Nov 26
10
THE PROPHET
Henry Law, 1858“ The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;“ Deut. 18:15
All fullness dwells in Christ. Reader, come ponder—praise—admire—adore Him. Those who know Him, never can commend enough. Ignorance alone neglects—despises—disesteems Him.
The neediest of needy sinners find all supply in Him. He is salvation’s overflowing well. He fills all vessels, so that they can hold no more. He is a treasure-house, in which gold never fails.
Let the surface of this truth be touched. You are sin-soiled. Here is a fountain of all-cleansing blood. Wash, and be whiter, than the spotless snow. Satan, and SELF, and life-long trespasses condemn you. Here is Jesus’ wounded side, presenting an acquitting plea. Your best obedience is a filthy rag. Here is the righteousness of God—a perfect covering—a glorious robe. Your heart by nature is a lifeless stone. Christ sends His Spirit, and the entrance is life. He is a PRIEST, offering His blood—living to intercede—pouring down blessings. He is a KING—ruling above—within—around. He is a PROPHET, giving all knowledge—leading in wisdom’s paths—diffusing floods of light—teaching salvation’s lessons.
It is this latter office, which now claims special thought. Let us approach it by enquiring, what man’s state must be, unless rays beam from heaven?
When sin invaded earth, knowledge of God was slain. That lovely plant was blighted to the root. That beauteous column fell a shattered ruin. The mind lost power to fly aloft. Its wings were clipped. The eye was dim to pierce the skies. The wish and skill to find out God were utterly extinct. Man’s intellect—alert to grovel in the dust—could never scale this height. Here mental shrewdness slobbered, as a fool. Witness the silly failures of philosophy’s most boasted efforts.
Unless, then, some revelation had been given, God and His essence must have been shrouded in impenetrable night. Man could not dig such a jewel out of his own quarry. He could not find it in his own empty chambers. Along a brief career of blindness he must have gone down to that deep prison-house, where darkness ever darkens, and God is never seen. The world by wisdom knows not God.
The case of need, then, is most clear. But all is met by Jesus. He undertakes to save, and undertakes to teach. The Church’s Saviour is the Church’s Prophet. He is not slow to enter on His work. In Eden’s garden, where the light expired, He strikes a new spark. There He is quick to speak of remedy and rescue—of a woman-born Saviour—and His final triumphs. As time rolls on, He adds fresh light. By types, by prophecies, by figures, and by signs, He pictures redemption. He raises holy men, and puts His words into their mouths. He shakes a torch of truth in the world’s night. He shows His Calvary through vistas of long time—and so guides many a benighted pilgrim in the path to heaven.
Thus the Prophet’s voice is early heard—the Prophet’s school is early open. But in appointed time, the Prophet-God must come in person. Moses thus states the fact. ”The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken”. Let us now mark the marvellous fulfilment.