then ,beginng

     HEB  GEN :2. BEFORE A PLANT OF THE FIELD WAS IN THE EARTH,BEFORE A GRAIN OF THE FIELD SPROUTED-----YAHWEH HAD NOT SPILLED RAIN ON THE EARTH, NOR WAS THERE MAN TO WORK THE LAND.---YET FROM THE DAY YAHWEH MADE EARTH AND SKY, A MIST FROM WITHIN WOULD RISE TO MOISTEN THE SURFACE. YAHWEH SHAPED AN EARTHLING FROM CLAY OF THIS EARTH, BLEW INTO HIS NOSTRILS THE WIND OF LIFE. NOW LOOK: MAN BECOMES A CREATURE OF FLESH.
NOW YAHWEH PLANTED A GARDEN IN EDEN, EASTWARD, SETTLED THERE THE MAN HE FORMED. FROM THE LAND. YAHWEH GREW ALL TREES LOVELY TO LOOK UPON, GOOD TO EAT FROOM; THE TREE OF LIFE WAS THERE IN THE GARDEN, AND THE TREE OF KNOWING GOD AND BAD. OUT OF EDEN FLOWS A RIVER. IT WATERS THE GARDEN, THEN OUTSIDE, BRANCHES INTO FOUR: ONE PISHON,, WINDS THROUGH THROUGH THE WHOLE OF HAVILA, LAND WITH GOLD---- EXCELLENT GOLD, WHERE BDELLIUM IS, THE LAPIS LAZULI. THE SECOND, NAMED GIHON, MOVES THROUGH THE LENGTH OF CUSH, TIGRIS, THE THIRD, TRAVEL EAST OF ASSHUR; AND EUPHRATES IS THE FOURTH. YAHWEH LIFTS THE MAN, BRINGS HIM TO REST IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN, TO TEND IT AND WATCH. " FROM ALL THE TREES IN THE GARDEN YOU ARE FREE TO EAT"--- SO YAHWEH DESIRES MAN KNOW---"BUT THE TREE OF KNOWING GOOD AND BAD YOU WILL NOT TOUCH. EAT FROM IT," SAID YAHWEH, " AND ON THAT DAY DEATH TOUCHES YOU."  " IT IS GOOD THE MAN BE ALONE," SAID YAHWEH. "I WILL MAKE A PARTNER TO STAND BESIDE HIM."  SO YAHWEH SHAPED OUT F THE SOIL ALL THE CREATURES OF THE FIELD AND BIRDS OF THE AIR, BRINGING THEM TO MAN TO SEE HOW HE WOULD CALL THEM. WHATEVER THE MAN CALLED BECAME THE LIVING CREATURE'S NAME. SOON ALL WILD ANIMALS HAD NAMES THE THE MAN GAVE THEM, ALL BIRDS OF THE AIR AND CREATURES, OF THE FIELD, BUT THE MAN DID NOT FIND HIS PARTNER AMONG THEM. NOW YAHWEH PUT THE MAN INTO A DEEP SLEEP; WHEN HE FELL ASLEEP, TOOK A RIB, CLOSED THE FLESH OF HIS SIDE AGAIN. STARTING WITH THE PART TAKEN OUT OF THE MAN, YAHWEH SHAPED THE RIB INTO WOMAN, RETURNED HER TO THE SIDE OF THE MAN.
 " THIS ONE IS BONE OF MY BONE, FLESH, OF MY FLESH,"  SAID THE MAN."WOMAN,
 I CALL HER, OUT OF MAN SHE WAS PARTED."  SO A MAN PARTS FROM HIS MOTHER AND FATHER, CLINGS TO HIS WIFE: THEY WERE ONE FLESH. AND LOOK: HEY ARE NAKED, MAN AND WOMEN, UNTOUCHED BY SHAME, NOT KNOWING IT. NOW THE SNAKE WAS SMOOTHER-TONGUED THAN ANY WILD CREATURE THAT YAHWEH MADE."DID THE GOD REALLY MEAN," HE SAID TO THE WOMAN, "YOU CAN'T EAT FROM ANY TREE OF THE GARDEN?" "BUT THE FRUIT OF THE TREES WE MAY," SAID THE WOMAN TO THE SNAKE. " JUST THE TREE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GARDEN, THE GOD SAID. YOU CAN'T EAT FROM IT, YOU CAN'T TOUCH---WITHOUT DEATH TOUCHING YOU," " DEATH WILL  NOT TOUCH YOU," SAID THE SNAKE TO THE WOMAN " THE GOD KNOWS ON THE DAY YOU EAT FROM IT YOUR EYES WILL FALL OPEN LIKE gods, KNOWING GOOD AND BAD." NOW THE WOMAN SEES HOW GOOD THE TREE LOOKS, TO EAT, FROM, HOW LOVELY TO THE EYES, LIVELY TO THE MIND.
TO ITS FRUIT SHE REACHED; ATE, GAVE TO HER MAN, THERE WITH HER, AND HE ATE. AND THE EYES OF BOTH FELL OPEN, GRASP KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR NAKED SKIN. THEY WOUND TOGETHER FIG LEAVES, MADE COVERINGS FOR THEMSELVES. NOW THEY HEAR YAHWEH'S VOICE AMONG EVENING BREEZES, WALKING IN THE GARDEN; THEY HIDE FROM THE FACE OF YAHWEH " THE MAN AND HIS WOMAN AMONG THE TREES OF THE GARDEN. YAHWEH CALLED TO THE MAN.":WHERE ARE YOU?"  I HEARD YOUR VOICE IN THE GARDEN," HE ANSWERED."I TREMBLED. WHO TOLD YOU NAKED IS WHAT YOU ARE?  DID YOU TOUCH THE TREE I DESIRED YOU NOT EAT?" "THE WOMEN YOU GAVE ME----SHE GAVE ME
 FRUIT OF THE TREE I ATE," WHAT IS THIS YOU HAVE DONE,?" SAID YAHWEH TO THE -WOMEN. "SINCE THE SMOOTH---TONGUED SNAKE GAVE ME, I ATE. " ...........SINCE YOU
DONE THIS," SAID YAHWEH TO THE SNAKE "YOU ARE BOUND APART FROM THE FLOCKS, FROM ANY CREATURE OF THE FIELD, BOUND TO THE GROUND, CRAWLING BY YOUR SMOOTH BELLY: DIRT YOU SHALL TASTE FROM FIRST DAY TILL THE LAST. I  WILL MAKE YOU ENEMY TO WOMAN, ENMITY BOUND BETWEEN YOUR SEED AND    AND HERS. AS YOU STRIKE HIS HEEL, HE SHALL STRIKE YOUR HEAD." TO THE WOMAN HE SAID: "PAIN  INCREASING, GROANS SPREADING HAVING CHILDREN WILL BE A LABOR. TO YOUR MAN'S BODY YOUR BELLY SHALL RISE FOR HE WILL BE EAGER ABOVE YOU. THORNS AND THISTLES WILL BLOOM  BEFORE YOU; YOU WILL GRASP THE BITTER HERBS THE FIELD GIVES YOU. " AS YOU SOW THE SWEAT OF YOUR FACE SO YOU WILL REAP YOUR BREAD,TILL YOU RETURN TO EARTH--- FROM IT YOU WERE TAKEN. DUST YOU ARE, TO DUST YOU RETURN.
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ONE MAN ONE WOMAN?

" WHAT IS MAN?" ABOUT HIMSELF HE HAS EXPRESSED AND CONTINUES TO EXPRESS MANY DIVERGENT AND EVEN CONTRADICTORY OPINIONS. IN THESE HE  OFTEN EXALTS HIMSELF TO THE POINT OF DESPAIR. THE RESULT IS DOUBT AND ANXIETY.
SACRED SCRIPTURE TEACHES THAT MAN WAS CREATED  TO THE IMAGE GOD,"  IS CAPABLE OF KNOWING AND LOVING HIS CREATOR, AND WAS APPOINTED BY HIM MASTER  OF ALL EARTHLY CREATURES, THAT HE MIGHT SUBDUE THEM AND USE THEM TO GOD'S GLORY, EACH OF US IS COMPOSED OF SOUL, SPIRIT, AND MATERIALLY. WITH THE HELP OF GOD'S FURTHER REVELATION WE CAN SEE THIS IN THE STORY OF MAN MADE IN THE "IMAGE OF GOD."  AND OF   "THE DUST OF THE EARTH." THESE ARE TWO "ASPECTS" OF MAN, TWO "POWERS," TWO WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN ACT.  OUR SOUL, OR SPIRITUAL POWER, IS JUST AS REAL AS OUR MATERIALITY WHICH WE CAN SEE AND FEEL. IT IS THE CORE OF OUR BEING, OUR CONSCIOUS, OUR INNERMOST "ME". IT INFUSES EVERY PART OF US THAT IS ALIVE.
IT ENABLES US TO THINK AND MAKE FREE CHOICES. WHEN WE THINK, WE CALL THIS POWER OUR INTELLECT OR MIND; WHEN, WE CALL IT OUR FREE WILL.  WE MAKE FREE CHOICES,  UNTIL "DEATH" KNOCKS ON THE DOOR. THEN WE FIND OUT
THAT MAN MEETS HIS MAKER, AND JESUS SAYS: MAN IS LIKE A PUFF OF DUST, AND HIS DAYS WERE LIKE A PASSING' SHADOW  THE BIBLE FACES THE FACT THAT DEATH COMES TO EVERYONE. ON THE OTHER HAND, DEATH IS SEEN AS SOMETHING EVIL THAT STRIKES A NOTE OF TERROR IN ALL OUR MINDS. THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE THERE IS A CLOSE LINK  BETWEEN DEATH AND SIN. DEATH IS PART OF THE JUDGMENT THAT COMES TO ADAM. AFTER HIS DISOBEDIENCE. PAUL REGARDS DEATH AS INEVITABLE CONSEQUENCE OF THE PRESENCE OF SIN IN THE WORLD. FOR GOD IS 'HOLY' AND CANNOT TOLERATE EVIL. IF WE DIE WITH SIN UNFORGIVEN, OUR DEATH IS NOT ONLY PHYSICAL, BUT SPIRITUAL. SINCE THE FALL OF ADAM AND EVE THE WHOLE CREATION HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY THEIR REBELLION AGAINST GOD. SIN CAME INTO THE WORLD THROUGH ONE MAN, AND HIS SIN BROUGHT DEATH WITH IT. AS A RESULT DEATH HAS SPREAD TO THE WHOLE HUMAN RACE BECAUSE EVERYONE HAS SINNED. EVERY PART OF THE UNIVERSE IS AFFECTED BY SIN BOTH PEOPLE AND THE NATURAL WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE. ALTHOUGH WE STILL HAVE MUCH OF THE ORIGINAL NATURE GOD GAVE US, AND WE STILL KNOW AND SEARCH FOR GOD, YET WE HAVE AN INBUILT BIAS TOWARDS SIN. NEW TESTAMENT  OFTEN SPEAKS OF NON-CHRISTIANS AS BEING PHYSICALLY ALIVE, BUT 'SPIRITUALLY' DEAD BECAUSE OF DISOBEDIENCE AND SINS. WHEN JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS HE TOOK THE ULTIMATE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN ON HIS SELF. HIS RESURRECTION SHOWED THAT HE HAD DEFEATED DEATH SO ALTHOUGH OUR HUMAN FATE IS TO DIE, BY FAITH IN CHRIST WE CAN HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.  THE CHRISTIAN IS ALREADY LIFTED OUT OF OF SPIRITUAL DEATH TO NEW LIFE AND LOOKS FORWARD TO THE END OF THE AGE WHEN PHYSICAL DEATH, ' THE LAST ENEMY, WILL ALSO BE OVERCOME. YOU DID NOT CHOOSE ME; I CHOSE YOU; SAID JESUS. THESE WORDS SUM UP THE  BIBLE'S TEACHING ON ELECTION. (CHOICE). BECAUSE GOD IS THE ALL POWERFUL CREATOR HE IS THE ONE WHO MAKES THE ULTIMATE DECISIONS-NOT MAN. YOU DID NOT CHOSE  ME; I CHOSE YOU. SAID JESUS. THESES WORDS SUM UP THE BIBLE TEACHING ON ELECTION. (CHOICE.) BECAUSE GOD IS THE ALL POWERFUL CREATOR HE IS THE ONE WHO MAKES THE ULTIMATE DECISIONS.-- NOT MAN. THE OLD TESTAMENT RECORDS HOW GOD CHOSE PEOPLE. HE CHOSE ABEL NOT CAIN , ISAAC  AND NOT ISHMAEL; JACOB NOT ESAU; JOSEPH NOT HIS BROTHERS. THEY WERE NOT CHOSEN FOR THEIR OWN GOODNESS OR GREATNESS.
 MOSES TELLS THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL: THE LORD DID NOT LOVE YOU AND CHOOSE YOU BECAUSE YOU OUTNUMBERED OTHER PEOPLES... BUT THE LORD LOVED YOU. DO NOT SAY TO YOURSELVES THAT HE BROUGHT IN TO POSSESS THIS LAND BECAUSE YOU DESERVED IT. THE REASON FOR GOD'S CHOICE IS HIDDEN WITHIN HIS OWN MIND AND NO HUMAN MIND OR HUMAN BEING CAN UNDERSTAND IT. IT IS CLEAR, HOWEVER, THAT THOSE WHO ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE OF GOD'S CHOICE ARE EXPECTED TO OBEY HIM AND GIVE THEIR LIVES IN HIS SERVICE. THIS WAS SO FOR ABRAHAM AND THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL. IT IS NOW TRUE OF CHRISTIANS.  YOU ARE THE CHOSEN RACE., THE KING'S PRIESTS. THE HOLY NATION, GOD'S OWN PEOPLE, CHOSEN TO PROCLAIM THE WONDERFUL ACTS OF GOD., WHO CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS OWN MARVELOUS LIGHT. FAITH. PAUL CAREFULLY EXPLAINS IN HIS LETTERS TO THE CHRISTIANS IN BOTH ROME AND GALATIA THAT A PERSON CAN FIND A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, NOT THROUGH YOUR OWN GOOD DEEDS ( AS PEOPLE OFTEN THINK) BUT ONLY THROUGH FAITH OR BELIEVING.
FAITH MEANS HAVING CONFIDENCE AND TRUST IN GOD.. IT IS NOT A 'LEAP' IN THE DARK. WHICH A MAN MUST TAKE. WITHOUT THINKING. IT IS A TRUST IN GOD WHOM WE BELIEVE TO BE TRUSTWORTHY. CONFIDENT IN THIS KNOWLEDGE A PERSON CAN BELIEVE AND ENTRUST HIS LIFE TO JESUS CHRIST. AS SINFUL PEOPLE WE CAN DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO SAVE OURSELVES. WE HAVE TO DEPEND TOTALLY ON WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY DONE FOR US THROUGH JESUS. THIS IS THE START OF A LIFE OF FAITH. NO ONE CAN BE CERTAIN OF LIVING ARIGHT BY HIS OWN EFFORTS. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO TRUST WHOLLY IN JESUS AND THE SPIRIT HE GIVES US THAT HELPS US LIVE IN A WAY THAT PLEASES GOD. THIS LIFE OF DEPENDANCE ON GOD GOES RIGHT BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF GOD'S DEALINGS WITH MAN, AS PAUL SHOWS WHEN HE TRACES IT BACK TO ABRAHAM. THE NEW TESTAMENT
 ALSO REFERS TO THE "FAITH" MEANING THE BASIC TEACHING ABOUT JESUS ON WHICH OUR TRUST IF ROUNDED.


   

AUTHORITY OF JESUS.

 FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE UNTO AN HOUSEHOLDER, WHICH WENT OUT EARLY IN THE MORNING TO HIRE LABOURERS INTO HIS VINEYARD.AND WHEN HE AGREED WITH THE LABOURSERS FOR PENNY A DAY, (32) DOLLARS HE SENT THEM INTO THE VINEYARD. AND ABOUT THE THIRD HOUR HE WENT OUT, AND SAW OTHERS STANDING IDLE IN THE MARKETPLACE, AND SAID UNTO THEM; GO YE ALSO INTO THE VINEYARD, AND WHATSOEVER IS RIGHT I WILL GIVE YOU. AND THEY WENT THEIR WAY. AGAIN HE WENT OUT ABOUT THE SIXTH HOUR (NOON) AND NINTH HOUR (3PM) AND DID LIKEWISE AND ABOUT THE ELEVENTH HOUR (5 PM) HE WENT OUT, AND FOUND OTHERS STANDING AROUND IDLE?  THEY SAY UNTO HIM, BECAUSE NO MAN HIRED US. HE SAITH UNTO THEM H GO YE ALSO INTO THE VINEYARD AND WHATSOEVER IS RIGHT, THAT SHALL YOU RECEIVE. SO WHEN EVENING WAS COME, THE LORD OF THE VINEYARD SAITH UNTO HIS STEWARD, CALL THE LABOURERS, AND GIVE THEM THEIR HIRE, BEGINNING FROM THE LAST UNTO THE FIRST. AND WHEN THEY CAME THAT WERE HIRED ABOUT THE ELEVENTH HOUR, THE RECEIVED EVERY MAN A PENNY ($32). BUT WHEN THE FIRST, THEY SUPPOSE THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED MORE; AND THEY LIKEWISE EVERY MAN RECEIVED A PENNY. ($32). BUT WHEN THE FIRST CAME, THEY SUPPOSED THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED MORE; AND THEY LIKEWISE RECEIVED EVERY MAN A PENNY. AND WHEN THEY HAVE RECEIVED IT THEY MURMURED AGAINST THE GOODMAN OF THE HOUSE, (LANDOWNER) SAYING ,, THESE LAST HAVE WROUGHT BUT ONE HOUR, AND THOU HAVE MADE THEM EQUAL UNTO US, WHICH HAVE BORN THE BURDEN AND  THE HEAT OF THE DAY DAY. BUT HE ANSWERED ONE OF THEM, AND SAID, FRIEND, I DO YOU NO WRONG: DID NOT THOU AGREE WITH ME FOR A PENNY ($32) TAKE THAT THINE IS AND GO THY WAY: I WILL GIVE UNTO THIS LAST, EVEN UNTO THEE. ONE DAY. WHEN HE WAS TEACHING THE PEOPLE IN THE TEMPLE AND PROCLAIMING THE GOOD NEWS, THE HIGH PRIESTS AND PHARISEES ACCOMPANIED BY THE ELDERS, APPROACHED HIM WITH THE QUESTION, 'TELL US, BY WHAT AUTHORITY DO YOU DO THESE THINGS? IN OTHER WORDS, WHO HAS AUTHORIZED YOU?" HE REPLIED, " LET ME PUT A QUESTION FOR YOU TO ANSWER: DID THE BAPTISM OF JOHN COME FROM  GOD OR FROM MEN?" THEY HELD A BRIEF CONFERENCE DURING WHICH SOMEONE SAID, " IF WE ANSWER, " FROM GOD,' HE WILL SAY, ' THEN WHY DO YOU NOT BELIEVE IT?';  WHERE AS IF WE SAY, 'FROM MEN,' TE PEOPLE WILL STONE US, SO CONVINCED ARE THEY THAT JOHN WAS A PROPHET" THEY ENDED BY REPLYING THEY DID NOT KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM, " IN THAT CASE, NEITHER WILL I TELL YOU BY WHOSE AUTHORITY I ACT. HE THEN BEGAN TO TELL THE PARABLE OF THE TENETS IN THE FOLLOWING PARABLE: "A MAN PLANTED A VINEYARD, LEASED IT T TENANT FARMERS, AND WENT AWAY FOR A LONG TIME. AT VINTAGE TIME HE SENT A SERVANT TO THE TENANT FARMERS TO RECEIVE  HIS SHARE OF THE CROP FROM THEM; ; BUT THEY BEAT HIM AND SENT HIM AWAY EMPTY-HANDED, AFTER TREATING HIM SHAMEFULLY. HE SENT STILL A THIRD, WHOM THEY LIKEWISE MALTREATED BEFORE DRIVING HIM AWAY. THE OWNER OF THE VINEYARD ASKED HIMSELF,'WHAT AM I TO DO NOW.? PERHAPS IF I SEND THE SON I LOVE, THEY WILL RESPECT HIM.' ' BUT WHEN THE TENANT FARMERS SAW THE SON, THEY REFLECTED, ' THIS IS THE HEIR. LET US KILL HIM SO THAT THE INHERITANCE WILL BE OURS'. WITH THAT THEY DRAGGED HIM OUTSIDE THE VINEYARD AND KILLED HIM. WHAT FATE DO YOU SUPPOSE THE OWNER OF THE VINEYARD HAS IN STORE FOR THEM. I WILL TELL YOU HE WILL MAKE A END TO THOSE TENANT FARMERS. WHEN THEY H/;'

JESUS SAID, "GOD FORBID!" HE LOOKED DIRECTLY AT THEM AND SAID, " WHAT DO THE SCRIPTURES MEAN WHEN THEY SAY,, " THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE KEYSTONE OF THE STRUCTURE"?  THE MAN WHO FALLS ON THAT STONE WILL BE SMASHED TO PIECES. IT WILL MAKE DUST OF ANYONE ON WHOM IT FALLS. AT THESE WORDS THE SCRIBES AND HIGH PRIESTS TRIED TO GET THEIR HANDS ON HIM., BUT THEY WERE AFRAID OF THE PEOPLE THEY WERE WELL AWARE THAT HE HAD TOLD THE PARABLE WITH THEM I MIND. WHAT FATE DO YOU SUPPOSE THE OWNER OF THE VINEYARD HAS IN STORE FOR THEM.?.. HE WILL MAKE AN END TO THOSE TENANT FARMERS AND GIVE THE VINEYARD TO OTHERS" (LK. 20:15-16.) LUKE    GIVES ONLY THE ESSENTIALS  OF THE PARABLE OF TE HOMICIDAL VINEYARD DRESSERS. MATTHEW AND MARK HAVE ALREADY BROUGHT OUT THE OWNER'S SOLICITUDE FOR HIS VINEYARD, WHICH HE ENTRUSTED TO THE CRIMINALS TENANTS (MAT 21 AN MARK CHAP 12). IN A STORY OF THIS SORT, THE ALLEGORY IS CARRIED THROUGH FROM THE BEGINNING TO END. . THE IDENTIFICATION OF CHRIST WITH THE IMMOLATED SON IS OBVIOUS.  THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE SUPPLANTING OF THE VINEDRESSERS OF THE TEMPORAL ISRAEL BY THOSE OF THE NEW ISRAEL IS ALSO CLEAR (LK 20:16).   SOME SADDUCEES CAME FORWARD ( THE ONES WHO CLAIM THERE IS NO RESURRECTION) TO POSE THIS PROBLEM TO HIM. " MASTER, MOSES PRESCRIBED THAT IF A MAN'S BROTHER DIES LEAVING A WIFE AND NO CHILD THE BROTHER SHOULD MARRY THE WIDOW AND RAISE POSTERITY TO HIS BROTHER. NOW THERE WERE SEVEN BROTHERS. THE FIRST ONE MARRIED AND DIED CHILDLESS, NEXT THE SECOND BROTHER MARRIED THE WIDOW, THEN THE THIRD, AND SO ON. ALL SEVEN DIED WITHOUT LEAVING HER ANY CHILDREN. FINALLY THE WIDOW HERSELF DIED. AT THE RESURRECTION, WHOSE WIFE WILL SHE BE? REMEMBER, SEVEN MARRIED HER". JESUS SAID TO THEM: " THE CHILDREN OF THIS AGE MARRY AND OUR GIVEN IN MARRIAGE. BUT THOSE JUDGE WORTHY OF A PLACE IN THE AGE TO COME AND OF RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD DO NOT. THEY BECOME LIKE ANGELS AND ARE NO LONGER LIABLE FOR DEATH. SONS OF RESURRECTION, THEY ARE SONS OF GOD. MOSES IN THE PASSAGE ABOUT THE BUSH SHOWED THAT THE DEAD RISE AGAIN WHEN HE CALLED THE LORD THE GOD OF ABRAHAM AND THE GOD OF ISAAC AND THE GOD OF JACOB. GOD IS NOT HE GOD OF THE DEAD, BUT OF THE LIVING ALL ARE ALIVE FOR HIM. THEY DID NOT ASK ANY MORE QUESTIONS.

JESUS OLD TESTAMENT PROMISE. [WAS FULFILLED]

 EVEN IF MATTHEW'S GENEALOGY IS UNDERSTANDABLY OMITTED FROM THE READINGS AT OUR CHRISTMAS SERVICE., THE LIST WILL UNDOUBTEDLY INCLUDE OTHER PORTIONS FROM THE REST OF MATTHEW 1 AND 2, FOR THEY ARE AMONG THE MOST FAMILIAR STORIES. OF THE INFANCY STORIES. MATTHEW WEAVES TOGETHER FIVE SCENES FROM THE CONCEPTION, BIRTH AND EARLY CHILDHOOD OF JESUS.  AND THEN PERHAPS FOR THEIR BENEFIT OF THOSE WHO MISSED THE POINT OF HIS GENEALOGY(OR MORE LIKELY SKIPPED IT ALTOGETHER), HE TIES  UP EACH OF THOSE FIVE SCENES TO A QUOTATION FROM THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES WHICH, HE CLAIMS, HAS BEEN FULFILLED BY THE EVENT DESCRIBED. THROUGH THE FIVE SCENES FROM JESUS CHILDHOOD, TO WHICH TIES UP THROUGH HEBREW SCRIPTURES WHICH HE CLAIMS, HAS BEEN "FULFILLED" BY THE EVENT DESCRIBED.
1). THE ASSURANCE TO JOSEPH CONCERNING THE CHILD CONCEIVED IN MARY.[1:18-25'] TO FULFILL'  ISAIAH 7:14 WHICH WAS THE IMMANUEL SIGN, GIVEN BY ISAIAH TO KING AHAZ.
2). THE FACT THAT JESUS WAS BORN IN BETHLEHEM: 2:1-12 'TO FULFILL' MICAH 5:2 IN WHICH IT IS PROPHESIED THAT A RULER OF ISRAEL WILL COME FROM BETHLEHEM.
3). THE ESCAPE TO EGYPT, AND THEN THE RETURN FROM THERE: 2: 13-15 'TO FULFILL HOSEA 11:1, WHICH IS A REFERENCE TO GOD HAVING BROUGHT ISRAEL, HIS SON, OUT OF EGYPT, AT THE EXODUS.
4). THE MURDER OF THE BOYS IN BETHLEHEM: :2 :6-18 'TO FULFILL JEREMIAH 31:15, WHICH IS A LAMENT FOR THE ISRAELITES WHO WERE GOING INTO EXILE.
5) THE SETTLEMENT OF JESUS FAMILY IN NAZARETH. THE FIVE SCENES THE       COVER THE EARLY LIFE OF JESUS. FOUR HUNDRED YEARS AGO, IN THE FALL OF 1521, DR. MARTIN LUTHER, IN THE SECLUSION OF WARTBURG CASTLE, CONCEIVED THE STUPENDOUS TASK. TO THIS VERY HOUR THE LUTHERAN CHURCH, FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ITS GREAT TEACHER, CHERISHES THE LESSON WHICH LUTHER EXPOUNDED TO THE WORLD. HER MOTTO IS TO THIS DAY: "SOLA SCRIPTURA"  BIBLE ALONE. BY THE GRACE OF GOD THE LUTHERAN CHURCH HAS REMAINED THE BIBLE CHURCH. THERE IS NO GREATER TASK OF SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES WHICH SHE PERFORMS.

DYNAMICS IN THE. NEW TESTAMENT}

 IF ONE STOPS READING THE BIBLE WITH THE OLD TESTAMENT, THERE IS NO SENSE OF INCOMPLETENESS. JEWS FIND IT A COMPLETE AND SATISFYING WORK. AS THE BOOKS ARE ORDERED IN THE HEBREW BIBLE, THE OLD TESTAMENT DOES NOT END. ON A NOTE OF EXPECTATION OR WAITING; THE FINAL BOOK IS CHRONICLES IN WHICH, AS WE HAVE SEEN, SPATIAL IMAGERY WITH GOD'S PEOPLE. CENTERED AT THE TEMPLE DOMINATES OVER TEMPORAL METAPHORS. FROM THAT BOOK'S POINT OF VIEW, THE EXILE IS OVER. AND THE CHOSEN PEOPLE ARE ONCE AGAIN AT-CENTER IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD. IF HOWEVER, ONE CONTINUES READING INTO, THE OLD TESTAMENT-- THE NEW TESTAMENT---- WITHOUT ITS TEXT CHANGING--- IS TRANSFORMED INTO A BOOK OF PROMISES AND SCENES OF WAITING EXPECTATION WHICH ARE FULFILLED IN THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY. THE OLD TESTAMENT LOSES IT'S AUTONOMY AND BECOMES  SUBORDINATED TO THE NEW TESTAMENT, WITHIN THE HISTORY OF RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS THE PROCESS OF SCRIPTURAL USURPATION  DOES NOT END WITH CHRISTIANITY. ISLAM SUPERSEDES CHRISTIANITY, AND BAHAI SUPERSEDES ISLAM. THE BIBLE WHICH WE ARE CONCERNED, HOWEVER, IS THE CHRISTIAN BIBLE. THAT SHOULD BE DONE WITH FULL RECOGNITION THAT EVEN THE TERMS "OLD TESTAMENT" AND " NEW TESTAMENT." ARISE IN A CHRISTIAN CONTEXT. THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY CONTINUES THE LINE OF THE COVENANTAL PEOPLE LIVING IN DIALOGUE  WITH GOD. ISRAELITE RELIGION WAS NEVER MONOLITHIC. PROPHETS, PRIESTS, KINGS, AND WISE MEN WERE ALL CHANNELS OF THE DIVINE WORD, AND THEY DID NOT ALWAYS AGREE WITH EACH OTHER. IN THE PERIOD FROM 4OO B.C. TO 2OO A.D.., HOWEVER, THE CENTERS OF CONFLICT WITHIN THE RELIGION SHIFTED. CONFLICT BEGAN TO REVOLVE AROUND THE INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURE. CHRISTIANITY AROSE AMONG PEOPLE INFLUENCED BY APOCALYPTIC EXPECTATION. THERE WERE OTHER JEWISH SECTS OTHER THAN CHRISTIANITY, WHICH HAD A STRONG APOCALYPTIC BIAS;  THE ESSENE COMMUNITY AT WADI QUMRAN IS A NOTABLE  EXAMPLE. RABBAN YOHANAN ben ZAKKAI (FIRST CENTURY A.D.) REFLECTS THE PHARISAIC STRAND OF JUDAISM IN HIS ATTITUDE TOWARD MESSIANISM. IT IS CAPSULATED IN THE FOLLOWING FAMOUS SAYING:" IF YOU HAVE A SAPLING IN YOUR HAND, AND IT SAID TO YOU, BEHOLD, THERE IS THE MESSIAH, GO ON WITH YOUR PLANTING, AND AFTERWARD GO OUT AND RECEIVE HIM. VARIOUS KINDS OF ELITISM EMERGED AMONG DIFFERENT SECTS. SADDUCEES WILLINGLY ACCOMMODATED TO FOREIGN RULE AND SHARED THE RESPONSIBILITIES O F GOVERNING THE JEWS. AT THE OTHER EXTREME WERE THE SICARII, A RADICAL GROUP OF ZEALOTS, WHO SLIPPED AROUND IN CROWDED AREAS, KNIFING THEIR ENEMIES IN THE BACK. BY THE TIME CHRISTIANITY A ROSE, JUDAISM HAD AN ESTABLISHED BODY OF WRITTEN SCRIPTURE AVAILABLE IN BOTH HEBREW AND GREEK. THE SEPTUAGINT VARIED FROM HEBREW SCRIPTURES IN THE TOTAL, BUT IN EACH THE LAW (PENTATEUCH) AND PROPHETS. WERE THE SAME. INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURE THEN BECOMES A SURROGATE FOR CHANGING THE TEXT. WITH JESUS CHRIST AS THE SOLE DISCLOSURE OF GOD IN THE NEW TESTAMENT A NEW SYMBOLISM OF THE CENTER EMERGES THE CENTER BECOMES WHERE JESUS IS. THROUGH PROPER RELATION TO HIM, MAN FINDS BLESSING PEACE, AND SALVATION.
 THE ONE "AWAY" FROM HIM EXPERIENCES DISTRESS, ALIENATION, AND DAMNATION. AMONG THE MANY STORIES WHICH CREATE THE FIGURE OF JESUS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION NARRATIVES ARE DETERMINATIVE. THEREFORE, THE NEW CENTER BECOMES, MORE PRECISELY, WHERE JESUS THE CRUCIFIED AND RESURRECTED ONE IS JESUS DIES IN JERUSALEM BECAUSE THAT IS THE CENTER, THE PLACE OF SALVATION. ENTERS THE END OF THE PASSION NARRATIVES IN THE GOSPELS.  JERUSALEM IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE THEIR THE CHRIST DIED. CENTER SYMBOLISM THUS SHIFTS TO IMAGES OF THE LAND, JERUSALEM TEMPLE) TO THOSE OF PERSON. THE CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS ARE ALSO CENTRAL TO THE BIBLE. AMONG THE STORIES IN THE GOSPELS THE CRUCIFIXION  AND RESURRECTION WITNESS AN UNPRECEDENTED MOMENT OF DIVINE DISCLOSURE AND HUMAN UNDERSTANDING. THAT TWO FOLD EVENT ALSO FULFILLS SCRIPTURE. IT IS THE NEW EXODUS; (LK. 9:31). IT REENACTS DELIVERANCE IN THE WILDERNESS (JN:3:14); IT IS THE PERFECT SACRIFICE OFFERED BY A PRIEST OF THE LINEAGE OF MELCHIZEDEK ( SEE HEBREWS ) IT IS THE OFFERING OF THE PASCHAL LAMB (1 COR. 5;7).; IT IS THE FULFILLMENT OF THE SUFFERING SERVANT IN DEUTERO-ISAIAH ( ACTS 8:32). THE CENTRAL POSITION OF JESUS DEATH AND RESURRECTION CONTINUES THROUGHOUT THE NEW TESTAMENT.

STORY OF EHUD, THE LEFT-HANDED MAN. (JUDGES 3:12-30)

 THE STORY OF EHUD IS A POPULAR TALE ABOUT A CLEVER FELLOW WHO TURNS HIS HANDICAP INTO AN ASSET AS HE TRICKS THE KING UNDER WHOM HE AND HIS PEOPLE ARE SUBJUGATED. THERE ARE TWO MAIN CHARACTERS,EHUD AND KING EGLON. WE KNOW FROM THE BEGINNING HOW TO ASSESS EACH OF THEM.. EGLON IS "A VERY FAT" MAN;  HIS NAME IS ASSOCIATED WITH "COW" AND "ROUND." WHICH EVOKES A CHUCKLE. EHUD, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS A DELIVERER RAISED UP BY THE LORD. HE IS A BENJAMINITE, LITERALLY A "SON OF THE RIGHT HAND," AND LEFT-HANDED. THAT DESCRIPTION FOCUSES OUR ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY ON THE HAND WHICH PLAYS SUCH A CRITICAL ROLE THROUGHOUT THE NARRATIVE. AS THE STORY OPENS, THE PEOPLE ISRAEL ARE SUBJECT TO EGLON, THE KING OF MOAB (3:15). THEY SEND TRIBUTE BY EHUD TO THE KING. DRAMATIC CONFLICT IS SET IN MOTION WHEN EHUD MAKES A SWORD AND HIDES IT " ON HIS RIGHT THIGH UNDER HIS CLOTHS(3:16). AFTER A TRIBUTE HAS BEEN PRESENTED, EHUD ADDRESSES THE KING. HIS SPEECH IS CRITICAL, FOR ON IT TURNS THE PLOT: " I HAVE A SECRET MESSAGE FOR YOU O KING "(3:19). IN RESPONSE EGLON COMMANDS QUIET.  AND ALL HIS SERVANTS LEAVE. AS THEY GO OUT, EHUD COMES IN AND  REPEATS HIS MESSAGE WITH A SLIGHT VARIATION" " I HAVE A MESSAGE FROM GOD FOR YOU" THE SECRET WORD  BY THE TWO MOUTHED (TWO EDGED) SWORD, IS TAKEN FROM CONCEALMENT UNDER EHUD'S CLOAK AND THRUST INTO A NEW HIDING PLACE IN THE KING'S BELLY. WITH THE MURDER THE STORY REACHES A CLIMAX. ACTION SET IN MOTION BY SPEECH, MOVES RAPIDLY; THE LANGUAGE IS DENSE WITH VERBS. THE PLAYFUL IRONY WITH WHICH THE KING'S FATNESS HAS BEEN TREATED CHANGES TO A GRUESOME DETAIL OF DEATH.:"  AND THE HILT ALSO WENT IN AFTER THE BLADE, FOR HE DID NOT DRAW THE SWORD OUT OF THE BELLY; AND THE DIRT
 [FECES] CAME OUT. A SHIFT IN NAMING OCCURS. WHEREAS IN EARLIER NARRATION, EGLON IS NAMED AND EHUD IS REFERRED TO IMPERSONALLY AS "HE," OR "HIM." SCENE CLOSES WITH A REVERSAL OF THE OPENING MOVEMENT.. THE SCENE CLOSES WITH A  REVERSAL OF THE OPENING MOVEMENT. BODYGUARDS CROSS PATHS IN THE SPACE OF ONE VERSE. WHEN THE SERVANTS FIND THE DOORS LOCKED, THEY SAY:. HE IS ONLY RELIEVING HIMSELF IN THE CLOSET OF THE COOL CHAMBER (3:24). [EGLON]

SONG OF DEBORAH. [JUDGES 5]

SONGS CONVEY A WIDE RANGE OF HUMAN EXPRESSION IN THE BIBLE, AND THEY ARE SUNG IN CONNECTION WITH MANY KINDS OF ACTIVITIES. WORKING MEN SING, AS FOR EXAMPLE, THE WORKMEN DIGGING A WELL IN NUMBERS 21:18. LOVERS SING TO EACH OTHER. IN THE SONG OF SONGS (OR SONG OF SOLOMON) THERE IS A COLLECTION OF LOVE SONGS EXPRESSING.ROMANTIC PASSION THROUGH DESCRIPTIONS OF A LOVER'S BODY, SEXUAL IMAGERY, AN PASTORAL OR AGRICULTURAL SCENES. SONGS CAN ALSO EXPRESS MOCKERY AND RIDICULE. THE PROPHET IN THE REVELATION TO JOHN MOCKS THE CITY OF BABYLON AS HE LAMENTS HER FALL (REV.18),  TH SON OF DEBORAH IN JUDGES 5 IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL SONGS IN THE BIBLE. IT DESCRIBES THROUGH POETRY A BATTLE BETWEEN THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DEBORAH AND BARAK, AND THEIR ENEMY LED BY SISERA. IT IS IN MANY WAYS A DIFFICULT PIECE TO INTERPRET; THE TEXT IS UNCERTAIN AT SEVERAL PLACES, AND THE MEANING OF SOME WORDS REMAINS IN DOUBT. NONETHELESS , IT MAKES EFFECTIVE USE OF MOST ELEMENTS OF BIBLICAL POETRY, AND A COMPARISON BETWEEN DEBORAH'S SONG. AND A PROSE RENDITION OF THE SAME BATTLE IS DESCRIBED THROUGH A SERIES OF SCENES IN JUDGES 4. IT WILL PROVIDE A TRANSITION TO THE ANALYSIS OF STORY IN THE BIBLE. AFTER A LITURGICAL OPENING, CONSISTING OF A BLESSING (5:2-5 vs .2), A HYMNIC INTRODUCTION VS.3), AND A PASSAGE THAT DESCRIBES GOD IN TRADITIONAL THEOPHANIC LANGUAGE. THE SECOND SCENE DESCRIBES THE STATE OF ISRAEL PRIOR TO THE RISE OF DEBORAH. THOSE DAYS ARE EFFECTIVELY PORTRAYED THROUGH PEASANTRY THROUGH THE REPETITION OF THE VERB "DISAPPEAR": " CARAVANS HAD DISAPPEARED,... PEASANTRY HAD DISAPPEARED DISAPPEARED DISAPPEARED IN ISRAEL. BEFORE DEBORAH "AROSE," ISRAEL WAS THREATENED BY EXTINCTION.  IN THE FACE OF THREAT DEBORAH  SHIFT IN ISRAEL'S FORTUNE IS ASSERTED BY THE  REPETITION OF THAT VERB " UNTIL YOU "AROSE" , O DEBORAH YOU AROSE A MOTHER IN ISRAEL. (5:7). THE SITUATIONS BEFORE AND AFTER DEBORAH ARE CLEARLY CONTRASTED. THE CONTRAST IS COMPLETE IN ITSELF.  SCENE THREE THEN SHIFTS BACK TO LITURGICAL EXHORTATION TO HEAR A SONG vs10, vs.3). SCENE FOUR PRESENTS A MOMENT OF ACTION, THE GATHERING OF TRIBES INTO THE VALLEY IN PREPARATION FOR WAR. CONCENTRIC DEVELOPMENT IS ESPECIALLY EVIDENT IN THAT SCENE:VERSES 12-15a  BEGIN AND END WITH REFERENCES  TO DEBORAH AND BARAK: THE TAUGHT SONG AGAINST REUBEN BEGINS AND ENDS WITH THE SAME LINE.; AND THE FAILURE OF GILEAD, DAN, AND ASHER TO PARTIS A PARTICIPATE IN THE BATTLE, IS UNDERSCORED  BY THE REPETITION OF THE VERB "REMAIN" IN THE FIRST AND LAST LINES: GILEAD REMAINED BY HIS LANDINGS, SCENE FOUR ENDS, MOREOVER," AS IT BEGAN., WITH PRAISE FOR THOSE TRIBES WHO DID WILLINGLY GAHER FOR BATTLE. THE SONG THEN CONCLUDES WITH A LITURGICAL EJACULATION, A WARNING AND A CURSE TO THOSE WHO WOULD CROSS THE LORD.: " SO PERISH ALL THY ENEMIES, LORD/ BUT THY FRIENDS BE AS A RISING SUN IN HIS MIGHT (vs.31).

THE WORLD OF THE "I" IN THE PSALMS.

 THE WORLD CREATED THROUGH THE POETIC LANGUAGE OF THE PSALMS MIRRORS IN MINIATURE THE WHOLE BIBLE.  THE PSALMS MIRRORS IN MINIATURE THE WHOLE BIBLE. THE PSALMS REFLECT THE OLD TESTAMENT WORLD, AND THEY SIGNIFICANTLY SHAPE THE LANGUAGE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. "MARTIN LUTHER" WROTE IN HIS INTRODUCTION TO THE PSALMS: IT COULD WELL BE CALLED A "LITTLE BIBLE" SINCE IT CONTAINS, SET OUT IN THE BRIEFEST AND MOST BEAUTIFUL FORM, ALL THAT IS TO BE FOUND IN THE WHOLE BIBLE.... IN ORDER THAT THOSE WHO COULD NOT READ THE WHOLE BIBLE THROUGH WOULD HAVE ALMOST THE WHOLE OF IT IN SUMMARY FORM, COMPRISED IN A SINGLE BOOKLET.
OF THE 150 PSALMS, 123 ARE WRITTEN AT LEAST IN PART FROM THE FIRST-PERSON POINT OF VIEW. FROM THE VANTAGE POINT OF THE "I" A WORLD OF RELATIONSHIPS IS CREATED. THE "I" CARVES OUT A WORLD POSITS A COMPLEX OF FORCES. FROM THAT INTERIOR VIEWPOINT, THE "I" IN THE PSALMS DESCRIBES SOCIAL AND POLITICAL FORCES, AS WELL AS THE THREATENING OF CHAOS AND THE ORDERING POWER OF GOD. INSOFAR AS THE "I" IS DEFINED BY THE WORLD EMANATING FROM THE "I," IT CREATES ITSELF, AS READERS WE ACCEPT THE FABRICATED WORLD OF THE "I" AND EXPLORE THE DYNAMICS AT WORK IN IT. THE INTERPRETATION OF THE BIBLE ASSUMES THE CREATIVE POWER OF LANGUAGE. IN WHAT IS CALLED "CREATIVE WRITING" THAT POWER IS OBVIOUS. THE NOVELIST JOHN BARTH SAYS THAT THROUGH LANGUAGE HE REINVENTS THE WORLD. ALL LITERATURE DEPENDS  UPON THE THE POWER OF LANGUAGE, BUT ITS INFLUENCE EVEN MORE THROUGHGOING. A CLUE IS GIVEN IN THE BIBLE ITSELF. GOD CREATES THROUGH THE WORD (GEN 1). HE SPEAKS, AND THROUGH HIS SPOKEN LANGUAGE, LIGHT APPEARS, HE SPEAKS, LIVING CREATURES SWARMS  FORWARD AGAIN AND THERE IS A FIRMAMENT. THEN, THROUGH LANGUAGE MAN HIMSELF IS CALLED INTO BEING.
THUS SAYS THE PSALMIST:" BY THE WORD OF OF THE LORD THE HEAVENS  AND ALL THEIR HOSTS WERE MADE BY THE BREATH OF HIS MOUTH. FOR HE SPOKE AND ALL CAME TO BE AND MAN HIMSELF IS CALLED INTO BEING;  HE COMMANDED, AND IT STOOD FORTH (PS. 33:6-9). AND IN THE NEW TESTAMENT ONE OF THE MOST  TELLING EPITHETS USED TO CHARACTERIZE JESUS IS THE CREATIVE WORD: "IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD. HE WAS IN THE BEGINNING WITH GOD; ALL THINGS WERE MADE THROUGH HIM, AND WITHOUT HIM WAS NOT ANYTHING MADE (Jn. 1:1-3). THAT WORLD-CREATING POWER OF LANGUAGE IS NOT LIMITED TO GOD'S USE.  WORDS ARE CREATIVE AS WELL AS REFLECTIVE FORMATIVE AS WELL AS IMITATIVE. LANGUAGE PROVIDES MAN WITH TOOLS TO TRANSFORM CHAOS INTO ORDERLY COSMOS. N.SCOTT MOMADAY SPEAKS OF THAT TRANSFORMATION IN THE FOLLOWING STORY ABOUT HIS GRANDMOTHER,AHO: WHEN AHO SAW OR HEARD OR THOUGHT OF SOMETHING BAD, SHE SAID THE WORD ZEI-DL-BEI, "FRIGHTFUL." IT WAS THE ONE WORD WHICH SHE CONFRONTED EVIL AND THE INCOMPREHENSIBLE. I LIKED HER TO SAY IT, FOR SHE SCREWED UP HER FACE IN A WONDERFUL LOOK OF DISPLEASURE AND CLICKED HER TONGUE. IT WAS NOT AN EXCLAMATION SO MUCH, I THINK, AS IT WAS A WARDING OFF, AN EXERTION OF LANGUAGE  UPON IGNORANCE AND DISORDER. I DO NOT TRIVIALIZE THE BIBLE BY SPEAKING IT AS AN A'RT OF WORDS.


 

FACE OF GOD THEME

 THE FACE OF A MAN IS A MIRROR OF HIDDEN FEELINGS AND IS THUS THE MOST PERSONAL ELEMENT OF A HUMAN BEING. TO KNOW A MAN AND TO KNOW WHAT HE FEELS WE LOOK AT HIS FACE. THE OLD TESTAMENT ATTRIBUTES A FACE TO GOD WHICH SHOWS THE FEELINGS HE HAS IN REGARD TO MEN. BUT THIS IMAGE IS OFTEN USED TO MEAN THE VERY PERSON OF GOD. THUS IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE FACE OF GOD AND LIVE. TO STAND BEFORE THE FACE OF GOD OFTEN REALLY MEANT TO STAND IN HIS SANCTUARY.  THE FACE OF GOD SIGNIFIES THAT PART OF HIS INVISIBLE PERSON WHICH GOD ALLOWS MAN TO SEE. IT IS ONLY ON THE LAST DAY THAT WE SHALL ENJOY THE VISION," IN A SPIRITUAL WAY, WHICH NOW WE CANNOT EXPERIENCE. THE EXPRESSION, "TO SEE THE FACE," IMPLIES AN IDEA OF RECOURSE TO THE GOODWILL OR PROTECTION OF THE PERSON VISITED. IN THE COURTS OF OLD THE SERVANTS LOOKED AT THE KING'S FACE IN ORDER TO READ HIS WISHES.MOSES COULD SEE THE FACE OF YAHWEH, ACCORD ANCIENT NARRATIVES. (WHENCE HIS RENOWN AS A MYSTIC AND HIS  RIGHT TO LOOK UPON THE FACE OF THE TRANSFIGURED CHRIST. BUT THE LATER TEXTS TAKE AWAY THIS PRIVILEGE OF MOSES, AND ALLOWED HIM ONLY TO SEE GOD FROM BEHIND EX 24:9-11. THERE WAS NO IMAGE OF YAHWEH IN THE TEMPLE. "TO SEE THE FACE OF GOD" MEANT TO STAND IN HIS SANCTUARY IN ORDER TO SHARE IN YAHWEH'S SENTIMENTS. MOST LIKELY THE EXPRESSION TOOK ITS ORIGIN FROM PAGAN LITURGIES, WHERE THE gods had a "FACE." EX 23:15; 34:20; 2 KINGS 6:17. "TWO SEEK A FACE" WAS TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND GOD'S INTENTION. THIS CONSULTATION" THOUGH RATHER MAGICAL IN THE BEGINNING (2 KINGS), BECAME MORE  SPIRITUAL AND FINALLY MERELY SIGNIFIED THE ATTITUDE OF THE OBEDIENT WORSHIPER 2 KINGS 21:1 AMOS 5:4-6. TO "SEARCH THE FACE " HERE MEANS TO RETURN TO GOD BY SINCERE CONVERSION Ps
 794,8, 20;
THE "TIME OF THE FACE" IS WHEN GOD WILL SHOW HIMSELF TO EXPRESS SENTIMENTS. PSALM 20:10.
 THE UNFAITHFUL MAN TRIES TO ESCAPE FROM THE FACE OF GOD. GOD REPELS THE IMPIOUS FAR FROM HIS FACE. (FALSE TEACHERS).,  HE "HIDES HIS FACE" FROM THEM. GEN.4:14 JER 15:1; AND JESUS ALONE CAN SEE THE FATHERS FACE. JOHN I:18; 6:46. 1 JOHN 4:12. TO THE INCOMPLETE VISION OF FAITH MUST SUCCEED, ON THE LAST DAY, THE FULL VISION OF GOD FACE TO FACE. THIS THE ANGELS ALREADY REJOICE IN. FOR THIS VISION LOVE IS NOW PREPARING US. 1 COR,13: 1O-13; MATT. 5-8; 18:1O. LUTHER BELIEVED FOR A PROPER UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE WE MUST CAREFULLY DISTINGUISH BETWEEN TWO PARALLEL AND EVER-PRESENT TRUTHS OF SCRIPTURE:LAW AND GOSPEL. LAW REFERS TO GOD IN HIS HATRED OF SIN,  HIS JUDGMENT, AND HIS WRATH. GOSPEL REFERS TO GOD IN HIS GRACE, HIS LOVE, AND HIS SALVATION. BOTH ASPECTS OF GOD'S NATURE EXIST SIDE BY SIDE IN SCRIPTURE THROUGHOUT BOTH THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. THE LAW REFLECTS THE HOLINESS OF GOD'S CHARACTER; WERE HE TO DESENSE WITH IT, HE WOULD BECOME AMORAL RATHER THAN A HOLY GOD. GRACE IS GOD'S RESPONSE TO THE FACT THAT MAN CAN NEVER MEET THE STANDARD HOLINESS THAT HE LAW DEMANDS. ONE WAY OF DISTINGUISHING LAW AND GOSPEL IS TO ASK, IS THIS SPEAKING JUDGMENT ON ME?' IF SO, IT IS LAW. IN CONTRAST, IF A PASSAGE BRINGS COMFORT, IT IS GOSPEL.USING THIS CRITERIA, DETERMINE WHETHER THE FOLLOWING PASSAGES WOULD BE CONSIDERED LAW OR GOSPEL. THE LORD SAID NOAH ' GO INTO THE ARK, YOU AND YOUR WHOLE FAMILY, BECAUSE I HAVE FOUND YOU RIGHTEOUS IN THIS GENERATION. GENESIS 7:1. LAW OR GOSPEL?  MATTHEW 22:37: ; ' JESUS REPLIED: 'LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND'" LAW OR GOSPEL? LAW!
JOHN 3:36: WHOEVER BELIEVES IN THE SON HAS ETERNAL LIFE, BUT WHOEVER REJECTS THE SON, WILL NOT SEE LIFE, FOR GOD'S WRATH REMAIN ON HIM," GOSPEL OR LAW; GOSPEL; LAW). FOR LUTHERAN THEOLOGIANS LAW AND GOSPEL REVEAL TWO INTEGRAL ASPECTS OF GOD'S PERSONALITY: HIS HOLINESS AND HIS GRACE. THUS THEY SEE "LAW AND GOSPEL." AS INSEPARABLE PARTS OF SALVATION HISTORY, FROM THE STORY OF ADAM AND EVE'S SIN TO THE CLOSE OF THE MILLENNIUM. LAW AND GOSPEL HAVE CONTINUING PURPOSES IN THE LIVES OF BOTH UNBELIEVERS AND BELIEVERS. FOR THE UNBELIEVER THE LAW CONDEMNS, ACCUSES, AND SHOWS HIM HIS NEED FOR THE LORD. FOR THE BELIEVER THE LAW CONTINUES TO DEMONSTRATE THE NEED FOR GRACE., AND GIVES GUIDELINES FOR DAILY LIVING. THE GOSPEL SHOWS THE UNBELIEVENTALR A WAY OF ESCAPE FROM CONDEMNATION; FOR THE BELIEVER IT SERVES AS MOTIVATION TO KEEP GOD'S MORAL LAW. THE CAREFUL DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN, BUT MAINTENANCE OF BOTH LAW AND GOSPEL. HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT HERMENEUTICAL TOOL AND A HALLMARK OF ORTHODOX LUTHERAN PREACHING. THE LUTHERAN POSITION PLACES STRONG EMPHASIS ON CONTINUITY. GOD CONTINUES TO RESPOND TO MAN WITH BOTH LAW AND GRACE AS HE HAS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF HUMAN HISTORY. LAW AND GRACE ARE NOT TWO DIFFERENT EPOCHS IN GOD'S DEALING WITH MAN BUT ARE INTEGRAL PARTS OF HIS EVERY RELATIONSHIP. ANOTHER THEORY THAT FOCUSES O CONTINUITY RATHER THAN DISCONTINUITY IN SALVATION HISTORY IS COVENANTAL THEORY VIEW ALL BIBLICAL HISTORY AND THE FALL AND A COVENANT  COVERED BY TWO COVENANTS, A COVENANT OF WORKS UNTIL THE FALL AND A COVENANT OF GRACE FROM THE FALL TO THE PRESENT. THE COVENANT OF WORKS IS DESCRIBED AS THAT AGREEMENT BETWEEN GOD AND ADAM WHICH PROMISED ADAM LIFE FOR PERFECT OBEDIENCE AND DEATH AS THE PENALTY FOR DISOBEDIENCE. THE COVENANT OF GRACE IS THE AGREEMENT THROUGH FAITH BETWEEN GOD AND THE SINNER. IN WHICH GOD PROMISES A LIFE OF FAITH AND OBEDIENCE. ALL OLD TESTAMENT BELIEVERS AS WELL AS CONTEMPORARY BELIEVERS ARE PART OF THE COVENANT OF GRACE. SEVERAL VERSES OF SCRIPTURE APPEAR TO INDICATE AN OLDER AND NEWER, COVENANT, CORRESPONDING ROUGHLY TO OUR OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. FOR EXAMPLE, JEREMIAH 31:31-32 SAYS:  " THE TIME IS COMING" DECLARES THE LORD,
" WHEN I WILL MAKE A NEW COVENANT." THERE IS EVIDENCE OF GODS GRACE IN EVERY DISPENSATION. WHEN ADAM AND EVE SINNED, GOD GRACIOUSLY INTERVENED
WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL
AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH.
IT WILL NOT BE LIKE THE THE COVENANT I MADE WITH THEIR FOREFATHERS
WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND TO LEAD THEM OUT OF EGYPT, BECAUSE THEY BROKE MY COVENANT THOUGH I WAS A HUSBAND TO THEM.""
 SEVERAL VERSES IN THE BOOK OF HEBREWS SEEM TO MAKE A SIMILAR DISTINCTION. BUT THE MINISTRY  JESUS HAS RECEIVED IS AS SUPERIOR TO THEIRS AS THE COVENANT OF WHICH HE IS MEDIATOR IS SUPERIOR TO THE OLD ONE, AND IT IS FOUNDED ON BETTER PROMISES.... BY CALLING THIS COVENANT "NEW," HE HAS MADE THE FIRST ONE OBSOLETE; AND WHAT IS OBSOLETE AND AGING WILL SOON DISAPPEAR (HEB 8;6,13). SOME REFORMED THEOLOGIANS SPEAK OF A THIRD COVENANT---THE COVENANT OF REDEMPTION---WHICH WAS FORMED IN ETERNITY PAST. THIS WAS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE FATHER AND THE SON, IN WHICH THE FATHER PRONOUNCED THE SON AS HEAD AND REDEEMER OF THE ELECT, AND THE SON VOLUNTARILY AGREED TO DIE FOR THOSE WHOM THE FATHER HAD GIVEN HIM. FIRST OLD TESTAMENT  BELIEVERS;  WERE COVERED UNDER HIS GRACE.. WERE SAVED BY GRACE. JUST AS NEW TESTAMENT; CAME UNDER THIS GRACE. WAS THE LAW GIVEN EVEN HYPOTHETICALLY AS A MEANS OF OF JUSTIFICATION SALVATION)? THE NEW TESTAMENT INFORMS US THAT THE LAW COULD NEVER SERVE AS A MEANS OF SALVATION. PAUL TEACHES THAT NO ONE CAN EARN RIGHTEOUS STANDING BEFORE GOD BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW (GAL.3:11,21,22). ROMANS 4:3 TEACHES THAT ABRAHAM WAS SAVED ON THE BASIS OF HIS FAITH, NOT HIS WORKS. AND THE SUBSEQUENT VERSES 13-16. TEACH THAT THE PROMISES HOW THEN DO WE UNDERSTAND PAUL'S TEACHING THAT WE ARE NO LONGER UNDER THE DOMINION OF THE LAW BUT HAVE BEEN DELIVERED FROM IT. BECAUSE CHRIST HAS FULFILLED THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW IN US.

GOD, THE BRIDEGROOM THEME

 THE BIBLICAL IMAGE OF THE "MARRIAGE" OF GOD AND HIS PEOPLE IS BASICALLY ONLY A MANNER OF EXPRESSING THE COVENANT. BUT IT ADMIRABLY RENDERS THE DRAMATIC ASPECT OF THE COVENANT, AND IT EMPHASIZES ESPECIALLY THE NECESSITY FOR LOVE AND FIDELITY BETWEEN THE TWO CONTRACTING PARTIES. THE HISTORY OF GOD'S PLAN WAS ABOVE ALL THAT OF THE OFFER OF HIS LOVE TO A BRIDE--HUMANITY. THIS BRIDE WILL BE UTTERLY UNFAITHFUL TO HIM UNTIL THE DAY WHEN THE TRUE MARRIAGE CAN BE CELEBRATED, BECAUSE THE BRIDEGROOM WILL HAVE PURIFIED HIS BRIDE WITH HIS OWN BLOOD AND MADE HER SPOTLESS. FROM THEN ON IT WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR ORDINARY HUMAN BEINGS TO LOVE EACH OTHER IN MARRIAGE IN SUCH A MANNER THAT THEY WILL RITUALIZE IN A CERTAIN WAY THE MARRIAGE OF GOD AND THE CHURCH. THE PROPHET HAS SUFFERED IN HIS MARRIED LIFE; GOD SHOWS HIM THAT THIS SUFFERING IS SIMILAR TO HIS, BECAUSE THE COVENANT WAS BROKEN BY THE PEOPLES UNFAITHFULNESS. ISRAEL IS AN ADULTERESS BECAUSE SHE DID NOT REMAIN FAITHFUL TO THE COVENANT AS SHE HAD SWORN TO DO. SHE IS A PROSTITUTE BECAUSE SHE HAS GIVEN HERSELF. MAN'S SIN HAS NEVER BEEN SHOWN SO CLEARLY AS UNDER THIS ASPECT OF GOD'S DECEIVED LOVE. JER.2: 3O-36; 3:1-13: EZECH 16;23. THEME OF BRIDE-GROOM god WAS FOUND IN CERTAIN OTHER EASTERN RELIGIONS, WHERE IT WAS EXPRESSED IN SACRED PROSTITUTION. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THESE CUSTOMS HAD CONTAMINATED ISRAEL AND CAUSED THE PROPHETS TO SPEAK AS THEY DID. NUM 25; DEUT 23:18-19; 3 KINGS 14:24. EVEN WHILE HE CONDEMNS HIS UNFAITHFUL BRIDE, GOD ANNOUNCES HE WILL PARDON HER. HE WILL POUR OUT SUCH LOVE THAT SHE WILL NO LONGER BE CAPABLE OF UNFAITHFULNESS. THIS GIVES  A NEW DIMENSION TO CONJUGAL LOVE. THE BRIDE LOVES THE BRIDEGROOM WITH THE SAME LOVE WHICH HE SHOWS HER POURS FORTH TO HER. GOD WAS THE FIRST TO LOVE AND DID SO FREELY. JER30: 17;31: 2-4, 21-22; EZECH 16: 53-63. AFTER THE TEMPORARY REPUDIATION OF THE EXILE (LAMENTATIONS) THE NEW MARRIAGE IS ANNOUNCED BY THE SECOND ISAIAS, WHO EVEN DENIES THAT THERE EVER WAS A REPUDIATION.
 (LAM1:1-21) Isa: 49: 14-21; 50:1-2. SONGS MEANT FOR HUMAN WEDDINGS WERE THEN INCORPORATED INTO THE SACRED BOOKS IN ORDER SING OF THE LOVE OF GOD AND HIS BRIDE (Ps 44. WE CAN NOW UNDERSTAND WHY THE THEME OF THE WEDDING FEAST HAS SUCH AN IMPORTANCE IN THE GOSPELS OF THE NEW COVENANT: MATT 22:1-14; 25:1-13; LUKE 14: 14-26; JOHN 2:1-11. CHRIST IS OVERTLY PRESENTED AS GOD AS THE BRIDEGROOM IN THE BAPTISM OF THE CHURCH. JOHN 3:25-30; MATT 9:14-16;EPH 5:26. BUT IN ORDER THAT THIS MARRIAGE MAY CONSECRATE AN EVER-FAITHFUL UNION IS A VIRGIN. THE BRIDEGROOM MUST BE AT THE SAMETIME THE SAVIOR OF HIS BRIDE, WHO IS MADE A VIRGIN BY HIS BLOOD. GAL 4:21-31; 2 COR 11;1-3. THIS MYSTERY FINDS ITS APPLICATION IN THE MORALITY OF MARRIAGE EPH 5:22-23; MATT 19:1-9. EVEN IF THERE IS A PROSTITUTE WHO IS CONDEMNED (BABYLON), THE BLOOD OF CHRIST HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR AN EVERLASTING MARRIAGE