Homilist Psalm 103:7 He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the children of Israel. I. A TWOFOLD DIVINE REVELATION. There is an obvious distinction between ways and acts. Acts are deeds; ways are methods. A man's acts are the results and representatives of his ways. A man's ways indicate the leading principle, spirit, and style of his life. His acts are not always consistent with his ways. 1. God reveals His ways. The universal, immutable, and eternal principles that guide Him in all His operations in the spiritual world are clearly laid down in the Book. The laws He gave to Moses reveal His ways, and so does the biography of His blessed Son in a still sublimer measure. 2. God reveals His acts. His acts are recorded in the Bible: creative acts — governing acts — redeeming acts — acts of justice and of mercy. His acts should be studied in order to reach the higher knowledge of His ways. II. A TWOFOLD THEOLOGICAL INTELLIGENCE. Moses, on Sinai, received the eternal principles that regulate the Infinite in all His operations with man. The children of Israel down in the desert only saw His acts. They understood not the laws of His providence, and the grand purposes of His heart. There is a great distinction between these two kinds of knowledge. 1. One is far more profound than the other. The outward acts of God, as recorded in this Book, may be easily ascertained and detailed in fluent and accurate speech. But to understand His ways, to penetrate the region of principles, and to have an insight into the method of Divine operations, is a difficult work. This requires not only an inductive study of the Holy Book, but exalted feelings of devotion. "The secrets of the Lord are with them that fear Him." 2. One is far more valuable than the other. It is more valuable to the possessor. The man who is only conversant with the mere acts of God will often be filled with confusion by providential events. One act will apparently contradict another, but he who understands the ways, the grand purposes and principles of God, will not be easily confused. It is more valuable, too, in qualifying us for usefulness. The man who is acquainted with mere details may repeat Bible anecdotes, and be popular. The man who has some knowledge of eternal principles can alone instruct souls. 3. One is far more uncommon than the other. (1) In nature the millions observe the acts of God. They hear His thunder; they witness His lightning. They see His operations in heaving oceans and revolving worlds. But only one here and there understands His ways, and these are our men of science. (2) In human history, numbers are conversant with the leading facts of human history. They know the acts of this statesman and that, this warrior and that, this nation and that; but the ways of God, the great principles with which He governs man are known only by a few — the philosophic historians. (3) In redemption, the leading facts of Christ's life are familiar to most in Christendom; but His ways, His grand principles, and sublime purposes, how few know anything about! (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.WEB: He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the children of Israel. |
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