NOT SOMEHOW-BUT TRIUMPHANTLY
"But thanks be to God, for He always
leads me in His triumphal train, through union with Christ, and everywhere
through me keeps spreading the perfume of the knowledge of Him." 2 Corinthians
2:14 Williams Trans.
There are times in the experience of
the believer when the words of the Psalmist aptly describe the inner state of
being, when it says, "My heart is inditing a good matter." [Psalm 45:1]. What an
upsurge of praise results from the pondering of these words "Not somehow—but
triumphantly." It is as the springing up of a cool flow of water, or like the
refreshing breeze after the heat of the day. It rises as a promise to undergird
the pathway ahead, becoming a bright light of truth which the Holy Spirit
quickens so that its rays, rather than waning, only heightened and broaden their
scope as we reach forth to lay hold of new victories in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The world today is desperate for a
word of encouragement, just a word which will give a glimmer of hope in the maze
of confusion and deep inner tension which convulses the swelling tide of
humanity. It is God's plan for His people that they should come through these
dark times of stress and chaos, not somehow-but triumphantly and see the power
of God triumph over all opposition of the enemy which the various adversaries
might try to stir up. Bewildered doubters, filled with unbelief, will cry
heresy. Those steeped in traditional creed and doctrine will continue their
proclamations of doom and defeatism. But the child of God, apprehended by the
Spirit for the "heavenly sphere" will respond with a glad amen and begin to walk
the victory way.
In the natural world compromise has
long been the order of the day, insomuch that if we emerge from a battle
stripped, but still alive, we think that we have won. There is so much giving
in—on so many points, that a clear-cut victory is often forgotten. But we need
to view each battle, not "can I survive and come through somehow," but by the
grace of God it shall be "TRIUMPHANTLY." God deliver us from just half
victories, and make it a completeness in Christ. "Our contest is not with human
foes alone, but with the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark
world; that is, with the spirit-forces of evil challenging us in the heavenly
contest." [Ephesians 6:12, Williams]. Such a conflict demands, not a somehow
compromise but a victorious climax from God.
"Thanks be to God, for He always
leads me in His triumphal train, through union with Christ." The metaphor used
here is taken from the triumphal procession of a victorious general. And then we
note a two-fold application derived from the various translators. Some indicate
that this speaks of how Paul, who had once been so great an opponent of the
Gospel, is now a captive following in the train of the triumphal procession. In
a sense this is true. Thank God, we have been, and are being completely overcome
by Christ. We would that HE shall conquer us completely, till all within us is
subjugated to His will, and it is "no more I, but Christ liveth in me."
But there is also another beautiful
application given by some who feel it is an allusion to the custom of the
victorious generals, who, in their triumphal processions, carried some of their
relations with them in their chariot, thus sharing the glory of their victory.
It is through OUR UNION WITH CHRIST that we are becoming partakers of the full
victory of Calvary.
The Diaglott translates this phrase
as "Who always leads us forth to Triumph with the Anointed One..."
While Conybeare translates, "Who
leads me on from place to place in the train of His triumph, to celebrate His
victory over the enemies of Christ."
Praise the Lord! To share in the
triumph of His victory, and to move with the assurance that He has prevailed,
and wherever He leads us, He has gone before and conquered, so that we might
come along in His footsteps to overcome in the same manner that He has overcome.
"The Ark of the Covenant of the Lord went before them in the three days'
journey, to search out a resting place for them." [Duet. 10:33]. Christ has
become for us the NEW AND LIVING WAY into that rest, and now we may enter into
it, not somehow, weary and exhausted, but TRIUMPHANTLY.
This same metaphor is used by Paul
in speaking of Christ's victory at Calvary, and how He "thus stripped the
principalities and dominions of power and made a public display of them,
triumphing over them by the cross." [Colossians 2:15].
Here then is the secret of victory,
changing it from a "somehow" to a "Triumph" that is full and complete. The key
is the CROSS! There can be no clear-cut victory apart from the apex of the work
of the cross within. "God forbid, that I should glory, save in the cross of our
Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me, and I unto the world."
[Galatians 6:14]. When the work of the cross is complete, and you arise in His
resurrection life, to find that you have been crucified to the world, and there
is nothing left within you which desires the world, or can be tempted by the
world, then you will also discover that THE WORLD HAS BEEN CRUCIFIED UNTO
YOU—that is, it no longer has a hold upon you, but now you can arise triumphant
over the world, and take it captive, holding it in submission to the will of
God. Yes, the Cross will work an end in you, but it also puts an end to the
world for you, so that you might rise up to celebrate CHRIST'S VICTORY over all
enemy forces.
"For Thou, Lord, hast made me glad
through Thy work: I will triumph in the works of Thy hands." [Psalm 92:4].
"I will sing unto the Lord, for HE
hath triumphed gloriously ..."[Exodus 5:1].
"Through God we shall do valiantly:
for He it is that shall tread down our enemies." [Psalm 60:12].
We find that the Hebrew words used
for triumph,"ranan or rinnah" are also translated as JOY, GLADNESS, SINGING, and
according to their context denote a loud cry, a proclamation, or a song of
triumph. When the Lord works, and we become a partaker of the triumph of the
work of His hands, it is not a "somehow" victory, but a glorious one. "And He
hath put a new song in my mouth, praise unto our God: many shall see it, and
fear, and shall trust in the Lord." [Psalm 40:3]. There is a jubilant,
triumphant song of victory pouring forth from the innermost being of the
Overcomers, praise to God for His marvellous works.
This isn't the painful tunes of
Christendom, moaning and sighing of the hard road, hoping that they will somehow
hold out to the end, homesick for heaven, which to them means a place when and
where they will have a glorified vacation, free from all physical labors, to
live in a mansion just over the hilltop. Oh, may God deliver us from such a
weak, impotent theology with its carnal minded concept, and may He bring us into
that place in Him where we shall sing THE SONG OF TRIUMPH, jubilant, victorious,
redounding with praise to our God.
"By the rivers of Babylon, there we
sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the
willows in the midst thereof. For there they that carried us away captive
required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying,
Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing THE LORD'S SONG in a strange
land?" [Psalm 137:1-4]. Ah, what a striking paraphrase for the realm of
religious babylon today. They say sing-sing up a storm, sing down the glory,
etc. but how can one sing THE LORD'S SONG, the triumphant spirit soaring praise
of victory, as long as one remains in the bondage of religious confusion? Oh,
would to God that we, could loose the bands and set the captives free, and thus
restore unto them the song of the Lord. No more the empty ditties with an
off-beat rhythm, but the majestic praises to God which exalt Him, and magnify
His redemptive work in mankind.
"When the Lord turned again the
captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with
laughter, and our tongue with singing (WITH TRIUMPHANT PROCLAMATIONS OF
VICTORY): then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for
them." [Psalm 126:1-2].
"The Lord is my strength and song,
and is become my salvation. The voice of rejoicing (SINGING TRIUMPHANT
PROCLAMATIONS OF VICTORY) and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous:
the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly." [Psalm 118:14-15].
We well recognize that "no
chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless
afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are
exercised thereby." [Hebrews 12:11]. And we know that this present travail is
given to us for our training, discipline, and processing, but how God needs to
alter our attitudes towards it all, so that we don't dimly hope to "somehow"
make it through, but that it shall be "triumphantly."
This the Psalmist learned so well,
and spoke of it often, how that "His anger endureth but a moment; in His favour
is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy (SINGING TRIUMPHANT
PROCLAMATIONS OF VICTORY) cometh in the morning." [Psalm 30:5]. We cannot afford
to allow our vision to become dim and wavering, so that we finally hope only to
"somehow" endure to the end. Weeping may last a long dark night, but JOY cometh
in the morning. Set your face as a flint towards that morning, and know that it
shall be triumphantly joyous.
Again we find that David knew what
it was to have "tears" for his "meat day and night, while they continually say
unto me, Where is thy God?" And when he remembered these things, and how he once
also went to the house of God with the voice of "joy (triumph) and praise, with
a multitude of them that kept holy day," [Psalm 42:3-4], all of this worked deep
into his soul, but there was also something else deep within him which caused
him to turn again with hope in God, saying, "I shall yet praise Him, who is the
health of my countenance, and my God." [Ps. 42:11]. The triumphs of yesteryear
do not suffice for today, there must be a new victory and a new song. But "Hope
Maketh Not Ashamed," [Romans 5:5], so hope thou in God, and there shall yet
burst forth from your deep a new song of praise unto Him.
There may be, however, times when
actually it appears that the wicked are the ones who are singing the song of
triumph, while we are bowed low beneath the pressure of the load, with Rod of
God upon us for a time. But do not fret at their moments of gain and triumph
over you, for "Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,
that the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for
a moment." [Job 20:4-5].
For a time Babylon has prevailed,
and your brethren "that hated you, that cast you out for My name's sake, said,
Let the Lord be glorified: but He shall appear to your joy, and they shall be
ashamed." [Isaiah 66:5]. There is a new song about to be sung, a song of victory
over Babylon, even as we read in Jeremiah 51:47-48. "Therefore, behold, the days
come, that I will do judgment upon the graven images of Babylon: and her whole
land shall be confounded, and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her. Then
the heaven and the earth, and all that is therein, shall sing for Babylon
(TRIUMPHANT PROCLAMATIONS OF VICTORY OVER HER): for the spoilers shall come unto
her from the north, saith the Lord."
John the Beloved also saw the hour
of this victory, when the overcomers should prevail over the whole beastly
system of this world-not a "somehow" cringing before the forces of the bestial
realm, but those "that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his
image, and over his mark, over the number of his name...and they sing the song
of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and
marvellous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways. Thou
King of saints. Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? for Thou
only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship
before Thee; for Thy judgments are made
manifest." [Revelation 15:2-4].
"Shout unto God with the voice of
triumph. For the Lord most high is terrible; He is a great King over all the
earth. He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet. He
shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency (rising) of Jacob whom He
loved." [Psalm 47:1-4].
"And He brought forth His people
with joy, and His chosen with gladness (WITH SINGING TRIUMPHANT PROCLAMATIONS OF
VICTORY)". [Psalm 105:43].
This jubilant, victorious song is
not an outgrowth of some temporary situation, a skirmish fought and won, but
actually it is linked to that glory-song of the ages spoken of in Job 38:7,
"When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy."
Yes, before the ages were fitted
together for the outworking of the purpose of God, before the mystery of
iniquity was released to wage its battle, while the process of redemption would
counter-balance it all and win the battle, thus to yield its added beams of
glory—while yet this whole purpose of God was held in the secret councils and
its projected unfolding scarcely begun, when then the sound of victory was
heard, even then the singing of triumphant proclamations of the conqueror was
heard throughout the universe. The morning stars sang, the sons shouted—a
purpose was to be executed through the successive ages of time, but it would
know no defeat. This purpose would emerge through the maze of tangled
involvements to redound to God's true praise. How could they help but sing? The
whole purpose was to be wrought through the Lord Jesus Christ, and God has thus
committed Himself to its full accomplishment. This would be no "somehow" result,
it would be "TRIUMPHANTLY."
There are minor choruses of victory
which sometimes we would almost prematurely sing, as if trying to claim a battle
won before it is experimentally so, and thus we find some men are puzzled by a
claim that is not backed up by the reality of true possession. Don't rush your
proclamations! In God's perfect harmony there is a time for waiting, and a time
for marching on; times of subdued whispers and abiding hopes, and times of a
rising scale of major wins. For each of our personal songs of victory and
triumph we need to move in the Spirit's timing. But there is now already
beginning in this new day of the Lord, though it might sound to many like "SONGS
IN THE NIGHT," yet there is a true song which we can sing. It is that song which
is a part of the ages, a proclamation of CHRIST'S ETERNAL VICTORY OVER ALL, and
that in the outworking of the purpose HE shall be ALL AND IN ALL. This victory
we can declare, it is not a "somehow" state of affairs, it is a triumphant glory
that shall remain.
Strange enough, there are those who
would try to quiet this proclamation, and silence those in whom the melody rings
with its jubilant assurance, but rest assured, there is nought that shall drown
out this proclamation, it began long before time, and it shall be heard to the
glory of God when the ages have run their course and finished their purpose.
Paul and Silas tuned into its victory vibration while locked in the stocks in
the prison, and nothing could keep them from giving expression to its triumphant
strain—and so, "At midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God:
and the prisoners heard them." [Acts 16 :25]. Yes, we could revel in the
deliverance from the prison, but methinks there is something more important
here, that "in spirit" Paul and Silas were already loosed from the prison bands
when they began to sing that song which was linked to the triumph of Christ.
Here is a song that time cannot contain, and the prisoners heard it too. Oh, how
groaning creation yearns to hear even one small stanza of this SINGING
TRIUMPHANT PROCLAMATIONS OF VICTORY. "For the concentrated and undivided
expectation of the creation is assiduously and patiently awaiting the revelation
of the sons of God." [Romans 8:19, Wuest Expanded Trans.].
"Then the eyes of the blind shall be
opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man
leap as a hart and the tongue of the dumb shall sing (TRIUMPHANT PROCLAMATIONS
OF VICTORY): for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the
desert." [Isaiah 35:5-6].
Perhaps one of the major testing
points today for those whom God has apprehended is that of this seemingly utter
barrenness. Being stripped of all that they once possessed, placed on the back
side of the desert somewhere, silenced and muted in such a way that they cannot
utter the blessed truths which burn within them like a fire, and thus they sense
so keenly the lack of outward fruitage, and suffer much from the many
accusations of the enemy that they are not "doing" anything for God. Isaiah 53
is familiar territory for them, "esteemed him stricken, smitten of God, and
afflicted." And again, "Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; He hath put him
to grief." [Verses 4 and 10].
There are those who try to change
the order of events in their life, and seek to strike out and "somehow" do
something for God in spite of all of this, but God is not interested in "somehow
accomplishments." But for those who remain yielded in His hand, in due time "the
pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand." [Isaiah 53:10]. And then comes
the fulfillment of the next chapter.
"Sing, O barren, thou
that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst
not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the
children of the married wife, saith the Lord. Enlarge the place of thy tent, and
let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen
thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; for thou shalt break forth on the right
hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the nations, and make the
desolate cities to be inhabited." [Isaiah 54:1-3].
Ah, singing triumphant proclamations
of victory — who? These who appear to be so desolate and stripped of all they
once possessed. In silence they had to stand by and watch while those married to
the religious systems of the day seemed to be bearing fruit, winning their souls
to Christ, lending a helping hand as best they could in their "somehow" way. But
now, glory be to God, the prophet tells of the hour when these barren ones shall
suddenly become the TRIUMPHANT ONES, breaking forth on the right hand and on the
left, encompassing all the regions round about. This is the glory of the noon
day sun which shall swallow up all the fair moon-beams of the past and present
hour.
"They that sow in tears shall reap
in joy (in triumphant songs). He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious
seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing (with triumphant proclamations
of victory), bringing his sheaves with him." [Psalm 126:5-6].
Yes, we are quite well acquainted
with the "weeping" part the deep anguish of the soul, and walking the path of
the valley so shaded and lone, but this is not the word under–scored for now,
rather we see before us these words, "SHALL DOUBTLESS COME AGAIN WITH
REJOICING." Not maybe, not somehow, but without any doubt, they SHALL come
again, and it will be triumphantly, with jubilant praise unto the Lord our God.
There are many other scriptures
which would blend in with these thoughts of singing triumphant proclamations of
victory, but if already we seemed to have spent a lot of time emphasizing one
small point, it is only because we seem to feel so deeply that God's people need
to shake off the morbid concept of a "somehow" struggling through to the end,
and become a partaker of the triumphant way, the triumphal train of Christ.
Through union with Christ, being in fellowship with His sufferings and death,
the outworkings of His cross, there is also a rising up out from among the dead,
to possess this glorious, all-triumphant victory.
"Behold, My servants shall sing for
joy of heart." [Isaiah 65:14].
"The redeemed of the Lord shall
return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their
head: they shall obtain gladness and joy." [Isaiah 51:11].
NOT
SOMEHOW, BUT TRIUMPHANTLY
The path became weary,
the night seemed so long,
With pressures
increasing-how muted the song,
Each action an effort, all seemed to go wrong;
When out of the midst of
the turbulent throng
I hear a faint whisper
becoming more strong,
The problem and answer
to God now belong-
Not
somehow, but triumphantly.
The trial had seemed
endless, the circumstance dire,
The forces of evil all
seemed to conspire
In torment and tension,
each fanning the fire,
With nought to sustain
or heed my desire,
When gently these words
my soul did inspire,
Imparting a hope for
conquest entire-
Not
somehow, but triumphantly.
The call God has given
in choosing His own,
In making thee solely a
bone of His bone,
Has been a deep process,
a walking alone,
Its myst'ries far
greater than mortals have known;
But fear not His
working, for out of His throne
His grace is appearing,
and vict'ry is shown-
Not
somehow, but triumphantly.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(1) Prinzing,
Ray and Doris. THE TRIUMPHANT WAY!. (now out of print), Boise,
Idaho 83705
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