Deuteronomy 29:29
“The secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this Law.”
Never were mercies granted to any people, so rich as those which were given to Israel; nor were there ever judgments so signally, through successive ages, inflicted on any other nation, as on them. And all this was in accordance with prophecy, even with the prophecies which Moses himself delivered to them previous to their entrance into Canaan. All was known by God; and was foretold also, with sufficient clearness, if they would but learn to act in obedience to the divine warnings. To inquire into the reasons of God’s dealings with them, and especially to sit in judgment upon God as though he dealt harshly with them, would be to no purpose. The reasons of his determinations were hidden in his own bosom; and his determinations themselves were made known to them for their benefit; and God expected that they should make a suitable improvement of all the information which he had given them. This seems to be the general import of our text; from whence I shall take occasion to show,
I. The proper limit for our inquiries into the things of God.
God has been pleased to reveal much to us respecting his nature, his dealings, his purposes; but there is infinitely more which he has not seen fit to communicate; and which, if communicated, we would be no more able to comprehend, than a child could comprehend the deepest discoveries of philosophy. Even what we do know, we know only in part; in fact, our knowledge of everything is so superficial, that it scarcely deserves to be called knowledge; and, therefore, in relation to everything the utmost possible humility befits us. For, after all:
1. What do we know of God’s nature?
We are informed that “God is Spirit;” that he is, from all eternity, a self-existent Being; that “the Heaven of heavens cannot contain him.” But what idea have we of Spirit? What notion can we form of eternity and omnipresence? The greatest philosopher in the universe has not a whit more adequate conceptions of these things than a little infant. Nor do we, in reality, know anything more of the moral perfections of the Deity, than we do of those which we call natural. We speak of his holiness, and justice, and mercy, and truth; but our knowledge of these things is altogether negative; we merely know that he is not unholy, or unjust, or unmerciful, or untrue; and that is all.
And what shall I say to his subsistence in Three Persons, each possessing all the attributes of Deity, while yet there is but One God? We know:
that the Father is spoken of as the Fountain from whence all proceeds;
that the Son also is spoken of as executing all which the Father had ordained for the redemption of the world;
and that the Holy Spirit also is spoken of as applying to men all that the Son has purchased, and the Father ordained.
But of these things we know nothing beyond what God has told us in his Word; and if we attempt to descant upon them, “we only darken counsel by words without knowledge.”
In the contemplation of such mysteries, it befits us to bear in mind the pointed interrogations of Zophar, “Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than the depths of the grave—what can you know? Job 11:7-8.”
2. What do we know of God’s Providence?
We know that God orders everything both in Heaven and earth; and that without him “not a sparrow falls to the ground,” nor “a hair from our heads.” But will anyone inform us how God overrules the minds of voluntary agents, so as infallibly to accomplish his own will, and yet not participate in the evils which they commit? Our blessed Lord was put to death “by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God;” and yet, throughout the whole of that scene, the agents followed altogether the dictates of their own hearts, and “with wicked hands crucified and slew him!” And will anyone inform us how this was done?
And if we know so little of God’s Providence, who shall declare to us the wonders of his Grace? Will anyone tell us why the world was left four thousand years before the Savior was sent to redeem it? Or why Abraham was chosen in preference to all other people upon earth, that the Savior should descend from him, and that it should be in the line of Isaac and Jacob, rather than through the line of Ishmael and Esau?
Will anyone tell us how the Spirit of God acts upon the souls of some, to quicken, sanctify, and save them; while others never experience these operations; or experience his influence only in such a degree as ultimately to aggravate their eternal condemnation? Let anyone only explain how the mind operates upon matter in any one motion of his own body—and if he cannot explain this, then how shall he presume to judge of God, “whose ways are in the great deep, and his paths past finding out?”
3. What do we know of God’s purposes?
We are assured that “God does everything according to the counsel of his own will; and that none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What are you doing?” But who has searched the records of Heaven, so as to tell us what shall come to pass, either in reference to nations, or to any solitary individual? Our blessed Lord repeatedly checked all presumptuous inquiries into these things. When his disciples asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority, Acts 1:6-7.” And when Peter inquired of him respecting John, “Lord, what shall this man do? our Lord replied, If I will that he tarry until I come, what is that to you?”
In truth, we know nothing of God; nothing of what he is, or does, or will do, any further than he has been pleased to reveal himself to us; and all our inquiries respecting him should issue in that profound adoring exclamation, “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Romans 11:33.”
Instead of complaining that our knowledge is so circumscribed, we should be thankful that it extends so far; for if there is little communicated to gratify a foolish curiosity, there is everything made known to us that can conduce to our present and eternal welfare.
This idea points out to us,
II. The proper use to be made of all the Scriptural knowledge we obtain.
Everything that God has revealed is intended to have a practical effect on us; and everything contained in Holy Writ has a direct tendency to convey some spiritual benefit to our souls. Let us briefly trace this in:
1. What is revealed concerning God and his perfections.
All that is spoken in Scripture upon this sublime subject, tends to fill us with holy fear, and love, and confidence; and to bring us to God, as his obedient subjects and servants.
2. What is revealed concerning Christ and his offices.
There is no way to the Father but through the Son. When, therefore, we read of him as the Prophet, Priest, and King of his people, we are of necessity taugt to look to him for:
the illumination of our minds,
the pardon of our sins,
the subjugation of all our spiritual enemies.
We are taught to “live altogether by faith in him, who has loved us, and given himself for us!”
3. What is revealed concerning the Holy Spirit and his operations.
If we can come to God only through the Son, so neither have we any access to him but by the Spirit, Ephesians 2:18. Hence, in desiring his gracious influences, we should seek to have the whole work of grace wrought within us, and to be “transformed into the divine image,” and be “made fit for our eternal inheritance.”
4. What is revealed concerning the Gospel with all its promises and precepts.
Nothing of this is to he contemplated as a mere matter of speculation; but the whole Gospel is to be embraced as a remedy, as a remedy suited to our wants and sufficient for our necessities. Every promise of it is to be embraced as a ground of hope; and every precept in it is to be obeyed as an evidence of our faith and love.
5. What is revealed concerning the realities of the eternal world.
No one ever came from Heaven or from Hell to inform us what those states were, or what was the full import of those terms under which those states are displayed. Nor is it of importance to us to know more of them in this world. We already know enough to call forth into activity our hopes and our fears; and our wisdom is so to improve our knowledge of them, as to “flee from the wrath to come,” and to “lay hold on eternal life!”
In a word, “whatever is revealed belongs to us and to our children forever, that in all succeeding ages we should follow all the words of God’s Law,” and approve ourselves to him as a faithful and obedient people.
Hence, then, we may see:
1. What answer we should make to the proud objector.
People will sit in judgment upon God and his revealed will, as if they were capable of determining, by their own wisdom, what was fitting for him to reveal or do; and they will decide with confidence on all which they either see or hear, precisely as if they were competent to weigh in a balance all the mysteries of divine wisdom. With what impious boldness will many revile the mystery of a Trinity of Persons in the Godhead; the incarnation of Christ, and his sin-atoning sacrifice; and the influences of the Holy Spirit. But to all such proud objectors I will say, with Paul, “Nay but, O man! who are you that replies against God? Romans 9:20.” You mistake utterly the province of reason, if you think that she is to sit in judgment upon such mysteries as these. She is to judge whether the book which we call the Bible, is of divine inspiration; but when that is once admitted, then she must give way to faith, whose office it is to embrace all that God has revealed, and to make use of it for the ends and purposes for which he has revealed it. And if you will presume to “reprove God, you shall surely answer for it, Job 40:2;” for “he gives no account to man of any of his matters, Job 33:13.”
2. What direction we should give to the humble inquirer.
There may be many things brought to your ears which are above your comprehension, and which you may find it difficult to receive. But there is a standard to which every sentiment may be referred, and a touchstone by which every doctrine may be tried. Our blessed Lord said to those who doubted the propriety of his instructions, “Search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and they are they which testify of me! John 5:39.” And the Prophet Isaiah told his hearers to bring everything to this test, “To the Law, and to the testimony—if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no truth in them, Isaiah 8:20.” All that is needful for you to know, is contained in God’s Word.
Whatever agrees with God’s Word, is true.
Whatever is contrary to God’s Word, is false.
And whatever cannot be determined by God’s Word, may well be left among those “secret things which belong to God alone.”
3. What encouragement we are to afford to the true believer.
“The secret of the Lord,” we are told, “is with those who fear him; and he will show them his covenant, Psalm 25:14.” Yes, this is indeed a most encouraging truth. Not that we are to suppose that God will give any new revelation to his people—we have no reason whatever to expect that. But he will shine upon his revealed truth, so that they shall have a perception of it which others have not.
I need not tell you how much clearer anything is discerned when the sun shines upon it; or how much more accurately it is seen when the eye is fixed more intently on it; or how things most minute or distant are rendered distinctly visible by glasses suited to our organs of sight.
Now, in all these ways will God reveal his secrets to the believing soul. He will, by his Spirit, cast a flood of light upon the Word; and make the soul most eager to apprehend his truth; and by the medium of faith bring that truth directly upon the tablet of the mind; and thus fulfill that promise, “All your people shall be taught of God, John 6:45.” Yes, “he will guide the meek in judgment; he will teach the meek his way, Psalm 25:9.”
Charles Simeon (1759-1836)