The most casual reader of the prophets will not I have failed to noticed their minatory character. We can scarcely turn a page of the prophetic scriptures, either in Old or New Testament, without finding some solemn reminder of the righteous indignation of a holy God against sin, and threats of judgment therefor. These denunciations are directed not merely nor chiefly against the enemies of the people of God, but rather does the sword begin at His house (Ezek. 9:6). Usually it is the present condition of Israel to which attention is called-the moral state, and the corresponding results in their outward condition, under the chastening hand of God. But these-both sins and judgments-are but anticipative of what, if they continue unrepentant will be final. At the same time the mercy of God takes occasion to. offer blessing and recovery when His people truly turn to Him in the mourning that flows from godly sorrow. No matter how deep and long continued had been the revolt, when the people turned, not feignedly, to God, they found Him the same, unchanging in His love and in His thoughts. He could ever say, "I know the thoughts that I think toward you, thoughts of peace and not of evil" (Jer. 29:ii).
How lovely are these glimpses into the heart of God-alas that the unbelief of His people and their waywardness, should make them but glimpses, when His desire is that we should ever bask in the full sunlight of His smile. And yet would we, if we could, have it otherwise ? Grace ever reigns through righteousness, and is always perfectly consistent with God's government. His attributes never conflict. Forgetfulness of this often works sad havoc in the life of God's people. The careful study of the prophets would be a wholesome corrective of much carelessness of mind and walk.
It need hardly be remarked that in no way does this touch the question of the perfection of the believer's standing in Christ, on the ground of His accomplished redemption. This ever remains perfect, and is, of course, brought to light in the gospel. Nothing can touch that standing, linked as it is eternally with Him who is risen from the dead. But we are living in times when the fear of God, alas, is well-nigh forgotten ; and this incapacitates for the proper appreciation of His matchless grace. The prayerful study of the prophets would correct such tendencies.
The prophet Joel furnishes a very interesting illustration of what we have been saying. In its brief compass it puts before us the sin of the people and their condition because of it, under the mighty hand of God; the further judgments that will follow if they are still impenitent, and the deliverance and blessing of the people if they even yet turn in true brokenness to Him; the full blessing in the last days when the Spirit would be poured out from on high; and the judgment upon the Gentiles who had afflicted them.
In the midst of the call to repentance we have the promise of blessing, not merely new blessing in the future but the recovery of that which had been lost. Israel's land had been devastated by the locust and the cankerworm under the judgment of God ;-now if they turned to Him, the land would not only yield her increase in the future, but the gracious goodness of God would restore that which had been consumed. "I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten " (Joel 2:25).
How often do God's people, in this day, feel His chastening hand:it may not be in temporal things, but in that to which the locusts would correspond in spiritual things. For even our own follies, the fruits of our own departure from God, He uses to chasten us with. "Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee:know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God" (Jer. 2:19). The locusts then may fittingly represent those fruits of our own doings which rob us of all joy and communion. What devastation can be more complete than that inflicted by the locusts, save indeed the spiritual dearth of which that was a figure ? " The land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness."
How beautiful are the fruits of a soul in communion, with God:"love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith." Christ has His true place and is a welcome guest. "Let my beloved come into His garden, and eat His pleasant fruits" (Song 4:16). "Their soul shall be as a watered garden." Alas how quickly and completely do these fruits disappear before the devastating sons of Amalek, the lusts of the flesh, which as a swarm of locusts never end their work of destruction so long as anything green is left. The ruin is all the more manifest in contrast with the previous beauty.
We can bless God for His restoring grace, and the prophet does not leave us uncertain as to the steps in that recovery. "Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your heart, and not your garments" (chap. 2:12, 13). All are called to a solemn assembly for this humiliation-elders and children, the bridegroom and the bride. Even the priests were called to "weep between the porch and the altar"-the place and the true use of the laver, for practical cleansing. When there is this true-hearted and entire turning to the Lord, then He will answer them. So will it be in the day of Israel's repentance, and so is it now with every individual into whose life the locusts have come and brought desolation. Contrition, beloved brethren, real and deep, is the pledge, yea the first sprinkling, of the showers of the "latter rain." "A broken and contrite heart Thou wilt not despise." Again the barren fields put on their green, and joy and prosperity take the place of dearth and gloom.
But our blessed God does not rest with seeing mere recovery. His heart of pity goes out with desire to undo the past, so far indeed as grace can. For in a most real sense the scars of the past will ever remain, memorials at once of our folly and a grace that has risen above it. But is there not sweet, blessed comfort in the thought that the barren past can in some sense be covered over by the fruitfulness of the present ? "I will restore to you the years the locusts have eaten."
"The years that the locusts have eaten." Are there such in our lives ? Let this promise cheer our hearts. If in some sense it is true individually, it is none the less so of God's people collectively. Let us look back over past years:-have not worldliness, strife, selfishness too often devoured our increase ? Whence comes the lack of growth amongst God's people, the sluggishness in gospel work and the meager results? Is this to go on? Is our brief time here to be frittered away in what profits not? Beloved, let us awake to our real condition and if there is dearth let us honestly own it and find the tender mercy of our God.
Oh for a genuine revival among the saints! Christ loved in each heart-all linked together with a common object and in a common obedience; the word of God studied as never before; the gospel preached with power, unction and large results:new fields of labor opened and laborers to enter into them. Would that we could have a reversal of the king's dream and see the fat kine eat up the lean ones. Are such things impossible? Looking at this promise, can we, dare we, limit God?