Only A Nail

by R. Darke, Vancouver, B.C. | Category: General | Jun 1966

Our God is a God of the small things as well as the great.

He "measured the waters in the hollow of His hand" (Isaiah 40.12), but He also estimates the value of a "cup of water ... in My Name" (Mark 9.41 A.V.). He "weighed the mountains in scales", but He used a small, smooth stone to defeat a great enemy of Israel. He sent Michael, the archangel, as one of the chief princes, to help Daniel (Daniel 10.13), but He chose a little maid to help leprous Naaman to find cleansing through Israel's prophet (2 Kings 5). And what shall we say of Rahab's string, Gideon's lamp, Mary's cruse of ointment, and a young lad's loaves and fishes! How thankful we should be that the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity does not confine Himself to great things to the exclusion of small things! We should praise Him for being content to take up and use base, despised things that appear to be nothing in the eyes of men, and yet are of His choosing and calling (1 Corinthians 1.26-31).

A lesson in the value of little things is taught us by Ezra in one of his moving prayers asking God to forgive His erring people (Ezra 9). "And now for a little moment," pleaded Ezra, "grace hath been showed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in His holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage" (v.8). Nails are not usually large and, when they are found in their right place, securely fastened, they are useful and important things. For the temple, David provided iron in abundance for the nails to be used in the doors of the gates (1 Chronicles 22.3), and for nails of gold he provided fifty shekels weight of gold (2 Chronicles 3.9).

How we should long to be as nails for God so that He might say of us, as He did of Eliakim, "I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a throne of glory to his father's house" (Isaiah 22.23). Only a nail, but think of its significance within God's holy place! It is here we find the golden lampstand typical of divine testimony; the table of shewbread, with its precious teaching of communion; and the golden altar of incense, and its association with prayer. What a privilege to be a nail for God in His house! Are we satisfied to serve the Lord faithfully and diligently in the place of the Name, although it might be a small place? Or are we desiring the great movements of men where "the whole counsel of God" is relegated to a minor place? God, in His sovereignty, can and will save souls through whatever means He chooses. All persons saved by grace are delivered from the power of darkness, and are translated into the kingdom of the Son of God's love (Colossians 1.13), but this kingdom should not be confused with the kingdom of God, where a redeemed and obedient people subject themselves to His divine rule and authority.

It is good to remember that in the past Israel, as a nation, were chosen by God not because they were numerous, "The Lo~ did not set His love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all peoples" (Deuteronomy 7.7). So it is with the holy nation of the present dispensation. To those who were to comprise it at the beginning, the Lord Jesus said, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12.32). Being associated with a small testimony may bring reproach, but let us bear this faithfully for the One who was "despised and rejected". Let us resolve to be useful for God, though small. "For who hath despised the day of small things?" (Zechariah 4.10) "And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not" (Jeremiah 45.5).

R. Darke, Vancouver, B.C. | Jun 1966
General