Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? (Quality: Very Good)

Brabourne Lees - Zion - Part 65

Sermon Image
Date
Aug. 16, 1987
Time
11:00

Transcription

Disclaimer: this is an automatically generated machine transcription - there may be small errors or mistranscriptions. Please refer to the original audio if you are in any doubt.

[0:00] I venture this morning, desiring the help of God, to a word you will find in the 8th chapter of Solomon. Solomon chapter 8 reading the first part of verse 5. Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I think there is but one answer to this question that we have before us this morning. There is a question, there is a question mark at the closing of these few words we have read as a text. And I think that answer is this, the

[1:28] Church of God. Who is this? The Bride of Christ. Who is this?

[1:47] None other but those whom this dear one you have been singing of, the Lord Jesus, in your opening hymn. He is the Bridegroom. And the Bride is the Church of God. None other. All that the Father gave him. All that the Father commanded him to come forth, to enter into this world.

[2:38] All these dear ones that he remembered in his love and in his mercy upon the cross at Calvary.

[2:51] all these dear ones that he remembered and in his mercy upon the cross at Calvary. All these dear ones that are blessed to be in our love and in his mercy upon the cross at Calvary. All these dear ones that have been born, a number that no man can number. All these dear ones that have been to this Lord, a number that no man can number. This is, I believe, the bride, of the bridegroom.

[3:03] As you probably noticed in this chapter, chapter 3, who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with mara and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant.

[3:28] We read also the chapter this morning, by night on my bed I sought in, O my soul, speaking.

[3:39] As in this also we can say the church of God. And the church of God was mourning here, because they could not, or she could not find him on the bed.

[3:58] And therefore the church rises, as it were, from that sleepy condition, and goeth forth into the city, and in the streets, and in the broadways, seeking him.

[4:10] Well, may one be helped a little this morning to speak of these words then, of our text, the church of God.

[4:23] It is wonderful, dear friends, sometimes we stand amazed to see the elect in our love of God.

[4:35] It is not to the righteous, that is the self-righteous, powerful man.

[4:48] It's God's choice. We never commence religion with him, as many say they do, given their hearts to him and so on.

[5:02] But I trust our religion started by God. He was the first to put his hand, as it were, to us, and quickened our souls into life.

[5:20] Previous to this time, there's no coming up out of the wilderness. There's no desire to come up out of the wilderness. We can look back to those days, and we are delighted in the things of this life, in the wilderness, in sin.

[5:45] And born in that condition, as you know, born in sin and shaped iniquity. That's our condition. Before the Lord commenced the work of grace.

[6:00] The wilderness, the things here below, were our delight. We favoured it. We would not part with it.

[6:13] But when the Lord commenced the work. And oh, how wonderful it is, dear friends, that the Lord has condescended to look upon poor, weak, sinful worms of the earth.

[6:27] And so ignorant. And so ignorant. And yet he should condescend to remember them and love them. And much more.

[6:40] According to the word of our text. Speaks of them as the bride. The bride. The bride. The bride of his people.

[6:52] You probably also noticed in this portion we read this morning. For as a young man barrieth the virgin, so shall thy son.

[7:05] And as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride. So shall thy God rejoice over thee.

[7:17] Oh, these things dovetail together. To the word can I say of our text this morning. Who is this? That cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved.

[7:35] These are the people. So as I mentioned, all born in sin and shaped in iniquity, and continue in the wilderness, desiring no other place than the wilderness, being a tobe in the wilderness, being a tobe in our core of mind and in a body of sin and death.

[7:58] But, what a mercy it is if we know anything of this change within our heart. And willing to depart or leave these things that are of sin and go and enter, as the Lord helps us, into the kingdom of his grace.

[8:20] And by that change of heart, we shall come into the language, I trust, as what you will be singing in your last hymn. And that's no small mercy.

[8:34] So, O hisness. O hisness that cometh up. Only by the power of God, and by his grace, and by his love.

[8:44] What do we read in the first chapter? Third chapter. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we shall be called the sons of God.

[9:00] Who is this? Well, these are the people. Born in sin, quickened by grace, and brought to fear him. And from that experience, there's a going on, until these dear people are coming up out of the wilderness, having nothing, nothing in the wilderness that will do them spiritually good.

[9:28] So, this is the church of God, the chosen of God, the redeemed of the Lord Jesus Christ. You see, they come under various names.

[9:39] The flock of God, the sheep of God, and those various names that the Lord has called Zion.

[9:50] Jerusalem, and so on. Not one can be lost. They're all in the covenant. Here again, what a wonderful thing.

[10:01] Yet every one of these people are in the covenant, and they remain there. There was a dark time when the Satan had us.

[10:15] He had us, as it were, in his hands. But the Lord will bring his dear ones out of the hands of Satan. We may know, we shall know, we shall know the temptations of that evil spirit.

[10:30] We shall mourn over our kin, and we shall need grace to be kept from the temptations, giving way to the temptations of Satan. But the devil cannot move one of these people out of the love of God, or from the rock, or wherever they are in this poor wilderness.

[10:56] There is. God has his love toward them, his power over them, that none can be lost or go astray.

[11:12] That is, from the covenant. There are such things, dear friends, as you know. Some of us don't experience going away. That is, when we have most foolishly gone in by-paths of sin and wickedness.

[11:33] But if we are there, dear friends, I hope we're not. If we should be there today, in that backsliding condition, it has noted your name in the covenant of grace.

[11:45] That's our mercy. And it shows us the unchangeable love of God. The unchangeable. He is the same yesterday, today, and will be forever.

[12:01] Love these people with an everlasting love. Save as he spake to Jeremiah of old, and possibly to some of us. Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love.

[12:12] Therefore, with loving kindness, I have drawn thee. So these people, they're firm upon the rock, and nothing can move them.

[12:26] It's Christ's work. It's the power of God. And therefore, they stand sure. They stand firm in Christ, upon Christ, as he has called, as you know, the rock, and the rock of ages.

[12:45] So, we need not, perhaps, go much further in this, or is this, to answer this question in our text.

[12:59] But we can come here and ask the question, are we a wonder? I believe I've got you as some here this morning, though we are but few, who are often inquiring.

[13:14] Am I? Am I one of God's people? Am I a chosen vessel? Am I one of these children?

[13:44] Am I numbered among Jerusalem? Am I in the marriage, as it were? For there's nothing so blessed, dear friends, than to be joined together to Christ.

[13:57] The bride to the bridegroom. No closer relationship than the bride and the bridegroom. The church of God, and their saviour, and their redeemer.

[14:11] Is this the query, dear friends, in your heart? Is this the question? Do you wonder if you're in the secret? Oh, so many things come against at times, and we are brought into such dark places, and we are sometimes queried.

[14:31] After all past mercies. Yet we wonder if they are only those mercies in providence. Wonder if we know anything of the mercies in grace.

[14:47] Though we ask for these blessings, yes, we may. We may ask them. But do we ask in faith? Do we earnestly plead with the Lord for a token of his love and mercy?

[15:05] Well, where should we know this? To know that we are numbered among the people. Well, the Lord has directed us. He has given us the sweet invitations in his word.

[15:19] Can I say this is a burden to you and I? It is. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee.

[15:31] Who is this? Well, it's these people then coming. Docking at a door of mercy. Seeking his help. Seeking his blessing. Cannot do without him.

[15:44] Who is this? The church of God. The people of God. Taught by his Holy Spirit. Having their eyes open to see that there is a place where they might come and go.

[15:59] To find mercy. To find the token for good. Remember me with the favor that thou bearish unto thy people. Oh, visit me with thy salvation.

[16:12] These are the people that know the throne of grace. These are the people that are often knocking at a door. These are the people that can hear the invitation.

[16:23] Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. But we must remember this. These are the people that go down in deep waters.

[16:36] These are the people that often are mourning. Absence of a gracious God and Savior. And why should it be? Why should we be brought to those places?

[16:48] Well, I believe it's this. That we might pray more honestly. To come more often to the feet of Christ. To open our hearts and plead with him for mercy.

[17:03] And seek that wonderful blessing as James of old. He called upon the God of Israel. Oh, that thou wouldest bless me indeed.

[17:17] This is, I believe, the very desires of these people. In our text it's called the Church of God. The Bride of Christ. You might think, even from a natural viewpoint.

[17:32] If the Lord loved the people, he wouldn't bring them into these various dark places and trials. He does. And the purpose is this.

[17:44] To lay us low in the dust. And exhort him with our praises. Because he has not left us in those places to perish.

[17:56] Though sometimes we may feel we are. Poor Jeremiah. As we've mentioned. Oh, the Lord spake to him. And told him he loved him with an everlasting love.

[18:09] But where did the poor man eventually come to? In the dungeon. Oh, that third chapter of Lamentations. How he mourned his condition. But there's still something in his heart.

[18:22] What was it? Faith. And there was a hope. David says, Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me?

[18:33] Hope thou in God. So Jeremiah, he never lost the hope. He never lost the faith. There was a little faith still in his heart.

[18:44] And it's the same, I believe, with all the church of God. The Lord brings us low. Lays us low. But there's still a little. As is this work.

[18:55] Within our soul. Hope. And also. Also of faith. Who is this thing?

[19:06] Coming up in the wilderness. In this rough pathway. And dear friends. It's no small mercy of being brought to feel this lower world is nothing but a wilderness.

[19:21] You don't get much to grow, do you? In the wilderness. Only that which is rubbish, I was going to say. Weeds and thistles and so on.

[19:33] But. The Lord's people. Sometimes they look at their heart. You look at your heart. I look at mine. What can you see there? Can you see any fruit there?

[19:46] You say it's all. It's all laid. Borrowed. No fruit. Nothing but a widow that is. Is that so? Well, be thankful. If the Lord has shown us that.

[19:59] Because that. Will cause us, I believe. To come close to him. And breathe out our desires. Before him. All these many different pathways.

[20:10] The Lord brings his chosen. Right down into the depths. At times. At death's door. It may be. Or other. The fierce temptations of Satan. And so on.

[20:21] And oh. We wonder where the seed will end. But it's to bring us closer. Unto him. That we might know. More of his power. What he is able to do.

[20:34] And shall I say. To strengthen the promises. That he has given you. That he would never leave thee. Nor forsaken thee. But he lays us now.

[20:46] In the rust. And then raises up a little. Prayer. Ever on thy kept in calling. Make thy worst condition known.

[20:57] He will hold thee up when falling. Lift thee up when down. This is the people. In the depths. Who is this?

[21:08] Yes. Those chosen vessels. Loved people. Yet sinners. Yet they're coming up.

[21:19] What a mercy. What a mercy dear friends. Not to be left in the wilderness. It's a greater mercy. To be brought up. But we cannot bring ourselves.

[21:30] We cannot take one step. In our own strength and power. Towards Christ. Without me. Ye can do nothing. Entirely of God.

[21:42] And in the power of God. The power of the Holy Spirit. And not of us. Who is this? The poor. The helpless. The needy.

[21:55] Souls. These are the ones. That are coming up from the wilderness. What an awful thing dear friends. To be left in the wilderness. And left in our own sin.

[22:08] And sins. And caudal mind. Destitute to everything that is spiritual. No eyes to see. No heart to receive.

[22:21] Only the world that thinks of it. And we see it day by day. And shall I say. Especially on the Lord's day. As we may travel through.

[22:33] The various towns. And perhaps somewhat seaside. And there we see thousands. In the world. In the wilderness. And having no desire to think of God.

[22:44] Or serving. What a solid place. Going on. Day by day. In the broad way. And if no change takes place.

[22:55] By the power of God. Drop into that place. Where there is no. Forgiveness. Mercy. Or even hope. Or how much we would be thankful to the Lord.

[23:08] That if he has turned our course. And made us to feel. In our own heart. A wilderness. And also in this poor. Purnishing world.

[23:19] It is nothing. But a wilderness. But our text says.

[23:30] Coming up. From the wilderness. So. The Lord will not leave us. In this poor.

[23:41] Perishing world. And in the wilderness. wilderness. He is going to break us out of it. It is only by grace. But having some little knowledge of him.

[23:54] It will cause us to plead with him. Sometimes to be brought out. Of this wilderness. wilderness. Some poor souls. Fear they cannot.

[24:05] Continue and endure. What they see within. And in this wilderness. They long to be freed. From it all. Wasn't it so.

[24:16] With the Lord Jesus Christ. Wasn't there a time. Dear friends. When he was journeying along. Through the wilderness. In his pilgrimage.

[24:26] Performing. The work. That the father. Gave him to do. But oh. There's times. When he long to be freed. I believe. There's times. When he long to return.

[24:38] Unto his father. Now he said. To those disciples. Of old. In the. Gospel. According to John. And said.

[24:48] To those disciples. He said. He would be. Leaving him. For a little Caesar. He knew.

[24:59] He knew Calvary. He knew. Something. Of what he was about. The pastor. But he did not. Flinch from it. He wasn't a tobe. In this small world.

[25:11] When he was here. For those. Thirteen years. And more. He wasn't a tobe. The foxes. Had. Hose.

[25:23] And the death. Birds. And the death. And the death. But the son of man. Had not. Where to lay his head. Had he any words to lay it. When he was born of Mary.

[25:35] No place. To lay his head. But in a manger. His beginning was small. Was it not? But by. And through his father.

[25:48] He has exalted now on high. In that glory. And this people. In their text. The bride. Is looking to him.

[26:00] As was the bridegroom. Is looking. Speaking. Protecting. His bride. To who is this? It is.

[26:14] We know. The church of God. But as I said. Is there. Deep concern. In your heart. Whether. Our name. Is written. In the Lamb's book of life.

[26:25] We are. If we are. Journeying. Along. Through. The wilderness. Having. Something. In our heart. That was given us. From heaven. Our principle.

[26:36] Of divine grace. Of holiness. Bless. Within. No small mercy. And I believe you have. There is something. In your heart.

[26:47] This Sabbath morning. And by that something. It turns your feet. To come. Into Zion. Into this sanctuary. And we believe.

[26:58] And I am sure. At times. There is a knocking. At the door of mercy. Before you arrive. And in the house. Lord come to me. A poor. And wretched sinner.

[27:10] But remember me. Come and give me a visit. Oh to see thy face. Oh to have a little sweetness. Of thy presence.

[27:20] Is this your cry? Is the language of Zion. You say. What I can't get about this. God be merciful to me. O sinner. Dear friend. Is this.

[27:32] If that short prayer. Cometh forth from the heart. You've got something. In your soul. That you wasn't born with. A principle of grace.

[27:44] Principle. Of. Of. A spiritual nature. Within thy poor soul. And you are boxless people.

[27:54] You are counted. By God. As being. One. Of God's chosen. A bride. In the hands. Of the bridegroom.

[28:07] And here again. How the bride looks. How the bridegroom. Looks after the bride. Naturally. And spiritually. Much more so spiritually.

[28:19] Than natural. Because we may fail. But the Lord cannot. And thus he looks after his chosen. His bride. His loved ones.

[28:31] Adores them. Goes before them. Leads them. Comforts them. Supplies their need. And all they feel the need. In Christ Jesus.

[28:44] Oh what a wonderful. Bride groom. Thus we have in our decks. This morning. Can supply all need. Every need. In and through Jesus Christ.

[29:02] Another thought comes to my mind. Some of you may feel. Well. I'm so put by. So wretched. Impossible for me.

[29:13] To be an ugly people. Well. There's many. Very bad cases. Recorded. In the scripture. Many men.

[29:24] Women. Who. Was a very bad character. We think of Mary Magdalene. Having those devils. We think of the dying thief.

[29:37] Coming to the cross. We think of the poor woman. Who came to the feet of Christ. Christ. And the Pharisee. He cried out.

[29:47] And said. Jesus. Sinner. Our sinner. Who is this? By these poor. Undone. Sinners. Who feel to me.

[30:02] So wretched and undone. Condemned in their own heart. And says at times. Is it possible. For God to dwell here. Is it possible.

[30:14] For. The only and just God. To look upon such a poor milestone. He looks upon Job. Job says. Behold.

[30:25] He says. I am vile. A vile. A sinner out of hell. Who lives to fear this need. Is welcomed to the throne of grace.

[30:35] His precious blood to bleed. Who is this? Well. This people of Jesus. That only came for. But willingly shed his blood for.

[30:48] Willingly died for. Willingly. Lovingly. So say. He was put to death. Never. The soldiers.

[31:01] Pierces side. It is true. It is true. But. They never. Put him to death. He died of.

[31:14] Voluntary death. He died. Willingly. Lovingly. Oh. For his pride. In our text. Who is this?

[31:24] Oh. It is a blessed people. No wonder the psalmist said. Blessed is the man. Whom thou choosest. And causes to approach unto me.

[31:38] Blessed people. These are the people in the text. Being in the wilderness. And coming up out of it. Weary of earth.

[31:49] My self had sinned. Dear Jesus. Set me free. And to thy glory. Take me in. For there I long to be.

[32:00] Leaning. Upon. Her. Beloved. These people.

[32:11] Who is this? These people. Are despised. By the world. And persecuted. By the world. In many cases.

[32:23] Perhaps we do not suffer that persecution today. As our forefathers did. I believe many of those. Dear men and women. They lived so near to their God.

[32:34] And oh. The world. The world. The world. Persecuted them for it. Did it. Remove them.

[32:46] From the love of Christ. Those dear. Servants of God. In the years of the past. Went forth. To preach the gospel. And oh.

[32:57] Those persecuted. Some put to death. For they. In the name of Christ. Who is this? They're coming up from the wilderness.

[33:08] Well. These are the people. Oh. How many. Of the Lord's dear servants. Those. In old days. Preached the gospel. Under persecution.

[33:22] I think I'm right. And say it. There's one of our causes. The door is often opened. I believe it's in Wiltshire. Where.

[33:35] And years and years ago. When the servants of God. Were so persecuted. And imprisoned. And there was a. Way made for them.

[33:50] From the pulpit. From the pulpit. The underground. Where they could escape. From there. Those who. Was ready.

[34:01] To imprison. For preaching Christ. Now I think in the gallery. There's a window. As far as I know. Still remains. Where one used to sit.

[34:12] Near the preaching of the word. To watch. These who come. To invade. Or to. To. Even. Imprison. Those who preach the gospel.

[34:27] How much. We have to be thankful for. That we're not living. In such days. That we are there. To come along. To the house of God. Maybe it's near that.

[34:38] It may be. Or spoken against. But to come along. To the house of God. And enter into the door. And hear the word preached. And to sing his praises.

[34:51] And to call upon his name. Oh the many blessings. We receive. Which our forefathers. Had to endure persecution. As I said.

[35:03] Even some. Put to death. Oh is this. Well they're all numbered together. And called the church of God.

[35:14] They're redeemed of the Lord. And not one is overlooked. Not one. Everyone in the covenant. Every name written in heaven.

[35:27] All known to Christ. Spotted up shall I say with all reverence. As he closed his eyes on Calvary's cross.

[35:38] As he bowed his head. It is finished. Yes. The work of redemption. Completed. Perfect. Perfect. Pleasing to his father.

[35:49] Nothing left undone. All for this people. Oh. Who's in the wilderness. And fear him God.

[36:00] Who is this. Well dear friends. If we. Could name. The various. Characters.

[36:12] Of these people. Or. The names the Lord has given. To them. We should be surprised.

[36:26] How many names. Or how many. Or all. Come under their fairies names. Which the Lord has called them. A flock of slaughter. Sheep.

[36:39] In his fault. Lambs. Redeemed. And many other names. It doesn't seem to come to my mind.

[36:52] But who is this. Well. Summon it all up. We could say. The old church of God. Coming up. He will not leave one.

[37:03] In the wilderness. To perish. And if he already entered. He may leave some. Even at the end. Of their journey. Or nearly to the end.

[37:13] Of the journey. Before. There's a change. In art. We've heard. And we've read. Of various ones. My mind goes.

[37:25] To one old gentleman. He. His mother. His mother. Lived to a great age. And he was a great age. I believe.

[37:37] He was 70. Or more. When his mother died. He came. To the funeral. Went to the funeral. And having no knowledge of God.

[37:49] But. As the coffin was lowered. The Lord. Quickened his soul. Into life. God is a song. There's a time to be born.

[37:59] A time to be born again. All in the hands of God. But all in the covenant. Of divine grace. Christ. Well. Who are these people?

[38:11] These are the people then. Travelling. Homeward. I shall leave the latter part. Of our text this morning.

[38:22] For this afternoon. If the Lord is pleased. To. Spare. And grant her. A little help. Strength of body. And also. Help one.

[38:33] To enter. A little deeper. In other things of God. But may this question be. Who is this? Who is this?

[38:46] Coming up. All characters. Yes. Some of the vilest. Have I quoted the word. The vilest sinner. Out of hell. Who lives to fear his need.

[38:59] Is welcomed through the throne of grace. His precious blood. To bleed. Of filthy. Yea. Mary Magdalene.

[39:09] And others. In deep sin. Yet. All numbered. Among them. What a mercy it is to your friends.

[39:20] The Lord. Jesus. As I said. Well. I'm only. Saving those. Or. Remember me. Just in a literal way.

[39:32] No. All that the father gave him. He's remembered. And not one can be lost.

[39:42] But the son of a petition. Who is this? Who is this? A great multitude. That no man can number.

[39:54] Journeying. Many have. I can't. But believe. Dear friends. I know not. That it seems to me. The majority. Of these people.

[40:06] Are now gathered home. And in these last days. There's yet. A remnant. To come forth. And to be made. Benevest. As being.

[40:17] The church of God. Is bride. Is chosen. Is loved. Who is this? Who is this? The one thing.

[40:28] Dear friends. Is needful. One thing. You. And I. Are we among them? That.

[40:40] That. From what. We are deeply concerned. About others. We are. That our children. And friends. Loved ones. Oh. There's a deep concern.

[40:50] And I know. In their hearts. At times. That. They may be made. Manifest. I see. Some of my. Grandchildren.

[41:02] Doing things. That I. Grieve my heart. Very much. But there's been this. Lord. Remember them. Lord.

[41:13] Quicken them. Quicker them. In the spiritual life. Life. Let one see. That's a work of grace. Make it known.

[41:26] That one. Has been. Brought. From nature's darkness. Into. A spiritual light. Oh. We are concerned. About others. As well as ourselves.

[41:37] Only right. So. We at their place. We have a. Little prayer meeting. Once a month. Which we call.

[41:50] For the young. We. A few of us. Gather together. And try. To pray. Big of our Lord. To remember them. To quicken their souls.

[42:03] And I believe. In their. Sabbath school. There's. A number. Who have. Been. Through the. Sabbath school. And some. Have joined us.

[42:14] In membership. Of the church. Have testified. Oh. The Lord. Blessed them. As the word. Was read. And spoken. To them.

[42:25] So. We have. A deep concern. At times. I know. There's been. Times. In my life. When I've. Seen. Children.

[42:37] Not knowing. Who they were. And yet. There's been. A kind of. A prayer. To my heart. Lord. Look upon that. And that one. Do remember them. Bring them.

[42:49] To thy feet. And I believe. That is the right. Spirit. We should show. And it's the right. Spirit. To pray. For each other.

[43:00] I leave it. With you. These poor remarks. Who is this? Oh. May we have. This sweet. Assurance. Even this afternoon. If we spare.

[43:11] To speak a little further. In the matter. That we are. Among this people. Leaning. Upon. Our beloved. Amen.