Chosen for His Glory

We have seen how the psalmist longed for three things: to see the good of God's chosen, to rejoice in the gladness of His nation, and to glory with His inheritance. So far we have mediated on the first part: 'That I may see the good of thy chosen.' The first necessity is to be God's chosen vessel and to come into the hand of the Lord. This demands a willingness on our part. After this step it will be made clear how the Lord will bring us into the other two experiences, which lead the one into the other. The Lord has brought before us the life of Stephen to make this clear.

Now we come to the second part: 'that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation.' Let us look again at Acts 7:1,2: 'Then said the Stephen said: 'Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken: the God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran.' We have seen how God's chosen vessel was persecuted by the enemy, and how as they began to bring false charges against him, his face began to shine as the face of an angel. They wondered how this could be; and he, being God's vessel, began with these words full of deep meaning to show how the God of glory had planned from the very beginning to bring His people into glory. In verses 1 to 50 he narrated the whole history of the nation to show God's purpose in choosing that nation.

We can divide the story into seven types. The first three are represented by Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. From CHOSEN FOR H I S G L O R Y 31 these we pass to Egypt, the wilderness, Canaan, and the divine temple built by King Solomon. Stephen began his account with Abraham and ended with Solomon. He could go no further, for his accusers were very angry with him, but he had said all that was necessary. Stephen had revealed the secret that God had been preparing His nation that they might receive from Him a great heavenly joy. 2 Chron.

7. 1-3. That was the happiest day for them as God's people, the zenith of the whole history of the nation. When the work of the temple had been completed according to the heavenly plan given by God, the fire came down and consumed the sacrifice, and then God's glory filled the whole temple. All the children of Israel bowed themselves with their faces to the ground, and worshipped and praised the Lord. They were filled with heavenly joy, for they had never seen such a thing before. It was truly the happiest day in their history, the day when God, the mighty and living God, the holy yet loving God, came down in their midst in the fulness of His glory, and every heart was filled with perfect peace. All their enemies had been subdued; the whole kingdom was full of peace and righteousness; and the temple was filled with the divine presence. Such was the joy and gladness that the psalmist was referring to in Psa. 106, when he prayed: 'that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation.' It was not an earthly joy, but a heavenly joy, a joy which could not be shared with everyone in the world. The psalmist longed for the joy that comes when the Living God lives and works among His people.

How did they come to that position? First, God chose Abraham, and through him Isaac and Jacob. In the lifetime of Jacob they went to Egypt, from whence they came to the wilderness, and after wandering there for forty years, came into the promised land of Canaan. Even in the land they had many years of waiting and suffering, but at last in the temple, they saw the fulfilment of God's plan when He filled His house with His glory.

There is a deep significance in the way God chooses His men for His purpose. Is there not something in the fact that Abraham's wife was barren, Isaac's wife was barren, and Jacob's wife, Rachel, also was barren? Surely God is showing how, of ourselves, we are barren. Sin came into the world, and brought the whole world into a state of barrenness, and that barrenness cannot be removed by human effort. Israel was barren for many years that men might know that because of sin we remain barren. A man may earn much money, or have a high position, but before God he will remain barren and unfruitful if there is nothing in his life for God. God wants those things which will last for eternity. The first lesson God wants us to learn as human beings is that we are by nature barren and unfruitful.

Miraculously God gave a child to Abraham in his old age. Abraham and his wife had become very old, and had lost every human hope of having a child. They were like a dry tree, but God had promised, and He kept His promise and put new life in their bodies. That is how Isaac was born, and his birth speaks of the power of resurrection; a deathconquering power. Do you want heavenly joy; the joy of fruitfulness? Then the first thing is to learn the power of His resurrection, and to know that the same power is available to you to conquer death and barrenness in your life. That is why our Lord died and rose again. When He was on the cross, some began to say: 'If thou art the Christ, come down, and then we will believe thee.' But He never came down. He died and was buried and rose again. Why? That He might make available to us the power of His resurrection.

Isaac is another type. Gen. 20. 12: 'The Lord blessed him', and 'he became very great'; (verse 16): And Abimelech said unto Isaac: 'Go from us, for thou art much mightier than we.' He, being God's chosen vessel, pros- C H O S E N FOR H I S G L O R Y pered wherever he went, and, in a short time, became a very wealthy man. Then all the men of the land became jealous and said: 'Go away from us!' and the herdmen of Gerar provoked him to strife, (verse 20), hatred and enmity, but God told him to go to a new place. There again, Isaac became prosperous and very great, and again the men became jealous of him, and tried to provoke him to strife and hatred and bitterness; but he kept on moving under the guidance of God till he came to a place called Beersheba; a far better place. The Philistines tried to question his possession, but God was with him, because he refused to be led into strife, hatred and enmity; and finally, when he came to Beersheba, the place of covenant, God said to him: 'Fear not, for I am with thee; and will bless thee.' (verse 24).

When a man is blessed by God, he is bound to be opposed and hated. Men will try to drag him into hatred, strife and enmity in order to rob him of his joy, and to weaken his faith and disturb his peace. The devil will try many means to bring God's people into strife and hatred, and seek somehow to take away their joy, peace and faith. Is it thus with you? Then keep on moving in the direction God indicates and refuse to be involved in hatred, strife and jealousy, and God will bring you at last to Beersheba. He will give you much more than you ever had before. Our Lord said in John 16. 20, 22: 'Your sorrow will be turned into joy, and your joy no man taketh from you.' Even though the Philistines may try to rob you of your joy and peace, and try to provoke you, irritate you, make you angry and drag you into strife, take warning and be like Isaac. Refuse to be dragged into strife, hatred and jealousy whether with your wife or husband, brother or sister, friend or neighbour or preacher. Flee away from strife and hatred and enmity till you come to Beersheba, and God will surely give you much more than even you had before. That is the message of Isaac.

Even before the birth of Jacob God purposed to make him a prince, but Jacob was deceived by his own mother. She loved him so much, and he did what she commanded, and tried to realize the promise of God in a wrong way. It was only after many years of struggle that he became a prince with God and men.

There are many Christians in India who are beggars. Even in America and Europe there are many beggars! There are begging pastors and begging preachers. They ask for money for a new church building, for gospel work, or for a campaign, and feel they are quite justified in begging for money. They make strong appeals. 'Give liberally! give liberally!' they cry, 'we want money for missionary work in Africa, or India, or Australia, etc. People are dying of starvation. Who will go to China, (or to some other place) ?' Then somebody comes forward and says: 'I want to go to India. My heart is stirred to go to India,' (or it may be to China, or some other place). The next thing to do is to send out an appeal, saying: 'I want to go to India, will you please help ?* and the candidate goes begging from place to place asking: 'Who will promise to give me five dollars, or even one dollar ?' Can such people truly say that they are sent from God? O ye beggars, ye beggars! God wants to make you princes; not earthly princes, but God's princes. God wants to give you His best. Learn to go to God for everything, and not to man. Instead, like Jacob, men go on scheming and planning. They want the birthright, but there is no need to beg Esau for the birthright. God can give much more than anyone can ask or think. The pity is that many of us are only 'Jacob' Christians, belly Christians, greedy Christians, while God is saying: 'Behold Israel, you are a prince, you are a priest, you are my friend, my co-labourer. Come to me and I will answer you.' From the life of Jacob God wants to teach us how to become princes and partners with God.

CHOSEN FOR H I S G L O R Y 35 Then came Egypt. The children of Israel remained there for four hundred years. Their numbers multiplied and Pharaoh became bitter against them. Then they called upon God for deliverance. God allowed them to be in bondage all those years, but at their request, God sent them a saviour in Moses. God allowed them to remain in bondage to Pharaoh in Egypt for so long that they might learn how cruel and unkind and wicked was the enemy. When they first came to Egypt they were very happy. They had everything in plenty, but they were far away from their homeland. They were in enemy territory.

There arc so many people these days who say there is no death or hell; modern preachers who serve the devil. They find a pleasure in serving him, and in making fun of God's people and calling them old-fashioned. They say that God made the world for their enjoyment, and in their folly they go on following the world and serving the devil and struggling with the lust of the flesh. There are also many carnal Christians living in sin and darkness. They say they are born again, but they are slaves to many worldly devices. They do not know how wicked the devil is and are in bondage to him. The children of Israel were in bondage for four hundred years till they had learned the hardness of the heart of Pharaoh. They had to work from early morning till night, carrying heavy srones, and bearing heavy burdens, without proper wages, till at last, in their misery, they prayed: 'O God, deliver us; sec our affliction and our tears,' and God heard their crying and sent them a saviour. But before they could be delivered God sent ten plagues upon Egypt. Why? That the people might realize the deceptiveness of the enemy. Every servant of God must learn how wicked and cunning is the enemy who is trying to drag God's children into darkness. When he forgets the power of the dominion of Satan and darkness, the servant of God will surely come into bondage.

When the children of Israel came into the wilderness they were made to wander there for forty years, doing no work, having no field and owning no building. As for their food the Lord said: 'I will send manna every day.' They had to do one thing, however, and that was to remain in the place where They had pitched their tents till God's cloud over the tabernacle moved forward. Num. 9. 18-22. Sometimes the cloud would stay for a day or two; sometimes for many months. Sometimes it would be lifted in the morning, sometimes during the day, and sometimes at midnight. Immediately the cloud moved they had to go forward, whatever the time of day or night, and whatever the direction it might take. They could not go as and where they liked while they were in the wilderness. They were God's people, and they must be led, governed and controlled by God in everything. It was a simple lesson, but one which was very hard for them to learn. God wants you and me to learn the same lesson; to learn to be led by the Spirit, Rom.

8. 14. God's people are given the gift of the Holy Spirit. He is Saviour and also Guide. The child of God must be controlled and governed by Him alone. This is only possible when we die to our own will, and it takes many years to learn that lesson.

There are so many people who are governed by their wives, or husbands, or children, or neighbours, or friends, or by some man or woman, and not by God. How many men have heard the voice of God in a meeting, but when they go home and consult their wives, the latter say: 'Don't be foolish. You have a wife and three children to consider. This path is not for you.' Others arc governed by those who make them sin. They live in shame and are governed by lust, greed and vanity. They ask: 'What will our friends and neighbours say ?' Is it any wonder that such have to wander in the wilderness for forty years to learn the simple lesson of how to be completely and entirely controlled by God.

CHOSEN FOR H I S GLORY From the wilderness God's people came to Canaan, the land of promise, the land flowing with milk and honey, in itself a symbol of God's provision for His people. In John 6. 55, we are told that God had given them a land which was unique in every way; a fertile land, full of plenty in every part. They had everything in abundance, and in it God was saying to them: 'O my people, my people, I have made abundant provision for you. God is your sufficiency, provided you know how to feed and feast on Him, and enjoy the land.'

God commanded them never to make any covenant or league with the inhabitants of the land, nor to intermarry with them, yet by disobedience they failed God. When the men of Gibeon came to Joshua they put on old shoes and clothes, and brought old mouldy bread, saying: 'We are coming from a far country; we have heard about you; please make a league with us.' Without seeking God's counsel, Joshua made a league and the same men became a snare to them. Gradually mixed marriages were entered into, idol worship and other forbidden things became the rule of the day, and the people became blind spiritually.

If a child of God wants to enjoy the heavenly Canaan there has to be a life of utter separation from the world and worldly ways and pleasures. Why is there barrenness among God's people everywhere? They have good teaching and yet they are blind and barren. One cause is the league and covenant so many make with the world, some in the matter of clothing and fashions, some by marriage, and others by business. How can such know the provision in the Lord Jesus Christ? He is our heavenly meat and drink, and gives abundant satisfaction; but you must be true to Him. Perhaps it will mean that some will have to remain unmarried for many years, because of the difficulty of finding a truly spiritual husband or wife; but it is better so than to live a life of pleasure and to remain spiritually barren.

You have to bring God's Word into everything, whether it be your family life, your spiritual life, or your church life. Only then can you enjoy abundant life and perfect peace. 'I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly', John 10:10. Only then can He give joy unspeakable and full of glory, and all power, and the whole kingdom. Christ is my Canaan, He is my satisfaction, and He gives me all things in abundance. There are many Christians who are like some riven; which remain dry for ten months in the year; wide rivers, but without water for ten or eleven months. Then the monsoon comes and there is water for one month only; a shallow flood that has no life. Christ is willing to give always and everywhere the fulness of His everlasting peace and joy and power. That is Canaan.

Later came the building of the temple. God chose David, and after many years of suffering, he was given the heavenly plan, I Chron. 28. 19. God also showed David the site for the temple. David gave the plan and material to Solomon and the latter built the temple. Solomon was a man of peace, and the work was done, not only in times of peace, but the very labour also was performed in conditions of peace and quietness. No one heard any sound of axe or hammer till every small detail given in God's plan was complete. Then the king and the people brought sacrifices and offerings, and suddenly fire fell from heaven, and the whole temple was filled with God's glory. What a wonderful sight that must have been! The whole nation rejoiced to see the power of God. The mighty God, the Living God, had come to dwell among them. The whole nation rejoiced in the privilege of having such a God in their midst. This, in the words of the psalmist, was 'the gladness of His nation', in which he rejoiced also by faith, and in which we too rejoice both by faith and also by experience.

God has chosen you and me to make of us a spiritual people. Those people saw God's glory, but in their pride they be- CHOSEN FOR HIS GLORY 39 came blind and remained in darkness. What they could not see is now being revealed in the church which is God's true temple. The temple of Solomon was destroyed. It was a wonderful temple, but it had to be destroyed. It was not eternal. But now God is building a temple through you and me; an everlasting temple that cannot be shaken. It is not builded with stone or gold or silver or brass or timber, but it is builded of living stones, on the foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. He is our heavenly Solomon. He is Builder as well as Foundation, He is now building you and me into the Temple, to show God's glory for eternity; and this is our rejoicing, and His inheritance. The Lord's inheritance is His people, Deut. 3 2: 9; Psa. 78.71-

In my college days the Prince of Wales came to India, and it was the days of non-cooperation on the part of the Congress. We all refused to go to any party given at that time in Lahore. One student amongst us, however, went to the party, and when he returned we went to shake hands with him, but he refused to shake hands with us. When we asked what was the matter, he replied: 'I have shaken hands with the Prince of Wales.' What a wonderful thing it will be to dwell with the King of glory for eternity and to be filled with His glory and fulness. That hope gives me heavenly joy, and it is for that purpose He has chosen us; not to make us members of any earthly group or society, but to make us members of the heavenly temple, and to give us heavenly joy for eternity. This is my gladness, my joy and hope, that even 1 can be a member of the heavenly temple, and rejoice in the gladness of God's people, and glory with God's inheritance.

Note the steps by which God led His nation. He led Abraham, then Isaac, then Jacob as individuals, then He led His people to Egypt, then through the wilderness, then into Canaan, then to the building of the temple, and to the

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glory of God dwelling in the midst of His people with heavenly splendour and power.

O rejoice, for your Saviour loves you. He wants to make you His heavenly nation, greater than all earthly nations. Let Him lead you now. and then you will know for yourself the joy the Lord can give. When you sing the heavenly songs you will be tilled with unspeakable joy. Though I cannot sing a note myself, I can enjoy music and spiritual songs. When I first heard spiritual songs after my conversion, I felt I was in heaven, the music seemed so heavenly sweet; but the music of heaven is far more glorious.

O come to God! Let Him choose you, whoever you may be, or however shameful your life may have been. However great your sins may be, humble yourself and confess them, that you may become in God's hand His chosen vessel. Say from your heart: 'Lord, 1 am not worthy to come to Thee for I am so filthy and corrupt, but 1 can hear Thy voice and Thy loving invitation. Lord, 1 believe Thy voice; accept me, even me; wash me by Thy blood and make me Thy chosen vessel, filled with the fulness of Thy power, to Thy glory. Amen!'