April 28, 2014, Monday. A cold, gray, rainy day. The Bible readings for today are Numbers 5; Psalms 39; Song of Songs 3; Hebrews 3. Numbers 5 contains instructions for dealing with physical and moral impurity, as well as restitution for wronging another. Psalm 39 is similar to 38 in that it is also a plea for God to lift His discipline. The writer refrained from complaining (v1-2,9), but when he did speak, it was on the shortness of life.(4-6) He sounds much like the writer of Ecclesiastes in describing the shortness and fleetingness of life. Spurgeon points out in his comments of v6: “Life is but a passing pageant. This alone is sure, that nothing is sure. All around us shadows mock us; we walk among them, and too many live for them as if the mocking images were substantial; acting their borrowed parts with zeal fit only to be spent on realities, and lost upon the phantoms of this passing scene.” At my age I am becoming much more aware of this, and pray “Lord teach me to number my days” I want to invest my time and energy with the mind of Christ. The Song of Songs had for centuries been regarded as an allegory describing the relationship between Christ and the church. The present day consensus is that it is on human love. I heard a series of lectures a few years back, by Dr. Carr of Gordon-Conwell College, who specialized in ancient near-eastern drama, who could explain it as written in the form of a drama. The Canadian Catholic authour, Morley Callahan wrote a novel a few years ago, “Such is My Beloved” which centered around a priest writing a commentary on the Song of Songs. Probably the best know teacher of the Song of Songs in Renewal circles is Mike Bickle, and I highly recommend his teachings. The writer of Hebrews proceeds from comparing Christ to angels in the first two chapters, to a comparison between Christ and Moses, and then progressing from the faithfulness of Moses and Jesus, and using the illustration of ‘a house’, to say that, “We are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.” This flow of thought that includes the concepts of faithfulness and house, come together in v6, with the condition signified by the word “if.” WE are his house if we maintain our commitment. The writer goes on to quote Holy Spirit (v7) in citing a precedent from Israelite history when Moses was leader. Psalm 95 is quoted twice in this chapter as the Hebrew readers, and by extension, us, warms that this failure can be repeated, and urges that it be avoided. (v12-13) WE are to encourage each other daily, so that we do not turn away for the living God. Constant and persistent relationship is absolutely necessary. To amplify his point, the writer pointedly reminds that those who heard and rebelled were those who had been led by Moses, those who were part of a unique covenant with God. (v16-19) It is possible for followers to miss out on entering into “the rest of God.” Like most of the New Testament authours, the writer of Hebrews quotes from the Old Testament, and uses it as being authoritative. Note that in this chapter he attributes Psalm 95 to Holy Spirit, echoing St Paul’s words to Timothy, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”(2 Tim. 3:16) It should not be necessary to point out that the Scripture in Paul’s day was the what we refer to as the Old Testament.
Posted on: Mon, 28 Apr 2014 19:18:21 +0000
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