God Hath Spoken
God Hath Spoken GOD HATH SPOKEN
C. A. NORRED
1. The Fact of Divine Revelation.
It is significant that almost universally men have agreed that a being worthy of worship would necessarily possess such qualities as would move him to reveal to those beneath him those things essential to their welfare and happiness. Almost without exception the nations of antiquity have had their oracles where in the emergencies of life they sought the mind of the supposed higher beings. When we come inside the pale of true religion we find this inspired statement: “God hath spoken.” (Hebrews 1:1-2) But in accordance with that wise provision which supplies the essentials and at the same time encourages initiative and effort, the Almighty has in large measure restricted his revelation to spiritual essentials. (2 Peter 1:3) This is not to be taken as indicating that the Almighty is not interested in what we sometimes refer to as secular things; for one of the earliest divine fiats was: “Subdue the earth”—but it does remind us that the things pertaining to life and godliness are of such transcendent value that although in the gravely important matters of physical success and well-being we have been left largely to our own resources we have been given a divine re-velation in those matters pertaining to spiritual duties. But we shall do well to observe that that revelation was not given all at one time. Such a course would have been unwise, for it is useless to give a person more information than can be utilized at the time. In accordance with that principle God suited his revelation to man’s development and need. For twenty-five hundred years God spoke to the patriarchs. Then for fifteen hundred years he spoke through the Law of Moses. Then he spoke his final and complete revelation through Jesus Christ his divine Son and our divine Lord.
Hence we may begin our studies in this particular with the assurance that God has revealed to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.
2. The Elements of Divine Revelation.
When the vast field of divine revelation is carefully surveyed three things appear outstanding:
A. Righteousness.
Deep down in the constitution of man is a consciousness concering right. Man is aware that there is something that is right and that there is something that is wrong. Answering to this faculty God has spoken concerning right. And from what sources did the Almighty draw for the illumination? Essentially only from Himself. To answer otherwise is to forget the perfections of the Almighty. We shall do well to bear in mind therefore that the very character of the Almighty himself are the foundations for the divine distinctions regarding right. And it is heartening to know that those divine distinctions have not been witheld from us—God has revealed them to us.
B. The Consciousness of Sin.
Along with the consciousness of right there must go a realization of unworthiness and wrongdoing. No civilization has yet been able to endure while simply stating the desirability of rightdoing—a consciousness of the unworthiness of wrongdoing has always been found necessary. Wisely therefore the Lord has not only annouced that which is right but has re-enforced that utterance by those institutions designed to inculcate the consciousness of sin. (Romans 5:20) For fifteen hundred years the tribes of Israel “stood round their smoking altars and bleeding victims” slowly learning the exceeding sinfulness of sin. Then came Jesus with the revolutionary truth that not merely the overt act was of significance but that sin is embodied in improper purpose. Thus has the Lord written in our hearts a consciousness of sin which not only enables us to know ourselves as sinners but enables us to feel the need for divine compassion.
C. Goodness and Mercy.
And God has seen fit to speak concerning goodness and mercy. And here, as reference has already been made, we come to a paramount element of divine revelation. Man is so formed that he will arrive at some knowledge of right and wrong; he is so shaped that he must certainly feel the compunctions of conscience—but nowhere can he turn and read in conclusions arrived at by himself the assurances of mercy. But what shall he do? Must he bend forever under the load of remorse with never an assurance of mercy. Is he hopeless? Hence the Lord has spoken concerning mercy and goodness. To the patriarchs of old, to Israel of old, and to ourselves the Lord has held out hands of love and forgiveness. (Isaiah 55:7; Matthew 11:28.)
Certainly I should not desire to leave the impression that at a given period time in history the Almighty spoke of only one quality. It is correct, though, to say that it is observable that at a given period a given thing received emphasis. During the patriarchal period, from Creation to Moses, God spoke concerning faith—and in that period there took form the greatest individual faith of all time. (Romans 4:11) During the Mosaic period, from Moses to Christ, emphasis was placed upon justice—and during that period were laid the world’s foundations of law and order. Under Christ the divine emphasis is laid upon love and compassion. But as during any period all these qualities were given attention by the Al-mighty so are they abundantly impressed in the teaching of Jesus. As we look upon the character of Jesus and reflect upon his teaching we shall see as never before visions of the majesty of right, we shall see how loathsome is wrongdoing, and we shall be inspired to call upon God for compassion.
3. The Vindication of Divine Revelation.
And this divine revelation carries its own vindication. As a matter of fact, the Lord has always provided that any revelation made by himself shall carry with its own verification for the honest in heart. In earliest days of the church this verification was afforded in signs and wonders, miracles. But the great purpose of all revelation was the transformation of human character. Surely this will be recognized as the greatest and most difficult thing of accomplishment. But this is accomplished by the Word of God. (John 15:3) Therefore when sufficient time had passed for this power of the Word to become observable this power became the divinely designed verification and signs and wonders ceased. But divine verification has not ceased. During the first century, and surrounded by such influences as exalxed evil and put a premium on wrong doing, those who gave honor to the Word were anabled to stand forth clothed in purity and holiness. Again, those nations which have given place to the Word have stood forth as shining lights compared to those into which the Word has not gone. Wherever the servant of the Lo^d has planted and watered and the Lord has given his increase the desert has blossomed as a rose, and bleakness and desolation and wretchedness have given place to beauty and happiness. Verily God hath spoken!
4. Concluding Considerations.
Look then upon the Old Testament and upon the utterances of Christ the Apostles declares that God hath spoken. If we desire then to know the mind of the Lord we should not turn to our own surmisings, we should not turn to supposed dreams and ecstacies—we should turn to the Word of God. And inasmuch as God “hath spoken to us in His son” we shuuld turn to those utterences made by the Divine Son and those authorized by Ilim to give Ilis will to all nations—. And I close with this axiomatic statement: If the way of life eternal had been left to a man’s own finding then we could say chat man would do well to neglect everything else and find it—but since that way is divinely pointed out in the New Testament scriptures we are justified in saying that above everything else man should search the New Testament scriptures diligently and walk in them.