9. We see not our signs. No Urim and Thummim blazed
on the High Priest’s bosom, and no Shekinah shone from between the cherubim.
The smoke of sacrifice and cloud of incense no more arose from the holy hill;
solemn feasts were suspended, and even circumcision, the covenant sign, was
forbidden by the tyrant. We, too, as believers, know what it is to lose our
evidences and grope in darkness; and too often do our churches also miss the
tokens of the Redeemer’s presence, and their lamps remain untrimmed. There is no more any prophet. Prophecy was suspended. It is ill with the people
of God when the voice of the preacher of the Gospel fails, and a famine of the
Word of Life falls on the people. God-sent ministers are as needful to the
saints as their daily bread. Neither is there any among us that knoweth how long. When no one can see an end, the misery has a hopeless appearance, and
is overwhelming. Blessed be God, he has not left his church in these days to be
so deplorably destitute of cheering words; let us pray that he never may.
Contempt of the Word is very common, and may well provoke the Lord to withdraw
it from us; may his long-suffering endure the strain, and his mercy afford us
still the Word of Life.
PREVIOUS
NEXT
No comments:
Post a Comment