Revelation Knowledge
Into the Ancient Texts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Recap
Recap
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.
We started looking into the study of the ancient text which is the bible, and we are looking forward to going even deeper on this subject today.
A good background on the book of Nehemiah and Ezra was dealt with in the first three parts of this series and one of the things we concluded by examining these books, is that “bible study, has it’s end goal in worship”.
That is, all of my reading, all of my pursuit of God is a guided reading/studying, the reward is in that it leads me to worship.
Danger of not studying
Danger of not studying
This reveals something to us, which is the “danger” of not cultivating a consistent life of reading the text of scripture.
1 Hear the word of the Lord, You children of Israel, For the Lord brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: “There is no truth or mercy Or knowledge of God in the land. 2 By swearing and lying, Killing and stealing and committing adultery, They break all restraint, With bloodshed upon bloodshed. 3 Therefore the land will mourn; And everyone who dwells there will waste away With the beasts of the field And the birds of the air; Even the fish of the sea will be taken away. 4 “Now let no man contend, or rebuke another; For your people are like those who contend with the priest. 5 Therefore you shall stumble in the day; The prophet also shall stumble with you in the night; And I will destroy your mother. 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
Notice, something crucial going on amongst God’s people then, there was the rejection of knowledge, and that knowledge is of God & his laws.
What is the danger, there is another knowledge or influence that man accepts, because MAN IS NEVER NEUTRAL.
In the rejection of God, man received another influence, another knowledge, either self wisdom revealing itself in “killing, stealing etc”.
The sitting daily with the bible, which we popularly call devotion, is not something that is not rewarding, it is because;
I acknowledge that I am not wise enough to direct the steps of my life, I would trust a God-ordered path for living
I acknowledge the danger of doing it otherwise.
Hence, while the bible directs me to the goal of worship, I must remember that “IT IS FOR MY OWN GOOD”. It is for my own good, why? I see the danger of the other side, the danger of not living my life this way, I will be taking on another knowledge which is not of God.
12 “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, 13 and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?
Notice, the keeping of the commandments of the LORD and His Statutes is for my good. Hence, the not paying attention to it, is detrimental, it is not for my good.
Hence, the studying of scripture, leads me in a God-ordered path for life which is for my good.
Proper understanding of Scripture
Proper understanding of Scripture
Hence, this leads us to the proper understanding of scriptures, it doesn’t become optional, it is vital and important to our worship and our lives. It has to be what is paramount on our hearts.
Hence, when we read Nehemiah again, Ezra and the scribes sought to make sure that the people understood the intent of the writer clearly;
7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their place. 8 So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.
Sense — שֶׂ֫כֶל śěʹ·ḵěl
That is the idea that is intended.
Now what they did was simply to explain the meaning of what they all read, so that they could understand the reading (tells us what the focus of Church ought to be).
So, what Ezra, and the guys did was to explain the text clearly by revealing the intent that the writer envisioned when he wrote.
Let me summarize this aspect this way;
God spoke through Moses, the prophets, and the apostles into real history, real people, real contexts, hence, it is important for us to consider those events not as folktails (moonlight stories) simply cherry-pick them. It is important for us to carefully consider every aspect of it, understand all the stories together and see the force of worship in them.
This led to our framework;
Does it inspire worship?
What is the writer’s intent?
What did his audience understand?
And last week, we added the fourth one,
4. Hear the voice of the Spirit within the text.
Now, the 4th is something that last week, I mentioned it and even gave you how to hear it, but today we want to study what it is and why we can even hear it, and the operation of God’s Spirit clearly.
So, while we begin where they began, which is in the context of their own world and their own assumptions, we have to see that God is yet speaking to us today through same text, through same events
For Our Learning (we can skip cos of time)
For Our Learning (we can skip cos of time)
1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. 3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” 4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
Notice, that Paul was about to teach his audience NOT TO PLEASE THEMSELVES, TO PLEASE THEIR NEIGHBOR” I.e. To bear with the weakness of another.
He gave two examples;
Christ did not please Himself
He quoted the old testament “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me”.
He therefore needed to let his audience know that why he is doing this, is because “that which was written before were written for our learning”.
Ultimately, that which was written + patiences gives us hope.
Now, we need to understand what Paul did here;
He was quoting from an old testament text, let us look at it together;
9 Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up, And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.
Now, this text what was David talking about;
The context is from verse 4-10
So, he is saying, he is also bearing the reproach that those reproaching God. Meaning, the insults God bore, are his now.
Paul now picked this up saying, his own audience, should also seek to bear the reproach of others, for edification, why? JUST LIKE THOSE OF OLD, GOD’S REPROACH HAS FALLEN ON THEM, You and I can also hear the voice of the Spirit from within that text saying, I should bear the reproach of my brother, I should bear the reproach of my sister, their shame, their shortcomings etc. (And the context really is talking about those who esteem a day, or those who would eat this meat or that meat.
WE SHOULD BEAR WITH THAT BROTHER’S WEAKNESS (Not sin).
We could also say today where we aren’t asking the question of “eating this meat” or “esteeming one day over another”, yet, we have within our times, we have Christians who are going through persecutions, sufferings, and even sometimes death, we have believers who are directly targeted for their faith, some job loss, giving up certain jobs even, DO WE BEAR THE REPROACH THAT FELL ON THEM? Are we concerned about their experiences as our own? Are we seeking their wellbeing as much as our own? Do we gladly stand with other believers even when it has no direct effect on us?
Now, that is God yet speaking to us today, within the story of scriptures, but Can we all hear it? And why is it this way?
His Spirit making his word known today
His Spirit making his word known today
1 On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
Here Jesus spoke a parable to them regarding the sower who went about to sow seeds.
Now, before we go further, verse 9 is important
Hear — ἀκούω (akouō)
ἀκούω (akouō). vb. to hear, listen, understand, pay attention. Describes the act of hearing or listening to a person with emphasis on the accurate understanding of that which is spoken.
So it signifies me accurately understanding the intent that Jesus was passing across with the parable why?
Parable — παραβολή (parabolē)
an example by which a doctrine or precept is illustrated
So, this is an example or an illustration given to explain a doctrine or precept.
So, what I have to seek, is to understand the doctrine or precept it is illustrating.
Now, How not to read this Parable or any Parable;
The seed is money, that is not what the text says
The good hearts are investment opportunities
Yet, there is a challenge, which is “Jesus didn’t explain his parable”, yet, the context helps alot;
Before we continue with Matthew, go to Luke’s account of the event;
1 And it happened that afterward also he was going about from one town and village to another preaching and proclaiming the good news concerning the kingdom of God, and the twelve were with him, 2 and some women who had been healed of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (who was called Magdalene), from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza (Herod’s household manager), and Susanna, and many others who were helping to support them from their possessions. 4 And while a large crowd was gathering and they were going to him from town after town, he spoke by means of a parable: 5 “The sower went out to sow his seed, and while he was sowing, some seed fell on the side of the path and was trampled under foot, and the birds of the sky devoured it.
Now, the immediate context of this parable is that Jesus himself has been going everywhere to proclaim the news concerning the kingdom of God, so he was going to tell a parable regarding that experience.
So, there is a boundary to the story (this is context guiding reading) which is the preaching of the gospel everywhere.
Yet, we are left with a challenge, WHAT WAS HE REALLY TEACHING? WHAT WAS THE LESSON WITHIN THE STORY?
10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
Notice the two classes of people, “It has been given to you to know” to them “it has not been given”.
This is quite important, showing you that while he gave a generic parable, and even the context might make sense, yet, grasping the lesson within the story comes by God’s Spirit. It is God-given.
So, whilst we might all meditate on the text, only those who are of the kingdom, are given.
So, that means, such understanding comes by God, IT IS GOD-GIVEN.
Reading on
13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; 15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.’ 16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear;
Verse 13 is important;
It is possible to see but do not see, hear but do not hear, and also be without understanding.
So sight doesn’t equal insight
Hearing doesn’t equal to have precise understanding of what was said.
WHY WILL THEY NOT UNDERSTAND?
Now, he said in verse 15, it revealed to us something, that this was delibrate;
It is not that God is choosing to reveal to one person and to hide from the other, it is because they themselves have shut their hearts and their ears and their eyes.
Verse 16 is for US
16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear;
My eyes sees! My ears hear!
So, that means, the words of God’s kingdom are not strange to us, it has been given to us by God to know.
Let us look at more;
25 At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. 26 Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.
Notice also here, God revealed them to babes (revealing an attitude, we will come back to this next week).
6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
Notice again here, God has given us his Spirit, so that we may know the things he has freely given to us, he has REVEALED THEM TO US THROUGH HIS SPIRIT.
This is the work of God’s Spirit, to hear that which man would naturally not hear, to understand that which the natural man wouldn’t understand.
It doesn’t mean it betrays the text, but no, it is by REVELATION. That is what makes it timeless and relevant.
So, it is not a strange thing for us to know that which has been revealed to us by God. Why? We have the spirit of God.
So, since the text in itself, is God inspired, it comes with a reality that revelation is at the forefront of it to hear what God’s spirit is saying, to perceive adequately, it will come via revelation.
HIS SPIRIT, MAKES HIS WORD KNOWN TODAY, and the voice of the Spirit, is not strange to any one of us, “IT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO US TO KNOW” why? “We have God’s Spirit today”.
His spirit makes the word alive to me and you today. We can all hear what God’s spirit is saying as we read and understand adequately.
Tying it Back to Meditation
Tying it Back to Meditation
4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Another translation says you shall deal wisely and have good success. What he was talking about is mainly that since God was with him, there is wisdom
Meditate — which is to mutter, that is to have it in mind all day long
