January 20

OUT OF THE WILDERNESS
by Ray Prinzing

"Jesus... was led by the Spirit unto the wilderness - And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit."                                                                                              (Luke 4:1,14).

It was a complete operation of the Spirit unto victory, all of the trial and testing in the wilderness, and the return again in power. Nor is it an experience that is His alone, but all those who would be filled with His power, His life, His glory, share the wilderness experience as a part of the processings, and of them we also read, "Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the powders of the merchant?" (Song of Solomon 3:6).

Well we know about the wilderness, with its dry, barren areas; or its tangled underbrush which hems us in from all sides; or its wild and unknown expanses filled with wild beasts and terrifying noises.  The purpose for all this? Deuteronomy 8:2.  "And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee... in the wilderness, to humble thee, to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep His commandments, or no."

Then we read of a company that returns, like pillars of smoke, perfumed, to be a sweet smelling savour, a life that has been touched with the bitter experiences, the crushings, and now HIS DIVINE FRAGRANCE shall permeate the whole.  With myrrh - a very bitter gum resin used for perfume, and as part of the "anointing oil."  The wilderness processings will bring out the sweet fragrance of His nature, and remove the stench of our own self-righteousness. With frankincense - which, among other uses, was also for sacrificial fumigation.  Dying to self is not easy nor sweet, but He knows what to apply so there will be no lingering odours of the flesh.  When the wok is finished, there is a return of a people that shall  "shew forth the praises of Him who hath called them out of darkness into His marvellous light."  (1 Peter 2:9).  "That we should be to the praise of His glory." (Ephesians 1:12).  The delights of the return are wonders unspeakable.