p. 11 | The ROYAL LAW by H. A. St. John.

Pacific Press Publishing Association

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 43.

The ROYAL LAW

By H. A. St. John.

BY H. A. ST. JOHN.

THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW.

"THE Lord hath prepared His throne in the heavens; and His kingdom ruleth over all." Ps. 103:19. This inspired declaration is the distinct statement of a great and fundamental truth, namely, that God's "kingdom ruleth over all." And this "all" is to be taken in its broadest sense, meaning all intelligences, in all places and in all ages. As the Supreme Being who has made all things, and the One who upholds all things, He has the supreme right to rule in the throne of supreme dominion. And it is always for the best and highest good of all creatures possessing reason to recognize this great truth, and to humbly acquiesce to the claims of such recognition. And this is as important for the mightiest of earthly rulers, and even more so, if possible, as for the humblest of mortals.

Nebuchadnezzar, one of the greatest of earth's kings, failing to discern this great truth, was driven from among men, and made to eat grass like an oxen, for seven years, or until he learned the lesson "that the heavens do rule;" "that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men." Dan. 4:25, 26.

Hence it follows irresistibly, that God is the great moral Governor of the universe, and that He has a great moral law as the basis of His government; for a government is a system of laws maintained. It also follows, just as inevitably, that we are within the jurisdiction of His government, and hence amenable to His law.

The Summary of His Law.

The Bible abounds in evidence that the supreme moral law of God is summarily contained in the Ten Commandments, that law which was once spoken with a voice that shook the earth, and afterward written by the finger of God, and committed to men, the only instrument of God's own writing ever given to mankind.

Having found that God has a government, and a law as the basis of that government, and that all mankind are amenable to that law, we are now ready to consider—

The Purpose of That Law.

I think we may properly regard the purpose or object of the law of God as threefold. First, a revelation of God's character; second, a revelation of God's will; and third, a revelation of God's glory. We will briefly consider each separately.

1: A Revelation of God's Character.

The laws of any law-maker, or law-making power are always a revelation of character. God's law is declared to be "holy, and just, and good." Rom. 7:12. Such is the character of God's law in its requisitions and prohibitions. And such is the character of God. His holiness, justice, and goodness are everywhere manifest in His revelations, nowhere more clearly than in His holy, just, and good law.

Other attributes of God, such as power, wisdom, truth, mercy, and love, are all revealed in His law. His power, in that He is to be worshiped as the one God, supreme over all (see the first commandment); His wisdom, in that "the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple" (Ps. 19:7); His truth, in that the Word of the Lord declares that "Thy law is the truth." "Thou art near, O Lord; and all Thy commandments are truth" (Ps. 119:142, 151); His mercy and love, in that the law itself says, "shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments" (Ex. 20:6). It is because the love of God permeates His law that fulfilling that law is the love of God revealed. Rom. 13:10.

2. A Revelation of God's Will.

Where should we expect to find the will of a ruler, or law-making power?—In the laws of such power only. The good pleasure, the will, of every government, is to be learned from the laws of such government. And God's will and good pleasure concerning all His subjects, is to be found in His law. When Jesus came into the world, He came not to do His own will, but the will of Him that sent Him. John 5:30. He said, "Lo, I come; in the volume of the Book it is written of Me, I delight to do Thy will, O My God; yea, Thy law is within My heart." Ps. 40:7, 8. "Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven." Matt. 7:21. And that blessed, holy, and sweet will is revealed in the law of God.

3. A Revelation of God's Glory.

Ancient Israel understood that the glory of God was associated with His law; for when the ark was taken by the Philistines, one of the tribe of Levi exclaimed, "The glory is departed from Israel; for the ark of God is taken." 1 Sam. 4:22. Thus the Lord "delivered His strength into captivity, and His glory into the enemy's hand." Ps. 78:61. The apostle Paul declares that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23. As sin, the transgression of the law, detracts from the glory of God, does it not follow that perfect obedience to God's law reflects His glory? Hence we see that one purpose of the law of God has ever been to furnish mankind with the opportunity of revealing the glory of God,—a glory hidden in the law until (Continued on page 14.)

The Purpose of the Law.

(Continued from page 9.) the law is hidden in the heart, and drawn out in living characters in the life.

Now, it being true that the purpose of the law of God to man is to reveal His character, His will, and His glory, may we, dear reader, have our eyes opened to behold these wondrous things in God's law; then the character of God, the will of God, and the glory of God may be revealed in us, as it was in the blessed Jesus. Then will we greatly love the law of God, and delight in it, after the inner man.