Faithful to Imperfection

INTRO

Heb 11:32-40 describes perfect faithfulness to an imperfect system

DISCUSSION

Look at all the faithful worthies (32)

Example upon example could be given

Gideon (Judg 6:11-8:35)

Barak (Judg 4:9)—did not fight for his own honor

Sampson (Judg 13-16)

Jephthah (Judg 11:1-12:7)

David

Samuel

The prophets

Look at all their faithful ways (33-38)

Conquered kingdoms (David, judges, Joshua)

worked righteousness (ruled righteously, Ps 101)

obtained promises— “lower case ‘P’ promises Abraham received Isaac but not the Promise

closed lions’ mouthes (Daniel 6:22; Sampson, David)

stopped the power of fire (Dan 3:25)

escaped the edge of the sword (Elijah, Elisha, Jeremiah, 1 Kings 19:3; 2 Ki 6:31-7:2; Jer 36:16, 26)

made strong from weakness (Sampson, Elijah, Gideon)

became strong in battle

turned to flight the enemies’ battle-lines

women received their dead (widow of Zarephath (1 Ki 17:17-24; Shunemite 2 Ki 4:17-37)

Others were tortured—perhaps the martyred brothers and mother of 2 Macc 7 all died before Antiochus IV for not eating pork

others had trials (Jer 20:2, 7-10; 37:15; 38:6-13)

stoned (Mt 23:37; 2 Chron 24:21, perhaps Jeremiah)

sawn in two (Isaiah with a wooden saw)

killed by the sword (1 Ki 19:10; Urijah Jer 26:23)

wandered in sheepskins (2 Ki 1:8)

destitute—in need

afflicted—in tribulation

tormented

wandered in deserts, mountains, caves and crevices of the earth (1 Ki 18:4)

The world is not worthy—faithful were outlawed and unfit for civil society

About half of the examples are “positive” and half “negative”—living by faith is no guarantee of a trouble free life

Look at all their faithful imperfect witness (39-40)

All approved for their faithfulness (Heb 11:2)

These faithful ones did not receive the Promise (Acts 13:32-33; Gal 3:14; Heb 10:36)

Something better—hope (Heb 7:19) testament Heb 7:22; promises (Heb 8:6), sacrifices (Heb 9:23), inheritance (Heb 10:34); resurrection (Heb 11:35)

God provided the better for us, so why should we quit?

EXHORTATION

If they could be faithful under an imperfect covenant, can we not be faithful to the perfect covenant?