GOD’S covenant of promise must stand in its integrity, and though it pleased Him to give to men a law, obedience to which should procure blessings, and disobedience to which should entail curses, yet His promise prior to His law is not changed in any way. “Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, “And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.” (Gal. 3:15-1715Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. 16Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 17And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. (Galatians 3:15‑17).)
How differently from the age of promise, does that of law open! It commences with a sight of the greatness and the terribleness of Jehovah, and the consequent trembling of men and mountains, as both Israel and Sinai quake at God’s voice. Fire and blackness, darkness and tempest issue from and surround Sinai, whither God descends, and from the thick darkness and the devouring fire, the voice of words issues―a voice so awful that they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more―a sight so appalling that the law-giver said, “I exceedingly fear and quake.”
God was about to test man, and to prove him―whether he would keep His laws or not. We know the sequel: man broke the law and came under its curse, and was proved to be rebellious. “It was added because of transgressions,” saith the Scriptures. “Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” (Gal. 3)
God, in His ways with man, would show to man that he is a transgressor, and the history of Israel is one great illustration of rebellion of the human heart against God. God took Israel out of the idolatry of Egypt, and, having separated them to Himself, He said, “Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine: and ye shall be unto. Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.” (Ex. 19:5, 65Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. (Exodus 19:5‑6).) What condition could be more favorable to man’s uprightness? But, in result, the age of law has but transgression graven on it, and, to this day, every true and honest heart that comes under law-that seeks to “Do this and live,” must say of itself, by the light of the truth of the law, “The commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.” (Rom. 7:1010And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. (Romans 7:10).)
(To be continued.)