The Christian and the Law of God by C. M. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Apr 18, 1912

The Christian and the Law of God

By C. M. S.

Let us look for a moment at the attitude which the Word of God teaches us to maintain toward the law of God. Antagonism toward the will and the commands of God has been synchronous with the history of sin. Sin and that antagonism began together, children of the same parent, traveling the same road, destined to reach the same goal; and whether that antagonism toward God's law is manifested by human beings or by fallen angels, it stands for disloyalty toward God and opposition to his purpose.

The writer of that wonderful treatise on the law of God, the one hundred nineteenth psalm, seems almost at a loss for words to express the fulness of his heart as he pours out his love for that law. Again and again he declares his love: “O how love I thy law! It is my meditation

all the day” (verse 97); “I delight in thy law” (verse 70). Throughout the psalm the words law, ordinances, judgments, statutes, and precepts are used interchangeably, to save repetition.

We can not say, as some have said, that while such an attitude was proper and necessary under the old dispensation, this law which the psalmist extols was abolished in Christ; for this same writer declares (verse 172): “All thy commandments are righteousness;” and again (verse 142): “Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is truth.” As the commandments are righteousness, and that righteousness is everlasting, how we fly in the face of truth and contradict God when we declare that these same commandments are abolished in Christ, or in any other way. As if foreseeing that this charge would be brought against him, Christ declares: “Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished.” Matt. 5: 17, 18.

That declaration of our Saviour certainly puts an end to all argument in the matter of the abolition of the law of God. It stands surer than the “eternal hills,” stronger than all the powers of earth and fallen angels, true as God himself is true, and as perpetual and unchangeable as he is.

In view of that fact, we turn again to the inspired writings of the prophets. Because that law is true and every one of its righteous commandments perpetual in duration, it furnishes the psalmist a theme for exultant song. He says: “Let my lips utter praise; for thou teachest me thy statutes. Let my tongue sing of thy word; for all thy commandments are righteousness.” Ps. 119: 171, 172.

There was not in his heart the spirit of hatred, so often manifest to-day toward that law. He says: “I love thy commandment above gold, yea, above fine gold” (verse 127); “The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver” (verse 72); “Unless thy law had been my delight, I should then have perished in mine affliction” (verse 92); “I have longed for thy salvation, O Jehovah; and thy law is my delight” (verse 174).

This psalm writer was not pleased, as many individuals are, to see the law of God transgressed, and its abolition taught. He says: “Thou hast rebuked the proud. Cursed are they that wander from thy commandments” (verse 21, margin); “Hot indignation [“horror,” margin] hath taken hold upon me, because of the wicked that forsake thy law” (verse 53); “It is time for Jehovah to work; for they have made void thy law” (verse 126); “Streams of water run down mine eyes, because they observe not thy law” (verse 136); “They draw nigh that follow after wickedness; they are far from thy law” (verse 150).

He not only refuses the suggestion that the law of God could be abolished, but declares that he knew it never could be abolished. “Of old have I known from thy testimonies, that thou hast founded them forever” (verse 152); “The sum of thy word is truth; and every one of thy righteous ordinances endureth forever” (verse 160). It is impossible to read these scriptures and believe them and at the same time believe in the abolition of the law of God. It is not taught here nor anywhere else in the divine Word.

But how is it with the lives of those who adhere to the law of God? Are they not filled with hardship, and discouragement, and sorrow?—Far from it. Listen to the psalmist, and then let us make his experience and this fact ours: “Great peace have they that love thy law; and they have no occasion of stumbling.” Verse 165. Why will they have no occasion?—Because, loving that law, they have made its precepts a constituent part of their character; and they have peace, great peace. The world does not have peace. Why?—The people of this world have forsaken the law of their God; they have occasion for stumbling. They have not made the precepts of that law a part of their character; so they are at variance one with another, and fight against the very things that are for their best good. In such an attitude true peace is impossible. In so far as the law of God is being disregarded and abandoned, peace is departing from the earth. So the psalmist says, “Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, that seek him with the whole heart.” Verse 2. Then, too, he can say, “I shall walk at liberty; for I have sought thy precepts.” Verse 45.

This is the attitude of the true Christian, the truly converted man, toward the law of his God, and this is the happy condition of the man who maintains that attitude. C. M. S.