Notes of an Address by A. E. B. (Gen. 30:13; Deut. 33:24, were read.)
When Asher was born Leah said, "Everyone will call me blessed"-or 'happy."
In the New Testament we learn of the gospel of "the blessed (or happy) God" (i Tim. 1:ii), expressive, this, of His great joy in the salvation of sinners. We see this in Luke 15::the shepherd rejoices over the lost sheep which he found; the woman rejoices over the recovered piece of silver; and the father rejoices over the lost son now returned.
And who are the Asherites today ? All those who can say with the psalmist, " Blessed [happy] is the man whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered." "Blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly." As we go through this world we ought to be Asherites, rejoicing in God's salvation, and in God our Saviour.
Asher represents for us a happy man, and of him it is first said, "Let him be blest with children." I desire to put this into New Testament language, and gather the spiritual lesson. Are we the earnest, whole-hearted, evangelistic people we ought to be ? Wherever we find this spirit pervading the people of God, combined with prayerfulness we believe souls will be born again-sinners will be converted to God; we will see fruit in the gospel, and, as Asher, shall be "blest with children." O beloved, may we never lose the evangelistic spirit; never cease, while there is yet grace, to yearn after the salvation of lost sinners !
When the early Christians were scattered abroad, they went everywhere preaching the word of God (Acts 8:4; 11:19); and this word "preaching" should rather be "speaking the word;"-the Greek word laleo, used in the last quotation, meaning, to talk, to speak in a familiar way. One may have no particular gift, and never be able to preach upon the public platform, but each one of us can set before the lost God's great love for sinners, and the danger of trifling with, or neglecting, these things. Wherever this course is faithfully pursued we are persuaded there will be fruit, and sinners will be saved.
Next, it is also said of Asher, " Let him be acceptable to his brethren ; " this was the Spirit's desire, through the lawgiver, that Asher should be "acceptable to his brethren." This is a sweet and precious thing in its place, if rightly understood, which will help us to preserve the even balance of truth.
We have observed how we ought to be an evangelistic people, who love to tell out God's good news, and to further every gospel work. But this does not embrace the whole testimony committed to us. God links His people together now in a wonderful way (see i Cor. 12). We are fellow-members of one body, and have our responsibilities in this place-responsibilities to the Head first, and then to one another. None, therefore, can say to the other, "I have no need of thee." In many things we are dependent one upon another, and there is a ministry we can furnish each other, as also a submission we ought to render each to another (see Eph. 5:21; i Pet. 5:5).
Now, when this relationship is understood, and our responsibilities realized, we have the other side of truth :we are to be kept from the independency and self-will so rampant everywhere to-day, even in pursuing the Lord's things. How unseemly to profess to be earnest in the gospel and not desire to fulfil these last-named responsibilities! but how precious to see the holy combination of both-earnest in gospel work and, as those indwelt by the Holy Spirit and joined one to another, each seeking "to be acceptable to his brethren "! Of course, to pursue this, we are never expected to sacrifice the truth, nor a good conscience. Neither do the words imply this; yet it does say, "Let him be acceptable to his brethren."
See the example of the apostle-he who wrote i Cor. 12:, and whom the Spirit used to unfold for us the truth of the one body. In writing to the saints at Rome (Rom. 15:), he requested their prayers that the service he was carrying to Jerusalem, entrusted to him by the assemblies of Macedonia and Achaia, "might be acceptable to the saints;"-he had the true Asherite spirit. Where this true love and godly subjection to one another in His fear is found, we can then sing the 133rd psalm, "How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." The Church has drifted far, we know; but, beloved, the truth as here given abides. May it search us in all our gatherings, and produce in us these godly characteristics, that there may yet be in our assemblies a testimony, for Him in these things.
Further, of Asher it is said, " Let him dip his foot in oil." Here we have a truth that touches our walk. " If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit" says the Word (Gal. 5:25), or according to the Spirit; that is, a life or walk here on earth regulated and governed by the Spirit. David prayed,
"Order my steps according to Thy word" (Ps. 119:133); for when the Spirit guides, it is always according to the Word. Then, again, we are exhorted to "follow His steps" (i Pet. 2:21). Christ's perfect example is what both the Spirit and the Word present; and this, for the believer going through this life, will be a " foot dipped in oil." It will also give power and strength to endure through the varied difficulties of the way :" His shoes will be iron and brass"-in the power and strength which these metals express.
The next thing promised to Asher is, "As thy days, so shall thy rest be" (J. N. D."s translation); this is what the Lord gives him-"rest"-as in Matt. 11:, where the Lord Jesus assures those who bear His yoke that they will "find rest." There is no rest for the Christian here apart from this. "There is no rest to the wicked," we are persuaded; and when we Christians have sought to rove, and have wandered from God, there was no rest till we returned in godly subjection to Him; then what sweet rest followed!
But let us turn back a little before we close, and see what Jacob says further about Asher (Gen. 49:20). Let us sit down awhile in Asher's company, and hear what he has to say to us.
In his company there is no gossip; we hear no slander, no evil speaking. Asher has got away beyond this. Would that we were, one and all, steadfast partakers in what Asher now presents to us:"his bread is fat, and he yields royal dainties" (or dainties for the king). What blessed company for sinners saved by grace, to be privileged to sit with such! His foot "dipped in oil," now "his bread is
fat"-surely this is a feast where the King Himself will be present and enjoy it. Asher will entertain you with the precious things of Christ,-his bread is fat, his table yields the dainties of heaven; there the word of God and the unsearchable riches of God's grace are the themes that occupy the guests. And is not this what we need to-day ? Is not this the kind of ministry we need to render to one another ? We are persuaded more and more this is what we need as Christians to cultivate, and so "edify one another." May the Lord give us the joy of seeing a reviving in this respect, and we might find showers of blessing.
In closing let us notice a true daughter of Asher (Luke 2:36-38). Her name was Anna; she sprang from this very tribe, and truly she bore out these characteristic marks of Asher. She was a happy one; her foot was "dipped in oil"-she departed not from the temple day and night. Her shoes were "iron and brass"-she "served God," and in her great age had strength to go to all them that looked for redemption in Israel; and was not "rest" her portion? was not her "bread " "fat" too, and did she not "yield royal dainties"? "She spake of Him to all that looked for redemption in Israel." This was her constant theme-"Jesus"; and of Him she spake. She had longed to see His face, and God fulfilled her desires. He came, and she saw Him face to face! May His second coming (which we believe is very nigh) find us, one and all, as this daughter of Asher, "departing not" from His Presence, but full of these things, and fresh in soul, ministering them to others day by day for His name's sake.
A. E. B.