Engaging With God in the Old Testament(2)

Psalm 147:19–20 NLT

19 He has revealed his words to Jacob, his decrees and regulations to Israel. 20 He has not done this for any other nation; they do not know his regulations. Praise the Lord!

Important /necessary to look at both Old and New Testaments for Biblical theology—must consider key themes such as:

Revelation, redemption, God’s covenant with Israel and the call for His people to live as a distinct and separate nation.

When these themes are traced from Old to New Testament, we see the Biblical teaching/theology emerge.

Worship and Revelation

Holy Places in the Ancient World

People in ancient world—great concern: to know where the presence of a god could be found and

to know the names of gods so that they could be approached and communion with them established.

Certain localities came to be known as the place a god dwelt—shrines, temples, altars would be erected; patterns of worship would be established.

Canaanites—had their own religion

What are some of the gods worshiped by the Canaanites?

The Covenant-making God of Israel

The one true God /Lord of the universe, made Himself known to the forefathers of Israel at particular times and in particular places.

Genesis 12:1–3 NLT

1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

Genesis 12:7 NLT

7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your descendants.” And Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the Lord, who had appeared to him.

God initiated a relationship with Abraham—He initiates a relationship with each one of us.

Relationship—confirmed through Isaac, Jacob, and descendants

Genesis 13:14–17 NLT

14 After Lot had gone, the Lord said to Abram, “Look as far as you can see in every direction—north and south, east and west. 15 I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession. 16 And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted! 17 Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you.”

15:1-8,12-16.

When God revealed Himself words of covenant/promise and demand are at the heart of His encounters with the Patriarchs.

Is that true today?

Exodus 19:4–6 NLT

4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. 6 And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.”

Here the terms of relationship were set out in great detail and the pattern for acceptable worship was laid down by God.

Worship and Redemption

Exodus 20:1-11 call for exclusive devotion to God required to avoid idolatry, sanctifying of God’s name, observance of Sabbath - ALSO included obedience to God in every day relationships with family and nation (12-17)

Throughout Leviticus, Numbers, Deut—indicates what it meant for Israel to serve God — worship as life orientation was not a brand new discovery by NT writers

Worship and the Cult

system of religious worship

Tabernacle—portable expression of God’s presence with His people

Exodus 29:42–46 NLT

42 “These burnt offerings are to be made each day from generation to generation. Offer them in the Lord’s presence at the Tabernacle entrance; there I will meet with you and speak with you. 43 I will meet the people of Israel there, in the place made holy by my glorious presence. 44 Yes, I will consecrate the Tabernacle and the altar, and I will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests. 45 Then I will live among the people of Israel and be their God, 46 and they will know that I am the Lord their God. I am the one who brought them out of the land of Egypt so that I could live among them. I am the Lord their God.

Special priesthood consecrated to God to enable Israelites to relate to Him through the system of rituals

Old Covenant was God’s progressive revelation

There is a plan, an order, for everything

Worship and the Sacrificial System

Sacrificial Blood—not paralleled with other religions

Emphasis was not on ritual but the divine mercy that was behind its provisions

Ex. 20:24 and Deut. 27:5

Uncut stone not stone cut or shaped by human hands

Why would this be important?

Not fancy or refined because He wanted to make certain people don’t become enamored in their own work

Worship and the Jerusalem Temple

1 Kings 9:3 NLT

3 The Lord said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your petition. I have set this Temple apart to be holy—this place you have built where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart.

Not to become an idol

Represented God’s rule over Israel

Worship and the Future of God’s People

Prophetic Criticism:

Hosea 8:11–13 NLT

11 “Israel has built many altars to take away sin, but these very altars became places for sinning! 12 Even though I gave them all my laws, they act as if those laws don’t apply to them. 13 The people love to offer sacrifices to me, feasting on the meat, but I do not accept their sacrifices. I will hold my people accountable for their sins, and I will punish them. They will return to Egypt.

Ezekiel 16:15–21 NLT

15 “But you thought your fame and beauty were your own. So you gave yourself as a prostitute to every man who came along. Your beauty was theirs for the asking. 16 You used the lovely things I gave you to make shrines for idols, where you played the prostitute. Unbelievable! How could such a thing ever happen? 17 You took the very jewels and gold and silver ornaments I had given you and made statues of men and worshiped them. This is adultery against me! 18 You used the beautifully embroidered clothes I gave you to dress your idols. Then you used my special oil and my incense to worship them. 19 Imagine it! You set before them as a sacrifice the choice flour, olive oil, and honey I had given you, says the Sovereign Lord. 20 “Then you took your sons and daughters—the children you had borne to me—and sacrificed them to your gods. Was your prostitution not enough? 21 Must you also slaughter my children by sacrificing them to idols?

Not a rejection of the system, but a rebuke of Israel’s abuse of it.

Prophetic Hope:

Isaiah 2:2–3 ESV

2 It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, 3 and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

44:28

Conclusion