"They that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places :thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations ; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in" (Isa. 58:12). The 58th chapter of Isaiah contains much that is of deep interest and importance to the people of God at the present moment. It is ministry of a searching and serious character, but likewise full of comfort and encouragement for those who are in the place of self-judgment and brokenness before God, who fee! the conditions of things among His people, and have their welfare and His glory at heart.

The spiritual state of Israel could scarcely have been at a lower ebb than when Isaiah was directed to cry aloud and spare not, but to lift up his voice like a trumpet, and show the Lord's people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins (ver. i). This is never a happy service, save in so far as the servant of God seeks to have but One before him, and then speaks and acts with a view to His approbation alone.

It was hardly to be expected that Israel would honor and delight in one whose ministry necessarily meant the condemnation of so much that they had set their hearts upon. But he sought lovingly, yet faithfully, to show them the true state of affairs, with a view to rich blessing if they laid the word of God to heart.

His exhortation was a call to reality; and we ever need such stirring messages. It is so easy to become self-satisfied and formal, content that outward ceremonies are maintained in accord with the letter of Scripture, while the heart is away from God and the ways loose and unbecoming.

In Israel there was careful attention to the appointed fasts, and the solemn feasts, but unrighteousness flourished unjudged; hence all was obnoxious in the eyes of the Lord, who ever looks for that which springs from devotedness of heart to Himself (vers. 2-4).

It is easy to go on with the breaking of bread, meetings for prayer, ministry and Bible study, thus outwardly conforming to what is in accord with the Book, while all the time the power of the world is getting a stronger hold on the heart and life. This will be manifested by covetousness, human business principles that would not stand the searching test of Him whose eyes are as a flame of fire, intimate association with unspiritual men, entering into unequal yokes, and a host of other evils; while, all the time, much is made of "separation truth," and even the highest ecclesiasticism maintained with a great appearance of devotedness to that truth.

In fact, the further one drifts in self-pleasing paths, the more pretentious often will be the claims made.

Only lately, one whose testimony even the world despised because of unspiritual ways, was calmly setting before some brethren (who were exercised before God as to the rent and divided state of His people professedly gathered to His name) the following simile, in order to hinder any exercise of soul in the matter:-God had raised up a special testimony in the last days. Certain " brethren " formed that testimony, which might be likened to a biscuit. In the course of time, pieces of the biscuit had been broken off. All who refused to own that assembly-judgments were bound in heaven (whatever their character), were such broken pieces. But, "thank God," was the self-satisfied wind-up, "we remain the middle of the biscuit! " Could conceit and spiritual pretension go further ?

What must be the mind of God in regard to such unholy claims, which, if true, would make the Lord Jesus Christ Himself the minister of sin ? Surely it ought to be plain to any godly believer that nothing is bound on earth or in heaven but what is in accordance with the word of God.

"The righteous Lord loveth righteousness," and He looks for integrity of heart and uprightness of behavior in every individual saint and collective company called by His name. It has been said, "An unrighteous act does not put a gathering off divine ground." This is true-for gatherings, like individuals, may fail even where the thought was to glorify God. But when the acceptance of an unrighteous act is made a test of fellowship, and saints refusing to bow to it are cut off in heartless indifference while the glory of Christ is pleaded as necessitating such unholy conduct, then such gatherings have utterly given up divine ground, and degenerated into the most sectarian position.

To many of God's dear people the words of Isa. 66:5 may well apply:"Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at His word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for My name's sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified:but He shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed."

Again, God has said, "Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, are these " (Jer. 7:4). And He calls upon His people to "execute judgment between a man and his neighbor," and not put "The temple of the Lord " before righteousness.

If for "temple" we substitute the word "table," we have what answers to all this pretentious boasting in our own day.

God, I repeat, looks for reality. So Isaiah called upon Israel to "loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke." Compassion was enjoined, and that grace which would lead them to deal their bread to the hungry, to "bring the poor that are cast out" into their house, to cover the naked, and not to hide themselves from their own flesh (vers. 6, 7). Then would their light break forth as the morning, and their health be revived. Then should righteousness go before them, and the glory of the Lord be their rearward (ver. 8).

What a voice has all this to every exercised soul! Coldness and indifference to fellow-saints; unconcern about gospel effort, which is indeed dealing out bread to the hungry; casting out the simple and the poor in intelligence because of inability to discern ecclesiastical quibbles-how markedly have all these things followed in the train of that carnal, worldly spirit which has wrought division and sorrow in the name of Him who prayed "that they all might be one"!

Surely it is time to abase ourselves before Him to seek His face for revival and blessing. Already
He has begun to work in many places, drawing together in loving unity saints long divided.

The moment is a most solemn one, and brings with it great responsibilities. Oh for grace to answer to them, and to seek to be lowly and broken in His presence, that thus He may lift us up!
To Israel He promised guidance, satisfaction in Himself, and refreshment of soul "like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not," if there were but a turning to Himself and owning the rod that had smitten them, followed by care for His people and godly concern about walking in His ways (ver. 11).

Then the precious promise was given, "They that be of thee shall build the old waste places:thou shalt raise up the foundation of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in" (ver. 12). Precious titles are these, and blessed service is that here commended.

There have been so many breach-makers, and so many breach-wideners! Oh to seek to be true repairers of the breach, engaged in the happy service of seeking out the scattered ones and making peace in a godly, righteous way, between saints who should never have been divided.

Notice there must be individual exercise first, and individual self-judgment for worldliness, pride, and contention, ere there can be a true repairing of the breach according to the mind of God.

Then, alas, there has been so prolific a growth of ecclesiastical traditions among us that not merely repairing of the breach is needed, but a restoring of paths to dwell in. If our exercises result in bringing us back more and more to the Book, in stirring our hearts to faithful searching of the Scriptures, to the banishment of mere theories, and the submission to the authority-not of the assembly! but-of the word of God, then these will be both repairing and restoring. Breaches will be healed in a godly way. The old paths will be trodden in lowly subjection to the Lord Jesus, the Head of the assembly.

A mere "letting bygones be bygones," and "beginning anew," for which some plead, is very different from this. It is a solemn facing of conditions in the presence of God, judging all that in the past has dishonored Him, and thus repairing the breach and restoring paths to dwell in.

May the Lord grant us to follow Him, and discern His mind in these things, for His name's sake.

H. A. I.