| Christian Life and Doctrine | June 1954 |
“When the Morning Appeareth”
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.” —Psalm 46:1-3
GOD has ever been a refuge and strength to his people, “a very present help in trouble,” and they have always stood in great need of his sustaining power, his guiding wisdom, and his forgiving grace; for, during the long night of sin and death, they have been an afflicted and persecuted people. As members of the fallen race, their own imperfections have been a trial to them, alleviated only by the assurance that through the blood of the Redeemer their imperfect works are acceptable to the Lord, and that their unwilling sins do not hide the smile of his countenance.
In fulfillment of the Lord’s prophecy that the great Adversary would “bruise” the “heel” of the promised “Seed,” “that old serpent” has, in every age, relentlessly continued to afflict all those upon whom the favor of God has been manifested. The “trail of the serpent” which began with the murder of righteous Abel is traceable in the experiences of all the chosen of God in every age.
The ancient worthies, of course, were not called to be a part of the faith “seed” of Abraham who, the Lord foretold, would be particularly subject to Satan’s attacks; but Satan was probably unaware of this. He did know however that God loved and blessed Abel, and Enoch, and Noah, and all the faithful of those past ages, and for him this was sufficient reason to oppose, to “bruise” them in any and every way his vindictive imagination could invent.
The 11th chapter of Hebrews presents a very enlightening summary of what those ancient heroes of faith endured. Through it all the Lord was with them to encourage and give strength. Whether it was Joseph in an Egyptian prison, David being hunted by Saul, Jeremiah in a dungeon, Daniel in the lions’ den, or the three Hebrews in a fiery furnace, the Lord was a “very present” help in their times of need. He did not always give them physical deliverance from suffering, but he did give them strength to endure whatever his wisdom saw would be best for their training to be the future “princes in all the earth.”—Ps. 45:16
When Christ Was Born
Jesus came to be the Head of the promised “Seed,” and it is not surprising to see the “enmity” of “that old serpent” manifesting itself particularly against him. Doubtless he had some knowledge of the miraculous circumstances in connection with the conception and birth of Jesus, so he would be determined to destroy him and thereby thwart the purpose of God which he had come to accomplish. So, using Herod as a tool, an attempt was made on the life of the young child. It failed only because the Heavenly Father was protecting his beloved Son.
Later Satan again attacked the Master through temptation, but again he failed, Then the “seed” of the serpent, those of that day whom Jesus said were of their father the Devil, were stirred to jealousy and hatred by their “father,” so as to persecute Jesus, and finally to succeed in having him cruelly put to death on the cross. No doubt Satan then believed that he had triumphed over God, only to realize later, when Jesus was raised from the dead, that his malicious effort had been used to the glory of God and the high exaltation of the One he endeavored to kill.
But his efforts to destroy the “seed” did not cease. At Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came upon the waiting disciples of Jesus, and through it the glory of God was manifested in the ability it gave the disciples to speak with tongues, Satan’s “seed” charged that they were drunk. As the faithful disciples, obeying their Master’s command to preach the Gospel throughout Judea and the world, bore witness of Jesus, they were hailed into prison, James was killed, Stephen was stoned to death, John was exiled, and Paul was beheaded. And the whole church suffered with these.
Throughout the age the “bruising” continued. By deception and misleading sophistries Satan corrupted the truth of the Gospel and led the professed people of God into grievous errors of faith and of practice. He failed to lure Jesus into an alliance with him in the rulership of the world, but he succeeded with his followers; for, contrary to the will of God, they joined hands with the “kingdoms of this world,” and called the illicit union Christ’s kingdom.
Meanwhile the faithful few, the Lord’s “little flock,” were thrown to the lions, burned at the stake, torn limb from limb upon the torture racks of the “holy inquisition,” and otherwise “bruised” by the “serpent” and his “seed.” Only the increased general enlightenment of our day prevents these attacks now being made upon the Lord’s people. But even now, in some countries, the truth is banned, and “truth people” bitterly persecuted.
Yes, the people of God have always been a people of trouble, and have always needed him as their “refuge and strength.” And he has never forsaken his own. At times it may seem that he is not interested, but it is always true that behind what may seem to be a frowning providence he hides a smiling face. Sometimes his providences may appear to frown upon us, when in reality he is but helping us to sacrifice the flesh and its interests, and encouraging us to set our affections on things above.
The “Time of Trouble”
While it is true that throughout the age the Lord’s people have suffered for righteousness’ sake, and in their trials have always been assured of the presence of the Lord as a compensating source of strength and joy, it would seem that our text has a special application at this end of the age, in the time in which we are now living. Today, in a special sense, the Lord is a “very present help in trouble,” because the prophetic “time of trouble” is upon the nations, and the “feet” members of Christ’s body are left here to proclaim the glad tidings of the kingdom now so near.
This is indicated by the word “therefore” at the beginning of verse 2. Because the Lord is our refuge in this time of trouble, “therefore, we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.”—vss. 2,3
This prophecy was referred to in part by Jesus in answering the disciples’ question, “What shall be the sign of thy presence, and of the end of the age?” (Matt. 24:3) He said that then men’s hearts would fail them for fear, that there would be distress of nations with perplexity, and that the sea and the waves would be roaring. (Luke 21:25,26) It is at this time, when the “waters thereof roar and be troubled,” when the “mountains [kingdoms] shake with the swelling thereof,” that the Lord is in a very special sense a refuge and strength to his people.
The disintegration of a social order and the ominous threats of further and more widespread destruction which fill the hearts of the unbelieving world with fear would, apart from the promises of God, strike terror into our hearts also. And other aspects of these “last days” in which we are living would likewise, apart from God’s help, weaken our faith and confidence in him.
It is the day of the Lord’s second presence, the time to which Jesus referred when he inquired, “When the Son of man cometh, shall he find the [Greek] faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8) We observe this lack of faith all around us. We note the conditions described by Paul when he said of these last days that men would be “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” (II Tim. 3:4) The Adversary would use these aspects of the “time of trouble” to draw us away from the faith once delivered to the saints; and destroy us as new creatures in Christ Jesus, were it not for the fact that the Lord has made a special provision for us at this time, and therefore is more than ever our “refuge and strength” in this day of trouble which is upon the world and upon the nominal church.
We recognize the seriousness of the world’s situation, and discern the dangers which are threatening man-made institutions. We see the symbolic “earth” being removed, and the “mountains” [the kingdoms] being carried “into the midst of the sea”—brought down, that is, into the hands of the clamoring masses which are more and more insistently demanding their real and fancied rights. We understand why these developments are causing the people to look ahead with “fear” to the things coming upon the world; but we do not fear for God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in this “time of trouble.”
“In the Midst of Her”
In this wonderful prophecy assuring the Lord’s people of his special help in these “last days,” the psalmist refers to the saints as ‘”her,” that is, the Zion class, the prospective members of the “bride of Christ,” those who will comprise that “holy city, the new Jerusalem,” which will come “down from God out of heaven.” (Ps. 46:5; Rev. 19:7; 21:1,2) The promise is that God would be in the midst of “her,” and that she would not be moved.
In the prophecy everything which is out of harmony with God is represented as being “moved.” The “earth” is “removed.” and “mountains” are carried into the “midst of the sea.” The “waters thereof roar” and are “troubled.” Paul expresses a similar thought with respect to the closing scenes of the Gospel age. He refers to those things which, according to the marginal translation, “may be” shaken, as the things “that are made” by man, that is, in contrast to the “things which cannot be shaken,” the things of God which “remain.”—Heb. 12:27
Paul continues, “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be removed, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” (Heb. 12:28) We do not fear as the world fears, but we should have due reverence for God, and “fear lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest” any of us “should seem to come short of it.”—Heb. 4:1
We know that we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be “shaken,” because we know that God is in the “midst of her,” and that “she shall not be moved.” (Ps. 46:5) The reason the “her” class is not moved—not shaken in faith, not separated from the love of God, not removed from a favorable standing before him—is because “God shall help her, when the morning appeareth.”—margin
One of the ways in which God “helps” his faithful people “when the morning appeareth” is by giving them a knowledge of the truth—the glorious truth of his divine plan, and particularly the truth pertaining to Christ’s second presence and the end of the age. Peter wrote, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.”—II Pet. 1:19
All who become part of the “her” class must of necessity have profound respect for and confidence in the prophecies of God’s Word, and believe their testimony. Those who do can now reach but the one conclusion, which is that the “morning appeareth,” that the new day has dawned. True, it is only by the “sure word of prophecy” that they recognize the appearance of the morning, because in its early hours this “day of the Lord” is “a day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains.”—Joel 2:1,2
From the human standpoint, it is more “dark” in the world today than at any time in human history. Indeed, it is this “darkness” which is filling the hearts of the people with fear. But by the light of the sure “word of prophecy” we are able to see through the darkness and discern that the “morning appeareth,” that we have reached the time in the outworking of the divine plan when, although the “morning” has come, a short “dark night” has “also” settled down upon a distressed world as the institutions of human selfishness are being removed, their “mountains” being “carried into the midst of the sea.”
“Streams” of the “River”
How wonderful it is to realize that in this time when “the morning appeareth,” though it is dark and foreboding to the world, the Lord is our “refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Verse 4 of the psalm suggests the manner in which this help is tendered to us. “There is a river,” David wrote, “the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy of the tabernacle of the most High.” The “river” here referred to is the one which, in Revelation 22:1, is shown as flowing “out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.” It is the “river of water of life.”
It is the “streams” of this “river” which now make glad “the city of God.” The symbol used is that of a mighty river formed by various tributaries, or rivulets. The “river” in this case symbolizes the blessings provided for mankind in God’s plan. The “streams” of the river would therefore be all the various promises of God pertaining to the world’s coming blessings. The “river” is not yet flowing, but the promises relating thereto, those promises which outline the divine plan are certainly now making glad the hearts of God’s people.
It is by means of these promises that God is helping his people in this dark time of human distress; this time when, through the “sure word of prophecy,” we see that ‘”the morning appeareth.” How true it is that were it not for a knowledge of the divine plan we would be as much distressed and fearful as is the unbelieving world! Without a knowledge of the truth, our faith in God would be in danger of being swept away, and we would be without that “anchor” to our souls which is “sure and steadfast, which entereth into that which is within the veil.”—Heb. 6:19,20
The “Holy of the Tabernacle”
David speaks of the “her” class as the “city of God.” In Revelation 21:9,10 this “city” is shown to be “the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” But this is the completed “city,” after “his wife hath made herself ready,” and the “marriage of the Lamb is come.” (Rev. 19:7) Now this “city” is merely in course of preparation. But since the “morning appeareth” it is rapidly taking shape. Its twelve “foundations”—the “apostles”—are already raised from the dead, together with all the faithful who throughout the age were planted together in the likeness of Christ’s death. One by one, those who are “alive and remain” are passing over, being “changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.”—I Thess. 4:17; I Cor. 15:51,52
But there are still some on this side of the veil. These are represented by David as being in the “holy of the tabernacle of the most High.” The glorified members of the “city of God” are now in the “most holy,” but we are still in the “holy,” in that condition represented by the first compartment of the tabernacle. It is described in the 91st Psalm as being the “secret place of the most High” where those who dwell “abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”—vs. 1
Antitypically, this “secret place,” this “holy of the tabernacle,” is the condition of full and complete devotion to God on the part of those who have been made partakers of the “high calling.” These dwell in the “holy” as “new creatures,” and it is only by continuing to dwell in this “secret place” that they qualify to claim the promises of God to “help” them in this “time of trouble.”
Full consecration, the complete surrender of our will to do the will of God, is the condition upon which we enter the “holy,” and only by continually keeping our wills buried in his will, may we hope to remain therein. It is consecration to the Lord, and to him alone. It is not devotion to human leadership, or to “church work,” or to denominationalism. We partake of the spirit of that to which we are devoted, and it is only through full, unreserved devotion to the Lord that we partake of his Spirit, and unless we have his Spirit we are none of his.
The implications of full consecration to the Lord are represented by the three articles of furniture in the “holy” of the typical tabernacle. On the right as one entered was the table of shewbread, beautifully picturing the church holding forth the word of life. Devotion to the Lord calls for co-operation with our brethren in building one another up in our “most holy faith.” It also implies feeding upon the Word of God ourselves—the entire Word of God that is, not merely those portions which appeal to us.
To the left in the “holy” was the golden candlestick with its seven branches, representing, as John explains, the “seven churches,” that is, the entire church. (Rev. 1:20) The function of the candlestick was to give light, so the church, and every faithful member of the church, reflects the light of truth. We cannot be fully consecrated to the Lord without letting our light shine. Actually, as Jesus said, the church is “the light of the world,” but in the “holy” of the tabernacle the candlestick illustration has more to do with the enlightenment of the truth in our own hearts and lives.
We are strengthened by the “shewbread,” the “Word of God,” and we are enlightened by the truths of the Word. By that strength, and in that light, we are able to proceed to the golden altar, the third article of furniture in the “holy,” and there offer our incense of praise to God.
Thus we see that full consecration leads to sacrifice, to the laying down of our all, the presenting of our bodies a “living sacrifice.” (Rom. 12:1) To do this acceptably, we need to be strengthened and enlightened by the truth. But no matter how much we feed upon the truth, and regardless of how well we are enlightened by the Word of God, if we do not go on to sacrifice, our consecration will not be complete, hence we will not be permitted to “dwell” in the “secret place of the most High” where his “help” is now being vouchsafed to his people.
Full Assurance of Faith
Are we, then, actually “dwelling” in the “secret place” of the antitypical “holy”? Are we truly and fully consecrated to the Lord? It is well that we examine ourselves on this point, turning the searchlight of truth into our own hearts to discover if there may be still some undiscovered resistance to the Lord’s will. But even then, we should not rely altogether on our own judgment. Paul wrote, “I judge not mine own self.”—I Cor. 4:3
But we can trust the judgment of the Lord, and we can ascertain his viewpoint by the manner in which he is dealing with us. It is only because he permitted us to see the light of truth that we were able to comprehend its beauties. Apart from his help we cannot continue to maintain a clear vision of the glorious “Gospel of the kingdom.” Is the Lord favoring us with a continued clear vision of present truth? Does his wonderful plan of the ages still satisfy our longings as nothing else could do? Are we still determined to be loyal to the truth regardless of what the cost may be?
If to any degree we are losing our appreciation of the truth, or of any phase of the truth, it may be that we are slackening our consecration zeal just a little, and that the Lord, to the same degree, is letting go his hold upon us. The promise is that if we draw nigh to him, he will draw nigh to us.
Through this glorious vision of present truth we have been led to devote our all to the Lord, and upon that basis, in keeping with the Lord’s invitation, we have passed under the first “veil” into the antitypical “holy of the tabernacles of the most high.” We are rejoicing in the spiritual food represented by the shewbread, and sing praises to God for the light of truth, symbolized by the light of the golden candlestick. But are we still equally enthusiastic about the privilege of sacrifice pictured by the golden altar of incense? Are we daily offering up our hearts and lives in full devotion to God as a sweet smelling savor to him?
Paul wrote, “Ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” Paul explains why we need “patience,” saying “For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.” (Heb. 10:36,37) The Lord has always tested the “patience” of his people by allowing them to wait for the fulfillment of his promises. Many times the vision seems to “tarry,” with the result that his people become discouraged and in the innermost recesses of their hearts may wonder whether or not the Lord has delayed his coming.
Any tendency along this line can easily lead to serious consequences so far as our vision of present truth is concerned. If we conclude that this vision does in any manner “tarry,” then our viewpoint of consecration and what it means could easily be affected. Any slight desire on our part to turn back after having put our “hand to the plow,” could result in concluding that the vision has tarried. No wonder the apostle wrote that we have “need of patience,” that, after we have done the will of God we “might receive the promise.”
If we have received the special ‘”help” that the Lord has promised to his people “when the morning appeareth,” it should be an evidence to us that indeed the morning has appeared. The “morning” referred to is the beginning of the millennial day. Actually this day dawned more than a half century ago. No doubt, we saw this clearly once. Is the “Day Star” still shining brightly in our hearts? We knew that when the “morning appeareth,” it would be dark, that storm clouds would hover over the earth, frequently breaking in fury in the various spasms of the prophetic “time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation.”
Are we still patiently waiting for this early phase of the morning to be over, or have we concluded that possibly the morning has not come at all, that we are not in the early hours of the millennial day? “Ye have need of patience,” wrote the apostle. How true! We are so prone to view the time elements of God’s great plan in keeping with our own restricted outlook, rather than from the standpoint of the Lord, to whom a thousand years are but as a watch in the night when it is past.
It was nearly nineteen centuries ago when Paul referred to the coming of the Lord as a “little while” away. And now that he has come, and will be present for a thousand years to subdue all the enemies of God and of righteousness, we should not expect to see his foretold glorious work all accomplished in the early beginning of the new day. The “chart of the ages” shows a transition period, in which one age and one world is ending, and a new age and a new world is beginning. We are still in that transition period.
This being true, our walk in the narrow way is related to the harvest work of the Gospel age. It is also related to the work of the new age in that we are proclaiming the glorious Gospel of the kingdom, helping to blow the antitypical trumpets of jubilee which tell the world of the “times of restitution of all things.” The Lord is “helping” his sacrificing people who are still this side of the veil; and at the same time, in association with those who have already been “changed,” he is dashing the nations to pieces like a potter’s vessel.—Ps. 2:9
Certainly it is a glorious time in which to be living. It is the time when the morning has indeed appeared, that “blessed” time introduced by the ending of the thirteen hundred five and thirty days. (Dan. 12:12) It is the time mentioned in Isaiah’s prophecy when in answer to the question, “Watchman, what of the night?” the “watchman” answers, “The morning cometh, and also the night.” (Isa. 21:11,12) The Swedish translation of the “watchman’s” reply, states, “The morning cometh, but it is still dark.”
Yes, it is still “dark.” It is a darkness through which human wisdom cannot find the way, so the hearts of the people are failing them for fear. But we do not fear, for God is our refuge and strength. Instead of fearing, our hearts rejoice, the “streams” of the “river of life” having caused us to “rejoice in the Lord.” He has helped us at this time when the morning appeareth—helped us by giving us a knowledge of his divine plan.
But further special “help” will yet be ours if we remain “patient” until we receive the fulfillment of all his gracious promises on our behalf. This is the help referred to by Jesus, when he said, “When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, lift up your heads; for your redemption [deliverance] draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:28) This “help” will be the exercise of the mighty power of God in raising us up in the first resurrection to live and reign with Christ. This is the “help” which will deliver the feet members of the body of Christ from this “present evil world.”—Gal. 1:4
During the “little while” we are still this side the veil, Satan will make every effort to “bruise” the “heel” of the seed. But we are not ignorant of his devices, and we know that he will be unable to pluck us out of our Father’s hand if we remain “patient,” dwelling in the “holy” of full consecration to our God.—II Cor. 2:11
With the full deliverance of the church in the first resurrection, the “marriage of the Lamb” will quickly follow. Then the “city of God” will be revealed in power and great glory, and the new kingdom will be manifested to “all the families of the earth.” The “rebuke” of God’s people by “that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan” will be taken away from the whole earth; death will be destroyed, and tears wiped from all faces.—Rev. 21:1-4
Then the whole world will recognize that the morning has appeared. They will discern the evidences of the new day, not through the “sure word of prophecy” as we do today, but through the healing powers of the “Sun of Righteousness” which then will have arisen to scatter all the mists of darkness, and enlighten the world with a knowledge of the glory of God.—Mal. 4:2; Matt. 13:43; Jer. 31:33,34; Hab. 2:14