Feeding on Ashes

This is a very plain description of an idolatrous person who has made a god from a tree. In his blindness he rejoices over a hewn down tree, and while “his deceived heart hath turned him aside,” he expects a blessing for both body and soul from this tree turned into a god. “He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire: And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.” (verses 16 and 17).

Certainly such things should not have been found amongst Israel, kindling the anger of Israel’s God and “feeding on ashes.” Certainly not; but likewise feeding on ashes should not be found amongst those who bear the name of Christian and who bear the name of a triune God on their forehead.

A certain writer says about this idolator portrayed in this chapter: “He delights in his idol, pleases himself with it, seeks comfort and satisfaction from it, fills and feeds himself with hopes and expectations of being helped and delivered by it; but this is all vain hope, a mere delusion; it is as if a man fed on ashes instead of food; it is feeding on that which has no savour nor substance, can yield no nourishment, but on the contrary, is pernicious and hurtful; and is like Ephraim’s feeding on wind, Hosea 12:1.”

What are ashes? They are the powdery residue of matter that remains after burning things. Can you find any food in these ashes to benefit the body? Certainly not! What a great folly it would be to seek some food in ashes. But what greater folly, then, to seek things for our precious soul in what is here in a figurative sense called “ashes”. Alas! the majority of young and old commit that great folly and go on “feeding the ashes” till the hour of death! In this all we see the terrible loss of man in Adam’s fall in paradise, and in what darkness and blindness he now goes forth in his unregenerated state on a way that leads to a never ending eternity. Do you belong to those who are feeding continually on ashes? Pause a moment, and consider the following:

1. They feed on ashes who deny their Creator and say, “There is no God.” Such fools have fruitlessly lived upon earth, while David could rejoice in his God as the Fountain of all life and salvation.

2. They feed on ashes who have only an outward confession of God and Christ, but do not know this God savingly, and being filled with false peace and rest do not seek Him as their portion.

3. They feed on ashes who cleave to heresies and have not the Spirit of truth in them. They may appear to be in great joy, but the deceived heart hath turned them aside.

4. They feed on ashes who serve the world with the whole heart and rejoice in the things of this world. What do poor and foolish wretches not sacrifice by day and night only to feed on ashes. How true the words of Jesus are, “What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul!”

5. They feed on ashes who yearn by day and night after the stuff of this earth. Gold and silver draw the heart away from the Pearl of great price. Jesus is nothing to them.

6. They are feeding on ashes who harden the heart and will not hearken to the voice of conscience; who will not hearken to good advice, and who despise Jesus knocking at the door of the heart.

7. They are feeding on ashes who set the heart on self-righteousness, and who do not take heed to the words of Jesus: “Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

8. Those are feeding on ashes who are like unto the foolish builder and the foolish virgins, Matthew 7 and 25. Feeding on ashes, and … how great was their fall!

9. They are feeding on ashes who walk and live in hypocrisy. “The hope of the hypocrite shall perish.” Job 8:13.

10. They feed on ashes who have only a historical, temporary, or a miraculous faith. Do remember Judas, his life and end.

11. They feed on ashes who try to lay a foundation in some conscientious convictions of sin, in some fears and tears, frames and prayers, or talents in speaking or preaching, and who oftentimes become proud in thinking they have acquired greater knowledge than others.

12. They are feeding on ashes who rejoice with great joy in what television brings forth by day and night. 0, that dangerous showbox of the devil! What sacrifices! Poor wretches! Poor parents and children, feeding on the ashes of satan and the world. How long will they go forth feeding on ashes and preparing their souls more and more for hell! What great lamentable folly! When shall they become wise and seek something good for their never-dying soul! Hear the good words of Moses: “O that they were wise, that they would consider their latter end!”

How long have the souls of God’s people been feeding on ashes before conversion and before Christ became their Teacher, but who are yet inclined to do so at times. How many dangers within and without! Why yet feed on ashes, which will not profit our soul? How blessed are we who have Jesus as our Teacher, Who shall take ignorance and blindness away, and make us wise unto salvation. He works in the soul of His lambs and sheep a hungering and thirsting after the Word of life, after Christ and His righteousness (Matt. 5), after reconciliation with God and a pardoning of all sin in Christ’s precious blood, after His sweet communion and the oil of sovereign grace. Oh, what blessed words of a soul that did not feed on ashes, who said: My good Shepherd maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake. He prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: He anoints my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Blessed words in Psalm 22: “The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek Him: your heart shall live forever.” Oh, that by the grace of God we all could say with the prophet Jeremiah: “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart: for I am called by Thy Name, O Lord God of hosts.”

Thou art my God, O God of grace,
And earnestly I seek Thy face,
My heart cries out for Thee;
My spirit thirsts Thy grace to taste,
An exile in this desert waste,
In which no waters be.”

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