Vindication

‘And they shall know,’

* T F they only knew! ‘How often X we say or think this when they’ misunderstand and misjudge a person, a position, or an action, just because ‘they’ do not know what we know! How we chafe against their speaking evil of things which they know not, and most of all when ’ they speak wrongly or unworthily of a person whom we know much better than they do I Ah, if they only knew!

This grieving sense of the injustice of ignorance rises to a feeling which needs much tempering of faith and patience when we see our God Himself misunderstood and misjudged. Oh, how they ‘daily mistake’ His words

A and His character, and how it does pain us! How we do want them to know what He is, even so far as we are privileged to know Him! How every word which shows they do not know His exceeding great love and absolute goodness, and the sublime balancing of all His attributes, jars upon us and distresses us, and causes a quick up-glance of His little children who have known the Father, and an involuntary closer nestling of their hand in His, as if they wanted to give Him fresh assurance of their love and confidence, just because these others do not know Him!

What an added grandeur it gives to our anticipations of the day when every eye shall see Him, that He, our Father, will be known at last to be what He is, and that Jesus, our Lord and Master, will be seen in His own glory, and can never, never be misunderstood any more! One revels in the thought of this great and eternal vindication of Him whom we love; His ways, His works, His word all juslified, ^xvd

Ps. cxix. X369
139.

z John ii. 13.

Ps. cxix. 126,
127.

John vi.
66-69.
Matt, xvu
14-16.

Rev, i. 7,

Matt. XXV.
2 Thess. i. 7.

Isa. li. 6-8.

ROYAL Bouz/ry,

tUtrr, T. 1?.

Vb. xxxvii. 4.

Ex. ix. 14.

Ps. IxxxSii.

; z8.

Ex. smr. x8.
Josh, iv, 24.

z Sam. xviL
46.

Isa. xxxvii.

Jer. xvl. 81.

Czelc. XV, 7,

, etc Himsdf revealed to the silenced uni-TCise, henceforth only to receive honour and glory and blessing! It seems as if we should almost forget our own share in the glory and joy of His coming in this transcendent satisfaction.

‘And they shall know! ‘It is one of the shining threads that run all through the Bible, a supply indeed for the heart’s desire of those who delight in the Lord. It is never long out of sight, judgments and mercies being alike sent for this great purpose, that men may know that Jehovah is Most High over all the earth. For this the waters of the Red Sea receded and returned again; for this Jordan was dried up; for this Goliath was delivered into David’s hand; for this 185,000 of the Assjnians were smitten by God’s angel; and many more instances. Throughout Ezekiel it seems the very keyword, recurring seventy-five times as the divine reason of divine doings, that they may know that I am the Lord.* Is there not a peculiar solace in this?

His word, too, shall be vindicated, for ‘ye shall know that I the Lord have spoken it.*

His ways shall be vindicated, for ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it’ * Thou shalt know hereafter.’

His house shall be vindicated, for He will answer the prayers ascending from it, ’ that they may know that thy name is called upon this house.’

And He will not leave His own children out of the great vindication; for the hand of the Lord shall be known toward His servants.’ ‘AH that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which ttie Lord hath blessed.’ More than that, the whole world shall know that Thou hast loved them as Thou hast loved Me,’ and * I will make them ... to know that I have loved thee.’ Is not this superabounding compensation for any tiny share we may now have in the world-wide misunderstanding of our Father’s wisdom and our Saviour’s love?

Ezek. xvii.

2Z.

ib. xiv. 23..
John xiii. 7,

I Kings viii.
43, margin.

Ezek. ii. 5;
xxxiii, 33.

Isa. lxvi. 14.
ib. lxi. 9.

Johnxvli.23,
Rev. iii. 9.

z John iii. z.
John XV.

John xiv. so.
ib. xvL 25.

t Cor. H. 9.
H08. vi. 3.

z Cor. xiii.

Z2.

ROYAL BOUNTY

* And they shall know, is not only for those who do not know at all; for ’ at that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you,’ — revelations of the mysteries of Godhead and of the ineffable union of Christ with His people, which have not yet entered into our hearts to conceive. *Then shall we know (if we follow on to know) the Lord.’ *For now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.’

Oh! the joy to see Thee reigning,

Thee, my own belovM Lord! Every tongue Thy name confessing, Worship, honour, glory, blessing,

Brought to Thee with glad accord! Thee, my Master and my Friend,

Vindicated and enthroned,
Unto earth’s remotest end,

Glorified, adored, and owned!