The Secret of Reverent Research
“They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward.’’ — Jzr. l. 5.
NE is inclined to say, Why insert the words, “with their faces thitherward”? If they
had to ask the way to Zion, what did it matter in which direction their faces were turned meantime? I answer, it mattered very greatly. The value of a man’s search for truth depends very much on the direction in which his look is turned. Religious research may or may not be a valuable thing; it depends on the mental attitude of the inquirer. In the opening of St. Matthew’s Gospel there are two inquiries made concerning the birth of Jesus. The wise men ask, “Where is He that is born King of the Jews?” Herod “inquired diligently what time the star appeared.” Where lay the difference? Just in the direction of their faces. The wise
men were seeking Jesus that they might worship
Him; Herod was seeking Jesus that he might destroy Him. In the hour of your investigations, consider carefully whither your face is turned — toward Zion or away from Zion; it makes all the difference in the world. Do you wish to find blots or do you wish to erase blots? You cannot even be impartial in your search. The book into whose genuineness you inquire has a photograph on the front page — a face of exceeding beauty and compelling power. If you have any eye for loveliness, you must begin the study with that picture in your soul. I am told that a judge should be impartial. In matters of land, yes; in matters of character, no. In a criminal trial I would have the judge assume the veracity of the prisoner till the facts have disproved it. So should it be with you in your trial of the Bible. Assume its veracity till the facts disprove it. The Psalmist had a twofold wish — *“to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His tabernacle”; but the beholding of the beauty came first, the inquiry afterwards; and verily he was right. Go and do thou likewise. Begin by looking at the picture. Meet Christ at the door of the tabernacle. Let Christ precede criticism. Let the gaze precede the grammar. Let the love precede the learning. Let the song precede the science. Let the heart precede the history. Let the prayer precede the probing. Let the spirit precede the scrutiny. Ask by all means the way to Zion; but ask with your face thitherward.
Lord, do not judge me by what I find, but by what I wish to find! I am still asking my way. There are still clouds and darkness round about me; I have not seen the King in His strength. But I have seen the King in His beauty. I have gazed on the picture of Jesus on the front leaf of my Bible; and I am in love with that picture. I am eager to meet its original. I stretch my hands and cry, “O that I could find Him!” My heart has outrun my experience; it has entered first into the empty tomb. My reason is still asking its way to the sepulchre; but my heart is already bringing spices. My reason is still inquiring for the manger; but my heart has already seen the star. My reason is still in the wilderness; but my heart is already on the mount. My reason is still tossing on the sea; but my heart is already sleeping in the haven. My reason is still climbing the Dolorous Way; but my heart already cries, “It is finished!” My reason wrestles for the daybreak; but my heart is already leaping over Peniel. My reason searches vainly for the risen Christ in Jerusalem; but my heart has already gone before it into Galilee, and there it has seen the Lord. I have not yet reached Zion; but my face is thitherward.