Lorneville Conference: 1994, Lessons from King Hezekiah (12:1)
Address—G.H. Hayhoe
I'd like to turn first of all to three verses Jeremiah. Chapter 10, Jeremiah chapter 10 and verse 23. O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself. It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. And then another verse in the 119 Psalm, Psalm 119 and verse 9. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way by taking heed thereto, according to thy word? And then also in. Proverbs. Chapter 3. Proverbs, chapter 3. And verse five, trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge. Him and he shall direct thy paths. Well, the reason I've read these scriptures is because I believe they bring before us the fact that we need these two things for our guidance through this world. We need the Word of God. And God has given it to us in it all things that pertain unto life and godliness. And we also need dependence, which prayer is truly the expression of. It has been said that prayer is the expression of confidence and dependence upon God. And so I believe that we need those two things in our pathway here through this world, as it says there in Jeremiah. Oh Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself. We can take the very. The wisest man that we could ever meet, and he's not going to know how to go through this world in a proper and wise way. Apart from this blessed book. God has given us a pathway through this world, marked it out in His precious book. And then too, there are situations that come in our lives where we need guidance. We don't have a definite Scripture. Perhaps, for instance, quite a few of us here came to the meetings in Lawrenceville, happy that we came. We didn't find direction in the word of God that we were to go to Lawrenceville this particular weekend. We prayed about it. We sought the Lord's guidance and He directed us, we trust, to come together in this way. So. But we have those two things. We find them often brought together in the Gospel of Luke, because the Gospel of Luke presents to us the Lord Jesus as the perfect dependent man here in this world. And so we find him always doing according to his Father's will. And when he met Satan in the temptation, he answered every temptation by just simply saying. It is written that decided what was the. Mind of his Father, for him it is written and then in his pathway and choosing the disciples and we have he spent the whole night in prayer to God before he chose his disciples. There wasn't any scripture that would be found in the Old Testament to tell who those disciples would be. And now he goes to his father and he earnestly seeks the will of his father, he said. I delight to do thy will. My God. And so I say again, brethren, whether young or old, because it mentions in that 119 Psalm the ninth verse, wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? But by taking heed thereto, according to Thy word, because most of the important decisions of our lives are made in use. When you really look back, you think of how. There are so many chains that you decide before you're perhaps, say, 25 years old. Old you've decided what kind of work you're going to take up, you've probably decided where you're going to live. And I trust if if you're really saved that you have made a decision to receive the Lord Jesus. You may have made a decision too, that you'd like to remember him and his death, and maybe you chose a partner for your life. All these things, great decisions, decisions that affect so much of our lives, and they're made usually by the time we're about 25 years old. So how important then, seeing we are going to make such important decisions that are going to affect our whole life and our destiny even that we should? Should have direction for them. And God hasn't left us without direction. He's given us his word. Again I say the the way of man is not in himself.
Solomon was the wisest man that ever lived and he acknowledged that all his wisdom didn't enable him to find God. God has to reveal himself and that he has done in his word. When Paul went to preach in Berea, it says that the Bereans were more noble than those in Thessalonica because they searched the scriptures. Daily to see if those things were solved. And I would be more than happy if someone here tonight said, well, I'd like to see what you have said from the Word of God because whatever I might say tonight is of no real value unless it's according to God's Word. But then, as I say, there are other decisions that you have to make. And if you are near the Lord and close to him. I was helped by the remark that Mister Darby made in connection with prayer. He said prayer is based on the privilege. Having common interests with God, that was very precious to me. Common interests with God. God has interests in this world, and we have the privilege of entering into and enjoying and walking in his interests in this world. What a privilege that is. Well, as I say, this is really so important in our lives. And I was just thinking of a case where I believe this is brought out in First Chronicles. And I just like to look tonight, with the Lord's help at what is brought before us in First Chronicles chapter 12, just before I start, because sometimes I think it helps to know what is before us. I believe what is bringing before us here was the matter of bringing up the ark, and that ark that God and that God told Moses to make when he gave him instructions about making it, he said. There I will meet with thee. And there I will commune with thee according to all things that he would have his people to do. And so the ark was a figure of God meeting with his people. And then the second thing was, in the next chapter, with the Lord's help, we'll see. How that? How that? King David had a decision to make and he didn't have a definite scripture. So he turned to the Lord, and when a second decision came up again, he turned to the Lord and sought his mind. And so after he had sought the Lord's mind and the Lord had shown him his direction for his pathway, then he acted on that of the Lord undertook for him, and then. We'll see how when he brought up the ark according to the revealed mind of God in his word, that God blessed him in it. And so as I say, I'd just like to look at a little bit of detail because. God has not only set forth doctrine in His Word, but as I was mentioning the other night in the meeting or the other day rather, that God has not only given us direction, but He has given us that truth worked out practically in the lives of people. And that means a lot to me as I read the Bible. I like to see the action of the word of God on people because. When Paul went to one of the cities where he preached. He said we also are men of like passions with yourselves. And so as we read of these people in the Bible, they were people like ourselves. They needed direction. They found direction in the word of God. They found answer as they turned to God in prayer. And we see how that sometimes they acted on their own wisdom just like we do and it it didn't work out when they did it according to their own wisdom, but when they did it according to. The directions that God has given in His Word, then God was free to bless them, because happiness and blessing is in the pathway of obedience. The way of man is not in himself. So God has given us this direction. Wherewithal shall the young man cleanse his way by taking heed thereto, according to thy word? And again I wish to say, the Bible never is. Outdated as our brother was bringing before us the word same God is is not different in 1994 than he was when the scripture was written. It's true he may be dealing with man in different ways, but God himself hasn't changed. He's light and he's love. Well, I just wanted to notice a few verses in First Corinthians 12 at first chronicles. Pardon me 12 just at the end of.
The chapter. The 38th verse. All these men of war that could keep rank came with a perfect heart to Hebron and make David king over all Israel. And all the rest also of Israel were of 1 heart to make David king. And there they were with David three days, eating and drinking, for their brethren had prepared for them. Moreover, they that were nigh them even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali. Brought bread on ***** and on camels and on mules. And an oxen and meat meal, cakes and figs and bunches of raisins and wine and oil and oxen and sheep abundantly. And there was joy in Israel. I've just read these few verses because I think that's been our experience for two days. As we came together, our brethren prepared for us. We came together and we were seeking to give the Lord his rightful place, just as David was God's rightful king. And then so they were come together and they were seeking to give David his rightful place. The desire was very, very good. And they had one heart to give David his rightful place. Which was all very commendable, but we see that in their desire they did not search the word of God. They went by the opinion of a great many, shall I say the majority, but they didn't go by the Word of God. And that's so important for us because our hearts may be right, just as David's heart was right in seeking to give the Lord his rightful place along with all these. Years and yet he didn't search the word of God. How easy it is for us to really have a heart for the Lord and yet not seek the direction of His word. Let me quote the verse again. The way of man is not in himself, and it doesn't matter who you are or who I am. No matter how long we have known the Lord, if we take a step and we haven't sought the wisdom and direction of the word of God. We're quite likely. To go by the opinion of man instead of by the Word of God, that alone is our true source of direction in divine things. As I say, there are decisions that we have to make for which we don't have an actual verse of Scripture. But when the Word of God speaks, that's final. That's final. It's not a question then of my opinion. Says casting down imaginations or reasonings. I believe the margin is. And bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. So here we find that this was a very beautiful setting. A group of happy people together desiring to make David King. And now David has a plan and it says here I'm going to read this whole 13th chapter. David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader. And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If it seemed good unto you, and that it be of the Lord our God, let us under broad unto our brethren everywhere that are. Left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites, which are in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us. And let us bring again the ark of our God to us, for we inquired not at it in the days of Saul. And all the congregation said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. So David gathered all Israel together from Shihor of Egypt, even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the Ark of God from Kurtis Jerome. And David went up and all Israel to Belah, that is to Curtis Jerem, which belongs to Judah. To bring up since the ark of God, the Lord that dwelleth between the cherubims, whose name is called on it. And they carried the Ark of God in a new cart out of the House of Abinadab Anaza and Ahayah Dr. the cart. And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with symbols, and with trumpets. And when they came under the threshing floor of Chidon, Hazard put forth his hand to hold the ark. For the oxen stumbled in. The anger of the Lord was kindled against us.
And he smote him because he put his hand to the Ark, and there he died. Before God. David was displeased because the Lord had made a breach upon us. A wherefore that place is called Paras Azza to this day. And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me? So David brought not the ark home to himself, to the city of David, but carried it aside into the House of Obed Edom the Gittite. And the ark of God remained with a family of Obed Edom in his house three months. And the Lord blessed the House of Obed Edom and all that he had. Now, as we were saying, David here didn't search the Word of God. We're going to see in the 15th chapter that he did go to the Word of God, and then he got direction. But here, instead of going to the Word of God, he went and followed the opinion of a great many people. And you say, well, didn't these people really have a desire to give David his rightful place? They did. There was a good desire. But I'm sure all of us can say that there are times when maybe we have done something with a great deal of energy and really perhaps out of love for the Lord, but perhaps afterwards we have discovered that we didn't follow his word. We didn't follow his word. We were just doing it because we wanted the we were going by the opinions of the crowd. And so it doesn't tell us about him searching the word of God. It's just. That he went to the captains of thousands and hundreds, and it says the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. Oh, how needful it was, brethren, that we go to the Word of God there alone. We get instruction. There's a common expression in Christendom. Go to the Church of your choice. But is it the Church of our choice? The Lord said in the chapter we had before us in the Bible reading, He have not chosen me, but I have chosen you. It isn't what we choose, it's what God chose. He chose us. And if we're going to know his mind and His will, why we have to go by His word? He has marked out a way. He has given us instruction. So it's it says in the third verse and let us bring the ark of our God to us, for we inquired not at it. In the days of Saul, yes, there had been past failure in Israel and we look back on the churches history and we're all part of it. We say yes, there has been indeed a lot of failure and here was a revival. That God was granting. It was wonderful that David had this desire. But I say again, he didn't go to the word of God. He was going by what the others thought. And he said, let us bring it to us, bring it to us, but we have to go. Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the can. It doesn't bring it to us. It's going where He would have us to go. And so it tells us here all the congregation. Said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. Yes, public opinion was with them. And so they. They made a new cart. Where did this idea come from? Had God-given any instruction about how the ark was to be carried? Where did they get this idea of a new cart? Well, the Philistines had the Ark of God down in their country. They didn't have any priests. They didn't have any Levites. They didn't know the word of God like the children of Israel. God said to Israel, You only have I known. Of all the families of the earth, therefore, will I punish you? They were particularly responsible. And I am particularly responsible because I was brought up in a home where the word of God was honored and revered. And I want to say to every young person and everyone who's been brought up in a Christian home, you are more responsible. I am more responsible because I have had such a privilege of having the word of God.
Not that others are not responsible, but God does measure responsibility. He says to whom much is given of the same shall much be required. And David wasn't like the Philistines. Maybe the Philistines were doing and they were doing a right act in sending the ark back, but they didn't have instructions. So they made this new card on God graciously came in. And the Ark. It's very interesting to see what it says. They weren't even sure whether they were doing the right thing, so they said, well, what we'll do, and they took Millstown. Cows that were had just had their young and they tied up the young at home and they put these cattle on the cart pulling the ark and they said if this is of God, those animals will carry that ark back to God's land, even though they're. They're tied up at home. In other words, he said they'll, they'll go against nature. Well, God did come in and those kind, they drew the cart back and drew it back to the land of Israel. God honored their efforts because, shall I say, they were walking up to the light they had. And so God honored their efforts. But Israel, they should have known there was instruction. And so this new cart was. The plan that they decided. Instead of going by the word of God. And there was much that was commendable. And David and all Israel played before God with all their might. Wasn't there all a great deal of energy put forth in this? Yes, there was a great deal of energy and it was very wonderful that they wanted to have the ark back there. But again, we see God wasn't pleased because they had the light of His word and they hadn't sought the light of His word. And so the oxen stumbled. I just have this little thought though, too, that as this ark was driven by Azza and Ahayah, why, there was a certain honor given to men, because this ark was a very important thing, as we were saying, it was that that God had commanded, it was to be made. And there I will meet with thee, because the blood was sprinkled there on the mercy seat, which was on top of the ark. It was a very. Very precious thing for Israel that ark really meant a great deal. And so. They were giving honor to man. There were Azan Ahayah, and they were the ones that drove the ark. We're going to see as we go on in a couple of chapters further, that when they did it God's way. We're not told who carried the ark. There's a whole lot of names mentioned, but God doesn't give honor to man. He gives honor to His own blessed Son. I've often said you can make a very simple test of any doctrine that is presented to you by asking one question. Does this line of teaching give honor to man, or does it give honor to Christ? You can make a simple test. All man's ideas, even of his religion, is something that gives a place to man. But God always gives full honor to His own beloved Son. He's the center. It says in John chapter 16, When he, the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth. He shall glorify me. For he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you. You know, for instance, let's take one doctrine that's quite prevalent, people who teach that a Christian can be saved and lost. You may say, well, there's a lot of verses that they can bring forward that are a little difficult to answer. Yes, I acknowledge there are some verses that are a little bit difficult to answer. But. If I can be saved and lost, then I'm going to have some honor for myself when I get to heaven. The Lord saved me, but I'm going to be able to say he saved me. But I kept saved. Another man, John Smith, he got saved the same night as I did, but he didn't hold on. He let go. So I'm going to have some honor to myself. But God says, no, all honor is going to my beloved Son. He says God will not give his honor to another. And so he saved me by His grace. He keeps me by His grace. And when I reach the end of the journey, I'm going to have to give him all the praise not only for saving me, but also for keeping me. The truth of God always gives all the honor to God's beloved Son.
And it says. The Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. Well, the oxen stumbled, and Aza put out his hand to steady the ark. That is, he put his hand to it as though the hand of man was necessary. And nothing that you or I can do is going to change the truth of God. There's a verse in in Corinthians that says. We can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth, Everything that man says in all his arguments will never, never change the truth of God. It, it remains, it's like a rock. It's steadfast forever. O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. He didn't need to. I don't need to defend the Bible anymore. If I had a lion here, I wouldn't need to defend it. I wouldn't need to defend it. It's strong enough to look after itself. And so we don't have to defend the Bible. We have to set forth its worth, but we don't have to defend it. God will, and that's a good thing. If you ever speaking to anybody, don't try and prove to them the Bible is true. Use it. Use it, and God by his Spirit will apply it to the conscience. Always remember that the Word of God is living and operative, sharper than A2 edged sword. Remember one time in a place where I worked, there was a little discussion going on about spiritual things and I had the grace to quote a couple of scriptures and one of the men spake up. He said well just leave the Bible out of it. Let's talk about this, just leave the Bible out of it. Another time brother was traveling in the train and pulled out his Bible and he was starting his reading the Bible and the man beside him says I don't, I don't believe that book. And he said, but you'd feel a lot better if I put it in my pocket, wouldn't you? Why do people say those kind of things? Because the Word of God is living and operative. It speaks to the conscience. We don't have to depend it, use it, use it. Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, for we will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Well, David was displeased. Oh brethren, are we displeased? Sometimes when the Lord doesn't like some of the plans that we have made, when he steps in and is not, not pleased with what we're doing, David was displeased. Sometimes we're just like that. We don't, we don't like it somehow when God shows his displeasure with some plan that we have made. David was displeased, but he asked a good question here it says. How shall I bring the ark of God home to me? He didn't say, shall I bring it? That was a very good desire to bring the ark of God to the city of Zion. But how, how? And that was the important thing. And the Word of God had given full instructions about that. And so it's nice to see in the end of this chapter. In the 13th verse. So David brought not the ark of God home to himself, to the city of David, but carried it aside into the House of Obed Edom the Gittite. And the ark of God remained with the family of Obed Edom in his house three months. And the Lord blessed the household at Edom and all that he had. I just want to say, brethren, never allow any troubles that come in among the people of God to spoil your family, giving the Lord His rightful place. I think this is very lovely. This family could have been very upset and said, oh, everything's gone to pieces, but I think this is so beautiful. Here was a family that was going to give the Lord his rightful place, even though things were wrong. And so we find that same thing in the third epistle of John. Things were wrong in the assembly that John wrote to. There was a man there that loved to have the preeminence called Diotrephes. Was Gaius and. Demetrius, were they going to allow the condition in the assembly to spoil their home life? Oh no. They saw to it that their home was for the Lord and that he had his rightful place in their home, a home that should be for the Lord. Never, never allow anything that happens to spoil giving the Lord his rightful place in your home. They could have easily said, well, everything's gone wrong, the ark has, the oxen have stumbled and the Lord has dealt with Isaac, and they could have allowed their home to be ruined by that. But instead of that.
As the Lord blessed the House of Obed Edom, so how lovely to see Holmes. I think of the home of of the appearance of the appearance of Moses, Aaron and Miriam. Things were in a very sad condition there. Israel were in captivity in the land of Egypt, but here was a home that stands out in all the darkness of what was going on. And it says that the mother really had faith. When the child was born, she put him in that arc of bulrushes down in the river because the Bible says she saw that that child was fair to God, Fair to God. And she wasn't going to allow the conditions that existed in Egypt. They were throwing babies from Israelites into the river. But here was a family that had faith in God, didn't allow the condition of things to ruin their home. And we see three lovely children who stand out in the divine history brought up in the midst of all those conditions, Moses. Aaron and Miriam. And so I just wish to drop that little note. I think it's beautiful the way it's brought in in the end of this chapter to show that even though failure had come in, that it says the Lord blessed the House of Oved Edom and all that he had. Well, now just going to this next chapter, the 14th chapter. I'd like to look at this chapter more in connection with prayer in the other in the 1St chapter. We'll see that. In the 14th chapter we see that he didn't. The 13th chapter, he didn't go to the word of God, he just went by the opinion of people, people who really wanted to give the Lord his rightful place, but they didn't do it according to God's order. But now we see here says in the eighth verse of First Chronicles 14. And when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David, and David heard of it and went out against them. And the Philistines came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. And David inquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines, and wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto him, Go up, for I will deliver them into thine hand. So they came up to Baal praisein David smote them there. And David's then David said, God hath broken in upon mine enemies by mine hand, like the breaking forth of waters. Therefore they call the name of that place Baal Perezin. And when they had left their gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire. And the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley. Therefore David inquired again of God. And God said unto him, Go not up after them, Turn away from them, and come upon them over against the Mulberry trees. And it shall be when thou shalt hear the sound of going in the tops of the Mulberry trees. Then thou shalt go up to battle, for God has gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines. Therefore David therefore did as God commanded him, and they smote the host of the Philistines, and the from Gibeon even to Gazer. And the fame of David went out into all lands, and the Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations. Well, here we find situation arises when they saw that David was made king over all Israel, Then it says the Philistines and the Philistines were people who dwelled in the land, but they had never crossed the Jordan. They were not a redeemed people. They were people who, if I can use the expression, like to live in the benefits of being among the people of God, but really were their enemies. They were opposed to them. And so we see these Philistines, they were against David. They didn't like to see David made king, and they came up to fight against them and David inquired of God. He didn't have some definite scripture how to handle a situation. And maybe there's something common to your life and you say, I don't know what to do. I, I can't find any verse in the Bible to direct me or pray. Ask the Lord to show you what to do. Ask the Lord to show you and he'll give you direction if you look to him humbly.
And so when David inquired of the Lord, the Lord said, Go up against them, I have delivered them into thy. Hand and so David got this answer to prayer and he went up and I'm sure that we have all felt these situations come in our lives and we look to the Lord and it's wonderful and beautiful how the Lord does come in and help us in a lot of these perplexing decisions that we have to make. Life is full of decisions. We're in the valley of decision. And so David did, and the Lord granted the victory. Now the. Next time the Philistines came, David might have easily said, I don't need to pray about it this time because I know the way to do it. Because last time the Lord gave me this answer and I went up and the Lord granted a victory. But brethren, let's remember this. There are no two sets of circumstances that are exactly alike. No2 situations in your life or in the assembly, they're never exactly alike, and we have to always be freshly cast upon the Lord for all the new situations that arise. And when we don't have divine direction, that is a scripture that we can act on. There's many, many things that come up in our lives that we just have to ask the Lord. And the Lord directed him in this second occasion to go about it. In a different way, it's true that he had to go against the Philistines, but the way he did it in one case was different from the other. And so the Lord says now you just have to wait, Wait for the sound and the Mulberry trees. Sometimes we're quick to jump and do something quickly. As the Lord said, no, you're going to have to wait. Just wait. And when you hear the sound of the wind in the Mulberry trees, then then go. I think there's a soul. Instructive for us, and perhaps many of us can. As I look at my own life, I can apply. Sometimes you might say, well, I know what to do because I did this last time and it worked. But that isn't the way. We need fresh direction each day. In all thy ways acknowledge him, not in some of thy ways. Sometimes we have a big decision to make in our lives and we are really diligent in prayer. But we should be seeking the Lord's mind in all what we might call little things, because little things often have big results in our lives. And so tells us here that David waited on the Lord, waited for the sound of the Mulberry trees, and then God came in and under tipped for him in this occasion. Perhaps I could say again, I believe in the first instance he neglected the word of God, but in this instance he learned the value of prayer and he turns to the Lord for direction in both these different occasions that arose in his life. Now I'd like to go on to the 15th chapter. And at the first verse. And David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched a tent for it. Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites, For them hath the Lord chosen to gather to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him forever. David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem. To bring up the ark of God unto his place, which he had prepared for it. And in the. 11TH Verse And David called for Zadok and Abiath of the priests, and for the Levites, and for Uriel Assiah, and Joel Shemaiah, and Eliel Haminadab, and said unto them, He are the chief of the fathers of the Levites. Sanctify yourselves, both you ye and your brethren, that ye may carry up the ark of the Lord God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it. For because he did it not at the first, the Lord our God wrought A breach upon us. For that we sought him not after the due order. So David, So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves. To bring up the ark of the God of the Lord God of Israel.
And then passing on. 25th verse. So David and the elders of Israel and the captains over thousands went to bring up the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord out of the House of Obed Edom with joy. And it came to pass when God helped the Levites that bear the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, that they offered seven bullocks and seven Rams. I'm sure you have noticed quite a difference here. In the 13th chapter he consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds and every leader. But here we don't read of him consulting with anybody. But what does the word of God say? Has God-given any instructions about how the ark was to be carried? Did he have to follow the idea of these Philistines or did he need to seek public opinion? Isn't it beautiful? Here he says, the word of God has said how this is to be done. He said that settles the whole thing. The word of God said that it was to be carried upon the shoulders of the priests. I like to think of it that way, that it was lifted high above their heads. If you had seen the procession going, you wouldn't have seen two prominent men driving a cart, sitting there getting quite a bit of public notice. There's a whole lot of different names mentioned here and we're not told. Who were the ones that carried the ark? And if you had seen the ark going, it would have been up above. You wouldn't have noticed the men, you would have seen the ark. It's beautiful to see how that when the disciples were on the Mount of Transfiguration, they saw no man anymore save Jesus, only our brethren. The truth of God always gives honor to the Lord Jesus. And isn't this beautiful simplicity? If it's any of us that are puzzled about something in our pathway, isn't it good to turn to the Word of God? And if the Word of God gives us? Instruction and direction, then that settles it for us, doesn't it? It settles it for us. As I mentioned before, when Paul went and preached in Berea, they might have said, well, those men are great men. They know the Mosaic Law. They're I'll, I'll just go by what they say. No, it says they searched the Scriptures daily to see if those things were sold. And nothing would make me more happy than someone said, well, I want to find what the word of God says. I've listened to what you said, Brother Gordon, but I want to know. The word of God says and ask the divine directive for us in the pathway, in all things, in all thy ways, acknowledge him. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? David was cleansing his way at this time. He was a comparatively young man, but he was cleansing his way. He could have been said, well, I don't want to admit that I was wrong in the first case, but here we see that he is quite willing to be directed. By the word of God, moreover, there's another little point here that in 23rd verse it says and Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark. And again in the 24th verse, at the end of the verse, Obed, Edom and Jahiah were doorkeepers of the ark. What does it mention this doorkeepers? Well, Paul, David said in the I think it's the 70. I've forgotten. I think it's a 73rd, but I'm not sure. It says I'd rather be a doorkeeper in the House of my God and to dwell in the tents of wickedness. No, it's not very easy to be a doorkeeper. But these people were sent in that position because the assembly is to be the pillar and ground of the truth. We're to stand for the whole truth of God. And when we do, that's that's important, that's pleasing to God because that's what the assembly is, the assembly. Doesn't teach, The assembly is taught. The assembly has the word of God as our instruction. And what we are to do is to keep the deposit of truth. As Paul said to Timothy, old Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust. God has revealed something in his word, then we're to keep that. And so there were doorkeepers for the ark and the oxen didn't stumble. There were no oxen. And did they say, well, those men that carried the ark, they did a good job. No, isn't that nice? What it says in the 26th verse? And it came to pass when God helped the Levites that bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord that they offered. 7 bullocks and seven Rams. In other words, they didn't say, well we did a good job of carrying it up. It just simply says that they gave the Lord all the glory. Those sacrifices were acknowledging that it was God who helped them. And brethren, if you and I haven't any measure tried to stand for the truth of God, I don't think there's anybody who would say, well I did. No, we just say the Lord help me, haven't we faced?
So many situations in our personal lives and our assembly life and all we can say is the Lord help me. The Lord help me because we we have no strength of our own. The Lord Jesus said without me he can do nothing. Well what a blessed thing when we make the word of God our God. I think this chapter is so lovient. I I enjoy reading all those names because I don't know who carried the ark. We all have a place. God has sat in the body has a death, please. A sister as well as a brother can be very faithful in holding fast to the precious truth that has been committed to us. And how often somebody that we'll say doesn't occupy so great a place of prominence can just say a little word that can be such a help to you. I've often thought about Jonathan when he went out in the battle against the Philistines. It says. That there was a sharp rock as they went to climb up to the Philistine Garrison. And I think when they when Jonathan saw those sharp rocks on either side, I think he turned around and said, oh this is too much for me. And it says his armor bearer said. His armor, Red said. I'm with thee. Go ahead. And I'm not. Isn't that lovely? It may be somebody. That maybe it doesn't occupy any kind of a position of prominence. It just gives you that little word. There are ones who are encouraged, encouraging. I don't know who the name of that armor Rivero is. I'm going to find out in heaven who it was. But that turned the whole course. And perhaps some of us can look back in our lives and say it was some brother or sister that made a little remark to me that turned the whole course of my life. Oh, how lovely. How different God's order of things from man. Man would give man glory. But God's plan is always as it says, that in all things He might have the preeminence. Well, and it says in the end of the chapter, the 29th verse, and it came to pass as the Ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the city of David, that Michael, the daughter of Saul, looking out at a window, saw King David dancing and playing and she despised him in her heart. The only person who didn't seal team to enter into this was this daughter of King Saul. I don't believe she was a true believer at all. And as the world looks on, they say, why are you fussing about doctrine? And that brethren, it is important to give the Lord Jesus His rightful place. She couldn't see anything in it. A lot of people don't see anything in trying to give the Lord His rightful place. But God is going to see to it that His blessed Son has the place that in that coming day that all heaven and all earth are going to. Gathered together with Him in the preeminence, it says that in the dispensation of the fullness of times, He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth. Even in Him there's a day coming when every knee is going to bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Are we giving Him His rightful place? Now I say again, and I speak to myself as well as to you. Are we making His word our God? Many questions. Are we in decisions that we have to make, saying, Lord, what will thou have me to do? He's willing to guide us. Every situation is different. As I say, sometimes we have to wait, sometimes we have to go forward. God said in when they were going to cross the Red Sea, He said, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. But then a verse or two down, it says, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward. There are times to stand still, there are times to go forward. We have to wait upon the Lord, but never go contrary to His word. Now we see the happy sequel to this. I'd just like to read this 3 verses in the 16th chapter. So they brought the ark of God and said it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it. And they offered burned offering, burnt sacrifices, and peace offerings before God. And when David had made an end of offering, the burnt offering and the peace offering, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord, and he dealt to everyone of Israel, both man and woman, to everyone.
A loaf of bread, a good piece of flesh. And a flagon of wine. Perhaps these three things bring before us. Says a good loaf of bread for the Lord Jesus is the bread of life. Says he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. We need to feed upon him. Then it says a piece of flesh. It says a good piece of flesh. Well, you know the Bible says strong meat belongs to them that are of full age. Even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. It's a nice thing to see babes in the family of God. It's a nice thing to see young men. But God delights just as we do. We're, many of us are parents. We love to have our children just when they're babies, but we wouldn't like them to be babies forever. We're glad to see them grow up. And I think this is so lovely here. When they followed the word of God, there was something we might say for the babes. There was something for those. Who are strong, Strong meat belongs to them. Who are full aged. And then there was joy for all, a flagon of wine. That because wine is a figure in the Bible of joy. I just like to also mention just one thing. Burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God? No brethren, I think it's nice for us to. Understand a little bit about the offerings. I don't intend to go into it in detail tonight, but perhaps you know that there were five different offerings There was the. The burnt offering was the first one, and then there was the meat offering, there was the peace offering, and there was the sin offering and the trespass offering. And every one of them bring before us a different aspect of the work of Christ. The burnt offering brings before us, it's the first one in the instruction in Leviticus 1, and it brings before us the value of the work of Christ to the heart of God. The peace offering could be called a communion offering. So we see these two offerings, the burnt offering and trespass offering and and the peace offering rather, and maybe I'll just mention this because. I can remember as a young person hearing some of the brothers say we worship in the burnt offering character and I didn't know what they meant and it didn't mean anything to me. But. I'd like to use a little illustration so that perhaps you could have a little better appreciation of the burnt offering. At least it meant much to me understand it in this way. Supposedly I have a great depth and I'm not able to pay it. And a friend comes along and says, Gordon, give me your bills and I'll pay. I'll pay them for you. He goes to my creditor. He pays the bills, and he comes back and he puts the receipt in my hand. I say, oh, I'm so thankful to be out of debt that was such a burden over my hand. Well, that's good, isn't it? But I haven't learned to know anything about my creditor. All I know is that he got a satisfactory payment. Does he like me or does he not? I don't know. All I know is he got a satisfactory payment. But God wants us to know what's in His heart. God wants us to know what's in his heart. I owed my great debt to him. Let us suppose another thing. I have this great debt and my creditor sees this great debt on his books and he says to his son, see this great debt on our books here. I love Gordon Hayhoe. Would you be willing to sell your house so that we can raise the money? And if you do. I'll write this off our books and I'll send a receipt to Gordon Hayward and I'll mark on it paid in full. Through the kindness of my son. That one day here I am worrying about the debt, and I not only get a receipt, but when I read what's written on it, paid in full to the kindness of my son. Oh, I said, what a wonderful creditor I've got. What a son he must have. And perhaps you can understand, you will never truly appreciate the work of Christ until you see that it was the very God that we had sinned against who said to his Son. Who will go for us? And he said that, he said. Send me. And he came in love. He paid the debt in full, and God wants us to know that it was His Son that paid the debt.
What a wonderful thing you could be. Understand then why we have the burnt offering and the peace offering. God wants us to know the love that's in His heart toward us. He wants us to know that it was his Son that came in love and obedience and paid the debt. And he wants us to enjoy fellowship or common thoughts with him as the peace offering. Many Christians rejoice that at Calvary their debt was paid. But God says, oh, I want you to know the love that's in my heart. I can't tell you how much. I can't tell you what a wonderful son I have who came and said I'd delight to do thy will, Oh my God. And he was going to welcome us to the Father's house where we're going to enjoy for eternity not only the fact that our debt is paid, but knowing the God who sent His Son to pay it for all eternity, it'll fill our hearts with praise. And this is what they entered into on this occasion. And so you can see what a happy sequel there was. To this little story that God has been pleased to record in His word, well, may the Lord make it good to each one of our hearts, that we may appreciate more what the Lord has done for us, that we may value His Word. And we might also know, brethren, that He's interested in all those decisions that come in life. Life is the valley of decision for constantly having to make them. But we have one who has all the answers and who cares, who loves us. Wants to be our guide. Oh Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself. It's not in man that walketh to direct his steps.