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Date: Tue, 11 Jul 1995 10:47:44 +0200
Reply-To: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
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From: Teus Benschop
Subject: The Scriptures opened, 39
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Contents
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1. Numbers 23:21 The LORD's favour towards Jacob
2. Psalm 35, Prayer for God's help, part 2
3. John 1:36, Jesus, the Lamb of God
1. Numbers 23:21 - The LORD's favour towards Jacob
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Weekly reading: Numbers 22:2 - 25:9
He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob,
neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel:
the LORD his God is with him,
and the shout of a king is among them.
Numbers 23:21
Though the above text is uttered by Balaam, yet, it is God's Word, for
God gave this word in Balaam's mouth. We see that the almighty God
can, when He wills, make use of a heathen sorcerer. That does, of
course, not imply that we may do so, for God was clear enough, when He
forbade that. "There shall not be found among you [any one] that (...)
useth divination, [or] an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a
witch," (Deuteronomy 18:10) Having said this in advance, let us now
look to the text itself.
"He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen
perverseness in Israel:" These two sentences say the same, namely that
God forgives all iniquity and perverseness that was in Israel. And we
know, there was very much iniquity among them. Read but the accounts
of their journey through the desert, or any other sacred history of
them. Always and always, the prophets had to warn, lest the people
departed from the true worship of the LORD. But look now to our God.
He forgives their sins. Were they full of iniquity? He has not beheld
that. Were they perfectly in perverseness? He has not seen it. Not
that our God cannot see it, but when is said "He has not seen
iniquity", that means that He has forgiven it. Our LORD is full of
grace. Mercy and truth is with Him. Happy are those, who belong to
Him, who are accepted by Him as His people. Also David teaches that
they are blessed, whose sins are forgiven: "Blessed [is he whose]
transgression is forgiven, [whose] sin is covered. Blessed is the man
unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is
no guile." (Psalms 32:1,2) Yes, our LORD is full of mercy, and He
forgives the sins of His beloved people.
That is it, what Balaam has told us. Unfortunately enough, he
himself was a stranger of that forgiveness. He was full of iniquity,
as appeared afterwards, but his sins were not forgiven. He was an
instrument in the hand of the LORD to bless the people, but he himself
was cursed by his own sins. We see, then, that it can be, that someone
serves God, to do something for Him, and yet is a stranger of Him.
Balaam executed God's command to bless, but he was a sinner, and was
condemned thereby. Also in our times, there are many like him. They
preach the Word, but they don't know the Lord. Let, therefore,
everybody examine himself, whether he possesses true grace or not.
These things are also taught by our Lord Christ Jesus. When speaking
about the day of judgement, he said that many would come for Him, and
say that they had done much for Him. "Many will say to me in that day,
Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have
cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?" (Matthew
7:22) But it matters not if you have done thousands of wonderful
works, for also Balaam did so. What will Jesus say to those false
believers? "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:
depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:23)
The Word continues, saying: "The LORD his God is with him, and
the shout of a king is among them." When it is said, that the shout of
a king is among them, what is meant thereby? We know, that at the time
Balaam uttered these words, there was not an earthly king among
Israel. Saul was the first king, but he lived many centuries later.
Who is then that king, whom Balaam means here? The answer is not so
difficult. It is the LORD, Who was their King. So, then we understand
it thus: "The LORD his God is with Him, and God's shout is among
them.". God's shout is among them, but what does that mean? Was God's
voice always audible among them? Yes, when God gave the Ten
Commandments from mount Sinai, they heard God's voice. But later on,
they only heard Moses speaking. What is then meant with "God's shout
is among them". It means that God's Word was among them. Moses had
given them the Torah, what was the Word of God. The preaching of that
Word, the explanation thereof, that was the shout of the LORD. Also
Isaiah is comparing the preaching of the prophets with a shout, namely
with a trumpet: "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a
trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of
Jacob their sins." (Isaiah 58:1)
Who knows that the LORD is with him, hasn't to fear. "In God have
I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me." (Psalms
56:11) Those, then, who fear a coming evil, let them know that they,
at that moment, not trust in the LORD. For, when they trusted, why do
they fear? Let everybody then check his (supposed) faith, namely, when
it is tried in distress. When you see the danger coming, unavoidable,
and you fear, where is then your faith? But when you trust in the
LORD, even amidst the most terrible dangers, and there is a continual
rest in your soul, then your faith is true.
The LORD forgives the iniquity of Jacob, and he pardons the
perverseness in Israel. The LORD their God is with them, and the
preaching of the Gospel is among them.
2. Psalm 35, Prayer for God's help, part 2
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(continuing last week's issue)
11 False witnesses did rise up;
they laid to my charge [things] that I knew not.
12 They rewarded me evil for good
[to] the spoiling of my soul.
These false witnesses, who rise up against David, are, according to
the Hebrew word, violent, unrighteous and cruel accusers. They charge
David with things which he hasn't done. So they have also done with
Jesus. When He stood before the court, they accused Him of things
which He had not done. But in the case of Jesus, God governed it thus,
that Jesus might bear the sins of His people. His people had sinned,
but Jesus carried their sins away, in order that they might be
acquitted.
David continues, and says: "They rewarded me evil for good". He
did well, but they thanked him by doing evil. Yes, even worse, they
rewarded his good deeds with the spoiling of his soul. That means,
they tried to kill him. That is the world's habit, to reward evil for
good. No, moreover, that is our habit, when we reward God with our
daily sins. God gives us all good: food, clothing, health, and what
not. And what is our thank? We reward Him evil for His good.
13 But as for me,
when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth:
I humbled my soul with fasting;
and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
14 I behaved myself as though [he was] my friend [or] brother:
I bowed down heavily,
as one that mourneth [for his] mother.
After having said that they rewarded him evil for good, David
continues. He did not so towards them. For, when they were sick, he
mourned, wearing sackcloth. "I humbled my soul with fasting", he said.
When someone earnestly prayed to God for something, he also fasted.
David, praying for the health of his enemies, did so in fasting. When
we live our daily life, we often forget God. But when fasting, we give
less attention to the temporal things, in order to free ourselves to
give more attention to the heavenly things. Fasting, in short, is a
good means to stir up ourselves to pay more attention to the spiritual
things. This means has always been used. Both in the Old and New
Testament, we often hear about fasting. Also in the old church, it was
a common habit. But in the present times, fasting is forgotten, to our
great disadvantage. But, to return to David, he humbled his soul with
fasting. This is an example for us to imitate.
"My prayer returned into mine own bosom". What does this mean? It
can mean, that David, after having prayed to God for the recovery of
his enemies, experienced God's favour in his inner parts. God shone
somewhat into David's heart, to let him know that his prayer was
accepted. We know, that God's people experience when their prayer is
heard by God. But "my prayer returned into mine own bosom", can also
mean something else. It can mean, "my prayer kept returning to me".
What means, David felt himself pressed to pray, and after he had done
so, he again felt himself pressed, and so on. That is, he could not
refrain from praying. Through the influence of God's Spirit, the
Author of all true prayers, he could not refrain from praying.
Concerning this, Paul said that we are unable to pray rightly, but
that the Spirit does so for us. "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our
infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but
the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which
cannot be uttered." (Romans 8:26) So, that can be meant by "My prayer
returned into mine own bosom".
When David says that he behaved himself as though his enemy was
his friend or brother, he again shows that he sought the best for him.
But they rewarded him evil for good. See then the difference between
David en the enemy. David did only good, and he did only evil.
15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced,
and gathered themselves together:
[yea], the abjects gathered themselves together against me,
and I knew [it] not;
they did tear [me], and ceased not:
16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts,
they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
When they were in adversity, David mourned. But when David was in
adversity, in his turn, they rejoiced. Their heart was full of joy
when they saw David in distress. "Yea, we have him. He is come to an
end", they said. That are the wicked. They rejoice in other's
adversity. The joy of the world, that is a vain joy. The worldlings
are so wicked, that they turn all upside down. Commonly, when one sees
his neighbour in prosperity, he will be glad with him. But the wicked,
when they see another in prosperity, they envy him, and mourn. When
then comes the time, that they see him in adversity, they rejoice.
When we then once come in David's circumstances, let we pay attention
to Paul's words. "Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse
not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep."
(Romans 12:14,15) So, bless them which gnash upon you with their
teeth; bless, and curse not.
17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on?
rescue my soul from their destructions,
my darling from the lions.
18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation:
I will praise thee among much people.
"Lord, how long wilt thou look on", and let them continue in their
unjust behaviour? "Rescue my soul from their destructions", for they
try to kill me, when they have the opportunity. It is God, Who can and
will rescue souls from destructions. Many times, He has saved David
from his enemies. He also saved his soul from destruction, that is
from hell. "Rescue my darling from the lions", for those wicked are no
less than lions. Like a lion tears and devours his prey, so they
sought to tear me, and to devour me.
David continues with "I will give Thee thanks in the great
congregation, I will praise Thee among much people". When he is
rescued from the destruction, he then will thank God. He thanks
because of his deliverance. When we look through this Psalm, we see
David in the midst of the dangers, then he asks for deliverance, and
then he will praise the LORD. These three things are important to keep
in mind. First, David was in distress. Secondly, he will be delivered.
Thirdly, he will thank God therefore. These three things have a
natural order. When one is in the midst of dangers, he will pray to
God for help. God will then come, and rescue him. As a result thereof,
one's heart is so filled with joy, that he thanks God in the great
congregation. That is also the way, wherein one is delivered from his
sins. The burden of sins becomes unbearable to him, and therefore, he
starts praying to God for deliverance. God, then, coming, rescues him
from a sure destruction. The heart of the sinner will then be so
filled with gladness, that he will thank the LORD among much people.
(to be continued)
3. John 1:36, Jesus, the Lamb of God
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And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith,
Behold the Lamb of God!
John 1:36
John the Baptist was preaching at Jordan. He said: "Repent ye, for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand". When his hearers tried to repent, they
experienced that they could repent somewhat, but not enough. All what
they tried, and with all what they did, they succeeded not. "Repent
ye", said John. They tried, but the experienced that sin every day
came back. "Repent ye", said John. And they thought by themselves:
"Yes, we try, but succeed not". "Repent ye, for the law demands
obedience!" "Yes, but we cannot!", they said. "Repent ye", said John,
"for the kingdom of heaven is at hand". The kingdom of heaven was
near, so when they did not repent, or when they succeeded not, they
would be shut out in the outer darkness. But the law is unrelenting.
"Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is nigh".
In this way, John the Baptist prepared the way for the coming of
Christ. He, of course, also preached forgiveness, but yet, his main
task was preparing the way for Christ's coming. How is the way
prepared for Him? By letting men know, that the law demands obedience,
and that they are unable to give that. Then it is the time to preach
Christ, namely when they are convinced of His necessity. When you
always hear "repent ye", and you daily experience that you cannot,
wouldn't you be glad when you hear about forgiveness in Jesus Christ?
Of course, you would.
Having prepared the way, and seeing Jesus coming, John says in
our text: "Behold the Lamb of God!" Jesus is the Passover-lamb. That
lamb was slaughtered then, and behind its blood at the door-posts, the
people were safe. Jesus is the Passover-lamb. Yes, moreover, He is the
Lamb of God. God gave His Son to pay for the sins of the believers.
Jesus is the Lamb of God, who came down from heaven, and took upon Him
the human flesh. When He died at the cross, he accomplished His
atoning work. "Behold the Lamb of God", who died for our sins. That
was it, what John did. He pointed out Jesus, the Lamb of God, the
Reconciler for his hearers.
Look to the Lamb of God, about Whom Isaiah said: "He was
oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is
brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers
is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth." (Isaiah 53:7)
"Behold", reader, "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of
the world". (John 1:29) He takes away the sins of the world. Not of
the whole world, but only of those who believe in Him. Who not believe
with the mouth only, for that is but appearance. He takes away the sin
of those, who believe in Him with a true faith; a faith which is
visible in the good works which follow after.
"Behold, the Lamb of God", said John. Another John, who wrote the
book Revelations, also saw the Lamb of God. He saw a throne, four
beasts, elders, and in the midst the Lamb of God. "And I beheld, and,
lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the
midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven
horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth
into all the earth". (Revelation 5:6) He saw the Lamb as it had been
slain, namely to merit redemption of the transgressions.
Look then, reader, when the burden of sins become too heavy, to
the Lamb of God, Who was slain for all those, who believe in Him.
Listen then to Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, Who says: "Come unto me,
all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest".
(Matthew 11:28)
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Teus Benschop | t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl | editor of the list Chr-Exp
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