Randy Green's Blog, page 430
November 12, 2013
Sundays Are Great!
Greetings! one and all.
I am pumped today because it's Sunday! Under the Law of Moses the Sabbath was the day of rest, and the Sabbath was and always is the seventh day of the week, aka Saturday. More specifically, the Sabbath began at sundown on Friday and concluded at sundown on Saturday.
Then along came the prophet like Moses (Deut.18:15), viz., Messiah Jesus, and fulfilled the Law of Moses. He followed this up with dying on the cross as mankind's sin offering, then was put in a tomb, rose out of death on the third day, and ascended into heaven. He is there now serving as our great High Priest, while sending the Holy Spirit to indwell us and transform us into His image. Having fulfilled the Law, Jesus instituted a New Covenant, aka the Church. The Church is the spiritual family of God, with the fulfillment of the Law and death to sin and resurrection to new life being its makeup.
The day Jesus rose out of death was the first day of the week, aka Sunday. Hence the Church's day of rest is Sunday, the Resurrection Day, not the Sabbath. The New Testament notes that the disciples met together on the first day of the week, and refers to this day as the Lord's Day (Rev.1:10). I am pumped for Sunday because it is the Resurrection Day. I can't wait to be promoted to eternity to be with the Lord, which is far better (Phil.1:23). Sundays remind me of this imminent happening.
I am pumped today because it's Sunday! Under the Law of Moses the Sabbath was the day of rest, and the Sabbath was and always is the seventh day of the week, aka Saturday. More specifically, the Sabbath began at sundown on Friday and concluded at sundown on Saturday.
Then along came the prophet like Moses (Deut.18:15), viz., Messiah Jesus, and fulfilled the Law of Moses. He followed this up with dying on the cross as mankind's sin offering, then was put in a tomb, rose out of death on the third day, and ascended into heaven. He is there now serving as our great High Priest, while sending the Holy Spirit to indwell us and transform us into His image. Having fulfilled the Law, Jesus instituted a New Covenant, aka the Church. The Church is the spiritual family of God, with the fulfillment of the Law and death to sin and resurrection to new life being its makeup.
The day Jesus rose out of death was the first day of the week, aka Sunday. Hence the Church's day of rest is Sunday, the Resurrection Day, not the Sabbath. The New Testament notes that the disciples met together on the first day of the week, and refers to this day as the Lord's Day (Rev.1:10). I am pumped for Sunday because it is the Resurrection Day. I can't wait to be promoted to eternity to be with the Lord, which is far better (Phil.1:23). Sundays remind me of this imminent happening.
November 10, 2013
Of Nerds & Squints & Other Assorted Characters
What do CSIs and Squints have to do with Deuteronomy 21? Hmm... That's a toughie. If you want to know the answer, purchase your copy of Deuteronomy: Book III, Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. It's very interesting.
November 9, 2013
Kingdom of Eretz
Did you know...? I have already expounded upon all five books of Moses. These consist of the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The five Bible books together are known as the Law of Moses, aka Torah. Each and every verse of this major section of Scripture is vetted in detail. The Law of Moses is the foundation for the entire Bible. If you want to know the Bible, to really get a handle on it, you need to begin at the beginning and understand the foundation.
However, before initiating the Heavenly Citizens series I wrote my first book. It is title Kingdom of Eretz and is available from CreateSpace and Amazon Kindle. It is much smaller in pages than any of my Heavenly Citizens books, but it is no less ambitious. It is a Biblical Allegory of the Church Age, consisting of any exposition of two chapters in the Bible. You may purchase your copy from http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
However, before initiating the Heavenly Citizens series I wrote my first book. It is title Kingdom of Eretz and is available from CreateSpace and Amazon Kindle. It is much smaller in pages than any of my Heavenly Citizens books, but it is no less ambitious. It is a Biblical Allegory of the Church Age, consisting of any exposition of two chapters in the Bible. You may purchase your copy from http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
November 8, 2013
Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes
Did you know that my book on Deuteronomy includes the entire Book of Deuteronomy? That is correct. Because of space considerations, it was divided into four books. Books I-IV are available from Amazon CreateSpace Amazon Kindle. Get your copies today! My Heavenly Citizens series offers full-length analysis of entire books of the Bible. It not only teaches the Bible, but it also role models for the reader how to study the Bible. It not only provides the reader with a fish to eat, but it teaches the reader how to fish for himself.
November 7, 2013
Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes
The first nine verses of Deuteronomy 21 detail a procedure to be used, when murder was committed but the murderer was unknown. Imagine watching one of the CSI TV series or Bones. A corpse is discovered in some secluded location. There are no witnesses to the crime and the corpse isn’t talking either. What to do?
Well, on TV the scientific nerds and squints commence to gathering materials from the landscape around the corpse, and from the corpse too. Then they retreat to the laboratory and see what they can find out from their collection of materials. Finally, as more and more evidence is examined and new revelations come to light, a light bulb comes on over the head of one of the actors and he or she exclaims, “I know who did it!”
Well guess what? It doesn’t usually work like that in reality! It didn’t usually work like that in Old Testament Israel either. So much for Plan A. That left the Lord with Plan B, which He shared with the Israelites in Deuteronomy 21:1-9. Let’s spend our time today studying this plan. You may read the full account in Deuteronomy Book III.
And now let us betake ourselves to another studio. Deuteronomy 5:3 might be a wee bit befuddling to some folks. At Mt. Sinai the older generation of Israelites received the Law. On the plains of Moab in our present text the Israelites of a younger generation were about to receive the Law. How then did Moses assert that the Lord didn’t make His covenant with their fathers, but with them?
Hmm. I am reminded of Winston Churchill’s 1939 description of Soviet Russia. He referred to them as “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma”! They were a tough nut to crack. But not to lose heart, dear heart. Let us wade through the confusion and decipher the cipher.
Moses and all the Old Testament saints had an Oriental mindset. They didn’t fraternize with Aristotle much. Their way of reasoning and concomitant mode of expression did not jive with the Occidental mode, and vice versa too!
Moses was not claiming the Lord at Sinai did not make a covenant with the older generation. He stated that the Lord’s covenant was not SOLELY with the older generation. His covenant was with Israel, with all Israelites throughout ALL generations.
So did the Lord give the Law to the generation of Israelites who were at Mt. Sinai? No, He did not. Did He give the Law to all Israelites of all generations? Yes, that is precisely what He did. It is in this context we are to interpret Moses’ words in verse 3, brothers and sisters. You may read the full account in Deuteronomy Book I.
Well, on TV the scientific nerds and squints commence to gathering materials from the landscape around the corpse, and from the corpse too. Then they retreat to the laboratory and see what they can find out from their collection of materials. Finally, as more and more evidence is examined and new revelations come to light, a light bulb comes on over the head of one of the actors and he or she exclaims, “I know who did it!”
Well guess what? It doesn’t usually work like that in reality! It didn’t usually work like that in Old Testament Israel either. So much for Plan A. That left the Lord with Plan B, which He shared with the Israelites in Deuteronomy 21:1-9. Let’s spend our time today studying this plan. You may read the full account in Deuteronomy Book III.
And now let us betake ourselves to another studio. Deuteronomy 5:3 might be a wee bit befuddling to some folks. At Mt. Sinai the older generation of Israelites received the Law. On the plains of Moab in our present text the Israelites of a younger generation were about to receive the Law. How then did Moses assert that the Lord didn’t make His covenant with their fathers, but with them?
Hmm. I am reminded of Winston Churchill’s 1939 description of Soviet Russia. He referred to them as “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma”! They were a tough nut to crack. But not to lose heart, dear heart. Let us wade through the confusion and decipher the cipher.
Moses and all the Old Testament saints had an Oriental mindset. They didn’t fraternize with Aristotle much. Their way of reasoning and concomitant mode of expression did not jive with the Occidental mode, and vice versa too!
Moses was not claiming the Lord at Sinai did not make a covenant with the older generation. He stated that the Lord’s covenant was not SOLELY with the older generation. His covenant was with Israel, with all Israelites throughout ALL generations.
So did the Lord give the Law to the generation of Israelites who were at Mt. Sinai? No, He did not. Did He give the Law to all Israelites of all generations? Yes, that is precisely what He did. It is in this context we are to interpret Moses’ words in verse 3, brothers and sisters. You may read the full account in Deuteronomy Book I.
November 6, 2013
The Chicken or the Egg? – Part 2
He will cry to Me, “You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.” I also shall make him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth [Psalm 89:26-27].
The concept of the “firstborn” has to do with inheritance rights. It began with Adam and Eve and has continued to this day. The “firstborn” refers to the son born first in a family.
In the realm of natural birth, the firstborn received the leadership of the family when dad died. He also received “the double portion”, twice as much of the family wealth as the other sons.
In the spiritual realm the Lord also employs the concept of the “firstborn”. Truth be told, the concept in the spiritual realm came first. The Lord made use of it to establish “the law of the firstborn” for the natural realm.
There is a significant difference in the concept of the “firstborn” with respect to the natural and spiritual realms though. We will assay this distinction in today’s study. Without understanding this distinction, we cannot rightly divide the Word of Truth. The Bible will be inexplicable with regard to the spiritual firstborn.
In our two Bible verses today God is speaking. He notes that the future Messiah, the Son of God, will recognize Him as His Father (verse 26). Then Father God adds, “I also shall make him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth” (verse 27).
This is a reference to the spiritual firstborn, dear friends. God is spirit. He doesn’t procreate and have children. The Son of God eternally coexists with Father God and with the Holy Spirit through all eternity. The Son of God was never born, so He cannot be “the son born first”, as is true of the “firstborn” in the natural realm.
What, then, are we to make of this concept of the “firstborn” in the spiritual realm? Well, the most significant aspect of the spiritual firstborn is defined in our Bible verse: he is “the highest of the kings of the earth.” The spiritual firstborn is a reference to preeminence, not to who was born first.
Three offices existed in Old Testament Israel under the Law of Moses. These were,
1. prophet
2. priest
3. king
The Messiah was to combine all three offices in His one person. This was a no-no for anyone else to ever do. Each person of authority in Israel held one or the other of these three offices, but no one was to hold all three. Indeed, even those who held one office had to be chosen by God to that office. Man could not take it upon himself to lay claim to the office of prophet or priest or king.
The Messiah held all three offices. He was the fulfillment of the Law and the fulfillment of all righteousness. He was the King of kings and Lord of lords. He was “the highest of the kings of the earth.”
You can see from this that the spiritual firstborn refers to preeminence. It has reference to being the most distinguished person of his type. He is unique and outstanding above all others.
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He is also fully man, but only since circa 7 B.C. Jesus is the firstborn of all creation, making Him preeminent over all creation, not the person or thing born first in creation.
Jesus Christ is also the firstborn of all recreation. He is the first man to rise out of death as being dead to sin but alive evermore to righteousness. Those of us who are born again are “second born”. Jesus has the preeminence. All glory goes to Him.
Let’s spend time now giving Him the glory. Let’s stop being full of self and instead deposit self in the nearest rubbish bin. To God be the glory! Jesus Christ be praised. Hosanna to the Son of David!
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The concept of the “firstborn” has to do with inheritance rights. It began with Adam and Eve and has continued to this day. The “firstborn” refers to the son born first in a family.
In the realm of natural birth, the firstborn received the leadership of the family when dad died. He also received “the double portion”, twice as much of the family wealth as the other sons.
In the spiritual realm the Lord also employs the concept of the “firstborn”. Truth be told, the concept in the spiritual realm came first. The Lord made use of it to establish “the law of the firstborn” for the natural realm.
There is a significant difference in the concept of the “firstborn” with respect to the natural and spiritual realms though. We will assay this distinction in today’s study. Without understanding this distinction, we cannot rightly divide the Word of Truth. The Bible will be inexplicable with regard to the spiritual firstborn.
In our two Bible verses today God is speaking. He notes that the future Messiah, the Son of God, will recognize Him as His Father (verse 26). Then Father God adds, “I also shall make him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth” (verse 27).
This is a reference to the spiritual firstborn, dear friends. God is spirit. He doesn’t procreate and have children. The Son of God eternally coexists with Father God and with the Holy Spirit through all eternity. The Son of God was never born, so He cannot be “the son born first”, as is true of the “firstborn” in the natural realm.
What, then, are we to make of this concept of the “firstborn” in the spiritual realm? Well, the most significant aspect of the spiritual firstborn is defined in our Bible verse: he is “the highest of the kings of the earth.” The spiritual firstborn is a reference to preeminence, not to who was born first.
Three offices existed in Old Testament Israel under the Law of Moses. These were,
1. prophet
2. priest
3. king
The Messiah was to combine all three offices in His one person. This was a no-no for anyone else to ever do. Each person of authority in Israel held one or the other of these three offices, but no one was to hold all three. Indeed, even those who held one office had to be chosen by God to that office. Man could not take it upon himself to lay claim to the office of prophet or priest or king.
The Messiah held all three offices. He was the fulfillment of the Law and the fulfillment of all righteousness. He was the King of kings and Lord of lords. He was “the highest of the kings of the earth.”
You can see from this that the spiritual firstborn refers to preeminence. It has reference to being the most distinguished person of his type. He is unique and outstanding above all others.
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He is also fully man, but only since circa 7 B.C. Jesus is the firstborn of all creation, making Him preeminent over all creation, not the person or thing born first in creation.
Jesus Christ is also the firstborn of all recreation. He is the first man to rise out of death as being dead to sin but alive evermore to righteousness. Those of us who are born again are “second born”. Jesus has the preeminence. All glory goes to Him.
Let’s spend time now giving Him the glory. Let’s stop being full of self and instead deposit self in the nearest rubbish bin. To God be the glory! Jesus Christ be praised. Hosanna to the Son of David!
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
November 5, 2013
The Chicken or the Egg? – Part 1
He will cry to Me, “You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.” I also shall make him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth [Psalm 89:26-27].
Which came first, the chicken or the egg? We’ve all heard that trick question before, most of us in the first grade! If we are your everyday run-of-the-mill worldling, then we find ourselves in a quandary. Hmm. That’s a tough question to answer. How do we get a chicken without it being hatched from an egg? And how do we get an egg without a chicken to lay it?
Then along comes those pesky Christians. They have the answers to everything! Well, the Bible does anyway, and they believe the Bible. According to Genesis 1, the chicken came first. God created everything full-grown to reproduce after its kind.
That is why evolution and uniformitarianism cannot determine the age of the material universe. Fossil fuels were created by God fully developed. They didn’t take millions of years to form under uniform conditions. Diamonds were created by God fully formed. Tons of pressure over humongous periods of time weren’t required to produce those gems.
Man too was created fully developed. There was no procreation, conception, nine months of carrying child, and then a teeny tiny baby came out, followed by two decades of growing into manhood. Not on your life! Man was a fully mature being the day the Lord God created him.
In our Bible verses today we have another instance of the “which came first” trick question. It’s sort of like the joke, “In an emergency call 9-1-1.” To which comes the question, “What’s the number?” Duh! If you have to ask, you probably need instruction on how to use the telephone, maybe a copy of “Telephones for Dummies” or something like that.
Today’s verses make reference to the “firstborn”. This is a Biblical concept having to do with the inheritance. It should be rather obvious—like what’s the number for 9-1-1—but the “firstborn” is the person who is born first in a family. More correctly, the “firstborn” is the male child who is born first in a family.
In the Bible as well as among many other cultures, the firstborn son received the leadership of the family after dad was deceased. He also received the double portion, which entitled him to twice as much of the family wealth. The concept of the “firstborn” served in the place of a will. The inheritance was always divided into equal parts for each son, except for the firstborn who received two parts.
This procedure vis-à-vis the inheritance was standard practice in Scripture from the beginning of time. In the story of Cain and Abel, Cain was the firstborn and Abel his younger brother. When the Lord accepted Abel’s offering but rejected Cain’s, Cain’s nose was bent out of shape. He was the firstborn, you see. How dare God favor his twerp punk bro over him!
The Law of Moses made the law of the firstborn a part of the legal code for the Israelites, while they inhabited the Promised Land. The inheritance procedure of the natural firstborn was thereby perpetuated throughout history.
We will vet the Biblical concept of the spiritual firstborn in our next study. For now spend some time alone with the Lord Jesus. He beckons us into His presence.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Which came first, the chicken or the egg? We’ve all heard that trick question before, most of us in the first grade! If we are your everyday run-of-the-mill worldling, then we find ourselves in a quandary. Hmm. That’s a tough question to answer. How do we get a chicken without it being hatched from an egg? And how do we get an egg without a chicken to lay it?
Then along comes those pesky Christians. They have the answers to everything! Well, the Bible does anyway, and they believe the Bible. According to Genesis 1, the chicken came first. God created everything full-grown to reproduce after its kind.
That is why evolution and uniformitarianism cannot determine the age of the material universe. Fossil fuels were created by God fully developed. They didn’t take millions of years to form under uniform conditions. Diamonds were created by God fully formed. Tons of pressure over humongous periods of time weren’t required to produce those gems.
Man too was created fully developed. There was no procreation, conception, nine months of carrying child, and then a teeny tiny baby came out, followed by two decades of growing into manhood. Not on your life! Man was a fully mature being the day the Lord God created him.
In our Bible verses today we have another instance of the “which came first” trick question. It’s sort of like the joke, “In an emergency call 9-1-1.” To which comes the question, “What’s the number?” Duh! If you have to ask, you probably need instruction on how to use the telephone, maybe a copy of “Telephones for Dummies” or something like that.
Today’s verses make reference to the “firstborn”. This is a Biblical concept having to do with the inheritance. It should be rather obvious—like what’s the number for 9-1-1—but the “firstborn” is the person who is born first in a family. More correctly, the “firstborn” is the male child who is born first in a family.
In the Bible as well as among many other cultures, the firstborn son received the leadership of the family after dad was deceased. He also received the double portion, which entitled him to twice as much of the family wealth. The concept of the “firstborn” served in the place of a will. The inheritance was always divided into equal parts for each son, except for the firstborn who received two parts.
This procedure vis-à-vis the inheritance was standard practice in Scripture from the beginning of time. In the story of Cain and Abel, Cain was the firstborn and Abel his younger brother. When the Lord accepted Abel’s offering but rejected Cain’s, Cain’s nose was bent out of shape. He was the firstborn, you see. How dare God favor his twerp punk bro over him!
The Law of Moses made the law of the firstborn a part of the legal code for the Israelites, while they inhabited the Promised Land. The inheritance procedure of the natural firstborn was thereby perpetuated throughout history.
We will vet the Biblical concept of the spiritual firstborn in our next study. For now spend some time alone with the Lord Jesus. He beckons us into His presence.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
November 4, 2013
The Town Crier – Part 4
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; lovingkindness and truth go before You [Psalm 89:14].
Contemporary America is under the spell of middle class affluent morality, and it parades itself in the churches as Biblical righteousness. Beware the leaven of the spoiled rich kids, dear people.
A judge’s role is not to be “loving”. He is there to be “righteous”. He is there to enforce the law. God didn’t just overlook man’s sins and send him away scot-free because God is such a swell guy. God the Father gave His one and only Son as a sin offering on man’s behalf. The Son died man’s death that we might live His life. Man’s sins were not overlooked. Their penalty, death, was paid by God Himself.
That is the essence of “grace”, dear friends. It flows from God’s love, not from anything stemming from man. Jesus is the way, the TRUTH, and the life (cf., John 14:6). The Law came through Moses, but grace and TRUTH came through Jesus Christ.
Hence the parallelism in Psalm 89:14. God’s rule is righteous. That is its foundation. So God paid the penalty for man’s sins Himself, thereby maintaining His righteous rule. Sin was not overlooked: it was judged and the sinner executed. Man’s sins were placed on Jesus on the cross, making Jesus to be sin on our behalf.
After maintaining His righteous rule by condemning sin in the flesh, God now holds out His hand to man and offers us peace with Him through our Lord Jesus Christ. This comes by grace through faith. It spells God’s “lovingkindness and truth”. The Law is the foundation of God’s rule, but grace goes before Him. Grace, you see, is the town crier.
The legal proceedings have been completed. The meeting is adjourned. The King has arrived at His decision: the soul that sins will die. Every head drops and every mouth is shut. No one can lift the head to look into the face of the King of kings and Lord of lords. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. There is none righteous, no, not even one. All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone to his own way.
But then the town crier goes before Him, goes ahead of the Law and announces the remainder of the King’s ruling. The town crier announces,
Though all of us have gone astray like sheep and turned to our own way, nonetheless the King has laid on Jesus the iniquity of us all. All that is required of us is to turn back to Jesus and repent of our sins, acknowledge them to Him, and ask Him for His forgiveness.
I think I like this town crier. He is a preacher of extraordinary ability. He is a prophet to proclaim glad tidings of good cheer. He is the lovely feet on the mountaintop to bring good news, to publish glad tidings, to proclaim peace, to declare, “Our God reigns!”
Do you know the grace of God? Have you received His offer of peace through His Son, Jesus Christ? Go to Him now and receive Him. Kiss the Son, lest He smite you in the way.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Contemporary America is under the spell of middle class affluent morality, and it parades itself in the churches as Biblical righteousness. Beware the leaven of the spoiled rich kids, dear people.
A judge’s role is not to be “loving”. He is there to be “righteous”. He is there to enforce the law. God didn’t just overlook man’s sins and send him away scot-free because God is such a swell guy. God the Father gave His one and only Son as a sin offering on man’s behalf. The Son died man’s death that we might live His life. Man’s sins were not overlooked. Their penalty, death, was paid by God Himself.
That is the essence of “grace”, dear friends. It flows from God’s love, not from anything stemming from man. Jesus is the way, the TRUTH, and the life (cf., John 14:6). The Law came through Moses, but grace and TRUTH came through Jesus Christ.
Hence the parallelism in Psalm 89:14. God’s rule is righteous. That is its foundation. So God paid the penalty for man’s sins Himself, thereby maintaining His righteous rule. Sin was not overlooked: it was judged and the sinner executed. Man’s sins were placed on Jesus on the cross, making Jesus to be sin on our behalf.
After maintaining His righteous rule by condemning sin in the flesh, God now holds out His hand to man and offers us peace with Him through our Lord Jesus Christ. This comes by grace through faith. It spells God’s “lovingkindness and truth”. The Law is the foundation of God’s rule, but grace goes before Him. Grace, you see, is the town crier.
The legal proceedings have been completed. The meeting is adjourned. The King has arrived at His decision: the soul that sins will die. Every head drops and every mouth is shut. No one can lift the head to look into the face of the King of kings and Lord of lords. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. There is none righteous, no, not even one. All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone to his own way.
But then the town crier goes before Him, goes ahead of the Law and announces the remainder of the King’s ruling. The town crier announces,
Though all of us have gone astray like sheep and turned to our own way, nonetheless the King has laid on Jesus the iniquity of us all. All that is required of us is to turn back to Jesus and repent of our sins, acknowledge them to Him, and ask Him for His forgiveness.
I think I like this town crier. He is a preacher of extraordinary ability. He is a prophet to proclaim glad tidings of good cheer. He is the lovely feet on the mountaintop to bring good news, to publish glad tidings, to proclaim peace, to declare, “Our God reigns!”
Do you know the grace of God? Have you received His offer of peace through His Son, Jesus Christ? Go to Him now and receive Him. Kiss the Son, lest He smite you in the way.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
November 3, 2013
The Town Crier – Part 3
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; lovingkindness and truth go before You [Psalm 89:14].
In the prior study we itemized the parallel ideas of the two lines, and we observed that the first line depicts the Covenant of Law, while the second line portrays the Covenant of Grace. Here is how we delineated the lines:
A. righteousness and justice
B. are the foundation of Your throne
A. lovingkindness and truth
B. go before You
We descanted on the parallelism of the first line. God’s throne is symbolic of His rule. The foundation of God’s rule is “righteousness and justice”. The two go together like hand in glove, or better yet like fruit on the tree. It is inconceivable that God could be anything but righteous, is it not? Righteousness and His very character are indivisible.
The legal code of the Israelites while they inhabited the Promised Land was the Law of Moses. God legislated it as the Law for the Israelites in the Promised Land. He noted that obedience to His Law equaled “righteousness”. Justice resulted when the Law was obeyed. The Law was the tree, and it represented righteousness. Obedience to the Law typified the fruit of the tree, the justice which occurred when the Law was obeyed.
Now let’s delve into the second line of the Bible verse. This line portrays the Covenant of Grace. The Law is noted for its “righteousness and justice”. Grace is epitomized by “lovingkindness and truth”. The two are bound together indivisibly in the Person of God, yet they are anything but the same. This is why the Bible verse presents “antonymous parallelism” and not “synonymous parallelism”.
On the one hand God loves us and doesn’t want to sentence us to death for our sins. Yet the wages of sin is death, and so He must put sinners to death as the penalty for their sins. Anything short of this would be tantamount to unrighteousness. Can it even be envisioned, God being unrighteous? Egads, man!
Imagine a local judge in the courtroom. A person is tried and convicted of premeditated murder. His sentencing is underway. The judge looks at him sternly and tells him off for being a lowlife killer. But then the judge’s face changes to a look of leniency, a look of pity and spineless morality. He tells the convicted murderer,
Though you are most definitely guilty of first-degree murder and deserve to die, still I can’t bring myself to have you executed. So go your way and behave yourself. I am releasing you under your own recognizance.
I can smell impeachment proceedings. I can also smell the avenger of blood going to work post haste. That scenario doesn’t depict a “loving” judge. It depicts a spineless wonder, a pusillanimous pansy. Contemporary America is under the spell of middle class affluent morality, dear friends, and it parades itself in the churches as Biblical righteousness. Beware!
Let us ponder this warning in the presence of the dear Lord Jesus. We will conclude this study on the morrow.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
In the prior study we itemized the parallel ideas of the two lines, and we observed that the first line depicts the Covenant of Law, while the second line portrays the Covenant of Grace. Here is how we delineated the lines:
A. righteousness and justice
B. are the foundation of Your throne
A. lovingkindness and truth
B. go before You
We descanted on the parallelism of the first line. God’s throne is symbolic of His rule. The foundation of God’s rule is “righteousness and justice”. The two go together like hand in glove, or better yet like fruit on the tree. It is inconceivable that God could be anything but righteous, is it not? Righteousness and His very character are indivisible.
The legal code of the Israelites while they inhabited the Promised Land was the Law of Moses. God legislated it as the Law for the Israelites in the Promised Land. He noted that obedience to His Law equaled “righteousness”. Justice resulted when the Law was obeyed. The Law was the tree, and it represented righteousness. Obedience to the Law typified the fruit of the tree, the justice which occurred when the Law was obeyed.
Now let’s delve into the second line of the Bible verse. This line portrays the Covenant of Grace. The Law is noted for its “righteousness and justice”. Grace is epitomized by “lovingkindness and truth”. The two are bound together indivisibly in the Person of God, yet they are anything but the same. This is why the Bible verse presents “antonymous parallelism” and not “synonymous parallelism”.
On the one hand God loves us and doesn’t want to sentence us to death for our sins. Yet the wages of sin is death, and so He must put sinners to death as the penalty for their sins. Anything short of this would be tantamount to unrighteousness. Can it even be envisioned, God being unrighteous? Egads, man!
Imagine a local judge in the courtroom. A person is tried and convicted of premeditated murder. His sentencing is underway. The judge looks at him sternly and tells him off for being a lowlife killer. But then the judge’s face changes to a look of leniency, a look of pity and spineless morality. He tells the convicted murderer,
Though you are most definitely guilty of first-degree murder and deserve to die, still I can’t bring myself to have you executed. So go your way and behave yourself. I am releasing you under your own recognizance.
I can smell impeachment proceedings. I can also smell the avenger of blood going to work post haste. That scenario doesn’t depict a “loving” judge. It depicts a spineless wonder, a pusillanimous pansy. Contemporary America is under the spell of middle class affluent morality, dear friends, and it parades itself in the churches as Biblical righteousness. Beware!
Let us ponder this warning in the presence of the dear Lord Jesus. We will conclude this study on the morrow.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
November 2, 2013
The Town Crier – Part 2
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; lovingkindness and truth go before You [Psalm 89:14].
The town crier of old has become a relic of the past. Internet and evening news have forced him into retirement. But his functions still remain, though now they are done by other avenues for spreading the news. The town crier was the newsman of his day, you see.
The Book of Psalms is composed of Hebrew poetry. Biblical Hebrew poetry does not function in the same way as contemporary poetry does. Today we rhyme words at the end of lines and consider that to be the essence of poetry. In Scripture the Hebrews rhymed ideas between lines as their form of poetry.
When the ideas presented rhymes of similar thoughts, we call it “synonymous parallelism”. The thoughts parallel each other with basically the same idea. They are synonyms of sorts. Should the ideas express opposite thoughts, then we refer to it as “antonymous parallelism”. The thoughts parallel each other as contrasting ideas.
Psalm 89:14 is an example of Hebrew poetry. We have two lines which parallel each other. Whether they express similar or opposing ideas is a little more difficult to determine.
The first line of our verse is a reference to the Covenant of Law. The second line introduces the Covenant of Grace. Both Law and grace come from the Lord, so in that sense they are not opposed to each other. However, the two concepts do contrast different aspects of God, and Psalm 89:14 portrays this truth. Hence our Bible verse is an example of “antonymous parallelism”.
Both aspects are true of God at all times. He is both righteous and loving simultaneously. He requires that justice tempered with mercy exist together. God loves us, you see, but at the same time He is righteous and cannot allow the guilty to go unpunished for their crimes against His righteous rule.
Let’s itemize the parallel ideas of the two lines:
A. righteousness and justice
B. are the foundation of Your throne
A. lovingkindness and truth
B. go before You
The “A” and “B” before each phrase identifies which ones are parallel. “Righteousness and justice” come from society’s legal code. It is right to obey the rules of civilization. Each person is governed by the same rules. This is government by law. It is “justice”.
The Law of Moses was the legal code of the Israelites while they inhabited the Promised Land in Old Testament times. The Lord identified obedience to the Law as being righteous. When society functioned in that manner, justice prevailed and the Lord was pleased. Blessings followed this arrangement.
Contrariwise, when the Law was skirted and its authority rejected, then unrighteousness existed and justice was nonexistent. Rather than blessings, the Lord rained down curses on the people and the land under that scenario.
The Law, you see, served as the “foundation” of God’s throne, of His Kingship, of His rule over Old Testament Israel. Without obedience to the Law, the reign of God wasn’t visible in Old Testament times. The Law was “the foundation of God’s throne”.
We will assay the parallelism of the second line in our next study. For now let’s mull over the parallelism of the first line and learn from the the foundation of Law.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The town crier of old has become a relic of the past. Internet and evening news have forced him into retirement. But his functions still remain, though now they are done by other avenues for spreading the news. The town crier was the newsman of his day, you see.
The Book of Psalms is composed of Hebrew poetry. Biblical Hebrew poetry does not function in the same way as contemporary poetry does. Today we rhyme words at the end of lines and consider that to be the essence of poetry. In Scripture the Hebrews rhymed ideas between lines as their form of poetry.
When the ideas presented rhymes of similar thoughts, we call it “synonymous parallelism”. The thoughts parallel each other with basically the same idea. They are synonyms of sorts. Should the ideas express opposite thoughts, then we refer to it as “antonymous parallelism”. The thoughts parallel each other as contrasting ideas.
Psalm 89:14 is an example of Hebrew poetry. We have two lines which parallel each other. Whether they express similar or opposing ideas is a little more difficult to determine.
The first line of our verse is a reference to the Covenant of Law. The second line introduces the Covenant of Grace. Both Law and grace come from the Lord, so in that sense they are not opposed to each other. However, the two concepts do contrast different aspects of God, and Psalm 89:14 portrays this truth. Hence our Bible verse is an example of “antonymous parallelism”.
Both aspects are true of God at all times. He is both righteous and loving simultaneously. He requires that justice tempered with mercy exist together. God loves us, you see, but at the same time He is righteous and cannot allow the guilty to go unpunished for their crimes against His righteous rule.
Let’s itemize the parallel ideas of the two lines:
A. righteousness and justice
B. are the foundation of Your throne
A. lovingkindness and truth
B. go before You
The “A” and “B” before each phrase identifies which ones are parallel. “Righteousness and justice” come from society’s legal code. It is right to obey the rules of civilization. Each person is governed by the same rules. This is government by law. It is “justice”.
The Law of Moses was the legal code of the Israelites while they inhabited the Promised Land in Old Testament times. The Lord identified obedience to the Law as being righteous. When society functioned in that manner, justice prevailed and the Lord was pleased. Blessings followed this arrangement.
Contrariwise, when the Law was skirted and its authority rejected, then unrighteousness existed and justice was nonexistent. Rather than blessings, the Lord rained down curses on the people and the land under that scenario.
The Law, you see, served as the “foundation” of God’s throne, of His Kingship, of His rule over Old Testament Israel. Without obedience to the Law, the reign of God wasn’t visible in Old Testament times. The Law was “the foundation of God’s throne”.
We will assay the parallelism of the second line in our next study. For now let’s mull over the parallelism of the first line and learn from the the foundation of Law.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Genesis: Volume 1 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
