It is most important to understand, as we have seen, that
the church having been unfaithful to the call of God, restoration collectively
is no longer possible. Christians are
sometimes misled, as their thoughts by these very revivals effected by God,
especially if they are themselves identified with one of these partial
restorations wrought by the Spirit of God.
Limited views, perhaps a narrow heart accustomed only to think of and
love that portion of the church which more immediately concerns ourselves – a
sectarian spirit which leads us to designate as church, the systems which man
has substituted for the building of God – such are some of the causes which
hinder us from forming a correct estimate of the true state of the assembly in
this world. Now it is an indisputable
fact for every Christian, in the habit of depending on the Word of God, that
the present days are evil, that the mystery of iniquity already works, for
there are already many antichrists, and everything ripening for the final
apostasy. But another fact quite as
positive is, that God is faithful and will never leave Himself without
testimony. He can even make use of the evil as in Chapter 2, to dispense fresh
blessings to His people.
In
the same way in Judges the deserved oppression of the enemy is used by God to
bring about revivals in Israel. “They
cried unto the Lord” is invariably the
word that ushers them in Christendom in
the present day discusses what means should be used to inaugurate
revivals. “There is but one;” such a sense of the low condition of the
world, of the sinner or of the church, as shall lead the exercised soul to turn
to God. “They cried unto the Lord.” Then He sent deliverers to them. We shall see these revivals in their various
phases from Chap,111 to Chap, xvi of this book.
Let us begin by a general
observation. When things are morally in
a low state, God uses instruments which in themselves are imperfect and bear
the stamp of weakness, - Othniel sprang from a younger branch of the family; he
was “the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.” Ehud was weak through his infirmity, Shamgar through his weapon,
Deborah from her sex, Barak by
his natural character, Gideon on account of his relations,
Jephthah by his birth. Other judges are
mentioned who are rich, influential, or prosperous (x. 1-4; xii. 8-15), and God
uses them no doubt, but more to maintain results already obtained than as
deliverers. We are no longer in the
days of Joshua, or of the Apostles, when a power was developed in man, which
hindered the weakness of the vessel from appearing, and yet the very infirmity
of these witnesses (characteristic of the period we are in) glorified the power
of Him who could use them.
Moral Wealth
Having fought to win a wife, Othniel became the possessor of
his own personal inheritance and of springs to water it. God now uses him to fight for others, and it
is ever thus. Before the Christian can
be publicly used of God, he must individually have made progress in the
knowledge of the Lord, and in the power of his privileges. Before taking up public service, the
Christian should have made progress in his own soul in the knowledge of the
Lord and of the character of the calling; the absence of these generally
accounts for our service being so contracted, our hearts are so little occupied
with heavenly things. The moral wealth
which Othniel had acquired for himself was soon evident in his walk. In the short compass of verses 10 and 11 ,
six things are mentioned of him: first, “ the Spirit of the Lord,” the power of
God to deliver Israel “came upon him;”
secondly, “he judged Israel,” he
was entrusted with government; thirdly, he “went out to war,” here we have conflict; fourthly, “the Lord
delivered Chushan-rishathaim, King of Mesopotamia, into his hand,” this is
victory; fifthly, “his hand prevailed against Chushan-rishathaim,” the enemy is
finally subjugated; sixthly, ”the land had rest forty years.” Israel quietly enjoys the fruits of
Othniel’s victory, - God’s end is achieved; this man who belonged only
indirectly to the lineage of the noble Caleb, was fitted beforehand for this
service, and when put to the proof, showed himself to be suitable material in
the hands of the divine workman.
Let us ask God to raise up Othniels in the present day; yea,
rather let us be Othniels ourselves by true consecration of heart to the Lord,
by an increasing desire to appropriate and realize these heavenly things, and
we shall be instruments well –fitted for the Master and prepared unto every
good work.