Sweet Things!

Arthur Pink, 1952
 

One of the accompaniments of the new birth is a spiritual palate which enables one to savor the things that be of God. At regeneration, its favored subjects receive not only eyes which are capable of seeing objects imperceptible to the natural man, and ears which hear the voice of God as He speaks to the soul, but also a new sense of taste, whereby things which were formerly insipid are now relished, and what before was agreeable is now loathed.

An illustration of this is found in connection with the manna. The bread from Heaven which God so graciously provided for His people during their wilderness journeying was unto the children of Israel "like wafers made with honey" (Exodus 16:31), but unto the "mixed multitude" which accompanied them from Egypt, it was very different (Numbers 11:4-6). It is because the unregenerate lack a spiritual palate that they enjoy not that which is so desirable unto the children of God. Hence, it is not surprising that they regard the testimonies borne by Christians unto the sweetness of God's Word as a species of fanaticism.

"The full soul loathes a honeycomb" (Proverbs 27:7). Just so, they who are full of self and the world, find the honeycomb of the Gospel nauseating unto them.

"And Noah built an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the LORD smelled a sweet savor" (Genesis 8:20, 21). This is the first time the word "sweet" occurs in the Bible, and as might well be expected, it speaks loudly to us of Christ, for that which Noah had offered unto God upon the altar was a pre-figuration of Him.

As Thomas Scott (1747-1821) pointed out, "The smell of burning flesh could in itself be no more pleasing to God than the blood of bulls or of calves; but as it typified the sacrifice of Christ and expressed Noah's faith and grateful love, the Lord accepted it."

As a figure of His Son's death, Noah's offering was a fragrant odor and perfume unto God. Proof of that is found in "Christ also has loved us, and has given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor" (Ephesians 5:2). As fragrant scents regale and refresh our senses, so did the sacrifice of Christ content God and give Him infinite pleasure. He was well pleased with Christ's sacrifice because of the dignity of the Offerer, because of the spotless purity of His offering, because of the graces exercised by Him therein—His obedience to God (Philippians 2:8), faith in God (Hebrews 2:13), love to God (John 14:31); and because it brought more glory unto Him than sin has dishonored Him.

"And the LORD showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet" (Exodus 15:25). Shortly after crossing the Red Sea, Israel met with a very disappointing and painful experience. They went for three days "and found no water;" showing the fact that this worldly scene affords nothing which can refresh the souls of God's children.

Like the Psalmist, he says, "my soul thirsts for you . . . in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is" (63:1). Presently the Israelites reached a place where there was a stream, but only to discover that they "could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter!" (verse 23). A sore trial, a real test, was that!

Three days' journeying in the hot and sandy desert without finding water, and now that water was reached, it was undrinkable. How that shadows forth the inexperienced believer seeking some satisfaction from the things of this life, only to find them "bitter!" Alas, like we so often do when our carnal hopes are dashed, Israel murmured. Whereupon Moses cried unto the Lord, and He graciously "showed him a tree" which when cut down and cast into the bitter waters, made them sweet.

It was an emblem of the Tree of Life—the person (Psalm 1:3; Song 2:3) and work (1 Peter 2:24) of Christ. Just in proportion as the saint regards his bitter trials and afflictions as so many opportunities for him to enter into "the fellowship of his sufferings" (Philippians 3:10) will they be made sweet to him.

"My meditation of him shall be sweet" (Psalm 104:34). Holy meditation is a most important means for promoting growth in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord. God has so constituted us that, in the ordinary way of operation, the heart is affected as objects are set before the mind and subjects pondered. As thought is set in motion, the affections are stimulated, "While I was musing the fire burned!" The more the believer thinks upon the love of God, the more is the holy spark within him fanned into a flame.

Some of our readers are unable, through ill health and age, to attend the preaching of the Word, and others have no access to any place where they could hear the unsearchable riches of Christ extolled; but they may in private have the most blessed communion, by engaging their hearts with Him. He is the One in whom all our joys center, and if we would become better acquainted with "the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord," then we must be more frequent in devout contemplations of Him. Ponder the perfections of His person, the glory of His mediatorial office, His finished work, His intercession; and your heart will be warmed, gratitude deepened, assurance increased, closer conformity to Him desired; and He will be honored.

"How sweet are your words unto my taste" (Psalm 119:103). Not only pleasant to the ear, but delicious to the palate. Note how comprehensive is this eulogy: "David loved each one of them individually, and the whole of them as a whole . . . he makes no distinction between promises and precepts, doctrines and threatenings: they are all included in God's words, and all are precious in his esteem!" (Charles Spurgeon, 1834-1892)

None but a child of God could use such language, because none but he has a spiritual taste. But we may be yet more discriminating: only the Christian when in communion with God can truthfully make such an assertion. Thus that testimony supplies a criterion by which the believer may ascertain his spiritual condition. If this be our case, it indicates that the soul is in a healthy state. When it be otherwise with us, it is because our palate has been vitiated by the world and the flesh; and when such be the case, though the Word be read, it will be done formally and indolently, without mixing faith with it, with no personal appropriation, and therefore without joy. Where the Word be truly precious unto the heart, there is an inward experience, a spiritual relishing of it, which cannot be conveyed unto others by words.

"I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste" (Song 2:3). That is the testimony borne to Christ by the Church collectively, and by each saint individually who is enjoying communion with Him. In comparison with the lofty palm and the majestic cedar, the apple tree is of small dimensions and mean appearance. As such, it is a figure of Him who laid aside His glory and assumed a lowly place in this world.

But the fruits of His abasement and sufferings are inexpressibly precious to the believer. As the sin-burdened soul comes to Christ for rest, he finds Him to be the Man that is "as the shadow of a rock in a weary land," and declares: "You have been . . . a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat" (Isaiah 32:2; 25:4), for He interposed between him and the fiery wrath of God.

Christ has not only shadow to shelter, but also fruit to refresh. The fruit of His work: reconciliation to God, the gift of His Spirit, etc. The fruit of His lips: words of counsel, intimate communications. The fruit of His personal perfections. These are highly prized by the believer, and as he feeds and feasts thereon, he finds them most delectable. They are sweet to him because a miracle of grace has prepared his appetite to receive and welcome them.

"Let me see your countenance, let me hear your voice; for sweet is your voice, and your countenance is lovely" (Song 2:14). That is Christ's commendation of and invitation to His spouse. Most blessed is it to observe not only that this is a term of endearment, but that the form assumed by the Spirit when He came on Christ (Matthew 3:16) is the emblem here chosen by Christ to represent those whom the Spirit indwells, "My dove."

First, He says, "Let me see your countenance:" whether it be wet with the tears of godly sorrow, or shining with joy.

Second, "Let me hear your voice," in confession, prayer and praise.

Third, He declares that her voice is sweet and her countenance lovely unto Him. Christ takes great delight in His blood-bought people and will have them commune freely with Him. What marvelous condescension on His part! What encouragement for us to lift up our heads, come boldly to His throne, and pour out our hearts before Him.

Christian reader, your voice is not only pleasing to Him when you are singing His praises, but it is also music as you pour out the grief of a contrite heart. Fear not to tell Him your secrets. Let Him also hear you commending Him to others.

"Thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ, and makes manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in those who are saved, and in those who perish" (2 Corinthians 2:14, 15).

Those words ought to be of great cheer unto many a despondent servant of His who is cast down because his preaching appears to be fruitless. Whether men listen or not, the proclamation of that name which is above every name is a continual incense before God! However unacceptable his ministry is unto a dead church, if the minister faithfully preach the person and work of Christ, it is "a sweet savor unto God." Let the realization of this comfort you and nerve you afresh. If you are setting forth the glories of His Son, it is sweet to the Father.

If the Christian reader is spared, and spends more time than previously in feeding on God's Word, meditating on Christ, feasting on His perfections, then 1952 will be a sweeter year unto him.