Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong to the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children for ever… There is a valuable property which Christians possess on earth, and which, in the enjoyment of it, may be counted as an earnest of that better and enduring substance which is reserved in heaven for the believer. This property of the people of God is spoken of in the words before us. It is here called "those things which are revealed"; these, it is said, "belong unto us and to our children." I. THE SIGNIFICANT EXPRESSION BY WHICH THIS PROPERTY OF CHRISTIANS IS HERE DESIGNATED. "Those things which are revealed" — revelation and mystery are correlative terms, hence we are reminded — 1. Of the original mystery connected with these things. They are still "revealed mysteries," but without revelation they had indeed been a mystery in the most unrestricted sense of the word. Man's dim eye never penetrated them, his feeble mind never comprehended them, his puny intellect never grasped them. 2. Of their source. If these things were originally superior to man's research, if they lay beyond an angel's ken, then surely we are at no loss to ascertain their origin. We perceive at once that they are an emanation of the Infinite mind — a brightsome ray from the throne of glory. If we consider the love they display, it bears the impress of heaven; the wisdom they proclaim, it bears the impress of heaven; the mystery they bespeak, it bears the impress of heaven. 3. Of the importance of "those things which are revealed." If it be true that these things were a mystery, but have been revealed — that God is their author, and that He hath made them known unto us, then without controversy they are clothed with a transcendent importance. Yes, it is important that those who are far removed from God should be brought back and restored to His image. It is important that those over whom the leprosy of sin hath diffused its loathsome disease, should be washed, clothed, and be brought to sit in their right mind at the feet of Jesus. It is important that the soul should be snatched from the fearful doom that threatens the sinner, and prepared for that blissful reward which awaits those "who by patient continuance in well-doing, seek for glory, and honour, and immortality." II. THE REMARKABLE ADAPTATION OF THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE REVEALED TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THOSE TO WHOM THEY BELONG, EVEN "UNTO US AND TO OUR CHILDREN." 1. Man is a sinner, and because he is a sinner, conscience upbraids him. Now, behold how beautifully the "things which are revealed" harmonise with man's circumstances in this respect. Here we are told "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself"; here we are assured that the blessing of reconciliation is to be secured on the simple terms — "only believe." Thus moved by a sense of our own weakness, and encouraged by the revelation thus made, we raise the silent cry, "Lord, give us of this faith," teach us how to believe, "Lord, save or we perish!" 2. Man being a sinner is in circumstances of present suffering. But when we turn to the "things which are revealed," we learn at once the Author, the cause, and the end of all that comes upon us. 3. Man being a sinner is exposed to death. Death natural. This is in consequence of sin, and this cometh to all, "to the good, and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not." This constitutes part of the curse so solemnly pronounced on the apostasy (Genesis 2:17; Genesis 3:17-19). But in the case of the believer the curse is converted into a blessing. Revelation has made known the cheering truth that the death of Christ has drawn the sting of death, and now "blessed are the dead that die in the Lord." (J. Gaskin, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. |
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