Kehelathah
“And they journied from Rissah, and pitched in Kehelathah.”
The remarks we have made on the position and direction of the three preceding encampments, applies likewise to the present; respecting which we know nothing more, than that it signifies a congregation. The word is applicable, not merely to a civil assembly, but also to a religious meeting, congregation, church. It may be, that various assemblies and consultations were held here upon a variety of important objects. Religious meetings were doubtless also held, where, under the direction of estimable, prudent, kind, and devout individuals, the people assembled in larger or smaller companies, sang, prayed, edified, comforted, encouraged, instructed, and warned each other.
When a person has been sprinkled with the blood and spirit of Jesus Christ, the next and necessary consequence is, that he joins himself to those who have obtained the same faith and the same mercy. Like seeks its like. There is also an obvious blessing, in such an assembling together, when it does not arise from form and legality, but when all are impelled by the wind of the Spirit, where love, reciprocal esteem, modesty, and humility, form the bond of union, and when they not merely instruct, but admonish, comfort, and candidly reprove each other, and suffer themselves to be reproved. Where this is the case, small assemblies have, on the whole, a decided preference to numerous ones. “For where two or three are gathered together in my name,” says Christ, ‘* there am I in the midst of them.”
If we wish to give a spiritual meaning to this encampment, we find it explained in the words of the Apostle, (Heb. xii, 22.) ‘* Ye are come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels and to the church of the first-born, whose names are written in heaven.” These words express but one idea, “Ye are members of the true church.” By the church, is understood, in its most extensive sense, all who profess the truth, where good and evil, believers and unbelievers, regenerate and unconverted, are mingled together, until separated at the great judgment day. In this point of view, it resembles paganism more than Christianity. But the true church is like a rose amongst thorns: there is still wheat amongst this chaff, and a holy seed amidst a crooked and perverse nation. Amongst all sects and parties, there are at least some true sheep of Christ. The real church is composed of that select assembly, which the Son of God collects, protects, and preserves, out of the whole human race, in the true faith unto eternal life, from the beginning of time unto the end of the world; so that only those can be called true Christians, who by real faith are become members of Christ, and thus partake of his anointing, so that they confess his name in word and deed, present themselves as a living sacrifice to him who has bought them, strive, in this world, with a free conscience against sin and the devil, and afterwards reign with him in eternity over every creature. A true Christian is therefore a most exalted personage, and to be or become one is the height of happiness and honour. Hence the Apostle states it as a sublime privilege, in the passage just quoted, to attain to and become a member of this church.
Here below, it is a church militant, in the world above, a church triumphant, which has every adversary under its feet; because it there reigns with Christ, here fights and conquers. The passage above quoted regards it in this two-fold point of view. For Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, has reference to that part of the church which is still engaged in the conflict, even as most of the following expressions refer to its glory in the heavenly world. Let us devote a short time to the consideration of it.
The head of the church, which comprehends all that is holy, blessed, and devoted to God’, is God himself; its foundation is Jesus Christ, in whom all things are gathered together under one head, both which are in heaven and on earth, even in him. ’ (Ephes. i. 10.) ‘* Since by him all things are reconciled to himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross.” (Col. i. 20.) It is therefore invincible, whatever may assail or seek to insinuate itself, and ever remains victorious, even when succumbing. Whatever may befal it here, yet to all its members is said individually, “Ye are come to Mount Zion.” Zion, in its literal sense, was a mount in Jerusalem, which had two summits. Upon the one, which was peculiarly called Zion, stood the royal palace; on the other, called Moriah, the manifestation of the Lord, where Abraham was on the point of offering up his son Isaac, Solomon built, according to divine direction, the temple, both figures of Christ in his kingly and priestly office. Hence the Scriptures speak in glowing terms of Zion. ‘’ Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth is Mount Zion.” (Ps. xlviii. 3.) “Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God.” (Ps. lxxxvii. 3.) “The Lord loveth the gates of Zion, more than all the dwellings of Jacob.” (v. 2.) “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it.” (Isaiah ii. 2.) And chap. Ix. contains a very glorious description of Zion, of the people of God in their glorified state.
Hence Zion is the church of God in its New Testamental perfection, particularly here upon earth. To be “come to Mount Zion,” therefore, means to be engrafted into the true church, and participate in all the glorious privileges ascribed to it in the word of God, in all the glorious promises made to it, in all the love and care of God for Zion; in all the glory appropriated to it, and consequently to be supremely blessed, Peter addresses such characters as “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, to show forth the virtues of him who hath called them out of darkness into his marvellous light.”
In accordance with this promise, every citizen of Zion ought to deal with God, as David did when he said, “Thou hast said, seek ye my face. Therefore, O Lord, thy face will I seek.” However low their station in life, however poor and disregarded they may be, however persecuted, oppressed, and despised, and though all things may appear to set themselves against them; yet all the glories of Zion are theirs, and kept in reversion for them by God himself. All things must work together for their good, and eventually they shall shine as the sun in the kingdom of their father.
No greater blessing can befal any one than to arrive at Zion, were he even to be numbered amongst the meanest of her citizens, and bear a considerable part of her burdens. But we arrive there only by the narrow way of repentance and self-denial, and the strait gate of regeneration, which is found by few. Nor can it be attained without conflict, sorrow, pain, and sacrifice. But if through the mercy of God you have arrived there, walk more and more worthy of the gospel and its privileges; be thankful for the mercy vouchsafed to you; rejoice in your felicity, and be prepared by it to all obedience. “Be joyful in hope, patient in tribulation, instant in prayer.”
This privilege the Apostle otherwise expresses, when he adds, “and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem.” That which he had just called a mount, he now calls a city. Thus John saw its glory, like that of a city, the streets of which were of gold, intersected by a crystalline stream, planted on both sides with fruit trees, bearing twelve manner of fruits, with foundations of precious stones, gates of pearl, without a sun, and without a temple, the Lord being both.
A city gives the idea of greatness, security, order, beauty, and abundance. And believers are, by grace, placed in a city which contains and presents this to our view in the highest sense. This city is great, for it extends from the beginning of the world to the end of it, it comprehends all ages and nations; for “in every nation, he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted of him.” It extends itself from earth to heaven, and there is yet room in it.
This city affords perfect security and repose. Out of it rages the foe, death destroys, the law thunders and lightens, anger burns, misery reigns. “But though the earth be removed, the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea, the waters thereof roar and are troubled, and the mountains shake with the swelling thereof, yet there is a river, the streams of which make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. God is in the midst of her. She shall not be moved.” (Ps. xlvi. 2 — 5.) How strong are its inhabitants! The weakest thereof shall be as David; for in every conflict, ‘they come off more than conquerors. However weak they may be, yet Christ is their strength, and though babes in knowledge, yet the Lord instructs them. The Lord is a wall of fire round about them, and they shall never perish.
Order prevails in this city. It is only in the order of repentance, faith, renunciation of the world and self, obedience, and submission, that we enter through the gates into the city; and he who seeks to be something, must previously be content to be nothing. One will alone prevails amongst the countless numbers of its inhabitants, one Spirit alone pervades them; here all is harmony, peace, and love. Disorder, confusion, and discord are the elements of the kingdom of darkness, and reign universally, except in this blest abode, where nothing is done by the strength and ability of its inhabitants, except as the Lord giveth all things that pertain unto life and godliness.
This city is supremely beautiful. Out of it, every thing is hateful and deformed, crooked and crippled, filthy and leprous. Bui he that enters this city becomes well proportioned, fair, and beautiful. He is washed from every spot and defilement, and bears the impress of the divine image.
Within this city reigns also the most desirable abundance. Without its walls, there may be imaginary riches, but at the same time, a real and entire destitution of substantial possessions. He that enters into this city is made rich, all things belong to its inhabitants, although they may not have them in immediate possession. The naked are clothed in raiment of gold and embroidery, and thus are conducted to the king. To the hungry it is said, “Eat, O friends, drink, yea drink abundantly, O beloved!” All that we require is there to be had, “without moiey and without price.”
But how can we wonder at the glory of this city, since it is the city of God? He formed the plan of it from all eternity. He erected it by his Son. He has filled it with inhabitants by his Spirit, who are his workmanship. He reigns in it wondrously and gloriously. He is the builder and maker of it, and all that it contains. From him it receives its privileges and immunities. He dwells, he walks in it. All his children are here united in one company, “fellow citizens of the saints and of the household of God.” Where is there a city like this, where are there citizens like these? If some shine like the sun, others like the moon, and others again as the stars, and one with greater brightness than another, yet they are all one in humility and love.
It is the city of the living God, who is powerful enough to preserve and protect it, who alone hath immortality, who maketh alive, who redeemeth from destruction, and whose treasures and resources are inexhaustible.
The Apostle distinguishes it still more particularly, as “the heavenly Jerusalem,” the vision of peace. The earthly Jerusalem, at the summit of its splendour under Solomon, was nothing compared with it. This is the new Jerusalem, which John saw coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride for her husband. And heard a great voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be their God.”
This is a representation’ of the church of Jesus Christ, regarded according to that which it is already in him, and which will show itself more fully in future; since hitherto it is only perceived by the eye of faith. Although here on earth, yet it has its origin and root, its citizenship, home, and treasure in heaven, to which its affections. are directed. Yet even here it is raised up together with Jesus, and made to sit together in heavenly places in him; although whilst here it is subject to temptation, and sorrow, and suffering, which are the means by which the Lord “stablisbes, strengthens, and settles it.”
Thus glorious is the state of believers here upon earth. They are really come to Zion and to the city of the living God. Their names are written in heaven. They are come also to an innumerable multitude of angels, who stand with the church under one Lord, who are sent forth as ministering spirits to minister unto them that shall be heirs of salvation, and as their friends and protectors. They rejoice over every sinner that repenteth, and carry the departing spirit unto Abraham’s bosom.
Although still striving and suffering here upon earth, yet they stand in the closest connection with the church above. For they are come “to the church of the first-born, whose names are written in heaven, and to the spirits of the just made perfect.” They constitute with them the elect, whose names are written in the living book of the Lamb, and being in Christ, the first-born Son of God, they become partakers of his nature by escaping the corruption which is in the world through lust.
They are just, but not yet perfected with respect to possession and enjoyment; a part is- so, but these are in heaven. With these they are intimately connected, and even as the former have attained and been made perfect, so shall they also attain.
0 what a glorious encampment, therefore, is Kehelathah, even though situate in a desert! Happy art tilou, O Israel! in dwelling there, tliougli in tabernacles, in which thou groanest, being burdened. But” we know that if the earthly house of this tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, etei:nal in the heavens.’* Amen,