Poems and Short Features

Aaron’s Garments of Glory and Beauty

After being washed, Aaron was clothed with the holy garments of “glory and beauty” (Exodus 28), and lastly the anointing oil was poured on his head. (Exodus 29:7) Each article of this glorious apparel was typical of qualities and powers of the Great Deliverer—Head and Body—as Jehovah discerned them, looking down into the future to the time for “the manifestation of the Sons of God,” and the fulfilment in them of his promises.

—Tabernacle Shadows, p. 29

—Notes on the Tabernacle, Anton Frey, p. 286

The Brazen Serpent

The extent of the love of God is the extent of the world; the proof of the love of God is the gift of his Son; and the purpose of the love of God is that the world might have life. These were all matters of fact over eighteen hundred years ago; but that does not put the world into possession of this life. There is a definitely prescribed medium through which this life is communicated to man; and every man has to use this medium for himself. “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The Israelites sinned against Moses and against God. They were bitten by fiery serpents, and were perishing in consequence. By divine command, Moses made a brazen serpent and set it upon a pole. That brought it within the range of their vision; “and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass he lived” (Numbers 21:4-9). It was not when the serpent was made that the serpent-bitten men lived, nor was it when it was elevated: it was when they looked that they lived. Even so, it was not when “the Word was made flesh” that sin-bitten men lived, nor was it when the Son of Man was exalted, but it is when they look that they live. The serpent-bitten had to look with their physical eyes, and the sin-bitten have to look with their mental eyes. In each case the divinely-appointed medium of communication is looking, and that is indispensable. Looking with the eyes of the ­understanding is expressed by the word believing; and as this is the indispensable medium of communication it is imperative that there be no vital mistake respecting it. Recklessness will not do, nor will ignorance, nor superstition, nor credulity: it must be genuine faith.

—Reprints, p. 1328

Abel’s Blood and Jesus’ Blood

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.—1 John 2:1

This passage is supposed to favor the thought, that when coming to the Father, the glorified Jesus must act as an ambassador or advocate with the Father, to plead for our acceptance and forgiveness. This we have already shown to be contrary to reason as well as contrary to the spirit and word of God. How then is this statement of John's to be understood? We answer that when this statement concerning the advocate is taken in connection with the context, all is clear and plain. The evidence of our ransom, presented by Jesus when he ascended on high, is, and ever shall be, our advocate. As the blood of Abel “cried” or spoke to God after his death, so the blood of the man Christ ­Jesus, the Mediator, speaks for every sinner for whom he died, for all who come unto God trusting in his sacrifice for sins. The blood of Abel cried for vengeance, but not so the blood of Christ (Hebrews 12:24). It speaks peace and pardon to the sinner, and speaks full satisfaction … to God, for our sins. That blood, that sacrifice, that ransom presented by Jesus, is our advocate; ever with the Father, ever heard on behalf of every repentant sinner, and Jesus, the glorified, has no need to further plead for our forgiveness.

—Reprints, p. 791

Count Your Blessings

Do not count, when day is o’er,
Daily loss from life’s rich store;
But the gains, however small,
Count them daily, one and all:

Every sweet and gracious word,
Every pleasant truth you’ve heard;
Every tender glance and tone,
Every kindly deed you’ve known;

Every duty nobly done,
Every rightful victory won—
Treasure all, and count them o’er
As a miser counts his store.

But if bitter word or thought
Have a bitter harvest brought;
If some foeman hath assailed you,
Or the friend most trusted failed you;

If unkindness and untruth
Have to you brought saddest ruth,
Blot the score without delay—
Keep no record of the day.

Keep no record of the care,
Loss and cross we all must bear;
On the page of memory write
Only what is fair and bright.

Let all evil things go by;
Still, with brave endeavor, try
Simple joys to multiply.
Thus you’ll learn how large a sum
Will with faithful reckoning come.

Long as after cloud and rain
Blessed sunshine comes again,
Long as after winter’s gloom
Summer roses bud and bloom,

Long as we have with us here
One sad heart that we may cheer,
Long as love gilds sorrow’s cross,
Life’s rich gain o’erpays the loss.

——Poems of Dawn, pp. 131, 132       

GIDEON’S ARMY IN ANTITYPE.

ARISE! Then, O! Army of Gideon,
Let him that is fearful return;
Jehovah wants only the zealous,
Whose hearts with the love of truth burn.

Ten thousand remain! Still too many;
Once more He their loyalty proves,
To see who most faithfully serves Him,
To see who most fervently loves.

O! ye, who have sworn Him allegiance,
Mark well! He is now testing you,
With the water of truth He will prove you,
To see who is loyal and true.

Look well to your drinking, then, brother,
That you no impurities trace,
Take your lamp, your pitcher and trumpet,
And stand every man in his place!

Your sword is the “Sword of the Spirit,”
Your lamp is the light from His Word,
Your pitcher, this poor earthen vessel,
You break at the voice of your Lord.

Is your lamp burning bright in your pitcher?
Doth your trumpet give forth “certain sound?”
Soon the Sword of the Lord and of Gideon
The enemy’s host will confound.

For sure is the victory promised,
And great is the peace He awards—
Then, “stand” in your place, all ye faithful,
The battle’s not yours, but the Lord’s!

—Poems of Dawn, page 127