How often this exclamation escapes our lips when new things are brought to our attention. I do
not mean in the realm of endless facts of which men are "ever learning", but rather as to the truth
of God. The vast-ness of the Scripture together with its soundless depths leave much room for
others to bring up treasures new and old which, in truth, we’ve never heard before. So we rejoice
together sharing precious things. There is a certain joy in one’s own soul when used of the Lord
to refresh others with the Word of God, or to bring it in such a way as to take on fresh meaning.
Perhaps this is just another way of expressing what it is to minister the Word.
There is, however, another side of this statement. Often, when things are brought to our attention,
which we’ve never heard before, we find them simple and sometimes almost obvious. When
meanings of simple verses or passages are brought to us, does it not cause us to wonder why it
is new to us? If honest, we must confess that many things brought are new because we’ve never
taken the time to ponder the meaning and ask the Lord to reveal it to us before. And so, a lack
of exercise as to the Word has robbed us of the precious-ness of much truth.
An even darker picture, perhaps equally true, is that for years we’ve sat under the sound of
Scriptures expounded on the very subject so seemingly new, and have never given heed through
simple disinterest and unbelief. How similar to that which voiced itself to the apostle at Athens
saying, "We will hear thee again of this matter", and in the words of Felix, "When I have a
convenient season".
A parallel with Israel of old may be timely. "The LORD spoke to Joshua . . . saying . . .Every
place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given you." (Josh. 1:1-3). The whole
land lay before them but only that that they walked on was theirs. This suggests much to us. The
whole Word lay before us with treasures more than we can contain. But, only that truth which is
walked in, that is, in the power of it, is ours. We’ve heard much, often, and read more than we
can assimilate, but not enough is made ours. Much may seem new, and will ever remain such,
until with purpose of heart, and by the power of the Spirit of God we walk in the truth making it
our own. Why should the "old paths" seem "new"? Is it not a paradox? The Lord says to "walk
therein". They were not given nor will they be recovered to us_to tantalize our minds with "some
new thing".
No doubt we can often say, "I never heard that before". May we be sure it is not repeated for
truths often before us. With the Lord’s help, let us daily walk more earnestly in the truth already
learned and then ask the Lord for more.