GIVE ME A MAN
GIVE ME A MAN
by Matthew J.
Brescia
We ask our readers to turn with us to the
following Scriptures and to consider them in relation to the Lord Jesus Christ
as God's Blessed Man.
In 1 Samuel 1:11 we find the godly Hannah praying that God
would give her, for Israel's sake, a MAN TO RESTORE. In the same book, chapter
16:17, Saul said to his servants, "Provide me a man" a MAN TO
REFRESH. In chapter 17: 10 the giant Goliath, a type of Satanic pride, boldly
challenges "give me a man that we may fight together," a MAN FOR
REVENGE. Again in chapter 13:14 Samuel tells Saul that the Lord has sought Him a
"man after His own heart to be captain over His people," a MAN TO
REIGN. Finally in 1 Kings 8:25, we come to the words of wise King Solomon who,
as the son of David and a type of Christ in His glorious reign, is a MAN OF
REST.
The world today is desperately looking
for a man. This thought predominates during every election that is held in any
country, as the people wonder if now this will be the man they are looking for
who will be able to cope with today's perplexing problems and dilemmas. Yet
their hopes always shatter as man after man rises, rules, fails, and finally
falls. None but God Himself will set all right in His time, as in Ezekiel
21:27, "I will overturn, overturn, overturn ... until He come Whose right
it and I will give it (the diadem) to HIM." It has been so since the first
man, Adam, came on the scene and through disobedience and sin failed, and lost
the scepter of rule and government over the earth and plunged all his progeny
into utter ruin.
God's purposes,
however, are not by any means defeated and, since it was always God s mind that
man should be in authority over His creation, we read of a second Man who
appeared - the MAN of God's providing. This man was unlike any other in His
birth and body and being, for while He was truly man, He was perfect, sinless,
incapable of sin in His very essence. He was not of the seed of man, but of the
seed of the woman, and so we read in 1 Cor. 15:47, "The first man is of the
earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven."
Did the world receive God's Blessed Man?
Sad, but solemnly true, not only His own people Israel, but all of humanity
echoed the rebellion and depravity of the human heart as their cry went up to
God's heaven, "Not this man but Barabbas."
Now, almost two thousand years later. the
world goes on in darkness and folly still hoping for a man to take the reins of
government and claim their adoration. Will that man ever be found? Soon after
the Church is raptured, Satan will produce his man of Sin, who will oppose and
oppress all that is of God, and will set himself up in the desperate wickedness and pride of his own evil being, empowered by Satan himself, to
be worshiped as God (2 Thess. 2:4). The ungodly world will see and receive
their "superman" and receive his mark and worship him.
Our meditation. however is on God's Man, and, just at the zenith of the elevation of the "man of sin," our
blessed Lord will return to earth and "Satan's man" will be consumed
with the "spirit of His mouth, and shall be destroyed with the brightness
of His coming" (2 Thess. 2:8). The beast and the "false prophet" will
be cast immediately into the Lake of Fire. God will judge the "living nations," according to Matthew 25:31-46. Spared Israel will mourn for Him as
for an only son, and God's Man, our Blessed Lord as King and Priest, will begin
His peaceful reign of one thousand years: the blest Millennium. All the
promises of God are "yea and amen" in our Lord Jesus Christ. He will
be manifested and we will reign with Him over this earth. He is the answer to
all. God's perfect MAN - set forth to RESTORE, REFRESH, REVENGE, REIGN, and to provide REST.
His ancient people Israel are beloved for
the Father's sake and God will restore the faithful remnant as His people on
the earth, in their own restored land. The whole creation which now groans and
travails, will be restored and delivered from the bondage of corruption into
the glorious liberty of the children of God (Romans 8:21). HE restored, through
the Cross, that which He took not away...communion and
fellowship with God. He will come down as rain upon the mown grass for
refreshment and he shall refresh all the earth. Acts 3:19 mentions "times
of refreshment from the presence of the Lord," and verse 20 states,
"He shall send Jesus Christ." God's Man for REFRESHMENT.
What of the challenge for REVENGE? Can
the ruddy youth, without sword or armor, defeat the man of the Valley of Elah?
Blessed be God, our heavenly David came forth from the victory of Calvary's
dark valley to bring light and liberty in Resurrection and the strong man's
power was broken. They will acknowledge him then as King of kings and Lord of
lords, and He will reign forever and ever, "from the river unto the ends
of the earth." He must reign until He hath "put all enemies under His
feet" (1 Cor. 15:25). Then shall the Son, as God's perfect Man, deliver up
the Kingdom to the Father, that God the Triune God, may be all in all (1 Cor.
15:28). Then shall be ushered in the Day of God wherein dwelleth righteousness
and eternal REST (2 Peter 3: 12-13).
All of the above and infinitely more than
we could ever express, will be brought about by the lowly Man of Calvary our
Saviour and Glorious Lord Christ.
