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… The words invite us to contemplate our heritage — "the things that are revealed"; our title to that heritage — they "belong unto us and to our children forever." 1. Many are the designations given of Holy Scripture. Those designations are all of them expressive and beautiful. When studied, they each present to us some new aspect of God's Word. But the designation in this passage is exceedingly striking and plain. It is, "Those things which are revealed." By being "revealed," then, or by revelation, is meant opening up, uncurtaining, disclosing; bringing to view what was not seen or known, or only partially or imperfectly seen and known. This is done by the Spirit of God. Man's intellect did not discover these things; man's diligence and science did not find them out; man's wit and skill did not arrive at them. They are not the results of logic, or of philosophy, or of genius; but they are the disclosures of God's own Spirit. So that "all Scripture," all revelation, "is given by inspiration of God." 2. These "things that are revealed," how manifold, how marvellous, how gracious, how glorious they are! "Eye" had "not seen them," "ear" had "not heard them"; it had "not entered into the heart of man to conceive them." Without this revelation, how dark, how desolate, how desperate were the lot of fallen man! Take the sun from the sky, what would become of the world? Take the Bible from the Church, what would become of the Church? 3. Amongst the "things that are revealed" are the things of God, and amongst the "things that are revealed" are the things of man; amongst the "things that are revealed" is the past in this world, and amongst the "things that are revealed " are the things to come, not only of this world but in the world of eternity. 4. And, therefore, we are bound to sum up and say, the "things that are revealed," how glorious they are! how inconceivable, and yet how clear! how incomprehensible, and yet how simple! how inscrutable, and yet how level to us all! How wonderful in their adaptation to our wants! how gracious in their condescension to our infirmities! "Those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever." Our little ones have a claim. "From a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus." (H. Stowell, 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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