GRACE GAZETTE
Volume XXIssue3
/Published occasionally for mourners in Zion/
/Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;And
make straight pathsfor your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out
of the way; but let it rather be healed.Hebrews 12::12-13/
REGARDING THE LOWLY
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/Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly:/
/but the proud he knoweth afar off. Psalm 138:6/
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//When the LORD gave the commandments to Moses, concerning having no
other gods before HIS face, or the making of graven images, HE revealed
HIMSELF as a jealous GOD. /“Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor
serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the
iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth
generation of them that hate me.” (Exo 20:5/) Even HIS NAME is
JEALOUS.“/For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name
is Jealous, is a jealous God.” (Exo 34:14/)Shortly before his death,
Moses reminded the Israelites of this in a warning concerning the
singularity of their worship and the consequences of disregarding the
LORD’s commandment and covenant./“For the LORD thy God is a consuming
fire, even a jealous God.” (Deut 4:24/)The writer of the epistle to the
Hebrews, quoted this very passage as he exhorted the saints to serve the
LORD with “/reverence and GODLY fear./”/“For our God is a consuming
fire.” (Heb 12:29/)
To be jealous is to have great regard for a possession which one
rightfully has.Men are often jealous of those things which they desire
to have or consider that they possess.Such as the love of their wife or
child, or respect among their peers.But since men are innately corrupt,
so too is their jealousy tainted by that corruption.Yet the LORD has a
perfect jealousy, since HE is the possessor of all things and rightfully
demands honor since HE dwells in the LIGHT to which no man may approach.
HE commands men to worship HIM because HE alone is worthy of worship.HE
will destroy those who will not worship HIM because it pleases HIM to do
so, and who can question HIS doing since HE is the CREATOR and answers
to none.
This is a clear message which is set forth in the Holy Scriptures, from
their beginning to their end.The LORD revels in HIS glory and will share
it with none.The rebellious nature of men, causes them to take issue
with this, because men delight in their own glory, wrongly assuming that
they have some standing which would entitle them to respect, even before
GOD.We live in an age when the singular glory of GOD is little
mentioned, while the supposed “glory” of men, is magnified.Little by
little, over time, the truth of GOD has been turned into a lie, as men
worship and serve the creature more than the CREATOR.
This error is manifested in the widespread teaching of a “gospel” which
is “another gospel”, as Paul described it. “/As we said before, so say I
now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have
received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do
I seek to please men? _for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the
servant of Christ._” (Gal 1:9-10/)Those who preach any other message
than JESUS CHRIST and HIM crucified are those, “/Having a form of
godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. --- Ever
learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2Tim
3:5-7/)
The preaching of CHRIST crucified is done for the sole purpose of
magnifying HIS NAME and setting forth before the sons of men, the glory
which surrounds HIM who bled and died for sinners, according to HIS
eternal purpose.It is the declaration of HIS Eternal Kingdom which HE
has established in the Earth through HIS redemptive work in the behalf
of those who were chosen “in HIM” from before the foundation of the
world.It is the proclamation of the fact that HE has finished the work
which HE came to do, and has saved HIS people from their sins.It is the
announcement that HE is calling HIS sheep by name from the midst of the
darkness of this world where they are scattered like pieces of treasure
awaiting the day when they are snatched as brands from the burning and
subjected to the REFINER’s fire.It is the assertion that HE presently
works in HIS people through HIS SPIRIT. “/For it is God which worketh in
you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Php 2:13/)
It is to announce that HE will come again to the Earth to gather that
possession which HE has purchased with HIS own blood and to raise those
of them, who sleep in HIM with the same resurrection which HE manifested
when HE triumphed over sin and death, rising from the dead on the third
day. And so shall they ever be with the LORD.
This gospel declaration is made in the presence of all men, but it is
specifically sent to the ears of them whom the LORD is pleased to awaken
that they might hear the call of HIS voice and come unto HIM, even as HE
commands them to do so.“Hark the gospel trumpet’s sounding, sinners hear
the call and come.CHRIST in pard’ning love abounding, now invites the
weary home.Though your crimes have reached to heaven, and of deepest dye
appear, ask and they shall be forgiven, seek and ye shall find HIM
near.”“Come ye sinners poor and wretched, weak and wounded, sick and
sore, JESUS ready stands to save you, full of pity, joined with pow’r.
Let not conscience make you linger nor of fitness fondly dream, all the
fitness HE requireth, is to feel your need of HIM, this HE gives you,
‘tis the SPIRIT’s rising beam.”
As the Psalmist says, “/though the LORD is high, _HE hath respect unto
the lowly_/”.The LORD stands in need of nothing, yet HE has regard unto
sinners.Is this not the most amazing revelation that can be set forth
before men and angels.This truth is manifested when HE said, “/to this
man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and
trembleth at my word.” (Isa 66:2/)The LORD JESUS rejoiced in this truth
when HE declared, “/I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and _hast
revealed them unto babes_.” (Mat 11:25/)
Just as surely as HE holds the “proud” at arm’s length, HE does gather
those who are “lowly” in HIS arms and will not let them perish.“/A
bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench,
till he send forth judgment unto victory.” (Mat 12:20/)“/For the Son of
man is come to save that which was lost. ---- Even so it is not the will
of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should
perish.” (Mat 18:11-14/)The “proud” will not seek HIM, for they are
satisfied with their own righteousness and they shall have it and the
fruits which come with it.Yet those whom the LORD has caused to see
their “lowly” estate, HE will also deliver out of it, setting their feet
upon a SOLID ROCK and causing them to rejoice therein.
This is the message that HE came to deliver, /“The Spirit of the Lord is
upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor;
he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the
captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them
that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke
4:18-19)/HE has not in anywise failed to accomplish exactly what HE has
set out to do, nor shall HE in anywise be disappointed in the outcome of
that which HE has purposed to do.“/Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise
him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering
for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and _the
pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the
travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied_: by his knowledge shall my
righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall
divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul
unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the
sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”(Isa
53:10-12/)Are you among the “proud” who are “afar off” or the “lowly”
who are brought near?mam