SOMETIMES A NARRATIVE PROVIDES SEVERAL PRINCIPLES OR TRUTHS THAT CONTINUE TO POSSESS RELEVANCE, AS DOES THE NARRATIVE OF THE FIRST TEMPTATION, FOUND IN GENESIS 3: 16. THE ACTIONS OF THE NARRATIVE ARE FOUND IN A STRAIGHT FORWARD RECOUNTING OF THE TEXT. ' STORY LINE."
NOW THE SERPENT WAS MORE CRAFTY THAN ANY OF THE WILD ANIMALS THE LORD GOD HAD MADE. HE SAID TO THE WOMEN, " DID GOD REALLY SAY,"'YOU MUST NOT EAT FROM ANY TREE IN THE GARDEN?" THE WOMEN SAID TO THE SERPENT, WE MAY EAT FRUIT FROM THE TREES IN THE GARDEN, BUT GOD DID SAY, ' YOU MUST NOT EAT FRUIT FROM THE TREE THAT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GARDEN, AND YOU MUST NOT TOUCH IT OR YOU WILL DIE.' YOU WILL NOT SURELY DIE, " THE SERPENT SAID TO THE WOMEN. " FOR GOD KNOWS THAT WHEN YOU EAT OF IT YOUR EYES WILL BE OPEN, AND YOU WILL BE LIKE GOD, KNOWING GOOD AND EVIL. WHEN THE WOMEN SAW THAT THE FRUIT OF THE TREE WAS GOOD FOR FOOD AND PLEASING TO THE EYE, AND ALSO DESIRING FOR GAINING WISDOM, SHE TOOK SOME AND ATE IT. SHE ALSO GAVE SOME TO HER HUSBAND, WHO WAS WITH HER, AND HE ATE IT.
SATAN'S TEMPTATION OF EVE CAN BE CONCEPTUALIZED IN SIX STEPS THAT CAN BE SEEN IN SATAN'S TEMPTATION OF BELIEVERS TODAY. STEP ONE IS FOUND IN THE FIRST VERSE. THE HEBREW MAY BE PARAPHRASED IN THIS WAY.: NOW THE SERPENT WAS MORE CRAFTY THAN ANY WILD CREATURE THAT THE LORD GOD HAD MADE.
HE SAID TO THE WOMAN:' IS IT REALLY A FACT THAT GOD HAS PROHIBITED YOU FROM EATING OF ALL THE TREES OF THE GARDEN? WHAT IS THE DYNAMIC HERE? WHY DID SATAN ASK THIS QUESTION? HE OBVIOUSLY KNEW WHAT GOD HAD SAID TO ADAM AND EVE, OR HE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ASK WHAT HE DID. FURTHERMORE, HE DELIBERATELY DISTORTED WHAT GOD HAD SAID, " IS IT REALLY A FACT THAT GOD HAS PROHIBITED YOU FROM EATING OF ALL THE TREES OF THE GARDEN? SATAN'S PLOY IS RATHER OBVIOUS: HE IS GETTING EVE TO TAKE HER EYES OFF ALL THE THINGS GOD HAD GIVEN HER TO ENJOY, AND TO FOCUS ON THE ONE THING GOD HAD FORBIDDEN. THERE WERE PROBABLY A THOUSAND PLEASURABLE THINGS EVE COULD HAVE DONE IN THE GARDEN, BUT NOW ALL HER ATTENTION WAS FOCUSED ON THE ONE THING SHE COULD NOT DO. EVE WAS NOW PREPARED.
FOR SATAN'S NEXT STEP. IN RESPONSE TO EVE'S STATEMENT THAT GOD SAID THAT EATING OF THE FRUIT OF THE TREE WOULD RESULT IN DEATH., SATAN BOLDLY DECLARED: " YOU WILL NOT SURELY DIE." THE RESULTS OF SUCH AND SUCH AN ACTION WON'T REALLY BE AS BAD AS GOD HAS SAID. THIS MIGHT BE MINIMIZING THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN/ IN TWO WAYS: FIRST, BY TELLING EVE THAT THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN WOULD NOT BE AS BAD AS THEY HAD BEEN STATED TO BE, AND SECOND, BY EVENTUALLY FOCUSING HER ATTENTION SO COMPLETELY ON THE TREE THAT SHE FORGOT ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES ENTIRELY. THE THIRD STEP SATAN TOOK ( RENAMING THE ACTION) IN VERSE 5 HE SAYS: " FOR GOD KNOWS KNOWS, WHEN YOU EAT OF IT YOUR EYES WILL BE OPENED, AND YOU WILL BE LIKE GOD, KNOWING GOOD AND EVIL. HERE SATAN PLANTED SUSPICION IN EVE'S MIND THAT IT WAS NOT BECAUSE THE FRUIT OF THE TREE WOULD INJURE HER THAT GOD FORBIDDEN HER TO EAT IT, BUT BECAUSE HE DID NOT WISH HER TO BE LIKE HIMSELF. SATAN DEFTLY TRIED TO REMOVE HIS TEMPTATION FROM THE CATEGORY OF SIN BY RELABELING IT. IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE, PARTAKING OF THE FRUIT WAS RELABELED AS A WAY OF EXPANDING HER CONSCIOUSNESS. SHE WOULD BECOME A MORE COMPLETE PERSON IF SHE TRIED IT ONCE. BEFORE THIS TIME EVE HAD THOUGHT OF THE FORBIDDEN ACTION AS DISOBEDIENCE: NOW SHE SEES IT AS A NECESSITY IF SHE IS TO BECOME A COMPLETE AND MATURE PERSON.
SATAN THEN QUICKLY ADDED ANOTHER ASPECT TO HIS TEMPTATION AN ASPECT WHICH MIGHT BE CALLED MIXING GOOD AND EVIL. VERSE READS: THE WOMAN SAW THAT THE FRUIT OF THE TREE WAS GOOD FOR FOOD. C.S. LEWIS HAS COMMENTED THAT EVIL IS OFTEN A PERVERSION OF SOMETHING GOOD GOD HAS CREATED. IN THIS INSTANCE SATAN ADDED POTENCY TO HIS TEMPTATION BY MIXING GOOD WITH EVIL: EVE SAW THAT THE TREE WAS GOOD FOR FOOD. THE FIFTH ASPECT OF EVE'S TEMPTATION IS FOUND IN THE MIDDLE PART OF VERSE 6 " "SHE SAW THAT THE FRUIT OF THE TREE WAS PLEASING TO THE EYES." THIS MIGHT BE CALLED MIXING SIN WITH BEAUTY. TEMPTATION OFTEN COMES WRAPPED IN THE FORM OF SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL, SOMETHING THAT APPEALS TO OUR SENSES AND DESIRES. IT IS OFTEN NECESSARY TO THINK TWICE BEFORE WE RECOGNIZE THAT A BEAUTIFUL OBJECT OR GOAL IS REALLY SIN IN DISGUISE. IN THIS INCIDENT EVE FAILED TO DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN THE BEAUTIFUL PACKAGE AND THE SINFUL CONTENTS THAT THE PACKAGE CONTAINED: FINALLY EVE TOOK THE SIXTH STEP, THE BIBLE TELLS US " SHE SAW THE FRUIT OF THE TREE WAS... DESIRABLE FOR GAINING WISDOM." IN ESSENCE SHE SWALLOWED THE DEVIL'S LIE. THIS STEP MIGHT BE CALLED MISUNDERSTANDING IMPLICATIONS ALTHOUGH THIS MAY SEEM LIKE A LESS SIGNIFICANT POINT IN THE TEMPTATION PROCESS, IT IS PERHAPS THE MOST CRUCIAL. IN EFFECT, BY ACCEPTING SATAN'S STATEMENT, EVE WAS CALLING GOD A LIAR, EVEN THOUGH SHE MIGHT NOT HAVE RECOGNIZED THOSE IMPLICATIONS OF HER ACTION. SHE ACCEPTED SATAN AS THE TRUTH TELLER AND GOD AS THE PREVARICATOR: BY PARTAKING OF THE FRUIT SHE WAS IMPLICITLY
STATING HER BELIEF THAT SATAN WAS MORE INTERESTED IN HER WELFARE THAN GOD WAS, YIELDING TO THE TEMPTATION IMPLIED THAT SHE ACCEPTED SATAN'S ANALYSIS OF THE SITUATION INSTEAD OF GOD'S.
Thursday, July 26, 2018
Tuesday, July 17, 2018
EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO THE ROMANS.
THIS EPISTLE IS IN TRUTH THE MOST IMPORTANT DOCUMENT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, THE GOSPEL IN ITS PUREST EXPRESSION. NOT ONLY IS IT WELL WORTH A CHRISTIAN'S WHILE TO KNOW IT WORD FOR WORD BY HEART BY HEART, ALSO TO THE MEDITATE ON IT DAY BY DAY. IT IS THE SOUL'S DAILY BREAD, AND CAN NEVER BE READ TOO OFTEN, OR STUDIED TO MUCH. THE MORE YOU PROBE INTO IT THE MORE PRECIOUS IT BECOMES, AND BETTER ITS FLAVOR. LUTHER SAYS, THE EPISTLE HAS BEEN SMOTHERED WITH COMMENTS AND ALL SORTS OF IRELEVANCES; YET, IN ESSENCE, IT IS A BRILLIANT LIGHT, ALMOST ENOUGH TO ILLUMINE THE WHOLE BIBLE. THE FIRST THING NEEDED IS TO UNDERSTAND THE TERMINOLOGY. WE MUST LEARN WHAT ST.PAUL MEANS BY SUCH WORDS AS LAW, SIN, GRACE FAITH, RIGHTEOUSNESS, FLESH, SPIRIT, AND THE LIKE; OTHERWISE WE SHALL READ AND ONLY WASTE OUR TIME. YOU MUST NOT UNDERSTAND THE
"LAW" IN ITS EVERYDAY SENSE AS SOMETHING WHICH EXPLAINS WHAT ACTS ARE PERMITTED OR FORBIDDEN. THIS HOLDS FOR ORDINARY LAWS AND YOU KEEP THEM BY DOING WHAT THEY ENJOY ALTHOUGH YOU HAVE NO HEART IN IT. BUT GOD JUDGES ACCORDING TO YOUR INMOST CONVICTION; HIS LAW MUST BE FULFILLED IN YOUR VERY HEART, AND CANNOT BE OBEYED IF YOU PERFORM CERTAIN ACTS. ITS PENALTIES DO INDEED APPLY TO CERTAIN ACTS DONE APART FROM OUR INMOST CONVICTIONS, SUCH AS HYPOCRISY AND LYING PSALM [117]
[116:11] DECLARES ALL MEN LIARS, BECAUSE NO ONE KEEPS GOD LAW FROM THE HEART; NOR CAN HE DO SO. FOR TO BE AVERSE TO GOODNESS FREELY, WE DO NOT KEEP GOD'S LAW FROM THE HEART. THEN SIN ENTERS IN AND DIVINE WRATH IS INCURRED EVEN THOUGH, TO OUTWARD APPEARANCE, WE ARE DOING MANY VIRTUOUS WORKS AND LIVING AN HONORABLE LIFE.
IN CHAPTER [2] ST. PAUL THEREFORE ASSERTS THAT JEWS ARE SINNERS. HE SAYS THAT ONLY THOSE WHO KEEP THE LAW ARE RIGHTEOUS IN GOD'S EYES, HIS POINT BEING THAT NO ONE KEEPS THE LAW BY "WORKS." RATHER, PAUL SAYS TO THE JEWS YOU TEACH US NOT TO COMMIT ADULTERY, BUT YOU COMMIT ADULTERY YOURSELVES, SINCE YOU DO THE VERY THINGS WHICH YOU CONDEMN. [ROM [2:1,22f,] IT IS AS IF HE WAS TO SAY, TO OUTWARD APPEARANCES, YOU OBSERVE IT,
SCRUPULOUSLY, CONDEMNING THOSE WHO DO NOT OBSERVE IT, AND BEING QUICK TO TEACH ONE AND ALL. YOU SEE THE SPLINTER IN THE OTHER MAN'S EYE,
BUT ARE UNAWARE OF THE TIMBER IN YOUR OWN. GRANTED THAT, IN APPEARANCE AND CONDUCT, YOU OBSERVE THE LAW, OWING TO YOUR FEAR OF PUNISHMENT OR HOPE OF REWARD, BUT YOU DO NOTHING FROM FREE CHOICE AND OUT OF LOVE FOR THE LAW, YOU WOULD RATHER DO SOMETHING ELSE. THE LOGICAL CONCLUSION IS THAT, IN THE DEPTH OF YOUR HEARTS, YOU HATE THE LAW. WHAT IS THE USE OF TEACHING OTHERS NOT TO STEAL IF YOU ARE A THIEF AT HEART YOURSELF. AND, IF YOU DARED, WOULD BE ONE IN FACT? OF COURSE, THE OUTER CONDUCT OF THIS KIND IS NOT CONTINUED FOR LONG BY HUMBUGS OF THIS KIND. IT FOLLOWS THAT , IF YOU TEACH OTHERS, BUT NOT YOUR OWN SELVES, YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU TEACH, AND HAVE NOT RIGHTLY UNDERSTOOD THE NATURE OF THE LAW. NAY, THE LAW INCREASES YOUR GUILT, AS PAUL SAYS IN CHAPTER 5:[2O] " FOR WHEN YOU WERE SERVANTS OF SIN, YE WERE FREE FROM RIGHTEOUSNESS. JESUS ANSWERED, VERILY, VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, WHOSOEVER COMMITTETH SIN IS THE SERVANT OF SIN. ( JOHN 8:34). THAT IS WHY IN CHAPTER [7:14] PAUL CALLS THE LAW SPIRITUAL; SPIRITUAL, BECAUSE, IF THE LAW WERE CORPOREAL, OUR WORKS WOULD MEET THE DEMANDS. SINCE IT IS SPIRITUAL , HOWEVER, NO ONE KEEPS IT, UNLESS EVERYTHING YOU DO SPRINGS FROM THE INMOST PART OF YOUR HEART. SUCH A HEART IS GIVEN US ONLY BY GOD'S SPIRIT, AND THE SPIRIT MAKES US EQUAL TO THE DEMANDS OF THE LAW. THUS WE GAIN A GENUINE DESIRE FOR THE LAW, AND THEN EVERYTHING IS DONE WITH WILLING HEARTS, AND NOT IN FEAR, OR UNDER COMPULSION THEREFORE, BECAUSE THE LAW IS SPIRITUAL, WHEN IT IS LOVED BY HEARTS THAT ARE SPIRITUAL, AND DEMANDS THAT SORT OF MIND, IF THAT SPIRIT IS NOT IN OUR HEARTS SIN REMAINS, A GRUDGE ; ABIDES FOREVER, THAT IS PAUL MEANING IN CHAPTER 3 [28] WHEN HE SAYS, " THROUGH THE WORKS OF THE LAW SHALL NO MAN BE JUSTIFIED BEFORE GOD.." IT IS OBVIOUS-IS IT NOT?- THAT THE SOPHISTICATOR WRANGLING IN THE SCHOOLS ARE MISLEADING WHEN THEY TEACH US TO PREPARE OURSELVES FOR GRACE BY OUR WORKS. HOW CAN ANYONE USE WORKS TO PREPARE HIMSELF TO BE GOOD WHEN HE NEVER DOES A GOOD WITHOUT A CERTAIN RELUCTANCE OR UNWILLINGNESS TO HIS HEART? HOW IS IT POSSIBLE FOR GOD TO TAKE PLEASURE IN WORKS THAT SPRINGS FROM RELUCTANT AND HOSTILE HEARTS? TO FULFILL THE LAW, WE MUST MEET ITS REQUIREMENTS GLADLY AND LOVINGLY; LIVE VIRTUOUS AND UPRIGHT LIVES WITHOUT CONSTRAINT OF THE LAW, AND AS IF NEITHER THE LAW NOR ITS PENALTIES EXISTED. BUT THIS JOY, THIS UNCONSTRAINED LOVE, IS PUT IN OUR HEARTS BY THE "HOLY SPIRIT," AS ST. PAUL SAYS IN CHAPTER 5 [15]. BUT THE "HOLY SPIRIT" IS GIVEN ONLY IN, WITH, AND THROUGH, FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, AS PAUL SAID IN HIS OPENING PARAGRAPH. SIMILARLY, FAITH ITSELF COMES THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD, " THE GOSPEL"
THIS GOSPEL PROCLAIMS CHRIST AS THE "SON OF GOD"; THAT HE WAS MAN; THAT HE DIED AND ROSE AGAIN FOR OUR SAKES, AS PAUL SAYS IN CHAPTERS 3, 4, AND 10,
WE REACH THE CONCLUSION THAT FAITH ALONE JUSTIFIES US AND FULFILS THE LAW; AND THIS BECAUSE FAITH BRINGS US THE SPIRIT GAINED BY THE MERITS OF CHRIST. THE SPIRIT, IN TURN, GIVES US THE HAPPINESS AND FREEDOM AT WHICH THE LAW AIMS; AND THIS SHOWS THAT GOOD WORKS REALLY PROCEEDS FROM FAITH. THAT IS PAUL'S MEANING IN CHAPTER 3[31], WHEN HAVING CONDEMNED THE WORKS OF LAW, HE SOUNDS AS IF HE HAD MEANT TO ABROGATE THE LAW BY FAITH. THE WORD SIN IN THE BIBLE MEANS SOMETHING MORE THAN THE ETERNAL WORKS DONE BY OUR BODILY ACTION. IT MEANS ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ACT TOGETHER AND EXCITE OR INCITE US TO DO WHAT IS DONE, IN PARTICULAR IMPULSES OPERATING IN THE DEPTHS OF OUR HEARTS. IN PARTICULAR, THE BIBLE PENETRATES INTO OUR HEARTS, AND LOOKS AT THE ROOT AND THE VERY SOURCE OF ALL SIN i.e. "UNBELIEF" THE WORST SIN IN GOD'S WORLD IN THE DEPTH OF OUR HEARTS. JUST AS FAITH ALONE GIVES US THE SPIRIT AND THE DESIRE FOR DOING WORKS THAT ARE PLAINLY GOOD, SO UNBELIEF IS THE SOLE CAUSE OF SIN; IT EXALTS THE FLESH AND GIVES THE DESIRE TO DO WORKS THAT ARE PLAINLY WRONG, AS HAPPENED IN THE CASE OF ADAM AND EVE IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN, GENESIS 3[16]. THEREFORE CHRIST THEREFORE SINGLED OUT UNBELIEF AND CALLED IT SIN. IN JOHN 16[ :8f], HE SAYS, THE SPIRIT WILL CONVICT THE WORLD OF SIN BECAUSE THEY DO NOT BELIEVE IN ME. SIMILARLY, BEFORE GOOD OR EVIL ARE PERFORMED AND BEFORE THEY APPEAR AS GOOD OR EVIL FRUITS, EITHER FAITH OR UNBELIEF MUST BE ALREADY IN OUR HEARTS. THIS IS WHAT THE BIBLE CALLS THE HEAD OF THE SERPENT AND OF THE OLD DRAGON, WHICH CHRIST, THE SEED OF THE WOMEN, MUST CRUSH, AS WAS PROMISED TO ADAM. THE WORDS OF GRACE AND GIFT DIFFER INASMUCH AS THE TRUE MEANING OF GRACE IS THE KINDNESS OR FAVOR WHICH GOD BEARS TOWARD US OF HIS OWN CHOICE, AND THROUGH WHICH HE IS WILLING TO GIVE US CHRIST, AND TO POUR "THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HIS BLESSINGS UPON US. PAUL MAKES IT CLEAR IN CHAPTER 5 [15"f.], WHEN HE SPEAKS OF THE GRACE AND FAVOR OF CHRIST. NEVERTHELESS, BOTH THE GIFTS AND THE SPIRIT MUST BE RECEIVED BY US DAILY, FOR THE OLD DESIRES AND SINS WILL LINGER IN US. FAITH IS NOT SOMETHING DREAMED, A HUMAN ILLUSION, ALTHOUGH THIS IS WHAT MANY PEOPLE UNDERSTAND BY THE TERM. FAITH, HOWEVER, IT IS SOMETHING THAT GOD EFFECTS IN US. IT CHANGES US AND WE ARE REBORN FROM GOD JOHN 1 [;13]. FAITH PUTS THE OLD ADAM TO DEATH AND MAKES US QUITE DIFFERENT MEN IN HEART, IN MIND; IN ALL OUR POWERS; AND IT IS ACCOMPANIED. BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. O, WHEN IT COMES TO FAITH, WHAT A LIVING CREATIVE, POWERFUL THING IT IS. FAITH IS A LIVING AND UNSHAKEABLE CONFIDENCE, A BELIEF IN THE GRACE OF GOD SO ASSURED THAT A MAN WOULD DIE A THOUSAND DEATH FOR ITS SAKE. REMEMBER WHEN OUR JOURNEY IS DONE HERE, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT TAKES OUR SOUL, WHICH WAS GIVEN TO US AT BAPTISM TO STAND BEFORE CHRIST, THE WORDS WE WANT TO HEAR: AS OUR LORD OPENS THE "BOOK OF LIFE" RUNS HIS FINGERS DOWN TO OUR NAME AND SAYS: COME AND REST GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT; THE WORDS YOU DO NOT WANT TO HEAR. " I NEVER KNEW YOU" AMEN!
"LAW" IN ITS EVERYDAY SENSE AS SOMETHING WHICH EXPLAINS WHAT ACTS ARE PERMITTED OR FORBIDDEN. THIS HOLDS FOR ORDINARY LAWS AND YOU KEEP THEM BY DOING WHAT THEY ENJOY ALTHOUGH YOU HAVE NO HEART IN IT. BUT GOD JUDGES ACCORDING TO YOUR INMOST CONVICTION; HIS LAW MUST BE FULFILLED IN YOUR VERY HEART, AND CANNOT BE OBEYED IF YOU PERFORM CERTAIN ACTS. ITS PENALTIES DO INDEED APPLY TO CERTAIN ACTS DONE APART FROM OUR INMOST CONVICTIONS, SUCH AS HYPOCRISY AND LYING PSALM [117]
[116:11] DECLARES ALL MEN LIARS, BECAUSE NO ONE KEEPS GOD LAW FROM THE HEART; NOR CAN HE DO SO. FOR TO BE AVERSE TO GOODNESS FREELY, WE DO NOT KEEP GOD'S LAW FROM THE HEART. THEN SIN ENTERS IN AND DIVINE WRATH IS INCURRED EVEN THOUGH, TO OUTWARD APPEARANCE, WE ARE DOING MANY VIRTUOUS WORKS AND LIVING AN HONORABLE LIFE.
IN CHAPTER [2] ST. PAUL THEREFORE ASSERTS THAT JEWS ARE SINNERS. HE SAYS THAT ONLY THOSE WHO KEEP THE LAW ARE RIGHTEOUS IN GOD'S EYES, HIS POINT BEING THAT NO ONE KEEPS THE LAW BY "WORKS." RATHER, PAUL SAYS TO THE JEWS YOU TEACH US NOT TO COMMIT ADULTERY, BUT YOU COMMIT ADULTERY YOURSELVES, SINCE YOU DO THE VERY THINGS WHICH YOU CONDEMN. [ROM [2:1,22f,] IT IS AS IF HE WAS TO SAY, TO OUTWARD APPEARANCES, YOU OBSERVE IT,
SCRUPULOUSLY, CONDEMNING THOSE WHO DO NOT OBSERVE IT, AND BEING QUICK TO TEACH ONE AND ALL. YOU SEE THE SPLINTER IN THE OTHER MAN'S EYE,
BUT ARE UNAWARE OF THE TIMBER IN YOUR OWN. GRANTED THAT, IN APPEARANCE AND CONDUCT, YOU OBSERVE THE LAW, OWING TO YOUR FEAR OF PUNISHMENT OR HOPE OF REWARD, BUT YOU DO NOTHING FROM FREE CHOICE AND OUT OF LOVE FOR THE LAW, YOU WOULD RATHER DO SOMETHING ELSE. THE LOGICAL CONCLUSION IS THAT, IN THE DEPTH OF YOUR HEARTS, YOU HATE THE LAW. WHAT IS THE USE OF TEACHING OTHERS NOT TO STEAL IF YOU ARE A THIEF AT HEART YOURSELF. AND, IF YOU DARED, WOULD BE ONE IN FACT? OF COURSE, THE OUTER CONDUCT OF THIS KIND IS NOT CONTINUED FOR LONG BY HUMBUGS OF THIS KIND. IT FOLLOWS THAT , IF YOU TEACH OTHERS, BUT NOT YOUR OWN SELVES, YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU TEACH, AND HAVE NOT RIGHTLY UNDERSTOOD THE NATURE OF THE LAW. NAY, THE LAW INCREASES YOUR GUILT, AS PAUL SAYS IN CHAPTER 5:[2O] " FOR WHEN YOU WERE SERVANTS OF SIN, YE WERE FREE FROM RIGHTEOUSNESS. JESUS ANSWERED, VERILY, VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, WHOSOEVER COMMITTETH SIN IS THE SERVANT OF SIN. ( JOHN 8:34). THAT IS WHY IN CHAPTER [7:14] PAUL CALLS THE LAW SPIRITUAL; SPIRITUAL, BECAUSE, IF THE LAW WERE CORPOREAL, OUR WORKS WOULD MEET THE DEMANDS. SINCE IT IS SPIRITUAL , HOWEVER, NO ONE KEEPS IT, UNLESS EVERYTHING YOU DO SPRINGS FROM THE INMOST PART OF YOUR HEART. SUCH A HEART IS GIVEN US ONLY BY GOD'S SPIRIT, AND THE SPIRIT MAKES US EQUAL TO THE DEMANDS OF THE LAW. THUS WE GAIN A GENUINE DESIRE FOR THE LAW, AND THEN EVERYTHING IS DONE WITH WILLING HEARTS, AND NOT IN FEAR, OR UNDER COMPULSION THEREFORE, BECAUSE THE LAW IS SPIRITUAL, WHEN IT IS LOVED BY HEARTS THAT ARE SPIRITUAL, AND DEMANDS THAT SORT OF MIND, IF THAT SPIRIT IS NOT IN OUR HEARTS SIN REMAINS, A GRUDGE ; ABIDES FOREVER, THAT IS PAUL MEANING IN CHAPTER 3 [28] WHEN HE SAYS, " THROUGH THE WORKS OF THE LAW SHALL NO MAN BE JUSTIFIED BEFORE GOD.." IT IS OBVIOUS-IS IT NOT?- THAT THE SOPHISTICATOR WRANGLING IN THE SCHOOLS ARE MISLEADING WHEN THEY TEACH US TO PREPARE OURSELVES FOR GRACE BY OUR WORKS. HOW CAN ANYONE USE WORKS TO PREPARE HIMSELF TO BE GOOD WHEN HE NEVER DOES A GOOD WITHOUT A CERTAIN RELUCTANCE OR UNWILLINGNESS TO HIS HEART? HOW IS IT POSSIBLE FOR GOD TO TAKE PLEASURE IN WORKS THAT SPRINGS FROM RELUCTANT AND HOSTILE HEARTS? TO FULFILL THE LAW, WE MUST MEET ITS REQUIREMENTS GLADLY AND LOVINGLY; LIVE VIRTUOUS AND UPRIGHT LIVES WITHOUT CONSTRAINT OF THE LAW, AND AS IF NEITHER THE LAW NOR ITS PENALTIES EXISTED. BUT THIS JOY, THIS UNCONSTRAINED LOVE, IS PUT IN OUR HEARTS BY THE "HOLY SPIRIT," AS ST. PAUL SAYS IN CHAPTER 5 [15]. BUT THE "HOLY SPIRIT" IS GIVEN ONLY IN, WITH, AND THROUGH, FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, AS PAUL SAID IN HIS OPENING PARAGRAPH. SIMILARLY, FAITH ITSELF COMES THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD, " THE GOSPEL"
THIS GOSPEL PROCLAIMS CHRIST AS THE "SON OF GOD"; THAT HE WAS MAN; THAT HE DIED AND ROSE AGAIN FOR OUR SAKES, AS PAUL SAYS IN CHAPTERS 3, 4, AND 10,
WE REACH THE CONCLUSION THAT FAITH ALONE JUSTIFIES US AND FULFILS THE LAW; AND THIS BECAUSE FAITH BRINGS US THE SPIRIT GAINED BY THE MERITS OF CHRIST. THE SPIRIT, IN TURN, GIVES US THE HAPPINESS AND FREEDOM AT WHICH THE LAW AIMS; AND THIS SHOWS THAT GOOD WORKS REALLY PROCEEDS FROM FAITH. THAT IS PAUL'S MEANING IN CHAPTER 3[31], WHEN HAVING CONDEMNED THE WORKS OF LAW, HE SOUNDS AS IF HE HAD MEANT TO ABROGATE THE LAW BY FAITH. THE WORD SIN IN THE BIBLE MEANS SOMETHING MORE THAN THE ETERNAL WORKS DONE BY OUR BODILY ACTION. IT MEANS ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ACT TOGETHER AND EXCITE OR INCITE US TO DO WHAT IS DONE, IN PARTICULAR IMPULSES OPERATING IN THE DEPTHS OF OUR HEARTS. IN PARTICULAR, THE BIBLE PENETRATES INTO OUR HEARTS, AND LOOKS AT THE ROOT AND THE VERY SOURCE OF ALL SIN i.e. "UNBELIEF" THE WORST SIN IN GOD'S WORLD IN THE DEPTH OF OUR HEARTS. JUST AS FAITH ALONE GIVES US THE SPIRIT AND THE DESIRE FOR DOING WORKS THAT ARE PLAINLY GOOD, SO UNBELIEF IS THE SOLE CAUSE OF SIN; IT EXALTS THE FLESH AND GIVES THE DESIRE TO DO WORKS THAT ARE PLAINLY WRONG, AS HAPPENED IN THE CASE OF ADAM AND EVE IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN, GENESIS 3[16]. THEREFORE CHRIST THEREFORE SINGLED OUT UNBELIEF AND CALLED IT SIN. IN JOHN 16[ :8f], HE SAYS, THE SPIRIT WILL CONVICT THE WORLD OF SIN BECAUSE THEY DO NOT BELIEVE IN ME. SIMILARLY, BEFORE GOOD OR EVIL ARE PERFORMED AND BEFORE THEY APPEAR AS GOOD OR EVIL FRUITS, EITHER FAITH OR UNBELIEF MUST BE ALREADY IN OUR HEARTS. THIS IS WHAT THE BIBLE CALLS THE HEAD OF THE SERPENT AND OF THE OLD DRAGON, WHICH CHRIST, THE SEED OF THE WOMEN, MUST CRUSH, AS WAS PROMISED TO ADAM. THE WORDS OF GRACE AND GIFT DIFFER INASMUCH AS THE TRUE MEANING OF GRACE IS THE KINDNESS OR FAVOR WHICH GOD BEARS TOWARD US OF HIS OWN CHOICE, AND THROUGH WHICH HE IS WILLING TO GIVE US CHRIST, AND TO POUR "THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HIS BLESSINGS UPON US. PAUL MAKES IT CLEAR IN CHAPTER 5 [15"f.], WHEN HE SPEAKS OF THE GRACE AND FAVOR OF CHRIST. NEVERTHELESS, BOTH THE GIFTS AND THE SPIRIT MUST BE RECEIVED BY US DAILY, FOR THE OLD DESIRES AND SINS WILL LINGER IN US. FAITH IS NOT SOMETHING DREAMED, A HUMAN ILLUSION, ALTHOUGH THIS IS WHAT MANY PEOPLE UNDERSTAND BY THE TERM. FAITH, HOWEVER, IT IS SOMETHING THAT GOD EFFECTS IN US. IT CHANGES US AND WE ARE REBORN FROM GOD JOHN 1 [;13]. FAITH PUTS THE OLD ADAM TO DEATH AND MAKES US QUITE DIFFERENT MEN IN HEART, IN MIND; IN ALL OUR POWERS; AND IT IS ACCOMPANIED. BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. O, WHEN IT COMES TO FAITH, WHAT A LIVING CREATIVE, POWERFUL THING IT IS. FAITH IS A LIVING AND UNSHAKEABLE CONFIDENCE, A BELIEF IN THE GRACE OF GOD SO ASSURED THAT A MAN WOULD DIE A THOUSAND DEATH FOR ITS SAKE. REMEMBER WHEN OUR JOURNEY IS DONE HERE, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT TAKES OUR SOUL, WHICH WAS GIVEN TO US AT BAPTISM TO STAND BEFORE CHRIST, THE WORDS WE WANT TO HEAR: AS OUR LORD OPENS THE "BOOK OF LIFE" RUNS HIS FINGERS DOWN TO OUR NAME AND SAYS: COME AND REST GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT; THE WORDS YOU DO NOT WANT TO HEAR. " I NEVER KNEW YOU" AMEN!
Saturday, July 14, 2018
MESSIANIC PSALMS.
MESSIANIC PSALMS ARE CONCERNED WITH THE MESSIAH. THEY WERE GIVEN TO THE PSALMIST BY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IN-HIS PRE-INCARNATE ETERNAL STATE. AS THE LORD JESUS LOOKED DOWN THROUGH THE CORRIDORS OF TIME FROM ETERNITY PAST. HE POURED OUT HIS HEART IN ANTICIPATION OF THE SUFFERINGS AND SORROWS THAT HE KNEW HE WOULD ENDURE A THOUSAND YEARS LATER. IN THESE PSALMS WE HAVE A GLIMPSE OF WHAT HE KNOWLY FACED FOR US. MANY MESSIANIC PSALMS WERE WRITTEN BY DAVID BETWEEN 1010 AND 970 B.C. , ONE THOUSAND YEARS BEFORE THE CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. TYPICAL THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF MESSIANIC PSALMS. THE FIRST CAN BE IDENTIFIED AS TYPICAL MESSIANIC PSALM, THERE IS SOME FEATURE IN THE LIFE OF THE PSALMIST THAT IS INTENDED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BE A PICTURE OR TYPE OF THE COMING MESSIAH. MUCH OF THE CENTER OF THOUGHT IN THE MESSIANIC PSALMS HAS TO DO WITH THE SUFFERINGS OF THE LORD JESUS. WHICH OF US CAN REALLY KNOW THE SUFFERINGS OF CRUCIFIXION?
CERTAINLY I DO NOT. BUT WE DO KNOW IT WAS AN AGONY BEYOND COMPARE. WE DO HAVE HOLLYWOOD STEREOTYPE OF CRUCIFIXION, IN REALITY THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. WE HAVE SEEN A TALL CROSS STANDING HIGH ABOVE THE HORIZON IN MANY FILMS. IN REALITY THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. THE ROMAN CROSS WAS SHORT.
IN FACT, THE VICTIM OF CRUCIFIXION WAS RARELY MORE THAN TWO FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. WHILE THE VICTIM REMAINED ALIVE, THE WILD DOGS WOULD COME IN FROM THE DESERT AND CHEW ON HIS LEGS. VERY OFTEN, THE VICTIM OF CRUCIFIXION WOULD LIVE TWO OR THREE DAYS. IN AGONY. DURING CRUCIFIXION,
THE VICTIM WAS FIRST PLACED ON THE CROSS WHICH WAS LYING ON THE GROUND.
NAILS WERE DRIVEN THROUGH THE HANDS AT THE JUNCTURE OF THE WRIST, THEN THROUGH THE FEET TO SECURE HIM THAT POSITION. THE CROSS WAS THEN RAISED AND THEN DROPPED INTO A PREVIOUSLY DUG HOLE. WHEN IT STRUCK THE BOTTOM
OF THE HOLE THE IMPACT WOULD USUALLY PULL LOOSE THE SHOULDERS JOINTS AND LIGAMENTS AS THE ENTIRE BODY WEIGHT PULLED AGAINST THE WRISTS WITH THE FORCE OF THE CROSS BEING DROPPED. AS DEATH BEGAN TO CREEP SLOWLY IN ON HIM RIGOR MORTIS SET IN. IT WAS A PAIN AND AGONY, HUMILIATION BEYOND COMPARE. BECAUSE OF THE DIAPHRAGMATIC ACTION, AND THE FACT THAT THE BONES WERE PULLED OUT OF JOINT, AND THE VICTIM BEGAN TO SUFFOCATE, BUT ALSO BECAME QUITE THIRSTY.. ADD TO THAT THE FACT HE WAS IMPALED NAKED AND HELPLESS FOR ALL TO SEE. AND IF THAT WAS NOT SUFFICIENT, THE LORD JESUS SUFFERED WITH A CROWN OF THORNS AND A MUTILATED BACK AS HE BORE OUR SINS THERE ON CALVARY'S TREE. WE WISH HIM NO GREATER DIADEM THAN THAT CROWN OF THORNS BECAUSE OUR MINDS GO BACK TO THE CURSE IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN, WHEN GOD SAID THAT NATURE WOULD BRING FORTH THORNS AS A RESULT OF ADAM'S FALL. WHEN THEY MADE THE CROWN OF THORNS AND PRESSED IT ON THE HEAD OF THE SAVIOR, HE HUNG THERE SUSPENDED BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH, WITH THE BLOOD STREAMING DOWN HIS FOREHEAD, THE THORNY DIADEM HAD GREAT SIGNIFICANCE. HE WAS BEARING THE CURSE FOR ALL MANKIND AND ALL CREATION, AS HE PERFORMED THE ACT OF REDEMPTION. THE SCRIPTURE IS VERY PLAIN WHEN IT SAYS, " IT PLEASED THE LORD TO BRUISE HIM"
(ISA. 53:1O). BECAUSE HE WAS THE LAMB SLAIN BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, IN ANTICIPATION OF HIS AGONY TO BE ENDURED FOR OUR SAKES, CHRIST OPENED HIS HEART TO THE PSALMIST AS HE PENNED IN PSALM 22:1, " MY GOD,MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME? " DAVID WAS IN DESPERATE TROUBLE WHEN HE PENNED THIS, AND THE MESSIAH WOULD BE IN MORE DESPERATE TROUBLE WHEN HE USED THOSE WORDS AS HE WAS ON THE CROSS.
VERSE 7: ALL THEY THAT SEE ME LAUGH ME TO SCORN: THEY SHOOTING OUT THE LIP, WAGGING THEIR HEADS AND MOCKING HIM AND SAYING '"THOU SON GOD COME DOWN FROM THE CROSS AND SAVE THY SELF," THY PSALMIST SAID, HE FOUND NO PITY IN ANY OF THE EYES OR FACES LOOKING UP AT HIM IN SULLEN PRIDE AND ARROGANCE. FINALLY, IN VERSE 21, THE PSALMIST SAYS, " THEY ALSO GAVE ME GALL FOR MY MEAT; IN MY THIRST THEY GAVE ME VINEGAR TO DRINK. UP TO THIS POINT, HISTORY HAS BEEN IN PLAY IN DAVID'S LIFE. HE EXPERIENCED THE REBUKE OF HIS FRIENDS WHEN HE FLED SAUL, AND WAS ABUSED BY SHIMEI WHEN HE FLED ABSALOM. WHEN HE WAS ACROSS THE JORDAN AFTER ABSALOM HAD INVADED JERUSALEM. SO IN THE PORTIONS OF THE PSALM, DAVID WAS EXPERIENCING IN HIS OWN LIFE THOSE THINGS THAT THE LORD JESUS WOULD LATER EXPERIENCE. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PSALMIST THOUGHT AS HE WROTE SUCH WORDS UNDER THE INSPIRATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
THE OLD TESTAMENT IS DESIGNED BY GOD AND PRESENTED TO US IN A MANNER WE CAN UNDERSTAND, AND IT BECOMES FOR US IN A MANNER WE CAN UNDERSTAND, AND IT BECOMES FOR US THE GUIDE FOR FAITH AND PRACTICE. AS PAUL SAYS IN ROMANS 15:4: FOR WHATEVER THINGS WERE WRITTEN AFORETIME WERE WRITTEN FOR OUR LEARNING, THAT THROUGH PATIENCE AND COMFORT OF THE SCRIPTURES MIGHT HAVE HOPE. THE O.T WILL TEACH US WHAT GOD EXPECTS OF MAN. IT WILL SHOW US VARIOUS WAYS IN WHICH MAN CAN RESPOND TO GOD. WE HAVE THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL COVERING THE TIME FROM CREATION, IN ETERNITY PAST, TO THE TIME OF MALACHI AT APPROXIMATELY 400 B.C. ACTUALLY, THE HISTORY OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE FROM ABRAHAM THROUGH THE TIME WHEN NEHEMIAH REBUILT THE WALLS OF JERUSALEM, ( IS CONTAINED IN THE BOOKS OF THE LAW AND HISTORY.) THE REST, THE FIVE BOOKS OF POETRY, AND THE MAJOR AND MINOR PROPHETS, AND THE SEVENTEEN. MALACHI WAS WRITTEN AFTER THE TIME NEHEMIAH, AND THE EVENTS OF JOB. WE LOOK AT THE PROPHETS AS NEWS
ANALYST; GOD'S CHOSEN MAN DELIVERING A MESSAGE. AND ANALYZING THE RESPONSES OF THE PEOPLE. IS THE OLD TESTAMENT THAT WE HAVE GOD'S DIVINE WORD? DOES THE OLD TESTAMENT CONTAIN ALL OF GOD'S WORD. AS HE DELIVERED IT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT PERIOD? ARE THESE 39 BOOKS IN OUR ENGLISH BIBLE ARE THEY COMPLETE OLD TESTAMENT WORD OF GOD?
SOME BIBLES CONTAIN AS MANY AS FORTY-SIX-BOOKS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT; ( THE BOOKS) CALLED "APOCRYPHA" SUCH BOOKS AS I AND II ESDRAS, TOBIT, BARUCH, SUSANNA, BEL AND THE DRAGON, I AND II MACCABEES. WHAT ARE THESE BOOKS? THERE ARE IN ALL FOURTEEN APOCRYPHAL BOOKS WRITTEN BETWEEN 2OO B.C. AND A.D. 1OO. AND ARE BY SOME BELIEVED TO BE PART OF THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD. ARE THERE PROOFS THAT ALLOW US TO KNOW FOR CERTAIN THAT THE THIRTY -NINE BOOKS IN OUR ENGLISH ARE THE COMPLETE OLD TESTAMENT
WORD OF GOD? IF THERE ARE MORE THAN THIRTY-NINE, AND IN FACT SOME OF THESE APOCRYPHAL BOOKS SHOULD BE IN OUR OLD TESTAMENT, THEN WE MUST FACE SEVERAL PROBLEMS FOR EXAMPLE BARUCH [3:4], WE READ GOD HEARS THE PRAYERS OF THE DEAD. OTHER PASSAGES WOULD REQUIRE US TO ACCEPT SOUL SLEEP, PURGATORY, AND OTHER THEOLOGICAL DIFFICULTIES. I BELIEVE IT IS NECESSARY TO KNOW BEYOND ANY DOUBT THAT OUR THIRTY-NINE BOOKS CONTAIN THE ENTIRE INSPIRED OLD TESTAMENT WORD OF GOD. I BELIEVE THAT THROUGH LOGIC AND ANALYSIS WE CAN DISCOVER THIS TO BE TRUE. THIS IS OUR RISEN LORD SPEAKING LOOK AT LUKE [24:44]. HE SAYS THAT HE SAID UNTO THEM, THESE ARE THE WORDS WHICH I SPAKE UNTO YOU WHILE I WAS WITH YOU, THAT ALL THINGS MUST BE FULFILLED, WHICH WERE WRITTEN IN THE LAW OF MOSES, AND IN THE PROPHETS, AND IN THE PSALMS, CONCERNING ME. (HEBREW OLD TESTAMENT).
HEAR THE TESTIMONY OF FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS. JOSEPHUS WAS A JEWISH HISTORIAN, WHO LIVED FROM A.D. [37 TO SOMETIME AFTER A.D. 97.] HE WAS A PRIEST HISTORIAN SO, IN A MATTER OF ANALYSIS OF SCRIPTURE I BELIEVE JOSEPHUS COULD NOT HAVE MADE A MISTAKE BECAUSE HE WAS SKILLED AND TRAINED IN KNOWING WHAT HIS PEOPLE BELIEVED TO BE "SCRIPTURE" I QUOTE FROM AGAINST APION, 1, 8: FOR WE[ THAT IS, THE JEWS] NOT AN INNUMERABLE MULTITUDE OF BOOKS AMONG US, DISAGREEING FROM AND CONTRADICTING ONE ANOTHER, AS THE GREEKS HAVE, BUT ONLY TWENTY-TWO BOOKS, WHICH CONTAIN THE RECORDS OF ALL THE PAST TIMES; WHICH ARE JUSTLY BELIEVED TO BE DIVINE; AND OF THEM FIVE BELONG TO MOSES, WHICH CONTAIN HIS LAWS AND THE TRADITIONS OF THE ORIGIN OF MANKIND TILL HIS DEATH. THE INTERVAL OF TIME WAS A LITTLE SHORT OF THREE- THOUSAND YEARS; BUT AS TO THE TIME FROM THE DEATH OF MOSES TILL THE REIGN OF ARTAXERXES KING OF PERSIA, WHO REIGNED AFTER XERXES, THE PROPHETS WHO WERE AFTER MOSES, WROTE DOWN WHAT WAS DONE IN THEIR TIMES IN THIRTEEN BOOKS. THE FOUR REMAINING BOOKS CONTAIN HYMNS TO GOD, AND PRECEPTS FOR CONDUCT OF HUMAN LIFE. THERE IS STILL ADDITIONAL PROOF THAT OUR THIRTY- NINE BOOKS COMPRISE THE ENTIRE OLD TESTAMENT CANON LOOK AT LUKE [11:51]. HERE IS OUR LORD SPEAKING TO THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF HIS DAY:
"TESTIMONY OF CHRIST" FROM THE BLOOD OF ABEL UNTO THE BLOOD OF ZECHARIAS, WHICH PERISHED BETWEEN THE ALTAR AND THE TEMPLE; VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, IT SHALL BE REQUIRED OF THIS GENERATION. ( THE MARTYRDOM OF ZECHARIAH IS CONTAINED IN [ II CHRONICLES 24:20-23]. JUST AFTER THE CREATION OF ADAM DOWN TO THE BLOOD OF ZECHARIAH (SLAIN IN APPROXIMATELY 8OOB.C.) WOULD BE REQUIRED OF THAT CURRENT GENERATION. IMAGINE HAVING THE BLOOD OF ALL THESE INNOCENT MEN BROUGHT DOWN UPON YOUR HEAD! THIS WAS A LITERARY STATEMENT MEANING. IF WE EXAMINE THE STRUCTURE OF THE JEWISH OLD TESTAMENT, WE WILL SEE THAT THE FIRST BOOK, WAS GENESIS AND OUR LAST WAS CHRONICLES ACCORDING TO THEIR STRUCTURE. JUST AS OURS IS GENESIS AND OUR LAST IS MALACHI. THE MURDER OF URIJAH IN THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH CONTAINED EARLIER IN THE JEWISH TEXTS. THE 39 BOOKS OF GENESIS TO MALACHI, CONTAIN THE ENTIRE WORD OF GOD AND CAN BE EXCLUSIVELY CALLED "SCRIPTURE"
CERTAINLY I DO NOT. BUT WE DO KNOW IT WAS AN AGONY BEYOND COMPARE. WE DO HAVE HOLLYWOOD STEREOTYPE OF CRUCIFIXION, IN REALITY THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. WE HAVE SEEN A TALL CROSS STANDING HIGH ABOVE THE HORIZON IN MANY FILMS. IN REALITY THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. THE ROMAN CROSS WAS SHORT.
IN FACT, THE VICTIM OF CRUCIFIXION WAS RARELY MORE THAN TWO FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. WHILE THE VICTIM REMAINED ALIVE, THE WILD DOGS WOULD COME IN FROM THE DESERT AND CHEW ON HIS LEGS. VERY OFTEN, THE VICTIM OF CRUCIFIXION WOULD LIVE TWO OR THREE DAYS. IN AGONY. DURING CRUCIFIXION,
THE VICTIM WAS FIRST PLACED ON THE CROSS WHICH WAS LYING ON THE GROUND.
NAILS WERE DRIVEN THROUGH THE HANDS AT THE JUNCTURE OF THE WRIST, THEN THROUGH THE FEET TO SECURE HIM THAT POSITION. THE CROSS WAS THEN RAISED AND THEN DROPPED INTO A PREVIOUSLY DUG HOLE. WHEN IT STRUCK THE BOTTOM
OF THE HOLE THE IMPACT WOULD USUALLY PULL LOOSE THE SHOULDERS JOINTS AND LIGAMENTS AS THE ENTIRE BODY WEIGHT PULLED AGAINST THE WRISTS WITH THE FORCE OF THE CROSS BEING DROPPED. AS DEATH BEGAN TO CREEP SLOWLY IN ON HIM RIGOR MORTIS SET IN. IT WAS A PAIN AND AGONY, HUMILIATION BEYOND COMPARE. BECAUSE OF THE DIAPHRAGMATIC ACTION, AND THE FACT THAT THE BONES WERE PULLED OUT OF JOINT, AND THE VICTIM BEGAN TO SUFFOCATE, BUT ALSO BECAME QUITE THIRSTY.. ADD TO THAT THE FACT HE WAS IMPALED NAKED AND HELPLESS FOR ALL TO SEE. AND IF THAT WAS NOT SUFFICIENT, THE LORD JESUS SUFFERED WITH A CROWN OF THORNS AND A MUTILATED BACK AS HE BORE OUR SINS THERE ON CALVARY'S TREE. WE WISH HIM NO GREATER DIADEM THAN THAT CROWN OF THORNS BECAUSE OUR MINDS GO BACK TO THE CURSE IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN, WHEN GOD SAID THAT NATURE WOULD BRING FORTH THORNS AS A RESULT OF ADAM'S FALL. WHEN THEY MADE THE CROWN OF THORNS AND PRESSED IT ON THE HEAD OF THE SAVIOR, HE HUNG THERE SUSPENDED BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH, WITH THE BLOOD STREAMING DOWN HIS FOREHEAD, THE THORNY DIADEM HAD GREAT SIGNIFICANCE. HE WAS BEARING THE CURSE FOR ALL MANKIND AND ALL CREATION, AS HE PERFORMED THE ACT OF REDEMPTION. THE SCRIPTURE IS VERY PLAIN WHEN IT SAYS, " IT PLEASED THE LORD TO BRUISE HIM"
(ISA. 53:1O). BECAUSE HE WAS THE LAMB SLAIN BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, IN ANTICIPATION OF HIS AGONY TO BE ENDURED FOR OUR SAKES, CHRIST OPENED HIS HEART TO THE PSALMIST AS HE PENNED IN PSALM 22:1, " MY GOD,MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME? " DAVID WAS IN DESPERATE TROUBLE WHEN HE PENNED THIS, AND THE MESSIAH WOULD BE IN MORE DESPERATE TROUBLE WHEN HE USED THOSE WORDS AS HE WAS ON THE CROSS.
VERSE 7: ALL THEY THAT SEE ME LAUGH ME TO SCORN: THEY SHOOTING OUT THE LIP, WAGGING THEIR HEADS AND MOCKING HIM AND SAYING '"THOU SON GOD COME DOWN FROM THE CROSS AND SAVE THY SELF," THY PSALMIST SAID, HE FOUND NO PITY IN ANY OF THE EYES OR FACES LOOKING UP AT HIM IN SULLEN PRIDE AND ARROGANCE. FINALLY, IN VERSE 21, THE PSALMIST SAYS, " THEY ALSO GAVE ME GALL FOR MY MEAT; IN MY THIRST THEY GAVE ME VINEGAR TO DRINK. UP TO THIS POINT, HISTORY HAS BEEN IN PLAY IN DAVID'S LIFE. HE EXPERIENCED THE REBUKE OF HIS FRIENDS WHEN HE FLED SAUL, AND WAS ABUSED BY SHIMEI WHEN HE FLED ABSALOM. WHEN HE WAS ACROSS THE JORDAN AFTER ABSALOM HAD INVADED JERUSALEM. SO IN THE PORTIONS OF THE PSALM, DAVID WAS EXPERIENCING IN HIS OWN LIFE THOSE THINGS THAT THE LORD JESUS WOULD LATER EXPERIENCE. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PSALMIST THOUGHT AS HE WROTE SUCH WORDS UNDER THE INSPIRATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
THE OLD TESTAMENT IS DESIGNED BY GOD AND PRESENTED TO US IN A MANNER WE CAN UNDERSTAND, AND IT BECOMES FOR US IN A MANNER WE CAN UNDERSTAND, AND IT BECOMES FOR US THE GUIDE FOR FAITH AND PRACTICE. AS PAUL SAYS IN ROMANS 15:4: FOR WHATEVER THINGS WERE WRITTEN AFORETIME WERE WRITTEN FOR OUR LEARNING, THAT THROUGH PATIENCE AND COMFORT OF THE SCRIPTURES MIGHT HAVE HOPE. THE O.T WILL TEACH US WHAT GOD EXPECTS OF MAN. IT WILL SHOW US VARIOUS WAYS IN WHICH MAN CAN RESPOND TO GOD. WE HAVE THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL COVERING THE TIME FROM CREATION, IN ETERNITY PAST, TO THE TIME OF MALACHI AT APPROXIMATELY 400 B.C. ACTUALLY, THE HISTORY OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE FROM ABRAHAM THROUGH THE TIME WHEN NEHEMIAH REBUILT THE WALLS OF JERUSALEM, ( IS CONTAINED IN THE BOOKS OF THE LAW AND HISTORY.) THE REST, THE FIVE BOOKS OF POETRY, AND THE MAJOR AND MINOR PROPHETS, AND THE SEVENTEEN. MALACHI WAS WRITTEN AFTER THE TIME NEHEMIAH, AND THE EVENTS OF JOB. WE LOOK AT THE PROPHETS AS NEWS
ANALYST; GOD'S CHOSEN MAN DELIVERING A MESSAGE. AND ANALYZING THE RESPONSES OF THE PEOPLE. IS THE OLD TESTAMENT THAT WE HAVE GOD'S DIVINE WORD? DOES THE OLD TESTAMENT CONTAIN ALL OF GOD'S WORD. AS HE DELIVERED IT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT PERIOD? ARE THESE 39 BOOKS IN OUR ENGLISH BIBLE ARE THEY COMPLETE OLD TESTAMENT WORD OF GOD?
SOME BIBLES CONTAIN AS MANY AS FORTY-SIX-BOOKS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT; ( THE BOOKS) CALLED "APOCRYPHA" SUCH BOOKS AS I AND II ESDRAS, TOBIT, BARUCH, SUSANNA, BEL AND THE DRAGON, I AND II MACCABEES. WHAT ARE THESE BOOKS? THERE ARE IN ALL FOURTEEN APOCRYPHAL BOOKS WRITTEN BETWEEN 2OO B.C. AND A.D. 1OO. AND ARE BY SOME BELIEVED TO BE PART OF THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD. ARE THERE PROOFS THAT ALLOW US TO KNOW FOR CERTAIN THAT THE THIRTY -NINE BOOKS IN OUR ENGLISH ARE THE COMPLETE OLD TESTAMENT
WORD OF GOD? IF THERE ARE MORE THAN THIRTY-NINE, AND IN FACT SOME OF THESE APOCRYPHAL BOOKS SHOULD BE IN OUR OLD TESTAMENT, THEN WE MUST FACE SEVERAL PROBLEMS FOR EXAMPLE BARUCH [3:4], WE READ GOD HEARS THE PRAYERS OF THE DEAD. OTHER PASSAGES WOULD REQUIRE US TO ACCEPT SOUL SLEEP, PURGATORY, AND OTHER THEOLOGICAL DIFFICULTIES. I BELIEVE IT IS NECESSARY TO KNOW BEYOND ANY DOUBT THAT OUR THIRTY-NINE BOOKS CONTAIN THE ENTIRE INSPIRED OLD TESTAMENT WORD OF GOD. I BELIEVE THAT THROUGH LOGIC AND ANALYSIS WE CAN DISCOVER THIS TO BE TRUE. THIS IS OUR RISEN LORD SPEAKING LOOK AT LUKE [24:44]. HE SAYS THAT HE SAID UNTO THEM, THESE ARE THE WORDS WHICH I SPAKE UNTO YOU WHILE I WAS WITH YOU, THAT ALL THINGS MUST BE FULFILLED, WHICH WERE WRITTEN IN THE LAW OF MOSES, AND IN THE PROPHETS, AND IN THE PSALMS, CONCERNING ME. (HEBREW OLD TESTAMENT).
HEAR THE TESTIMONY OF FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS. JOSEPHUS WAS A JEWISH HISTORIAN, WHO LIVED FROM A.D. [37 TO SOMETIME AFTER A.D. 97.] HE WAS A PRIEST HISTORIAN SO, IN A MATTER OF ANALYSIS OF SCRIPTURE I BELIEVE JOSEPHUS COULD NOT HAVE MADE A MISTAKE BECAUSE HE WAS SKILLED AND TRAINED IN KNOWING WHAT HIS PEOPLE BELIEVED TO BE "SCRIPTURE" I QUOTE FROM AGAINST APION, 1, 8: FOR WE[ THAT IS, THE JEWS] NOT AN INNUMERABLE MULTITUDE OF BOOKS AMONG US, DISAGREEING FROM AND CONTRADICTING ONE ANOTHER, AS THE GREEKS HAVE, BUT ONLY TWENTY-TWO BOOKS, WHICH CONTAIN THE RECORDS OF ALL THE PAST TIMES; WHICH ARE JUSTLY BELIEVED TO BE DIVINE; AND OF THEM FIVE BELONG TO MOSES, WHICH CONTAIN HIS LAWS AND THE TRADITIONS OF THE ORIGIN OF MANKIND TILL HIS DEATH. THE INTERVAL OF TIME WAS A LITTLE SHORT OF THREE- THOUSAND YEARS; BUT AS TO THE TIME FROM THE DEATH OF MOSES TILL THE REIGN OF ARTAXERXES KING OF PERSIA, WHO REIGNED AFTER XERXES, THE PROPHETS WHO WERE AFTER MOSES, WROTE DOWN WHAT WAS DONE IN THEIR TIMES IN THIRTEEN BOOKS. THE FOUR REMAINING BOOKS CONTAIN HYMNS TO GOD, AND PRECEPTS FOR CONDUCT OF HUMAN LIFE. THERE IS STILL ADDITIONAL PROOF THAT OUR THIRTY- NINE BOOKS COMPRISE THE ENTIRE OLD TESTAMENT CANON LOOK AT LUKE [11:51]. HERE IS OUR LORD SPEAKING TO THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF HIS DAY:
"TESTIMONY OF CHRIST" FROM THE BLOOD OF ABEL UNTO THE BLOOD OF ZECHARIAS, WHICH PERISHED BETWEEN THE ALTAR AND THE TEMPLE; VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, IT SHALL BE REQUIRED OF THIS GENERATION. ( THE MARTYRDOM OF ZECHARIAH IS CONTAINED IN [ II CHRONICLES 24:20-23]. JUST AFTER THE CREATION OF ADAM DOWN TO THE BLOOD OF ZECHARIAH (SLAIN IN APPROXIMATELY 8OOB.C.) WOULD BE REQUIRED OF THAT CURRENT GENERATION. IMAGINE HAVING THE BLOOD OF ALL THESE INNOCENT MEN BROUGHT DOWN UPON YOUR HEAD! THIS WAS A LITERARY STATEMENT MEANING. IF WE EXAMINE THE STRUCTURE OF THE JEWISH OLD TESTAMENT, WE WILL SEE THAT THE FIRST BOOK, WAS GENESIS AND OUR LAST WAS CHRONICLES ACCORDING TO THEIR STRUCTURE. JUST AS OURS IS GENESIS AND OUR LAST IS MALACHI. THE MURDER OF URIJAH IN THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH CONTAINED EARLIER IN THE JEWISH TEXTS. THE 39 BOOKS OF GENESIS TO MALACHI, CONTAIN THE ENTIRE WORD OF GOD AND CAN BE EXCLUSIVELY CALLED "SCRIPTURE"
Thursday, July 12, 2018
PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN [LUKE 1O: 25-37]
HOW THE STORY OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN FITS TOGETHER. THE STORY WITH ITS INTRODUCTION INVOLVES TWO "ROUNDS." IN ROUND ONE, THE LAWYER ASKS JESUS ABOUT THE WAY TO ETERNAL LIFE (10:25), AND JESUS' ANSWER ASKS LAWYER A QUESTION ABOUT THE LAW (1O:26). THE LAWYER REPLIES (10:27), AND JESUS AFFIRMS THE RESPONSE AND COMMANDS THE LAWYER TO DO WHAT THE LAW SAYS ( 1O:28).
IN ROUND TWO THE SELF-RIGHTEOUS LAWYER GOES TOO FAR WITH ANOTHER QUESTION (10:29), AND ONCE AGAIN JESUS ANSWER LEADS TO ANOTHER QUESTION (1O : 30-35). THE LAWYER CORRECTLY THE SECOND TIME, AND JESUS COMMANDS HIM TO FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF THE SAMARITAN (1O:37).
HOW TO UNDERSTAND THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN
THREE BASIC APPROACHES TO THIS STORY EXIST. AS PRESENTED BELOW. AS WE SHOW WITH NUMBERS 1 AND 2 REPRESENTS EXTREMES WHICH SHOULD BE AVOIDED AND NUMBER 3 IS A SUGGESTED MIDDLE GROUND.
1.) THE CHURCH FATHERS: SPECULATIVE ALLEGORIZING ABOUT JESUS HERE THE DETAIL ARE CLOSELY EXAMINED. THE MAN GOING DOWN TO JERICHO IS ADAM. THE THIEVES ARE SATAN AND DEMONS. THE RELIGION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT (PRIEST AND LEVITE) CANNOT SAVE HIM, BUT JESUS (THE GOOD SAMARITAN) SAVES HIM BY BRINGING HIM INTO THE CHURCH (THE INN) AND PUTTING HIM UNDER THE CARE OF THE APOSTLE PAUL ( THE INN KEEPER).
2.) LIBERAL PROTESTANTISM: THE SOCIAL GOSPEL HERE THE DETAILS OF THE STORY IS NOT THE ISSUE, THE "MORAL OF THE STORY "IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT. WE ARE NOT TO ASK WHO OUR NEIGHBOR IS. RATHER WE ARE TO REACH OUT IN LOVE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE MARGINALIZED AND OPPRESSED
3. A SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVE: THE BANKRUPTCY OF SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS. HERE THE POINT IS THE CONTRASTING WAY IN WHICH THE MAN IN THE DITCH IS TREATED
BY THE JEWISH LEADERS. (PRIEST AND) LEVITE) AND THE SAMARITAN IN LUKE JESUS' CONCERN FOR "DOWN AND OUTERS TEND TO RECOGNIZE THEIR NEED OF REPENTANCE, WHILE THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS REFUSE TO REPENT ( LUKE 4:18; 7:29-30, 36,50; 10:21; 11:37-54; 15: 1-31; 17:16, 18:9-14; 19: 1-10). AUTHENTIC RELIGION FIRST HUMBLY RECOGNIZES PERSONAL NEED AND THEN TURNS IN MERCY TO OTHERS WHO ARE IN NEED.
IN ROUND TWO THE SELF-RIGHTEOUS LAWYER GOES TOO FAR WITH ANOTHER QUESTION (10:29), AND ONCE AGAIN JESUS ANSWER LEADS TO ANOTHER QUESTION (1O : 30-35). THE LAWYER CORRECTLY THE SECOND TIME, AND JESUS COMMANDS HIM TO FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF THE SAMARITAN (1O:37).
HOW TO UNDERSTAND THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN
THREE BASIC APPROACHES TO THIS STORY EXIST. AS PRESENTED BELOW. AS WE SHOW WITH NUMBERS 1 AND 2 REPRESENTS EXTREMES WHICH SHOULD BE AVOIDED AND NUMBER 3 IS A SUGGESTED MIDDLE GROUND.
1.) THE CHURCH FATHERS: SPECULATIVE ALLEGORIZING ABOUT JESUS HERE THE DETAIL ARE CLOSELY EXAMINED. THE MAN GOING DOWN TO JERICHO IS ADAM. THE THIEVES ARE SATAN AND DEMONS. THE RELIGION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT (PRIEST AND LEVITE) CANNOT SAVE HIM, BUT JESUS (THE GOOD SAMARITAN) SAVES HIM BY BRINGING HIM INTO THE CHURCH (THE INN) AND PUTTING HIM UNDER THE CARE OF THE APOSTLE PAUL ( THE INN KEEPER).
2.) LIBERAL PROTESTANTISM: THE SOCIAL GOSPEL HERE THE DETAILS OF THE STORY IS NOT THE ISSUE, THE "MORAL OF THE STORY "IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT. WE ARE NOT TO ASK WHO OUR NEIGHBOR IS. RATHER WE ARE TO REACH OUT IN LOVE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE MARGINALIZED AND OPPRESSED
3. A SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVE: THE BANKRUPTCY OF SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS. HERE THE POINT IS THE CONTRASTING WAY IN WHICH THE MAN IN THE DITCH IS TREATED
BY THE JEWISH LEADERS. (PRIEST AND) LEVITE) AND THE SAMARITAN IN LUKE JESUS' CONCERN FOR "DOWN AND OUTERS TEND TO RECOGNIZE THEIR NEED OF REPENTANCE, WHILE THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS REFUSE TO REPENT ( LUKE 4:18; 7:29-30, 36,50; 10:21; 11:37-54; 15: 1-31; 17:16, 18:9-14; 19: 1-10). AUTHENTIC RELIGION FIRST HUMBLY RECOGNIZES PERSONAL NEED AND THEN TURNS IN MERCY TO OTHERS WHO ARE IN NEED.
Monday, July 9, 2018
ECCLESIASTES. "WORDS OF THE PREACHER."
THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES CONTAINS THE PHILOSOPHY OF A MAN WHO HAD EVERYTHING. CHAPTER 1:1 IDENTIFIES THE AUTHOR AS " THE PREACHER, THE SON OF DAVID, KING OF JERUSALEM." THE ONLY PERSON THAT QUALIFIES IS KING SOLOMON. CERTAINLY, SOLOMON HAD THE WHEREWITH ALL TO DO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING HE DESIRED. HIS WEALTH WAS INCALCULABLE. PROBABLY NO ONE EVER HAD MORE WIVES AND CONCUBINES; HE MUST HAVE KNOWN EVERYTHING POSSIBLE ABOUT LOVE AND THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN MEN AND WOMAN. HIS PHILOSOPHY, AS RECORDED IN ECCLESIASTES, WAS SIMPLY: " I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING AND NOTHING IS WORTH ANYTHING. VANITY OF VANITIES , EVERYTHING IS VAIN, OR FUTILE, EMPTY" " WHAT PROFIT HATH A MAN OF ALL HIS LABOR WHICH HE TAKETH (PERFORMS) UNDER THE SUN?" HE ASKED. " ONE GENERATION PASSETH AWAY, AND ANOTHER GENERATION COMETH: BUT THE EARTH ABIDETH FOREVER" (vss 3 and 4). LIKE Ol ' MAN RIVER, IT JUST KEEP ROLLING ALONG. THE SUN SETS, EVERYTHING HAPPENS OVER AND OVER, SO WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT ANYWAY.? THESE STATEMENTS SUMMARIZE SOLOMON'S QUERIES IN A TWENTIETH CENTURY CONTEXT
IN VERSES 13 AND 14 HE ADMITTED,
i gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. i have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
IN CHAPTER 2:1, HE DESCRIBED ANOTHER PURSUIT: " I SAID IN MY HEART, GO TO NOW, I WILL PROVE THEE WITH MIRTH, THEREFORE ENJOY PLEASURE:AND BEHOLD, THIS ALSO IS VANITY."
THERE WAS NO PLEASURE IN WORK; THERE WAS NO PLEASURE IN FUN; THERE WAS NO PLEASURE IN FUTILE ENJOYMENT THE HEDONISTIC LIFE- STYLE WAS SIMPLY VANITY: PLEASURE ACCOMPLISHED NOTHING. HE TRIED CREATIVITY AND MATERIALISM ( vss 4-8). I BUILDED ME HOUSES... I MADE ME GARDENS...I GOT ME SERVANTS...AND ...CATTLE...I GATHERED ME ALSO SILVER AND GOLD AND... TREASURE." ONCE AGAIN, SOLOMON DISCOVERED IT ALL TO BE VANITY. IMAGINE!
SOLOMON WAS A MAN WHO HAD EVERYTHING: PLEASURE, BEAUTIFUL WOMEN, CREATIVE PURSUITS, GOLD AND SILVER, BUT IN VERSE 17, HE FINALLY CONCLUDED, "I HATED LIFE." " IT WAS STRIVING AFTER THE WIND. VERSE 18: "I HATED ALL MY LABOR... BECAUSE I SHOULD LEAVE IT UNTO THE MAN THAT SHALL BE AFTER ME.
HE HAD REALIZED THAT " YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU."
CHAPTER 3 BEGINS SOLOMON'S SECOND DISCOURSE IN WHICH HE COMES TO TERMS WITH THE LAWS THAT GOVERN LIFE. CHAPTER'S 1:1-2:26 DESCRIBE THE VANITY OF HUMAN ENDEAVOR "UNDER THE SUN." IN CHAPTER 3 HE DETERMINED, FROM A HUMAN VIEW-POINT, THAT THERE IS AN APPOINTED TIME FOR EVERYTHING AND FOR EVERY EVENT. UNDER HEAVEN. HIS THIRD DISCOURSE EXTENDS FROM 6:1 THROUGH 8:17. THE CENTRAL THEME IS THAT THERE IS NO SATISFACTION IN EARTHLY GOODS. FINALLY, IN THE FOURTH DISCOURSE (9:1-12:8). SOLOMON HAS REALIZED THAT GOD WILL DEAL WITH THE INJUSTICES OF THIS LIFE. THE ENTIRE BOOK IS SUMMED UP IN 12:1.: "REMEMBER NOW THY CREATOR IN THE DAYS OF THY YOUTH." IN THE END, SOLOMON WAS AN OLD MAN WHO HAD TRIED EVERYTHING.
HE HAD NOT LIVED IN THE "HOKMAH" WISDOM OF PROVERBS." THE FINAL BOOK IN THE COLLECTION OF POETRY, SOME TIMES CALLED CANTICLES. THROUGH THE CENTURIES, THIS LITTLE BOOK AS BEEN SEEN IN MANY WAYS. THE BEST APPROACH IS A COMBINATION OF LITERAL AND TYPICAL INTERPRETATION. THE INSPIRED WORD FROM THE INCIDENT IN SOLOMON'S LIFE WITH A SIMPLE COUNTRY GIRL. AS TYPOLOGY IT TYPIFIES THE LOVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS BRIDE, THE CHURCH. DESPITE HIS FAILURES , SOLOMON WAS IN SOME RESPECTS, A TYPE OF CHRIST.
IN VERSES 13 AND 14 HE ADMITTED,
i gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. i have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
IN CHAPTER 2:1, HE DESCRIBED ANOTHER PURSUIT: " I SAID IN MY HEART, GO TO NOW, I WILL PROVE THEE WITH MIRTH, THEREFORE ENJOY PLEASURE:AND BEHOLD, THIS ALSO IS VANITY."
THERE WAS NO PLEASURE IN WORK; THERE WAS NO PLEASURE IN FUN; THERE WAS NO PLEASURE IN FUTILE ENJOYMENT THE HEDONISTIC LIFE- STYLE WAS SIMPLY VANITY: PLEASURE ACCOMPLISHED NOTHING. HE TRIED CREATIVITY AND MATERIALISM ( vss 4-8). I BUILDED ME HOUSES... I MADE ME GARDENS...I GOT ME SERVANTS...AND ...CATTLE...I GATHERED ME ALSO SILVER AND GOLD AND... TREASURE." ONCE AGAIN, SOLOMON DISCOVERED IT ALL TO BE VANITY. IMAGINE!
SOLOMON WAS A MAN WHO HAD EVERYTHING: PLEASURE, BEAUTIFUL WOMEN, CREATIVE PURSUITS, GOLD AND SILVER, BUT IN VERSE 17, HE FINALLY CONCLUDED, "I HATED LIFE." " IT WAS STRIVING AFTER THE WIND. VERSE 18: "I HATED ALL MY LABOR... BECAUSE I SHOULD LEAVE IT UNTO THE MAN THAT SHALL BE AFTER ME.
HE HAD REALIZED THAT " YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU."
CHAPTER 3 BEGINS SOLOMON'S SECOND DISCOURSE IN WHICH HE COMES TO TERMS WITH THE LAWS THAT GOVERN LIFE. CHAPTER'S 1:1-2:26 DESCRIBE THE VANITY OF HUMAN ENDEAVOR "UNDER THE SUN." IN CHAPTER 3 HE DETERMINED, FROM A HUMAN VIEW-POINT, THAT THERE IS AN APPOINTED TIME FOR EVERYTHING AND FOR EVERY EVENT. UNDER HEAVEN. HIS THIRD DISCOURSE EXTENDS FROM 6:1 THROUGH 8:17. THE CENTRAL THEME IS THAT THERE IS NO SATISFACTION IN EARTHLY GOODS. FINALLY, IN THE FOURTH DISCOURSE (9:1-12:8). SOLOMON HAS REALIZED THAT GOD WILL DEAL WITH THE INJUSTICES OF THIS LIFE. THE ENTIRE BOOK IS SUMMED UP IN 12:1.: "REMEMBER NOW THY CREATOR IN THE DAYS OF THY YOUTH." IN THE END, SOLOMON WAS AN OLD MAN WHO HAD TRIED EVERYTHING.
HE HAD NOT LIVED IN THE "HOKMAH" WISDOM OF PROVERBS." THE FINAL BOOK IN THE COLLECTION OF POETRY, SOME TIMES CALLED CANTICLES. THROUGH THE CENTURIES, THIS LITTLE BOOK AS BEEN SEEN IN MANY WAYS. THE BEST APPROACH IS A COMBINATION OF LITERAL AND TYPICAL INTERPRETATION. THE INSPIRED WORD FROM THE INCIDENT IN SOLOMON'S LIFE WITH A SIMPLE COUNTRY GIRL. AS TYPOLOGY IT TYPIFIES THE LOVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS BRIDE, THE CHURCH. DESPITE HIS FAILURES , SOLOMON WAS IN SOME RESPECTS, A TYPE OF CHRIST.
Thursday, July 5, 2018
HERE I STAND. [LUTHER] GENESIS 21.
LET'S LOOK AT LUTHER'S TAKE ON THE FURTHER ILLUSTRATION WITH THE PORTRAYAL OF THE SACRIFICE OF ISAAC BY ABRAHAM.. HEAR THE TALE AS
LUTHER EXPOUNDS IT:
ABRAHAM WAS TOLD BY GOD THAT HE MUST SACRIFICE THE SON OF HIS OLD AGE BY A MIRACLE, THE SEED THROUGH WHOM HE WAS TO BECOME THE FATHER OF KINGS AND OF A GREAT NATION. ABRAHAM TURNED PALE. NOT ONLY WOULD HE LOSE HIS SON, BUT GOD APPEARED TO BE A LIAR. HE HAD SAID, " IN ISAAC SHALL BE THY SEED, " BUT NOW HE SAID " KILL ISAAC." WHO WOULD NOT HATE A GOD SO CRUEL AND CONTRADICTORY? HOW ABRAHAM LONGED TO TALK IT OVER WITH SOMEONE! COULD HE NOT TELL SARAH? BUT HE WELL KNEW THAT IF HE MENTIONED IT TO ANYONE HE WOULD BE DISSUADED. COULD HE NOT TELL SARAH?
HE KNEW HE WOULD BE PREVENTED FROM CARRYING OUT THE BEHEST. THE SPOT DESIGNATED FOR THE SACRIFICE, MOUNT MORIAH, WAS SOME DISTANCE AWAY; AND "ABRAHAM ROSE UP EARLY IN THE MORNING, AND SADDLED HIS ASS, AND TOOK TWO YOUNG MEN WITH HIM, AND ISAAC HIS SON, AND CLAVE THE WOOD FOR THE BURNT OFFERING. " ABRAHAM DID NOT LEAVE SADDLING OF HIS ASS TO OTHERS. HE HIMSELF LAID ON THE BEAST THE WOOD FOR THE BURNT OFFERING. HE WAS THINKING ALL THE TIME THAT THESE LOGS WOULD CONSUME HIS SON., HIS HOPE OF SEED. WITH THE VERY STICKS HE WAS PICKING UP THE BOY WOULD BE BURNED. IN SUCH A TERRIBLE CASE SHOULD HE NOT TAKE TIME TO THINK IT OVER?
WITH WHAT INNER TEARS HE SUFFERED! HE GIRT THE ASS AND WAS SO ABSORBED HE SCARCELY KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING. HE TOOK TWO SERVANTS AND ISAAC HIS SON. IN THAT MOMENT EVERYTHING DIED WITHIN HIM.: SARAH, HIS FAMILY, HIS HOME , ISAAC. THIS IS WHAT IT IS IS TO SIT IN SACKCLOTH AND ASHES. IF HE HAD KNOWN THAT THIS WAS ONLY A TRIAL, HE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN TRIED. SUCH IS THE NATURE OF OUR TRIALS THAT WHILE THEY LAST WE CANNOT SEE THE END.
" THEN ON THE THIRD DAY ABRAHAM LIFTED UP HIS EYES, AND SAW THE PLACE FAR OFF." WHAT A BATTLE HE HAD ENDURED IN THOSE THREE DAYS! THERE ABRAHAM LEFT THE SERVANTS AND THE ASS, AND HE LAID THE WOOD UPON ISAAC
AND HIMSELF TOOK THE TORCH AND THE SACRIFICIAL KNIFE. ALL THE TIME THINKING, "ISAAC, IF YOU KNEW, IF YOUR MOTHER KNEW THAT YOU WERE TO BE SACRIFICED" " AND THEY WENT BOTH OF THEM TOGETHER." THE WHOLE WORLD DOES NOT KNOW WHAT HERE TOOK PLACE. THEY TOO WALKED TOGETHER. WHO?
THE FATHER AND THE DEAREST SON- THE ONE NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS IN STORE
BUT READY TO OBEY, THE OTHER CERTAIN THAT HE MUST LEAVE HIS SON IN ASHES. THEN SAID ISAAC, "MY FATHER," AND HE SAID, "YES MY SON." AND ISAAC SAID, " FATHER," HERE IS THE FIRE AND HERE IS THE WOOD, BUT WHERE IS THE LAMB?" HE CALLED HIM FATHER AND WAS SOLICITOUS LEST HE HAD OVERLOOKED SOMETHING, AND ABRAHAM SAID, " GOD WILL PROVIDE A LAMB, MY SON."
WHEN THEY CAME TO THE MOUNT, ABRAHAM BUILT THE ALTAR AND LAID ON THE WOOD, AND THEN HE WAS FORCED TO TELL ISAAC. THE BOY WAS STUPEFIED. HE MUST HAVE PROTESTED, "HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN: I AM THE SON OF SARAH BY A MIRACLE IN HER AGE, THAT I WAS PROMISED AND THAT THROUGH ME YOU ARE TO BE THE FATHER OF A GREAT NATION.?" AND ABRAHAM MUST HAVE ANSWERED THAT GOD WOULD FULFILL HIS PROMISE EVEN OUT OF ASHES. THEN ABRAHAM BOUND HIM AND LAID HIM UPON THE WOOD. THE FATHER RAISED HIS KNIFE. THE BOY BARED HIS THROAT. IF GOD HAD SLEPT AN INSTANT, THE LAD WOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD. THE LAD WAS A SHEEP FOR SLAUGHTER. NEVER IN HISTORY WAS THERE SUCH OBEDIENCE, SAVE ONLY IN CHRIST. BUT GOD WAS WATCHING, AND ALL THE ANGELS. THE FATHER RAISED THE KNIFE, TH BOY DID NOT WINCE, THE ANGEL CRIED, " ABRAHAM, ABRAHAM" ! SEE HOW THE DIVINE MAJESTY IS AT HAND AT THE HOUR OF DEATH. WE SAY, " IN THE MIDST OF LIFE WE DIE."
GOD ANSWERS, "NAY, IN THE MIDST OF DEATH WE LIVE."
LUTHER EXPOUNDS IT:
ABRAHAM WAS TOLD BY GOD THAT HE MUST SACRIFICE THE SON OF HIS OLD AGE BY A MIRACLE, THE SEED THROUGH WHOM HE WAS TO BECOME THE FATHER OF KINGS AND OF A GREAT NATION. ABRAHAM TURNED PALE. NOT ONLY WOULD HE LOSE HIS SON, BUT GOD APPEARED TO BE A LIAR. HE HAD SAID, " IN ISAAC SHALL BE THY SEED, " BUT NOW HE SAID " KILL ISAAC." WHO WOULD NOT HATE A GOD SO CRUEL AND CONTRADICTORY? HOW ABRAHAM LONGED TO TALK IT OVER WITH SOMEONE! COULD HE NOT TELL SARAH? BUT HE WELL KNEW THAT IF HE MENTIONED IT TO ANYONE HE WOULD BE DISSUADED. COULD HE NOT TELL SARAH?
HE KNEW HE WOULD BE PREVENTED FROM CARRYING OUT THE BEHEST. THE SPOT DESIGNATED FOR THE SACRIFICE, MOUNT MORIAH, WAS SOME DISTANCE AWAY; AND "ABRAHAM ROSE UP EARLY IN THE MORNING, AND SADDLED HIS ASS, AND TOOK TWO YOUNG MEN WITH HIM, AND ISAAC HIS SON, AND CLAVE THE WOOD FOR THE BURNT OFFERING. " ABRAHAM DID NOT LEAVE SADDLING OF HIS ASS TO OTHERS. HE HIMSELF LAID ON THE BEAST THE WOOD FOR THE BURNT OFFERING. HE WAS THINKING ALL THE TIME THAT THESE LOGS WOULD CONSUME HIS SON., HIS HOPE OF SEED. WITH THE VERY STICKS HE WAS PICKING UP THE BOY WOULD BE BURNED. IN SUCH A TERRIBLE CASE SHOULD HE NOT TAKE TIME TO THINK IT OVER?
WITH WHAT INNER TEARS HE SUFFERED! HE GIRT THE ASS AND WAS SO ABSORBED HE SCARCELY KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING. HE TOOK TWO SERVANTS AND ISAAC HIS SON. IN THAT MOMENT EVERYTHING DIED WITHIN HIM.: SARAH, HIS FAMILY, HIS HOME , ISAAC. THIS IS WHAT IT IS IS TO SIT IN SACKCLOTH AND ASHES. IF HE HAD KNOWN THAT THIS WAS ONLY A TRIAL, HE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN TRIED. SUCH IS THE NATURE OF OUR TRIALS THAT WHILE THEY LAST WE CANNOT SEE THE END.
" THEN ON THE THIRD DAY ABRAHAM LIFTED UP HIS EYES, AND SAW THE PLACE FAR OFF." WHAT A BATTLE HE HAD ENDURED IN THOSE THREE DAYS! THERE ABRAHAM LEFT THE SERVANTS AND THE ASS, AND HE LAID THE WOOD UPON ISAAC
AND HIMSELF TOOK THE TORCH AND THE SACRIFICIAL KNIFE. ALL THE TIME THINKING, "ISAAC, IF YOU KNEW, IF YOUR MOTHER KNEW THAT YOU WERE TO BE SACRIFICED" " AND THEY WENT BOTH OF THEM TOGETHER." THE WHOLE WORLD DOES NOT KNOW WHAT HERE TOOK PLACE. THEY TOO WALKED TOGETHER. WHO?
THE FATHER AND THE DEAREST SON- THE ONE NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS IN STORE
BUT READY TO OBEY, THE OTHER CERTAIN THAT HE MUST LEAVE HIS SON IN ASHES. THEN SAID ISAAC, "MY FATHER," AND HE SAID, "YES MY SON." AND ISAAC SAID, " FATHER," HERE IS THE FIRE AND HERE IS THE WOOD, BUT WHERE IS THE LAMB?" HE CALLED HIM FATHER AND WAS SOLICITOUS LEST HE HAD OVERLOOKED SOMETHING, AND ABRAHAM SAID, " GOD WILL PROVIDE A LAMB, MY SON."
WHEN THEY CAME TO THE MOUNT, ABRAHAM BUILT THE ALTAR AND LAID ON THE WOOD, AND THEN HE WAS FORCED TO TELL ISAAC. THE BOY WAS STUPEFIED. HE MUST HAVE PROTESTED, "HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN: I AM THE SON OF SARAH BY A MIRACLE IN HER AGE, THAT I WAS PROMISED AND THAT THROUGH ME YOU ARE TO BE THE FATHER OF A GREAT NATION.?" AND ABRAHAM MUST HAVE ANSWERED THAT GOD WOULD FULFILL HIS PROMISE EVEN OUT OF ASHES. THEN ABRAHAM BOUND HIM AND LAID HIM UPON THE WOOD. THE FATHER RAISED HIS KNIFE. THE BOY BARED HIS THROAT. IF GOD HAD SLEPT AN INSTANT, THE LAD WOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD. THE LAD WAS A SHEEP FOR SLAUGHTER. NEVER IN HISTORY WAS THERE SUCH OBEDIENCE, SAVE ONLY IN CHRIST. BUT GOD WAS WATCHING, AND ALL THE ANGELS. THE FATHER RAISED THE KNIFE, TH BOY DID NOT WINCE, THE ANGEL CRIED, " ABRAHAM, ABRAHAM" ! SEE HOW THE DIVINE MAJESTY IS AT HAND AT THE HOUR OF DEATH. WE SAY, " IN THE MIDST OF LIFE WE DIE."
GOD ANSWERS, "NAY, IN THE MIDST OF DEATH WE LIVE."
Monday, July 2, 2018
LUTHER'S DEPRESSIONS. LED TO A TALK WITH DEVIL.
LUTHER FELT HIS DEPRESSION WERE NECESSARY. AT THE SAME TIME THEY WERE DREADFUL AND BY ALL MEANS AND IN EVERY WAY TO BE AVOIDED AND OVERCOME. HIS WHOLE LIFE WAS A STRUGGLE AGAINST THEM, A FIGHT FOR FAITH.
THIS IS THE POINT AT WHICH INTERESTS US SO ACUTELY, FOR WE TOO ARE CAST DOWN AND WE TOO WOULD KNOW HOW TO ASSUAGE OUR DESPONDENCY. LUTHER HAD TWO METHODS: THE ONE WAS A HEAD-ON ATTACK, THE OTHER AN APPROACH BY WAY OF INDIRECTION. SOMETIMES HE WOULD ENGAGED IN DIRECT- ENCOUNTER. WITH DEVIL. THIS PARTICULAR "mise enscene" MAY AMUSE THE MODERN READER. AND INCLINE NOT TO TAKE LUTHER SERIOUSLY; BUT IT IS NOTEWORTHY THAT WHAT THE DEVIL SAYS TO LUTHER IS ONLY WHAT ONE SAYS TO ONESELF IN MOMENTS OF INTROSPECTION, AND, AND WHAT IS MORE SIGNIFICANT, ONLY THE MINOR DIFFICULTIES WERE REFERRED TO THE DEVIL, IN ALL MAJOR ENCOUNTERS, GOD HIMSELF WAS THE ASSAILANT. THE DEVIL WAS SOMETHING OF A RELIEF. LUTHER RELISHED, BY COMPARISON THE PERSONIFICATION OF HIS ENEMY IN THE FORM OF A BEING WHOM HE COULD BAIT WITHOUT DANGER OF BLASPHEMY. HE DESCRIBES WITH GUSTO SOME OF THESE BOUTS:
WHEN I GO TO BED, THE DEVIL IS ALWAYS WAITING FOR ME. WHEN HE BEGINS TO PLAGUE ME, I GIVE HIM THIS ANSWER: " DEVIL I MUST GO TO SLEEP. THAT'S GOD'S COMMAND, .' SO GO AWAY."'WORK BY DAY, SLEEP AT NIGHT. IF THAT DOESN'T WORK AND HE BRINGS OUT A CATALOG OF SINS, I SAY,,"YES, OLD FELLOW, I KNOW ALL ABOUT IT. AND I KNOW SOME MORE YOU OVER LOOKED. HERE ARE FEW EXTRA."
PUT THEM DOWN " IF HE STILL WON'T QUIT AND PRESSES ME HARD AND ACCUSES ME AS A SINNER, I SCORN HIM AND SAY, 'ST. SATAN, PRAY FOR ME, OF COURSE YOU HAVE NEVER DONE ANYTHING WRONG IN YOUR LIFE. YOU ALONE ARE HOLY. GO TO GOD AND GET GRACE FOR YOURSELF. IF YOU WANT TO GET ME ALL STRAIGHTENED. OUT, SAY "PHYSICIAN, HEAL THYSELF."
SOMETIMES LUTHER HAD THE TEMERITY TO UNDERTAKE ALSO THE THE GREATER ENCOUNTER WITH GOD HIMSELF. "I DISPUTE MUCH WITH GOD. WITH GREAT IMPATIENCE, " SAID HE, " AND I HOLD HIM TO HIS PROMISES." THE CANAANITE WOMAN WAS A SOURCE OF UNENDING WONDER AND COMFORT TO LUTHER.
BECAUSE SHE HAD THE AUDACITY 238356 TO ARGUE WITH CHRIST. WHEN SHE ASKED HIM TO COME AND HEAL HER DAUGHTER, HE ANSWERED THAT HE WAS NOT SENT BUT TO THE LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, AND IT WAS NOT MEET [RIGHT] TO TAKE THE CHILDREN'S BREAD AND GIVE IT TO THE DOGS. SHE DID NOT DISPUTE HIS JUDGMENT. SHE AGREED THAT SHE WAS A DOG. SHE ASKED NO MORE THAN THAT WHICH BEFITS A DOG, TO LICK UP THE CRUMBS WHICH FALL FROM THE CHILDREN'S TABLE. SHE TOOK CHRIST AT HIS OWN WORDS. HE THEN TREATED HER NOT AS A DOG BUT AS A CHILD OF ISRAEL. ALL THIS IS WRITTEN FOR OUR COMFORT THAT WE SHOULD SEE HOW DEEPLY GOD HIDES HIS FACE AND HOW WE MUST NOT GO BY OUR FEELING, BUT ONLY BY HIS WORD. ALL CHRIST ANSWERS SOUNDED LIKE NO, BUT HE DID NOT MEAN NO. HE HAD NOT SAID THAT SHE WAS A DOG AND NOT OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL. ALL THIS WAS WRITTEN FOR OUR COMFORT THAT WE SHOULD SEE HOW DEEPLY GOD HIDES HIS FACE AND HOW WE MUST GO BY OUR FEELING BUT ONLY BY HIS WORD.. ALL CHRIST'S ANSWERS SOUNDED LIKE NO, BUT HE DID NOT MEAN NO. HE HAD NOT SAID THAT SHE WAS A DOG. HE HAD NOT SAID NO. THIS SHOWS HOW OUR HEART FEELS IN DESPONDENCY.
IT SEES NOTHING BUT A PLAIN NO. THEREFORE IT MUST TURN TO THE DEEP HIDDEN "YES" UNDER THE "NO." AND HOLD IT WITH A FIRM FAITH TO GOD'S WORD.
AT TIMES, HOWEVER, LUTHER ADVISED AGAINST ANY ATTEMPT TO WRESTLE ONE'S WAY THROUGH.. " DON'T ARGUE WITH THE DEVIL," HE SAID. " HE HAD FIVE THOUSAND YEARS EXPERIENCE. HE HAS TRIED ALL IS TRICKS ON ADAM, ABRAHAM, AND DAVID. AND HE KNOWS EXACTLY THE WEAK SPOTS," AND HE IS PERSISTENT. IF HE DOES NOT GET YOU DOWN WITH THE FIRST ASSAULT, HE WILL COMMENCE A SIEGE OF ATTRITION UNTIL YOU GIVE IN FROM SHEER EXHAUSTION. BETTER BANISH THE WHOLE SUBJECT. SEEK COMPANY AND DISCUSS SOME IRRELEVANT MATTER AS, FOR EXAMPLE. WHAT IS GOING ON IN VENICE, SHUN SOLITUDE . " EVE GOT INTO TROUBLE WHEN SHE WALKED IN THE GARDEN ALONE. I HAVE MY WORST TEMPTATIONS WHEN I AM BY MYSELF." SEEK OUT SOME CHRISTIAN BROTHER, SOME WISE COUNSELOR. LUTHER, SAYS UNDERGIRD YOURSELF WITH THE FELLOWSHIP
OF THE CHURCH. THEN, PARTY IN FEMININE COMPANY, DINE, DANCE, JOKE SING. MAKE YOURSELF EAT AND DRINK EVEN THOUGH FOOD MAY BE VERY DISTASTEFUL. FASTING IS THE VERY WORST EXPEDIENT. ONCE LUTHER GAVE THREE RULES FOR DISPELLING DESPONDENCY: THE FIRST IS FAITH IN CHRIST; THE SECOND IS TO GET DOWNRIGHT ANGRY; THE THIRD IS THE LOVE OF A WOMAN. MUSIC WAS ESPECIALLY COMMENDED. THE DEVIL HATES IT BECAUSE HE CAN NOT ENDURE GAIETY. LUTHER'S PHYSICIAN RELATES THAT ON ONE OCCASION, HE CAME WITH SOME FRIENDS FOR MUSICAL SOIREE ONLY TO FIND LUTHER IN A SWOON; BUT WHEN OTHERS STRUCK UP THE SONG, HE WAS SOON ONE OF THE PARTY. HOME LIFE WAS A COMFORT AND A DIVERSION. SO ALSO WAS THE PRESENCE OF HIS WIFE, WHEN THE DEVIL ASSAULTED HIM IN THE NIGHT WATCHES. " THEN I TURNED TO MY KATIE AND SAY, "FORBID ME TO HAVE SUCH TEMPTATIONS, AND RECALL ME FROM SUCH VAIN TEMPTATIONS . A GOOD WAY, COUNSELED LUTHER, TO EXORCISE THE DEVIL IS TO HARNESS THE HORSE AND SPREAD MANURE ON THE FIELDS. LUTHER WAS IN A WAY PRESCRIBING FAITH AS A CURE FOR THE LACK OF FAITH. TO GIVE UP THE ARGUMENT IS OF ITSELF AN ACT OF FAITH AKIN TO THE "GELASSENHEIT OF THE MYSTICS," AN EXPRESSION OF CONFIDENCE, IN RESTORATIVE POWER OF GOD, WHO OPERATES IN THE SUBCONSCIOUS WHILE MAN OCCUPIES HIMSELF WITH EXTRANEOUS THINGS. WHEN HIS DAUGHTER ANASTASIA WAS FOUR YEAR OLD, WAS PRATTLING OF CHRIST, ANGELS, AND HEAVEN, "LUTHER SAID, "MY DEAR, CHILD, IF ONLY WE COULD HOLD FAST TO THIS FAITH" " WHY, PAPA," SAID SHE. DON'T YOU BELIEVE IT?" CHRIST HAS MADE CHILDREN TO BE OUR TEACHERS.
LUTHER SAYS: " I AM EVERMORE A DOCTOR, I STILL HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL WITH HANS AND MAGDALENA, FOR WHO AMONG MEN CAN UNDERSTAND THE FULL MEANING OF THIS WORD OF GOD, " OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN?"
AT OTHER TIMES THE DEPRESSION WAS WITH REGARD TO HIMSELF. ONE RECALLS HIS OSCILLATION OF FEELING AT THE WARTBURG AS TO WHETHER HE HAD BEEN BRASH OR CRAVEN. THE ANSWER IN HIS OWN CASE COULD NEVER BE THAT HE HAD ANY CLAIM ON GOD., THEN THE QUESTION FOREVER RECURRED WHETHER GOD WOULD THEN BE GRACIOUS. LUTHER WOULD SAY THAT ONE NEVER KNOWS WHERE, BUT ALWAYS SOMEWHERE. TO INQUIRE AFTER THE STARTING POINT OF LUTHER'S THEOLOGY IS FUTILE. IT BEGINS WHERE IT CAN, CHRIST HIMSELF VARIABLE, SOMETIMES AS THE "GOOD SHEPHERD " AND SOMETIMES AS THE AVENGING JUDGE. IF THEN CHRIST APPEARS HOSTILE, LUTHER WOULD TURN TO GOD AND WOULD RECALL THE FIRST COMMANDMENT, " I AM THE LORD THY GOD. THIS VERY PRONOUNCEMENT IS AT THE SAME TIME A PROMISE, AND GOD HAS TO KEEP HIS PROMISES. NO MATTER HOW THAT MAY APPEAR, I KNOW GOD WILL NOT LIE, AND KEEP HIS PROMISE. ONE GREAT OBJECTIVE AID FOR LUTHER WAS THE SCRIPTURES, BECAUSE THIS IS THE WRITTEN RECORD OF THE REVELATION OF GOD IN CHRIST.
LUTHER TAUGHT THE TRUE CHRISTIAN PILGRIMAGE IS NOT TO ROME OR, THE "COMPOSTELA",, BUT TO THE "PROPHETS", THE "PSALMS," AND THE GOSPELS. THE SCRIPTURES ASSUMED FOR LUTHER AN OVERWHELMING IMPORTANCE, NOT PRIMARILY AS A SOURCE BOOK FOR ANTIPAPAL POLEMIC, BUT AS A BOOK AS THE GROUND FOR CERTAINTY. NOTHING AMAZED LUTHER IN ALL THE BIBLICAL RECORD AS THE FAITH OF THE PARTICIPANTS: THAT MARY CREDITED THE ANNUNCIATION
OF THE ANGEL GABRIEL; THAT JOSEPH GAVE CREDENCE TO THE DREAM WHICH ALLAYED HIS MISGIVING; THAT THE SHEPHERDS BELIEVED THE OPENING SONG OF THE HEAVENS AND THE ANGELS SONG THAT THE WISE MEN WERE READY TO GO TO BETHLEHEM. AT THE WORD OF THE PROPHET. THERE WERE THREE MIRACLES OF THE NATIVITY: THAT GOD BECAME MAN, THAT A VIRGIN CONCEIVED AND THAT MARY BELIEVED, AND THE GREATER OF THESE WAS THE LAST. WHEN THE WISE MEN RELIED UPON THEIR JUDGMENT AND WENT STRAIGHT TO JERUSALEM WITH OUT CONSULTING THE STAR, GOD LIFTED IT OUT OF HEAVEN AND LEFT THEM BEWILDERED TO MAKE INQUIRY OF HEROD, WHO THEN CALLED HIS WISE MEN AND THEY SEARCHED THE SCRIPTURES. AND THAT IS WHAT WE MUST DO WHEN WE ARE BEREFT OF THE STAR.
THIS IS THE POINT AT WHICH INTERESTS US SO ACUTELY, FOR WE TOO ARE CAST DOWN AND WE TOO WOULD KNOW HOW TO ASSUAGE OUR DESPONDENCY. LUTHER HAD TWO METHODS: THE ONE WAS A HEAD-ON ATTACK, THE OTHER AN APPROACH BY WAY OF INDIRECTION. SOMETIMES HE WOULD ENGAGED IN DIRECT- ENCOUNTER. WITH DEVIL. THIS PARTICULAR "mise enscene" MAY AMUSE THE MODERN READER. AND INCLINE NOT TO TAKE LUTHER SERIOUSLY; BUT IT IS NOTEWORTHY THAT WHAT THE DEVIL SAYS TO LUTHER IS ONLY WHAT ONE SAYS TO ONESELF IN MOMENTS OF INTROSPECTION, AND, AND WHAT IS MORE SIGNIFICANT, ONLY THE MINOR DIFFICULTIES WERE REFERRED TO THE DEVIL, IN ALL MAJOR ENCOUNTERS, GOD HIMSELF WAS THE ASSAILANT. THE DEVIL WAS SOMETHING OF A RELIEF. LUTHER RELISHED, BY COMPARISON THE PERSONIFICATION OF HIS ENEMY IN THE FORM OF A BEING WHOM HE COULD BAIT WITHOUT DANGER OF BLASPHEMY. HE DESCRIBES WITH GUSTO SOME OF THESE BOUTS:
WHEN I GO TO BED, THE DEVIL IS ALWAYS WAITING FOR ME. WHEN HE BEGINS TO PLAGUE ME, I GIVE HIM THIS ANSWER: " DEVIL I MUST GO TO SLEEP. THAT'S GOD'S COMMAND, .' SO GO AWAY."'WORK BY DAY, SLEEP AT NIGHT. IF THAT DOESN'T WORK AND HE BRINGS OUT A CATALOG OF SINS, I SAY,,"YES, OLD FELLOW, I KNOW ALL ABOUT IT. AND I KNOW SOME MORE YOU OVER LOOKED. HERE ARE FEW EXTRA."
PUT THEM DOWN " IF HE STILL WON'T QUIT AND PRESSES ME HARD AND ACCUSES ME AS A SINNER, I SCORN HIM AND SAY, 'ST. SATAN, PRAY FOR ME, OF COURSE YOU HAVE NEVER DONE ANYTHING WRONG IN YOUR LIFE. YOU ALONE ARE HOLY. GO TO GOD AND GET GRACE FOR YOURSELF. IF YOU WANT TO GET ME ALL STRAIGHTENED. OUT, SAY "PHYSICIAN, HEAL THYSELF."
SOMETIMES LUTHER HAD THE TEMERITY TO UNDERTAKE ALSO THE THE GREATER ENCOUNTER WITH GOD HIMSELF. "I DISPUTE MUCH WITH GOD. WITH GREAT IMPATIENCE, " SAID HE, " AND I HOLD HIM TO HIS PROMISES." THE CANAANITE WOMAN WAS A SOURCE OF UNENDING WONDER AND COMFORT TO LUTHER.
BECAUSE SHE HAD THE AUDACITY 238356 TO ARGUE WITH CHRIST. WHEN SHE ASKED HIM TO COME AND HEAL HER DAUGHTER, HE ANSWERED THAT HE WAS NOT SENT BUT TO THE LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, AND IT WAS NOT MEET [RIGHT] TO TAKE THE CHILDREN'S BREAD AND GIVE IT TO THE DOGS. SHE DID NOT DISPUTE HIS JUDGMENT. SHE AGREED THAT SHE WAS A DOG. SHE ASKED NO MORE THAN THAT WHICH BEFITS A DOG, TO LICK UP THE CRUMBS WHICH FALL FROM THE CHILDREN'S TABLE. SHE TOOK CHRIST AT HIS OWN WORDS. HE THEN TREATED HER NOT AS A DOG BUT AS A CHILD OF ISRAEL. ALL THIS IS WRITTEN FOR OUR COMFORT THAT WE SHOULD SEE HOW DEEPLY GOD HIDES HIS FACE AND HOW WE MUST NOT GO BY OUR FEELING, BUT ONLY BY HIS WORD. ALL CHRIST ANSWERS SOUNDED LIKE NO, BUT HE DID NOT MEAN NO. HE HAD NOT SAID THAT SHE WAS A DOG AND NOT OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL. ALL THIS WAS WRITTEN FOR OUR COMFORT THAT WE SHOULD SEE HOW DEEPLY GOD HIDES HIS FACE AND HOW WE MUST GO BY OUR FEELING BUT ONLY BY HIS WORD.. ALL CHRIST'S ANSWERS SOUNDED LIKE NO, BUT HE DID NOT MEAN NO. HE HAD NOT SAID THAT SHE WAS A DOG. HE HAD NOT SAID NO. THIS SHOWS HOW OUR HEART FEELS IN DESPONDENCY.
IT SEES NOTHING BUT A PLAIN NO. THEREFORE IT MUST TURN TO THE DEEP HIDDEN "YES" UNDER THE "NO." AND HOLD IT WITH A FIRM FAITH TO GOD'S WORD.
AT TIMES, HOWEVER, LUTHER ADVISED AGAINST ANY ATTEMPT TO WRESTLE ONE'S WAY THROUGH.. " DON'T ARGUE WITH THE DEVIL," HE SAID. " HE HAD FIVE THOUSAND YEARS EXPERIENCE. HE HAS TRIED ALL IS TRICKS ON ADAM, ABRAHAM, AND DAVID. AND HE KNOWS EXACTLY THE WEAK SPOTS," AND HE IS PERSISTENT. IF HE DOES NOT GET YOU DOWN WITH THE FIRST ASSAULT, HE WILL COMMENCE A SIEGE OF ATTRITION UNTIL YOU GIVE IN FROM SHEER EXHAUSTION. BETTER BANISH THE WHOLE SUBJECT. SEEK COMPANY AND DISCUSS SOME IRRELEVANT MATTER AS, FOR EXAMPLE. WHAT IS GOING ON IN VENICE, SHUN SOLITUDE . " EVE GOT INTO TROUBLE WHEN SHE WALKED IN THE GARDEN ALONE. I HAVE MY WORST TEMPTATIONS WHEN I AM BY MYSELF." SEEK OUT SOME CHRISTIAN BROTHER, SOME WISE COUNSELOR. LUTHER, SAYS UNDERGIRD YOURSELF WITH THE FELLOWSHIP
OF THE CHURCH. THEN, PARTY IN FEMININE COMPANY, DINE, DANCE, JOKE SING. MAKE YOURSELF EAT AND DRINK EVEN THOUGH FOOD MAY BE VERY DISTASTEFUL. FASTING IS THE VERY WORST EXPEDIENT. ONCE LUTHER GAVE THREE RULES FOR DISPELLING DESPONDENCY: THE FIRST IS FAITH IN CHRIST; THE SECOND IS TO GET DOWNRIGHT ANGRY; THE THIRD IS THE LOVE OF A WOMAN. MUSIC WAS ESPECIALLY COMMENDED. THE DEVIL HATES IT BECAUSE HE CAN NOT ENDURE GAIETY. LUTHER'S PHYSICIAN RELATES THAT ON ONE OCCASION, HE CAME WITH SOME FRIENDS FOR MUSICAL SOIREE ONLY TO FIND LUTHER IN A SWOON; BUT WHEN OTHERS STRUCK UP THE SONG, HE WAS SOON ONE OF THE PARTY. HOME LIFE WAS A COMFORT AND A DIVERSION. SO ALSO WAS THE PRESENCE OF HIS WIFE, WHEN THE DEVIL ASSAULTED HIM IN THE NIGHT WATCHES. " THEN I TURNED TO MY KATIE AND SAY, "FORBID ME TO HAVE SUCH TEMPTATIONS, AND RECALL ME FROM SUCH VAIN TEMPTATIONS . A GOOD WAY, COUNSELED LUTHER, TO EXORCISE THE DEVIL IS TO HARNESS THE HORSE AND SPREAD MANURE ON THE FIELDS. LUTHER WAS IN A WAY PRESCRIBING FAITH AS A CURE FOR THE LACK OF FAITH. TO GIVE UP THE ARGUMENT IS OF ITSELF AN ACT OF FAITH AKIN TO THE "GELASSENHEIT OF THE MYSTICS," AN EXPRESSION OF CONFIDENCE, IN RESTORATIVE POWER OF GOD, WHO OPERATES IN THE SUBCONSCIOUS WHILE MAN OCCUPIES HIMSELF WITH EXTRANEOUS THINGS. WHEN HIS DAUGHTER ANASTASIA WAS FOUR YEAR OLD, WAS PRATTLING OF CHRIST, ANGELS, AND HEAVEN, "LUTHER SAID, "MY DEAR, CHILD, IF ONLY WE COULD HOLD FAST TO THIS FAITH" " WHY, PAPA," SAID SHE. DON'T YOU BELIEVE IT?" CHRIST HAS MADE CHILDREN TO BE OUR TEACHERS.
LUTHER SAYS: " I AM EVERMORE A DOCTOR, I STILL HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL WITH HANS AND MAGDALENA, FOR WHO AMONG MEN CAN UNDERSTAND THE FULL MEANING OF THIS WORD OF GOD, " OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN?"
AT OTHER TIMES THE DEPRESSION WAS WITH REGARD TO HIMSELF. ONE RECALLS HIS OSCILLATION OF FEELING AT THE WARTBURG AS TO WHETHER HE HAD BEEN BRASH OR CRAVEN. THE ANSWER IN HIS OWN CASE COULD NEVER BE THAT HE HAD ANY CLAIM ON GOD., THEN THE QUESTION FOREVER RECURRED WHETHER GOD WOULD THEN BE GRACIOUS. LUTHER WOULD SAY THAT ONE NEVER KNOWS WHERE, BUT ALWAYS SOMEWHERE. TO INQUIRE AFTER THE STARTING POINT OF LUTHER'S THEOLOGY IS FUTILE. IT BEGINS WHERE IT CAN, CHRIST HIMSELF VARIABLE, SOMETIMES AS THE "GOOD SHEPHERD " AND SOMETIMES AS THE AVENGING JUDGE. IF THEN CHRIST APPEARS HOSTILE, LUTHER WOULD TURN TO GOD AND WOULD RECALL THE FIRST COMMANDMENT, " I AM THE LORD THY GOD. THIS VERY PRONOUNCEMENT IS AT THE SAME TIME A PROMISE, AND GOD HAS TO KEEP HIS PROMISES. NO MATTER HOW THAT MAY APPEAR, I KNOW GOD WILL NOT LIE, AND KEEP HIS PROMISE. ONE GREAT OBJECTIVE AID FOR LUTHER WAS THE SCRIPTURES, BECAUSE THIS IS THE WRITTEN RECORD OF THE REVELATION OF GOD IN CHRIST.
LUTHER TAUGHT THE TRUE CHRISTIAN PILGRIMAGE IS NOT TO ROME OR, THE "COMPOSTELA",, BUT TO THE "PROPHETS", THE "PSALMS," AND THE GOSPELS. THE SCRIPTURES ASSUMED FOR LUTHER AN OVERWHELMING IMPORTANCE, NOT PRIMARILY AS A SOURCE BOOK FOR ANTIPAPAL POLEMIC, BUT AS A BOOK AS THE GROUND FOR CERTAINTY. NOTHING AMAZED LUTHER IN ALL THE BIBLICAL RECORD AS THE FAITH OF THE PARTICIPANTS: THAT MARY CREDITED THE ANNUNCIATION
OF THE ANGEL GABRIEL; THAT JOSEPH GAVE CREDENCE TO THE DREAM WHICH ALLAYED HIS MISGIVING; THAT THE SHEPHERDS BELIEVED THE OPENING SONG OF THE HEAVENS AND THE ANGELS SONG THAT THE WISE MEN WERE READY TO GO TO BETHLEHEM. AT THE WORD OF THE PROPHET. THERE WERE THREE MIRACLES OF THE NATIVITY: THAT GOD BECAME MAN, THAT A VIRGIN CONCEIVED AND THAT MARY BELIEVED, AND THE GREATER OF THESE WAS THE LAST. WHEN THE WISE MEN RELIED UPON THEIR JUDGMENT AND WENT STRAIGHT TO JERUSALEM WITH OUT CONSULTING THE STAR, GOD LIFTED IT OUT OF HEAVEN AND LEFT THEM BEWILDERED TO MAKE INQUIRY OF HEROD, WHO THEN CALLED HIS WISE MEN AND THEY SEARCHED THE SCRIPTURES. AND THAT IS WHAT WE MUST DO WHEN WE ARE BEREFT OF THE STAR.
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