One of the comforting pictures from the Hebrew Scriptures is that of the faithful resting 'under God's wings.' It's found five places in the Psalms: 17:8, 36:7, 57:1, 63:7, and 91:4 . It's also used in Ruth 2:12, when Boaz shows favor to Ruth and says "May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge." This is a figure of speech comparing God to a mothering bird, protecting her chicks from the eyes of predators and sheltering them from rain, sun and harm.
Does God have wings? Hardly; God isn't hampered by physical form, although he has sometimes appeared as a human (for instance, Genesis 18). But his loving care for us is described in many different ways in Scripture, including this picture of providing and protecting. Jesus didn't have wings either but he picks up this word-picture, as recorded by Matthew and Luke. In Luke 13:34, he says "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me." Jesus' people refused his offer of protection, preferring their own blindness to his offer of God's redemption through his suffering.
But he was put to death on a cross, which was most likely an upright stake (the basic meaning of the Greek word used) with a crosspiece which he was forced to carry to the hill where he was killed. The soldiers nailed him to the crosspiece, and put a sign over his head (Matthew 27:35-37) proclaiming him, ironically, "King of the Jews."
Now, this is total speculation on my part -- this interpretation doesn't appear in Scripture so I can't claim it's authoritative, just a word picture in my own head. As Jesus' arms were spread out and his hands nailed to the crosspiece of his stake, with the sign above naming him as King of the Jews, he 'spread out his wings' in a manner of speaking, to provide shelter and protection for all people -- his own nation as well as all of us Gentiles. Though he died a criminal's death, it was to save us from our crimes against him: "I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said" (1 Cor. 15:3).
Colossians 1:20 says, "Through [Jesus] God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross." God has already brought you back to himself, through Jesus' blood. The only question is whether you find yourself "under the shadow of his wings" as he says you already are -- or whether, like Jesus' own people, you stubbornly prefer your way -- a way that didn't work for them either? God lets you choose. I pray you choose life.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Pictures from the Old Testament: the Rock
Our ongoing series on the pictures in the Old Testament (the Hebrew scriptures) that point to Christ, takes us to a lot of humans; but today, to another object, not a human but a rock. In the history of the newborn nation of Israel, fresh out of Egypt, Moses twice asks for water from a rock for the thirsty people.
First, in Exodus 17:1-7, the thirsty people ask for water and blame the lack of water on Moses. God tells Moses "I will stand before you on the rock...Strike the rock, and water will come gushing out. Then the people will be able to drink." In Numbers 20:1-13, the people are thirsty again (and cranky as usual), so God tells Moses to speak to the rock, "and it will pour out its water." Instead of speaking, Moses yells at the people, then strikes the rock with his staff. The water comes out anyway but God corrects Moses and doesn't allow him to take the people into the Land of Promise because he "did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel."
Normally, water ran down the riverbeds during rainy season, or there were pools in the wilderness from springs deep underneath the earth. These sound like truly supernatural events, with water coming from an unexpected spot. In one story the rock is to be struck, in another Moses is to speak to the rock but strikes it instead. What's it all mean?
These symbols are interpreted for us in the New Testament, primarily in two passages. In John 7:37-39, Jesus says "anyone who is thirsty" can come to him and drink, and John interprets that as meaning the Holy Spirit. So the physical water given to Israel was just a picture of the greater reality, the Holy Spirit, given from Jesus, the true Rock. In 1 Cor. 10:4, Paul writes, as part of a warning not to take God's provision lightly, that the Israelites ate and drank "spiritual" food and drink in the wilderness, drinking from the "spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ." The manna pictured Christ's body given for us, and the water from the rock pictured the Holy Spirit to be given, so we should read "spiritual rock" as being a picture of Christ, not an actual rock dragging itself around in the desert sand. God's faithfulness was with them, as it would be later in sending his Son -- who was "struck" in order to provide life for us. (Some have read this verse as indicating that the second Person of the Trinity is 'the one' who accompanied the Israelites; but let's remember, God is one, not divided in any way, so "all of God" was there, not just one Person.)
So, Jesus, the Rock of our salvation, is also the source of the promised Holy Spirit, whom he sent to be with us. The Hebrew Scriptures agree perfectly with the Greek Scriptures, that the plan and purpose of God is fully presented in his Son Jesus, whom we know as the Christ. Salvation and reconciliation with God through Christ is the main theme of the entire unity of Scripture. Will you accept what he has worked so hard to offer you?
First, in Exodus 17:1-7, the thirsty people ask for water and blame the lack of water on Moses. God tells Moses "I will stand before you on the rock...Strike the rock, and water will come gushing out. Then the people will be able to drink." In Numbers 20:1-13, the people are thirsty again (and cranky as usual), so God tells Moses to speak to the rock, "and it will pour out its water." Instead of speaking, Moses yells at the people, then strikes the rock with his staff. The water comes out anyway but God corrects Moses and doesn't allow him to take the people into the Land of Promise because he "did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel."
Normally, water ran down the riverbeds during rainy season, or there were pools in the wilderness from springs deep underneath the earth. These sound like truly supernatural events, with water coming from an unexpected spot. In one story the rock is to be struck, in another Moses is to speak to the rock but strikes it instead. What's it all mean?
These symbols are interpreted for us in the New Testament, primarily in two passages. In John 7:37-39, Jesus says "anyone who is thirsty" can come to him and drink, and John interprets that as meaning the Holy Spirit. So the physical water given to Israel was just a picture of the greater reality, the Holy Spirit, given from Jesus, the true Rock. In 1 Cor. 10:4, Paul writes, as part of a warning not to take God's provision lightly, that the Israelites ate and drank "spiritual" food and drink in the wilderness, drinking from the "spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ." The manna pictured Christ's body given for us, and the water from the rock pictured the Holy Spirit to be given, so we should read "spiritual rock" as being a picture of Christ, not an actual rock dragging itself around in the desert sand. God's faithfulness was with them, as it would be later in sending his Son -- who was "struck" in order to provide life for us. (Some have read this verse as indicating that the second Person of the Trinity is 'the one' who accompanied the Israelites; but let's remember, God is one, not divided in any way, so "all of God" was there, not just one Person.)
So, Jesus, the Rock of our salvation, is also the source of the promised Holy Spirit, whom he sent to be with us. The Hebrew Scriptures agree perfectly with the Greek Scriptures, that the plan and purpose of God is fully presented in his Son Jesus, whom we know as the Christ. Salvation and reconciliation with God through Christ is the main theme of the entire unity of Scripture. Will you accept what he has worked so hard to offer you?
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Life and Death...and Life
This time of year, everything is growing. Fast! The lawn is trying to get ahead of me again, and the weeds are growing faster than the veggies in the garden. God created the spring of the year, I think, to give us hope not only of physical life and health from eating the great foods that are available to us right now, but to remind us of the new life, a forever-life, that he has prepared for us through his Son, whom we know as Jesus.
We also face death in this physical life today. Just last week, one of my friends lost his mother to suicide, a sad and regrettable result of hopelessness. My mom died 36 years ago, and I still miss her. Death came into the world, according to Genesis 3, because of humanity's rebellion against God; our first parents didn't fully believe that God was providing completely for them, so they listened to a talking snake instead (how much sense does THAT make??). Death, in this physical world, is the ultimate result of the choices we've all made, and it's the end of the line as far as we can tell with our five senses; but God has promised us more.
John 3:16 says "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." Jesus says further in John's gospel, in chapter 5, "I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life" (verse 24). Whoa, "already passed"? What's up with that? The next few verses explain that the "new life" starts with belief, but is made full at a future resurrection: "And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live...Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, and they will rise again" (vs 25, 28). Why is it already true? Because "The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son" (v. 26) and those who chose then -- and choose now -- to believe in Jesus, are already living in that new kind of life, the life that will last forever.
So why the future resurrection? So that everything will finally be set right -- back the way it was before that first rebellion, and in fact even better. The Bible ends the same way it begins: in a garden. "Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations. No longer will there be a curse upon anything" (Rev. 22:1-3) And all the hurt will be gone from this new life: “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever." (Rev. 21:3-4). Human bodies will be changed to eternal, glorified bodies with no more aches and pains: "Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies...It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies." (1 Cor. 15:42-53).
I'm looking forward to that for a lot of reasons. Are you?
We also face death in this physical life today. Just last week, one of my friends lost his mother to suicide, a sad and regrettable result of hopelessness. My mom died 36 years ago, and I still miss her. Death came into the world, according to Genesis 3, because of humanity's rebellion against God; our first parents didn't fully believe that God was providing completely for them, so they listened to a talking snake instead (how much sense does THAT make??). Death, in this physical world, is the ultimate result of the choices we've all made, and it's the end of the line as far as we can tell with our five senses; but God has promised us more.
John 3:16 says "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." Jesus says further in John's gospel, in chapter 5, "I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life" (verse 24). Whoa, "already passed"? What's up with that? The next few verses explain that the "new life" starts with belief, but is made full at a future resurrection: "And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live...Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, and they will rise again" (vs 25, 28). Why is it already true? Because "The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son" (v. 26) and those who chose then -- and choose now -- to believe in Jesus, are already living in that new kind of life, the life that will last forever.
So why the future resurrection? So that everything will finally be set right -- back the way it was before that first rebellion, and in fact even better. The Bible ends the same way it begins: in a garden. "Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations. No longer will there be a curse upon anything" (Rev. 22:1-3) And all the hurt will be gone from this new life: “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever." (Rev. 21:3-4). Human bodies will be changed to eternal, glorified bodies with no more aches and pains: "Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies...It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies." (1 Cor. 15:42-53).
I'm looking forward to that for a lot of reasons. Are you?
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Jesus Is the One
Please see this wonderful video courtesy of Churchleaders.com and Tim Keller:
http://vimeo.com/23642755
What do you think? I think Tim has it figured out. What an awesome God!
http://vimeo.com/23642755
What do you think? I think Tim has it figured out. What an awesome God!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Storms
On Sunday, May 22, a tornado half a mile wide left a six-mile swath of destruction in Joplin, Missouri -- not far from my mother's home town. So far, 116 people are known dead and several hundred were injured in that storm. We join Christians around the country in praying for the people who were affected, not only in this storm but the many that will surely follow this year.
There are storms in life produced by the weather, and there are "storms" of another kind, difficult circumstances of life that teach us lessons we usually can't get anywhere else (or perhaps they won't sink into our minds in any other way). The Bible often calls these situations "trials" and there are several important passages on trials in its pages. Let's look at just a few:
1 Peter 4:12-19 reminds us not to be shocked "as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad..." The text tell us that trials are normal for the Christian life, and have two purposes: first, they test us; second, they allow us to be "partners with Christ in his suffering." Ouch, you mean we have to suffer as Jesus did? Well, yes, that is part of Christian life -- it shows we identify with Jesus, just as he identified with us by becoming human. "So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian" says verse 14.
James 1:2-4 says much the same thing, more briefly: "For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow." That's a little like lifting weights, using the resistance of the weight to build muscle and strength. We grow in our faith and endurance by facing problems we can't work through on our own, and relying on the strength God gives us to endure. That growth is why James says "when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy."
Hebrews 11 is a long list of faith-driven accomplishments of the saints of old. And after all those stories of faithful heroes, we are told "none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us." We get to join the list of the faithful, as our faith is made plain to others while we endure our trials; and one day, we will all see that "something better" God has waiting for us. I have no doubt -- that is, I have faith, despite the troubles of today -- that the trials will be worth it. Do you?
There are storms in life produced by the weather, and there are "storms" of another kind, difficult circumstances of life that teach us lessons we usually can't get anywhere else (or perhaps they won't sink into our minds in any other way). The Bible often calls these situations "trials" and there are several important passages on trials in its pages. Let's look at just a few:
1 Peter 4:12-19 reminds us not to be shocked "as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad..." The text tell us that trials are normal for the Christian life, and have two purposes: first, they test us; second, they allow us to be "partners with Christ in his suffering." Ouch, you mean we have to suffer as Jesus did? Well, yes, that is part of Christian life -- it shows we identify with Jesus, just as he identified with us by becoming human. "So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian" says verse 14.
James 1:2-4 says much the same thing, more briefly: "For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow." That's a little like lifting weights, using the resistance of the weight to build muscle and strength. We grow in our faith and endurance by facing problems we can't work through on our own, and relying on the strength God gives us to endure. That growth is why James says "when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy."
Hebrews 11 is a long list of faith-driven accomplishments of the saints of old. And after all those stories of faithful heroes, we are told "none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us." We get to join the list of the faithful, as our faith is made plain to others while we endure our trials; and one day, we will all see that "something better" God has waiting for us. I have no doubt -- that is, I have faith, despite the troubles of today -- that the trials will be worth it. Do you?
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Pictures from the Old Testament: the Levitical System
Most nations around ancient Israel believed that they were ruled by unseen beings in the sky who controlled the weather, the fertility of people, animals and crops (and thus their lives, in an agricultural setting) and many other things. The nations believed they had to appease those beings by any number of methods including sacrificing animals -- and sometimes humans, sometimes even their own children! (See for instance 2 Kings 17:31.) The problem was, one could never be certain of success; the weather might still be against you, your crops might still fail, etc. You always had a little cloud of doubt hanging over your head.
The system God gave Israel was similar in many respects, at least to the casual observer. They had holy places, priests, altars, sacrifices of animals and grains, and even boxes that represented the presence of their god (that's why the Philistines captured the ark of the covenant in 1 Samuel 4). But there were differences, and those differences assured the people of the forgiveness and faithfulness of Yahweh. In addition, the whole Levitical system (the priests were all from the tribe of Levi) points directly to Jesus, our Savior.
Here are just a few points, to illustrate:
The system God gave Israel was similar in many respects, at least to the casual observer. They had holy places, priests, altars, sacrifices of animals and grains, and even boxes that represented the presence of their god (that's why the Philistines captured the ark of the covenant in 1 Samuel 4). But there were differences, and those differences assured the people of the forgiveness and faithfulness of Yahweh. In addition, the whole Levitical system (the priests were all from the tribe of Levi) points directly to Jesus, our Savior.
Here are just a few points, to illustrate:
- The 'sin offerings' described in Leviticus 4 and 5 are described as being effective: "they will be forgiven" is used in 4:20, 4:26, 4:31, 4:35, and 5:10, 5:13, 5:16, 5:18, and in other places.
- The offering had to be a 'male with no defects' (Lev. 1:3)
- The priest wears, on his turban, a seal engraved with the words "Holy to the LORD" which is taken to mean that he "may take on himself any guilt of the people of Israel when they consecrate their sacred offerings. He must always wear it on his forehead so the Lord will accept the people." (Ex. 28:36-68).
- The priest wears stones such as onyx and emerald, engraved with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel: “In this way, Aaron will carry the names of the tribes of Israel on the sacred chestpiece over his heart when he goes into the Holy Place. This will be a continual reminder that he represents the people when he comes before the Lord." (Ex. 28:29)
- He is our high priest (Heb 9:11) the one bringing the offering, and he was also the offering itself.
- He had no sin of his own but carried our guilt (Heb. 9:14)
- He represented all the people, as did the high priest in Israel; and through his sacrifice on the cross, all sin is taken away for all people, forever (Heb. 9:24-28).
- That offering is effective, not because of the blood of animals, but the blood of Jesus himself (Heb 10:4-10).
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Understanding God: Pictures from the Old Testament: Joshua
Last time we looked at a little of the life of Moses who led Israel out of Egypt. Now we move on to Joshua, who was Moses' assistant for so many years. Joshua's job was to lead the group out of their wanderings in the wilderness for so many years, into the Land of Promise. He had already seen the land once, as one of the twelve spies (Numbers 13:16) sent to look the place over, and along with Caleb was one of the only ones to have faith that God would help them conquer the land.
Joshua was a man of faith, a strong leader and had a large part in setting up the nation of Israel in their now-historical home. But in Joshua chapter 1, God felt it necessary to tell him that, just like Moses, God would be with Joshua all his life. "No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you." (verse 5). Three times (verses 6, 7 and 9) God says "Be strong and courageous" and finishes with "the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
There are a lot of famous exploits in this book of history, including crossing the Jordan river in its spring floods stage (chapter 3) the fall of Jericho (chapter 6) and the long day (chapter 10). All that served to help establish Israel in the land, so that many years later, Messiah would be born in the land and complete the true salvation of all people. Moses led Israel out of Egypt, but Joshua (Yeshua in Hebrew) led them into peace. The Son of God born as a human, whom we Westerners know as Jesus has the same name in Hebrew; it's just the change to English that makes his name sound different. Joshua was born in captivity in Egypt, and walked into freedom in the Land of Promise, just as Jesus was born into human flesh and sinful nature, yet without sin, and leads us now into eternal life.
The historical book of Joshua ends in chapter 24 with the scene where Joshua gathers the Israelite leaders, rehearses their history, and reminds them that they are now in a land of plenty with cities and orchards and vineyards they didn't create themselves (verse 13); a picture of salvation given us as a free gift of God's grace in Jesus Christ. Then Joshua finishes with these ringing words in verse 15: "Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord."
Jesus, of course, is the only one to ever "serve the Lord" perfectly. And by his perfect life, his death on the cross that was in our place, and his resurrection to eternal life, he has led us into the true "land of promise" with God, forever (see Colossians 1:13-14, Ephesians 1). Let's live every day in that glorious truth!
Joshua was a man of faith, a strong leader and had a large part in setting up the nation of Israel in their now-historical home. But in Joshua chapter 1, God felt it necessary to tell him that, just like Moses, God would be with Joshua all his life. "No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you." (verse 5). Three times (verses 6, 7 and 9) God says "Be strong and courageous" and finishes with "the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
There are a lot of famous exploits in this book of history, including crossing the Jordan river in its spring floods stage (chapter 3) the fall of Jericho (chapter 6) and the long day (chapter 10). All that served to help establish Israel in the land, so that many years later, Messiah would be born in the land and complete the true salvation of all people. Moses led Israel out of Egypt, but Joshua (Yeshua in Hebrew) led them into peace. The Son of God born as a human, whom we Westerners know as Jesus has the same name in Hebrew; it's just the change to English that makes his name sound different. Joshua was born in captivity in Egypt, and walked into freedom in the Land of Promise, just as Jesus was born into human flesh and sinful nature, yet without sin, and leads us now into eternal life.
The historical book of Joshua ends in chapter 24 with the scene where Joshua gathers the Israelite leaders, rehearses their history, and reminds them that they are now in a land of plenty with cities and orchards and vineyards they didn't create themselves (verse 13); a picture of salvation given us as a free gift of God's grace in Jesus Christ. Then Joshua finishes with these ringing words in verse 15: "Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord."
Jesus, of course, is the only one to ever "serve the Lord" perfectly. And by his perfect life, his death on the cross that was in our place, and his resurrection to eternal life, he has led us into the true "land of promise" with God, forever (see Colossians 1:13-14, Ephesians 1). Let's live every day in that glorious truth!
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