Gospel Order, Pt. 3

Old Testament Illustrations

The account of the efforts of Balaam to curse Israel throws an interesting sidelight upon the influence of unity and order as a testimony to the world and a protection to the church. By two means the children of God bear witness to the world of the divine origin of the church, by the purity of their faith and by their unity. These two features are mentioned in Christ's prayer: "Sanctify them through thy truth," and, "That they all may be one." Paul refers to the same points in Col. 2:5: "Beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith."

When Balaam sought to bring a curse upon Israel, he found that their thorough organization interposed a barrier to his hopes. The spirit of prophecy says: —

As Balaam looked upon the encampment of Israel, he beheld with astonishment the evidence of their prosperity. They had been represented to him as a rude, disorganized multitude, . . . but their appearance was the reverse of all this. He saw the vast extent and perfect arrangement of their camp, everything bearing marks of thorough discipline and order. He was shown the favor with which God regarded Israel, and their distinctive character as his chosen people.—"Patriarchs and Prophets," page 447.

Their order was evidence that God was with Israel, and Balaam was constrained to say, "The Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them." Thereupon he set himself to corrupt their faith. These have ever been the two lines of attack — to introduce error and to break up the unity.

The Lord does not design that his children shall be isolated from one another, each going his way independent of others. In fellowship is strength, and "in the multitude of counselors there is safety." When the children of Israel became settled in their land, the families and tribes were not to maintain themselves in isolation. By their annual gatherings they were brought together, not only to worship before the Lord at Jerusalem, but to have the benefit of association. In commenting on this arrangement, the spirit of prophecy says: —

We sustain a loss when we neglect the privilege of associating together to strengthen and encourage one another in the service of God. The truths of his Word lose their vividness and importance in our minds. ... In our intercourse as Christians we lose much by lack of sympathy with one another. He who shuts himself up to himself, is not filling the position that God designed he should. — "Patriarchs and Prophets," page 541.

No individual, no church, no section, can prosper, severed from the body of believers.

The description of the band of men who brought David to his throne teaches a lesson in organization. We read (1 Chronicles 12) that among them were "the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment." The fact that they all knew what Israel ought to do in that critical time was assurance that they would, in the language of Paul, be "subject one to another," choosing earnest leaders to secure harmonious action, in order that every man's work might count for the most. Of the entire body gathered from different tribes of Israel, we read: "All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart." The disposition and ability to keep rank and work loyally together in fellowship comes with the "perfect heart" as a gift of God. All together they were "a great host like the host of God." "And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader." 1 Chron. 13:1.

In the rebuilding of Jerusalem, after the captivity, Nehemiah gives an illustration of the strength there is in union of effort. The work was systematically planned, so that each company knew exactly the portion of the entire task for which it was directly responsible. Yet no one's work was finished until all was done. As the work drew toward completion, the enemies of Israel without the camp and within frantically renewed their efforts to throw the work and workers into confusion, and to break down the organized effort. But as the people prayed and watched, and more thoroughly organized their forces, the counsels of the enemy were brought to naught. While half of the people wrought at the work, the other half were on guard. The people "had a mind to work," and they co-operated as one man. Signals were arranged by those having general supervision, so that all could rally to the same point in a crisis. Nehemiah said to the leaders and people: "The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another. In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us." Neh. 4:19, 20. It was one work, one wall, one people; and a united effort at last achieved success.

This lesson is written for our learning; for the work of the gospel message that is to gather out the residue of God's people, including the remnant church, from every land and nation, is likened by Inspiration to the building up again of the ruins of the tabernacle of David, which had fallen down. Acts 15:15-17. With our lines extending throughout the whole earth, and the enemy ever watching to break up the forces and weaken the hands of the workers, more than ever at any time in the history of God's work is there need for such thorough organization as will enable the whole body of believers to strengthen one another's hands in the service. It is one world-wide work, and a united people is to do it. The Old Testament prophets, who in vision saw the final triumph of the church, bear witness to this. "Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion." Isa. 52: 8.

W. A. Spicer

(Review and Herald, April 8, 1909)