|
God's Precious Jewels Part 1. They shall be Mine GOD compares His people to quite a variety of earthly objects which serve to lend a lively interest to various truths. He likens them to trees, as the tall palm and the stately cedar; and to lovely flowers, as the lily and rose. Again they are likened to stars, and to the light of the sun. Likewise to doves, to portray their spirit of innocence; also to gentle lambs and even to lions to show courage and boldness. Eagles, too, are mentioned to picture far‑sightedness and heavenly dwelling places. When God compares His people to jewels, the similitude becomes worthy of special consideration. Their preciousness, value and beauty make them most apt in their symbolism. Goodly gems have been appropriately termed the "blossoms of the rock" and the "flowers of the caves and torrent‑beds." Their diverse properties well picture the many excellent qualities and characteristics of the Church of the Firstborns. The jewellers of the East have been among the greatest travellers of the world. They have journeyed even to the remotest lands to secure, if possible, the finest stones. It has sometimes happened that they have come across a gem so valuable and costly, that they have sold all their possessions to secure it.
At His resurrection He had the value with which He could purchase the "field" and all that it contained. His first request was for His "church." He appeared "in the presence of God for us" (Heb.9:24). The Bride of the Lamb The apostle uses the picture of the marriage tie to bear upon this teaching. "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church" (Eph.5:25‑27,32). The writer of a well‑known hymn tells of this sublime relationship, thus— "The Church's one Foundation, "They shall be Mine." The great Creator of the universe and the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, is intensely interested in His elect. "For the LORD hath chosen Zion; He hath desired it for His habitation. This is My rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it" (Psalm 132:13,14). For well‑nigh two thousand years He has been watching and waiting for His precious jewels. He declares: "Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God" (Isaiah 62:3). The prospective heirs, in turn, become fully aware of the great love of the Father, and prophetically their words are as follows: "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels" (Isaiah 61:10). The prophet speaks of a time when this precious jewel class will be all gathered together in one. That this time is fast approaching there can be no doubt, for there are hundreds of prophecies co‑ordinating in fulfilment. Hearken to the voice of the Lord: "Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His name. And they shall be Mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him" (Mal.3:16.17). The word "jewels" in this text is from the Hebrew segullah, elsewhere translate "peculiar" or "special treasure." Here is another passage where the word occurs: "Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure (segullah) unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine" (Exodus 19:5). History reveals that the children of Israel did not hearken unto the voice of the Lord. Their wayward tendencies became more and more pronounced. In the course of time the Messiah came among them, who "spake as never man spake," Nevertheless, He was despised, rejected and ultimately crucified as a malefactor. Thus Israel clearly demonstrated that, as a people, they had neither the faith nor inclination to become the special‑treasure of the Lord. For this reason God turned to the Gentiles "to take out of them a people for His name" (Acts 15:14). Thus the redeemed have arisen out of "every kindred and tongue, and people and nation," for the Lord is no respecter of person, nationality or sex, but He is of character. The character attainments of His chosen, through the power of God, become superb, wonderful and glorious! For this reason they are spoken of as jewels. The Breastplate of Judgment To lend a pleasing emphasis to the symbolism, the Lord commanded twelve different, precious stones, embedded in gold, to form the breastplate of the High Priest of Israel (Exodus 28). It covered the heart to betoken the love and affectionate trust that Jesus, our great High Priest, possesses for His followers. There is a little mystery attached to this breastplate. In some way, as yet unknown, it expressed the judgment of God. This is indicated by the words, "And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim (lights and perfections); and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually" (Exodus 28:30). The suggestion of something supernatural is borne out by an incident in the life of King Saul. He one time sought the counsel of a witch at Endor, because "the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets" (1 Sam.28:6). Thus the future judgment of saints was foreshadowed. Arrayed in light and perfection, the symbolic jewels will, as members of the Royal Priesthood, judge the whole world of mankind. "Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?" (1 Cor.6:2). This judgment was early foretold through the mouth of Enoch, the seventh from Adam, who declared that "the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds" (Jude 14.15). Some fear the judgment day as though it were an unending catastrophe! Read, however, the joyous song of David, which comes floating down the stream of time in sweet melody: "Let the heavens be glad,…let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein. Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because He cometh to judge the earth. O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever" (1 Chron.16:31‑34). The judgment day, therefore, is a time to be desired. "For thus saith the LORD of hosts; yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; and I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory," (Hag.2:6‑7). FL |
Our
Master used this to illustrate a great truth. He said that "the kingdom of
heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had
found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it"
(Matt.13:45,46). The analogy becomes remarkable in the light of the Divine
purposes. Before Jesus came to earth, He beheld the world a desolate region on
account of sin. He reviewed, however, the possibilities. While the image of God
in man had become blurred, He foreknew the results under wise treatment. From
crude flinty material, the human race might again reflect, the manifold beauties
of the light and love of their Maker which were lost in Adam. In due course the
Father opened up to His mental vision "the pearl of great price," in other
words, the elect! Chosen from men and women, there were some capable, under
given circumstances, of more expressly reflecting the loveliness of the Divine
character. Impelled with these thoughts, our Master emptied Himself of His
pre‑human glory and became a perfect being according to the flesh, and this He
gave "for the life of the world" (John 6:51).