A Word of Wisdom (4)

"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sakes He, being rich, became poor, in order that ye by His poverty might be enriched."    2 Corinthians 8:9.

We oft recount the various down-stooping of the Son of God when He took a "bondman's form" in incarnation. But there is a beautiful expression of His abject poverty that we may easily overlook.

"And when the days of her cleansing are fulfilled, for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring a yearling lamb for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or turtle- dove for a sin offering, to the entrance of the tent of meeting, unto the priest. And he shall present it before Jehovah, and make atonement for her. And she shall be clean from the flux of her blood. This is the law for her that hath borne a male or a female." Leviticus 12:6 & 7.

If that were the commandment in finality, every poor Israelite could never have met the divine demand, what a fearful thought! But the Lord in His infinite grace and tenderness of heart made provision for them all. Are not the poor, the afflicted ones ever upon His heart? His Only-Begotten Son became the poor man, the poor wise man. And thus we read, "And if her hand cannot find what is sufficient for a sheep, she shall bring two turtle-doves or two young pigeons; one for a burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her; and she shall be clean."                Leviticus 12:8.

Such is the shadow, the type; here is the substance, the Anti-type. "And when the days were fulfilled for their purifying according to the law of Moses, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord....and to offer a sacrifice... a pair of turtle-doves of two young pigeons." Luke 2:22-24. The offerings of the poorest, as it were on behalf of the One whose wealth was incalculable. All creation was His!

But dear brethren and sisters, He emptied Himself of all that love could give, that we might be filled!

"Since from His bounty I receive

 Such proofs of love divine, 

Had I a thousand hearts to give, 

Lord, they should all be Thine. 

Would it please the Lord that these aspirations after the surrender of our heart's affections to Him, might be truly realised in our worship of Himself.      T.W.