59. ON THE BURNING BUSH
Much valuable instruction and consolation may be derived from the
consideration of the vision with which Moses was favored in the desert of
Midian. "The angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of
the midst of a bush. And he looked and behold the bush burned with fire, and
the bush was not consumed." (Ex. iii, 2.) Like Moses, I would now turn
aside, and contemplate "this great sight;" at once so instructive and
consoling.
This bush, which in the original signifies a thorny bush is a fit emblem of
the church of God. Considered in itself, it is weak and worthless; a bramble
bush, the lowest among the shrubs. "You see your calling, brethren," writes
the apostle to the church at Corinth, "how, that not many wise men after the
flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called; but God has chosen the
foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the
weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base
things of the world, and things which are despised, has God chosen, yes, and
things which are not, to bring to nothing things that are; that no flesh
should glory in his presence."
"The bush burned with fire;" which justly represents the state of the church
in this evil world. The malice of Satan—the persecutions of the ungodly—the
corruptions of the heart—the trials and afflictions which come immediately
from God for the purification of his people, may well be compared to fire.
The bush, though on fire, "was not consumed." This is a wonderful sight
indeed. Here the grace and power of Jesus are eminently displayed. The
church has always been in a furnace, and yet never consumed; yes, rather
purified and brightened in proportion to the intensity of the flame. The
cause of the church's preservation is revealed to us. The Lord was in the
bush. "God is in the midst of her, therefore shall she not be moved." "The
gates of hell shall not prevail against her." "Fear not, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God." "No weapon formed against you shall
prosper." "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it he afraid."
This remarkable vision should teach us humility. The church is not compared
to a stately cedar, but to a bramble-bush. We must have low thoughts of
ourselves. Man is naturally proud. This inbred evil, even after conversion,
rebels against the motions of the Spirit. Hence arises spiritual pride.
When the Lord graciously imparts his gifts for the edification of the
church, how prone we are to take the praise of these endowments to
ourselves. This made the lowly-minded apostle expostulate with the
Corinthian converts; "Who makes you to differ from another, and what have
you that you did not receive? Now if you did receive it, why do you glory,
as if you had not received it?" "Knowledge puffs up, but charity edifies."
Moses equally cautioned the ancient people of God against this subtle
poison. "The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because you
were more in number than any people, for you were the fewest of all people;
but because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he
had sworn unto your fathers." "It is not because of your righteousness or
your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land; but
on account of the wickedness of these nations, the Lord your God will drive
them out before you, to accomplish what he swore to your fathers, to
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Understand, then, that it is not because of your
righteousness that the Lord your God is giving you this good land to
possess, for you are a stiff-necked people." Deut. 9:5-6. How slow are we to
learn this humbling, yet precious truth; that salvation is all of grace,
rich grace abounding to the chief of sinners.
The beauty and glory of the church are derived from Christ. He is the glory,
as well as the glorifier of his people Israel. Filled with his Spirit, and
bearing his image, the church "looks forth as the morning, fair as the moon,
clear as the sun, and majestic as an army with banners." Jesus beautifies
the meek with salvation. "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall
be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks
himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." "By
the grace of God, I am what I am." "In the Lord shall the seed of Israel be
justified, and shall glory."
From this vision we are taught to expect trials while journeying through
this desert world. Sometimes the storm rages violently, and the flame burns
with awful intenseness; yet nothing of the church shall be consumed, but its
dross. Thus the malice of Satan and the world is overruled for good.
Persecution tends only to refine the saints of God. It quickens their
graces, and puts new life into their prayers. They run to the strong-hold,
and are safe under the fostering care of an Almighty Savior. At such trying
seasons, the chaff and the withered branches are consumed. Mere nominal
professors cannot endure those persecutions, which are designed in God's
providence to separate the precious from the vile. "It must be that offences
come;" "That those who are approved, may be made manifest."
The consideration of "this great sight" should teach us confidence in the
faithfulness and power of Jesus. He is in the bush. He never leaves nor
forsakes his people. "When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I
will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not
drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned
up; the flames will not consume you."—is the gracious sustaining promise.
This vision of a bush burning, yet unconsumed, affords a striking view of
the perpetuity of the church of Christ. Nothing shall be allowed to destroy
this treasure of Jehovah. It may be reduced, and often has been reduced to
the lowest ebb; but in the most degenerate times God never left himself
without a church, however few in number, to show forth his praise. From Abel
down to the present hour, there has ever been "a remnant according to the
election of grace." When the whole earth was filled with violence, and all
flesh had corrupted its way before God, "'Noah found grace in the eyes of
the Lord. He was a just man, and perfect in his generation, and Noah walked
with God." The desolating flood at length descended, and everything wherein
was the breath of life perished, except the little church of God, which was
preserved in the ark on the bosom of the tempestuous waters!
After the deluge, iniquity began to spread with awful rapidity. Idolatry
reared its rebellious tower in the plain of Shinar; and the knowledge of the
true God became gradually shrouded in ignorance and superstition, until the
Almighty called Abraham by his grace, and caused genuine piety to flourish
once more in himself and family.
When planted in the land of Canaan, the Israelites soon forsook the God of
their fathers. In the midst of abounding idolatry, the Lord raised up a
prophet in whom seemed to center all the religion of the land. In the grief
of his heart he said, "It is enough. Now, Oh Lord, take away my life; for I
am not better than my fathers." "I, even I, only' am left; and they seek my
life to take it away." But what was the answer of the Lord to Elijah? "I
have left seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto
Baal."
When our blessed Lord came in the flesh, darkness covered the earth and
gross darkness the people; yet even then there were a chosen few, who in
faith "waited for redemption in Israel."
During the dark period of 1260 years, foretold in the Revelation, wherein
the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet would wage continual war with
the church of Christ; the Lord appointed two witnesses (a constant
succession of faithful men) who should testify to the power and grace of
Jesus, even though they prophesy in sackcloth. In this period we now live,
and can only attest to the truth of this remarkable prophecy.
All this is in virtue of the everlasting covenant. How extensive the promise
of the Father to his eternal Son! "He shall have dominion from sea to sea,
and from the river unto the ends of the earth." "His name shall endure
forever; his name shall be continued as long as sun, and men shall be
blessed in him; all nations shall call him blessed."
From this manifestation of the Almighty to Moses, we are led to adore the
sovereignty of God. He ordinarily chooses; not the great ones of the earth,
but the poor and the despised. Some, indeed, but not many, noble are called.
Worldly riches and elevated stations have a tendency to beget
self-sufficiency and vain-confidence. "Poor in spirit, rich in faith, and
heirs of the kingdom," is the genuine character of the church of Christ.
Divine grace, however, can as easily bring the proudest monarch, as the
lowest beggar, in the lowly attitude of contrition to the foot of the cross.
Happy will be that period, when the kings of the earth and its nobles shall
esteem it their highest glory to become the subjects of the Prince of Peace;
and their chief joy to promote the extension of his kingdom of righteousness
throughout the world.
We are hereby led to admire also the wisdom and power of God. He can promote
the enlargement of his church by those very means which its enemies employ
to destroy it. The children of Israel grew and multiplied, in spite of
Pharaoh's efforts to prevent it.
The Gospel spread with wonderful rapidity, notwithstanding all the
threatenings of the Jews and Romans to check its progress. Those
persecutions which scattered the disciples abroad, tended only to widen
their field of labor; for they went everywhere, preaching the word. The
sacred fire, thus dispersed by the rude hand of violence, multiplied itself
in proportion to its dispersion. Hence it became proverbial, that the blood
of tike martyrs is the seed of the church. "So mightily grew the word of God
and prevailed." Even its enemies wondered whereunto all this would grow.
While the kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers took counsel
together, against the Lord and against his Christ; the Almighty Sovereign of
the universe proclaimed; "I have set my king upon my holy hill of Zion."
Jesus by his resurrection was declared to be the Son of God with power; and
"of the increase of his kingdom and government, there shall be no end." "The
zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."
Two blessed periods are, therefore, fast approaching, the anticipation of
which filled the ancient prophets and apostles with holy transport. The one,
when the church shall arise and shine in her millennial glory; when she
shall put on her beautiful garments, and become the joy and praise of the
whole earth.
The other, when, in the perfection of beauty, she shall be presented as a
chaste virgin to Christ the heavenly bridegroom, and, being clothed with his
righteousness, shall shine as the sun in the kingdom of glory forever and
ever.
Oh, my soul, rejoice in this great salvation. Lord, grant unto your unworthy
servant a portion of this felicity. Make me even now a living member of your
mystical body, poor in spirit, and pure in heart, patiently enduring every
trial, daily exercising faith in your truth and mercy; adoring your
sovereignty; admiring your power; and rejoicing in the perpetuity of the
grace which lives in all your faithful people, and preserves them unto your
eternal kingdom and glory.
Let my whole heart praise you, you God of my salvation. Let my whole life be
consecrated unto you. The work, Oh Lord, is yours. You alone can new-create
the soul. Perform this act of grace, this miracle of mercy, for your own
glory and to your everlasting praise. Amen and amen.
Oh! come you servants of the Lord,
Whose will is your delight;
His boundless love and grace record,
While heart and tongue unite.
Strike up your harps, and sweetly sing
Of Jesus' lovely name;
To him your grateful tribute bring,
His endless praise proclaim.
Declare what wonders he has done,
Make all his glories known;
Adore the Father's equal Son;
The priest upon the throne.
Sing of his rich and sovereign grace,
Transcendent and divine;
Sing how he died to save our race
From misery and sin.
He died for us—he made our peace;
He pleads our cause on high;
Oh! may our praises never cease,
Hosannahs never die!
May each revolving year inflame
Our zeal, delight, and love;
Until round the throne we chant his name
In purer strains above.
Oh! come, you servants of the Lord,
His endless praise proclaim;
In gladsome notes his love record,
For, "worthy is the Lamb."