Next Part 2 The PREFACE to the Commandments
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But what man can obey all God's commandments?
To obey the law in a legal sense—to do all the law requires—no man can. Sin has cut the lock of original righteousness, where our strength lay. But, in a true gospel-sense, we may so obey the moral law as to find acceptance with God. This gospel obedience consists in a sincere and real endeavour to observe the whole moral law. "I have done your commandments" (Psalm 119:166); not, I have done all I should do—but I have done all I am able to do; and wherein my obedience comes short, I look up to the perfect righteousness and obedience of Christ, and hope for pardon through his blood. This is to obey the moral law evangelically; which, though it be not to our satisfaction—yet it is to God's acceptance.
We come now to the preface itself, which consists of three parts:
I. "I am the Lord your God";
II. "who have brought you out of the land of Egypt";
III. "out of the house of bondage".
I. "I am the Lord your God." Here we have a description of God:
(1) By his essential greatness, "I am the Lord;"
(2) By his relative goodness, "Your God."
[1] God is described by his essential greatness. "I am the Lord," or, as it is in the Hebrew, JEHOVAH. By this great name God sets forth his majesty. The name of Jehovah was had in more reverence among the Jews, than any other name of God. It signifies God's self-sufficiency, eternity, independence, and immutability. Mal. 3:6.
Use one. If God is Jehovah, the fountain of being, who can do what he will—let us fear him. "That you may fear this glorious and fearful name, Jehovah." Deut 28:58.
Use two. If God is Jehovah, the supreme Lord, the blasphemous Papists are condemned who speak after this manner: "Our Lord God the Pope." Is it a wonder the Pope lifts his triple crown above the heads of kings and emperors, when he usurps God's title, "showing himself that he is God"? 2 Thess 2:4. He seeks to make himself Lord of heaven, for he will canonize saints there. He seeks to make himself Lord of earth, for with his keys he binds and looses whom he pleases. He seeks to make himself Lord of hell, for he frees men out of purgatory. God will pull down these plumes of pride! He will consume this man of sin "with the breath of his mouth, and the brightness of his coming." 2 Thess 2:8.
[2] God is described by his relative goodness. "Your God." Had he called himself Jehovah only, it might have terrified us, and made us flee from him; but when he says, "your God," it allures and draws us to him. This, though a preface to the law, is pure gospel. The word "your God," is so sweet, that we can never suck all the honey out of it! "I am your God," not only by creation—but by election. This word, "your God," though it was spoken to Israel, is a charter which belongs to all the saints. For the further explanation, here are three questions. How does God come to be our God?
Through Jesus Christ. Christ is a middle person in the Trinity. He is Emmanuel, "God with us." He brings two different parties together. He makes our nature lovely to God, and God's nature lovely to us. By his death, he causes friendship, yes, union; and brings us within the the covenant, and thus God becomes our God.
What is implied by God being our God?
It is comprehensive of all good things. God is our strong tower; our fountain of living water; our salvation. More particularly, God being our God, implies the sweetest relations.
(1) The relation of a FATHER. "I will be a Father unto you;" 2 Cor 6:18. A father is full of tender care for his child. Upon whom does he settle the inheritance, but his child? God being our God, will be a father to us; a "Father of mercies," 2 Cor 1:3; "The everlasting Father." Isa 9:6. If God is our God, we have a Father in heaven who never dies!
(2) It imports the relation of a HUSBAND. "Your Maker is your husband." Isa 54:5. If God is our husband, He esteems us as precious to Him, as the apple of His eye! Zech 2:8. He imparts His secrets to us! Psalm 25:14. He bestows a kingdom upon us for our dowry! Luke 12:32.
How may we know that God is our God, by covenant union?
(1) By having his grace planted in us. Kings' children are known by their costly jewels. It is not having common gifts which shows we belong to God; many have the gifts of God without God. But it is grace which gives us a true genuine title to God. In particular, faith is the grace of union, by which we may spell out our interest in God. Faith does not, as the mariner, cast its anchor downwards—but it casts its anchor upwards. Faith trusts in the mercy and blood of God, and trusting in God, engages him to be our God. Other graces make us like God; faith makes us one with him.
(2) We may know God is our God by having the down-payment of his Spirit in our hearts. "He set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." 2 Cor 1:22. God often gives the purse to the wicked—but the Spirit only to such as he intends to make his heirs. Have we had the consecration of the Spirit? If we have not had the sealing work of the Spirit, have we had the healing work? "You have an anointing from the Holy One." 1 John 2:20. Where the Spirit is, he stamps the impress of its own holiness upon the heart; he embroiders and bespangles the soul, and makes it all glorious within.
Have we had the attraction of the Spirit? "Draw me, we will run after you." Canticles 1:4. Has the Spirit, by his magnetic virtue, drawn our hearts to God? Can we say, "O you whom my soul loves?" Canticles 1:7. Is God our paradise of delight? Is he our chief treasure! Are our hearts so chained to God—that no other object can enchant us, or draw us away from him?
Have we had the elevation of the Spirit? Has he raised our hearts above the world? "The Spirit lifted me up." Ezek 3:14. Has the Spirit made us seek the things above where Christ is? Though our flesh is on earth—is our heart in heaven? Though we live here, do we trade above? Has the Spirit thus lifted us up? By this we may know that God is our God. Where God gives his Spirit as a pledge, there he gives himself for a portion.
(3) We may know God is our God, if he has given us the hearts of children. Have we obediential hearts? "When you said—Seek my face; my heart said unto you—Your face, Lord, will I seek." Psalm 27:8. Do we subscribe to God's commands when his commands cross our will? A true Christian is like a flower—which opens to the sun and shuts to the darkness. He opens to God, and shuts to sin. If we have the hearts of children, God is our Father.
(4) We may know God is ours, and we have an interest in him, by standing up for his interest. We shall appear in his cause and vindicate his truth, wherein his glory is so much concerned. Athanasius was the bulwark of truth; he stood up for it, when most of the world were heretics. There is no better sign of having an interest in God, than standing up for his interest.
(5) We may know God is ours, and we have an interest in him, by his having an interest in us. "My beloved is mine—and I am his." Canticles 2:16. When God says to the soul, "You are mine!" The soul answers, "Lord, I am yours! All I have is at your service; my head shall be your to study for you; my tongue shall be your to praise you." If God is our God by way of donation, we are his by way of dedication; we live to him, and are more his than we are our own. Thus we may come to know that God is our God.
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