Addresses on Prophecy

Text: “And when he had spoken unto me I was strengthened.” (Daniel x:19).

That is the statement of Daniel as to the effect upon him of a prophetic communication. Daniel knowing as he says “from books” (probably from the prophecies of Jeremiah and Ezekiel), that the time for the deliverance of Israel from the Babylonian captivity was near at hand, set himself, by confession and prayer, confessing his sins and the sins of his people, and seeking the face of the Lord — to know more definitely the things concerning the future of Israel and he describes, in the words of the text, the effect upon himself of the revelation received. An angel was: sent to enlighten him as to the subject about which he desired to know, and the effect of it was that he was strengthened. There was, then, a direct result, an effect upon the man himself.

Our theme then is, the influence upon character and conduct of prophetic truth.

Of course, I need not say that there is implied in the influence of any truth, the fact that it is really believed to be true. Daniel was strengthened by a prophetic communicaticn. We may very well imagine that there might have ’ stood by him a man with-no faith in angels or angelic communications, with no faith in prophecy whatever, and with no understanding of prophecy, and-he might have heard the same words which Daniel heard, and yet they might have produced no effect upon him at all; orlat least, no other effect than to arouse a transitory and passing curiosity. He might have said: “Certainly I have seen a strange thing to-day; a very singular looking personage, shining with a radiance such as‘ I have never seen before, came to this Daniel, and said some words to him about these Jewish people which seemed to concern their future.”

There is a great deal of the study of prophetic truth, and a great deal of the hearing of the exposition of prophetic truth which has no effect upon conduct or character, simply because it is heard or studied without faith. We bring to it a sort of vulgar curiosity. We desire to know what all these images, and beasts, and horns signify, believing in a way, that there is in them some unfolding of that which is to come to pass, if one can but hit upon the right interpretation: We may come to the study of prophetic truth with that mind and derive no profit whatever. It is therefore a believing understanding of prophetic truth which has an influence upon either character or conduct.

I have mentioned these two words, character and conduct. Perhaps it would be well to make a little explanation here. Character is what we are. Conduct is what we do. A great many people seem to think that reputation and character are identical things. That is not so. Reputation is what is said about us. Character is what we are. I believe that, in the long run, character and reputation and conduct will all harmonize. For a time our reputation may be better or may be worse than we deserve. Very severe things may be said about us. If we are right with God though, we need not mind that. We need not greatly concern ourselves about it, for in due time we shall be vindicated. On the other hand, we may be believed to be better than we are. Now, conduct in the long run, springs from character. A bad man does not habitually do good actions, nor a good man habitually do evil actions. We all know these things; they are very familiar to us.

There are three things which form, in the long run, character:

First, association. Our intimacies, our associations, perhaps more powerfully than any other influence, determine, in the long run, what we are. Of course, there is a sense in which our associations disclose what we now are. There is a vast deal of truth in the proverb: “Birds of a feather flock together.”

A second formative influence, which we all recognize and will admit, is knowledge. What we know forms us; it is impossible for us to be affected as to our character by that of which we remain in ignorance, but we are moulded by our knowledges.

Third, ?t is expectation which forms us — that which we look forward to: a large element of hope or of fear, whichever it may be.

I think we shall all admit that these three things have more to do with the making us what we are than all other things put together.

IT want you then to consider how these influences — association, knowledge and expectation — converge with all their shaping power upon the believing student of prophecy.

I. It is peculiarly the prophetic part of Scripture which brings us into intimacy with God.

Let me detain your thoughts just here for a moment. [ say, it is the study of the prophetic truths; the receiving from God of the revelations concerning His future purposes in that which concerns us and the world, that brings us into a peculiar intimacy with God Himself. Christ says, “I have called you friends; I have not called you servants.” What is the difference? What is the proof.He gives of having placed us in the relationship of friends?. This: “For all things that I have heard of my father, I have made known ‘ unto you.” Friendship is an intimate relation, you see, and involves confidences. Abraham was called the friend of God, “And the Lord said: shall.I hide from Abraham that which I do?” Now when God gives a prophecy, He takes us into a wonderful personal intimacy. Let us, then, accept God’s invitation to come unto these, His deepest counsels; to sit with Him in heavenly places while He unfolds to us the great secret of His majestic and amazing purposes. If we are ready to admit that there is a mighty influence in association, in intimacy; if we see that illustrated, and feel its effect in the human relationship in which we stand, need I argue for one moment that that part of the divine truth which brings us into the most intimate fellowship with Jehovah Himself must have the mightiest influence upon our character, and so ultimately upon our conduct?

I confess with shame that there was a time in my Christian life when I thought lightly of prophecy; when I said to myself, if not in words, at least in fact, “What has that to do with me? What I wish to know is how I may be saved; how I may get blessings; how I may get to heaven. Never mind what God intends to do with the Jewish people; never mind what His purposes are toward the world; He will in due time fulfill all these:things. Why should I care particularly what He is going to do with Israel? I am not an Israelite.’ I say there was a time when that was my attitude toward the prophecies. Do you not see that I was actually refusing the most intimate fellowship with the Lord?

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