WRITTEN AT MENTONE,
BY C. H. SPURGEON.
"According to the commandment of the Lord they were numbered by the
hand of Moses, everyone according to his service and according to his
burden: thus were they numbered by him, as the Lord commanded Moses."
Numbers 4:49.
ISRAEL in the wilderness is admitted, in some respects, to have been a
type of the Church in its present condition. The tribe of Levi was, in
a peculiar and inner sense, the type of that peculiar people who under
the great High Priest are set apart for the service of the Lord and His
Church. To them the transport of the holy vessels from place to place
was committed, each family of the tribe being made responsible for the
safe and reverent transport of a certain part of the sacred furniture.
Since nothing in the service of the God of order may be left to hazard,
but everything is in order, those persons who in hackneyed phrase cry
out against, "system," ought to be told that the Lord has always had a
system, not only in Nature and Providence, but also in His own courts.
There is an admirable "economy" in the palace of the great
King–whatever of disorder, waste and riot there may be surrounding
other monarchs–nothing of the kind will be found beneath the shadow of
the Divine Throne. He who counts the stars and calls them all by their
names, leaves nothing unarranged in His own service. His Church,
therefore, should exhibit the discipline of an army and all His
warriors should know how to keep rank. Though we are not under the Law,
we are not without Law to Christ, nor do we wish to be, for His
commandments are not grievous. At this season, when our Church is
making a most earnest effort to glorify the Lord by seeking
conversions, we would muster all the servants of our Master and summon
each one to take his appointed place and service.
The work of the Lord is to be done, done well and done by us all most
cheerfully and heartily. Gather, therefore, together and let each
redeemed one take up his burden and bear it before the Lord in due
order! To this end, like Moses, we would call you out, one by one, and
give you a charge as from the Lord. Our text contains authority for the
muster roll, appointment for the individuals and account of the actual
execution of the command. Upon each of these, an absent officer of your
company will try to say a little as the Holy Spirit may enable him.
I. Here is, first, AUTHORITY FOR THE MUSTER ROLL. "According to the
commandment of the Lord they were numbered." It was not left to Moses
to number the people without Divine sanction, else the deed might have
been as evil in the sight of the Lord as that of David when he made a
census of the nation. Neither may any man at this day number the saints
of the Lord, at his own discretion, to enterprises for which they were
never set apart. The armies of Israel are none of ours to lead where we
will, nor even to reckon up that the number may be told to our own
honor. The counting of Apostles and disciples is lawful enough, for it
was frequently done in the best days of the Church, but statistics may
be taken in such a spirit as to be the occasion of sin.
In no such manner would we now number the host unto the battle, but
would summon the chosen of the Lord to the Lord's work and in the
Lord's name. Believers in Christ Jesus, you are now called forth to do
suit and service, because, like the tribe of Levi, you are the Lord's.
He views you as the Church of the firstborn, as the redeemed from among
men and as His peculiar portion and inheritance and, therefore above
all other men you are under His special rule and governance. The Lord
said unto Moses, "The Levites shall be Mine: I am the Lord," and He has
made the same declaration concerning all those that fear the Lord and
that think upon His name–"They shall be Mine, says the Lord, in the
day when I make up My jewels."
Upon whom shall we call to perform the work of the Lord but upon those
who are His own? To these belong a devout care for the interest of true
religion and an earnest zeal for the Glory of God. Obligations as
powerful as they are, are honorable upon them. "You are not your own,
you are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body and in
your spirit, which are God's." Do you feel a shrinking from being
numbered and called out for active service? Is not
this an evil and unworthy sensation? Should you not far rather account
it your glory to be called out with the dedicated ones?
Brothers and Sisters, you are further called because this is a charge
laid upon you of the Lord, to whom you specially belong. The Levites
(Num. 4:3) were ordained "to do the work in the tabernacle of the
congregation." They were not numbered with the rest of the nation, for
their vocation was altogether different and their whole business was
"about holy things." You see in this, your calling, Brethren, for you
are also ordained that you may live unto the Lord alone. To whom does
the work of God belong but to His children? Who should serve the Lord
Christ and gather in His wanderers but those whom He has called to that
office? If you refuse the honorable yoke, how will the work of mercy be
done? Can it be left to hirelings, or will the spiritually dead perform
the service of the living God? No, it is your charge and you must do
it.
Again, Brethren, the Lord may well call you to this service, seeing He
has given you to His Son, even as He gave the Levites to Aaron, as it
is written (Num. 3:9), "They are wholly given unto him out of the
children of Israel." The Lord had also said, "Bring the tribe of Levi
near and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister
unto him." They were happy, thus, to serve the head of their own tribe
and more happy, still, are we to serve the Lord Christ who is the
Firstborn among many Brethren. Because you belong to Christ, therefore,
hide not yourselves from His service, but come forward with joy!
Once more, the Lord has constituted you the servants of all His people,
even as He said of the Levites that they were to "do the service of the
children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation." We are
debtors to all our Brethren and we are their servants to the full
extent of our power. The greater we are in the Church, the more are we
the servants of all! It is ours to fulfill this service, or else we are
untrue to the position of Christians who are all called in love to
serve one another. Here are a few of the claims which the Lord has upon
you–will you not acknowledge the supreme authority which calls you to
active service?
II. Under our second head we shall notice the APPOINTMENT OF THE
INDIVIDUALS–"Everyone according to his service and according to his
burden." By our varied gifts, positions, offices and opportunities, we
are as much set apart to special services as were the sons of Kohath,
Gershon and Merari. One family bore the ark and the other the holy
vessels; another had charge of the sacred hangings and a third carried
the boards and the pillars and framework of the tabernacle. But supreme
authority had set each family its own special service and burden. Even
thus is it among ourselves and so let us see to it that we observe the
Divine appointment.
"Having, then, gifts differing according to the Grace that is given to
us, whether ministry let us wait on our ministry, or he that teaches,
on teaching; or he that exhorts, on exhortation: he that gives, let him
do it with simplicity. He that rules, with diligence; he that shows
mercy, with cheerfulness." Great evils arise out of persons mistaking
their calling and undertaking things of which they are not capable.
And, on the other hand, the success of Christian work, in a large
measure, arises out of places of usefulness being filled by the right
men. In the march through the wilderness the sons of Merari never
interfered with the burdens of the sons of Kohath, or the arrangements
would have been sadly disturbed–each one took up his allotted load and
went on his way rejoicing, no one jostling his fellow.
If we could bring all our workers into the same order, how like an army
with banners would the Church become and how beautiful would be her
battle array! "A place for everyone and every one in his place" should
be the practical slogan of our congregations and the people should be
numbered, not according to worldly rank or self-estimate, but,
"everyone according to his service." It is to be noticed, here, that
the Levites only rendered this service, "from thirty years old and
upward, even unto fifty years old."
We rejoice that it is not so among us under the Gospel, for there is
work for the young people and also for the aged! Little children and
young men and maidens may take their places among the servitors of the
Prince of Peace! And he who leans upon his staff for very age shall not
find himself dismissed from his Master's beloved service. No women are
mentioned as bearers of the tabernacle and its holy furniture. It was a
work for which they were scarcely fitted and an economy under which
they were seldom employed. Here, too, we have a great change, for there
is neither male nor female in Christ Jesus–and in their own way, the
Sisters are our fellow servants, even as they are our fellow heirs.
Never can women be forgotten in any enumeration of the forces of the
Church! What could we do without them?
Let it not be forgotten, then, that our Lord Jesus Christ, the great
Head of the Church, calls out all His redeemed to His service and that
He lays upon each one a burden which no one else can carry. It should
be the joy of each Believer to know what it is that his shoulders are
permitted to bear and then he or she should gladly take up the
ennobling load. There can be no exemption unless a man will dare to
claim that he is his own and was never bought with a price. Each one
throughout life must be "steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the
work of the Lord."
III. Thirdly, our text is the summary of the chapter in which we have
an ACCOUNT OF THE ACTUAL FULFILLMENT OF THE LORD'S COMMAND BY MOSES. He
numbered each family and cast up the total of the tribe, at the same
time mentioning in detail the peculiar service of each. We would
imitate him at this important moment and take the census of those who
are consecrated to the Lord's own service. Where are you, then, who can
bear the heavier service of the sanctuary, carrying its pillars and the
boards and the sockets? You are now needed to speak in the meetings, to
lead the people in prayer, to order the assemblies and to take the
heavier work of this holy business!
The Lord Jesus should have able men to speak for Him–He deserves the
best of the best. Now is the hour, where is the man? Let no diffidence
or love of ease keep one back who might make known the Gospel and win a
soul for Jesus! By the curse of Meroz when they came not to the help of
the Lord against the mighty, we would charge all Christians of
influence and ability to hasten to the field! But where are you who can
only carry the pins and the cords? Your burden is lighter, but probably
your strength is also less–and lighter though your load may be, the
matters which you carry are quite as essential as the pillars and the
boards! Where are you?
You who can say a few words to lonely enquiring ones; you who can do no
more than pray, where are you? At your posts, or idling? Answer and
answer quickly, for time and need are pressing! If the load which you
can carry is so very small, be all the more ready to bear it. Are you a
lover of the Lord Jesus and do you wish to be omitted from the roll
call? If so, let it be known to yourself and stated plainly to your
conscience–do not pretend to be a laborer and remain a loiterer–but
openly avow to your soul that you stand all the day idle and feel fully
justified in so doing! Deny your Lord His due, but do it to His face!
Tell Him openly that you do not mean to spend your days in glorifying
His name!
Do you shrink from this honest refusal of service? You need not do so
because it is at all unusual, for as Nabal said, "there are many
servants, nowadays, that break away, every man from his master." It is
plain, however, that you have no stomach for so clear a rejection of
your Lord. Come, then, and take your place among those who are striving
together to honor their Lord! At this time your help will be precious.
Seek a new anointing and then hasten to the work. Is not the Holy
Spirit in you? Does He not prompt you to seek the salvation of others?
Is not the Lord Jesus the Model to which Grace conforms you? How can
this be if you have little or no love for the souls of your neighbors?
Your pastor calls you, though far away! By all our mutual love he
beseeches you to fulfill your ministry, every one according to his
service and according to his burden. But, far above this, your God,
your Savior, your Comforter call you with one voice! Can you refuse the
heavenly vocation?
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A Sermon Upon One Nothing by Another Nothing