1264. The Glory of God and the Law

The Glory of God and the Law

"But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away" (2Co_3:7).

Let us notice some of the things said relative to the Law in 2Co_3:7-10.

1. The Law is called the ministration of death. Startling but true. "If there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have come by the Law" (Gal_3:21). The Law however was made weak by the flesh. That is, the Law in its holy demands, could not be kept by an unholy flesh. The flesh of man is corrupt according to deceitful lusts, it could not walk obedient to the Law, therefore the Law accomplished no more than the passing of a sentence of death.

2. The Law was a ministration of condemnation. Around the mount, as the Law was given, was blackness and darkness and a tempest. Even Moses said, "I exceedingly fear and quake." If even a beast touched the mountain it was to be stoned.

The Law worketh wrath, because it is a broken law. There is none that doeth good, and sinneth not. He who seeks life or favor at the hands of the Law must fail in his quest. Under the Law every mouth is stopped and the whole world stands guilty before God.

3. The Law written and engraven in stones came in glory. The Law was the manifestation of the supremacy of God. The Law said, "Thou shalt" and "Thou shalt not." The Law made demands that were holy and just and good.

The Law was the manifestation of the sanctity of God. The Law was not lowered down to the level of human possibilities, it was lifted up to the standard of Divine righteousness.

Thus, the Law came in glory. The Law shone forth with a radiance and luster that awed its recipients. It seemed transcendently above and beyond them.

Even the countenance of Moses, who received the Law from the hand of God, shone so, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look upon his face.

4. Sin is man's shortness of God's glory manifested in His Law. It is customary for the sinful to measure themselves by themselves, refusing withal, to measure themselves by the righteousness of God.

The Law is God's standard of glory, and where man stands before that Law, his mouth is stopped, and he is proclaimed a guilty, sin-wrecked criminal.

No marvel that men seek to change the glory of the incorruptible God, into an image made like unto corruptible man, because the Law worketh wrath.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR