Clinging to The Altar

30—“And Benaiah came to the tabernacle of the Lord, and said unto him, Thus says the king, Come forth. And he said, Nay; but I will die here.”

Joab’s conscience pricks him when he hears that Solomon is dealing with other offenders.

Joab was a remorseless warrior, yet when his own turn comes he flies from death.

Joab had little enough of religion, yet he flies to the altar when the sword pursues him.

Joab refuses to quit his shelter, and falls slain at the altar.

Many are for running to the use of external religion when death threatens them. Then they go to greater lengths than Scripture prescribes; they not only go to the tabernacle of the Lord, but they roust needs cling to the altar.

I. AN OUTWARD RESORT TO ORDINANCES AVAILS NOT FOR SALVATION.

If a man will rest in external rites he will die there.

Sacraments, in health or in sickness, are unavailing as means of salvation. They are intended only for those saved already, and will be injurious to others, 1 Corinthians 11:29.

Religious observances: such as frequenting sermons, attending prayer-meetings, joining in Bible-readings, practicing family-prayer: all these put together cannot save a man from the punishment due to his sins. They are good things, but the merely formal practice of them cannot save.

Ministers. These are looked upon by some dying persons with foolish reverence. In the hour of death resort is made to their prayers at the bedside. Importance is attached to funeral sermons, and ceremonials. What superstition!

Professions. These may be correct, long, reputable, and eminent; but yet they may not be proofs of safety. Connection with the most pure of churches would be a poor ground of trust.

Orthodoxy in doctrine, ordinances, and religious practices is much thought of by some; but it is terribly insufficient.

Feelings. Dread, delight, dreaminess, despondency: these have, each in its turn, been relied upon as grounds of hope; but they are all futile.

What an awful thing to perish with your hand on the altar of God!

Yet you must, unless your heart is renewed by divine grace.

The outward altar was never intended to be a sanctuary for the guilty. Read Exodus 21:14, where it is said of the criminal, “You shall take him from mine altar, that he may die.”

II. A SPIRITUAL RESORT TO THE TRUE ALTAR AVAILS FOR SALVATION.

We will use Joab’s case as an illustration.

1. His act: he “caught hold on the horns of the altar.”

   • We do this spiritually by flying from the sword of Justice to the person of Jesus.
   • And by taking hold upon his great atoning work, and thus through faith uniting ourselves to his atoning sacrifice .

2. The fierce demand of his adversary,—“Thus says the king, Come forth!” This is the demand of

   • Unbelieving Pharisees who teach salvation by works.
   • Accusing Conscience within the man.
   • Satan, quoting Holy Scripture falsely.

3. The desperate resolve of Joab,—“Nay, but I will die here.”

   • This is a wise resolution, for we
   • Must perish elsewhere.
   • Cannot make our case worse by clinging to Christ.
   • Have nowhere else to cling. No other righteousness or sacrifice.
   • Cannot be dragged away if we cling to Jesus.
   • Receive hope from the fact that none have perished here.

4. The assured security. “He who believes on the Son has everlasting life”: John 3:36.

   • If you perished trusting in Jesus your ruin would

—Defeat God.

—Dishonor Christ.

Dishearten Sinners from coming to Jesus

Discourage Saints, making them doubt all the promises.

Distress the Glorified, who have rejoiced over penitents, and would now see that they were mistaken.

Come, then, at once to the Lord Jesus, and lay hold on eternal life.

You may come; he invites you.

You should come; he commands you.

You should come now; for now is the accepted time.

CASES IN POINT, Etc.

During an epidemic of cholera, I remember being called up, at dead of night, to pray with a dying person. He had spent the Sabbath in going out upon an excursion, and at three on Monday morning I was standing by his bed. There was no Bible in the house, and he had often ridiculed the preacher; but before his senses left him he begged his servant to send for me. What could I do? He was unconscious; and there I stood, musing sadly upon the wretched condition of a man who had wickedly refused Christ, and yet superstitiously fled to his minister.

“Will you put it down in black and white what I am to believe?” wrote a lady to the Rev. Robert Howie. “I have been told of many different texts; and they are so many that I am bewildered. Please tell me one text, and I will try to believe it.” The answer came, “It is not anyone text, nor any number of texts that saves, any more than the man who fled to the City of Refuge was saved by reading the directions on the fingerposts. It is by believing on the person and work of the Lord Jesus that we are brought into life; and, once born again, are kept in that life.”

When a man goes thirsty to the well, his thirst is not allayed merely by going there. On the contrary, it is increased by every step he goes. It is by what he draws out of the well that his thirst is satisfied. Just so it is not by the mere bodily exercise of waiting upon ordinances that you will ever come to peace, but by tasting of Jesus in the ordinances, whose flesh is meat indeed, and his blood drink indeed.—M’Cheyne.

The Lord Jesus is well pleased that poor sinners should fly to him, and lay hold upon him; for this is to give him due glory as a gracious Savior, and this is to fulfill the purpose for which he has set himself apart. He claims to be a Deliverer; let us use him as what he professes to be, and so do him that honor which he most esteems. A Pilot loves to get the helm in his hand, a Physician delights to be trusted with hard cases, an Advocate is glad to get his brief; even so is Jesus happy to be used. Jesus longs to bless, and therefore he says to every sinner, as he did to the woman at the well, “Give me to drink.” Oh to think that you can refresh your Redeemer! Poor sinner, haste to do it.