Sosthenes

J N Darby – Nearness to Christ and Its Effect (Humility)

We need to watch ourselves, lest, after having been preserved from the corruption of the age by the very precious truths revealed to us in our weakness, we should be taken in the net of presumption, or thrown into insubordination. These are things which God can never recognise or tolerate, since we are called to “keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

This article by John Nelson Darby was published in JND’s Collected Writings Miscellaneous 5.

This is a more recent collection of papers by JND, and is available from Bible Truth Publishers, Addison, IL

Lightly edited by Sosthenes

‘They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.’ (Psalm 126:5); ‘

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.‘ (Matthew 18:20)

Man’s pretensions and energy manifest themselves strongly, But to learn to be still in a clay of grace, and know that God is God, is completely above the education of the flesh.

The spirit of the age affects many Christians, who labour to restore old things for the service of God. They should be broken before Him with the sense of their downfall.

To confess openly that which we are in the presence of that which God is, is always the way to peace and blessing. Even when only two or three are together before God, there will be no disappointments nor deluded hopes. God’s word for the remnant is, “Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts.” (1 Peter 3:15) He is the only centre of gathering.

The Holy Spirit does not gather saints around mere views, however true they may be. It is not q question of what the church on the earth is, or has been, or may yet be; He always gathers saints around that blessed Person, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matt. 18:20.

We need to be watchful against boasting, as people do in these days. We need to be still, in the presence of God. There is much independence and self-will almost everywhere.

If anyone speaks of separation from evil, without being humiliated, let him take care lest his position becomes simply sectarian, and produces doctrinal heresy. Sectarianism is the most natural weed of the human heart. (Sectarianism is getting an interest in a little circle round ourselves.) Nearness to Christ would keep us from that.

Now I know, at the present time, of no service which is worthy of Him, if it is not done in humiliation. This is not the time to speak of a place for ourselves. If the church of God, so dear to Christ, is dishonoured in this world; if it is scattered, ignorant, afflicted, the person who has the mind of Christ will always take the lowest place. True service of love will seek to give according to the need, and because of the need, he will never think of slighting the objects of the Master’s love because of their necessity.

Men taught of God, for His service, go forth from a place of strength, where they have learned their own weakness and their own nothingness. They find that Jesus is everything in the presence of God, and Jesus is everything for them in all things, and everywhere. Such men, in the hands of the Holy Spirit, are real helps for the children of God, and they will not contend for a place, or a distinction, or for authority, among the scattered flock. A man in communion with God about the church will show his willingness to be nothing in himself, and he rejoice in his heart to spend and to be spent. He is faithful in the path of separation, in sorrow, and in the conflicts he is obliged to pass through.

When persons think of the church, they would rather think of the church in power. We can learn from the conduct of Zerubbabel, recounted in the book of Ezra. Also, despite the position Solomon had occupied, as heir, in days of his prosperity and glory, he did not speak of either his birth or his rights.

If we speak of our testimony upon the earth, it will soon be evident that totally in weakness. Like the seed by the wayside, the testimony will likewise ends in shame.

Neither the anger, prudence, or pretensions of man can do anything, in the state of confusion in which the church is now. I freely own that I have no hope in the efforts which many make to assure themselves an ecclesiastical position. When the house is ruined in its foundations by an earthquake, it matters little how one tries to make it an agreeable dwelling place. We had better remain where we first discovered of the ruin of things by man’s action – with our faces in the dust. S uch is the place which belongs to us by right, After all, it is the place of blessing.

I have read of a time when several were gathered together in such sorrow of heart, that for a long time they could not utter a single word; but the floor of the meeting room was wet with their tears. If the Lord would grant us such meetings again, it would be our wisdom to frequent these houses of tears. “They that sow in tears, shall reap in joy.” Psa. 126:5.

This is not just true for the earthly remnant; it is also written for us. I would willingly take a long journey to join these afflicted ones; but I would not go a step to to receive power from men, however excellent, to overturn the present and reconstruct the future.

J.N.D.

Lightly edited by Sosthenes – May 2014

I am indebted to our brother Jeff in Illinois for bringing this article to my attention. S.

Summaries and Light Editing

Here are a few note to bear in mind wen reading A Day of Small Things.

Some articles are shown in full – this applies to letters, poems and some articles, especially those not by J N Darby. If no indication is shown then you may assume that the article is reproduced in full and unedited.

Here are a few note to bear in mind wen reading A Day of Small Things.

Light Editing

These articles have been subject to very minor editing. Darby’s writings are often difficult to follow, especially for a 21st century reader. There is archaic language, construction and spelling; words have been changed. There are some very long sentences; these have been broken up, sometimes with changed sequence to make it easier for the modern reader. Often he was writing for the benefit of learned academics or clerics, so additional references are given to ensure the item is intelligible. It is still safe, in the author’s opinion, to quote from this, though you would be well advised to check with the original, generally on the Stem Publishing website. We have kept the same titles and headings.

Summaries – Darby Simplified

Here, we have substantially rewritten articles. With God’s help we trust we have preserved the meaning (comments always welcome!), and not left out anything significant, and kept to the same dignified style as the original. However the length of the article will have been reduced by 60-70%, and the language simplified. We try to keep to a consistent person and tense; Darby changes frequently from ‘we’ to ‘you’ and from past to present. Sentences which are well written and clear may be reproduced unchanged.

The reader should use the utmost care in quoting from these summaries. I have no objection to your doing so, but please make it clear that you are quoting from an ADOSS summary. NEVER make it look as if you are quoting from the original.

It is for that reason that I change the tittle of a summary. For example JND’s ‘The Faith once delivered to the Saints’ is rendered ‘Knowing where we are, and what God wants us to do, in the Confused State of Christendom’.

May you be blessed in reading ADOSS. Whatever happens, keep near the Lord

Sosthenes

May 2014

A Brief Outline of the Books of the Bible – Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs

We have had subsequent to the history, the moral development of the heart of man, and of the Spirit of God working in various ways in his heart. Especially in Ecclesiastes, the heart of man makes itself a centre, and tries to feed itself, In Canticles, the heart is getting out of itself into the heart of Christ.

PROVERBS.

Here is the wisdom of God showing its path to man, in contrast with the corruption and violence in man. The first eight chapters give us the principle, showing Christ as wisdom. The remainder of Proverbs enters into details. It is addressed to man in a remarkable way. A man of the world escapes by knowing the crookedness of the world: this book enables a man to escape without knowing it – wise in that which is good, simple concerning evil.

ECCLESIASTES

Here is the result of the pursuit of happiness under the sun. Man’s wisdom, as man, is God’s law.

CANTICLES or SONG OF SONGS

The Song gives us the relationship, and the affections of the heart of the spouse, with Christ. This special form of the relationship, is to be realised properly in Israel, though we may apply this book, abstractedly, to the church and to the individual. (What Canticles treats of is not relationship, but desires, faith, getting the joy of the relationship with occasional glimpses, but not an established known relationship. The place of the church, though the marriage is not come, is that of being in the relationship. Israel will not have this.)

There is a kind of progress observable. (1) “My beloved is mine” – this is the lowest point. (2) “I am my beloved’s” – this is the consciousness of belonging to Him. (3) “I am my beloved’s, and his desire is towards me.”

_______

Slightly edited by Sosthenes, May 2014

A Brief Outline of the Books of the Bible – Psalms

In the Psalms we have the Spirit of Christ working and developing itself in the remnant of Israel in the latter day. They are divided into five books.

In the Psalms we have the Spirit of Christ working and developing itself in the remnant of Israel in the latter day. It shows His personal relationship, taken, whether in laying the ground for them, or in exercising sympathy with them. The Psalms continue up to the border of the millennium, but do not enter it except prophetically. They are divided into five books.

Lightly edited by Sosthenes, May 2014

A Brief Outline of the Books of the Bible – Job

In Job we have the possibility of the relationship of a man with God, in the great conflict referring to good and evil between God and the power of darkness.

In Job we have the possibility of the relationship of a man with God, in the great conflict referring to good and evil between God and the power of darkness. That involves the discipline of saints, in contrast with the allegedly present righteous government of the world (typified by Job’s three friends) The necessity of a Mediator is intimated, but He is not revealed. The power of Satan over the world is made known, and his character as accuser of the brethren pointed out.

God is seen as the originator of all (not of the accusations themselves, but of the whole process) for the purpose of blessing His people, while the conscience is thoroughly searched in those He blesses. This whole book has no dispensational reference. You get in Elihu the wisdom of God in His word (Christ really), and then you have the power of God (also Christ) in God answering out of the whirlwind. The book may be regarded as typical of Israel, inasmuch as it is in Israel that these ways of God are shown.

Originally by JND. Lightly edited by Sosthenes, May 2014

A Brief Outline of the Books of the Bible – Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther

EZRA.

The re-establishment of the temple and divine service according to the law, while waiting for the Messiah. But there is no ark, no Urim, etc. It was an empty temple.

NEHEMIAH.

The re-establishment of the civil society and state under the Gentiles.

ESTHER.

The providential care of Israel when God is hidden from them, while Lo-ammi (not my people) is written on them. He takes care of them while He is hidden from them and does not own them. God’s name is never mentioned. The Gentile queen fails to shew her beauty, and the Jewish bride supersedes her.

Lightly edited by Sosthenes, May 2014

A Brief Outline of the Books of the Bible – Samuel, Kings, Chronicles

1 SAMUEL

The judicial priesthood connection is here broken. Both judge and priest go in Eli. The ark is taken – a total breach. Power is lost. Then God comes in, in His own sovereign way, by a prophet, as He had earlier when He brought them out of Egypt. (Everything on the ground of man’s responsibility was gone; but God’s sending a prophet was sovereign mercy.) Before He brings in strength (the king), He brings in prophecy – note this. Before Christ returns in power, it is the testimony of the Spirit and word, by which a connection is maintained between God and His people. From Eli to David on the throne the principle is faith and power, not succession.

But flesh requires governmental order,* and it gets what it wants. However, it breaks down under the power of the enemy. Even believers who cling to the flesh, fall with it (Jonathan). If governmental order is established without Christ, they cannot accept Christ’s coming to set it aside. The one in whom hope is (David) must be content to be as a partridge on the mountains.

Saul was raised up to put down the Philistines and Jonathan subdued them. Saul did not, and was destroyed by them. Jonathan was a believer associated with the outward order. The place of faith was with David. It is the place of the power of faith without the king.

{*It is quite true that there was a want through the misrule of Samuel’s sons. Spiritual energy had failed. The church can only stand in power: when it turned to the principle of succession, all was lost.}

2 SAMUEL

Saul falls on the mountains of Gilboa. Then we get the royalty of David, in active power, not in the reign of peace. There was the promise that God would maintain David’s house, however they conducted themselves. God would chasten them if disobedient, but not take His mercy from them. Then we get David’s personal failure when he is king.

There is another element – the ark and the temple come in question. The relationship with God is re-established first by faith, not according to order, but by spiritual power according to grace. The ark was on Mount Zion, and there they were singing, “His mercy endureth for ever”. At Gibeon there was the high place, and Solomon went there. The tabernacle was there, but not the ark. Solomon is not seen at Mount Zion till his return from Gibeon, after God answered him. Consequent on God’s interfering in deliverance and redemption, the place of ordered worship is set up, connected with earth, at the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite. It was after judgment: people had been slain, and sacrifice made. God loves Jerusalem; He stays His hand in judgment, and shows by prophecy the path of reconciliation by sacrifice.

1 AND 2 KINGS.

Here we have the reign of Solomon, the figure of the great Son of David. We have the establishment of Israel in peace, and the building of the temple. This fails in Rehoboam. The book of Kings then gives us the history of Israel, not Judah, but with sufficient notices of Judah to carry on the history. You get the intervention of God in mercy, by prophets in Elijah and Elisha. In the midst of Israel, Elijah was a testimony to Israel, who had left the temple, on the ground of responsibility; Elisha was a testimony in resurrection-power.

First and Second Kings continue the history in Judah till the captivity, and then Lo-ammi (not my people) was written on the nation. There are, of course, many details and various characters. Hezekiah had faith, Josiah showed obedience, Jehoshaphat had piety, but through association with the world, there never was success.

1 AND 2 CHRONICLES

Chronicles gives us the history of the family of David – ending with the Babylonish captivity.

1 Chronicles is David himself. At the close, David has the pattern of everything by the Spirit, and leaves it to Solomon to execute.

2 Chronicles is David’s posterity.

Chronicles is more connected with the establishment of the kingdom on earth; Kings is more figurative of what is heavenly. In the temple in Chronicles there is a veil (2 Chron. 3:14), in Kings there is not. The veil will not be rent for Israel in the millennium.

Lightly edited by Sosthenes, May 2014

A Brief Outline of the Books of the Bible – Joshua, Judges, Ruth

JOSHUA.

Joshua gives us the establishment of the people in the land by divine leading and power, according to promise. There is conflict, snf the faithfulness of the people’s walk with God is tested.

The career of Joshua begins with crossing the Jordan in the power of resurrection, and has its place of power for conflict in Gilgal – circumcision – death to the flesh.

They eat of the corn of the land before they have any conflict.

JUDGES.

While Joshua is a book of victorious power, Judges is the book of failure in faithfulness, so that power is lost, Only that God intervenes in mercy, from time to time, to deliver and revive. Gilgal is exchanged for Bochim. Gilgal, the denial of the flesh, though seemingly of little importance, was the place of power; Bochim was the place of tears, but the angel of God was there.

RUTH.

The Lord intervenes Lord in grace to bring in the promised seed, and the restoration of Israel, but in the way of grace, on a new footing. Because of a famine in the land, Naomi, who represents Israel, goes away, and loses everything. Ruth comes back with her, and Boaz (strength) raises up the inheritance. It was old Israel, in some sense: the child was born to Naomi, but on the principle of grace, for Ruth had no title to promise.

Lightly edited by Sosthenes, May 2014

A Brief Outline of the Books of the Bible – Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

LEVITICUS

Leviticus gives us God in the tabernacle, as in the midst of His people, ordering all things that suit their relationship to Him. The feasts represent Him as in the midst of the people, a circle round Himself.

NUMBERS

Numbers treats the journey through the wilderness, with insight into the inheritance (for us heavenly). It present a full prospect of all God’s ways in bringing them in, and of Christ Himself as the One who is to reign. Reference is made in this last remark to Pisgah, and to Balaam’s prophecy.

DEUTERONOMY

Deuteronomy provides a recapitulation of all God’s ways and dealings with Israel, as motives to insist on obedience, and to put the people on moral grounds in direct relationship with Himself. The three great feasts (chap. 16) have this character. The testing character of the law is stated, and at the same time the purpose of God in blessing, spite of failure under the law, is revealed; closing with the prophetic blessing of Israel, in respect to their then present condition.

Lightly edited by Sosthenes, May 2014

A Brief Outline of the Books of the Bible – Exodus

In Exodus we find God visiting His people; redemption, and the establishment of relationships with His people. These relationships are presented in the testing of law, and the arrangements of grace.

In Exodus we find God visiting His people; redemption, and the establishment of relationships with His people. These relationships are presented in the testing of law, and the arrangements of grace. God bears with His people, with the distinct purpose of dwelling with them, and making them dwell in a place He had prepared for them. There are four immense principles – redemption, bringing to God, God’s dwelling among them, and consequently holiness. Priesthood is established to maintain the relationship with God, when the people cannot be in immediate relation. Connected with all this you have, the judgment of the world, and the final deliverance of the earthly people. With Moses, the man of grace, you have Zipporah, who represents the church, whereas the people are witnesses of Christ’s abiding connection with Israel.

From the Red Sea to Sinai we find the whole picture of God’s dealings in grace in Christ by the Spirit on to the millennium, and the millennium itself.

In chapter 19 the people put themselves under law, and get law instead of worship founded on deliverance and grace.

Lightly edited by Sosthenes, May 2014

Author: Sosthenes

J N Darby – Nearness to Christ and Its Effect (Humility)

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