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… I. LET US ATTEND TO THE CHARACTER OF OUR RIGHTS. "The things that are revealed." 1. It conducts us to the mysterious nature of our rights. They are revealed things; they are not the result of human reasonings, however deeply pursued — however long continued. They are revealed things; things, therefore, of a Divine and mysterious nature. Now, they are called "the purposes of God"; then, "the mystery of His will": at one time, "the deep things of God"; at another, "the will of God"; and again, "the wisdom of God in a mystery." If we look at the being and attributes of God — a trinity in unity — the Godman Mediator — His sacrifice and atonement — the effects of faith in that atonement — the doctrine of a future resurrection — and all, in fact, that is called revelation — we shall see how much they are above the level of mere human intellect. "The things that are revealed!" I love this designation; because — 2. It marks our religious immunities in the glory of their manifestation. If they be revealed, let us remember that God only could reveal them; and that He has. They are truly revealed, or manifested things. The whole has been the scene of Divine manifestations from the beginning. The Bible is a history of manifestations. 3. It points out the transcendent importance of them. They are "revealed things." II. THE VALIDITY OF OUR CLAIMS TO THESE IMMUNITIES. They "belong unto us"; so it is said in the text. But what is the ground of our claim to the things that are revealed? It cannot be natural to us, considering us abstractedly, as men. It is true, indeed, that there began to be a system of revelation and communication from the first, to sinless and innocent man. But the things which are revealed to us contain much, certainly, which was not adapted to man in his first state. This revelation could not belong to man, then, as he was created. And though we are sinners, and this revelation is made to us as sinners, still, the fact of our sinfulness could give us no claim to such a revelation; no claim to a revealed God — to a revealed Saviour — to a revealed heaven — to a revealed immortality. No; we can support no claim, either natural or meritorious. How, then, are these things ours? Simply because of the sovereign will of God. But, beside this, we have other collateral grounds of claim. In proof that the things that are revealed belong unto us, I would appeal — 1. To their astonishing adaptation to our circumstances. 2. To the legitimated means of their transmission. God has not left the truths of revelation to themselves, to make their own way, and subdue the world to obedience. 3. To the wonderful preservation of these things. How wonderfully God has taken care to preserve His truth pure and unadulterated, notwithstanding the prevalence of error, the tyranny of passion, and the cruelty of persecution. 4. To the influence of these things upon the nature of Man. Think on what would have been the state of the world if these things had not been revealed. (J. Anderson.) 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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