In
Deuteronomy 31:19, God commanded Moss to write a song. The purpose of the song
was to teach Israel by putting them in memory of the past failures they had so
that they would not repeat the sins of their fathers. The song would be a
testimony for God of His goodness to them, of His tender care of them, and
concern for them, and a testimony against them for their ingratitude and other
sins: “Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask
thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee”
(verse 7).
In
concluding this song, Moses exhorted them to set their hearts unto all the
words of the Law of God and they were to command their children to observe and
to do all the words of this Law (verse 46). He continued:
“For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through
this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to
possess it” (Verse 47).
The
word “vain” means “empty, worthless”. That is, the Law of God is not mere empty
words; it is not worthless. It is of great importance and any disobedience will
meet with severe consequences. Hence, Moses said, it was their very life. If
they continued in their obedience to the Law, they would live long in the land
of Canaan.
I
am captivated by this statement: “For it is no empty word for you, but
your very life, and by this word you shall live long in the land
that you are going over the Jordan to possess" (verse 47, ESV).
Today,
we have a greater Law than the Law of Moses: “For the law was given by
Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).
The
Law of Moses, however excellent in itself, was little in comparison to the
Gospel of Christ. The Mosaic Law was a Law of shadows, types, and figures, and
incapable of expiating sin by its sacrifices (Hebrews 10:1-4). But grace and
truth brought salvation through the one perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and
removed sin once and for all (Hebrews 10:10-14).
It
is called “grace” because it is unmerited favour from God to man: “But
God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us” (Romans 5:8, ESV). It is called "truth", not
only because it contains truth, but it is about One who is the truth: “Jesus saith unto him,
I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by
me" (John 14:6). Hence, “grace and truth” refers to
the great Redeemer and Saviour, Jesus Christ: “And the Word was made
flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only
begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
If
the Law of Moses was not empty and worthless words to Israel, the Word of
Christ is even more precious and excellent. If the Law of Moses was life to
Israel, the Word of Christ is eternal life: Our Lord says: “It is the spirit that quickeneth;
the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit,
and they are life” (John 6:63).
We
live in a better dispensation than those in the Old Testament. We have the Word
of eternal life with us. The apostle Peter declared concerning Jesus: “Then
Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of
eternal life” (John 6:68). This Word is not vain word; it is not
worthless word; it is our very life – it is our Eternal Life. When we continue
in our obedience to the Word, we will live long in the eternal and heavenly
abode.
Jimmy Lau
Psa
119:97 Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
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