Shekinah — Sun Of Righteousness
Martin Cecil
February 8, 1981
To provide a focus for our creative responsibility
this morning I would read a passage from the last chapter of the last book of
the Old Testament:
“For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an
oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and
the day that cometh shall bum them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall
leave them neither root nor branch.
“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of
righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow
up as calves of the stall.”
These two verses respectively indicate the two
aspects of the creative process. We have referred to them by using the words disintegration on the one hand, and integration on the other.
From the time of the fall of man, the divine view
has anticipated the restoration. So you could say in that sense that the
ultimate outworking of things was a foregone conclusion. Of course there are
several factors in there that still were not absolutely sure. One of them would
be the question as to whether man would survive on earth. It is possible,
presumably, to reinitiate the creative process as it originally was, without
the immediate presence of man. It was initiated that way in the
beginning, so it could happen again. But the expectation was that man would
survive on earth; how many might be a question.
In the original creation, with man in place, there
was what would be described now as a great intensity, something extremely hot.
This intensity, or heat, was not destructive in nature insofar as man was
concerned, because he was in place where he belonged and was not subject to the
fire. That intensity at the time of the fall produced some very violent cataclysms.
We have some theoretical knowledge of what occurred. By reason of these
cataclysmic events the intensity was reduced. Certainly the cataclysmic events
didn’t continue with such force as was originally the case. In fact human
beings have been inclined to impute long periods of very gradual change to the
history of what has occurred on earth. Things have certainly ironed themselves
out, so to speak, so that there might be a basis for such a theory; but what
happened was that the intensity was reduced, because there was no one on hand
in the place of man to provide the point of dominion and control.
So there is a period of time, fairly lengthy from
the standpoint of known human history, when things continued as they always
have seemed to be since the fathers fell asleep, and there was a wide-open
opportunity then for human beings on earth to let an awakening take place on a
voluntary basis, in the most easy way. We are aware of some of
these opportunities in a more specific sense when those concerned might have
moved in the way easily, which would have allowed for the anticipated
restoration. It is clear from our own experience now that no one really took
advantage of the opportunity. So the intensity begins to build again, because,
after all, there is more involved than the mere comforts and satisfaction of
human beings; there is a large solar system and there is a large universe. So
the interim of the human tragedy must sooner or later come to a close. If it
could not be brought to a close easily on the basis of voluntary, direct choice
by human beings, then it would come to a conclusion on the basis of involuntary
choice by human beings—not that the choice wasn’t still there, but the word
might be: “Thus far and no further! Make up your minds!”
So there are what may well be described as
spiritual or heavenly events behind the scenes which ultimately force the
issue. The issue only needs to be forced if human beings fail to take advantage
of their opportunities. It seems very much that this is the case; there has
been that failure repeated and repeated and repeated. So the action of spirit
behind the scenes begins to bring again a greater intensity, described in the
verse which I read: "The day cometh, that shall burn as an oven."
This of course is from the human standpoint; it seems very uncomfortable. What
is happening is happening because of what occurs from the standpoint of the action
of the spirit of God, something established in heaven. Then that
which is so established produces effects in the earth. From the human
standpoint the principal effect would be the human reaction relative to what
was happening. This intensity is building and, as human reaction is rather
stereotyped, it is not too difficult to prognosticate what some of the external
events might be; not that anyone is being forced to produce such events, but
having failed to take advantage of the easy opportunity it is likely that the
same choice will prevail, and so the difficult events will transpire. There has
been prophecy therefore relative to external events which indicates extreme
tribulation.
It is not difficult to observe, if we stand in the
holy place, the reactions of human beings near and far. These are consequent
upon the intensification of the spirit of God behind the scenes, but they are
translated in human experience on the basis of the structures that are present
in human consciousness. We see some interesting events in the immediate sense right
here in British Columbia where a certain apparent madness is gripping a lot of
people. It's all rationalized, mind you, and made to seem reasonable on the
basis of the structures that are present in human consciousness. The
intensification occurs; human reaction arises along the stereotyped lines. We
look beyond those stereotyped lines and we are aware of what it is that is
causing the reaction. We are not so troubled by the stereotyped lines which put
in an appearance, because we are much more interested in what it is that is
causing these reactions. Those who so react don’t realize
why it is they are reacting this way, because they have translated it in a
rational fashion, to their satisfaction at least, according to the structures
that are present in their own consciousness.
We have been able to observe, through the news
media at least—however accurate that may be—something of a similar nature
transpiring in Poland, in a different way,
at a different level. But fundamentally it is the same thing which produces stereotyped
reactions. This is one area where it’s easy to observe from the holy place what is happening.
Those to whom it is happening are in darkness. They don't realize this; they
think they are very enlightened in fact. This is the way to settle disputes.
It’s interesting, isn’t it, that to settle disputes you have to increase
disputes. It seems not to be exactly logical. However the stereotyped human
consciousness is not exactly logical.
“For, behold, the day cometh, that shall bum as an
oven.” It’s hotting up. We’ve said that for many years. In the context of
thousands of years, a hundred years would be a pretty short time, wouldn’t it?
There is a general awareness that much is happening more swiftly in these days
than has been the case heretofore. But what, in this context, is a short time?
It is said that the days should be shortened for the elect’s sake. How much?
Down to seconds or days or months or decades or centuries? We have some awareness
of what has been referred to as an exponential movement, so that the movement
becomes increasingly rapid until finally in that exponential curve it is
instantaneous. This may indeed be a blessing, if it is so. It doesn't drag it
out too long. But who is in position to judge what too long would be? Human
beings certainly are not, because they judge on the basis of their own comfort
as a rule, and any discomfort is too long for human beings. But in the general
sense the human race has chosen its course. The easy way for the world as a
whole has been rejected, not once or twice, but
again and again and again! So in that sense the die is cast, not arbitrarily by
some unfeeling God but by human choice. Those who are alive today might say,
“Well it was the choice of a lot of ignorant old fogeys who went before us,"
but it seems to be the same choice that everybody is still making.
“For, behold, the day cometh”—it seems to be
coming—“that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud...” Those
who still have confidence in the human ability to handle the situation, to
achieve what is required by their own efforts: those are the proud. Are there
any proud in the Chapel here this morning? Are there any who still imagine that
they are going to achieve something by their own human efforts? I suspect that
there is a little of that lurking around here and there. “And all the
proud"—it doesn't say excluding Emissaries or Christians or Buddhists, just
all the proud: all those who still imagine that, humanly speaking, they can do
what is required. Hmm!
“And all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly.”
What does it mean to do wickedly? To do anything from the standpoint of the
state of separation in which human beings have existed: that is, separation
from the action of spirit. If there is separation from the action of spirit it
is because the individual has decided that he can get along without spirit, that
he can do what needs to be done on his own. Of course these days human beings, because
of their vast numbers, have tended to feel rather insignificant as individuals
and therefore the only way to get around this, to do what they want to do, is
to get together with others who have some sort of an agreement in what they all
want to do; and so it’s done on a mass basis these days. But it’s exactly the
same thing: “We’re going to get our way; we’re going to achieve what we want to
achieve. If we can’t do it alone we’re going to do it because of numbers.” It’s still the same thing. All who participate in this approach and function
on this basis are included in the wicked. Are there any wicked here?
“And all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly,
shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall bum them up, saith the Lord of
hosts,”—that is exactly what is happening. It gets increasingly uncomfortable,
because of the heat—“that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.” That
sounds like the dissolution of human nature and the human world.
“But unto you that fear my name,” that respect the
true design of things, respect the evidence of the spirit of God in action,
respect the evidence of the source of all things in their living, "shall
the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings.” The word Sun is
here spelt with a capital: S-u-n.
What is the reference here, do you suppose? Anything of which we have an
awareness? How about Shekinah, the Sun of righteousness, the means by which the
experience of righteousness may be known? Righteousness cannot be produced by
the proud or the wicked, by those whose base of operations is the structured
state of human nature, obviously. The Sun of righteousness is Shekinah.
We are aware that the earth turns on its axis.
Because of this, in virtually every place on the surface of the planet the sun
rises each morning. The sun didn’t move, relative to the earth at least; the
earth moved relative to the sun. Shekinah is the means of control for the
earth. We see, in the physical sense of the planet, that the sun of the solar
system is a means of control. The earth in this sense accepts that control and
moves accordingly. The orbit of the earth around the sun is the way it is, and
the earth has not rebelled against that. Some may say, “Well it doesn't have
the chance.” Who knows?
Here is a beautiful planet created perfectly to be
a Garden, it might be said the home of the gods, so that God Himself might have
the opportunity to inhabit this earth, to inhabit it by reason of man created
in a design which would make that possible. In the image of God, man was
created to this end. This perfect planet, rich in every conceivable way, was
made available for this divine purpose. Do you think all this could conceivably
have happened by chance? It was to be held in trust by man for God, so that the
outer form of man would then be a steward for the earth, to dress it and to
keep it sacred, holy, beautiful, desirable. Something obviously went awry,
didn't it, because of man—man who was trusted. How much can we now, in this
moment, be trusted by God? Most people seem to be concerned about whether they
can trust God or not. That is exactly backwards, as is usual in the human
state. Man was created to be trustworthy. He has all the capacity to be
trustworthy.
So once more, Shekinah being present—it has always
been present—by reason of the intensity which is occurring, brings a
wakefulness to some, an awareness of that reality being present. Those who are
willing to awaken rejoice in the increasing awareness of the Sun of
righteousness arising in their own experience. The rising of the Sun of
righteousness increases the heat, but there’s no objection to that for those
who have a real awareness of what it is that is occurring. Those who are in
darkness are horrified, terrified, in agony, by their own choice, but “the Sun
of righteousness arises with healing in his wings.” This indicates both an
increased experience of easy movement in the air of the spirit and also of
something very enfolding.
When the sun rises in the morning we realize that
it isn’t the sun rising; it’s the earth turning. It’s
trustworthy. It’s right there, but the earth is turning. As the sun rises on a
clear day and the light and warmth of it creep across the land, is there not a
sense of enfoldment also? There is a realization that the earth is indeed held
safely by the sun, and so it is with the Sun of righteousness, of which the sun
of our solar system is just a symbol, a reflection in external form of what is
true in spirit. The Sun of righteousness arises relative to the earth of human
experience when there are those present in whom the Sun of righteousness has arisen.
Then there is something revealed, the evidence of the Source present with all
people. As there are those who are open and yielded and willing, this turning
toward the Sun of righteousness, which is occurring, awakens them.
It is really natural for human beings to wake up
when the sun rises, and there are those who naturally do so. But the Sun
of righteousness arises, because there are those present in the world in whom
it has arisen. The light is there, the source is made evident, and the light
and the heat are present; and it is a delight to those who in the turning of
the world become aware in their own consciousness of what it is that is happening.
This is standing in the holy place, standing and sharing the vision from that
perspective. What is happening is not a terrifying thing at all. It’s fulfilment.
It’s restoration. But those who resist it, those who insist interminably upon
interpreting what is happening in their own experience according to the
structures of human consciousness, the rigidities of human consciousness, are
bound to suffer. It will not only be very uncomfortable; it will be absolute
agony. Well human beings have been, in various ways, suffering a certain amount
of agony for a long time. Let it be intensified and brought quickly to a
conclusion. There is no sense in allowing what has been to continue, even if
that were possible, which it isn’t.
But let us not look at this dominantly from the
standpoint of external events, because when we look too much at external events
we will inevitably find ourselves sucked back into the judgmental outlook,
saying that this is good and that is bad. No, it's all perfect! Everything that
is happening is happening because of Shekinah. It becomes increasingly evident
that this is so, because of the consequent intensification. There has been, in
human terms, a fairly lengthy period when it wasn't so intense, and human beings
apparently thought they were really getting away with something, and they were
going to be able to make a wonderful heaven on earth. The development of all
this technology is based in this fantasy. That development has the power, as we
are well aware, just to destroy everything. It doesn’t live up to its heavenly
promise. It is the lie of the devil, if you want to put it that way, that it
could; and yet there are a lot of human beings who still believe it, who are
still firm converts to the ministry of the devil.
“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of
righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow
up as calves of the stall.”
We know something of the symbolism of the oxen: the
ox of the human mind, a symbol used throughout the Bible. Here is a very excellent portrayal of the minds of those
concerned. But calves of the stall—this is a
young animal, fresh, new; as the stall is mentioned, presumably kept in and
looked after and fed, fed with the right fodder. He doesn’t wander around where
he pleases, eating what he wants, which is typical of the human mind—no, calves
of the stall, minds under control, in other words minds providing a means to
make evident Shekinah, particularly the light that glows. There is such beautiful portrayal in so many of
these words in the Bible—it’s remarkable how they got in there, in view of the
nature of human beings—portraying the truth for anyone with eyes to see. Only those
have eyes to see who willingly stand in the holy place, where the perspective
is as it should be and where it’s quite clear; because from the holy place the
light shines. There it is. We see.
So Shekinah, because of those who see and
let the light shine, arises in the consciousness of human beings on earth,
because of those who are letting it be so. And many become aware of it without
knowing, to start with, what it is or why it is, to what end. As we have noted,
in many fields now there are those who are becoming aware. This is not the only evidence of something happening in the
consciousness of people. The actions that are appearing are seemingly
destructive at times, seemingly constructive at others.
Shekinah is arising. The kingdom comes, not as
expected, not with the sound of the trumpet out of the sky. There's a lot of
noise, mind you, round about. But the kingdom comes, Shekinah arises; and we
have a part to play in this as we accept the responsibility of it and don't try
to pass it off on someone else. Let it be by the hand of another, you remember
were Moses' words at one point. Fortunately he didn’t persist in that attitude.
Yet this is a choice that each individual must make for him- or herself, and we
share an awareness of these things. Our longing, I'm sure, above all else is to
let the Sun of righteousness arise because we are present on earth and have the
capacity to let it be so, acknowledging that we are created for that purpose.
There is no reason for our presence here otherwise, and consequently as a rule
we don't last very long.
Here is the restoration: “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of
righteousness arise with healing in his wings.” It isn’t a futuristic thing
now. It may have been then but it isn’t now. The Sun of righteousness arises
now, with healing in his wings.
© Emissaries of Divine Light
