The Secret of the Spirit's Revelation

And it came to pass, that, when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied.’’” — NUMB. xi. 25.

WHEN the Spirit rested upon them they prophesied;” spiritual rest was mental activity. It is ever so. My times of revelation are not my times of mental flutter. “Be still, and know that I am God,” is the law of spiritual insight. Why did the Son of man see heaven opened and hear its voice of commendation? It was because the Spirit was “abiding upon Him.” It was not a momentary flash, it was not a sudden ebulition, it was not an excited rhapsody; it was the conviction of a dove-like calm. There are a hundred things lying at my feet which I cannot see for want of calmness — want of the dove-like rest. Why is Hagar in such distress in the desert? There is a well of water before her very eyes if she would only look at it. But she cannot look at it. It is not want of sight that prevents her from seeing it; it is want of spiritual rest. If she were only calm she would get a revelation, a revelation that has been waiting for her a long time, written on the desert sands. But she is not calm. Her heart is on fire, her nerves are in motion, her soul is ill at ease. She is a stranger to spiritual rest, and therefore she is a stranger to the actual outward comforts that are scattered at her door. When the Spirit has rested on her she will prophesy her own deliverance.

Spirit of rest, in Thy light we shall see light. In the absence of Thy light even our sunshine is darkness. Is it not written that in order to give a knowledge of the glorious light in the face of Jesus Christ, Thou hadst to shine “in our hearts?” If even the face of Christ could only have its glory seen through Thine inward shining, what shall we say of the face of the universe? I am like Elijah under the shadows of Horeb; I underrate the number of my own sunbeams. It is stillness that I want most of all — -power to stand and gaze on my actual surroundings. I am more disturbed by the earthquake than either by the thunder or by the fire. Speak peace to my soul, that I may awake to the melodies that float around me. Speak peace to my soul, that in the hour of its rest I may see the ladder between earth and heaven. I shall know that there are yet seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal when Thou hast inspired my spirit with Thy still small voice.