8478. 'Let no one leave any of it until the morning' means that they must not be anxious to acquire it of themselves. This is clear from the fact that the manna was given every morning and that worms bred in what was left over, meaning that the Lord provides people's requirements every day and that for this reason they ought not to be anxious to acquire them of themselves. The same thing is meant by daily bread in the Lord's Prayer and also by the Lord's words in Matthew,

Do not be anxious for your soul, what you are going to eat or what you are going to drink, nor for your body, what you are going to put on. Why be anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they do not toil, nor do they spin. Do not therefore be anxious, so that you say, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? For all these things the gentiles seek. Does not your heavenly Father know that you have need of all these things? Seek first the kingdom of God ¹ and its righteousness, then all these things will be added to you. Do not therefore be anxious about the morrow; for the morrow will take care of the things that belong to it. Matthew 6:25-end.

Similar words occur in Luke 12:11-12, 22-31.

[2] The present verse and the one that follows refer in the internal sense to concern for the morrow, a concern which was not only forbidden but also condemned. The forbiddance of it is meant by their being told not to leave any of the manna till the morning, and the condemnation of it is meant by worms breeding in any they did leave and its becoming putrid. Anyone who does not view the matter from anywhere beyond the sense of the letter may think that all concern for the morrow is to be avoided, which being so, people should then await their requirements every day from heaven. But a person who views it from a position deeper than the literal meaning, that is, who views it from the internal sense, may recognize what concern for the morrow is used to mean - not concern to obtain food and clothing for oneself, and also resources for the future; for it is not contrary to order to make provision for oneself and one's dependents. But people are concerned about the morrow when they are not content with their lot, do not trust in God but in themselves, and have solely worldly and earthly things in view, not heavenly ones. These people are ruled completely by anxiety over the future, and by the desire to possess all things and exercise control over all other people. That desire is kindled and grows greater and greater, till at length it is beyond all measure. They grieve if they do not realize the objects of their desires, and they are distressed at the loss of them. Nor can they find consolation, for in times of loss they are angry with the Divine. They reject Him together with all belief, and curse themselves. This is what those concerned for the morrow are like.

[3] Those who trust in the Divine are altogether different. Though concerned about the morrow, yet are they unconcerned, in that they are not anxious, let alone worried, when they give thought to the morrow. They remain even-tempered whether or not they realize desires, and they do not grieve over loss; they are content with their lot. If they become wealthy they do not become infatuated with wealth; if they are promoted to important positions they do not consider themselves worthier than others. If they become poor they are not made miserable either; if lowly in status they do not feel downcast. They know that for those who trust in the Divine all things are moving towards an everlasting state of happiness, and that no matter what happens at any time to them, it contributes to that state.

[4] It should be recognized that Divine providence is overall, that is, it is present within the smallest details of all, and that people in the stream of providence are being carried along constantly towards happier things, whatever appearance the means may present. Those in the stream of providence are people who trust in the Divine and ascribe everything to Him. But those not in the stream of providence are people who trust in themselves alone and attribute everything to themselves; theirs is a contrary outlook, for they take providence away from the Divine and claim it as their own. It should be recognized also that to the extent that anyone is in the stream of providence he is in a state of peace; and to the extent that anyone is in a state of peace by virtue of the good of faith, he is in Divine providence. These alone know and believe that the Lord's Divine providence resides within every single thing, indeed within the smallest details of all, as has also been shown in 1919 (end), 4329, 5122 (end), 5894 (end), 6058, 6481-6486, 6490, 7004, 7007, as well as that Divine providence has what is eternal in view, 6491.

[5] Those with the contrary outlook are scarcely willing to allow any mention of providence. Instead they put every single thing down to prudence; and what they do not put down to prudence they put down to fortune or to chance. Some put it down to fate, which they do not ascribe to the Divine but to natural forces. They call those people simple who do not attribute all things to themselves or to natural forces. From all this one may again see what those people are like who are concerned for the morrow, and what those are like who are not concerned for the morrow.

Footnotes:

(This commentary was originally written as a sermon delivered in 1955.)

"The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever." Revelation 11:15

Additional readings: Isaiah 46, Psalm 138, Psalm 139

These words were written nearly two thousand years ago. When written, they were a prophecy, yet the present tense is used. In the prophecy in Isaiah concerning the coming of the Lord into the world the present tense is also used: "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given" (Isaiah 9:6). This is because what the Lord purposes will surely come to pass. "My counsel shall stand…. I have purposed it, I will also do it" (Isaiah 46:10-11).

And we should note that according to the Gospel of Luke the angel Gabriel, sent to tell Mary that the Lord would be born of her, says that the Lord will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and that of His Kingdom there will be no end, as Isaiah also prophesied (Luke 1:26-38).

This week our nation celebrates the ninetieth anniversary of the close of the Civil War, which marked one of the steps in the advancement of human freedom. Since that time, although there has been peace within our own borders, the world at large has been afflicted by its two greatest wars.

Yet we should find quiet encouragement in the words of our text: "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever." In view of the disorders, wrongs, and enmities that are so widespread and so great this may not seem to be true. To some it seems that the world is getting worse instead of better.

Yet we can surely see that the world is better than it was when the Lord came upon the earth. The world seems so evil only because a higher and keener sense of right makes injustice and wrong appear more shocking.

The Lord's kingdom is first of all in the minds and hearts of men, and it is with this that we should be primarily concerned. It is in the heart and mind that war or peace is made. If the love of self rules, the kingdom within us is evil; but if justice and the desire to do right rule, the kingdom within us is the Lord's. Everyone who is trying to do right because it is right is in the Lord's kingdom.

For nearly two centuries spiritual forces have been at work trying to bring about a better world, and they have been contending against mighty adverse forces, individual selfishness, the love of the world and its riches, and the love of preeminence and power.

These evils are brought to light in wars, which lead people to see, to acknowledge, and to seek the means of overcoming them. And this makes the minds of men more receptive to the Word of God. Defects and evils cannot be removed until they are seen. Multitudes have overcome some evils. They would not lie, steal, or cheat. Groups of people, states, and nations are bound by the same laws, and it is clearly seen that the self-centered and self-derived principles in which men and nations have placed their confidence in the spheres of religion and morals, economics, and politics are what brought into being the conditions that led to war.

The last war left large parts of the world to be rebuilt. But, what is more important, in the realm of thought and conduct rebuilding on a vast scale is called for, and there is given an opportunity such as men never had before to rebuild on better, sounder, and saner lines. There are principles on which a new and true human society can be built, but it cannot be built without the Lord. "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain" (Psalm 127:1).

God created man that man might know Him, live according to His laws, and be blessed with happiness and peace. His laws cannot be changed, because they are the laws of infinite wisdom and love. To live in violation of them can bring nothing but disaster. There is but one Prince of peace. Human cooperation is a factor, however, and becomes operative in the measure in which men understand the Divine laws, believe them, and apply them to life.

The victory the North won in the Civil War was the Lord's victory, not the victory of the winning army. So it was in the last war. Our thanksgiving should be to Him. And our rejoicing should show itself in an increased desire to learn of the Lord, to be led by Him, and to do His will.

It is only in this way that there can be any real progress either in individual or in national life. Mere natural learning with its development of the arts and sciences, though it contributes to more comfortable living, does not reach the hidden fountains of human life, nor can it even discover the soul or God.

We are living in a time when new spiritual knowledge has been revealed. In the era preceding the first Coming of the Lord, spiritual knowledge had been all but lost. Because of this men lived in fear, doubt, and enmity. War was a constant and accepted feature of human life. The coming of the Lord wrought a change. He taught that love to Him and to the neighbor were the fundamental Divine laws of life. From these laws follows the principle that true life is found in service to others, not in being served.

The Lord did not seek to establish His kingdom by force. No kingdom founded on force can possibly endure. Of the Lord's kingdom it is written, "Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end" (Isaiah 9:7). It is because His kingdom is founded on unselfish love, which seeks not to rule but to serve, that it will not come to an end.

The Lord has been called a visionary, and His principles beautiful and idealistic but impracticable. Yet His life was the only thoroughly practical life ever lived. He came into contact with and overcame the internal and elemental forces of evil that cause all the misery and unhappiness in the world. When men forget the Lord and look to themselves for wisdom, they rush headlong into selfishness and evil.

The prophecy, "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever," is being fulfilled. He did establish His kingdom on earth and by His life and words He made known to the world the laws under which the peoples of all the world can live together in happiness, prosperity, and peace. Some people today look to the future in fear, and even say that they are glad that they may not live to see the disaster which they think will overtake the world. But we should know that the future holds ever brighter promise. This is the testimony of the Scriptures and of history. We should be able to read some of its lessons. One is that the nation that takes up the sword shall perish by the sword, and another is that nothing is settled until it is settled fairly and justly.

All Christians should know that the teachings of the Word are true; and if Christianity means anything, it means the power of the Lord in the human heart to remove evil and to implant new motives. We should not be afraid of the future, Fear is a liar and a false counselor always. Through faith the Lord's kingdom comes to us as individuals and through individuals to the world. The Lord said:

"Take no thought for your life what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment...But rather seek ye the kingdom of God: and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:22-32).