Old Testament Survey Dr. Fox
January 8, 2009________________________________________________________________________
Abrahamic covenant – big building block of scripture; must understand to comprehend biblical theology
Noachian covenant (gen 9)
Jesus blood freely shed is the fulfillment of the old covenant
Covenants are blocks of truth that help us understand God’s revelation
(Deut) 24 times “the land that the lord swore to our fathers”
(I Chron 15:13, 2 Sam 6) seek the lord first
(Psalm 105)
(2 kings 13:22-23) The Lord was gracious to the people because of the covenant
(Mic 7:22) Your forgiveness is extended to us on the basis of your covenant to Abraham
(Neh 6:7-9) God’s providence to the king had been attributed to them because of the covenant
The importance of the Abrahamic covenant in the New Testament
(Luke 1:57-80) the birth of john the Baptist
(Acts 3:25) Peter says that Christ’s coming is prophesy fulfilled; talks about the covenant; God is giving you this chance because of the covenant
(Acts 7:2-51) All of Stephen’s talks with the Jews starts with the Covenant
(Hab 2:4) Righteous shall live by faith JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH!
Justification, Grace, and Faith are all taught from the Abrahamic Covenant (Rom 4:1-4, 9:1-13)
(Gal 3:1-13) (v. 8) OT Gospel “in you all nations shall be blessed” your seed (Christ) Paul consistently alludes to Abraham
(Heb 11:8-12) Abraham’s faith (James 2:1-24) Faith produces….
Abrahamic covenant has an eminent importance in scripture – which brilliantly displays justification
Historical and Cultural Background
Times are approximant used as a good reference point
Abraham was born around 2000 BC
Abraham entered the promised land at the age of 75
(Ex 12:40) “the sojourning” 430 years covers the time in Canaan
(1 Chron 6:1-14, Num 26:1-29)
(Isa 48:20, Jer 50:9-10, Eze 11:24) Babylon/ Chaldea, Shinar/ Sumer
Sexigesimal system – by 60’s time/ degrees of a circle, created by the Babylonians
Abraham’s family did not originally live in tents, but resided in lavish homes
Hammurabi , the leader of Babylon at the time of Abraham, claimed for himself the title of “I Am” the divinity
Highly intelligent people, smarter than England’s population in the 1600’s
Mankind has been devolving since that time of Abraham (The law of entropy)
This is the culture that Abraham took his family out of, to become nomads in a desert. His only home was the fellowship of God.
Biblical Background
(Gen 3:15) Protoevangelium – predicts that coming of the promised seed of the woman
(Gen 12:1-3) seed bed in which promise germinates
Abrahamic covenant is germane to all other truth, both biblical and secular (historical)
January 15, 2009_______________________________________________________________________
The formal provisions of the covenant – Land, Seed, Blessing
Land
(Gen 12:1) “Go forth” (in Hebrew means to uproot) to the land (v. 5) went forth
Abraham made this decision by faith, he did not know where he was going (Hebrews 11) Implicit – God said and Abraham did it!
Abraham built alters as he went
(Gen 12:10-20) Lies about sarah being sister – in doing so he became rich
Lot and Abraham disagree over land for animals, so Abraham gives choice of land to Lot; Lot choose lush valley. This lead to Abraham living in Canaan, and Lot living in Sodom
The Lord says all the land in which Abraham sees he owns (v. 14-18)
Lot become enmeshed in the issues (wars) between the four kings because he sat on the council. Chedorlaomer captures Lot and the cities in which he lives. Abraham rescues Lot.
Abraham blessed by Melchizedek (chapter 14)
(Gen 14:7-8) it’s the land of these people… (v. 18 )
(Gen 17:8) I give you all the land of Canaan everlasting “I will be their God”
(Gen 26:?) The land is a central issue of the covenant and the borders are specifically delineated
Hershel – “Impossible to separate Israel the people from Israel the land” “it would be an affront to biblical truth to even try!”
Seed
(gen 12:2) “I will make you a great nation”
(13:15) “your descendants” (seed)
(v. 16) I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth
Abraham turns down riches in order to show full faith and trust in the Lord, to say that on one made Israel rich
Abraham is bothered by the fact that he had no kids. God tells him in a dream to not fear (emotional distress) about not having offspring.
Bothered that all the promises would be pegged to an adopted boy
God tells Abraham he will have a biological heir from his own body; made this promise while he was distressed.
(Gen 15:6) Believed God and was counted to him as righteousness
Abraham takes things into him own hands and makes Sarah have a child with Hagar (Ishmael) by proxy – accepted in those times
God’s channel of blessing was not to be passed through Ishmael (Gen 17:21)
(Gal 4) Hagar used as illustration for the problem with flesh
(Gen 17:4-6, 22:17) multiply your descendants
Blessing
(Gen 12:3) “you shall be a blessing” “curse those who curse you”
Blessing material and spiritual. He became very rich, the land could not sustain both Lot and Abraham because of their wealth.
Has to do with numbers eg. “exceedingly”
Spiritual – through you shall be blessed – the whole world through Christ is blessed
( ? 3:16) to your seed (Christ) all is blessed (paul says)
Material, numeric growth, spiritual through Christ
Fundamental principles of the covenant
We need to understand that principles of the covenant
Everlasting, Literal, Unconditional
Everlasting
Agreement is a forever contract (Gen 13:15) “forever” when circumcision introduced says “everlasting” (17:8) (v. 13) my covenant shall be in your flesh everlasting
Names changed
Shall establish covenant through Isaac forever
(Gen 26:3) God reassures Isaac that he will be with them forever
Jacob and Esau – (Gen 28:13-14. 35:11-12) perpetually confirmed to Abraham’s descendants multiple times
(1 Chron 16) David gave a psalm (105:7-15) “you gave, you promised”
(Psa 89) Promise
Literal
Literal or figurative promise? Allegorize or spiritualize?
Differentiation of literal and allegorical
Literal – not hard literalism, but take it at face value, don’t look for hidden meaning what you see is what you get
Figurative – look for hidden meanings; often understood as spiritual (psa 60:8)
Scripture is not literal in the figurative sense, nor figurative in the literal sense
Contract implies and agreement – presupposes a mutual understanding; contracts are understood as stated
(Ex 24:8) “according to all these words”
(Ex 34:7) “write these words for according to these words I have made a covenant”
(Ex 35:1) “These are the words the Lord has commanded you to do”
If the covenant was not literal (if it had to be deciphered), God’s character could be said to be misleading/ untruthful
You need to understand things in the way that it was stated to those it was written to.
Abraham believed it was literal, looked for land, waited for a son (descendant)
God gave him a promise of a land with boundaries and a son with a name
(Acts 7:2-4) Stephen shows how literal the promise is
(Heb 11:8-11) States the fact that it was a literal covenant, and the spiritual condition because it was a spiritual journey “he was looking for a city who’s maker and builder was God” (v. 10)
Unconditional
(Gen 12:7) no stipulation were attached, also eternal, therefore unconditional
Abraham screwed up, but God never took away the promise.
After the initial promise no conditions were ever attached
Covenant depends on divine veracity alone for it’s fulfillment (Gen 15)
(Heb 6:13-17)
Three Types – Salt, Sandal, Sacrificial
Most of levitical covenants were sealed with salt, others were sealed by exchanging sandals (Ruth 4:7) in front of the fathers
Covenants of the deepest kind were sealed with blood
(Gen 15:7-11) preparation for covenant
(Jer 34:18-19) both parties walk between the cut animals
(v. 12-16) dreadful great darkness (sleep) (v. 17) most likely awake a smoking over and a burning torch walked between the cut halves of the carcasses (1 john 1:5) “God is light”
In this, God was putting all of the responsibilities of himself and giving Abraham all of the benefits and blessings, God was swearing by himself >>>Grace
(v. 18) the Lord made a covenant
Four seeds Abraham has
Natural Seed
Ishmael, Isaac, (Jer 21:13) Jacob, Esau>>> No Covenantal Seed
Natural Special Seed
All the progeny through Jacob, 12 tribes of Israel (Acts 3:25, Rom 9:4-5)>>> Covenantal Seed
Spiritual Seed
All true believers according to the election of grace both Jew and Gentile (Gal 3:7. 26-29, Rom 2:28-29, 9:6-8)>>> New Covenantal Seed
Singular Seed
The messenger of the covenant (Jesus Christ)
(Heb 6:13-15) Abraham received that promise – literal (Isaac was born)
(Heb 11:13-39) Abraham did not receive the promise – spiritual (Jesus had not come yet)
(John 8:56) Abraham saw Christ (Gen 18) The Lord says (Christophany)
(1 Pet 1:10) (v. 11) spirit of Christ was in the writers and prophets (spoke to) of the bible
January 22, 2009_______________________________________________________________________
The Final Perspective of the Covenant ---- Eschatological
Patriarchs understood implications of the covenant (Gen 24:7) Isaac promised a wife, reassured of receiving the land
(Gen 28:1-5) Isaac promise
(Gen 49:29-31) Jacob’s promise
(Gen 50:24-25) Joseph’s promise
These are all literal interpretations of the covenant
We must accept the fact that the covenant is eternal and literal
Israel has a glorious future ahead of her in the fulfillment of the covenant
(Jer 31:31-32) (v.35-36) If you can take down God, Israel will cease being a nation
(Jer 33:24:-26) again if you can destroy the cucle of day and night then God will be done with Israel
Israel is a permanent nation, Israel must come into full possession of the land (something she has never done)
Since thie covenant is eternal,, literal, and unconditional This will happen!
70 AD Israel destroyed, Jews scattered until mid 1900’s, yet held onto their indentity unlike any other separated nation
Hertzel decides to reunite Israel, his efforts give him the name “father of modern Israel” Zionist
Wanted to accept british offer in Uganda – lost Russian Jews, wanted Palestine- won
Nation still in unbelief – prophecy not fulfilled (yet)
Britain assumed control of Palestine after WWII
Pushed for creation of nation
After disclosure of nazi prison camps world pushed for Israel
May 14, 1948 – Israel became a nation
War started the next day, and continues still today
Pieces of puzzle falling into place fulfillment of the covenant seems imminent
Focal point of the Covenant
Personal, Eternal
(Gen 15:6) First statement of the doctrine of justification by faith God’s glorious aspects of justification took an a tangible reality through faith
Authentic faith never plays make believe with God all things are possible (Rom 4:1-9)
Abraham’s belief in the LORD is a continual thing (Gen12:4, 14:22, 15:6)
OT word used to describe Abraham’s faith “Amon” means 1. To clutch, to grasp 2. To support by the arm, to carry a child 3. Leaning upon, building upon 4. Implies trust and confidence.
NT word means to trust, to think to be true, to show confident reliance, to rest upon, confide in
Vines – believe means to rely upon fully
John uses this word 99 times “Gospel of belief”
Commit oneself trustfully to the name
Abraham had complete trust in what God said
Forsaking All I Take Him
Faith demads total trust and commitment, Abraham displayed this type of faith each time God called on him
Faith is not the important part, putting the faith in action outside of yourself is, Faith in God
The one who holds the rope makes all the difference – God holds the rope
(2Tim 1:12)
(Rev 13:?) slain from before the foundation of the world
Lord took total trust and turned it into righteousness…. credited (Logitsom (Gk) hasad (hb) – record or counted, bookkeeping term)
God wasn’t rewarding Abraham’s strength, but meeting him needs
God confirmed this gift of Abraham gratuitously
Covenant is a covenant of grace, we have nothing to do with it..
Neg: God Rejects All Carnal Effort
Pos: God’s Resources At Christ’s Expense!
Just as God gives grace to Abraham, he also freely gives to his people
Palestinian Covenant
Jews will be recalled back to their inheritance (Palestine)
Covenant explains this recall explicitly
(Gen 12) Chosen People
Starts with Abraham
God is promising a choice land of promise
God is giving these people a covenant blessing
Features a Coming Messiah
Provisions of the Abrahamic covenant: Land, Seed, Blessing
From that covenant comes the Palestinian covenant the Davidic covenant, the new covenant (all fulfilled in Christ)
Covenantal Context – Deuteronomy (Second law giving)
Restatement of covenant or law givin at Sinai
Focus on land
(Deut 1:8) set the land before you
(1:21) go up and possess it
(1:34-39) emphasis on land
(4:1) do these things so that you may possess the land
(6:1) (v.10-12) lush land
(8:7-9) bringing you into a good land (milk and honey)
(9:1-12) cities great and fortified up to heaven, you are going to dispossess the land from the sons of Anik
January 29, 2009_______________________________________________________________________
Focus on the purpose
Moses wanted to make it clear why he was taking the people into the land. God was giving them the land in order to fulfill the promise (Deut 7:6-8, 9:4-6) He makes it clear that the Israelites exist for his glory
They were to be different than the people around them (the law) they were to reflect God’s righteousness.
(deut 23) even the cleanliness of their land was to reflect God
Called to be distinctly different. The purpose – that they may proclaim the works of him who called you into the light
(Deut 28:1, 32:8-9) God set his people into the nations so that they could be his witnesses
The focus is clearly not just giving them the land, but WHY he has given it to them, to be witnesses.
Focus on the covenant
(Deut 30:1-10, 29:1 – 30:20) The greater covenantal passage
(Deut 5:1-4, 29:1) The latter is distinct from the first “fathers” – could mean previous generation; or could mean the patriarchs (Deut 4:31, 37)
Moses issues a final summary warning in chapter 28; two parts, the first 14 verses are the blessing that the people will receive. Verse 15 the tone changes completely, “if you don’t obey all these things will come to pass….” All the way through verse 68
It is obvious that God loves blessing his people, but he does not want to bless those who are disobedience, God chose them in love and wants them to receive the blessings in love. This chapter is written to try and keep Israel in line so that they might receive the blessings that God promised.
(Deut 29:13) God will bring calamity upon them if they do not obey these truths. It is made so clear that all nations will be able to understand this (v. 25).
(30:1-10) God will bring his scattered people back from captivity. (v. 3) out of an act of pure compassion (v. 5) they will possess the land of their fathers (v. 6) he will circumcise their hearts (v. 8) they will obey the Lord. (v. 9) they will again rejoice in the Lord. You will abound in land and wealth. The Lord will ultimately not forsake his people even though they forsake him.
(28:58) “IF” – Hebrew for hey wait a minute! Listen! Has a conditional feeling to it.
(30:10) “IF” – Hebrew for when, this will be the time that you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart.
First conditional, second not. Both are irrevocable, it is an eternal covenant. It only applies to Israel’s occupation of the land. They will be scattered, but the will come back in history’s most massive recall.
The critical considerations the promises and their fulfillment
The Promise Given
God promised to make a great nation out of Abraham’s seed. Expanded to him having innumerable descendants, and then to him mapping out the size of the land that his people will possess.
God delineated the dimensions of the land that he has giving to Abraham’s seed, and later stated that it was an everlasting covenant.
Everlasting – olam (hb) – the vanishing point, time out of mind. One of the strongest words for eternity in the Hebrew language. It would be impossible for that covenant to be everlasting if the possession of the land was not as well, and the possession could not be held in perpetuity if the people did not last forever
1. The land was in a specific location
2. It had a specific size
3. It was given to a certain people through Abraham (numberless)
4. Given unconditionally as a perpetual possession
Was that land ever possessed by Abraham?
No he never possessed any of the land. The scripture says that he inherited it be faith. The Lord forewarned Abraham saying that his descendants would not possess the land until after 400 years of captivity (Gen 15:13-14)
The Lord told Joshua to go over to the land in which he has promised Abraham, (Josh 1:4) delineating the size of the land again. When they possessed the land God blessed them with great victories, however they left pockets of survivors from the previous inhabitants (they remained unconquered)
(Josh 21:43-45, 10:40, 11:16, 23, 12:24, 13:1-7, 13-14) (v.43-45) is just a summary statement, they had not wiped everyone out, they were not to allow any to survive, if they left anyone there would be problems(Ex 23:31-33, Num 33:50-55) God was faithful and gave the land to the people, however the people were lazy and did not possess all of it like they were supposed to. (23:14) Joshua was trying to get across the point that God had been faithful to his promise.
(Jud 1:19-33) All of the peoples that the Israelites did not wipe out. (18:1)
(1 Kings 4:21-24) Solomon had dominion over the”kingdoms” meaning that they had not been conquered, and had kept their independence
(2 Chron 8:7-8) “who were not of Israel” “Solomon used them in forced labor”
Three clear reasons Solomon’ s reign did not fulfill the promise
1. Only occupied the land as far as Beersheba
2. Non-Israelite peoples were not conquered, they still maintained their independence.
3. The land did not extend to the Mediterranean Sea as the covenant delineates.
(Neh 9:8) This does not mean that the promise had been fulfilled, it was just a statement of thanks to God for being faithful to his promise.
During the entire OT history, the land was never really possessed, and never fully fulfilled.
NT and Modern History
(Luke 21:24) We are in the times of the Gentiles which involves Three things 1. Sack of the Jews themselves 2. Scattering of the Jews themselves 3.
70 AD the Jews were conquered, the siege lasted 134 day. 600,000 bodies were thrown over the walls. Parents even ate their own children in the struggle to survive. (Josephus)
Several Jews continued to fight for their independence.
Romans retook the land in 130 AD, and Jerusalem never really gained back their independence. From the year 70 to 131 it was a period of desolation. Then the city was rebuilt, became a roman kind of city, and Jews were no longer allowed in it. IN ad 324 Constantine’s mother revisited the city and the city was renamed Jerusalem. After followed a time of relative quietness, until it was conquered by the Persians. And right after this Mohammad ascended to heaven, and the city was taken over by the Muslims. They declared the temple area a holy precinct of the Muslims. The crusaders took over the city, and fought back and forth with the Muslims. In 1517 the Turkish ottomans took over for 4 centuries until the end of the first world war when the British took control of it. They controlled the city until the modern state of Israel was proclaimed in 1948. (All of this has been problems with the gentiles, just like Jesus stated in Luke 21)
There has been continual war ever since the Jews took Israel back over. The war started the very next day. The fighting resulted in gaining 23% more land than had been given by the UN. On June 5th 1967 the six day war began, in which 50,000 people, 1000 tanks, and a blockade by Egypt was up against Israel. Israel launched a preemptive strike. By Thursday Israel had lost 700 people and had killed 30000 people, and Russia had lost 3 billion dollars. This all resulted from Israel doubling its borders.
February 5, 2009_______________________________________________________________________
The promise fulfilled
Israel’s re-gathering is one of the dominant themes in the Old Testament Major Prophets. (Isa 1:25) talks about God purging away the dross from Israel
(4:1-6) the lord will reign over the cleansed remnant (11:11-12) (8:10) (9:1) (10:20-23) (14:1) (26:1-21) (30:23-26) (32:18) (33:22-24) (35:1-10) (41:8-10) (43:5-7) (49:15-26) (51:2-16) (54:7-10 (57:13-18) (60:20-21) (62:1-4) (65:18-25) (66:20) This truth is a major recurring theme in Isaiah.
(3:14-15, 17-18) (12:14-15) (16:14-16) (23:1-3, 5-6, 7-8) (30:3, 7, 10-11) (31:2-11, 23, 31-34, 38-40) (32:37-41) (33:7, 11) The thread of re-gathering Israel through Jeremiah
Ezekiel: (11) (14) (15) (16) = Israel’s indictment (16:60-63) God provides an atonement for Israel (20:6, 38, 40-42) (34:11, 13, 29) (36:22-29, 35-36) (37:14, 21-22)
The re-gathering of Israel is also dominant in the minor prophets of the Old Testament.
Hosea: (3:5) (11:8-11) (14:4-9)
Joel: (3:1-3, 17, 20)
Amos: (9:11-15) (acts 15)
Obadiah: (17) = BUT! (18-20) (21) The kingdom shall be the LORD’s
Micah: (2:12) (4:1-5) (5:2, 8-15) (7:20) God will fulfill the promises of the Abrahamic covenant
Zephaniah: The Lord is in the midst for judgment in the beginning and restoration in the end of the book (3:16-20)
Zechariah: (1:7-17, 18-21) (3:9-10) (8:4-8) (10:8-10)
If you consider the overwhelming references to the re-gathering of Israel in the prophets, it would seem that it is going to happen. And since we have not seen most of these it would imply that it has not happened yet, but will happen.
1. The possession of the land must be actual.
2. The possession must be to the boundaries specified.
3. The possession must be complete.
4. The possession will be eternal.
5. The possession will occur under the rule of the messiah.
This leads the conclusion that the fulfillment of these promises will be in the future. (Jer 31:36-37) All of this was spoken to Israel in the darkest time in their history (Jeremiah passage). While the world stands, God’s promise to his people stands.
February 12, 2009______________________________________________________________________
Jesus was born in Bethlehem during the rule of Rome in the populated world, He was overlooked just as other great children were overlooked when they were born. 1809 Napoleon was taking over Austria and the world watched as the news unfolded, while children were being born who unbeknownst to anyone at that time would be some of the greatest influences in the modern world’s history.
The Davidic covenant is the second of three basic promises from the original covenant: the land, seed, and blessing. The Palestinian covenant focused on the land, The Davidic which we now look at focuses on the seed, and the new covenant which we will study next will focus on the blessing.
The promise has a glorious history and will have a remarkable fulfillment
(2 Sam 7:14) (1Cron 17) The Lord’s covenant with David. The promise was made to David in the house and days of his rule. This was given to him when he decided that he was going to build a temple to God. God said it was not for him to do, but for his son Solomon. (v. 11-14) The primary interpretation of this promise are:
1. David is to have a son, who is to succeed him and establish his throne
2. That son will build a temple instead of David
3. His throne will be established forever
4. Even though he sins his throne is not in jeopardy
5. David’s house throne and kingdom will stand forever.
How do we interpret this? It is first talking about Solomon (1Cron 2:8-11) (28:6-7) from these verses we can see that David takes the promises to mean Solomon. For his part, Solomon in preparation to build the temple construed the promise to himself. (1 Kin 5:2-5) (8:20-21, 24)
Second interpretation: Neither David, nor his son’s dynasty lasted forever, so there must be a deeper meaning as well. The promise focused on David’s house, and seed. (2 Sam 7:18-19) David pondered this (7:25-29) David could not get over the fact that God had promised unconditionally that his house and line would last forever. The sign for throne is a symbol of power, political power, reigning. Kingdom indicated the sphere in which political power is practiced. So when God promised him that his house would continue to reign over the kingdom, David realized the implications of this promised, and overwhelmed when God told him that it was unconditional.
The covenant expanded
The prophetic covenant are picked up in numerous passages in the OT
(Psalm 89) This chapter leaves no room for understanding the promise as a spiritual thing, but in an earthly real life place. God makes it clear that his promise is unalterable. (v. 52) Blessed be the Lord forever and ever amen. The only way he could say this statement is if he understood that this promise was and is eternal.
(Isa 9:6) the focus is on the child king, who will reign with justice and righteousness forever, upon the throne of David
(Jer 23:5, 6) the branch of righteousness, the true shepherd. The king that shall reign and prosper. He will be called the Lord of righteousness (v. 3, 7, 8) God is going to recall his people back to the land of Israel. It would be impossible to interpret this as a spiritual idea of the church and Christ reigning over it, it is literal
(30:8, 9) They shall finally be free of gentile domination.
(33:14-16) Cities will be rebuilt, the restored people will rejoice and extol their Lord forever. The setting is an earthly and practical one staged in Israel. Christ will sit upon the Davidic throne
(Eze 37:24, 25) (v.22) He will make them into one nation, and they shall be ruled by one king (Christ). They shall never again lapse into idol worship. They shall be God’s people, and He shall be their God. When these words were penned, David had been dead for 400 years.
(Amos 9:11) Envisions the political raising up of David’s throne. The Davidic dynasty will be revived in the Messiah, the original promise will be fulfilled in him.
(Hosea 3:4, 5) Talks of a time of desolation, and then about a time of fulfillment.
Did David understand this? According to Psalm 2 he did.
(Psalm 2:7) A reference to Christ (Heb 1:5) The writer or Hebrews applies this verse to Christ.
(Matt 22:41-46) The promise given is that the Lord (Christ) will come as the son promised to David
(Acts 2:22-39) God gave to David the assurance that he would raise Christ so that he would be able to sit upon his throne. David foreknew what was going to happen.
The Covenant Explained – the NT
(Matt 19:28) When Jesus sits on the throne the disciples will sit on 12 thrones judging the tribes
(20:20-23) The mother of James and John wants Jesus to let them sit at his right hand in heaven. Christ does not correct her idea, but that it was for God the father to bestow
(21:39-42)
(23:37-39)
(25:31-34)
(26:18)(v.29)
(Luke 1:30-33)
(19:11-12)
(22:29, 30)
The covenant embodied in Christ
(Rom 1:3) His lineage was of the seed of David; Paul wanted all believers to understand the continuity of Christ of the NT and Messiah of the OT
The seed promised
Christ is the seed of Abraham. Paul presented Gods free grace through Christ, and in the meantime he had some things to say about Abraham and the covenant. The original promise that through his seed all nations shall be blessed is a direct reference to Christ. He is both a descendant of David and Abraham.
February 19, 2009______________________________________________________________________
The seed preserved
Nathan states that the sword would not depart from David’s household, 4 sons indeed died from a result of David’s sin. David had said that the man who had stolen the sheep should pay 4 times over, and that he did.
(1 kings 9, 10) Ahab’s family is being slain in these chapters for their terrible sins. (2 kings 10:10) Jehu was supposed to be the judgment of Ahab’s family, but he went too far and killed almost all of them.
When Athaliah found out that all of Ahaz’s children were dead she continued to kill all of Athaliah’s family.(2 kings 11:1-3) These killings left only one person remaining alive in David’s line (Joash).
Jehoiakim ascended the throne and did evil in the sight of the Lord; during his reign Nebuchadnezzar took over and made Jehoiakim his vassal. Jeremiah became the conscience of Jehoiakim, and wrote on a scroll the words of the Lord which were spoken against Israel and Judah. (Jer 36) Jehoiakim took the scroll and burned it, God told Jeremiah to write the words again, and this time worse judgment was placed on the king (v.29-30). There was a clause in the passage saying that he would not have an heir to sit on the throne, He was later killed and was thrown out as the dogs.
(1 Chron 3:16) (Jer 22) Coniah, the son of Jehoiakim, is cursed by God saying that none of his descendants shall rule Judah nor sit on the throne of David. This seemed to doom the Davidic line in which Christ was supposed to be born.
The seed presented
Joseph was a direct descendant of coniah (Matt 1:6, 11, 16) Mary was a direct descendant of David through Nathan’s line. (Luke 3:23-38)
The New Covenant
God formed the Abrahamic covenant in a new package. (2 Cor 9:15) Christ is God’s inexpressible gift to his people. It is a free gift, expressing its gratuity to the people in which it is being given.
All three covenants Palestinian, Davidic, and New are all built on the promises of the Abrahamic.
The provisions of the New Covenant
Although Josiah’s reign is stamped with great good, and although he instituted one of the greatest Passover celebrations in history, the land of Judah was doomed (2 kings 23:25-27). Jeremiah ministered during this terrible time in Judah, through the reigns of the evil cursed kings.
(Jer 30, 31, 32:1-2, 33) either just prior to the 3rd and final siege, or in the first year of the siege, God gives Jeremiah a promise, regarding the New Covenant.
(Jer 31:31-37) the New Covenant is given to Jeremiah. Expressing that no matter what happens, the Israelites will always be God’s people
(v. 31) It is a covenant dealing directly with Israel. It is impossible to construe this in any other way.
(v. 32) It is a covenant designed to replace the Mosaic. The law was designed to make people understand that they could not save themselves. The law was made in order that we might accept the fact that justification was by faith alone.
(v. 33a) It is a covenant decided on internal issues. God pledges to write his law on the minds and heart of his people, by conviction of the Holy Spirit. (Jer 32:39-40) It is a change of heart (Ezek 36:25-27).
(v. 33b) It is a covenant developing a personal relationship with God. In Eden, before the fall, Adam was able to walk around in full fellowship with God. (Rom 5:1-2)
(v. 34a) It is a covenant describing a personal knowledge of God. (Isa 11:9) The earth shall be full of the knowledge of Jehovah. (Ps 72:19) the prophetical culmination of history when the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as waters cover the sea.
(v. 34b) It is a covenant delivering personal forgiveness of sins. The new covenant strikes at the very heart of things. The old covenant related to outer cleansing, however with the new God shall wash people completely clean, inside and out. (Isa 38:17) he shall put away all knowledge of our sins.
(v. 35-37) It is a covenant depending of God and his faithfulness. By the measure of God’s own character, God pledges to fulfill the covenant without any outside influence.
Other passages that refer to the New Covenant
(Jer 24:4-7) Good figs will be protected and preserved, then He will give them a hear to know him, and He shall give them a new heart
(32:37-41) This is after He has re-gathered his people.
(33:14-26) God promises to fulfill His covenant. He will bring up a branch of righteousness to reign over his people (Jesus). Jerusalem will be called “The LORD is our righteousness”
(Ezek 11:16-21) The LORD promises to re-gather his people back to his land. They will undergo a complete cleansing. He will then give them one heart, a heart of stone, and give them a new heart, a heart of flesh.
(36:24-28) He will cleanse the people from all of their unrighteousness. Then the people shall dwell in the land in which they were promised.
(37:11-14, 21-28) It is suggested that the people will be re-gathered in unbelief, until the spirit blows on them and gives them new life.
(Isa 59:20-21) The effects of the new covenant are so dynamic that the whole world will know that the Jews are God’s blessed people.
February 26, 2009______________________________________________________________________
Prophetic Implications of the New Covenant
The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.
A. Its Implementation
In Luke 22:20 you have the “New covenant” this is the only place in the new testament that the phrase new covenant is actually used. Although Christ using the phraseology that his blood washes away sins this makes the new covenant implied in these other passages. The writer of Hebrews makes it clear that even the old covenant is ratified with blood. (Ex 24:3-8) Gives an example of this blood ratification taking place. (Heb 9:24-26, 7:27, 10:14) (12:24) Christ is the mediator of a new covenant for our sins. (9:19) produces a better hope (11:35) a better resurrection. (7:22) Jesus is the guarantor of a better covenant. All of these new spiritual benefits are made available because of the shed blood, the death of Christ. (The implementation). (1 Cor 11:23-26) through this ceremony we are celebrating this implementation of these gifts; we are remembering what Christ did, his death and resurrection. “The blood is Christ’s vermillion cement which fuses us to God”- Spurgeon.
B. Its Initiation
(Joel 2:28-32, Acts 2:17-21) The ceremony of the first fruits was a time of celebration of the time when the law was first given to Moses. Pentecost was the day in which the Holy Spirit came upon the people. (Acts 1:5) baptized with the spirit, filling with the spirit. They were able to see the wonderful outpouring of God. Peter explains in this passage that what is happening on that day is what Joel had spoken of in the OT. Going back to Joel we can see that it has the first prophecy of the spirit coming on the people. Without repentance judgment is inevitable is the message of this book. (2:13) Surrender your heart, for God is forgiving. The tone of this book goes from Joel talking of devastation and destruction, then moves to God’s mercy (Him restoring the nation). What happened in Acts 2 is just the initiation of the New covenant of what will be fulfilled in the millennial reign of Christ. When the spirit is poured out it means that we become like Christ through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. (John 14) He will not leave us alone; The coming of the Holy Spirit. Through the shedding of blood, Joshua has procured his peoples pardon (john 7:39) his people can enjoy the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, because the spiritual power has been given to us.
1. Christ death implemented the forgiveness of sins under the new covenant.
2. Pentecost and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit initiated the blessing of Abraham on the people under the terms of the covenant.
3. Pentecost released the intimate personal blessing to indwell God’s people who believe.
4. These blessings relate to Israel first, all those initially saved were Jews.
5. Through Israel the infinite blessing radiates to the whole world according to the original blessing to Abraham.
C. Its interpretation
Where there is forgiveness of sin there is no more need for sacrifice. What the old covenant could not accomplish that new did. Christ was the ultimate sacrifice. Christ is the mediator of the new covenant. The church is never said to be under the provisions of jeremiahs covenant (31:31-34) its fulfillment is during Christ’s second coming. The new covenant in both testaments concerns the Jews only: The classic dispensational view. It is hard to make this work with the teachings of Christ and Paul, “this is the New covenant in his blood” The second view: ………. Third view: there are two covenants, one for Israel to be fulfilled in the future and one for the present church, to be fulfilled now.
D. its inclusiveness
The problem can be resolved by going back to the Abrahamic covenant, the land the seed and the blessing. The lord said that he was going to bless the nation of Israel and all nations through him. In the beginning worldwide blessing is communicated. All of the provisions of the Abrahamic covenant are fulfilled in Christ. He came as Israel’s righteous king, rejected by them, he will come again to rule, he is the seed of Abraham and David. His has implemented the boon of forgiveness to all people, because his death is infinite, it is for everyone. It encompasses the entire world. This is why all nations can be blessed by Abraham’s Covenant. Even though the new covenant will not be fulfilled until the final age, the spiritual blessings are extended to the church. (Heb 9:12) Entered a new way into heaven which he consecrated for us. The spiritual way of salvation is open now to the gentiles. “Whoever calls on the name of the lord shall be saved”.
All God requires for salvation is faith. We are all embraced in the spiritual benefits of the covenant.
E. Its individuality
We can talk about all the aspects of this covenant, but it all comes down to john 3.. a brilliant theologian came to Jesus and asked him a question, what must one to do be saved? And Christ said you must be born again… john 1:12 to as many as receive him to them he gave the right to become children of God to those who believe in him.
March 5, 2009_____________________________________________________________________
The Master Outline of Job
Why do the righteous suffer? Why did Job serve?
Job came to appreciate who God is. One of the things that must be understood in this book. Is that it is written on two levels, One being a celestial scene, and two that it is on a terrestrial level. During the course of the book, the two levels never meet. Job never knows what takes place in heaven. (James 5:9-11) The Lord is companionate and merciful… the book of job is a picture of God’s compassion and mercy, even though it does not seem that way to us or to Job. It is a test of Job’s love for God, if he had been aware of what was taking place in heaven, there would not be a true revelation of Jobs heart. Because he does not know, we are able to see the true nature of the heart of this believer, and the journey that he takes during suffering.
Heavenly view
Satan’s accusation is that God protects his people so that they cannot be tempted and pressured to apostatize. Satan’s wager is that if God were to take away that shield, His people would turn from God because they would no longer be comfortable. God removes the protection and Satan attacks. We can see the attacks that come upon Job, two of them could be called acts of God (v 16, 19). God takes place in the attack on Job. However Job did not turn from God. He is depressed, he wants to die. But he does not attack God, in fact he worships God. Satan is proved wrong.
God did not allow Satan to touch Job the first time, this was his reasoning as to why he did not curse God. This time God allows Satan to do whatever he wanted to Job, he was just not allowed to let him die. Job is struck with boils, loathsome sores over his whole body. Job’s wife even tells him to curse God and die. Yet Job worships God, he did not sin with his lips.
Satan has completely misconstrued why Job worshiped God. He was holy, and righteous before God. He was a man of integrity (3:2), he was upright, he shunned evil (turned from evil). The reason for Job’s worship was not because of the good gifts and pleasure of God, but because he had a pure heart.
Earthly View
Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar… Three “friends” of Job sat with him for seven days and seven nights whithout saying a word. They started things off on the right foot. Job eventually broke the silence. Following this was the dialogue of the three friends telling job that the reason he is suffering is because of his sin.
The Deliverance
The confrontation with the Deity
The Lord begins to interrogate Job asking him questions that only God himself could know; questions about nature, animals, and the wisdom of the mind. Job confesses that he is guilty as charged, and that he has absolutely nothing to say in his defense. The Lord says “will you condemn me that you may be in the right?” God is showing Job that there is no other method of salvation other than through him.
Job confesses that the Lord is sovereign, and in full control. He says that he has heard of God, but now he truly sees Him. He realizes that his own self righteousness will never get him in the throne room of God. Only by leaning on the Lord, by repentance and faith is this possible.
The Lord rebukes Jobs friends. The friends repented, went and did what the Lord had told them. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as before.
Job brought none of this on himself. The Lord was the one that allowed Job to suffer (v 11). God allowed it, but used the devil to bring the evil upon him. God knew the end and what he intended was to doubly bless this man. Job could not see the outcome from the beginning. The Lord taught Job, his friends, and brought glory to himself through Job’s suffering.
(9:30) Job knew that he was a sinner. No matter what he tried to do he could not clean himself from his sin. (10:20) Job knew that he was condemned to hell because of his sin (Heb 9:27). (Job 13:23, 26, 28) vivid descriptions of man’s depravity. (14:16-17) He understood that he was a sinner and needed a savior. (16:21) He longs for someone to plead his case before God. (Chapter 28) where is wisdom? Wisdom is from God, and from no one else. “Behold the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom!” (4:21, 14:11-12, 16:22)There is no second chance! (23:10-12) He develops an ultimate hope. (19:25-27) He knows that his redeemer lives, and that after he dies he shall see him. (Chapters 40-42) His fully developed ultimate hope. He now sees God, abhors himself, turns from his sin, and repents; the Lord accepts him (v 9, John 6:27)
(15:14-16) Eliphaz understands the depravity of man. (25:4-6) Bildad says how can a man be righteous before God? (11:6, 10-12) Zophar understands that wisdom is not of man.
The Psalms
Psalm 1 presents two drastically designations of people. The righteous and the ungodly. Two different descriptions of their character; the righteous are like a tree, and the ungodly are like the chaff. The Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
If you allow yourself to be enamored by worldly wisdom you will be attracted by the worldly wise, then becoming addicted to the ways of the world. If you stay away from this then your delight will be in the Lord, on the things of Christ.
March 12, 2009_____________________________________________________________________
Psalm 55
The wording problem that is concerning the psalmist here is in verse 2 “I am restless in my complaint and I moan noisily” because of the oppression of the wicked. They drop trouble upon me. Horror overwhelms me. The psalmist is very real in his appraisal here. He does not pretend everything is ok, he does not minimize his problems. He is completely honest with God. He is totally overwhelmed. In verses 6-8 he is saying to himself that he just needs to run. He would fly far away. This train of thought never fixes anything, and only makes things worse. Verses 9-11 other people are now involved and are taking sides. A lot of things are being destroyed reputations and such, and it has engulfed the entire city. Verse 12-15 he describes the real problem. It is not an enemy who taunts me. It was his friend, his companion. This is the person who has turned against him. Verses 20-21 describes how his friend betrays him. Stabbing him in the back. Two-faced…
So what do you do about this. Solution verses 16-19 He shall call upon God and the Lord shall save him. Pray incessantly. He is really intense in his prayer. This brings calmness and a patience to him. God will deal with the offender. He just doesn’t say hes going to pray, verses 22-23 he has two conclusions. God sustains the righteous. And God sentences the wicked. Cast your burden on the Lord and HE will sustain you. (1 pet 5:7) Whatever you are facing that weight that has been given to you has been allowed by God and it must be cast at the feet of Him. He is the healer. He shall never permit you to be taken away. He will never permit the righteous to be moved. He will not allow you to slip into oblivion. God will judge the wicked. So I will trust in you.
Psalm 119
A mini manual on the word of God. It is mentioned in here that he meditates on the Law of God day and night multiple, multiple times. Seven times a day. This affected the strong. Verse 67: life motto? This depression has turned me back to God. In the process of being afflicted we learn to trust God… God has allowed it for a purpose. God is faithful and wants us to learn. Without God we would die in our affliction, but because we are not we flourish in his affliction. Revive me in your word.
Proverbs
There are five things to keep in mind with this book. 1. Determine the parallelism. Complete what is assumed and not stated by the author. 2. Decode the figure of speech and rephrase the thought without those figures. 3. Describe the lesson in a few words. 4. Delineate the behavior that is being taught. 5. Develop biblical examples that will help you convey or understand what is being taught.
Intro verses 1-7 there are twin themes that Solomon develops, wisdom and righteousness. Wisdom is found 122 times in the 31 chapters. Righteousness occurs 115 times. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Wisdom comes from God.
Ecclesiastes
Solomon is explaining in this book that he has been there done that. He could do anything he wanted and his purpose in writing this book was to explain that nothing satisfies but God. 2. You need to conduct a carefully conducted experiment. 3. You have to have a concisely stated conclusion and above all else this experiment must be repeatable. That is why this book is the greatest experiment of all time.
His basic premise is that life without God is a bore.
March 19, 2009___________________________________________________________________
Song of Solomon
If you say that because of the subject matter this is to be allegorized, the whole point is that Solomon is looking back and penning something that is beautiful. Some say that the whole purpose of the book is to give a kaleidoscope of God’s love. The Christian gives the example of this being an allegory of Christ’s love for the church. The love relationship between the believer and his redeemer. Some say that this is a tract of chastity and monogamy and a pure relationship. Others see in this book a model for a bride, and it praises her qualities. In fact in Jewish ceremonies this is sung in the honor of the bride, at a wedding. Liberals see in this simply the fertility cult, they see it as cultic myths, kind of a Jewish Kama Sutra. The literal view sees this book as dealing with Solomon and a shulamite girl. Another view sees it as a literal love relationship, but it deals with a purely natural love relationship between two people, not necessarily Solomon.
This book belongs in the canon, and is talking about Solomon and the Shulammite, and describes his pure relationship with her. But it is also symbolic of our love relationships, specifically our relationship with our Lord. We can see in other places in scripture that our relationship is referred to as a love relationship.