0513. 502. “Let Down”
502. “Let Down”
None of these men were “let down” in the sense of the world, which lets down a person by misrepresentation; but these were letting downs which turned out to be lifting ups. There are certain great principles evidenced in the following men who were said to have been “let down.”
1. Rahab “Let Down” the Spies—Jos_2:15. Fellowship with God’s purpose evidenced her faith in Him, and that faith inspired her to help others, and that help brought her blessing and salvation—Heb_11:31. The “cord” by which she “let down” the spies was the “scarlet thread” which became a sign of safety to her. Scofield says: “The scarlet line of Rahab speaks, by its colour, of safety through sacrifice” (Heb_9:19, Heb_9:22). Obedience to God shows our faith in Him, which always secures safety for us.
2. Michal “Let Down” David—1Sa_19:12. When no principle is involved, we are warranted to help others to escape from danger. Michal, by her act, showed she had no fellowship with the cruel hate of Saul; but she had heart-sympathy with the hunted and persecuted David. How full of meaning is Psalms 109. in the light of 1Sa_19:11, for it shows that the persecution of men will drive us in prayer to God, and by this means we find God is our “Defence” and “Refuge” and “Strength” (Psa_59:16-17), and finding Him such, we can sing of His power and mercy.
3. Jeremiah was “Let Down” into a Dungeon—Jer_38:6. The enemies of God’s servants do not care into what mire they may place them. Faithfulness to God will be sure to create opposition from the world. But they were not all enemies in the court of the weak King Zedekiah, for Ebed-Melech not only spoke to the king and got permission to get him, but was also careful to “let down” some clouts and rags, to make it more comfortable to get the prophet out of the dungeon. The opposition of the enemy will often bring the opportune help of our friends; in fact, but for the enemy we should not have known the friends.
4. The Palsied Man “Let Down” by his Friends to Christ—Luk_5:19. His letting down in love was the forerunner of his getting up in power. These men knew three things: first, their friend was helpless and needed healing; second, that Christ could heal him, hence their aim to get him to the Saviour; and, third, if the needing man and the Saviour were to meet, they must get him to the Lord. So they lifted up their friend, and brought him along. The difficulties of his dead weight, the impenetrable crowd, the lifting up, and the taking the tiling off the roof, did not deter them. When we are determined to get men to Christ we shall get them there.
5. The Dead Man “Let Down” into Elisha’s Grave—2Ki_13:21. Contact with the prophet’s dead body caused the body to live. Elisha means “God my Saviour.” Contact with the Divine brings life to the human. The Lord our Saviour is the only One that can quicken us from the death of sin; but there must be contact with Him by faith, if He is to do it for us, then association with Him in His death is the death of self.
6. Paul “Let Down” in a Basket—Act_9:24-25; 2Co_11:33. An apostle in a basket! In what queer places the saints are found! Jonah in a fish, Elijah under a juniper tree, and now Paul in a basket. Sometimes a letting down is essential to a lifting up, hence we find in the same Epistle, the apostle tells he was “caught up to Paradise” (2Co_12:2).
7. Christ Lifted Down from the Cross—Luk_23:53; Act_13:29. No study or life is complete without Christ. That lifting down was not an accident, for it was in fulfilment of what had been written of Him. We gaze with holy wonder and loving reverence as we see the dead body of our Lord lifted down from that Cross, for in that death we see Scripture fulfilled, God satisfied, sin expiated, Hell defeated, Heaven opened, blessings secured, self annulled, world separated, and death defeated.
By: DR. F. E. MARSH