The Garden Of The Lord

by F. McCormick | Category: The Garden Of The Lord | Sept 1944

The parable of the sower, as recorded in Matthew 13. has indeed a heart-searching voice to us, as indicating the variety of heart condition seen in the different kinds of ground wherein the seed, "the word of the kingdom" was sown, and we need to prepare the ground of our hearts by deep soul-exercise and the removal of the thorns of the old nature, in order that we may be as the good ground, with depth and fertility, to bring forth fruit well pleasing to God. Then "let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom" (Colossians 3. 16), and as the fragrant herbs, plants, or trees are produced, with their blossoms and fruits, we will be able to say,

"Awake, 0 north wind; and come, thou south;

Blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out"

(Song of Songs 4. 16).

Alas! alas! the north wind of adversity sometimes has the opposite effect, and instead of the sweet fragrance of Christ flowing out from the hearts and lives of believers, in the cold blasts of the north wind they succumb td the trials and adversities of life and die spiritually. "If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small" (Proverbs 24. 10). To others the storms of life and the day of trouble but tends to draw them nearer to THE MAN who is "as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land" (Isaiah 32.2). From such the sweet spices of a sanctified life flow out to the joy of the Owner of the garden, and to the blessing of others around. Then come, thou south wind, with thy soft, warm, gentle breezes, and blow upon my garden! Ah! in the day of prosperity be joyful, but beware, and" If riches increase, set not your heart thereon" (Psalm 62.10). "Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked; ... then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation" (Deuteronomy 32.15). There are indeed many dangers in prosperity, and instead of the sweet spices flowing out, men may become more occupied with the gifts than with the Giver, and thus fail to glorify God. (See Luke 12.16-21). Happy condition indeed, when. the soul in adversity and prosperity gives forth a goodly fragrance of Christ and one can truly say, "Let my Beloved come into His garden, and eat His precious fruits "(Song of Songs 4.16)!. In this verse it is described as my garden and His garden, for what is mine is His.

"Nought that I have mine own I'd call,

I hold it for the Giver:

My heart, my strength, my life, my all,

Are His and His for ever!"

We gratefully acknowledge, as did David, that "all things come of Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee" Chronicles 29.14). This is true of everything produced, and rendered to Him by us, in service and worship. Listen to the voice of my Beloved-" I am come into My garden" .... "I have gathered" .... "I have eaten" ..."I have drunk " (Song of Songs 5.1). How true that, if He gets His portion first, then there will be overflowing abundance for others. "Eat, 0 friends ; drink, yea, drink abundantly, 0 beloved (of love, R.V. marg.)!" Why do we see so little of the outpouring of God's blessing to-day? Is it not that there is so little for Him in the souls of His people? Is there not failure to invite Him into His garden? Alas! how oft He stands without, yes, and how true of believers it sometimes is, that there is "room for pleasure, room for business," while His loving voice is still pleading, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear My voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me" (Revelation 3.20). Ah! "It is the voice of my Beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to Me, My sister, My love, ... For My head is filled with dew, My locks with the drops of the night" (Song of Songs 5.2).

"My Beloved put in His hand by the hole of the door, and my heart was moved for Him." In spiritual things, heart movement precedes all other movements, and sad it is if His voice and hand do not move our hearts. Wherein is the secret of spiritual blessing? Is it not in the garden of the soul being cleared from the weeds of sin, and having the indwelling Christ in full possession? (Ephesians 3.17). As the precious fruit of the Spirit is produced, then" the Husbandman that laboureth must be the first to partake of the fruits" (2 Timothy 2.6). If this be the spiritual condition of God's people, there will be the bringing of the whole tithe into the storehouse, and God will pour out such blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it. The LORD'S portion is His people, and how He delights in them!

He says,

"I went down into the garden of nuts,

To see the green plants of the valley,

To see whether the vine budded,

And the pomegranates were in flower.

Or ever I was aware, My soul set Me

Among the chariots of My princely (willing, R.V.M.) people"

(Song of Songs 6.11,12).

Here is a suggestive picture of spiritual growth and divine movement, green plants, buds, flowers, fruits, here is evidence of flowing sap. Oh that the flow of spiritual vitality through the Word and Spirit of God might be manifest among His people to-day! Paul, writing to the Corinthians, says, "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, ... for ye are carnal: for whereas there is among you jealousy and strife, are ye not carnal, and walk after the manner of men?" (1 C6rinthians 3.1-3). Again we read, "When by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God" (Hebrews 5.12). God's purpose is that we should press on unto perfection (full growth, R.V.M.). Chariot wheels are made to go round, and the forward movement of God's people is His delight. Growth and movement go together. Let us therefore surge forward at His command as a living and obedient people, so that His delight may be in us. "Or ever I was aware," He says, "My soul set Me among the chariots of My princely (willing) people."

"The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree:

He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

They that are planted in the house of the LORD

Shall flourish in the courts of our God.

They shall still bring forth fruit in old age;

They shall be full of sap and green" (Psalm 9 . 12-14).

F. McCormick | Sept 1944
The Garden Of The Lord