There is one enduring theme which
is woven throughout the tapestry of the Lord's Word revealed in
the Holy Scriptures which we call the Bible. There are two
main threads which form the warp and woof of its fabric. One is
the golden thread of His glory and sovereign right to rule over
His creation according to His own will. The other is the scarlet
thread of the redemptive work of Christ, which is primarily
demonstrated in the shedding of the blood of Christ as an
atonement for the sins of His people. The fabric of his purpose
is put on display from the very beginning of the book until its
final pages. While there are many plots and
subplots which make up its narrative, all of these are woven together
in such a fashion as to declare the glory of his grace in the
salvation of that people which he has loved with an everlasting
love. The rising and falling and restoration
of the nation of Israel forms a backdrop upon which he has
been pleased to demonstrate his faithfulness to chasten his people
while at the same time manifesting his utter determination to preserve
those same people of his love. Thus we see the arc of the glory
of David's kingdom and its utter demise at the hands of the heathen
nations, which brought Israel to its knees in mourning, causing
them once again to seek his face. Yet in order to demonstrate that
he merely uses the nations and people of the earth for his own
ends, he causes these pagans to rise in ascendancy and power
to destroy Israel, only to bring these conquering nations to their
own doom for daring to attack the anointed of the Lord. Thus
we see the Assyrians appointed to bring down the nation of Israel
to the dust. But just as surely as he ordained
the rise and strength of Assyria, he also ordained their ultimate
destruction because of their pride and self-will in seeking
the destruction of Israel. This is just as Joseph who was
sold into captivity through the wickedness of his brothers. Yet
what they meant for evil, the Lord meant for good. And thereby
was Jacob delivered. Oh, who can know the mind of
the Lord? Or who can find out his wisdom? This is indeed a
deep well from which the people of God might draw water, even
to everlasting life. It is here beside this crystal
spring that the sons of God might rejoice and sing the songs of
Zion. The grandest blessing that the
Lord has bestowed upon the sons of Adam is the privilege to be
manifested as the sons of God by heavenly birth, which is not
according to the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but
of God. The lineage of these sons cannot
be discovered in the annals of time, but dates from before the
foundation of the world. To be born into this family is
to inherit jointly the whole heritage of Jesus Christ, which
he has obtained by reason of his person, and is passed to
his heirs by reason of his death, as the testator of his estate.
rising again from the dead that he might take it and present
to himself that glorious church without spot or blemish which
inherits his righteousness forever. While being born as the sons
of God is indeed the grandest of blessings for them, yet being
made to see and hear the blessedness of their calling and the manner
in which these benefits have accrued to them causes them to
be doubly blessed, It is this revelation wherein they can truly
draw water from this well, which the Lord Jesus Christ spoke of
when he said, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.
He that believeth on me, as the scripture has said, out of his
belly shall flow rivers of living water. The gift of faith is that
bucket which enables the sons of God to bathe in this life-giving
and sustaining flow. God who is rich in mercy does
visit his people in the day of salvation and shows them that
highway which he has opened to lead them from darkness unto
light. The darkness is made to flee away as the sons of God
can now clearly see the purpose of God to show them good, and
they are comforted thereby as the promise of the gospel is
revealed to their weary souls, and they confess that Jesus is
the Son of the living God. Only that man who has been thirsty
can find lasting satisfaction in the water of this well. He
alone can rejoice at the hope of His promise.