14:4
Now we see a complete transformation in the attitude of God towards Israel. Paul often talks about the mystery being revealed in Christ. Two of the key themes in the Old Testament are (i) Israel’s persistent sin and rebellion, along with God’s righteous anger against this sin; the other is (ii) God’s great promises and love for Israel. The mystery is how the two can be reconciled. The gospel reveals how this happens. We should a number of things though, for much of the “church” has a deeply mistaken view of God’s salvation. First is that God “will heal their waywardness”. God accepts sinners, but He does not leave us as we were, an essential part of His salvation is that He works in our lives to change us, to heal us of waywardness. If we do not want to be changed, then the gospel has nothing to offer us, except judgement. Second is “my anger has been turned away”. This is the propitiatory nature of the cross, it turns away God’s wrath. There are many who deny that Christ took our punishment, our judgement, upon Himself. Such people are fools. We are guilty and something needs to be done about that guilt, and that happens through Christ’s death on the cross.
14:5,6
Dew brought early morning refreshment to the land. God will bring refreshment to a people in the wilderness. Acts speaks of times of refreshing (Acts 3:19,20). Without Christ decay is the thing that characterises our lives, as individuals and as societies. We see decay in our bodies, we see decline in society. When the gospel comes in life comes in, we become strong. This does not happen all at once, but it is the “direction of travel”. We become people who give off a pleasant fragrance.
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