I. The CANDLESTICKS.
It is not so much to the light
as to the utensil or stand
for holding it that his attention is turned;
for the light of these lamps
is not from themselves,
or from any earthly source,
But from Him who is ‘the light of the world,
‘ and who said to His disciples
as His representatives here,
‘You are the light of the world.’
‘Among whom you shine
as lights in the world’ (Philippians 1: 15) ,
Says Paul, adding, ‘holding forth the word of life.’
The individual saint is a ‘light;
‘ a Church is a ‘light holder’ or ‘lamp stand.
‘ The saint personally,
and the Church or body of saints,
is placed ‘in the midst of a crooked
and perverse nation, ‘ and, like
‘the word of prophecy’ (2 Peter 1: 19) ,
‘shines as a light in a dark place,
until the day dawn and the day-star arise.’
Israel, for ages, was the world’s
only light—a light confined within
narrow boundaries—not diffused
over earth, nor set upon a hill.
Of this the one seven-branched
candlestick in the tabernacle
and temple was the symbol.
That lamp stand was doubly
shut in—first, by the outer curtain,
or wall of the house; and, secondly,
by the inner curtain, or wall of the holy place.
But these curtains have been
torn in pieces, these walls thrown down;
and now that lamp stands in uncurtained,
unhidden splendor, shining out over all the world.
Take the lamp as meaning,
in the first place, CHRIST Himself,
the light of Israel, and of the world.
This is true. He was ‘a light to enlighten
the Gentiles; ‘ ‘His life was the light of men.
‘ Take it again as meaning ISRAEL,
who was so long earth’s only light.
This is true; for Israel, when her
exclusive privileges passed away,
gave forth her light around.
Take it as meaning the CHURCH,
or Churches, or saints of God.
This is also true—they shine out
as lights over all the world—not over
Israel’s valleys and hills alone,
or her cities and villages,
but over all earth’s wide expanse,
over all kindred’s, and nations,
and tongues, and peoples.
Christ is the world’s light;
the church is the world’s light;
each saint is the light of the circle
where he dwells and where he moves.
15. January 2008
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