Communion

Unbroken communion with Jehovah also marked the path of the blessed Man Christ Jesus, the true Son of David. He could surely say, "I have set the Lord always before Me." (v. 8.) He did not know a moment of interrupted communion until our sins were laid on Him, and as the sin offering He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. Then God, who is of purer eyes than to behold evil, must abandon His own well-beloved Son, because sins, our sins, were upon Him. Hence that most bitter of all cries was wrung from His holy, pure and loving heart in deepest agony and distress, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" It could not be otherwise, for God is holy. Except for that time when His soul was made an offering for sin upon the tree, He was always in uninterrupted communion with God His Father. This was His perfectness and joy.
He could under all circumstances say, "I do always those things that please Him." "I have set the Lord always before Me." So should it be with us, for we are called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, and He has sent forth the other Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to dwell in us. He did this not only that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God, but that we should enjoy them in the communion of the Holy Spirit.
With us we easily allow a trifle to come between us and our adorable and loving Lord. Then a process of self-judgment, humiliation, and confession may be called for, in order to have enjoyment again in faith of the unclouded sunshine of His blessed Presence. In fact, the moment we allow anything to come between us and the Lord, we get away from Him, and our communion becomes interrupted. It is well, therefore, habitually to receive everything from Him, to refer every matter to Him, to cast all our care upon Him, and to know that all our springs are in Him. As long as He is consciously known as our fountain of living waters, the broken cisterns which come in our way will have little attraction for us. The question should not be so much with us in this day, "How much do we know?" as, "How much do we enjoy?" It is impossible to know the Lord Jesus as the satisfying, commanding, and absorbing object of our souls without having that deep, calm joy which is more easily felt than described, and is known in no other way.
There is another point here: He could not only say, "I have set the Lord always before Me," but could blessedly add, "Because He is at My right hand, I shall not be moved." There is an important connection in these two sentences, and highly instructive to us. The Lord always realized the presence of God and power of God with Him—the right hand of Jehovah. And do not we realize it in our measure too, according as our hearts are looking to Him?
If we grow cold and careless, it is no marvel that we have little sense of the power and presence of God with us. Instead of this, such souls must necessarily be walking in darkness. When they need the "right hand" of God to sustain and comfort, they do not find it. Instead of this the Spirit is grieved, and there are questions as to the state, the walk, and the conduct to be settled before the soul can be restored to the enjoyment of His holy Presence who is light and love. Then they can again know the present power of the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.
Oh the blessedness of being able to say, "I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved." May our souls realize this more and more, and our affections be drawn and fixed upon the Lord Himself, by His mighty and irresistible attractiveness! Surely Mary made a wise and happy choice when she took her place at the feet of Jesus to hear His word. It was as pleasing to the Lord as it was needful and profitable to herself. She learned that this place of dependence was the secret of comfort and power, as well as the only way to get into the circle of His thoughts and the current of His affections.
With what a holy dignity and style we see her afterward breaking the alabaster box and pouring the very costly ointment on this precious object of her heart. The whole house was filled with its sweet fragrance and she realized the Lord's approval! What a vast range of blessing even now may be known by those who unfeignedly take this place of dependence, and set the Lord always before them. May those of us who have somewhat tasted it know it better; it is wise, I am sure, and wisdom's "ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace." Prov. 3:17.
What in Thy love possess I not?
My star by night, my sun by day;
My spring of life when parched with drought,
My wine to cheer, my bread to stay;
In Thee, my strength, my safe abode
Now made the righteousness of God,
My robe before the throne of God.