THE SONG AND DIRGE OF REVELATION

Matt 11v 16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:

17 “‘We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not mourn.’

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”

1 Cor 14V6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? 7 Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? 8 For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?

All truth and revelation usually comes in one, or both of two forms; joyful or sobering (Matt 11v17). Whereas John's ministry of Jesus was the latter of the two, the scripture above shows that Jesus' was the former. Both were given to show that, not only does God speak in both ways, but He does so in order to save as many as possible, knowing that men react differently to different aspects of the truth. To one group of unsaved, the flute of God's promises, mercies and graces are the precious sounds which stir their soul to take hold of God, while to another group, the somber and God-fearing realities of discipline and judgment are those things which most move them to love and follow God. There is also another group which needs both. This, however, doesn't just apply to the unsaved, but to the saved as well. 

The problem however is that the saved often let those differences divide their relationships and their belief sets, settling in one of two camps of truth, instead of allowing and embracing the differences of impacts and effects that come from divine revelations of grace and judgment. John's message of judgment was needed for pharisaical men that needed a divine understanding of the severe reality of their spiritual predicament, while Jesus' message of healing, peace and Kingdom grace was needed for those like the tax collectors who would've thought that they were too far gone for the kind of salvation that Jesus was offering them. This double-sided sword message of truth didn't just exist in two people, but also was revealed in the Apostle Paul. In the book of Romans, the same book which outlines God's incredible gift of grace and mercy in all it's true colours, also states quite clearly in Romans 1v18- that the 'The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness...' The same Apostle that spoke at length about a salvation solely founded and grown by faith and grace in Galations, also warned a Corinthian Church about trying to join flagrant sin with Holy worship by telling them that some were even dying in judgment because of what they were doing (1 Cor 11v29-34). 

It is purely spiritual childishness to set ourselves in either the grace or judgment camp of spiritual revelation. No two camps were ever set up in the Bible, whether in the Old, or in the New Testament, and yet men and much of the Church has decided to, either, plant themselves in one or two of the camps, or only believe that one of the camps even exist. Men have taken one scripture here or there, and made their own doctrine out of it, and they've done this by willingly ignoring other parts of the scripture. Such men don't feel as though the whole Word has to agree with every part of itself, they simply think one part can dominate and disprove another part, which actively works to, amongst other things, undermine the authenticity and authority of the Word itself. Both grace and judgment are true, and need to be understood in the context and the light of the cross of the Lord. 

Yes, it is true, there was an Old Covenant and there now is a new one. Yes, it is true that once we were held captive by law, until the time when grace would be revealed (Gal 3:23). However, from Abraham to any new testament saint, the Word says that all were saved by faith (Rom 1:17+ Gal 3:6), and that is the most important connector for us to understand how our God relates to His people, and essentially, this reveals the heart of how He has related to all His people, in any age.