Malachi 4:4 Remember you the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded to him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. In our text Malachi, the last of the Old Testament prophets, shows that the fear of the Lord necessarily involves reverential regard for His law. This law is described as that which was given to Moses in Horeb, and the charge is given: "Remember ye the law." These words seal up the Old Testament revelation. Our text expresses a necessary, universal, and perpetual obligation: "Remember ye the law of Moses My servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb." In very many minds there are very hazy notions in reference to the relation of the Old Testament to the New, of the Mosaic to the Christian dispensation, of the law to the Gospel. It is quite true that there are statements in the New Testament which indicate that some old things had passed away, and that some new things had come. There is a sense in which the revelation of the Gospel is in contrast to that of the Old Testament — not, however, the contrast of contradiction, but rather of fuller and clearer development. We must remember that the term "law of Moses" is used in two senses — the one covering the whole Mosaic legislation, the other having special reference to what are called the "Ten Commandments." There were things in the legislation of Moses which were purely civil — which could apply only to the Jews as a nation. There were other things which were ceremonial — belonging to a dispensation which was symbolical, typical, and preparatory. All these things, national and ceremonial, passed away with the dawn of the new dispensation. But there was one part of the revelation given by Moses — and this the central and most important part — called distinctively "the law," the moral law, the ten commandments, which is of universal and perpetual obligation. I. THE LAW IS A GLORIOUS REVELATION OF THE CHARACTER AND WILL OF GOD. God is the Creator and Governor of the universe. He hath made all beings and things by His almighty power. He governs them according to His own infinite wisdom. Over material things and irrational creatures His control is a matter of forceful operation; but over all orders of rational, responsible beings His control is a moral government. This renders an intelligible revelation necessary. His moral nature is at once the source and the standard of all purity and beauty. The moral law reveals Him as the just and holy God, pointing out the way of duty and demanding obedience. This law is perfect. It reveals God s character, declares His will, and discloses the fundamental, unalterable principles of His moral government. II. THE LAW IS SUITED TO THE NATURE OF MAN, AND IS FITTED TO SECURE HIS HIGHEST DEVELOPMENT AND HAPPINESS. Man is a moral, responsible being, who was crested in the image, and intended for the service and glory of God. 1. Likeness to the Divine character is essential to man's true development. The moral law revealing the purity and beauty of God, or declaring His holy and righteous will, sets before men the original pattern of their own character and the standard of their intended development. 2. Thus we may say also that obedience to the law of God is the necessary justification of man's existence. The holy and righteous God could not create a race of rebels intending that they should exist to be disloyal and disobedient. Man, coming under the power of sin, through rebellion and disobedience, forfeited his right to existence in the sight of God and among His creatures. The law declaring man's duty justifies his Divine sentence of condemnation and death upon transgressors. 3. Still more, it is absolutely certain that harmony with the will of God is essential to man's happiness. Holiness and happiness are in their very nature closely and inseparably linked together. III. THE LAW CAME STRAIGHT FROM GOD TO MAN. Man was not left to discover or reason it out for himself. The law is not a constitution agreed upon among men for self-government. This same law was given of God to Moses in Horeb. IV. THE LAW IS ENFORCED BY THE MOST POWERFUL SANCTIONS. To it are attached promises of blessing and reward, and threatenings of curse and punishment. V. THE LAW HAS NECESSARY, UNIVERSAL, AND PERPETUAL AUTHORITY. 1. Necessary. Man's obligation to keep the law does not depend upon his own profession or resolution. Some people excuse themselves in reference to a certain looseness of conduct by saying that they make no profession of religion, or that they have very liberal views. They say that it is quite proper and necessary that professing Christians should recognise the authority of the law, but they contend that every man has the right to judge for himself. This is all wrong; no man has the right to set his judgment or opinion or prejudice or wilfulness against the plain, positive precepts of the Divine law. The authority of the law is due to its Divine authorship. 2. Thus it must be evident that obligation to the moral law is universal. Wherever you find the moral faculty, the moral law has authority. 3. Thus also the authority of the law is perpetual. God cannot change. VI. THE LAW IS THE BASIS, AND SHALL BE THE CROWN AND GLORY OF THE GOSPEL. The Gospel did not destroy the law. It did not lower its standards. It was not intended as an apology for its severity. The Gospel honours and maternities the law, declaring that it is holy, just, and good. The law could not pardon a transgression, therefore it could not give life and salvation to guilty sinners. It gave the knowledge of sin, measured the extent of man's weakness and the depth of his fall; thus it prepared for the exhibition of pardoning mercy and saving grace by showing the necessity for it. Then. again, the law determined the plan of salvation and the provisions necessary, so that in the exercise of mercy the Divine righteousness might be preserved and declared, so that God might be just in justifying every one that believeth. Still further, the condition of pardon and salvation under the Gospel — which is faith — is determined by the law. What is faith but the recognition and acceptance of the truth that Christ in our behalf made a full satisfaction to the law, and took away our guilt and cancelled the sentence of condemnation by the sacrifice of Himself? Thus we must see that the law is the basis of the Gospel — determining its plan and provisions and conditions of salvation. But there is more to be told. Through Christ Jesus come the renewal of man's nature and the gift of life and power, so that men who were dead in trespasses and sins, and under the carnal mind, and led captive by the devil at his will, are caused to love and delight in, and are enabled to obey the law. The law is always the same. The motives to obedience are higher and the power stronger, because of full satisfaction and reconciliation, and the free gift of life and salvation through the redemption of Christ. The crown and glory of the Gospel come to each man when the law of God is enthroned in his heart and manifested in his life and conduct. It is said that in ancient times some laws were put into verse, so that the people might learn to sing them. Through the grace and Spirit of Christ, God's law becomes poetry to us and His statutes a song. (J. K. Wright, B. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. |
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