April 23, 2017 (Proverbs 25:2)

“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter” (Prov 25:2). It was the glory of God to conceal in the OT that which would be revealed in the NT. God made covenant with Israel through Moses known as the Law and command-ments. After Moses had read the words of the LORD, the people said, “All that the LORD has said we will do, and be obedient” (Exodus 24:7). Then Moses took the blood from the sacrifice of oxen and sprinkled it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you according to all these words” (24:8). With that, what is known as the old covenant (OC) was ratified and we know the outcome. The people were not faithful as promised, and fell under chastisement. So it was God announced intention to establish a new covenant (NC): “This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD; I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts” (Jeremiah 31:33). Then more specifics were spoken by God through Ezekiel (name means ‘God strengthens): “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statues, and you will keep My judgments and do them” (Ezekiel 36:27). This is the mystery of which Paul speaks that was concealed from the Israelites of old: “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). The Spirit of Christ would literally indwell believers such that they would be empowered to keep the Law and commandments of God. Today there is a great deal of teaching which implies the moral commands of the law and the commandments are no longer in effect. How contrary this is to the teaching of Jesus that not the tiniest letter will “pass from the law till all is fulfilled” at the end of time (Matthew 5:18). Grace does not excuse the believer from keeping the commandments of God. Rather grace enables man to walk in the statutes of God and keep His commands, not through his own strength but by the power of the indwelling Spirit. Such must be searched out by each professing believer in Christ lest they think one will not reap that he sows (Galatians 6:8).