Your Wisdom and Understanding
Deu 4:5-8 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. (6) Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? (8) And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
Psa 119:172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.
Moses taught the people that in keeping the statutes and judgements given them by the Lord, it would be their wisdom and understanding. These laws were righteous laws. How is this possible for we cannot be made righteous by the law!
Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
So how is it possible to access the righteousness written in the law?
Rom 3:21-22 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; (22) Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
The law convicts us of sin and causes us to see we are worthy of death. We are then drawn to Christ to receive the righteousness written in the law yet finds it source in living in the person of Christ. The law is a channel to bring us to the source in Christ. Righteousness does not find it's source in the law but only in Christ.
Rom 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
The wisdom and understanding found in the law are the words of Christ to us for Christ is made unto us wisdom.
1 Cor 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
The words the Christ speaks to us are Spirit and life. Christ spoke the law from Mt Sinai and gave to Moses the statutes and judgements. The words of Christ in the law are death to the flesh. These words convict of sin, the letter killeth as it was designed to do. Then in Christ Jesus we are crucified with Him and raised to life that by the Spirit of Christ we are filled with the Spirit of righteousness. This is how the law becomes our wisdom and understanding. The law is our school master to bring us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. The written law is a channel of blessing to bring us to Christ the source of blessing.
Pro 13:14,15 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.
Pro 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
The fear of the Lord is to keep His commandments yet this is also the beginning of wisdom and understanding. When we seek to keep the commandments, we find that we fail terribly and that we are miserable sinners. We are then led to Christ and we are forgiven and strengthened by Him. Again with greater knowledge of ourselves Christ points us to the commandments to reveal deeper issues and again we fail and again we turn to Christ and this time He is a sweeter Saviour and His grace even more abundant.
God has given man a complete rule of life in his law. Obeyed, he shall live by it, through the merits of Christ. Transgressed, it has power to condemn. The law sends men to Christ, and Christ points them back to the law. RH Sep 27, 1881
There is no power in the law to save or to pardon the transgressor. What, then, does it do? It brings the repentant sinner to Christ. Paul declares, "I . . . have taught you publicly, and from house to house, testifying to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:20, 21). Why did he preach repentance? Because the law of God had been transgressed. Those who have broken the law must repent. Why did he preach faith in Christ? Because Christ is the One who has redeemed sinners from the penalty of the law. The law points to the remedy for sin--repentance toward God and faith in Christ. {1888 130.2}
Do you wonder that Satan wants to get rid of the law? He and all his agencies are striving to trample underfoot the commandments of Jehovah, and to erect a standard of their own. We are to show that God's chosen people will keep His commandments, refusing to swerve to the right or to the left in disobedience. They are to show that the truth of heavenly origin has done great things for them, that its converting power has taken hold of their souls. {1888 130.3}
In order to receive more grace, we need to look more deeply into the law. As we behold the perfect righteousness of the law in comparison to our helpless souls, we mourn for our sins and then are brought to Christ and receive in source of living righteousness in Jesus our Lord. In this manner the statutes and judgements are our righteousness. They are a channel leading to the source. They can’t give it because they are only a channel but they can reveal our need of it in Christ. This is the perfect work of the law to convert the soul to Christ. The statutes and judgements point to Christ. As the Psalms reveal:
Psa 40:7-9 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, [Christ] (8) I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. (9) I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
So the statutes and Judgements are indeed our wisdom and understanding today. They make us wise unto salvation and point us to the precious Saviour. The testimonies bear witness to this fact.
Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon Him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous, as all this law, which I set before you this day? Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons and thy sons' sons."
Where shall we find laws more noble, pure, and just, than are exhibited on the statute books wherein is recorded the instruction given to Moses for the children of Israel? Through [394] all time these laws are to be perpetuated, that the character of God's people may be formed after the divine similitude. The law is a wall of protection to those who are obedient to God's precepts. From what other source can we gather such strength, or learn such noble science? What other book will teach men to love, fear, and obey God as does the Bible? What other book presents to students more ennobling science, more wonderful history? It clearly portrays righteousness, and foretells the consequence of disloyalty to the law of Jehovah. {FE 393.2}
Moses called their attention to the "day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb." And he challenged the Hebrew host: "What nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon Him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?" Today the challenge to Israel might be repeated. The laws which God gave His ancient people were wiser, better, and more humane than those of the most civilized nations of the earth. The laws of the nations bear marks of the infirmities and passions of the unrenewed heart; but God's law bears the stamp of the divine. {PP 465.1}
Where shall we find laws more noble, pure, and just, than are exhibited on the statute-books wherein is recorded the instruction given to Moses for the children of Israel? Through all time these laws are to be perpetuated, that the character of God's people may be formed after the divine similitude. The law is a wall of protection to those who are obedient to God's precepts. From what other source can we gather such strength, or learn such noble science? What other book will teach men to love, fear, and obey God as does the Bible? What other book presents to students more ennobling science, more wonderful history? It clearly portrays righteousness, and foretells the consequence of disloyalty to the law of Jehovah. No one is left in darkness as to that which God approves or disapproves. In studying the Scriptures we become acquainted with God, and are led to understand our relation to Christ, who is the sin-bearer, the surety, the [19] substitute, for our fallen race. These truths concern our present and eternal interests. SpTEd 18,19
"Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our [13] God is in all things that we call upon Him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?" Deuteronomy 4:5-8.
Even these words fail of expressing the greatness and the glory of God's purpose to be accomplished through His people. Not to this world only but to the universe are we to make manifest the principles of His kingdom. The apostle Paul, writing by the Holy Spirit, says: "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be [made] known by the church the manifold wisdom of God." Ephesians 3:8-10.
Brethren, "we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men." "What manner of person sought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting the coming of the day of God?" 1 Corinthians 4:9; 2 Peter 3:11, 12, margin.
In order to manifest the character of God, in order that we may not deceive ourselves, the church, and the world by a counterfeit Christianity, we must become personally acquainted with God. If we have fellowship with God, we are His ministers, though we may never preach to a congregation. We are workers together with God in presenting the perfection of His character in humanity. 6T 12,13
I cannot write out all that is contained in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. But I think our people in this enlightened age of 1899, if they would go back to the period they call the “Dark Ages” and bring into their practical life the lessons that Christ gave to the Hebrews, they would act out the obedience God required of them. Their hearts would not be so full of selfish principles that when His brethren working in hard fields should ask a favor, that they would close the door of their heart and say, No. Ellen White, Letter 221, 1899
Can we join the psalmist in saying:
Psa 1:1-3 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. (2) But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. (3) And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
As we delight in the law of the Lord, we are brought to the crystal stream of the Spirit of Christ that we might drink. Only the law of God can reveal this path to us for only the soul smitten with the reality of their helplessness will be ready to accept the righteousness found alone in Christ. Any other claim to the righteousness of Christ is tumbling over the wall and ignoring the strait gate.
When we are convicted of sin, we are under the influence of the comforter. When you sense your guilt, then know this is the comforter working for your salvation. Then look up to the Saviour and believe you are forgiven and cleansed, not by feeling but by faith. It is a good thing to feel condemned by the law when you can look up to Christ and know His righteousness is yours. Only the law has power to bring us to Christ, this is the glorious ministration of death 2 Cor 3:7. Let us then be crucified with Christ. Let us bear about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus. In the full realisation of our human depravity let us know there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. This joy is only known to those who know they are on death row in the flesh.
So let us mediate on the statutes and judgements of the book of the Law. Let us see how short we fall and then let the Spirit bring us to Christ in that very place that when sin is magnified by the law, in that very place grace will much more abound. Hallelujah, what a Saviour! Thank you Lord Jesus for your law of righteousness that reveals my condition and brings me to you that I might have your righteousness, not of works, but by the faith of Jesus.
