“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
– Deut 29:29
I’ve heard this verse several times, and even discussed it on occasion, but just tonight I heard it on a Francis Chan audio and something struck me…
I don’t believe this merely means that God reveals to us what he will, hides what he will, and that we’re not meant to know about the hidden things of God but should acknowledge what’s been revealed; rather I think this verse implies we are to take ownership of God’s revelation – general and specific revelation, in particular the gospel.
I can hear right now some saying “You are taking that verse out of context!” Context is very important when discussing Scripture, and here’s my thought on this verse — I believe it is as true now as it was when revealed to Israel. Plus, I believe Scripture bears this out:
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
– Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
– James 1:22 (ESV)
I think “belong to us” in Deut 29:29 is especially telling in this sense. What do you do with the things that belong to you? Do you merely admit to owning them, having only a pure knowledge that they belong to you, or do you take full possession and ownership of them? For example, if you have a car do you leave it parked at home every day, merely keeping it in your possession. Probably not. You probably also drive it, put gas in it and repair it if needed.
Similarly I don’t think the revealed things of God are just ours to have a head knowledge that He’s revealed them to us, but also we are to take ownership. Or, as James might put it..
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
– James 1:22