Bible Subjects for the Household of Faith: Volume 2, 1864, Would God That All the Lord's People Were Prophets (11:27-28)
“There ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad andMedad do prophesy in the camp.”—Numbers 11:27.
ELDAD they said, and Medad, there
Irregularly bold,
By Moses uncommission’d, dare
A separate meeting bold!
And still whom none but heav’n will own,
Men whom the world decry,
Men authoriz’d by God alone,
Presume to prophesy!
“My Lord Moses, forbid them.”—11: 28.
How often have I blindly doneWhat zealous Joshua did,
Impatient to the rulers run,
“Enviest thou for my sake?”
Moses, the minister of God,
Rebukes our partial love,Who envy at the gifts bestow’d
On those we disapprove:
We do not our own spirits know,
Who wish to see supprest,The men that Jesus’ spirit show,
The men whom God hath bless’d.
“Would God that all the Lord’s people, were prophets, and that the Lordwould put His Spirit upon them.”
Shall we the Spirit’s course restrain,Or quench the heav’nly fire?
Let God His messengers ordain,And whom He will inspire:
Blow as He list, the Spirit’s choice
Of instruments we bless;
We will, if Christ be preach’d, rejoice,
And wish the word success!
Can all be prophets then? are allCommission’d from above?
No! but whomsoe’er the Lord shall call
We joyfully approve.
O that the Church might all receive
The spirit of prophesy,
And all in Christ accepted live,
And all in Jesus die?