John Calvin on Idols and God's Incomprehensible Essence

"It is true that the Lord occasionally manifested this presence by certain signs, so that he was said be been face to face; but all the signs he ever employed were in apt accordance with the scheme of doctrine, and, at the same time, gave plain intimation of this incomprehensible essence.  For the cloud, and smoke, and flame, though they were symbols of heavenly glory (Deut 4:11), curbed men's minds as with a bridle, that they might not attempt to penetrate farther.  Therefore, even Moses (to whom, of all men, God manifested himself most familiarly) was not permitted though he prayed for it, to behold that face, but received for answer, the the [brightness] was too great for man (Exod 33:20).

"The Holy Spirit appeared under the form of a dove, but as it instantly vanished, who does not see that in this symbol of a moment, the faithful were admonished to regard the Spirit as invisible, to be contented with his power and grace, and not call for any external figure?  God sometimes appeared in the form of a man, but this was in anticipation of the future revelation in Christ, and therefore did not give the Jews the least pretest for setting up a symbol of Deity under the human form.

"The mercy-seat, also (Exod 25:17, 18, 21), where, under the Law, God exhibited the presence of his power, was so framed, as to intimate that God is best seen when the mind rises in admiration above itself: the cherubim with outstretched wings shaded, and the veil covered it, while the remoteness of the place was in itself a sufficient concealment.  It is therefore mere infatuation to attempt to defend images of God and the saints by the example of the cherubim.  For what, pray, did these figures mean, if not that images are unfit to represent the mysteries of God, since they were so formed as to cover the mercy-seat with their wings, thereby concealing the view of God, not only from the eye, but from every human sense, and curbing presumption?  To this we may add, that the prophets depict the seraphim, who are exhibited to us in vision, as having their faces veiled; thus intimating, that the [brightness] of the divine glory is so great, that even the angels cannot gaze upon it directly, while the minute beams which sparkle in the face of angels are shrouded from our view.  Moreover, all men of sound judgment acknowledge that the cherubim in question belonged to the old tutelage of the law.  It is absurd, therefore, to bring them forward as an example of our age.  For that period of [childish silliness], if I may so express it, to which such rudiments were adapted, has passed away.

"And surely it is disgraceful, that heathen writers should be more skillful interpreters of Scripture than the papists.  Juvenal (Satire, 14) holds up the Jews to derision for worshiping the thin clouds and firmament.  This he does perversely and [disrespectfully]; still, in denying that any visible shape of Deity existed among them, he speaks more accurately than the papists, who [foolishly talk] about there having been some visible image.  In the fact that the people every now and then rushed forth with boiling haste in pursuit of idols, just like water gushing forth with violence from a copious spring, let us learn how prone our nature is to idolatry, that we may not, by throwing the whole blame of a common vice upon the Jews, be led away by vain and sinful enticements to sleep the sleep of death" (Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin).

J.C. Ryle on Christ in the Law and Wilderness Miracles

"It was Christ who was the substance of the ceremonial law which God gave to Israel by the hand of Moses.  The morning and evening sacrifice, the continual shedding of blood, the altar, the mercy-seat, the high priest, the passover, the day of atonement, the scapegoat - all these were so many pictures, types and emblems of Christ and His work.  God had compassion upon the weakness of His people.  He taught them Christ, line upon line, and, as we teach little children, by similitudes.  It was in this sense especially that 'the law was a schoolmate to read' the Jews 'unto Christ' (Gal. 3:24).

"It was Christ to whom God directed the attention of Israel by all the daily miracles which were done before their eyes in the wilderness.  The pillar of cloud and fire which guided them, the manna from heaven which every morning fed them, the water from the smitten rock - all and each were figures of Christ.  The bronze serpent, on the memorable occasion when the plague of fiery serpents was sent upon them, was an emblem of Christ (1 Cor. 10:4; John 3:14)" (Holiness, J.C. Ryle).

Law and Gospel

When I was in fifth grade I was at that wonderful age of awkwardness.  You know that age.  It’s a time when you desire so greatly to be “like everyone else” but in reality no one is alike.  It’s that strange world of not being a kid but also not being a teenager.  One day that awkwardness got the better of me.

The playground was an emotionally dangerous place.  There were some around me who bullied me and though they wanted nothing to do with me they would never leave me alone. But I wasn’t the kid in the school who was picked on the most.  There were others who were in even worse circumstances than me and one day I found myself standing with the bullies and not against them.  They were teasing a fellow classmate and I joined the throng.  Looking back on that situation I know I was in the wrong.  And even in the moment I knew that I was joining the group that I desperately despised.  Theologian Derek Thomas has a very wise and provocative statement that describes people in who find themselves in such a situation.

“To do what others do, or what others tell you do to, when deep down one knows it is wrong is moral cowardice.”

This week we will be exploring and studying Acts 21:17-26 where Paul finds himself in such a situation.  James and the elders of the church of Jerusalem ask Paul to purify himself through a ceremony to quell the murmurings of the Jews against him.  Paul complies and in doing so seems to place the Law of Moses higher than the gospel message.  Why?  Is Paul being a moral coward to do such a thing that he seems to teach in his letters to avoid?  Is Paul forsaking the gospel and clasping on to the Law of Moses?

These are very difficult and yet important questions for us to ask of Paul and of our own hearts.  May we be prayerfully prepared for what the Holy Spirit will reveal to us through His Word and may we be willing to honestly see any moral cowardice that may be alive and well in our own hearts.