The Review and Herald
June 23, 1904
Our Work
I have been instructed to direct the minds of our people to the fifty-sixth chapter of Isaiah. This chapter contains important lessons for those who are fighting on the Lord's side in the conflict between good and evil. RH June 23, 1904, par. 1
“Thus saith the Lord, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil. RH June 23, 1904, par. 2
“Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying, The Lord hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my Sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. RH June 23, 1904, par. 3
“Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called a house of prayer.” RH June 23, 1904, par. 4
“And taketh hold of my covenant.” This is the covenant spoken of in the following scripture: RH June 23, 1904, par. 5
“Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bear you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed,”—in truth, earnestness, and sincerity,—“and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me ... for all the earth is mine: and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. RH June 23, 1904, par. 6
“And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the Lord commanded him. And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do.” RH June 23, 1904, par. 7
This is the pledge that God's people are to make in these last days. Their acceptance with God depends on a faithful fulfilment of the terms of their agreement with him. God includes in his covenant all who will obey him. To all who will do justice and judgment, keeping their hand from doing any evil, the promise is, “Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.” RH June 23, 1904, par. 8
“The Lord God which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, besides those that are gathered unto him.” RH June 23, 1904, par. 9
“Seek ye out of the book of the law, and read.” “In that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” RH June 23, 1904, par. 10
These words outline our work. This scripture is to be received by our people as a message for today. The glad tidings of salvation are to be carried to those who have not heard them. RH June 23, 1904, par. 11
Among the people of God there is to be no colonizing. The word of the Lord to them is, “Thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left.” They are to make plants in all places. Everywhere the truth for this time is to be proclaimed. Those into whose hearts the light has shone are to remember that they are God's workmen, his witnesses. To serve and honor him is to be their science. They are to call upon others to keep his commandments and live. To all people and nations and kindreds and tongues the truth is to be proclaimed. The time has come for much aggressive work to be done in the cities, and in all neglected, unworked fields. This the enemy knows, and he tries to keep the minds of those to whom this work has been committed, occupied with nonessentials. Thus he seeks to lead them to neglect the precious opportunities that come to them to present the truth to those who know it not. RH June 23, 1904, par. 12
Shall those who know the truth, and who ought to be filled with zeal for its advancement, allow Satan to turn their thoughts from the great truth that has been given them to give to others? The enemy is determined to place God's people in a false light before the world. He is pleased when their lives reveal defects, when they cherish objectionable traits of character. These traits of character he uses in his service. RH June 23, 1904, par. 13
Many yield to his temptations, and the time and influence of God's servants, which should be used in making known to unbelievers the truth for this time, is used in efforts to recover professing believers from Satan's snares. Thus the way of the advancement of the truth is blocked. RH June 23, 1904, par. 14
God sees the struggle that is to take place in our world, the whole progress and outcome of which has been traced in the pages of his Word. He sees also the diseased, defective eyesight of his people, which prevents them from discerning their own deficiencies, and from taking an earnest interest in the things of eternity. Christ calls upon the members of his church to cherish the true, genuine hope of the gospel. He points them upward, distinctly assuring them that the riches that endure are above, not below. Their hope is in heaven, not on the earth. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness,” he says, “and all these things,”—all that is essential for your good—“shall be added unto you.” RH June 23, 1904, par. 15
With many, the things of this world obscure the glorious view of the eternal weight of glory that awaits the saints of the Most High. They can not distinguish the true, the real, the enduring substance, from the false, the counterfeit, the passing shadow. Christ urges them to remove from before their eyes that which is obscuring their view of eternal realities. He insists upon the removal of that which is causing them to mistake phantoms for realities, and realities for phantoms. God entreats his people to give the strength of body, mind, and soul to the service that he expects them to perform. He calls upon them to be able to say for themselves that the gains and advantages of this life are not worthy to be compared with the riches that are reserved for the diligent, rational seeker for eternal life. RH June 23, 1904, par. 16
He does not leave us in ignorance of what is before us. He shows us the vast confederacy arrayed against us. He tells us plainly that we are battling against a mighty foe. But he assures us that we shall not be left to fight alone. Angels are in the ranks of God's soldiers. And One more powerful than angels is there. The Captain of our salvation leads the way, saying, “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” RH June 23, 1904, par. 17