The Statutes of the LORD, part two
Where
would this light specifically come from?
The
question has been asked me, "Do you think that the Lord has any more light
for us as a people?" I answer that He has light that is new to us,
and yet it is precious old light that is to shine forth from the Word of truth.
We have only the glimmerings of the rays of the light that is yet to come
to us. We are not making the most of the light which the Lord has already
given us, and thus we fail to receive the increased light; we do not walk in
light already shed upon us. 1 SM 401
Notice: 1) She
did not know what the new light was; it was “yet to come.”
2) When it does come, it will be entirely new to us.
3) It was
something that was recognized in God’s word in old times.
4) We have only
the glimmerings.
Light
and grace will be given to those who thus obey God. They will behold wondrous
things out of His law. Great truths that have lain unheeded and
unseen since the day of Pentecost, are to shine from
God's word in their native purity. To those who truly love God the Holy
Spirit will reveal truths that have faded from the mind, and will
also reveal truths that are entirely new. FE 473
Said
my Guide, "There is much light yet to shine forth from the law of
God and the gospel of righteousness. This message, understood in its
true character, and proclaimed in the Spirit, will lighten the earth with its
glory. The great decisive question is to be brought before all nations,
tongues, and peoples. The closing work of the third angel's message will be
attended with a power that will send the rays of the Sun of Righteousness into
all the highways and byways of life, and decisions will be made for God."
--Ms 15, 1888, p. 5. 2 MR 58
No
one is to put truth to the torture by placing a forced, mystical construction
upon the Word. Thus some are in danger of turning the truth of God into a lie.
There are those who need in their hearts the touch of the divine Spirit. Then
the message for this time will be their burden. They will not search for human
tests, for something new and strange. The Sabbath of the fourth commandment is
the test for this time, and all connected with this great memorial
is to be kept before the people. EV 213 (note: The Feast
are “connected” to the Sabbath by Leviticus 23)
New
Light on the Hebrew Economy
We
do not half understand the Lord's plan in taking the children of
The significance of
the Jewish economy is not yet fully comprehended. Truths vast and profound are
shadowed forth in its rites and symbols. The gospel is the key that unlocks its
mysteries. Through a knowledge of the plan of
redemption, its truths are opened to the understanding. Far more than we do, it
is our privilege to understand these wonderful themes. We are to comprehend the
deep things of God. Angels desire to look into the truths that are revealed to
the people who with contrite hearts are searching the word of God, and praying
for greater lengths and breadths and depths and heights of the knowledge which
He alone can give.
Nor does Paul proclaim to the Jews a Messiah whose work is to
destroy the old dispensation, but a Messiah who came to develop the whole
Jewish economy in accordance with the truth.
Evangelism 554
The
most convincing proof was given [by Paul] that the gospel was but the
development of the Hebrew faith. Christ was to come for the special benefit
of the nation that was looking for his coming as the consummation and glory of
the Jewish system. SLP 104
How
many pass over these words of Moses as though they were meaningless, and continue
to heap reproach and derision on divine institutions. How many
trample on the divine law, the righteous judgments and statutes which
were committed to God's ancient people…
With
the first advent of Christ there was ushered in an era of greater light and
glory; but it would indeed be sinful ingratitude to despise and ridicule
the lesser light because a fuller and more glorious light had dawned. Those
who despise the blessings and glory of the Jewish age are not prepared to be
benefited by the preaching of the gospel. ST
2
Kings 17:6-23: 6 In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel
away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and
in the cities of the Medes. 7 For so it
was that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, which
had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, and had feared other gods, 8 And
walked in the statutes of the heathen [like Christmas and Easter?],
whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of
Israel, which they had made. 9 And the
children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the
LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities [a statute:
Deuteronomy 12:2], from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. 10 And they set them up images and groves in
every high hill [a statute: Deuteronomy 12:3], and under every
green tree: 11 And there they burnt
incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD carried away
before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger: 12 For they served idols [a commandment],
whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing. 13 Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and
against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from
your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes,
according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you
by my servants the prophets. 14
Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck
o their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God. 15 And they rejected his statutes,
and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies
which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and
went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning
whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them
[a statute, Deuteronomy 12]
16 And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made
them molten images [a commandment], even two calves and made a grove, and
worshipped all the host of heaven [a commandment], and served Baal. 17 And they caused their sons and their
daughters to pass through the fire [a statute: Leviticus 22], and
used divination [a
statute: Deuteronomy
Even
the stork in the sky knows her appointed times. And a turtledove, and a swallow, and thrush
observe the time of their coming; but my people do not know the ordinace of the LORD. Jeremiah 8:7
(the people had stopped observing the appointed times, Hebrew mo’edim, feasts, and had
begun to observe the festivals of the Gentiles—read chapters 7-10 of Jeremiah)
“Jeroboam ordained
a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the
feast that is in
The king's
bold defiance of God in thus setting aside divinely
appointed institutions was not allowed to pass unrebuked. PK 101
Note that she
clearly refers to the biblical feasts as "divine Institutions."
How Far Are We to Go?
Talk the
truth, pray it, sing it. Point sinners to Christ,
saying, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh
away the sin of the world." Co-operate with Christ and the heavenly
intelligences in the work of reinstating the economy which Christ instituted.
Declare with power and assurance that Christ came to live the law of
Jehovah. RH
In the time
of the end every divine institution is to be
restored. PK 678
We are to
become familiar with the Levitical law in all
its bearings; for it contains rules that must be obeyed; it contains the
instruction that if studied will enable us to understand better the rule of
faith and practice that we are to follow in our dealings with one another. No
soul has any excuse for being in darkness. Those who receive Christ by faith
will receive also power to become the sons of God. 1BC 1110
After fearing God’s voice, the Hebrews
are sent to their tents, and the statutes are given to Moses “directly from the
lips of Christ”
27 Go thou
near, and hear all that the LORD our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all
that the LORD our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do
it. 28 And the LORD heard the voice of
your words, when ye spake unto me; and the LORD said
unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have
spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken. 29 O that there were such an heart in them,
that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be
well with them, and with their children for ever! 30 Go say to them, Get you into your tents
again. 31 But as for thee, stand thou
here by me, and I will speak unto thee all the commandments, and the
statutes, and the judgments, which thou shalt teach
them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess
it. Deuteronomy 5:27-31
The Lord has
plainly specified the duty of those he has created. Parents are
to obey his commandments, and they are also to see that their children keep the
way of the Lord. The same voice that spoke the sermon on the mount
spoke to Moses from the pillar of cloud, enjoining obedience on the children of
Israel: "Thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God
hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are
upon the face of the earth… Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the
statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do
them."
These words
came directly from the lips of Christ. He was just as verily the Redeemer
of his people then as he was when he came to our world in human form. RH
In these last
days there is a call from Heaven inviting you to keep the statutes and
ordinances of the Lord. ST