SOVEREIGNTY - PROPRIETY & ZEAL

Exodus 34: 1-14

The Reformer's Fire
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Exposition by Max A Forsythe

Question 52:
What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment?

Answer 52:
The reasons annexed to the second commandment are: God's sovereignty over us, his propriety in us, and the zeal he hath to his own worship.

Today as we conclude a six week study of the extremely vital second commandment, we sense that as a congregation we are slightly out of step with many in our own denomination but especially with evangelical protestantism more particularly. As recently as the early seventies, G.I. Williamson could go one for five pages or more with minimal expectations of criticism for putting forth the now ancient Protestant view that we are not to imagine, let alone represent artistically any member of the Godhead. One of the now quaint reasons that he gives is that if we draw upon mental images, then we will not depend upon the Holy Spirit to make Christ known to us.

Aha, is this why the comforter, the "another just like Jesus" described specifically by the Apostle John is so little known? But let us not demean the wisdom of the commandment, let me give you an historic lesson in the appropriateness of fallen human imagination. Over the years, I have had to confiscate a magazine or two from my students. I usually passed them along immediately to the discipline coordinator for counseling. You have to know that in our day and age, both young men and women wish to have their own versions of what they commonly call "eye candy". On one occasion I heard some young women complaining that their female teacher had confiscated their "Chip & Dale" cards. I was perplexed, what was wrong with the harmless Disney chipmunks that I had known in my youth. Very embarrassed, the young women had to explain that their Chippendale's were of a more exotic kind. Once I finally realized what they were talking about, I explained to them why such pornography was wrong. Simply because, the sensational, sanitized, air-brushed perfection of modern printing perfection would make any husband or wife less appreciative of their life long partner with whom only they should have such carnal knowledge.

Now, I will not get too specific here, but simply refer you to an better and more ancient book that Hebrew men were not allowed to read until they reached middle age. At that point in time they were allowed to meditate on the third book of Solomon which we now understand not only glorifies the marriage union but also hints at the beauty of holiness in the relationship between the Bride of Christ and her husband, our Lord Jesus. Yes, the Canticles of Canticles, or The Song of Songs as we now translate the title. Now, there are deep things here as we well understood from our Psalm 45 meditation this morning.

And I am afraid, much to the chagrin of my critics I must call a card a particular card, as we might from a deck of playing cards. Pictures of Christ, like illicit pictures of eye candy can be called what they truly are: spiritual pornography. I know that the term "spiritual pornography" for pictures of the Trinity is strong language indeed. It would be better understood by the Reformers whose time and culture was plagued by printed crudities from the newly fashionable printing presses. Yes, just like the world wide web, news groups, and the magazine, film and television industries, the early printers found more than just financial reward in letting their imaginations run wild. It was a scandal that only recently is being remembered.

Now if you believe my words to be too strong, just delve into a concordance and look up the passages that describe what many pundits call the world's oldest profession. In many cases, the very words and phrases apply not to practitioners, but to the spiritual interests of that day and time. Jesus especially pulls no punches in this regard as he describes the wickedness of the Sanhedrein politicians.

Now I am not going to waste your time going through passage after passage to prove the point, because you really need the inspirational encouragement of the Holy Spirit to comprehend this issue. And He it is who we push out of the way and into the background when we depend upon the popular images of our Lord Jesus Christ. Just as we have seen an increasing divorce rate in an area where "eye candy" of all types has become popular, so to may we appreciate the faithlessness of Christ's own Church in our time as well? Note well the question mark at the end of my last statement. I cannot convince you of the clarity of my understanding here. And too many in our time would close their ears when they should be closing their eyes!

With all of that said, let us go over three reasons why the Lord would have us understand HIS commandment in this manner. First, as our confession tells us, there is the matter of God's sovereignty over us. If you are not a Christian it really matters little if you agree with this line of thought. After all, this commandment is part of the first tablet of the law. As I understand it, this first tablet of four commandments are those which are willingly understood, appreciated and practiced by those whom God has called into a saving relationship. Only the second tablet of the six social commandments apply to every human in every place and time. The voluntary four as I would label them, are to be held up lovingly before God's people with the encouragement and admonition to study these issues well!

Sovereignty as a word, is a word that indicates that the One who rules over us does not yield to any higher authority. He it was that the Old Testament Church called El-Shaddai. The most High God, who is higher than any other deity imagined by the worldly crowd. In the study of Government I must clearly define what is necessary for a modern nation state. You need people (or taxpayers as some presume). You also need territory, an organized body politic. But without national sovereignty you have a dependent state! God is not dependent upon any power or person in the governance of His vast dominion. As Lord and King He is willing and able to reveal the statutes, laws and regulations of His Kingdom. And the second law is clear:

"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image ...".
This is His sovereign will.

Our confession clearly states a second reason for this commandment:

"His propriety in us".
Like sovereignty, this concept is little appreciated in our day and time. Let me try to explain it this way. In the late seventies, the United Kingdom and Argentine fought a short little war over several remote barely inhabitable islands at the southern edge of the civilized world. The Falklands and South Georgia are the islands in question. The Falklands at least were owned by a commercial company that housed people and sheep who were protected by a handful of Her Majesty's Marines. Now in that sharp conflict, the "Empire" sallied forth to reclaim her propriety interests at the end of the earth. Had the Argies simply purchased the land company through the stock markets of Europe, they might have reclaimed the property that they still consider their own. As it was, since the British stock owners of the "Empire" were protected by the crown rights of their own sovereign rulers, the war erupted.

In a similar sense, our God and King has propriety rights over His own Church because He has paid the bride price in and through the blood of Jesus Christ. Therefore we are His even as He is ours. In the corporate sense of ownership, there is a limiting factor in the vague phrases of the fourteenth amendment, which allows the sovereign power of the United States to intrude into every nook and cranny of the business relationships. Unfortunately for the worldly, their fondest claims of new found rights have no place inside the Church of Jesus Christ. By His own blood He bought her, goes the old hymn and as we shall see in the final reason, the God of heaven will not tolerate any worldly interference in the affairs of His Church!

Our last reason is described as

"the zeal he hath to his own worship."
As we have worked through the essential themes and instructional content of this commandment, we have learned that the God of heaven not only has an interest in us but also in defining our loving relationship in Himself. This is not an affection of an increasingly alternate means of intelligence where emotions and feelings are being raised to the tradition level of excellence in knowing facts and doing deeds according to a once civilized comprehension. No indeed, the God of heaven would regulate not only the social morality of the world but also the spiritual interests that we would have in Him, His Christ and through His Spirit.

If the Church of Jesus Christ would but realize this and go on to learn the clear teachings of Scripture, there would soon be a new revival, renewal and reformation of the Bride of Christ. May we earnestly desire and pray for such an even in our day, even as we wait patiently for that great day at the end of the age when all heaven breaks loose and the Great Bride Groom returns to take His own bride, the Church to be with Him for eternity.

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