The Return of God's Glory

THE RETURN OF GOD’S GLORY

. “The glory is departed from israel: for the ark of God fs taken," i Sam. 4.22).

“Now when Solomon And made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offer- Ing and the sacrifices: and the glory of the Lord filled the house, "(2 Chron. 7.

In the first sentence, we read that the glory was departed from Israel: and in the second we see that the fire came down from heaven and the clary of the Lord filled the house.

There are certain divine principles according to which God works. His glory is seen only when we are willing to abide by those principles.

In Exodus 40 we see how the glary came by the fulfilling of those divine principles. In verses 16, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 32 and 33 we read this phrase:. “As the Lord commanded Moses.” And in the last verse, “So Moses finished he work.” Then in Exodus 40.34, ‘And the glory of the Lord fitted the tabernacle.”

. That fragment, “As the Lord commanded Moses” is repeated as if the Lard Himself was examining the whole work which had been done, and He was fully satisfied in every small detail. It is only when the work is finished according, to God's standard that the Glory comes down, That is how the Bible defines the descent of the glory of God.

See what our Lord Himself says in John 4.34, “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me. and to finish His work.’ It is only when a work is finished according lo God's perfect revealed will, and according to His heavenly plan, that at His command the Glory comes down.

Just the mere manifestation of some power or miracle or sign is nor God's glory. It is a finished and complete work, done according to His command and order, which brings down the full Glory of God.

How can we prove that God’s glory is among His people? First, let us look at Numbers 7.89.

“And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the ' congregation to speak with Him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and He spake unto him.”:

From the day that God’s glory had filled the tabernacle He began to speak from between the cherubim, from above the mercy seat. God had spoken tu Moses before, from the burning bush: He spoke to him when He called him, on the Mount, and there He gave him the whole law and the pattern for the tabernacle. But now we find this speaking is different altogether. From now onward God began to open His heart to Moses to reveal His whole mind, from between the cherubim.

Here we get the proof that God's glory was amongst His people. God was speaking and He was making His mind clear to all those that came to Him. It was the privilege of anybody among all the twelve tribes that for his personal or family problems or for any other matter concerning the congregation, he could go to Aaron, the high priest, and find out the mind of God and the will of God.

Then Aaron would yu to God and hear Him speaking from between the cherubim above the mercy seat. God speaking is the one great proof that God’s glory is among His people.

Secondly, let us read Numbers 9.15-23. ‘The cloud covered the tabernacle”. This is the second great proof that God was with them in His full glory. Their eyes were constantly upon the cloud resting upon the tent of the congregation. Whether the cloud lifted in the morning or midday, ar evening, or midnight, the children of Israel moved only when the cloud lifted. When the cloud tarried for a day or a week or a month ora year or even longer, they had to stay; they could not move: but whithersoever the cloud went, they had to go. By these two great signs we know that God’s. glory was dwelling amongst His people.

Now we find in 1 Samuel 4.22 that the glory departed. There were many causes responsible for that; and because; of these causes, these people of God lost their privileges one by one. The time came at last when God had to leave them—for a while.

Let us consider a few of the causes that were responsible for the spiritual decline of the people. Judges 21.25, “Every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”’ The first great cause of their failure and their barrenness was that “everyone did that which was right in his own eyes.”

In 1 Samuel 2.12-17 we see a second cause of failure. These sons of Eli the high priest, began to despise the sacrifices: and not only that, they began to use force. We are told in verse 13 that they had with them a fleshhook of three teeth, to’ take away the flesh which was meant for God.

Nowadays, the very same thing is happening through fleshhooks of three teeth: that is, the honour that ought to ‘ be given to God is being given to man because of (a} Love for money. (b) Love for power; and (c) Love for fame.

. These are the three great teeth which are being used now by many people. Many people do serve God, no doubt, but you find in their heart of hearts, either they have love for money, love for power, or love for fame. They will make any sacrifice, if only they can satisfy their desire for power, or money, or name!

Also, we find that Eli knew all this! Yet he would not rebuke his sons. That is why God had to punish him so severely, See further in 1 Samuel 3.13- “For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.”

He knew it. Nothing was hidden from him. Ne doubt he did tell them, “This is not right!” but as the Targum save: “He did not frown upon them, nor did he rebuke them,” As high priest, it was his duty: and when he found corruption going on in the house of God, he ought to have sternly rebuked his sons. But he did not frown upon them, nor rebuke them. For this cause. we find that the glory departed from the house of God, and from Israel.

Then we see in 1 Samuel 4.1-6 that Eli knew tint his sons were living in sin, and yet he permitted them to carry the ark into the battlefield.

These are a few of the causes responsible for the barrenness and death found in those days among God’s people. First of all, we see that every man thought that whatever he did, was right! That is how the downfall began.

Secondly, when Eli knew that corruption had come into the house of God, rather than firmly rebuking and punishing his children, he politely scolded them: “Please don’t du it. Jt is not good fur you.” It is like saying to a thief, “Mr. Thief, don’t steal—it is not good for you.” Would he ever listen 10 you? So God had to say to Eli that He was going to judge his house once and for all!

Then we see the evil of these young men in that they carried the ark. They were not only heedless and careless about what they were doing in the house of God. but they; were presuming to be leaders of Israel, in carrying the ark! _

In the same way today, we find so many ungodly men of wealth, position and ability holding responsible positions in « the churches and where God's work goes on! and that is why the glory has departed from among the people of God.

Whatever the condition was in those days, you find the very same nowadays throughout the world, we have to acknowledge that the glory-has departed. Look around the. churches in India, America, Canada, Europe or in any other part of the world, you will agree that this is true God’s glory has departed! God's Word has become precious, or rare! In very few places are people receiving good sermons and goad teaching. They acquire a good head-knowledge of the Scripture, but there are very few places where God’s. message is given in simplicity; where people say, “Hear ye what God says—this is His message!”

And in those days, we read, God’s Word became precious.

. They had the privilege of receiving God’s Word from the high priest, but he also became spiritually deaf, dull and dumb. God’s message was not being given to him. The, people also became blind, and relied upon-their own wisdom, and judgement in the work of God!

We find everywhere these days that these hooks of three -teeth are used by those who call themselves the servants of God, Leave aside modernists and those who are the people of the world, even among the so-called fundamentalists, we find the love for power and fame is there. That is why they have to use force, appeal, and other cunning in advertising. They glorify man in their love for name, or power or money.

it gives me a shock when I see servants of God begging for money.

Once in America, I heard 4 man, a good man, making an appeal for money. He said: “Friends, we have arranged a ’ banquet for young people; and we are expecting ten thousand young people. This is an opportunity to give them God’s Word. But we want ten thousand dollars within two days; and unless you give liberally, we are going to be ina ° hole”. oo

Now you find almost all Americans in a ‘hole’ these days. They have to beg for money. They beg through letters, reports, and other means. They beg, and get what they beg for.

No one is justified in begging because it is God's work for which they are asking money. We believe in a living God, and preach a living God! if God can forgive sins, He also can supply needs.

One day on the train, I saw a Hindu lady in the same compartment. She said to me, “How can God meet your needs? You say that you don’t belong to any society, how can God meet your needs?” I said, “Tell me, do you believe as I told you before, that God forgave my sins? I gave you. my testimony of how I struggled hard and tried to pet my sins forgiven by every possible means. I was prepared to spend any amount of money and go anywhere to find someone who could forgive my sins. But nobody could, The s day came when I heard these wards clearly, ‘My son, thy sins be forgiven thee’. I can tell you again and again that the Lord Jesus Christ forgave my sins more than thirty years ago; now can you tell me that your sins are forgiven?” She said, “No, I can’t say that—i wish I could say so.” I said, “Well, if you believe God forgave my sins, is it difficult for Him to supply my needs? The whole amount of the world’s money could never have taken away my sins—they were so many. If you believe God can forgive a sinner, it is very easy to believe that the same living God can supply ail my needs. I believe it, I know it also by experience”.

We do not have to ask for money; to do so is lack of faith. If we are God’s servants, God will not fail His servants.

Sometimes it is not money, but fame that men are seeking. They want a big report, so that people will say, “What a great work is being done by so-and-so'”.

Is it in a desire for fame, that we ace working?

: New what was the condition in those days? Outwardly they were doing the service of the house of God, but all the * time they were grabbing the things of God, and robbing Goa of His glory. Thus the glory was departed from among God's people.

I have come across so many of God’s servants, who have told me very sadly. “Why is it, brother? We work so hard; we arc fundamentalists, we believe in God's Word; we live a simple life: why can’t we see God’s glory?” The glory has departed,

However, we read also in God's Word that the same glory which departed, came back. We see this in 2 Chronicles 7.1. God nat only tells us of our failure; but He also has a remedy for everything. God exposes sin in very plain language,. there is no book in the world which uncovers and exposes sin in the language that the Bible does!

How horrible and terrible is sin! God uncovers it, but He ‘ also has a remedy for it!

Now we find that as we read the six books from the first book of Samuel through to the end of second Chronicles, we come across the names of four people who play a very important part in bringing back that departed Glory.

The first is Hannah, the second is Samuel. the third is David, and the fourth is Solomon. In the six books we find that these four characters play a very big part in bringing back the departed glory. As we go along we shall see how these four names speak of four divine principles. In fulfilling these principles we shall find God’s departed glory coming into our hearts, into our assemblies, and into our work.

Let us see how these four principles can help us individually and collectively, as God’s servants, that God's glory may. return, First of all turn to 1 Samuel 1.2. The name Hannah means grace. Even though this woman had a very good name, she was in great sorrow, she was being constantly provoked by Peninnah. In verses 4-7 we find Hannah in sorrow,. in pain, and being constantly hurt. Peninnah kept sarcastically saying to her. in order to hurt her, “You are barren—it is God’s curse upon you!”

We are told that as Hannah was being so sorely provoked she went and fasted and prayed, yet it seemed that God did not hear her prayer. So she continued weeping, and went on praying with faith.

Now Hannah was a godly woman--a far better woman than the other. Then why did God remain silent to her prayer? It was surely for a purpose.

In the beginning Hannah was praying only for her own need: “Lord I am barren, meet #2 need, take away my barrenness. Lord, lack upon me and any affliction and my barrenness and “zy condition and my sorrow, and save me I rom * the reproach of sy neighbours.”’ All her tears were for Her need, She did not know that God could also have some need! Then her prayer changed; “ford. now I forsake my own selfish need and promise that if you give me a man- ° child, he will be lent back to Thee”.

Somehow, when she discovered God's need, God answered her prayer and gave her a san.

Many of us pray like Hannah did: “Lord, we are barren, take away our barrenness. Lord, we are empty, please fill us. Lord, we see no fruit for our labours; send a revival!”

Many prayers are being offered throughout the world for revival, same praying for a whole night. others for a whole week, others still, praying with fasting. but still no answer. Why? Our prayers are selfish. we go by our own conception of how God must work. God must work in this, or that way we think, “Lord. you must work in this plan and meet our need in this way’’, we pray.

We ask: “Lord take away our barrenness: give us more fruit: let us see Thy power in our midst, more and more!” ‘.

I But God does not answer our prayers! Why? Because we _ have not yet discovered God's need. Yes, we have a need indeed, but what about God? Unless we find God's need, we. cannot expect God to work!

We take a lot for granted. We say. India is poor. and we must keep asking for money for India. Are you sure about that? That is not God's way of working! We must not take THE RETURN OF GOD'S GLORY 2]

for granted that because people are in poverty, they must be given money. Sometimes tragedies and floods are His judgements. We have no right to interfere in God's work. Even though we should spend the whole of the world’s wealth, we can never remove poverty and sickness (rom the earth!

We as God's servants must find out what God’s need. is today. What is God’s need in India. north India, or south India? What is God's need in Africa, in Europe, er in America? We must find this out by prayer. Don’t go by the assumption that because God worked in a certain place so many years ago, that He must do the same there again today! This is only our own idea! That is why our prayers are left unanswered,

L believe we learn in Hannah how to pray, Even though Hannah prayed with fasting. and tears, and with faith: even though she was a sincere, godly woman: nevertheless, God did not hear her prayer. He waited till she understood His need! You, tog, may be thinking: “Why is God so silent? He knows the value of man’s life. Why does He allow this or that to happen) and go un for years?”

God has His own way of working. He wanted a man, for He cannot work without a man, He wanted a man who was given to Him willingly. and for that He waited.

A similar cause we see in Elijah. in 1 Kings 19.14, He was very sure that because God had sent fire, as recorded in 1 Kings 28.38. surely now He must again send fire. Is not Jezebel a wicked queen? And does she not deserve to be punished’? Sa the prophet was very positive (hat God would punish this woman, for she deserved it. she had threatened to take the life of God's servant. Bul nothing had happened! Elijah began te despair when he saw that God was taking no action. He said in effect: “Now Lord. I resign my office as a prophet. and give Thee an hour's notice. Prom today I re- I fuse to be Thy prophet. What is the use of serving Thee? This wicked woman wants to kill me and you are asleep!”

But God was so gracious. He was not sleeping, but He was not going to punish Jezebel in the wisdom of Elijah! He had already planned that He would use Jehu to punish her, and not Elijah.

That was God's way. Now my point is, that we have no tight to dictate to God; He has ways that are higher than our ways, and we can safely wait for Him.

What about God’s purpose in the matter of Hannah? God was wailing very patiently, and He was pleased to choose ° Hannah to be His partner. He permitted that barrenness in the life of Hannah to make her a true partner of God, What an honour to be given to Hannah! She had been praying:. “Lord, take away my reproach”: God was saying, “Hannah, what about My need? My name ts also being reproached”’.

That is why we also fail; because we are more concerned about our mission, our name, our reputation, and our depression even, than we are for God's Name. Many of our prayers are for ourselves only! ‘Lord. do a new work in our midst, in our group’, we pray. God does not work in that way. We must learn how (o pray in order to find God’s need or what He is after. If we want God’s glory to come down, we must first of all learn how to pray thus: for we find that before every true revival, there has been first of all a great burden for prayer.

Go to Ireland. Wales, Assam or to any other part of the world where there has been revival, and you will find that it was 4 prayer revival, first of all. They began to cry everywhere for revival, praying day and night; not only for them-. selves, but also for the whole world. They were praying that God would have His way. for the first principle is to pray according to God’s will: seeking to find His mind and His need. -

Please do not assume that you are the only person responsible to take the Gospel to the whole world! Are you sure that God has given this job to you? Read Matthew 28, 19,20. and you wall see that this commandment is given to all believers. God has not given the monopoly to any one nation or people. We may be wealthy and educated, but we cannot say that because we have more money, or more education that it is our special privilege to evangelize the whole world. Unless we make every believer a strong witness for the Lord and preach the whole church’s responsibility to evangelize, the job is impossible. ff won't happen:

Why did God not allow the Jews to evangelize the world? They were a more gifted people: they had their apostles; and yet you see that God passed by the Jews. and He came to Antioch (Acts 13.2). You would think that the Great Commission would have been given to the apostles at Jerusalem. They are the first people who should be sent out to other parts of Europe tu evangelize. But not so. God in His own sovereign way chose Antioch as Elis centre. The centre shifts from Jerusalem to Antioch, What about today’s command? Can we very truthfully say that we spend hours in prayer till we know God’s mind? Or are we taking it for granted that this must be God's plan? Hannah teaches us the principle of prayer. She learned how to pray, in order to know God's will.

“And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh: for the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh, by the Word of the Lord” (1 Samuel 3.21).

This is the second divine principle which has to be fulfilled if we want God to send His glory into our midst, if we are going to allow God to reveal Himself. We need the fearless, faithful witness of men like Samuel. We have good Bible teachers, and many scholars who can write very good books and some very good preachers also bul not many Samuels.

: We want men of God, men who are actually the mouthpiece of God; men who can boldly and [reply say: "Hear ye what God saith’ and “Thus saith the Lord’.

God’s Word came ‘to Samuel as a small boy. God first told him, “You go and tell Eli’. How could he,a small boy, go to an old man his master, and give him God's message? But even though it was.a difficult and terrible message, he obeyed God and gave it.

We find that there are very few people who are prepared to give God's message. We think we have to be su polite and diplomatic ii what we say, so that no one knows what we are talking about!

There was a man in England, known as Lord Asquith, a very fine speaker, and with a line command of language. Yet he spoke in such a way, that ao one knew whit his views were!

Sone years aga. I was in Ahmedabad. One Saturday night I began to pray fur God’s message. Very clearly God spoke to me saying: “You have to speak on the broad of Christ tomorrow morning’. T said, “Lord, P will da it on Monday, because there is one leading person an the committee who is a staunch member of the Oxford Group”. There were pastors and missionaries as well as myself invited to dinner on this occasion. P said. “Lord. if I give that message they will be su angry that they may even cancel the dinner. so let me have the dinner, and I will give the message on Monday”. But God would not leave me! So when the time came, I gave what God had given tu me and that day they fave me no food! They were so angry with me that they left me without any food the whole evening.

The third day, the same person came to me. T asked, “Are you a member of the Oxford Group?” “Yes”. he answered. “And why were you su angry with me? T asked. He said, “Because you spoke those things so bluntly. T said, “Don't you believe in perfect love? Is it not one of the rules of the Oxford Group. to love your enemies? And if I be your enemy, you must love me also. You invited me here yourself, and I accepted your invitation- why don’t you lave your enemy?”

He saw the point—that he needed practice and not only theory. They all repented, and the Lord saved them. _

Now unless we give God's message at the proper time, the enemy will gain ground. We have a desire to be very polite lest we lose a chance to speak again. We reason this way: lit give God's full message they will never ask me again. Does a matter? Tt doesn't matter, Are we here just to be popular speakers, or do we want lo be God's messengers with God's message? God wants a man who will be His mouthpiece. who will not be afraid of any man's face. I feel that in these days there is a serious need for a man like. Samuel,

Before the work began in Madras, I prayed for a whole month, and God would not speak to me. I fasted too, but. still ts answer came. One might. I said. ‘Lord. I promise Thee I will pay the price, even though FP get no more invitations ta speak anywhere, bdent cure!” I bad been saying ‘Lord, now have four hundred inviiaticar tor campaigns in India, Burma and Ceylon. See Lord, there is an open door in every part of India they ate all asking me for meetings. lean go anywhere now with the message and somebody else can do the follow-up’. But God would give me no message. Now I prayed. “Lord. f will be satisfied even if you keep me in a lonely place. P dan’) want big campaigns, I only want to be sure lun in Thy will, Nothing else will satisfy me” When b said that, like a flush God spoke to me. “Behold, I make a covenant, I will de marvels”. And from shat day He gave me Inorg than seventy verses of assurances of how He would work.

I believe with all nw heart chat unless we are men like. Samuel, we will not see God's power fully manifested. He may Useus, but not fully: He may bless ux. but nat fully, He may work among us. but not deeply: unless. we are men like Samuel. and God's Word can come and go out freely as He,. gives it. ‘

In} Samuel 13.3-$4. we see how God used Samuel when His people were in trouble. Reading this passage. you will agree by human censuring that Saul was justified in his ac. man,

Their enemies had gathered in large numbers: and all Saul’s men were trembling in fear. Samuel had said that he could come within seven days. But they could not wait. Saul had waited seven full days but still Samuel did not come; so he then forced himself to offer a sacrifice, which he had no right to do. He ignored the law of God. He knew full well that he had na business to offer a sacrifice. That was Samuel's job, not his. So Samuel had to rebuke Saul and al great cost.

Many of us may demand that God must work, or answer ° our prayer within a certain period, perhaps within seven days. God will tot work according to our plan. In the first place, it was God that delayed Samuel in coming. We do ‘ not know the details: but God was evidently proving and testing Saul. He wanted to show Saul what was in man's heart: and also that it man tike Samuel would implicitly obey God.

When we find the enemies coming against us like Saul did. and when we find things becoming very difficult to bear, we often go against the mind uf God. Our argument may be: Tt is the work of God it must not suffer for want of money, Now we have prayed with faith for so mary months and no money has come in. So tet us go and bee for it!

Even in groups who began on ua faith basis I find they have started begging and giving many hints for money. Why is it? Because the work ts great?

‘In the olden days there was not so much work’, we say; ‘but now with so many missionaries throughout the world,, the work has grown great. We must have more money and thus there is no harm in begging for it!

Can God not work today? Why did Samuel delay his. coming? At God's command, he delayed. God may delay in sending help for some time. We cannot change the divine principle—faith means faith! If we say we have faith—it I must be living faith.

Now Saul knew full well that God was going to deliver them through Samuel. This was not the first time God had worked such a miracle. Saul knew that Samuel was God’s prophet and that in the Name of God he would defeat the enemy, and not by their own strength. But the people trembled and were so frightened when Samuel delayed to come, that Saul forced himself, and offered the sacrifice.

Now we want men like Samuel, that whenever God’s: people depart from the truth, whenever they are acting against God's Word. God's servant will have courage to say: ‘You are wrong, brother; do not depart from your first vision’,

We find that God has prophets, and even today, through His prophets His mind is revealed, and we must obey His ward even though it may be hard and faithful.

In 1 Samuel 15.23-31 and 16.1, you will see that Samuel had to say a hard thing to King Saul: “Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, He also hath rejected thee from being king.”

You will see also from these verses that Saul shed tears over his sin, so much so, that Samuel, even though he was 4 prophet of God, mourned for him and pleaded to God for him. But it was of no use. God had refused him!

You have very false hopes if you think you will bring reformation among the denominations. You may argue about it as much as you like,

. Let us learn the lesson God wants to teach us in this passage: His command to Saul had been to destroy the enemy utterly but Saul had spared Agag and the choice of the flack and thus he failed God.

, God had to refuse Saul for two great failures. Firstly, he changed God's order for sacrifice, Secondly, he gave partial obedience tu His command.

The very same thing is happening also among the people of the denominations—a continual change of God’s order.

They think that there is no harm in having some human way in their church life.

For example, it is entirely unscriptural to appoint elders by vote, They all know that by having elections in their system they bring strife in the churches. It begins by election. One party wins, the other party loses. How can we justify that practice when we know it is unscriptural. Also, in this way, ungodly men are elected to hold offices!

That is why God does not work fully in these groups.. There can be blessing: no doubt God can use them to save souls, and spread the Gospel. But He cannot fully bless them. In the same way God allowed Saul to remain as king for some time; but he was no longer really His anointed. vessel.

And Samuel began to weep, being an old man. He felt sorry for him, and he must have prayed: ‘Lord, please forgive him—forgive Saul. I know he has done wrong: but he had done good also’. But God said to him, “How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him?’ (16.1).

You may think that by giving some co-operation to the denominations, you can bring more light and help to them. It will never work. You may see some blessing but you will never see God’s glory, as the Scriptures show.

We see further what God was looking for. He wanted the people to come to His full glory. He not only wanted them to overcome the Philistines, which would be for only a short time, but He had a far greater plan for Israel as a nation. ‘my must be brought into their full inheritance in Canaan, * and they must see God working fully in their midst. This was God’s purpose. God wants men after His own heart, and even Samuel himself had to learn this lesson,

In 1 Samuel 16.2,3 he said: “If Saul hear it, he will kill me, And the Lord said, I will show thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto Me him whom I name unto thee.”

Here is another reason why God wanted Samuel—that God’s anointed vessel might be found. Even though Samuel wanted by human wisdom to give Saul one more chance, God refused it. God wants those whom He has called and prepared for a particular service. And you are not likely to find this happening in a group who depend upon election—they only want the persons of their preference to be the ones appointed for this or that,

Now please note verse 4: “And Samuel did that which. the Lord spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?”

Why did the elders tremble at the coming of Samuel? He. did not go with a sword or a stick. He was not going to say what they thought he was going to say. He would say what God told him, for he was a man of God—God’s prophet, And whatever they had dane wrong, it would be uncovered by his coming. This is why they were trembling. If we had men like Samuel, we would find this type of thing happening today and men would be trembling. But while we remain so careful and so diplomatic and so cautious of every word, lest we hurt someone, we will not see anything happening—there will be no conviction! Samuel was a man of God who brought conviction wherever he went. He went peaceably; yet, men trembled.

Let us look further at verses 6 and 7 of the same chapter where we are shown the divine principle of choosing leaders: “for the Lord seeth not as man seeth: for man looketh on the outward appearance. But the Lord looketh on the. heart.”.

In the work of the Lord we have to be very, very careful never to be governed by nationality, nor by appearances of. any kind.

Now it is possible that you have appointed a man as leader of your mission, who has never been called of God—and now you are paying the price for it! You may have said, “He is a very nice man, a qualified man, let him be our leader, preacher or co-worker”, but you have gone only by outward appearance--not by God's choice.

The third name is David, illustrating the third divine principle—the necessity for God’s order. In I Samuel 16.12-14, even though the Lord had departed from Saul, yet we see that God allowed him to continue as king for a while, so that David also might be properly prepared.

In 1 Samuel 30.1.4 we read of the tragic way in which David was overcome by the Amalekites at Ziklag. David and his men all began to weep until they had no power left to weep. Why? Because the it wives and their children were taken captive; and their houses and possessions were burned —what a great loss! Now it is generally the privilege of women to weep. They weep on the roadside, bus, on the train—anywhere. But a man does not weep. If a man should weep on the roadside, it is considered strange. Here we find that David and all his men were weeping. This shows what a very great loss there was to recover!

This loss was the result of David's own failure. He had failed to consult God before he joined the army of the Philistines.

The time came when the Philistines joined battle against Israel (i Samuel 29). David saw in this an opportunity to avenge himself an Saul: so he decided to join the Philistines in battle too, saying to himself, ‘He is my enemy; he has tried to kill me; I have waited so long for this chance; let me go against Saul’, Though he knew full well that God would not allow him to touch Saul, he impatiently joined the Philistines, not waiting to find God's will as he had done at other times. But he failed, and he and his men suffered great loss.

In verse 8 we see David enquiring after God. God forgave him and told him to ‘pursue, overtake them, and without fail, recover all”. David pursued, and not only recovered all but found such great spoil that he was able to pay his debts to all his men; and send gifts to the elders in Judah,

But God himself dealt with Saul without the help of David. We see in 1 Samuel 31.1-6 that Saul’s end came when the battle of the Philistines went sore against him, and Saul died. David had no need to go against him. God had this in His own control.

My point is, that we do not have to go and fight against people--using carnal weapons!

2 Samuel 24,1-4, 13-17 gives the second occasion when David incurred a loss. He fell into temptation by numbering, the people. Eli knew full well that all the battles had been fought and won because of the power of God, and not by the strength of his army, bul because of his pride, he wanted. to assure himself that he had a very large army behind him.

The result was that God had to punish him, and 70,000 of his men were killed. He was about to wipe out Jerusalem, but He stayed His hand when David confessed his sin on the threshing floor of Araunah: “Lo I have sinned, and FE have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? Let Thine hand, I pray Thee, be against me”. Then God forgave him, and the very same site became the site for the temple God wanted to be built.

In the same way many have failed. They argue: ‘We must have more money, more power, more men, more knowledge’. In that way they have changed God's plans, but they cannot defeat the enemy by any human strength or resources.

In 2 Samuel 11.1 we see that David becomes a murderer, because of his failure to obey God’s Word and go on duty.

. That was David's third loss.

David tarried at Jerusalem and was tempted and became an adulterer, and afterwards a deceiver. He repented sincerely, but God had to humble him.

To make him humble, God even permitted in David's life these temptations. In God's work we have to be extremely humble and broken. So whenever we are going through a testing time, remember, it is that God may make us humble vessels.

In 1) Chronicles 13.1-11 we see God dealing with David the fourth time. David should have known that the ark of God was to be carried on the shoulders of the Levites, and not taken in a cart: yet in human wisdom he ignored the divine order. The Philistines had returned the ark of God in a new cart, and David began to imitate the Philistines, so God became angry.

All Israel came with great zeal, singing and dancing and with harps, to take the ark to the city of David, but the whole procedure was against God's will, David thought that by having a very grand procession, and a military band, it would please God. But they entirely ignored the revealed plan of God. The Ark must be borne by the Levites. It must be carried on their shoulders. So God’s judgement fell, and then David feared God.

Now when David returned to God’s order in bringing back the ark, there was great joy. [t was then that David wrote that wonderful psalm in 1 Chronicles 16.7-36.

Maybe we have the same temptation that David had. He thought that by making some change he would make a better impression. But in God's work, we can never change God’s order. Whatsoever has been revealed in the Bible is to be followed, for every period of time, for every worker and for every group. You cannot change it.

When you are tempted and make some change, there always comes loss.

Afterwards when David returned to God’s ways, God gave him the pattern and the plan for the temple. He did this on two separate occasions; but only after he was delivered from his human wisdom.

We think that we are living in different days; but I can see from God's Word clearly that unless we follow the heavenly pattern in our day, we cannot see God coming in His full glory. Sometimes we have to be brought on the ‘threshing floor’ because, in God’s work, we are depending far too much on human wisdom and cleverness; but we cannot make any improvement on the heavenly plan.

Now let us consider Solomon illustrating the fourth divine principle to ensure God’s glory. ‘And the house when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor. axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house while it was in building” (1 Kings 6.7).

This was a very unique building. There is no building in. the world which can be built without a sound; but there was no need for any sound at all in this building, because every stone fitted in so beautifully according to God’s plan.

When you follow God's plan in your individual life, and family and church life, you will find unity, co-operation, ~ openness, fellowship, and spiritual joy in living together?” Otherwise there is strife. When we have God's plan, and we know our ministries, there will not be jealousy Much

work has suffered because of jealousy."

I remember in one place we were having a meeting. I found it very hard going that day in the meeting. When I came back to my room, I asked the Lord, “What is it that made it hard?” The Lord spoke to me and showed me that it was my prayer-partner that was at fault. So I called him and said. “Brother, tell me why was it so difficult today?” He said, “I am very sorry to confess to you, but I felt very, jealous of you while you were speaking”.

Even as God's servants, we can be jealous of each other, and it brings lass. There is no doubt about it; we may have: to pray for a whole night or longer to make sure of God's mind. And then we find oneness.

When the work of building was complete, we read in 2 Chronicles 7,1 that there was great joy that day, because the glory of the Lord filled the house! For §40 years God had waited. He loved His people, rebuked them, and chastised them, till they came into His heavenly order, and then the glory came down.

In conclusion, let me bring these four things before you again. First, we acknowledge that the glory is departed. We confess our barrenness, and our fruitlessness--that we are not receiving God’s Word today, as we ought to receive it. “Lord, make me like Hannah, that knowing Thy need. I can learn how to pray, and have the privilege of meeting that need—as Hannah did, when she offered her son to the Lord”..

“Lord, make me like Samuel—Thy true mouthpiece that I may know Thy message and have Thy authority and boldness to give that message”..

Lord, give us men like David; men after Thine own heart, who will be completely free from worldly wisdom: and who can receive Thy pattern”.

In David we see God’s plan for the Church emerging, when God revealed to him the heavenly plan for the temple. Before God could give David the plan, He had to chastise him; He had ta punish him, cleanse him, change him, humble him, empty him completely of human wisdom. So in David we are made Church conscious; in Solomon we are made God conscious.

“Lord make me like Solomon-a man of peace—building God’s temple by living stones fitly joined together by unity and openness”,

Our Lord prays in John 17.21-24 for a four-fold oneness: “that they may be one, as We are”, oneness in relationship; > “that they may be made perfect in one’’, oneness in perfection, “that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them”, oneness in love: “and the glory which Thou hast given Me IJ have given them”, oneness in glory. ’

It is only by such oneness that we can finally see God’s glory coming down.