1 Corinthians 2:8-9 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.… I. THE THINGS PREPARED. Suggesting — 1. The Divine forethought, and the infinite fulness and carefulness of God's love for His children. Remember:(1) How the world was prepared before man came upon it. (2) How God prepared a body in which Christ should be one with us, die to be our Saviour, and ascend to hold the sceptre of the universe. (3) How Christ reminded His disciples that the dignities of the kingdom were only for those for whom it is prepared of the Father. (4) How He went to prepare a place for us, and sent the Spirit to prepare us for the place. 2. The Divine treasury. The figure suggests a vast building over whose portals we read, "Ask and it shall be given," &c. — a building divided into so many stores of Divine love. Let us open their doors. (1) One contains the "purposes" of the Divine love, delivering mercy, sustaining grace — purposes that no need can exhaust, no opposition thwart, no eternity unfold. (2) Another "promises" Divinely — (a) Simple, little children can understand them. (b) Profound, angels cannot fathom them. (c) Certain, for "heaven and earth shall pass away," &c. (d) Sweet and rich, "sweeter than a honeycomb," and "more precious than gold."(3) Divine "provisions— the mercy-seat where we obtain grace to help; the Cross, its cleansing fount, infinite ransom, Divine righteousness; the Lord's Table. (4) The "fulness" that is treasured up in Christ — fulness of grace to pardon, of merit to atone, of strength to sustain, of glory to reward. (5) Things prepared in the ministry of the Holy Spirit — regeneration, comfort, sanctification. (6) Glories that await us hereafter — the "crown" of triumph, the "harp" of praise, the "mansion" of repose and blessing, the "living fountain" of joy. II. THE REVELATION OF THE SPIRIT IN WHICH THESE THINGS ARE MADE MANIFEST TO US. 1. Striking thought! God takes men into His confidence about matters that human reason could never fathom. It was so with Abraham. "Shall I hide," &c. Amos declares that the Lord will hide nothing, but will reveal His secret unto His servants. In proportion to our intimacy with God the Divine purposes will be made plain to us. "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him." The disciples pleaded with John, who reclined on his Master's bosom, to ask Him a secret which they did not venture to ask themselves. He lived so much nearer to Christ, and therefore had more of His secret. We deprive ourselves of unspeakable blessings in regard to God's dealings in providence from our failure to recognise God's hand in every gift. And God's children should feel that in regard to the mysteries of the world around they shall have light resting on their path, and truth revealed by the indwelling Spirit which enables them to trust where others cannot. The man that is nearest the sun will have most of light, and the man who lives nearest the throne will have deeper draughts of the water of life that proceeds therefrom. 2. As to the revelation by the Spirit of Divine things, take the case of Simeon, unto whom it had been revealed by the Holy Ghost that he should not die until he had seen the Christ. How long he waited for the consolation of Israel! But at last it came. So God may have revealed to you in His Word and by His Spirit truths that have yet to come in their Divine significance and power. Wait patiently; God's time is always the best. Take the case of Peter who, when all were dumb before "Whom say ye that I am?" received at once a revelation that Jesus was the Christ, &c. You may say "We are not Simeons or Peters." No; but remember how Christ thanked God that the things withheld from the wise and prudent were revealed unto babes, i.e., babes in spiritual experience. But even to your children, who shall say at how early an age God, by His Spirit, shall reveal the truth? Remember Samuel. III. THE CONDITION ESSENTIAL TO THE RECEPTION OF THE BLESSING. "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed on us— there is the origin of all Christian love." The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost— that is the next step. Then we are the children of God, and the Spirit beareth witness with our spirits, &c. Then the circle is complete. And the Divine love thus enjoyed must manifest itself in self-sacrificing love to men. (J. P. Chown.) Parallel Verses KJV: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. |
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