3.THE KOHATHITE CHARACTER. (Num. 3:29.)

In this verse of the third chapter of Numbers we have presented the position in relation to the tabernacle which is occupied by Kohath."The families of the children of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward."Our attention is here called to the south and those hostile influences of this world of which this direction speaks. The word used for south means to be on the right hand of a people. Thus we are always looked at as facing eastward, the place of the sunrise, typical of God's glory, so that the south is always from this point of view on the right hand, hence this meaning of the word in the original. And we must remember that in Scripture, to be on the right hand is always to be in the place of favor and acceptance. There is also a word used for the south which means "to be parched," from the extreme heat and con sequent drought in that direction. Hence the same word is used for Egypt. We easily gather from this that the south presents to us the favor of the world, to be on its right hand and in the place of acceptance with it. But it, is just these very influences which destroy all spiritual vigor, and dry up all the sap of the spiritual life. The result of subservience to such power is simply that to have the friendship of the world is to be at enmity with God, and "whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God " (James 4:4).

The one who faces south and confronts this side of the world's influence is Kohath. In him we shall find the manner becoming to us in occupying the place of service in relation to this side of the world's power. His name means "Assembly." If we consider the burdens it is his lot to bear, we shall find the thought of the assembly strongly enforced. First of all (ver. 31) the ark, type of the throne of God. It is in the assembly, distinctively, that this is established and owned by God's people. If it is the "house of God," it is that because He is there established in fullest power and authority, His throne is set up in it. Thus among those who compose the assembly, God is in the exalted place, His power and authority is acknowledged by them with joy, their relationship is a glorious one, while in the world He is disowned and His supremacy hated by it in its alienation. This answers exactly to Kohath's first son, Amram, "people of the exalted One." It expresses not only the relationship we are in toward God as the One now enthroned and glorified by Christ's work by which also we are now His people, but also our position, which is an exalted one since we are His people.

Then we have the table,-type of communion which can only be enjoyed in the presence of God, for the bread on the table is literally "the presence bread." This again is realized in the full extent of its blessing in assembly character where, as gathered together with the Lord in the midst and the Spirit to direct and guide in all activity, fellowship with God and Christ is entered into. The Spirit can alone take of the things of Christ and minister them in communion, whether in collective or individual aspect. In accord with this the second son is Izehar, "oil," type of the Spirit.

In the third place we have the lamp stand-type of Christ in the glory of resurrection. Upon its seven branches are placed the lamps from which the light is thrown upon the lamp stand itself. These lamps give us a picture of the saints united to Christ, and borne up by Him in resurrection glory before God, just as these lamps are made part of and are supported by the lamp stand. It is in the assembly this truth is fully developed, for it is the body of Christ of which He is the Head, and all the children of God the members of it. And so the third son is Hebron, "union,"-the union of Christ and His members in one body.

Fourthly, the altars,-that of the burnt-offering, and the golden incense altar,-which speak to us of the sweet odor of that perfect sacrifice in which we are accepted of God, and of the sweet odor of praise and thanksgiving which is accepted from us by God; It is the assembly as constituted a holy priesthood which stands in the double blessing of this position. In accord with this the fourth son is Uzziel "the power of God," and in this His power is fully displayed, first of all in the accomplishment of a work by which the perfect acceptance of the sinner is accomplished, the work typified in the burnt-offering; and secondly by the indwelling of the individual with the Spirit and the union of all in one body, so that God's power is displayed in the blessed activity of the Spirit in the offering of the sacrifice of praise and worship of which the golden altar speaks.

In the fifth place we have the veil which was used to cover the ark. It speaks to us of Christ in His humanity, since it is composed of the same materials as the beautiful curtains; but with the cherubim it has the added thought of all government being in His hand. So the Father "hath committed all judgment (the direct work of government in its exercise) unto the Son " (John 5:22). It is Christ as thus presented through whom alone the holiest of all, the presence of God, can be entered. This is the essential truth of assembly position, as being linked with Christ in the one body, in which every believer has his place, giving liberty of access in the presence of God. For this, of course, we know the veil must be rent, speaking to us of Christ crucified.

The ministry connected with these precious things belongs rightly to our priestly character, but Kohath bears them about with him in the wilderness march; that is the Levitical side of these sanctuary, priestly truths. We are to bear about with us the assembly character and its blessed truth. It is not simply a meeting which is called by this name. It is not something the form of which we go through on Lord's day morning and that is all till another such occasion comes. But it is that in connection with which we have been placed by God, and in the realized sense of which, continuously maintained, we are to live, having our lives molded according to this all-controlling truth. This done, the world's favor, or desire to be at its right hand, in friendship with it, will have no charm, no power over us. In this we have what gives the victory to faith over it, and enables for the occupation of the place of service in the right way as confronting southern influences and their power.

In the assembly we stand in the most exalted and privileged place of all people, in special favor and nearness to God. With the truth of it maintained and carried with us, what place will there be for the offers of the world's favor and acceptance? What is the attitude of it to Him in whose special favor we stand through Christ? In view of the answer which must be given to this, what countenance can we give to its courtship and proffered place at its right hand? In the assembly we are united to and under the headship of Christ whom the world crucified. He now is the exalted One and glorified at the right hand of the Majesty on high, cast out by the world, received up into glory by God. His position and relation, therefore, determine ours since we are linked with Him in the wondrous way to which assembly truth testifies. If He then is rejected, that is our place too; the servant is not greater than his Lord; but then the eye of faith can turn to where He now is and know that there also is our place, the home and delight of our hearts filled with its light and love and joy, and the Father's love-feast spread for us to partake of.
How these precious things should thrill our hearts. The love of Christ, how dare I requite it by such base ingratitude as to court the friendship and favor of that system which hated and despised Him, the proof of whose love to my poor sin cursed soul was the enduring of my just judgment and God's forsaking, that His favor and love might be poured out upon me to the full. Shall I then seek the right hand of the world in its distance and separation from God into whose favor I have now been brought at such a cost? May our hearts answer, as welling up with gratitude to our blessed Lord, "not of this world even as Thou art not of it." He had not where to lay His head, shall we find more in this sad, restless world? Satan would lull us to sleep, if he could, by the vain music of its proffered favor and false love and the present advantages this might bring with it. Let us choose "rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season" (Heb. 11:25). Thus shall we " walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called "-of which we see Kohath plainly speaks. Southward, then, beloved, by God's grace we shall be Kohathites, shall we not? J. B. Jr.