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“Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them but the rebellious stumble in them.” Hos. 14:9 NIV. The deep things of the Lord are openly hidden, revealed, yet not known. It is imperative that we have the mind of Christ in order to comprehend His righteous works among the children of men. The disciples of the Lord Jesus were puzzled because He spoke to the people in parables, but to them He spoke openly. His response was that the disciples were given the privilege of understanding the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but not the unbeliever. Mt. 13:10-11 The contrast between the thoughts of the Lord and the thoughts of mankind are diametrically opposed one to the other. The ways of the Lord are just as diverse. Isaiah was moved upon to prophecy that they are as extremely separated as the heavens are above the earth. Who knows the extent of the heavens and when will the two meet? Isa. 55:8-9 The LORD is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works. Ps. 145:17 We may not fully understand all that the Lord does nor why He works the way He does, but He is always right and works in absolute holiness and purity.
There is a natural man surrounded by a natural world. On the other hand there is a spiritual man who, while living on this earth, has discovered a spiritual world which exists in the Lord Jesus. The contrast is between soul and spirit. The first man Adam was made to be a living soul. 1 Cor 15:45 The life of the flesh is in the blood. Lev. 17:11 The last Adam was made a quickening spirit. An eternal life giving resource. These two individuals were to be the progenitors of a family. The first Adam was told to propagate and occupy the face of the earth. Gen. 1:28.
Beyond this world of distress and trouble we look forward to a new heaven and a new earth. The eternal dwelling place of the all righteous Lord and His people. 2 Peter 3:13 In that which is new we are introduced to a glorious city called the new Jerusalem. Rev. 21:2 Not a renovated or a rebuilt city but a new one. The thing that is most noteworthy about her in keeping with our subject is that she is wearing a wedding gown. She is a bride. Her Bridegroom is none other than the Lord Jesus. Their marriage is the greatest, the most glorious marriage of all time and eternity. As God the Father was married to Israel. Jer. 3:14 So the Lord Jesus will be married to His church. Eph. 5:32 A subject which is called a mystery.