MEASURABLE PROGRESS
John Laurie
1 Samuel 2:18-21, 26; 3:19
1 Chron 4:9-10
Ezekiel 47:1-5
Philemon 10-16
I seek help, beloved brethren, to say something about measurable progress. That would be quite an exercise for us all to consider. Are we making measurable progress? Is there something discernible in the way of advancement amongst us in spiritual growth?
I have been thinking of one of the things that John, the apostle, was given to do which is mentioned in Revelation. Largely he was given to look and to listen but he was also asked to write, and we are very thankful for what he has written, and what has been preserved to us in that wonderful exposition written out. But in addition to that, at one point he was given a measuring instrument and he was told to take it and to rise and measure the temple and the altar and them that worship in it, chap 11: 1. How would you set about to measure worshippers? I suppose it is indicative of intelligence on the part of John to be able to take account of some discernible formation in the worshippers, so that he could rightly evaluate and truly consider before the Lord.
I find it quite a searching thing that we should be found, not only as those who in some degree have been preserved through divine grace and have continued in the course of the testimony, but as those of whom it can be said that we are continuing in such a way that there is measurable progress with us. Is there constant increase for the pleasure of divine Persons? Such, I think, was the case with Samuel. These several references to his growth are very interesting. It is very evident that it is not merely an allusion to physical growth of a very young boy, advancing in height, and in a general way progressing in what would be expected of any child, but he grew before Jehovah; there was measurable progress in relation to the things of God found with him.
Largely what was initially found with Samuel was the fruit of the remarkable exercise taken up by his mother and her godly concern in relation to the interests of God. She apparently discerned that there was something lacking in the priesthood. She carried deep exercise that there would be someone available to be useable in view of God’s interests being maintained in a right way. She carried deep and godly exercise before God about that; her prayer clearly reflects that. She had the ability to evaluate that measurable progress with Samuel as he grew before Jehovah. In these visits made year by year she seemed to anticipate that there would be progress. In that respect she, in addition to being an intercessor before God, clearly moved in the steps of faith and anticipated that God would work in response to her pleadings. It is evident that in visiting Samuel every year she made a larger coat proportionate to the extent of his growth.
What about me, and what about you? Is there discernible increase as we move on among the saints? Oh to be able to grow before Jehovah! To grow in the sight of the Lord. One would seek to grow in knowledge in a greater understanding of divine things, but may our growth not be limited to knowledge only but may there be substantial formation with us in affection and in features of Christ Himself. May there be increasing conformity to Him at the present time. It is said so beautifully of Samuel that he “grew before Jehovah”, and then we read further down, “And the boy Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with Jehovah and also with men”. What a remarkable similarity to the words used concerning the Lord Jesus Himself. Samuel is a beautiful type in that respect of the attractiveness of the growth that was found with the Lord Jesus. We must always say, of course, that Christ stands out distinctively in all His glory at every stage.
We sometimes feel that we know but little of the early stages of the Lord’s life here, but we do have the precious record that He grew: He grew in favour with God and men, Luke 2. Samuel sets out a similar thought. How beautiful to see a suggestion there in relation to progress in the life of the Lord Jesus. Think of Samuel growing before Jehovah. Can we gain some impression of the delight of God’s in looking down upon Samuel and seeing progress that was soon to be found in fulness in His own beloved Son here? The Lord Jesus took up a condition of flesh and blood in which He moved on this earth. He was the One concerning whom the Father’s voice was heard from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I have found my delight”, Matt 3: 17. Steps in growth and increase were found with the Lord Jesus. It is said of Him that He “advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men”. Likewise Samuel, in his measure, “grew on, and was in favour both with Jehovah and also with men”. I do not think that means Samuel was in any way conforming to worldly interests amongst men. I think it brings out some distinctiveness in his character that preserved him from being offensive to men. In measure he rightly represented God in testimony here as he grew on.
We read later in chapter 3:19, “And Samuel grew, and Jehovah was with him, and let none of his words fall to the ground”. What measurable progress! I think it is true, that at the beginning it was very largely the fruit of his mother’s godly exercise, but as he grew something came into evidence in personal exercise with Samuel himself. He had a hearing ear; he was attentive to what God would say. As he hearkened and took in the words of Jehovah, so he gained ability as helped of God to be able to speak, and in such a way that none of his words fell to the ground. Further progress was to be seen there; I use the words again, ‘measurable progress’. Brethren will discern that I am rather emphasising what can be truly taken account of, and not just a general thought in relation to progress, something specific involving real exercise before God as we move on that provides evidence of a fruitful result pleasing to God. Such is what took place in the life of Samuel, growing on and with his hearing ear attentive to what God would say. Firstly, he was useable in communicating God’s mind to Eli, which he faithfully did; that would be an important thing too. If anyone feels directed of the Lord to say something in particular, then it should be said with all the import and clarity of the Lord’s mind and voice behind it. There should be no confusion, but rather distinctiveness in what is said in view of edification and blessing being the result of it. None of his words fell to the ground. He did not say things that were of no importance and of no relevance in relation to the interests of God. What he did say was according to the mind of God and upheld by God. There is something very attractive about that. Oh to be preserved in usefulness and in steady growth in the interests of the Lord here!
In Chronicles we have another beautiful example of one with whom remarkable progress was found. Once again there was the occasion of godly exercise with his mother. His name stood as a reminder of that: “His mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bore him with pain”. Now we might feel we are passing through difficult and testing times. There is no doubt that the mother of Jabez felt that. She bore him with pain; it was an occasion of difficulty in her life. There was much exercise and cost involved in this child coming into life. If there is to be in any measure fruitfulness or an answer to God in spiritual measurable growth amongst us, it must involve real exercise before God. It does not come about through carelessness or inactivity. We may say, from one point of view, that it is entirely of God and God’s own work. I do not doubt that nor detract from the importance of that for a moment, but I do think it has to be taken up in the way of godly exercise on our part; that is what characterized Jabez. He had this somewhat brief but remarkable prayer before God that is recorded for us. He took things up in an earnest way. He called on the God of Israel. And he says, “Oh that thou wouldest richly bless me”; “Richly bless me”. What a fine thing to carry exercise before God to go in for the very best. Why should I seek for something inferior or less than the fulness of God’s great thoughts? We were reminded in the reading of the purpose of God. Why should I in any way think less of what is to be wrought out and secured than what God has in His own mind for the saints? Jabez was a man who took that up in his exercise and asked that God might richly bless him and “enlarge my border”. How beautiful. Have you ever come across a brother, or a sister, and been able to discern progress and say, ‘I see advancement in growth and spiritual substance with that person’? Such a person’s border being enlarged and being able to enjoy more than formerly, enlarged in the understanding of the truth, it may be, and enriched in capacity to answer to it. Firstly, toward God, but secondly, in an outward way in the testimony too.
Think of the border of Jabez being enlarged. I have often wondered about that. You might think that if his border was enlarged that would mean that someone else's border was reduced a little. I cannot fully answer that but all I can say is that God took account of his prayer and granted his request. In the wisdom of God what Jabez asked for was made available. I do think if things are taken up in true spiritual exercise by us before God, God will surely bring in an answer in blessing. I say that as understanding that God is a Rewarder; He delights to bless. I cannot in any way put God under obligation to do anything; far be the thought! But it is God’s delight to bless. We have a perfect example of it in this little section concerning Jabez. He presented these exercises in such a distinctive way before God: “enlarge my border, and that thy hand might be with me”. Think of a man seeking that the hand of God would be with him. That shows he was intending proceeding in dependence upon God. He was not assuming that he could go forward with independency of thought, outlook or strength in any way, but he felt the need of divine help and guidance in view of being able to fill out what he was asking for. So he says, “that thy hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me”!
What need there is for us to be preserved in our thoughts, beloved brethren. I take that very much home to myself because there is a great deal in this world, all around us, that would so quickly grieve us and hinder our measurable spiritual progress if we are not preserved carefully in our thoughts and ways and walk. May we rather prove the value of the Spirit’s help and know what it is to be divinely strengthened in view of not only being enlarged in the inheritance, but enlarged in the enjoyment of it. I have no doubt that as having his border enlarged it was in view of there being greater productiveness in the portion of his inheritance. A richer answer would thus be secured for God.
The closing words in the section are very attractive: “And God brought about what he had requested”. How beautiful that is! What an answer to this man’s fervent prayer! May I encourage each and all of us to take up this exercise for ourselves. There was an answer to Hannah’s prayer as well. There are a good many young children here today; thank God for them all. May their parents carry exercise - the mothers and the fathers - to pray for the preservation of these children. Mothers in Israel amongst us, and true fathers amongst us, taking up the exercise, too, to pray for the preservation and prosperity of the children. But then we need to take up things personally as we go on in our lives. We give thanks for the care and interest of our parents, if having had godly parents. We can give thanks for the love and care and interest of others who have taken a spiritual interest in our welfare and prayed for us. I can say I am amongst those who have known of that. I have known of persons whom I never met previously in my life to have been praying for me. That is a very precious thing. But then there comes a point when there must be exercise to take up these things for ourselves, and like Jabez seek that there might be an enlargement of our border. May God’s hand keep us and preserve us in the holy things that we seek to grow in.
Think of the hand of the Lord coming in to preserve us and to keep us. Think of the Lord stretching out His hand to rescue Peter at one point. Peter had great exercise and desire, I have no doubt, but he needed the hand of the Lord to keep him and preserve him too. There was a point in his life where he felt he was going to sink, but that hand came out to preserve him and to hold him. How beautiful to think of the interest of divine Persons that we may be maintained and preserved in view of Their own joy. May we be indeed vessels for the divine pleasure in the course of things at the present time.
With Ezekiel there was very great evidence of measurable progress. Ezekiel was brought into touch with one who had a line in his hand. He had two measuring instruments. This man had a reed but he also had a line. I wondered about that some time back when I read it and then I was interested to think that you cannot measure over waters with a measuring reed: you need a line. You need a line to measure out from a fixed point and measure the progress. I pass that on as a little point of interest. Here was someone furnished to measure a thousand cubits at a time. Ezekiel was brought back to the door of the house, to this place of wonderful resource, indicative of where God was dwelling. He was being brought to gain some apprehension of the great wealth of all that was before God. I might just say that was not a back door of the house, because he was brought to the front door which faced eastwards. That door of the house gives some apprehension of the wealth of all that was flowing out from, we may say, the place where God dwells - in His house. He was given some understanding of the great flow of things going out in the waters which ran out from the right side of the house. “When the man went forth eastward, a line was in his hand; and he measured a thousand cubits, and he caused me to pass through the waters: the waters were to the ankles”. What a wonderful illustration of measurable progress. Ezekiel was helped to go forward.
I have been speaking of the need of ourselves taking up godly exercise and praying about things, but there is a further thought here in that Ezekiel was guided. The man went forth and “he caused me” Ezekiel says; here is a man causing Ezekiel to go forward. It seems to me as if it is a service that divine Persons would render to us. No doubt through the Lord and by the Spirit we are caused to go forward. What grace that there should be such support and help available in relation to divine interests. He was caused to go forward, and he moved a thousand cubits in progress forward, and found the waters were up to his ankles.
What can I say about the ankles? Does it not remind us of the man in the early Acts? His feet and ankle bones were made strong and the result of that was that he walked and leapt and praised God, chap 3: 7, 8. What progress! The man had previously been paralysed; he was carried to the gate. He had not the ability to do a thing of himself and was carried to the gate and laid there. But here now was measurable progress in that man’s life. We may say the waters had reached his ankles, and he was strengthened and he was able to walk and to leap and to praise God. What progress would be evident. It was discernible and measurable in that man’s life. Then Ezekiel was enabled to go further: “he measured a thousand cubits, and caused me to pass through the waters: the waters were to the knees”.
I was wondering about the knees. I was thinking of Paul, the apostle Paul: how beautifully he makes reference to bowing his knees. Think of his knees bowed before the Father in intercession for the saints at Ephesus, chap 3: 14. What a beautiful thought concerning the knees. We may say the water had clearly reached Paul’s knees, and he had some impression of the wealth of all that was flowing out from God in view of divine blessing. He bows his knees before the Father in order that there should be enrichment for these saints in Ephesus, interceding before God for the blessing of the saints. What high thoughts he had in mind; he had some understanding of the wealth of the flow of the waters. That section leads on to the final thought of glory to God in the assembly in Christ Jesus, v 21. What enlargement was coming into the mind and heart of Paul as he was bowing his knees before the Father. So he branches out into a doxology in praise to God. How wonderful to have our knees affected in that way! I take it up by way of illustration and figuratively. It may be suggestive of our prayers, thoughts and exercises before the Father or before the Lord or in relation to the Holy Spirit. What favour to consider divine Persons whom we are enabled to approach and speak to.
Then there was further measurement: “He measured a thousand and caused me to pass through: the waters were to the loins”. Think of the increasing depth that Ezekiel was helped to go forward into. I love to think of John the apostle in regard of that. “To him who loves us”, Rev 1: 5. You read John’s gospel, and you get a wonderful impression of John having a depth of understanding of the love of Christ, and the way that divine love had come out into such blessed expression in the One upon whose bosom he lay. Think of the waters in effect reaching to his loins. His affections were brought into the wonderful flow of divine love. He speaks as a man in the enjoyment of it: “To him who loves us”. He was sustained in the flow and consciousness of that wonderful love. It is a love that has washed us from our sins; I trust we can all say that we have been washed from our sins in His precious blood. If you have not made a start in the wonderful course of the flow of things to be enjoyed, may you be deeply exercised to resolve that difficulty and have it put right. Oh to grow in the appreciation of the love that has secured us. “To him who loves us”: a love from which nothing can separate us. How wonderful to be held in the power of that love, held in the hands of the Lord Jesus. I have often thought of the reference in the Song of Songs: “His hands gold rings, set with the chrysolite”, chap 5: 14. Think of being encircled by the mighty power of the Lord’s love. The love expressed in His hands holding us so firmly forever: “To him who loves us”.
But he went on further still in this progress. “He measured a thousand: it was a river that I could not pass through, for the waters were risen”. You might say, ‘Well, Ezekiel had you then just to turn back?’. No, that is not what Ezekiel said. He said, “waters to swim in”. What a wonderful thought that is: “waters to swim in”, sustained in the enjoyment of the fulness of the flow. Would God ever say to us, ‘There is a limitation here and restrictions must be imposed’? There was no sense of that in the way that Ezekiel was led on. He reached this point of fulness in what the river was conveying as coming out from the house and came to waters to swim in. I believe it shows how divine Persons would be desirous of leading us on into the fulness of all that can be enjoyed. I am not in any way suggesting that we as creatures can enter into what is infinite in greatness. That exclusively belongs to God, but all that has been revealed and expressed of God, which the outflow of the river would suggest, is there for our enjoyment in fullest measure; waters to swim in.
Oh to be able to swim in the fulness of all that is to be enjoyed. I do not wish to be careless in my language but he would not just be floating there in the depths. He would be enabled to swim! He was in spiritual energy, exploring the fulness of all that was conveyed in the depth of the river at this point. I use these applications, as I have no doubt the prophet would have done so on God’s behalf, to seek to stimulate our desire to go in, in fullest measure, for all that is to be enjoyed.
Lastly, I wanted to make a reference to Onesimus. Clearly there was progress in the life of Onesimus. He fled as a runaway slave from Philemon but he was returned, not just as a bondman. Paul says, “not any longer as a bondman, but above a bondman, a beloved brother”. Think of Paul, as it were, presenting to Philemon the progress that he was able to measure. He would in effect say to Philemon, ‘Well, he went away as an unfaithful bondman but now he is coming back, and not just as a bondman but above a bondman, a beloved brother’, someone to be really valued. There was a work of God in his soul that was not there before when he went away. Now he was coming back to Philemon to be taken into Philemon’s care and household again: to be received as a brother. It may be he would again resume some bondman service before Philemon, but he had this additional growth and evidence about him that he was there as a brother, one with whom fellowship could be enjoyed. Paul says, “above a bondman, a beloved brother, specially to me, and how much rather to thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord”; beautiful language.
Well, I think the brethren will clearly discern my exercise that as before the Lord there might be true and steady progress found with us in view of the delight of the Lord’s own heart. I come back to this point of things being measurable. We do not only want to be concerned with generalities and apparently being in the right place and in the right circumstances where we enjoy fellowship among the saints. These things are all important and clearly to be valued and to be preserved; but then is there real evidence of spiritual growth and advancement with me in relation to true stature before the Lord? I think that is looked for; it is an Ephesian thought. It says in Ephesians, “until we all arrive at the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, at the full-grown man, at the measure of the stature of the fulness of the Christ”, chap 4: 13. He adds, “in order that we may be no longer babes”, v 14. No longer babes: measurable progress reaching out to full growth in relation to Christ.
Well, may the Lord encourage our hearts and strengthen us to go on as taking up these exercises in earnest supplication before Himself, and availing ourselves of the resource in the Spirit to ensure that they should be fulfilled to His glory.
Grangemouth
20th January 2018