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June 1931
T h e - K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
of that people. I know nothing that will bring greater courage to the heart of the missionary than to be able to plead such a definite promise, and then to see that “pres ent” being brought unto the Lord from a people tall and smooth, a people terrible from their beginning onward, a nation meted out and one that has been trodden down dur ing the past centuries. To one who has labored under those circumstances, it is not difficult to see the meaning of the prophet’s words and to realize clearly that they refer to no other people or land than to the people and the land of the great Sudan. It is not to be wondered at that past generations have failed to recognize the land here described. It was a- land practically unknown to them. But now, in the light of the facts revealed, God’s Word again is vindicated and the prophet’s meaning seems clear. the time then present, in which were offered both gifts' and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience” (Heb. 9:9). But now there remains “no more conscience of sins” (10:2). “All that believe are justified from all things” (Acts 13:39), and are perpetually cleansed through the blood of,; Christ (John 1:7, 9). What more remains? Nothing.' So then, purification'having-been achieved, He “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” This points to a completion of His work. Nothing had been left un done. All was finished; hence, He sat down. The lan guage may. be figurative, but the truth is clear: It appears again in the words of Heb. 10:12: “This man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God.” ■ That one offering -was offered bnce for all—offered and accepted. So it is written “there is: no more offering for sin” |(10:18). f Under the ¡old covenant,- the high priest never sat' down in the most holy place. His wdrk was always un finished. Repetition was the rule—but not so here. The one sacrifice for sing was sufficient. All the elaborate ritual of the old covenant, with its courts and vestments,: its priestly garments, its symbols, censers, and sacrifices, found fulfillment in Him who, having obtained eternal redemption, sat down, “a Priest upon His throne.” No other priest is needed, for “he ever liveth to make inter cession for them” .that come unto God by Him. There are men who claim to be priests by right of succession. But where is the necessity for succession? Inasmuch as “he ever liveth to make intercession,” there can be no suc cessor. There was an Old Testament succession of priests by reason of death, but our Priest liveth for evermore. He was “taken from among men” and “is ordained for men in things pertaining to God” (Heb. 5 :1). He is our great High Priest, the representative Man in the glory. “Christ to' heaven is gone before Studies in Hebrews (Continued from page 260)
ing, why did God let all those things happen to me ? Can you answer me that, Joy?” “No, I cannot. I don’t think anybody can.” “Well, then I never can be happy or really trust God again until I do understand, can I?” “Oh yes, you can. You can trust God whether you understand Him or not.” “I cannot! I just have to keep hammering away until I do understand. I must have light; I must see why.” Joyce was quiet. She was praying desperately for help. Then she looked up, a sudden light in her face. “I am reading the Bible through,” she said, “and I am reading now in Isaiah. Just last evening I found two verses I think I never saw before, though I have read the book through. They seemed to grip me, and I read them several times before I could understand their meaning. I think they may help you.” She reached for her Bible,,and Marian went for hers. “Where did you say it was?” “The fiftieth chapter of Isaiah, verses ten and eleven.” “I never can find anything that I look for in the Bible,” Marian grumbled. Joyce laughed. “Here they are; let me read them, ‘Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light ?’ That’s you, Marian, isn’t it ?” “I am walking in darkness all right, and I haven’t any light. Yes.” “ ‘Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.’ That is what you must do about it. Do you see it?” she asked gently. But Marian was looking at the next verse, and Joyce read on: “ ‘Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass your selves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.’ ” Both girls sat silent for a minute or two, then Marian said, very slowly, “That is what I have been doing, isn’t it? I have been trying to kindle a fire, and all that I have is sparks, and I have been trying to walk .in the light of the sparks. It is no wonder I didn’t have much light. And all that God had given me was to lie down in sorrbw.” Joyce, with a wisdom beyond her years, saw that God had spoken; she could add nothing to it. But that night for the first time Marian knelt in prayer by the bedside. As they snuggled into bed together, Marian whispered, “Joy, I think I see it. I am going to pray that God will make me willing to walk in the dark, and to trust in the name of the Lord.” But she lay awake long into the night, thinking. To morrow she must tell them. (To be continued ) Hr terribly. Verse 7 contains a glorious promise for that land. It speaks of God’s purpose of redemption, and of the time when the gospel shall be brought to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. “In that time.” What time? Manifestly, it is when one sees these events just described taking place. I have felt it my privilege to put my finger on this verse and to claim it as God’s promise for the redemption Exposition of Isaiah 18 (Continued from page 251)
In the body here He wore; He that as our Brother died, Is our Brother glorified. “All the angels wondering own ’Tis our nature on the throne; ‘How He loved them, behold!’ Trembles on the harps of gold.”
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