THE MOVEMENTS OF DIVINE GRACE

Deuteronomy 21:18-23; Luke 15:4, 8,11-12,17-24; Proverbs 8:12

There is no difficulty in seeing the contrast in the scripture in Deuteronomy and that in the 15th chapter of Luke. It shows clearly the difference between two dispensations; in the first there was meted out what one deserved, what such a one deserved; a very solemn consideration.

It is in the second, Luke 15, that we get the contrast; we get what we do not deserve. It is a description of the kind of reception that awaits such a one, and the blessedness of entering into the thoughts of the one who plans to receive him in this way.

In coming to the 15th of Luke, with which we arc more familiar and more at home, and where we are quite apart from the types, we have something introduced by the very One who spoke to Moses when he was called up into the mount. Moses learned from Him, took instructions from Him, and the people were dependent upon Moses, as a mediator, to communicate God's word to them; God was far off from the people, they could not draw near; but in the 2nd chapter of Luke we read of a blessed Person who has come down to us Himself. He has in very truth come down, and this gospel is devoted to showing that "the dayspring from on high hath visited us". And in this blessed Person, in the Babe in Bethlehem's manger, we see the One who gave commandments to Moses; yea we can say, the One who gave us all things. We see in the early verses of Hebrews 1 that He is the Creator; the Sustainer; the brightness of God's glory, and in His own Person giving expression to all that God is.

I read the 8th of Proverbs, in which it is said that His "delights were with the sons of men". This, truly, is seen in the 15th chapter of Luke. These verses in the 8th of Proverbs would help us as to the right approach needed for entering into these very blessed matters. It says "I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find the knowledge which cometh of reflection". (New Trans.) That is the very word used; we enter into these things as we reflect upon them. That is we are interested persons. Could we expect to really enter into the things of God if we were marked by lack of interest in them? In human things, in human contacts, the conversation closes when we find people are not interested. Does it not reflect upon us that we find ourselves many times so pre-occupied and thus lacking in interest? So I suggest beloved, that it is not always a question of the greatness of the mind, the deep penetration of thought that is able to enter into and solve problems—it is not that kind of thing. I believe it is a matter of the heart being governed by responsive affection to Christ. That is not an unreasonable thing to expect from any Christian. At the end of the first Epistle to the Corinthians we have a solemn word; it says, "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ". It supposes that it is a reasonable thing that there should be response of affection in any person who has heard the gospel. And how much more with us. I suggest that it is given to quite ordinary people like you and me to enter into the deep thoughts of God, and entering into them will lead us into practical communion with God. As held in that position, I believe we find the true way of being governed by divine thoughts in all our walk here.

Could there be anything more blessed than that which is presented to us in the 15th of Luke? The speaking is not now in types, for we have the One who is the answer to them all. Every type would be meaningless for us apart from the Person of Christ. In the 15th of Luke we have that blessed Person, a Man who has drawn near, and He has an audience of publicans and sinners. First of all He gains their ear. He says, "What man of you". You shepherds in Palestine is not this what you do? If a man have an hundred sheep and he lose one, his great concern is for the lost one. Then again He says "Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece"; she is concerned about the lost piece, and she searches until she finds it. That is what you do, He says.

Now He has gained their ear and He proceeds with the theme of all that He has come to say, the disclosure of the wonderful love of the heart of God, which only He could tell out. And so we have this parable which is well known, applicable in the gospel and applicable in ministry to the saints. Now I wish to speak of the way in which the prodigal is met. We are all familiar with the distance, the far country, and the hunger, and all besides. We can all say a word about those things, but we would rather be in the blessedness of what is brought out in the love of the father. That is one of the features of ministry, the servants have access to the wardrobe, and this is the way in which God acts. We have passed over the fact that the father ran, but it is for us to still be in the awareness of the kisses, being covered with kisses. Did that not melt our hearts, did that not affect us more than anything else besides?

And so in keeping with the blessedness of this dispensation we have the impress of those kisses, the Father's kisses, and we didn't deserve them. Had we received what we deserved it would have been similar to what is described in the 21st chapter of Deuteronomy, the judgment meted upon the stubborness and rebellion of man after the flesh. In the end of Deuteronomy chapter 21 we have a reference as to the way in which God would meet that condition of things in the cross of Christ; we have a reference to the tree. Galatians 3:13, quotes from that chapter "Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree". Christ was made a curse for us; God has completely met that condition of things in Christ. It was by one blessed Person, and in one way; it has been done and the effect of it abides; its value abides for every one of us. And the result is that the One, who was made a curse for us, has brought us into the blessedness of that which is depicted in Luke 15. The One who was making known what was in the heart of God, and the kind of reception awaiting a returning prodigal, was Himself moving on to Calvary's cross. You may say we ought to be in tears; but what is more to be desired, dear friends, is that we should be affected by that death, and be found with an increased appreciation of the One who has died for us in order to bring us into this new position in keeping with this new dispensation. The whole of our lives should be affected by it. In the 5th chapter of 2nd Corinthians, which is doctrinally parallel with what we have in the 15th of Luke, the love of Christ is referred to. He gave Himself, He could not give more. "The love of Christ constraineth us", and then it says, "We thus judge". Have we got that discernment? Have we been led into that quality of discernment which is the result of the consideration of the love of Christ? Such discernment leads to one course only, "We thus judge, that if One died for all, then were all dead". And "They which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again". That is the true reasoning; that is the discernment to which we are directed; that is the intelligence which springs from a heart that has appreciation of the love of Christ in dying for us.

I believe we have in the best robe something that answers to the ministry of reconciliation in view of being in new creation before God; in keeping with the new dispensation. We are being led to see the blessedness of what it is to be in association with Christ as risen; to see what it is to know Him there. It is on that side of things that weakness is found in Christendom. It is one thing to know what is fundamental in connection with Christ as coming here in incarnation and dying on the cross, but in the Christ who has gone back to glory lies the blessedness of the truth of reconciliation and new creation. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, it says, "If any one (be) in Christ, (there is) a new creation" (New Trans.). This speaks of the new things in keeping with the new dispensation; the old things have passed away. It is for us to know that the old things, which could only have their settlement by the "death of Christ, are passed away forever, and His death is the outstanding evidence of it. By the Spirit we each one may be in the blessed consciousness of being before God; no longer in the far country but in the best robe; clothed; having on the ring and the shoes, and in the enjoyment of all that those things speak of.

The Father's love rests upon us, and He sees us as He sees Christ Himself, is not that a wonderful thing? It is the Christian position, in keeping with the present dispensation.

F. Broadley.