5 theo interp_israel (part 2)

THE THEOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURELECTURE FIVE: ISRAEL (PART 2)

Review

The Metanarrative:

Creation Fall Israel Jesus Church New Creation

Israel:

An outline of the Torah (Torah as Journey)

Genesis

Eden

Exodus

Egypt

Leviticus

Sinai

NumbersDeuteronomy

Plains of Moab

Israel:

Israel at Sinai —The giving of the Law

Exodus 191 On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai. 2 After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.

Exodus 193 Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

Israel:

Israel at Sinai —The giving of the Law- Gordan Wenham, Four Keys about the Covenant

1.It starts with God’s saving Grace.

‣I brought you out of Egypt…on eagle’s wings (This is the “Historical Prologue”)

‣Remember this the next time you’re tempted to think that the Old Testament is about “works.”Phrase to Remember: “Covenantal Nomism”

Israel:


1.It starts with God’s saving Grace.

‣I brought you out of Egypt…on eagle’s wings (This is the “Historical Prologue”)

‣Remember this the next time you’re tempted to think that the Old Testament is about “works.”

2.The People are expected to respond in obedience.

‣This represents the “Stipulations”

Israel:


4.Obedience will be rewarded with greater intimacy.

‣“You will be my treasured possession.”

‣The reward is God (See John Piper, “Christian Hedonism”)

5.The covenant relationship is intended to benefit the world (i.e. those not in the covenant).

‣Q: Evidence?

Israel:






‣Q: Evidence? A: “Kingdom of Priests” (19.6)

Israel:






‣Q: Evidence? A: “Kingdom of Priests” (19.6)

‣Priests mediate the divine to non-priests

Israel:

Israel at Sinai —The giving of the Law- Prior to the Golden Calf, the Law is not particularly complicated…

‣The Ten Words and the Book of the Covenant (see Exod. 20-23; cf. 24.7).

- Yet if the Exodus is form of new creation, the golden calf is kind of second fall.

Israel:

Israel at Sinai —The giving of the Law- Prior to the Golden Calf, the Law is not particularly complicated-Ten Words and the Book of Covenant. (see Exod. 20-23; cf. 24.7).

- Yet if the Exodus is form of new creation, the golden calf is kind of second fall.

‣Evidence suggests that the calf is an image of YHWH.

- After this, the Law becomes more complex (What then is/are the purpose(s) of the Law?)

Israel:

Israel at Sinai —The giving of the Law- Some functions of the Law in (Biblical) Theology:‣Three TYPES of law in Reformed Theology:

1.Civil—Restrains evil and evil persons.

2.Ceremonial—E.g. sacrifices, etc.

3.Moral—The so-called “moral law” shows us how to live (even after salvation).

Caveat: These categories do NOT necessarily exist in the Torah!





Israel:


Not for us, because we arenot Israel.

In a non-nomadic 21st c. setting, our civil laws may

differ.





Israel:


Fulfilled in Christ(E.g. Hebrews)





Israel:


Remains “for us” but for our sanctification, not our

salvation.

Israel:

Israel at Sinai —The giving of the Law- Some functions of the Law in (Biblical) Theology:‣Three Uses of the law in Reformed Theology:


2.Pedagogical—Teaches God’s moral character and our own inability to live up.

3.Normative—The so-called “moral law” shows us how to live (even after salvation).


Israel:

Israel at Sinai —The giving of the Law- Some functions of the Law in (Biblical) Theology:‣What about the “odd” laws (e.g., Leviticus)

1.Health/Hygiene—(perhaps some…)

2.Prevent Idolatry—(more questionable…)

3.To crush self-sufficiency—(See Luther)

4.To preserve Israel culturally even while she remained no different spiritually.

The Boat Analogy + Paul’s understanding of Law

Israel:

Israel at Sinai —The giving of the Law

Questions on the Law?Break.

Israel:

Tabernacle:- The culmination of the Book of Exodus is the construction of the Tabernacle.

Israel:

Tabernacle:- Nearly 1/3 of Exodus is taken up with it’s construction

- A microcosm of the cosmos.- Perhaps patterned after the movable throne room of Rameses II (KEY: YHWH is ruling as King).

- A Place of Sacrificial Worship:- Key Texts:

Leviticus 1711 …the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.

Hebrews 9.22…the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.

Israel:

Sacrifices:- Why sacrifices? Does God “need” them?

‣Our Atonement class has covered this extensively.

- In the OT, sacrifices (perhaps excluding Yom Kippur) were only for unintentional or minor sins.‣Yet God clearly “forgives” (e.g. Ps. 32.5).

๏“Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin.”

Israel:


‣God does not need them (Hos. 6.6).‣They teach the severity of sin (e.g. Lev. 17)‣They point forward to Christ (Heb.).‣More on this later…

Israel:


‣God does not need them (Hos. 6.6).‣They teach the severity of sin (e.g. Lev. 17)‣They point forward to Christ (Heb.).‣More on this later…

Israel:

Kingship:- What we learn in the wake of Joshua and Judges…‣Israel does not want YHWH as her only King.

- Key Text: 1 Samuel 8 (Samuel is last Judge)

1 Samuel 84 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”

6 But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.

1 Samuel 810 Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses…13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards…15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants…17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”

19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”

1 Samuel 810 Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He said, “This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses…13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards…15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants…17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”

19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”

It ends as Exodus begins.

Israel in slavery / “Crying out”

But this time, no answer.

Israel:

Kingship:- Key Text: 1 Samuel 8 (Samuel is last Judge)

‣The problem is NOT that Israel wanted a king.‣The problem that YHWH was their king, and they rejected him.

Israel:

Kingship:- Gordon Hugenberger sees Kingship as the key to all Biblical theology (Some claims).‣Adam and Eve as God’s vassal kings.‣Sanctuary in fact a kind of palace.

๏No Heb. word for “temple,” only palace/house.

‣Covenant modeled on Suzerain-vassal docs.๏Two tablets, one for Suzerain, one for vassal

‣Tithing and Worship Gestures (e.g. shoe-less priests) patterned after royalty, not religion.

Israel:





Hugenberger may go too far, but the theme is

surely important.

Israel:





Israel:

Kingship:- Key Text: 1 Samuel 8 (Samuel is last Judge)

‣The problem is NOT that Israel wanted a king.‣The problem that YHWH was their king, and they rejected him.

- With kingship comes desire for a temple.

Israel:

Temple (promised to David):- Key Text: 2 Samuel 7

2 Samuel 71After the king was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2 he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”

3 Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you.”

2 Samuel 74 But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying:

5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. 7 Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’Brueggemann sees this as a denunciation of the temple

and the “royal consciousness.”

WALTER BRUEGGEMANNB. 1933ONE OF THE PREEMINENT OT SCHOLARS OF RECENT DECADES

WALTER BRUEGGEMANNB. 1933ONE OF THE PREEMINENT OT SCHOLARS OF RECENT DECADES

Possible Term Paper Project.

Walter Brueggemann:The economics of affluence and the politics of oppression are the most characteristic marks of the Solomonic achievement. But these by themselves could not have prospered and endured as they did had they not received theological sanction.

[With] the establishment of a controlled, static religion…God and his temple have become part of the royal landscape, in which the sovereignty of God is fully subordinated to the purpose of the king. In Jerusalem in this period there is a radical revision of the character or God. […] It is almost inconceivable that the God domiciled in Jerusalem would ever say anything substantive or abrasive [to the king].

Walter Brueggemann:Two observations must be made here. First, I agree with those scholars who stress the tension between the Mosaic and royal traditions… they have different roots and foster quite different visions of reality. Second, the reasons for the disastrous religious achievement of Solomon…are sociological and not historical. That is…Solomon had this kind of shrine…because it served his social ideology…

“I have built thee an exalted house… (1 Kgs 8.13).”

God is now “on call,” and access to him is controlled by the royal court.

(The Prophetic Imagination, 28-9).

2 Samuel 74 But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying:

5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. 7 Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’Brueggemann sees this as a denunciation of the temple

and the “royal consciousness.”

Bruggemann’s desire to critique modern power

and affluence likely causes him to go a bit

too far.

2 Samuel 78 “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. 10 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning 11 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.

2 Samuel 7“‘The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom.

13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands.

2 Samuel 715 But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’”

Israel:

Temple (promised)- Key Text: 2 Samuel 7: The Davidic Covenant

Supposed Covenant Texts.

Israel:


‣Promises:

1.To make David’s name great.

2.Plant Israel and give rest from enemies.

3.Establish David’s dynasty forever.

4.King will have a father-son relationship with God.

5.David’s son will build God’s House.What’s new with the Davidic covenant is that Kingship is

joined with the Law of Sinai.

Israel:


‣Promises:





5.David’s son will build God’s House.What’s new with the Davidic covenant is that Kingship is

joined with the Law of Sinai.

Still, kingship is not entirely new: Abraham

Gen 17—“Kings will come from you.”

Israel:


‣Promises:





5.David’s son will build God’s House.An example of how prophecies can have a plurality of fulfillments—Solomon, later kings(?),

Jesus (son of David).

Israel:

David as the archetypal King: (Three keys)

1.David conquers Zion (old city of Jerusalem), the Jebusite hill-top fortress; it becomes “City of David.”

During the time of Herod’s temple.

Israel:



2.Returns the ark to Zion (possible project).

WALTER BRUEGGEMANN“ICHABOD TOWARD HOME”(FASCINATING COMPARISON OF 1 SAM. 4-6 AND THE CHRISTIAN EASTER STORY). Possible Term Paper Project.

Israel:



2.Returns the ark to Zion.

3.Like Melchizedek, the ancient king of Salem, David performs both priestly and Kingly functions.

‣2 Samuel 6

2 Samuel 617 They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the Lord. 18 After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord Almighty.

Israel:



2.Returns the ark to Zion.

3.Like Melchizedek, the ancient king of Salem, David performs both priestly and Kingly functions.

‣2 Samuel 6 Questions?

Israel:

Solomon as an example of Kingship gone wrong.

- Starting well does not mean finishing well…

- Hints from the tradition: 2 Chron. 9.13 (“666”).

2 Chronicles 913 Now the weight of gold which came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold, 14 besides that which the traders and merchants brought; and all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.…

2 Chronicles 913 Now the weight of gold which came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold, 14 besides that which the traders and merchants brought; and all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.…

Revelation 13 seems to draw on this to speak of the Beast’s false and exploitative

rule.

Israel:

Solomon as an example of Kingship gone wrong.

- Starting well does not mean finishing well…

- Hints from the tradition: 2 Chron. 9.13 (“666”).

- Solomon’s sins will ultimately split the Kingdoms.

‣Israel in North

‣Judah in South

Israel:

Prophets + Exile- As King and Temple take an exploitative turn with Solomon and his successors, the Prophets become the prosecutors of God’s covenant.

‣Herein lies the value in Brueggemann’s sometimes overblown contrast (Prophets vs. Royals).

Walter BrueggemannThe prophetic imagination [offers] a genuine alternative to the royal consciousness.

We also are children of the royal consciousness. All of us in one way or another, have deep commitments to it (39)

The prophet is engaged in a battle for language, in an effort to create a different epistemology out of which another community might emerge. […] He has only the hope that the ache of God could penetrate the numbness of history. He engages not in scare or threat but only in a yearning that grows with and out of pain (55) - The Prophetic Imagination.

Israel:

Prophets + Exile- As King and Temple take an exploitative turn with Solomon and his successors, the Prophets become the prosecutors of God’s covenant.

‣Herein lies the value in Brueggemann’s sometimes overblown contrast (Prophets vs. Royals).

- All prophetic books come in the time of the monarchy or after its demise.

- No dynasty of prophets; they are called by God. Some Prophetic Snapshots…

Israel:

Elijah + Elisha

Elijah and Elisha.

Israel:

Elijah + Elisha- Jesus’ ministry most resembles that of Elisha.

‣Called himself a “prophet” (Mk. 6.4).‣Wrote nothing.‣Saw John the Baptist as Elijah (see also Mal. 4.5).

‣Emphasis on miracles as well as oracles.‣Both will help foreigners as Israel turns away.

๏E.g. Luke 4

Luke 4 - Jesus’ first sermon (Nazareth).

Luke 424 “Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. 27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”

28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this.

Israel:

Elijah + Elisha- Jesus’ ministry most resembles that of Elisha.

‣Called himself a “prophet” (Mk. 6.4).‣Wrote nothing.‣Saw John the Baptist as Elijah (see also Mal. 4.5).

‣Emphasis on miracles as well as oracles.‣Both will help foreigners as Israel turns away.While Jesus would later be seen as both Priest and

King,Wright argues that he would have been seen

primarily as a PROPHET in his own day.

Israel:

Isaiah:

The call of Isaiah (Is. 6).

Israel:

Isaiah:- The greatest writing prophet.- Most important NT theme—The Suffering Servant.

Isaiah 531Who has believed our message

and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,

and like a root out of dry ground.

He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,

nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,

a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.

Like one from whom people hide their faces

he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

Isaiah 534Surely he took up our pain

and bore our suffering,

yet we considered him punished by God,

stricken by him, and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was on him,

and by his wounds we are healed.

6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,

each of us has turned to our own way;

and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Israel:

Isaiah:- The greatest writing prophet.- The Suffering Servant (Is. 53)

‣Originally, the servant was seen as Israel.‣A clear example of substitutionary atonement.

‣Jesus likely sees himself as assuming this vocation.

Israel:

Jeremiah:

Jeremiah, amid the rubble of fallen Jerusalem.

Israel:

Jeremiah:- Prophesies and experiences (e.g. Lamentations) the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians.‣Two Key Dates in Israel’s History

๏722 BC, Northern Kingdom falls to Assyria๏586 BC, Southern Kingdom falls to Babylon

- Amid this despair, he also speaks of New Covenant.

- Key text: Jeremiah 31

Jeremiah 3127 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will plant the kingdoms of Israel and Judah with the offspring of people and of animals. 28 Just as I watched over them to uproot and tear down, and to overthrow, destroy and bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant,” declares the Lord. 29 “In those days people will no longer say,

‘The parents have eaten sour grapes,

and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’

30 Instead, everyone will die for their own sin; whoever eats sour grapes—their own teeth will be set on edge.

Jeremiah 3131 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord,

“when I will make a new covenant

with the people of Israel

and with the people of Judah.

32 It will not be like the covenant

I made with their ancestors

when I took them by the hand

to lead them out of Egypt,

because they broke my covenant,

though I was a husband to them,”

declares the Lord.

33

“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel

after that time,” declares the Lord.

“I will put my law in their minds

and write it on their hearts.

I will be their God,

and they will be my people.

34

No longer will they teach their neighbor,

or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’

because they will all know me,

from the least of them to the greatest,”

declares the Lord.

“For I will forgive their wickedness

and will remember their sins no more.”

Jeremiah 3133 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord.

“I will put my law in their minds

and write it on their hearts.

I will be their God, and they will be my people.

34 No longer will they teach their neighbor,

or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’

because they will all know me,

from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord.“For I will forgive their wickedness

and will remember their sins no more.”

Israel:

Jeremiah:- Key text: Jeremiah 31 (The New Covenant)

‣How this New Covenant Differs:๏ It will be kept, because it is written on the heart.

๏Each dies for own sin (vs. 30).‣Covenant membership is less familial - thus the New Covenant family will be of all nations.

๏This is all made possible because of “David’s righteous Branch —The LORD our Righteousness”(!)

Jeremiah 233 “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. 4 I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the Lord.

5 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord,

“when I will raise up from David a righteous Branch,

a King who will reign wisely

and do what is just and right in the land.

In his days Judah will be saved

and Israel will live in safety.

This is the name by which he will be called:

The Lord Our Righteous Savior.

Jeremiah 23In his days Judah will be saved

and Israel will live in safety.

This is the name by which he will be called:

The Lord Our Righteous Savior.

Israel:

Jeremiah:- Key text: Jeremiah 31 (The New Covenant)

‣How this New Covenant Differs:๏ It will be kept, because it is written on the heart.

๏Each dies for own sin (vs. 30).‣Covenant membership is less familial - thus the New Covenant family will be of all nations.

๏This is all made possible because of “David’s righteous Branch —The LORD our Righteousness”(!)

Israel:

Exile and Return- While some do return to the land after exile; the OT ends with Israel still waiting for such prophecies to be fulfilled.

Review

Next Time:

Creation Fall Israel Jesus Church New Creation

Education

5 theo interp_israel (part 2)