are their own self-tormentors. The sinful man immolates himself.
Like Isaac, he carries the wood and lays the pile for his own burning.
Christ severs the connection between us and our evil. He restores
beauty and freshness to the blighted tree, planting it as 'by the river of
water,' so that it 'bringeth forth its fruit in its season,' and its 'leaf also
doth not wither.'
THE PERPETUAL PILLAR OF CLOUD AND FIRE
'And the Lord will create over the whole habitation of Mount Zion, and
over her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a
flaming fire by night.'--ISAIAH iv. 5.
The pillar of cloud and fire in the Exodus was one: there are to be as
many pillars as there are 'assemblies' in the new era. Is it straining the
language too much to find significance in that difference? Instead of the
formal unity of the Old Covenant, there is a variety which yet is a more
vital unity. Is there not a hint here of the same lesson that is taught by
the change of the one golden lamp-stand into the seven, which are a
better unity because Jesus Christ walks among them?
The heart of this promise, thus cast into the form of ancient experiences,
but with significant variations, is that of true communion with God.
That communion makes those who have it glorious.
That communion supplies unfailing guidance.
A man in close fellowship with God will have wonderful flashes of
sagacity, even about small practical matters. The gleam of the pillar
will illumine conscience, and shine on many difficult, dark places. The
'simplicity' of a saintly soul will often see deeper into puzzling
contingencies than the vulpine craftiness of the 'prudent.' The darker
the night, the brighter the guidance.
That communion gives a defence.
The pillar came between Egypt and Israel, and kept the foe off the
timid crowd of slaves. Whatever forms our enemies take, fellowship
with God will invest us with a defence as protean as our perils. The
same cloud is represented in the context as being 'a pavilion for a
shadow in the heat, and for a refuge and for a covert from storm and
from rain.'
A PROPHET'S WOES
'Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there
be no place, that they may he placed alone in the midst of the earth! 9.
In mine ears said the Lord of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall he
desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant. 10. Yea, ten acres of
vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of an homer shall yield an
ephah. 11. Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they
may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame
them! 12. And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are
in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither
consider the operation of His hands. 13. Therefore my people are gone
into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable
men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst. 14.
Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without
measure: and their glory and their multitude, and their pomp, and he
that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. 15. And the mean man shall be
brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of
the lofty shall be humbled: 16. But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in
judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness. 17.
Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, and the waste places of
the fat ones shall strangers eat. 18. Woe unto them that draw iniquity
with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope: 19. That say,
Let Him make speed, and hasten His work, that we may see it: and let
the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may
know it! 20. Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put
darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and
sweet for bitter! 21. Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and
prudent in their own sight! 22. Woe unto them that are mighty to drink
wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: 23. Which justify the
wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous
from him! 24. Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame
consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their
blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the
Lord of hosts,
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