Saturday, June 8, 2013

God who hides himself — Charles H. Spurgeon

"In the person of Jesus we see the glory of God in the veiling of his splendour. The Lord is not eager to display himself: “Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself" (Isaiah 45:15), said the prophet of old. The world seems to be created rather to hide God than to manifest him: at least, it is certain that even in the grandest displays of his power we may say with Habakkuk, “There was the hiding of his power” (Habakkuk 3:4). Though his light is brightness itself, yet it is only the robe which conceals him. “Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment” (Psalm 104:2). If thus God’s glory is seen in the field of creation as a light veiled and shaded to suit the human eye, we certainly see the like in the face of Jesus Christ where everything is mild and gentle—full of grace as well as truth. How softly breaks the divine glory through the human life of Jesus: a babe in grace may gaze upon this brightness without fear. When Moses’ face shone the people could not look thereon; but when Jesus came from his transfiguration the people ran to him and saluted him. Everything is attractive in God in Christ Jesus. In him we see God to the full, but the Deity so mildly beams through the medium of human flesh that mortal man may draw near, and look, and live. This glory in the face of Jesus Christ is assuredly the glory of God, even though veiled; for thus in every other instance doth God in measure shine forth. In providence and in nature such a thing as an unveiled God is not to be seen, and the revelation of God in Christ is after the same divine manner."

— Charles H. Spurgeon (1879). The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XXV (510). London: Passmore & Alabaster.

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