Joining the first hearers
Into the Ancient Texts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 4 viewsNotes
Transcript
Recap
Recap
Let’s start with knowing that both the reading and studying of scriptures is profitable. Consider an example of a man and his son about basket and fetching of water which eventually cleaned the basket
1 Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. 3 Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.
The book of Nehemiah had a context, which involved the rebuilding of the city walls and the city gates. Why?
Babylon conquered Jerusalem and took away with them the people back to babylon, also, they destroyed the city walls and the city gate.
In Ezra, he returned to rebuild the temple of God (Ezra 1:1-4). While Nehemiah dealt with the rebuilding of the city walls and gate (more or less the security of the nation).
Together, both books will provide us with the complete idea of their restoration (howbeit partial) back to the land. Something became quite important immediately once they got back to the land, the studying and knowing of the law of God.
Why? The whole reason why God’s people are in the land, is because of worship.
Look at the ancient people
Look at the ancient people
“So it shall be, when the Lord your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant—when you have eaten and are full—then beware, lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
The key thing here is they weren’t to forget the Lord who brought them out of the land of Egypt. They have to ask “how” they were to serve the Lord in that land, it was by the knowledge of his law, keeping that in mind.
“Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, like the days of the heavens above the earth.
So their days on that land has alot to do with them keeping the law of God which they get to know in prayer and studying of scriptures.
The summary is that, worship is why we are studying the law or word of God, it has an end goal, and that is the worship of God.
What that means is that the laws or words of God, were going to equip them with HOW to worship God fully. Let us consider an example;
“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?
What God required from them was such that they will walk in all His ways and to love Him, to SERVE (i.e. worship) the Lord your God. The question is therefore HOW?
The Lord delighted only in your fathers, to love them; and He chose their descendants after them, you above all peoples, as it is this day. Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer. For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe. He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing. Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. You shall fear the Lord your God; you shall serve Him, and to Him you shall hold fast, and take oaths in His name.
It is in the law of God, they get to see that this is HOW to love the Lord in that they love the stranger, giving him food and clothing.
The law/writing of God, is HOW they were equipped to do the good work of their day i.e. worship God.
The first hearers
The first hearers
So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.
Distinctly — פרשׁ paraš
to be made free from confusion or ambiguity
So, what they were helping them with is to make the text i.e. the book to be free of ambiguity or confusion.
Also;
Sense — שֶׂ֫כֶל (śekel)
the idea that is intended.
It makes it clear then that, when i am studying the scriptures, my first goal is to not be confused about the text, I have to try to get to the intent of the writer.
That is important. That I want to really see, what the intent of the writer is, and not my own intent, I am not trying to read into the text, nor trying to simply twist the right meaning of the text, to suit mine.
As wise as this advice is, another aspect of "being there" is an even bigger problem for us. We may be aware of historical differences but we don't think in terms of "being there" with the original audience. The Scriptures are meant for us to read but they were not written to our modern world. God spoke so that the ancient world would understand, as they looked as life through different lenses. If we want to empathize with how they thought and approached life we need to know more about their culture. - Lois Tverberg
Even though it is meant for us to read, it is not written to our modern world, that has to be clear.
Meaning therefore, there is the world of the people the bible was written to, and there is our world, and they are really different from each other.
For example, in our world today, there are things we deal with, that aren’t necessarily stated in scriptures. Infact, as the world advances, we will be asking different questions and we must still ask, is the scriptures sufficient for us today in answering such questions?
Profitability of Scriptures
Profitability of Scriptures
Yet, we cannot deny that, because the scripture has it’s source in God, it is going to be beneficial to us, even though it is not written directly to us.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
Scripture — γραφή (graphē)
Refers to writings in general, but often used in the NT with reference to sacred writings.
He is letting us see that the writings of scriptures are inspired of God. While the scriptures has its source in God, it was communicated using human language & human culture, and God’s word was first to the audience of the human author, and not to us.
We can say, God communicated such that the original audience of the writer (the first hearers) could understand clearly what was been said, and it is first of all applicable to their own situation and times.
Yet, Paul here is saying to the people of his own day, that the scriptures are “profitable” in their day, and we can also say they are profitable in our day.
That means that even Paul in his day, was dealing with something entirely different from what Moses experienced in his own day, yet, same scripture was profitable to Moses, was profitable to Paul, and it is profitable for me and you. Even though we are all worlds apart.
that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Verse 17, let’s us see that the end goal is thesame as it was for them; EQUIPPING THEM FOR EVERY GOOD WORK. They were to walk as God’s people, serving the Lord by HOW he taught them to by his word, same goes for us as well. We are properly equipped for good work by same words, YET, the times have changed.
Let us start with that;
Let us consider an event in the bible; and see how it became profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness, THAT WE MAY BE COMPLETE, thoroughly EQUIPPED for every GOOD WORK.
Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” And Aaron said to them, “Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!” So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord.” Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
Things you won’t see as the context
Things you won’t see as the context
You won’t assume that gold rings or earrings are wrong because that is what they made into the golden calf. The text focus not on that, neither did it call it wrong.
A good question to ask is, why a golden calf? Why not a fix, or just a stone? etc.
Understanding Cultural Background
Understanding Cultural Background
Looking at this story, we see an interesting thing going on here, that the people after leaving Egypt, made a molded calf and did practices associated with the molded calf.
Historically, they just left Egypt, and there is a diety in Egypt called Apis חַף ḥǎp̄ (pronounced haf). This diety is associated with the creator-god called Ptah פתח 1 ptḥ (Pronounced Pa-tah).
Hence, it wasn’t really strange that they drew imagery from the gods of Egypt that they were familiar in their day.
The Worship of Apis involved:
Ritual processions of the bull.
Festivals with music, dancing, feasting, and wine.
Symbolism of fertility, life-force, and sexual vitality.
Hence it shouldn’t be strange that the children of Israel did exactly thesame thing;
But also, there was the eating and drinking involved. This is because in Moses day, the peace offering was a food offered to a diety, such that a portion goes to the diety, then the people will in a celebatory way, eat the rest of the sacrifice.
So, it was a full feast that is what a peace offering was. They were partaking of food with the gods.
Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
Play — צְחֹק ṣeḥōq
to revel — to celebrate noisily or engage in uproarious festivities, often indulging in drinking and sexual activity including orgies.
This is directly similar to the activities that goes on in the worship of Apis.
The practices shows that the golden calf was quiet similar, or was Apis they were worshipping. This is the context of the event we just read.
And the Lord said to Moses, “Go, get down! For your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves. They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molded calf, and worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!’ ” And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people!
So, in the context of the culture and the story we just read, it is pretty clear that they were disobedient and have gone their own way, substituiting the glory of Yahweh for another, and what happens then is that they join themselves to that diety in it practice.
The question therefore is, HOW is this profitable for you and I today? As we meditate on this text, HOW does it benefit you and I today? Paul did thesame for his own DAY, and we can learn from HOW he did it.
Paul and Exodus 32
Paul and Exodus 32
What was going on in Paul’s day? In Paul’s day, almost every meat you have to eat, was sacrified to some diety or the other (in the market), that wasn’t the issue, the issue was that some people in Corinth church were also now going to the temple to partake of the temple feasts. The issue wasn’t that they were worshipping this dieties, it was that they were themselves joining themselves with that diety, howbeit, in food. Sometimes, overthrowing the faith of other believers.
Paul was going to address this, let us see how he did it.
1 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”
Notice, He quoted Exodus 32:6
In quoting Exodus 32:6, Paul expects his audience to be familiar with the context and story of Exodus 32.
When we come in contact with a quotation in the Bible, we should first of all seek to understand the meaning of the original text quoted. That is what we just did
Examples — τύπος (typos) i.e. An archetype
An archetype is an original model or type after which other similar things are patterned.
Now, that means that the original event that happened, other events are patterned after this, so when Paul read Exodus 32, he saw that this has become a pattern whereby we can lust after evil things the way they lusted and we can become idolaters the way they became idolaters.
Hence, that writing is our admonition not to be that way. We weren’t to model our lives after the way they did, in that they lusted after evil things and became idolaters.
But the question to ask is this, were people in Paul’s day building a golden calf? No, they weren’t. Yet, Paul said that what happened in Exodus 32, is a direct lesson on his audience not lusting after evil things and not becoming idolaters.
Paul has bridge the world of his day and that of Moses, but getting to the intent of that writing.
WHAT WAS ISRAEL’S STRUGGLE, WHAT WERE THEY DOING?
They were lusting and joining themselves to the idols of their day.
Paul now applied this to his own audience.
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread. 18 Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? 19 What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? 20 Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons. 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?
He wanted to teach his own audience not to join themselves with idols by fellowshipping and eating the food offered to those idols, in his own day, yet, he found the pattern in Moses and the people of his day, offering sacrifices and eating the meal offered to the diety in their day, which is not to God, they became partakers with the dieties.
So, While in Paul’s day, they weren’t erecting Baal, he yet found the connection in that the people of his day were not even worshipping this other gods, but they were eating food offered to those gods in the temple of the gods, they were yet joining themselves to the gods, and in turn becoming idolaters.
So Paul found the usefulness of the bible in his DAY by simply taking the context and the lesson from that context, and bringing it into his own day.
HOW CAN WE DO THESAME?
HOW CAN WE DO THESAME?
Same text teaches us today, DON’T BE IDOLATERS, i.e. joining ourselves to other gods in our own day. We might not be erecting idols today or even going to idol temple house and eating with them;
In what way have we joined ourselves to other gods such as sex, money, accomplishments, even time? Are we becoming like the people in Exodus even though we are not erecting statues, yet, we are replacing God’s way, his worship with these things?
This is how we bridge two worlds together.
The focus won’t be the elements alone (the type of idol etc), those elements are important for me to get to the essence of the writing, but they might not be the important lesson in that text.
You won’t say, don’t wear earrings, cos that is what caused them to sin, rather, you will see in the context what is very wrong.
In Summary
In Summary
The profitability of scripture to me today, actually starts with me immersing myself in the world of the writer and his audience, and getting to the heart of what they wrote and why they wrote what they wrote.
In doing this, I begin to draw the proper intent of the text. Therefore, not going to betray the text context or re-write its meaning.
In the event of meditation, I am finding the right application of the text within my own day, by getting to the very intent in that day surrounding the events.
So, in joining the first hearers, the events might not be like-for-like, but the lesson would be. The events might differ, yet, the intent of the text itself would be thesame. In joining the first hearers, I would first of all hear what they heard, and then the intent of the event becomes my admonition today.
11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
Hence, In conclusion;
The scriptures is yet speaking to us today or better still, God is yet speaking to us as he spoke to them in their day. His words then are still very much relevant to us today. His words are still the very wisdom for living. Yet, you will be able to do this ONLY within the proper reading of the old testament text.
YOU CANNOT USE THE TEXT RIGHTLY, IF YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND IT RIGHTLY.
