the princes, came to help me; and I kept the victory with the kings of Persia. Now I am come to make thee know what shall befall thy people in the latter days; for the vision is yet for many days. . . . Knowest thou why I am come unto thee? And now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia. . . . But I will show thee that which is noted in the Scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things but Michael your prince.” Dan. 10:2–4, 12, 13, 20, 21. Verse 12, margin and Luther’s Translation.

Thus, through prayer and faithfulness to God, Daniel and his people were victorious against all the machinations of Satan and his instrumentalities. And so shall it ever be. The heavenly agencies are always ready to co-operate with the faithful ones of earth to-day, as in the days of Daniel, Jeshua, Zerubbabel, and their companions. Prayer to God, that obtains the co-operation of heavenly messengers, is even to-day worth infinitely more in securing the co-operation or restraint of the powers of earth, than could be all the political wire-pulling and lobbying that could ever be employed. The hearts of kings are in the hand of the Lord, and only He can move them right.

Daniel must have died shortly after this vision, for in the vision the last words of the angel are, “Thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.” Cyrus lived five years longer. But tho the Samaritans and their hired counselors continued all this time their work of weakening the hands of the Jews, of hindering them and frustrating their purpose in building, they never succeeded in stopping the work. The “victory” of Daniel and the heavenly ones still “kept” with Cyrus the king of Persia, tho the work went on still in “troublous times.”

[The next paper in this series is, “The Success of the Samaritans.”]

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