"Lift up His countenance upon thee." We have already dwelt on the significance of the face or countenance (the same original word) as revealing the emotions of the heart. We see from these words that it is the purpose of God that the presence and the love of the Spirit should be made known to those in whom He dwells. When He lifts up His countenance upon us, we walk in conscious security and freedom; but if the Spirit be grieved, the light of His countenance is hidden from us, and we walk in darkness. And, oh, how dangerous is this walking in darkness, how surely we shall wander from the way, and fall into some of the snares of the devil! There is only one safe course, to confess the sin that has grieved Him, and take no rest till communion is restored: this may always be done most easily by immediate confession and turning to Him, who is our Advocate with the Father, and whose shed blood cleanses from all sin. When sin is put away the Spirit again lifts up His countenance upon us, and peace fills the heart.
THE PEACE OF THE SPIRIT.
The Lord Jesus, when on earth, said, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." But here it is the Spirit who is spoken of as bestowing peace: why is this? Because the Spirit of God makes real things real to us, and enables us practically to enjoy the blessings procured for us by the death and resurrection and priestly ministry of the Lord Jesus. Many a believer to whom Christ has left peace, knows little of it; but those who are filled with the Spirit are filled with peace. They have peace with God; they have also heart-peace in the midst of conflict and turmoil; and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, guards their hearts and thoughts. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace.
Are we practically enjoying this blessing, and experiencing this peace which passes all understanding? Are we finding that when He makes quietness, none can make trouble? And if not, what is the hindrance? Is there any known sin unconfessed, or not put away? Has wrong been done, and restitution to the extent of our ability not been made? Is there any matter in which God has a controversy with us? Or are we indulging ourselves in anything about which we have doubt? Are we withholding anything from God which is His due—ourselves, our property, our children; or, it may be, our testimony? Or, if none of these things are hindering us, are we failing to accept, by faith, the filling of the Spirit; perhaps only asking, but not receiving also? Is it that we are neglecting the prayerful study of God's Word, and thus grieving the Spirit by whom it was inspired? Paul asked God to give the Ephesian Christians the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ, that they might know the hope of His calling and the exceeding greatness of His power toward them that believe. We do well to note the words "that believe," for unbelief lies at the root of every form of hindrance.
As the Spirit reveals Christ, so does Christ bestow the Spirit; and by faith in Christ and in His Word we appropriate the gift. We shall never forget the blessing we received through the words, in John iv. 14, "Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him
SHALL NEVER THIRST,"
nearly thirty years ago. As we realized that Christ literally meant what He said—that "shall" meant shall, and "never" meant never, and "thirst" meant thirst—our heart overflowed with joy as we accepted the gift. Oh, the thirst with which we had sat down, but oh, the joy with which we sprang from our seat, praising the Lord that the thirsting days were all past, and past for ever! For, as our Lord continues, "the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water, springing up—overflowing—unto everlasting life." Perhaps, however, we should draw attention to the words of Christ, "whosoever drinketh"; not drank—once for all—but "drinketh," that is habitually: as in chap. vii. 38, 39, where, after promising that out of him "shall flow rivers of living water," it is significally added, "this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe"—i.e., keep believing—should receive.
Is it not sad that so free a gift should be so little esteemed, so often neither enjoyed nor sought after? It is intended for each one of us—"lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." Would that each reader would accept the gift now, and evermore enjoy it, to the glory of God.
SEALING WITH THE NAME OF GOD: verse 27.
"And they shall put My Name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them."