The Mystery of God

Commentary for January 1, 2004 — The History of Its Revelation

I was reminded recently of a passage in Jeremiah. Judah was mourning (and complaining) about the harsh judgment that God put upon them. The evils are listed in Jeremiah chapter 9. YHWH responded to their mourning and complaint. His statement is something that we should remember as applicable to most times and most circumstances:

“Thus says the Lord, ‘Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord which exercises lovingkindness [Hebrew, hesed], judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight,’ says the Lord.”
• Jeremiah 9:23–24

Human wisdom, might, and riches are nothing to glory or boast about. However, God says it is most admirable to glory in our knowledge and understanding of God. Why? It is because such understanding and knowledge of God brings peace and security to us even in times of trouble. It brings peace and security to know and understand that God continually exercises His love, His judgment (not only upon us but on the whole earth) and His righteousness, as it says, “in the earth” to everyone, everywhere.

We should not only glory in an understanding and knowledge of God, but we can also boast about Him (Psalm 44:8). The nations will some day glory in God (Jeremiah 4:2). God does not merely exercise love, judgment and righteousness but He “delights” in doing so. It gives Him great pleasure and joy.

The January Newsletter and Article

In the “January Newsletter ” I introduce Dr. Martin’s January 2004 article that gives a background to the revelation of the Mystery of God. It is titled “The History of the Revelation of the Mystery.” These two writings will expand your understanding and knowledge of God’s love for you at this point in your lives and in the future, your glorious future. The

Mystery of God as revealed to Paul, John, Peter and others was the epitome of God’s communication to humankind and announced the highest and greatest goal of God’s lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness. This was performed through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ Jesus in the past, and is accomplished by His present life in glory, to bring all mankind eventually into the full measure of God’s lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness as sons and daughters of God (Romans 5:11).

The apostle Paul recognized part of this even before the Mystery was revealed when he referenced this Jeremiah 9:23 passage in his first letter to the Corinthians:

“For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God has chosen the foolish things of the world [you and me] to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world [you and me] to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world [you and me], and things which are despised [you and me], has God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glories, let him glory in the Lord.”
• 1 Corinthians 1:26–31

Paul uses Jeremiah 9:23 again in 2 Corinthians 10:15–17. Paul later was still wary of glorying in the wrong thing: “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:14).

We often say, “God bless you,” to our friends and loved ones, but in the truest sense God has already done so more than we can ever imagine (Isaiah 64:4; 2 Corinthians 2:9).

David Sielaff
david@askelm.com

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