2014-09-26
Good Morning Dear Ones,
Last week, we looked again at the connection between the ancient Jewish celebration of Shavuot [the giving of the Law, EX 24: 7-11] and the Pentecost [the giving of the Holy Spirit, AC 2: 1-4. This happened at the base of Mt. Sinai when Moses made an animal blood offering to commemorate the second set of stone tablets being given to the people. The Law is outlined in the Ten Commandments of EX 20: 1-17. It is the basis of the Covenant of the Law, while Pentecost key to the foundation of the Covenant of Grace. I would be remiss in not mentioning Christ’s Atonement on the cross, which is also key to the foundation of that new covenant [of Grace], which replaces the old one [of Law]. Going back to the old covenant, once it was cut, Moses reminds the Jews who would be crossing the Jordan River to possess the land God has given them by divine right, the land originally held by the Canaanites and other ancient tribes.
In DT 29: 29, Moses makes it clear that there are some things God is not telling the people, but that what He is telling them applies forever. As this writer looks back on the history, it is clear that God holds back information that brings people to have to have faith in Him and come to rely on Him. He doesn’t hold back things that allow His chosen people [Jews and believing Gentiles-since the time of Christ] to succeed and to persevere in the face of persecution. Now it’s time for us to look at DT 30:15-16, 19. “See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I commanded you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commands, decrees, and laws; then, you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land your are entering to possess…This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the Lord is your life, and He will give you many years in the land He swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” At the very basis of this passage is the need for the people (including believers today) to be obedient to the Laws given. Increase in numbers and ability to flourish comes with this obedience. Serial disobedience leads to God’s curse, which in today’s (post Christ’s Atonement) terms is expressed as spiritual death (a one-way ticket to eternal torment from which there is no escape). That is why one can say that his life is at stake when he rejects the Covenant of Grace over time. Obedience or disobedience is now a personal decision, because Christ’s Atonement has given us that choice.
As I mentioned before, the real reason for the giving of the Law is to allow mankind to know what is right with God and what isn’t. And yes, there is truth in Paul’s arguments, found in RO 7: 14-25, which outlines the conflict between the fleshly body (outer being) and the Holy Spirit dwelling in our inner selves. We must battle through the pain, frustration, and suffering of this conflict in order to mature spiritually. In the last week of His earthly incarnation, Christ argued with the Pharisees in the temple concerning the emphasis on form over content of God’s teaching that the latter practiced. In addition to the rejection of Christ’s deity, one of the main differences between traditional Judaism and Christianity (also Messianic Judaism) is the legalistic approach taken by the former [MT 21: 12-16; MK 11: 15-18; LK 19: 45-48; JN 2: 13-16]. Moreover, this essential difference is brought out in RO 7: 6, “But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.” God wants each of us to understand the principles He gives us and not to place rituals in the way of this. Rituals have their place in religious practice as reminders of key events or lessons in mankind’s history, but they should never be reduced to legalism, which blocks understanding and the wisdom that God can give a mature believer.
Knowledge is the gathering of raw data. Understanding is the ability to organize it, so that important relationships between pieces of data can be seen. Wisdom is the ability to use this understanding and apply it to the thoughts, decisions, attitudes, and actions of our daily lives. The Holy Spirit has the will and the power to direct and guide us in the application of knowledge and understanding that we have, if and when we appeal to Him for it. These definitions are enlarged upon throughout the Bible, particularly in the book of Proverbs. It’s my hope that what I’m saying will encourage each person reading this to want to get more familiar with that wonderful book, with the ethics and attributes of God’s heart in general. God watches His human creation from heaven [PS 33: 13; PS 145: 20]. His purpose is not to catch us in sinning, although He will see us in that act. Instead, it is to take care of us and help us to make right choices. PS 103: 11, “For as great as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who have reverence for Him.” Let us not forget PS 105: 42-43, “For He remembered His sacred promise made to His servant, Abraham. He brought out His people [from slavery in Egypt] with rejoicing, His chosen ones with shouts of joy.”
PRAYER: Dearest Abba, our prayer is our way of telling You how much we love, praise, and appreciate Your presence and Your love in our lives. We would have nothing good in them without You [PS 16: 2]. You have told us in PS 86: 5, 7, and 15 the blessings of prayer-how You listen to all our utterances and take our needs to heart. Repeatedly, You have shown us the love, compassion, and patience You have for us [2 PET 3: 9]. We acknowledge our need for Your guidance and direction. PS 31: 3-5, “You are my Refuge and my Defense; guide me and lead me as You have promised. Keep me safe from the snare that has been set for me. I place myself in Your care; You will save me, Lord. You are a faithful God.” We take the true meaning of what You say, even more than the built-in rituals of our faith, as jewels in a treasure trove bestowed upon us as believers. Even so, we also recognize the need for certain practices to help us rehearse our history with You and give us a closer approximation of Your perspective [PS 145: 7]. Another jewel of great worth in our lives is Your word, which You have shown us in 2 TIM 3: 16-17, is essential to growing spiritual maturity. Throughout our faith lives, You have demonstrated what being an always-righteous, always-faithful Covenant Partner is. While we can’t be perfect, as Christ is, we can use these ideals as goals to work toward, goals to hold dear in our lives. We acknowledge that people and congregations who use prayer, study of Your word, and getting to know You better at the basis of all they do enjoy better lives with healthier growth than ones that don’t. We know that as our Covenant Partner, You establish a Paradigm for us that propels us to a deeper, more meaningful relationship with You and with our brothers and sisters in Christ-even those who are potential believers we encounter. We end this prayer with love and devotion to You, in the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: The Abrahamic Covenant was all about people, land, and the coming of a King for all time and eternity. It was setting the foundation for God to bring His people forward in their faith in Him, reliance on Him, and general obedience to Him. The land portion of this covenant has some surprises that we modern believers might not have expected. Land by divine right is a concept many people don’t understand. So, it will be interesting to look at the first two concepts in this covenant next week, and then later at the third one, which has it’s basis in the Davidic covenant of 2 SAM 7: 12-13. It is all but impossible not to feel extraordinarily blessed by the way that God sets apart those who are obediently faithful and moves us forward by the giving and keeping of His covenants with us. His memory is without fault, so He is delighted when we go back over our own personal histories with Him, each time gaining greater insight into the lessons He teaches us and the blessings He so generously gives us. For example, PS 29: 11, “He will give His people strength. He will bless them with peace.” When we consider this in an eternal perspective, as He would want us to, this is huge. And to think, this verse is only one recitation of His generosity toward us! God loves each of His human creation. His love is both generous and sacrificial. We are truly a blessed people! Praise and thanks be to Him!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn
JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2014. All Rights Reserved.
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