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The Worldview of God’s Law: The Law of God in the Biblical Worldview (6)
The fulfillment of the Law awaited the coming of God’s Spirit.
“And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.” Deuteronomy 30.6
This must have struck the people of Israel as a very curious promise. What could it mean to have their hearts circumcised? Circumcision was a right securing entry to God’s Covenant for the children of believing parents. Surely the circumcision of their hearts would be a similar nature?
That a spiritual act is envisioned here is evident by the focus on the heart and soul, the inward and intangible aspects of a person’s life. God promised that a day was coming when He would do something to renew their hearts and souls so that they would be able to know His blessings and keep His Law (vv. 7-10). Israel was familiar with the existence of the Spirit of God, since He had been given to their elders for a season. But here God was pointing the people forward to a time when the Spirit would come among them in a more personal and permanent way.
Ezekiel foresaw this day (Ezek. 36.26, 27), as did Joel (2.28ff). Jesus specifically promised the Spirit to all His followers as an indwelling, teaching, and convicting presence, so that they could know eternal life (Jn. 14-16). While the Law is not as specific concerning the Spirit as subsequent revelation would be, it did point the people forward to a day of greater fulfillment, when God Himself would do something within their souls to fulfill all the promises and demands of His Covenant.
That “something” would be the gift of His Spirit (Acts 2, Gal. 4.6).
For a more complete exposition of the promises of God, order a copy of T. M.’s book, I Will Be Your God, from our online store. Subscribe to Crosfigell, the devotional newsletter of The Fellowship of Ailbe. Sent to your desktop every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, Crosfigell includes a devotional based on the literature of the Celtic Christian period and the Word of God, highlights of other columns at the website, and information about mentoring and online courses available through The Fellowship.