Numbers 24:1-9 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments… Seen from the top of the rocks, everything about Israel is perfection. Had we been down in the valley, and looked into them from an earthly standpoint, we should have seen deformity enough. But from God's presence everything is changed. But mark the figures under which this beauty is described. "As valleys are they spread forth." These are the valleys watered by the river; these are the people of God, made beautiful by the refreshing streams of living water which flow down from the throne of God. Not yet are they as watered "valleys," but as "gardens by the river's side." This is a richer description still. They are the garden of the Lord. They are the plants planted by the Father. They have been taken out of the world — transplanted — and are now to "bring forth much fruit." The streams from "the river of God" find their way to the roots of their spiritual life; and thus they become fruitful. Jesus is the source of their life and their fruitfulness. And in all this we see growth — "as the valleys are they spread forth; as gardens by the river's side." The entire figure implies sanctification — growth in grace. There will always be three kinds of growth where the soul is really abiding in Jesus. There will be the outward growth as the "lily" — the life before men; the hidden growth as the "roots" of Lebanon — the life before God; and the relation toward men as the "branches spreading," the influence which they cast around. But the figure grows in richness: "as trees of lign aloes which the Lord hath planted." The aloe tree was highly valued on account of its fragrance, and it was the tree from which the incense was prepared. Thus the believer abiding in Jesus is a " sweet savour" of Christ. The fragrance of that blessed One is diffused far and wide through him. He is beautiful with the beauty which the Lord puts upon him. His "scent is as the wine of Lebanon." And to what cause is all this fragrance due? To the "Lord's planting." There is one more step in advance in the spiritual life in this verse: "as cedar trees beside the waters." As the "lily" and "trees of Lebanon" in the passage, in Hosea, so here. The growth of the believer is brought before us under the loftiness of the cedar tree, its luxuriance, and the durability of its wood. Now, having noticed what the people of God are as seen in Jesus, let us mark their testimony. "He shall pour the water out of his buckets." The people of God are personified, as a man carrying two pails overflowing with water. A bucket or vessel is empty. It can give nothing. It can only receive. The "buckets" are the "empty vessels" to be filled with "living water" by the Holy Ghost. Like the two pails on a man's shoulder which are filled to the brim, he cannot move a step without the water overflowing. So with the believer abiding in Jesus. He is the empty vessel filled by the Holy Ghost. He cannot move a step without making that influence felt. There will be a trail of living water in his path — a track of light in every step of the way. And oh, what empty places there are within us and around us! Within us — desires, affections, longings, hopes, aims, plans; without us — home, duties, efforts, a weeping Church, and a dying world. Oh, that these "buckets" were filled with the "living water"! Then would gladness be written as with a sunbeam on every brow, and sunshine light up every heart. "His seed shall be in many waters." This is the effect of the outpoured water from the buckets of the believer's soul. He is made a blessing on every side. "His king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted." Christ the King of the Jews is to be "higher" than all the kings of this world; and Christ's kingdom "exalted" above all other kingdoms. All this glory is then traced to the first great act of redemption "God brought him forth out of Egypt." Thus deliverance from Egypt and future glory are linked together. "He hath as it were the strength of the buffalo." Here is the power of God abiding with, and resting upon, those whom He has redeemed. Then follows, in connection with their redemption from Egypt, that final triumph and glory. "He shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows." This is the foretold destruction mentioned in the New Testament, which awaits all the enemies of the Lord at His coming. But in the meantime the attitude of the Church of Christ is one of expectation. Her attitude is not one of judgment yet, but one of grace. This is strikingly brought before us in the next clause; "he couched, he lay down as a lion." The "couching" of the lion is always the attitude of expectation — looking forward to the moment when he shall spring upon his prey. "Lying down" indicates rest. The believer now rests in Jesus, and awaits His return. In the meantime blessing is his portion — "blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee." And we notice how the blessing culminates here. The first was, "How shall I curse, or how shall I defy?" After it was, "He hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it." Lastly, it is "Blessed is he that blesseth thee." This last form in which Balaam expresses himself shows us God's estimate of His people Israel. "He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye." (F. Whitfield, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness. |
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