THIS word is spoken of the people of God at the time when the church is to be clothed with the “beautiful garments” of His righteousness and endued with His power (Isaiah 52:1); when she is entirely separated from the world and all worldliness; and when she is entirely loosed from the captive bonds of sin (verse 2); and when she is to know the full redemption of the Lord. Verse 3.BEST January 6, 1896, page 3.1

It is the time when, again, as in Egypt, his people will be “oppressed without cause” (verse 4); when “they that rule over them make them to howl,” and themselves “continually every day blaspheme” the name of the Lord. Verse 5. It is at such a time as this, and “therefore” that the Lord declares, “My people shall know My name.” Verse 6.BEST January 6, 1896, page 3.2

And that time is now. Those who obey Him now, as in Egypt, are oppressed without cause. There, they were oppressed for the keeping the Sabbath of the Lord, and here, they are oppressed for the same thing. And now God will be revealed in power as He was then. Now as then the Lord will make “bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” Verse 10. “Therefore My people shall know My name; therefore they shall know in that day that I am He that doth speak; behold, it is I.”BEST January 6, 1896, page 3.3

WHAT IT IS TO KNOW HIS NAME

His name is “merciful and gracious, long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” To know His name is to know all this. It is not merely to know about it, but it is to know it. It is not to know of it by the hearing of the ear; it is to know it, by the “hearing of faith”—to know it with the heart. As His name expresses what He is, to know His name is to know Him—not merely to know about Him; but to know Him. His name expresses His nature, and to know His name is to know His nature.BEST January 6, 1896, page 3.4

He is merciful. This is His name; and to know His name is to know mercy. It is to know what it is always to manifest from the heart treatment better than they deserve to all offenders. It is only by knowing Him, the fountain of mercy that this can be done. “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.” Luke 6:36.BEST January 6, 1896, page 3.5

He is gracious. This is His name; and to know His name is to know what it is to be extending favour always to all people. Not favour for favour; but pure favour. Not selfishness; but graciousness.BEST January 6, 1896, page 3.6

He is long-suffering. His name, even as He says, is continually every day blasphemed; His law is trampled underfoot; His authority is defied; He Himself is abused and outraged; yet He suffers it long, He endures it long, and is still abundant in goodness and truth even toward all those who are doing all these evil things. He is long-suffering thus toward all, because He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. This is His name; and to know His name is to know what it is wrongfully and unjustly to suffer contempt, injury, abuse, and outrage, to suffer these things long and still manifest abundance of goodness and truth to all, that if by any means they may be brought to repentance. “Charity suffereth long, and is kind.” And “if I have not charity, I am nothing.” “Charity is the bond of perfectness.”BEST January 6, 1896, page 3.7

And now that the time of suffering, of contempt, of oppression, of abuse, and of outrage, is upon us, how precious the promise that we shall know His name, so that His holy disposition and character shall be manifest on all occasions! And how important it is that every one who has a name and place among His people, shall receive this promise in its fulness, that we may indeed know His name, and that the savour of His knowledge may be made manifest by us in every place!BEST January 6, 1896, page 3.8

He is forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. This is His name; and to know His name is to know the forgiveness of iniquity and transgression and sin. It is to know this, each one for himself in his own, individual case; and then because of this, manifesting it to all people always. “Condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned; forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.” Luke 6:37. It is not condemnation that men in this world need. They have that already in abundance. It is not condemnation but salvation that the people of this world need. “God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.” And “as My Father sent Me, so send I you.” He does not send us to condemn anybody; but that they may be saved. His name is “forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin,” and His people are to know His name—they are to know what it is to be this to all.BEST January 6, 1896, page 3.9

God is love. This is His name; and to know His name is to know love—His love. It is to know Him as He is Himself. And “he that loveth not, knoweth not God.”BEST January 6, 1896, page 3.10

THE PROMISE OF THE DIVINE NATURE

It is not in human nature of itself to manifest the disposition and character here outlined. It is not in human nature of itself always to treat people better than they deserve. It is natural for men to treat people only as they deserve; to extend favors only for favours; to resent injustice and resist oppression; to harbour enmity rather than to be forgiving.BEST January 6, 1896, page 3.11

This promise that the Lord’s people shall know His name, is therefore in reality a promise that they shall know another nature. His name expresses His nature. To know His name is to know His nature.BEST January 6, 1896, page 4.1

“My people shall know My name.” His name shall be manifest in His people. His nature shall be manifest in His people. God will again be manifest in the flesh. This is the everlasting gospel, and thus it is to be preached with a loud voice to every nation and kindred and tongue and people.BEST January 6, 1896, page 4.2

May 18, 1896