The Sound of Doctrine

Category: Israel

  • Music And The Temple

    The Old Testament

      1. Introduction
        1. God has used a variety of ways in which to communicate His truth:
          1. Narrative history: Genesis 1-2
          2. Wisdom: Proverbs
          3. Prophecy: Ezekiel/Daniel
          4. Dictation: contained in prophets and history.
        2. But one way that God has chosen to communicate His truth is that of poem, or song.
    • Hebrews 1:1–2

      1     God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways,

      2     in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.

      1. God’s means of communicating His Word has been very comprehensive.
      2. The use of songs, however, is unique and expressive, which themselves are part of the revelation.
        1. In the songs of Scripture, we have the heart of God in the organization of the song, as well as the mind of God in the content of the song.
        2. The songs themselves are meant to communicate truth, which are meant to convict reprove, and exhort for the purpose of repentance, comfort, and consolation.
        3. This fact also instructs us that God can, and did, use different styles in order to communicate His truth, since that what style is for.
      3. Notice the sound of the shophar “שֹׁפָר”  on the mt.
        1. Exodus 19:16–19
    • 16     So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.
      17     And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.
      18     Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently.
      19     When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder.
    1. Exodus 20:18–21
    • 18     All the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance.
      19     Then they said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, or we will die.”
      20     Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin.”
      21     So the people stood at a distance, while Moses approached the thick cloud where God was.
    1.  
      1. This was the ram’s horn sound. It announced the arrival of YHWH on the mountain and it was tremendous. The sound was no doubt that of an intense, siren-like, sound that would deafen the ears. This sound also will accompany the following:
        1. The march around Jericho – Joshua 6
        2. The sacrifice on the day of atonement which accompanies the year of Jubilee – Leviticus 25:9.
        3. The battle of Gideon and the Midianites with 300 horns in order to shock the Midianites – Judges 7
        4. The times when Israel went out into war – 2 Samuel
        5. The announcement of Solomon as king over Israel – 1 Kings 1
        6. The announcement of Jehu as king – 2 Kings 9
      1. Up to this point, the use of the “shofar” is a resemblance leading all the way back to YHWH’s appearance on the mountain. It was a sound not made with people on the mountain, but by God Himself. That sound is replicated by the Ram’s horn. Thus, it would accompany particularly important announcements relating back to the importance of God’s appearance.
      2. Thus, Jericho, Gideon, Jubilee, kingship all replicate the gravity of God’s appearance on the mountain, although the truthfulness of the quality of the kings remains to be seen.
      3. However, as you see things progress, the shophar becomes useful in accompanying other instruments in worship.
      4. David in the entrance of the Ark into Jerusalem – 1 Chronicles 15:25-29.
        1. V. 28 = “horn”
        2. This entourage accompanied celebration of God’s faithfulness and the Word of the Covenant for Israel coming into the city of God’s name.
        3. This arrival was very significant and could be likened to the arrival of YHWH on Mt. Sinai as God “comes” into His city, Zion (Jerusalem).
    • 1. David goes onto to receive plans from God as to the building of the Temple, although he, himself, is not allowed to oversee the project due to his bloody hands (1 Chronicles 22:6-19).
      1. The plans for the construction of the Temple were given to David by God-1 Chronicles 28:1-21
        1. David assembles all the dignitaries of Israel and presents Solomon to them as well as the building of the house. He rehearses the commandment that God gave to him concerning the kingdom of David, the rulership of Solomon, and the throne of the kingdom.
          1. David also gives to Solomon the plans for the design and construction of the Temple Solomon is to build (1 Chronicles 28:11-13).
            1. The plans included the assignment of the singers, who themselves were Levites.
            2. The plans were given from YHWH to David and he wrote them down (v. 28:19).
        2. The plans from God included the division of the sons of Aaron, Levites, who would become the portion of the Levites who would:
          1. Offer praise and thanksgiving:
          2. These are the divisions of the Levites “for all the work of the service of the house of the Lord.”
            1. This phrase describes their work in the house of God-the work of the service.
            2. It is a phrase that refers to the ritual work that the Temple demands.
            3. This included the songs of praise and thanksgiving.
          3. It is evident that these singers, at least the division of singers, also ministered by song in front of the Tabernacle as well until Solomon built the Temple.
      2. Organization of the singers in the temple:
        1. All singers were Levites.
          1. 1 Chronicles 15:16-24
          2. This is significant because these must be spiritually acceptable to serve the Lord, i.e. by His ordination (1 Chronicles 15:2 “Then David said, “No one is to carry the ark of God but the Levites; for the Lord chose them to carry the ark of God and to minister to Him forever.” )
        2. All singers were appointed by lot under the direction of King David.
          1. 1 Chronicles 25:1-7
          2. 1 Chronicles 6:31
    • 31     Now these are those whom David appointed over the service of song in the house of the Lord, after the ark rested there.

     

    1. This meant that David oversaw their work, organization, and the appointment.
      1. Primarily because he is king. But also because he was a singer himself and the Lord gave him to create instruments for worship (1 Chronicles 23:3-6).
      1. All singers were accompanied by instruments.
        1. 1 Chronicles 15:16
          1. You will notice some Psalms with the names of these kinds/styles of songs in their titles:
    • 1 Chronicles 15:20–21
      20     and Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah, with harps tuned to alamoth;
      See Psalm 46: title
       
      21     and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel and Azaziah, to lead with lyres tuned to the sheminith.

    See Psalm 6 (8-stringed lyre = Sheminith)

     

    1 Chronicles 15:19

    19     So the singers, Heman, Asaph and Ethan were appointed to sound aloud cymbals of bronze; (see 1 Chronicles 16:5 – Asaph was a chief musician and kept temp with these cymbals).

    1. Heman: Psalm 88
      1. Asaph: Psalms 50, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83,
      2. Ethan: Psalm 89
      3. Jeduthun: Psalms 39, 62, 77 (choir director-
    • yĕdûtûn. Jeduthun. The name of one of the three leaders of the musical guilds in the tabernacle (and the temple) under king David (I Chr 9:16; 25:1–7; II Chr 5:12; 29:14; 35:15). These perpetual guilds were appointed to celebrate, confess, and praise Yahweh with song and musical instruments. The primary instrument of Jeduthun’s guild was the harp, though the trumpet, lyre, and cymbals were perhaps used as well (I Chr 16:42; II Chr 5:12). In the superscriptions to Psalms 39, 62, and 77, the reference to “Jeduthun” is most likely a reference to him and his guild as the musical performers who were to render the psalm instrumentally and/or vocally. It is therefore interesting that the name “Jeduthun” is most likely derived from yādâ, one of the major terms for praise (cf. BDB, pp. 392–393).1
       
    1. What does all of this mean?
      1. Music, song, and instrument, accompanied worship.
        1. Song did not generate worship.
        2. This singing required training –
    • 1 Chronicles 15:22

      22     Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was in charge of the singing; he gave instruction in singing because he was skillful.

      1. Singing in the Temple served a function, actually three:

      1. Praise of God/Lament to God:
        1. There are different psalm categories:
          1. Lament: has a special meter that imitates limping (Cracking, p. 199).
          1. Plea for help,
            1. Complaint
              1. Confession of sin
      2. Praise: recounting who God is, what He has done, and invoking listeners to join in praise of both (Cracking, p.218).
    • “There are five principle subcategories of this type of praise:
       
      1. Hymns: (e.g., Ps. 24; 29; 33; 100; 103; 105; 111; 113-114; 117; 135-36; 145-50)….
      2. Enthronement psalms: (e.g., Ps. 47; 93;95-99)…
      3. Songs of Zion, including pilgrim psalms (e.g., Ps. 48; 84; 87; 120-34)…
      4. Royal psalms (e.g., Ps. 2; 20-21; 45; 72; 89; 101; 110; 132; 144)…
      5. Creation psalms (e.g. Ps. 8; 19:1-6; 104)…”
    • (D. Brent Sandy, Ronald L. Giese, Jr. Cracking Old Testament Codes, (Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 1995), p. 219).
       
      1. Thanksgiving:
    • Second, this verb was predominatly employed to express one’s public proclamation or declaration (confession) of God’s attributes and his works. This concept is at the heart of the meaning of praise. Praise is a confession or declaration of who God is and what he does. This term is most often translated “to thank” in English versions, but such is not really a proper rendering according to Westermann: In the Old Testament … there is as yet no verb that means only “to thank.” ōdāh, which is usually translated as “to thank,” is not used in the Old Testament a single time for an expression of thanks between men. Thus it is clear from the start that this hōdāh cannot be equated with our “to thank,” which can be directed equally to God and to man. In those places in the O.T. where our “thank” as something taking place between men is most clearly found, the verb used is bērēk, which does not have the primary meaning of “praise” but means “bless.”
      In view of these facts, it is clear that the O.T. does not have our independent concept of thanks. The expression of thanks to God is included in praise, it is a way of praising. (Westermann, Claus. The Praise of God in the Psalms. Richmond: John Knox Press, 1965, pp. 26–27.)
      The best rendering of the term is “confession,” for the person confesses or declares God’s attributes and works, as seen abundantly in the psalter (cf. Ps 89:5 [H 6]; Ps 105; Ps 106; Ps 145) and elsewhere (cf. I Chr 29:13).
       
       
      Ralph H. Alexander, “847 יָדָה” In , in Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, ed. R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer, Jr. and Bruce K. Waltke, electronic ed. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 364-65.
       
      1. 1 Chronicles 16:4–7
    • 4     He appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the Lord, even to celebrate and to thank and praise the Lord God of Israel:
      5     Asaph the chief, and second to him Zechariah, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom and Jeiel, with musical instruments, harps, lyres; also Asaph played loud-sounding cymbals,
      6     and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests blew trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.
      7     Then on that day David first assigned Asaph and his relatives to give thanks to the Lord.
      1. 1 Chronicles 16:8–13
    • 8     Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name;
      Make known His deeds among the peoples.
      9     Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;
      Speak of all His wonders.
      10     Glory in His holy name;
      Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad.
      11     Seek the Lord and His strength;
      Seek His face continually.
      12     Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done,
      His marvels and the judgments from His mouth,
      13     O seed of Israel His servant,
      Sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!
      1. 1 Chronicles 16:31–36
    • 31     Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
      And let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
      32     Let the sea roar, and all it contains;
      Let the field exult, and all that is in it.
      33     Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the Lord;
      For He is coming to judge the earth.
      34     O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
      For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
      35     Then say, “Save us, O God of our salvation,
      And gather us and deliver us from the nations,
      To give thanks to Your holy name,
      And glory in Your praise.”
      36     Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
      From everlasting even to everlasting.
      Then all the people said, “Amen,” and praised the Lord.

      1. Prophesying:

      1. Prophesying in music:
        1. 1 Chronicles 25:-7
          1. Illustration: 2 Kings 3:13-15
            1. Elisha is asked to prophesy for the three kings Jehoram, Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom.
            2. They were to go up against Moab, but ran out of water in the area they were camping.
            3. They called Elisha and asked him to prophesy = do a miracle, since he was a prophet.
            4. In order to prophesy, he asked for a minstrel (“one who plays on a stringed-instrument-Psalm 68:26).
            5. When he played on the stringed instrument, the Spirit of God came upon Elisha.
          2. Thus prophesying was speaking the Word of God and sometimes was accompanied/or promoted by music.
      2. This is key for our consideration of music in the church.
        1. 1 Chronicles 23:24-32
           
      3. Conclusion: What is the result of all of this organization =
    • 2 Chronicles 5:11-14!!!!
       
    1. Ralph H. Alexander, “847 יָדָה” In , in Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, ed. R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer, Jr. and Bruce K. Waltke, electronic ed. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 366.) ↩

  • Music In Worship-Introduction

    – 1. Introduction

    • The degree to which we ascribe worship to music is the degree that we either know God, or not. That is, if we believe that worship begins with music, we place too much importance on music and not enough upon God. However, if we know God by means of His revelation (i.e. Scripture) and as a result are filled with praise and accompany that with arranging what we have learned in skillfully done songs, then we have the right balance.
       

      1. Music in Worship

      1. Why are we studying this?
        1. Because it is a prominent theme in Scripture.
          1. Because, for many, the music defines worship.
          2. Because, for Berean, we want the music we make and use to be useful in worship.
        2. I want to work through these considerations with you.
          1. Because it is a prominent theme in Scripture.
            1. When was music first introduced in creation/Scripture?
            1. Job 38:7 – the indication is that the angels shouted/sang for the power of the creation ( בְּרָן־יַ֭חַד כּ֣וֹכְבֵי בֹ֑קֶר וַ֝יָּרִ֗יעוּ כָּל־בְּנֵ֥י אֱלֹהִֽים׃)
              1. “Stars of the Morning” = stars that precede the morning of creation.
                1. Genesis “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” = the creation of the earth and the heavens (plural).
                  1. Then, after God created the rough matter of the earth and heavens, He then created light.
                  2. Hence, the angels were created just prior to the creation of the foundations upon which YHWH created the earth.
                  3. Different term, same concept = Isaiah 14:12.
    1. Revelation 12:3–4
    • 3     Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems.
      4     And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.

      1. Luke 10:18
    • 18     And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.
      1. Revelation 6:13
    • 13     and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind.
      1. Revelation 8:10–11
    • 10     The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters.
      11     The name of the star is called Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter.
    1. Therefore, indicates that Satan also was one who sang for joy at the creation of the world. In fact, since there is a hierarchy among the angels, he probably led the angels in their chorus.
      1. The term here, רוע (וַ֝יָּרִ֗יעוּ = Hiphil imperfect 3cp “they were caused to continue singing”), is one that most usually means to “shout.”
        1. It is often translated also as “sing.”
        2. Notice that they shouted “as one” = in unison.
          1. This would indicate order and arrangement.
          2. This unity, togetherness, was appropriate to truly reflect the magnificent display of God and His works.
      2. What were they singing?
      1. Praise of God’s creation knowledge- vv. 1-3
        1. Praise of God’s creation power – vv. 4-6
      1. To whom were they singing?
      1. To God – Job 1:6; 2:1
        1. To one another – remember, in unison.
      2. Genesis 2:23
      1. Genesis 2:23
      • 23     The man said,
        “This is now bone of my bones,
        And flesh of my flesh;
        She shall be called Woman,
        Because she was taken out of Man.”
      1. “This is now
        1. bone of my bones,
        2. And flesh of my flesh;
      2. She
        1. shall be called Woman,
        2. Because she was taken out of Man.”
      3. This is poetry (explanatory parallelism-Chisholm, pp. 142-143).
      4. This is a complex structure of thought that centers around “this one.”
        • Because
          she was taken out of Man.
          This is now bone of my bones,
          And flesh of my flesh;
          She shall be called Woman,
           
          Genesis 2:23
          23    וַיֹּאמֶר֮ הָֽאָדָם֒
           זֹ֣את הַפַּ֗עַם
                   עֶ֚צֶם מֵֽעֲצָמַ֔י
                  וּבָשָׂ֖ר מִבְּשָׂרִ֑י
          לְזֹאת֙ יִקָּרֵ֣א אִשָּׁ֔ה
          כִּ֥י מֵאִ֖ישׁ לֻֽקֳחָה־זֹּֽאת׃
           
      5. There is the repetition of “this one,” “Man/Woman,” and aspects of the bone and flesh creation of the man replicated in the woman.
      6. Genesis 4:14-19
        1. The cursing of the serpent, and the earth, along with the puishment of the man and woman, are spoken in a kind of poetic song, a mourning.
        2. This is a prophetic anthem/declaration against these things by YHWH.
          1. Very often used in the prophets
          2. It demonstrates a judgment.
      7. Genesis 4:18-22
        1. The implementation of putting complex thought of expression to instruments that would express those thoughts, complex thoughts.
          1. V. 21: Literally: “all taking hold of lyre and harp.”
            1. “lyre” = harp, multiple (possibly originally 10, Gesenius p.404) strings and plucked with the hand.
            2. “harp” = flute. Job 21:12; 30:31. Spoken of a “vertically standing” pipe with various air holes making differing notes/tones/pitch etc…
          2. Early in the creation of man, there was complex thought that was then given notes, tones, pitch, and skill learned while instruments developed for that expression.
        2. Psalm 150
      8. You will see more of this: the expression of the excellencies of God must be made.
        1. By complex thought put to words.
        2. By skillful, and accompanying complex notes, put to music & song.

    • 1. For many, music defines worship.

      1. That is to say, too many believe that unless there is music there is no worship.
        1. This is not the teaching of Scripture.
          1. We will examine this more over the next weeks.
        2. Knowledge of God is the goal of all creation.
        1. John 17:3
          1. The purpose of eternal life, the very condition of it, is to know the Father.
            1. This knowledge includes His Person and His works.
          2. It is therefore right to express this extolling of who God is in notes, tones, pitch, and song with instruments.
        2. However, the notes, tones, pitch, and song do not add to that knowledge by means of teaching.
        3. These things accompany teaching, truth about God, and accurate information concerning His kingdom.
        4. However, they don’t define worship.

  • The Blood of the Lamb; The Body of the Lord

    Scripture Reading

    Hebrews 10:5–13 (LSB)

    5 Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, 
     “SACRIFICE AND OFFERING YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, 
     BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME; 
     6 IN BURNT OFFERINGS AND sacrifices FOR SIN YOU HAVE TAKEN NO PLEASURE. 
     7 “THEN I SAID, ‘BEHOLD, I HAVE COME, 
     IN THE SCROLL OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME, 
     TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD.’” 
8 After saying above, “SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS AND BURNT OFFERINGS AND sacrifices FOR SIN YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, NOR HAVE YOU TAKEN PLEASURE in them” (which are offered according to the Law), 
9 then He said, “BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. 
10 By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 
11 And every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; 
12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, 
13 waiting from that time UNTIL HIS ENEMIES ARE PUT AS A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET.

    Introduction

    1 Corinthians 5:7 (LSB)

    7 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, also was sacrificed.

    It is without question that the Lord Jesus Christ died on a cross of Rome, by the demand of the Jews, and the mockery of the Romans.

    It is further without questions that the Lord Jesus Christ died on a cross of Rome in the place of men, particular men.

    However, how this death produced the relief to men, their salvation, is often unclear, forgotten, or simply overlooked for a more simple statement: “Jesus died on the cross for our sins.”

    But, we cannot do that.

    For us, the death of Jesus Christ is the clear purpose of God, motivated by His own glorious will, and purpose, and is to be remembered perpetually, until He comes back for us.

    Because of the important nature of the death of Christ, as well as the importance of the Lord’s death itself as stated by Him during His last supper with His disciples, for the church to disregard, neglect, or misrepresent His death, is simply a sin without equal.

    We cannot set His death aside, or eclipse it for anything in the church.

    We must have a real accounting of it so that we might worship Him in spirit and truth.

    What does this have to do with Resurrection Sunday?

    The priority of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead necessitates that He die.

    And, the necessity of the presence of death in the world, which was the purpose of the Father in His eternal plan and yet He is not guilty of its presence, is the very tool which would accomplish the glorious redemption of His beloved.

    Today, somewhat within our series on the Lord’s Supper and the New Covenant, we are going to give more attention to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, what it was, how it fits into the plan of God, and how it resulted in the resurrection of the Lord from the dead.

    The Blood of the Lamb

    1 Corinthians 5:7 (LSB)

    7 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, also was sacrificed.

    When we went through that text a few months ago,1 we saw then that it is appropriate to worship God with holiness and without the hypocritical worship of hidden malice and wickedness.

    However, within that text Paul wrote something that I don’t feel I gave the best attention to back then.

    Paul comes back to this meal, somewhat, in his explanation of the Lord’s Supper, which was taken during the Passover.

    The significance of this is without question one of the most important facts of the redemption of God in all of Scripture.

    If we don’t understand these things, we can’t rightly “do this in remembrance of (Him).”

    The Passover of Israel

    Exodus 12:1–8 (LSB)

    1 Now Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt,

    2 “This month shall be the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year to you.

    3 “Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, ‘On the tenth of this month they are each one to take a lamb for themselves, according to their fathers’ households, a lamb for each household.

    4 ‘Now if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his neighbor nearest to his house are to take one according to the number of persons in them; according to what each man should eat, you are to apportion the lamb.

    5 ‘Your lamb shall be a male, without blemish, a year old; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats.

    6 ‘And you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month, then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall slaughter it at twilight.

    7 ‘Moreover, they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.

    8 ‘And they shall eat the flesh that night, roasted with fire, and they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

    The Lord’s commands to the nation of Israel were given in order to remember the delivery from Egypt, that stupendous and magnificent act of God’s power over the nations, and love for Israel in reference to Abraham.2

    YHWH delivered the sons of Jacob from the mightiest nation on the planet at that time, Egypt.

    This deliverance was, simultaneously, a deliverance of the sons of Abraham, and a judgment on the nation of Egypt.3

    Each year, at the first month of their calendar, the children of Israel were to “reenact” that meal that they had that night,4 a meal which provided the blood that covered their lintels and doorposts, which, then, protected them from the angel of death.

    Exodus 12:14 (LSB)

    14 ‘Now this day will be a memorial to you, and you shall celebrate it as a feast to Yahweh; throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as a perpetual statute.

    This was Israel’s Passover, the “Paschal Lamb.”

    There are a few things to note here:
    • the lamb was to be the best offering
      Exodus 12:5 (LSB)
    5 ‘Your lamb shall be a male, without blemish, a year old; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats.
    • the leg bones of the lamb must not be broken
      Exodus 12:46 (LSB)
    46 “It shall be eaten in a single house; you shall not bring forth any of the flesh outside of the house, and you shall not break any bone of it.
    • the lamb was to be eaten “in haste.”
      Exodus 12:11 (LSB)
    11 ‘Now you shall eat it in this manner: with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste—it is the Passover of Yahweh.
    • the lamb was to be eaten at home, and not in the Temple.

    Exodus 12:46 (LSB)

    46 “It shall be eaten in a single house; you shall not bring forth any of the flesh outside of the house, and you shall not break any bone of it.
    • the lamb was a demonstration of the obedience to the command of YHWH, which, when witnessed by the Angel of Death, he will “pass over” that household and not take the life of anyone in that household.
      Exodus 12:23 (LSB)
    23 “And Yahweh will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and He will see the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, and Yahweh will pass over the doorway and will not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to smite you.

    This lamb, eaten in the home, is to be recounted each year and this event was one of three main feasts in the nation each year (the first the three; Passover, Feast of Weeks, Feast of Booths5).

    Testimony of Jesus Christ

    Connections and similarities to Jesus Christ, our Passover, which testifies that He is the Lamb of God, God’s Lamb, whose blood covers the one who believes His Words.

    – the Lamb was the most beloved by the Father.

    Hebrews 9:13–14 (LSB)

    13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 
14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

    – the Lamb’s legs were not broken

    John 19:30–37 (LSB)

    30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. 
31 Then the Jews, because it was the day of Preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 
32 So the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was crucified with Him; 
33 but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 
34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 
35 And he who has seen has borne witness, and his witness is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. 
36 For these things came to pass in order that the Scripture would be fulfilled, “NOT A BONE OF HIM SHALL BE BROKEN.” 
37 And again another Scripture says, “THEY SHALL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED.”

    – His flesh and blood were to be consumed, a reference to faith/belief

    John 6:48 (LSB)

    48 “I am the bread of life.

    John 6:51 (LSB)

    51 “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and also the bread which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.”

    – He was offered outside of the Temple

    Hebrews 13:12–13 (LSB)

    12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 
13 So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.

    Jesus Christ, Himself, the Son ofGod, is “our Passover.”

    And, like the Passover of Israel, our “Passover Lamb” is to be remembered as well.

    And, like the Passover of Israel, our “Passover Lamb’s” death is to be proclaimed.

    :But, what does that mean?!

    The New Covenant

    The animal of the Mosaic Covenant, was not the Passover Lamb.

    The bulls, goats which were offered in the Temple, on the altar were other than the Passover Lamb for Israel.

    The atonement those animals made for Israel were temporary, insufficient, and did not please the Father.

    Those offerings were offered in obedience to the Mosaic structure, and never took away sins.

    Further, the Passover Lamb was offered for a one-time, immediate death threat situation.

    And, its annual offering was not for sins, but for a memorial of an event, a one-time event.

    1 Corinthians 11:24–25 (LSB)

    24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.” 
25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

    The New Covenant was inaugurated by the blood, death, of Jesus Christ when He died.

    This New Covenant, the New Covenant made with Israel, but now extended to the Gentiles because of Israel’s execution of the Messiah and their unwillingness to believe in Him, has been secured because the blood of “our”Passover Lamb has covered us.

    His death was an offering of sacrifice which gave sin no place to reside.

    His death removed sins from those who are called.

    Hebrews 10:10 (LSB)

    10 By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

    The Body Of The Lord

    Hebrews 10:12–13 (LSB)

    12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, 
13 waiting from that time UNTIL HIS ENEMIES ARE PUT AS A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET.

    After His offering, His body and His blood, as a Passover, as an offering of a superior kind, He was clearly received back to heaven, the glory which He had before the world began.

    John 17:5 (LSB)

    5 “Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

    The Lord was received back into heaven by the Father in order that He would serve the Father as a priest in the Temple.

    His service was a better service, allowed upon a better offering, and results in a better condition-the cleansing of sins.

    His offering accomplished all of this.

    But, it was His resurrection from the dead which demonstrated to the world, that what He did was received by the Father as good, acceptable, and sufficient.

    As such, this resurrection is our message to the world, as a testimony of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

    We can, and must, therefore, call all men of every nation to repent and submit to Christ, to believe in Him-“eat His flesh; drink His blood.”

    Acts 17:30–31 (LSB)

    30 “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now commanding men that everyone everywhere should repent, 
31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He determined, having furnished proof to all by raising Him from the dead.”
    But, how does His resurrection from the dead prove the acceptability of His sacrifice?

    Romans 1:1–4 (LSB)

    1 Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, having been set apart for the gospel of God, 
2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, 
3 concerning His Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 
4 who was designated as the Son of God in power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,

    “The Son of God”

    = Psalm 2 reference.

    Psalm 2:6–7 (LSB)

    6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King 
     Upon Zion, My holy mountain.” 

7 “I will surely tell of the decree of Yahweh: 
     He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, 
     Today I have begotten You.

    In the Old Testament, the Messiah would be known as the “Son of God.”

    2 Samuel 7:12–14 (LSB)

    12 “When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up one of your seed after you, who will come forth from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. 
13 “He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 
14 “I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will reprove him with the rod of men and the strikes from the sons of men,

    The Messiah was spoken of in the OT as a Son.

    The Father referred to Jesus as a “Son”:

    Luke 1:35 (LSB)

    35 The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.

    Matthew 3:16–17 (LSB)

    16 And after being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon Him, 
17 and behold, there was a voice out of the heavens saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”

    Matthew 17:5–6 (LSB)

    5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” 
6 And when the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.

    His Sonship was the point of confirmation of Satan as well.

    Matthew 4:1–7 (LSB)

    1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 
2 And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. 
3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 
4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’” 
5 Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 
6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, 
     ‘HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU’; 
and 
     ‘ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, 
     LEST YOU STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’” 
7 Jesus said to him, “Again, it is written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.’”

    The point is that only the Son was to be raised from the dead, bodily, in order to demonstrate His Sonship, and the perfection of His sacrifice.

    His resurrection, therefore, demonstrates that He is, indeed, the Son of God.

    And, if He is the Son of God, then He is the heir of the world:

    Hebrews 1:1–2 (LSB)

    1 God, having spoken long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 
2 in these last days spoke to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds,

    Psalm 2:7 (LSB)

    7 “I will surely tell of the decree of Yahweh: 
     He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, 
     Today I have begotten You.

    “Begotten” = bodily resurrection

    It is the pinnacle of God’s eternal plan.

    Without the bodily resurrection, there would be no reception of the inheritance.

    Without the bodily resurrection, we would not be raised from the dead, and have new bodies, and be like Jesus Christ.

    The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is absolutely vital to the purpose of God.

    Conclusion

    We praise God for His Son’s sacrifice-His body and blood for our eternal life.

    We praise God for His Son’s resurrection-a new body fit for His glory.

    Revelation 1:12–18 (LSB)

    12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; 
13 and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. 
14 And His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. 
15 His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters, 
16 and having in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp two-edged sword which comes out of His mouth, and His face was like the sun shining in its power. 
17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not fear; I am the first and the last, 
18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
    1. I started 1 Corinthians on September 24, 2023. I preached 1 Corinthians 5:7 on 12/9/2024 ↩
    2. Genesis 15:12–16 (LSB)
      12Now it happened that when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him.
      13Then God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your seed will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.
      14“But I will also judge the nation to whom they are enslaved, and afterward they will come out with many possessions.
      15“As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age.
      16“Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete.” ↩
    3. Genesis 15:14 (LSB)
      14“But I will also judge the nation to whom they are enslaved, and afterward they will come out with many possessions. ↩
    4. Exodus 12:11 (LSB)
      11‘Now you shall eat it in this manner: with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste—it is the Passover of Yahweh. ↩
    5. Deuteronomy 16:16 (LSB)
      16 “Three times in a year all your males shall appear before Yahweh your God in the place which He chooses, at the Feast of Unleavened Bread and at the Feast of Weeks and at the Feast of Booths, and they shall not appear before Yahweh empty-handed. ↩
  • The Replacement of Israel

    The Replacement of Israel

    Yesterday, I watched a video of Kirk Cameron attempting to explain his take on Genesis 12:1-3, especially as it regards the contemporary allegiance to the nation of Israel (see here). Cameron played a clip from a discussion between Ted Cruz and Tucker Carlson in which Senator Cruz quoted (loosely) Genesis 12:1-3, mostly v.3. Kirk Cameron went on to attempt to clarify the passage that Senator Cruz quoted, stating that the meaning Cruz assigned to that passage was not accurate. The net result of Cameron’s thinking is that the modern state of Israel is not the Israel of Genesis 12:1-3 because Genesis 12:1-3 does not refer to Israel, but only to Abraham.

    Although his take is a unique one, the underlying premise is not. As Jesus might say, “You err not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.” The Scriptures explain clearly what is meant in Genesis 12:1-3, the Kingdom of Israel, and the postponement of the Kingdom. Although the confusion shrouds the clarity of the Scripture, the clarity is there nonetheless.

    Genesis 12:1-3

    12:1 And Yahweh said to Abram,

    “Go forth from your land,

    And from your kin

    And from your father’s house,

    To the land which I will show you;

    2 And I will make you a great nation,

    And I will bless you,

    And make your name great;

    And so you shall be a blessing;

    3 And I will bless those who bless you,

    And the one who curses you I will curse.

    And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”  (Genesis 12:1–3, LSB)

    Due to the scope of this article, it is not possible to fully develop what this passage means in every detail. However, we can summarize it and refer to other passages that help develop its clear meaning.

    In context, this text is on the heels of Genesis 1-11. That section of Scripture contains the creation, the fall, the flood, the Tower of Babel, and various other details leading up to the days of Abraham. But, it is to Abraham that God speaks in Genesis 12:1-3.

    It is around 2000 B.C. Abraham has been called out of Ur, a bustling town in the Southern regions of modern day Iraq. He is currently en route to a land that he was told would be shown to him by YHWH. But, while in Haran, a few hundred miles north of the promised land, Abraham receives this promise. And, it is a promise, a promise from YHWH to Abraham.

    The summary of the promise contains the following:

    1. I will make you a great nation (v.2)
    2. I will bless you (as a nation) (v.2)
    3. I will bless and curse those who bless and curse you (as a nation) (v.3).

    There are supporting elements to this passage. The supporting elements are as follows:

    1. Abraham will go to a designated land (v.1).
    2. Abraham’s name will be significant (v.2).
    3. In Abraham, the other nations of the earth will be blessed (v.3).

    The overall effect of what YHWH told Abraham is that Abraham, through his own biological progeny will become a great nation. And, through the work of YHWH, that nation will be supreme on the earth, and will bless other nations. Those who resist Abraham, and this promise from God, will be cursed. Those who bless Abraham, and this promise from God, will be blessed.

    It is in the national constitution of the descendants of Abraham that YHWH will live in the land, give Abraham a great name, and will bless other nations.

    Replacement, Fulfillment, Or??

    Kirk Cameron’s take on the passage was that the name “Israel” does not appear in the above passage, the same passage Senator Cruz roughly quoted. It is Abraham’s name that is mentioned. And, since those in the church are called Abraham’s sons (Galatians 3:6-7), whether Jews or Greeks, and since not all biological Israel believes in Christ, then Genesis 12:1-3 cannot refer to Israel, but to believing Jews (individually), and the church.

    The assumption, and outright statement, of Cameron is that the church was always in view, and the nation of Israel, to which he refers as a political entity, is not. In effect, Israel is done for, and will not be the source of blessing, or cursing, for other nations depending upon how they treat Israel.

    The Problem

    The problem with Cameron’s view is that he has already made some assumptions that he uses as tools of interpretation.

    The first assumption is that Israel only refers to those who believe in YHWH. Although it is true that only those biological Jews who believe in YHWH are truly Israel, the other side to that reality is that even those who were unbelieving were called “Israel” in Scripture (Romans 11:2,7 et al).

    The second is that the reference to Abraham is limited to Abraham. It is true that God is speaking to Abraham. But what God said is that He will make Abraham a great nation. Abraham’s descendants are biological Jews, the Hebrews from Judea. It is this national fact to which YHWH refers when He told Abraham that He was going to bless the other nations. In other words, Abraham is the source of the nation in which the world will be blessed.

    Third, equating the church with national Israel in that passage tips his hand as buying into a conclusion before the facts are determined. This is typical from the Reformed camp of Evangelicalism. The desire to be devotionally credible leads to sloppy exegesis.

    Besides, Paul quotes and refers to this passage many times in his writings, and never does he equate this passage with the church. Rather, Paul says that the church is a group of many nations who are blessed through this promise through Abraham and his descendents. This promise to Abraham is the same promise that YHWH made to Christ as well (Galatians 3:16). But, as the context shows, the existence of the nation of Israel, which was formed by a common covenant and Law, does not negate the promise.

    Conclusion

    No. Israel is not the church, and the church is not Israel. It is true that those who are Jews biologically, and who believe in the Messiah, are sons of Abraham through and through since they reflect the faith of Abraham. But, a Gentile reflecting the faith of Abraham is not made a Jew, but is simply reflecting the faith of Abraham and that is as far Scripture allows us to take things.