Partakers Christian Podcasts

Glimpses Into The Bible Part 8

Davidic Covenant

G'day and welcome to Partake! We are now on day 8 of our series "Glimpses", looking at the story of the Bible in 30 days, from the time of creation through to the time of the fullness of redemption! Let's read together

2 Samuel 7:1-17

When King David was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all the surrounding enemies, the king summoned Nathan the prophet. "Look," David said, "I am living in a beautiful cedar palace, but the Ark of God is out there in a tent!" Nathan replied to the king, "Go ahead and do whatever you have in mind, for the Lord is with you." But that same night the Lord said to Nathan, "Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord has declared: Are you the one to build a house for me to live in? I have never lived in a house, from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until this very day. I have always moved from one place to another with a tent and a Tabernacle as my dwelling. Yet no matter where I have gone with the Israelites, I have never once complained to Israel's tribal leaders, the shepherds of my people Israel. I have never asked them, "Why haven't you built me a beautiful cedar house?"' "Now go and say to my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven's Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth! And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won't oppress them as they've done in the past, starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. "Furthermore, the Lord declares that he will make a house for you-a dynasty of kings! For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong. He is the one who will build a house-a temple-for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod, like any father would do. But my favor will not be taken from him as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from your sight. Your house and your kingdom will continue before me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.'" So Nathan went back to David and told him everything the Lord had said in this vision.

This covenant is the seventh covenant and the fourth theocratic covenant (accepting that the Palestinian covenant is indeed a covenant!)  The word covenant is not mentioned in this passage, but other passages of Scripture refer back to it, and explicitly call it a covenant (2 Samuel 23:5 David says, "...For He has made an everlasting covenant with me."  Psalm 89:3-4; 1 Kings 8:23; 2 Chronicles 13:5).

The Shepherd King

The shepherd imagery here is powerful! The Lord reminds David that he was a shepherd boy before he rose to the heights in Israel and became its king.  This shows that God wants David to be a shepherd leader as king.  A king who protects, nourishes, guides and leads his people just as a shepherd does with sheep. .

Covenantal Promises

The Davidic Covenant promises four things:

• A land forever (2 Samuel 7:10);
• A dynasty, name or house without end (2 Samuel 7:11, 16)
• An everlasting kingdom (2 Samuel 7:13, 16)
• A father-son relationship between God and David's descendent (2 Samuel 7v13-14)

Some of the blessings which God promises to David are also echoes from the Abrahamic, Mosaic and Palestinian Covenants! Some may or may not! Can you tell which ones do echo and which ones don't? The line of continuity runs through the covenants!

A land forever - this is the promise of security for the nation of Israel and how important the land promises are to them! Here God promises rest for Israel in this their land of promise! He is reminding David of Israel's history when the judges ruled Israel. Reminding David of the cycle of disobedience, repentance and obedience, when Israel were taken into exile and under siege to the surrounding nations!

A name & house without end - the name of David would be great throughout time and throughout the world! Why? Because of his great kingship and the family line that would come from him! Does that echo anything with you regarding Abraham? Not only for eternity, but for their immediate future to come! David wanted to build a temple befitting worship to the living God! But God has other ideas! David would not be allowed to build it, but rather one of David's sons would build a house of worship for God - a temple of magnificence and beauty to reflect a living God of beauty! Wow!

An everlasting Kingdom - long after the death of David, his kingdom will continue. This also looks back to Genesis 17:6 where God has said that kings would descend from Abraham! The kingdom of David would last forever, in stark contrast to that of his predecessor Saul, whose reign was cut short.

Father and son relationship - This building upon the promise to Moses, of Israel being God's special treasure! God desires intimacy with humanity, through the nation of Israel and now, uniquely to David and his descendents, God has promised they would have a father and son relationship.  This relationship includes personal discipline against sinful and unfaithful behaviour. We know that God and David also had a father and son relationship and that David had the Holy Spirit upon him to enable him to lead the nation.  Frequently in the Psalms David prayed that the Holy Spirit not be taken from him due to his sinful behaviour.

How can it be?

This covenant with David, as we have seen, continues the line of covenants within the Old Testament, and the line of continuity you can easily see.  With each successive covenant, the seed is growing. Much like grass grows out from its root so too is the intimacy between God and humanity.  There are glimpses or hints of a messiah or saviour to come who would indeed make David's kingdom everlasting! Yet these promises of the Davidic covenant give us yet more questions! How can an Israel, who in their relationship with God, were often disobedient, unfaithful and seeking other ‘gods', be the basis for a king who will reign forever? That's up next! Where do you think we will be tomorrow?

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Bible Thought - The Christian Partaker

Partaker

Today's WOW Word is Partaker! To partake, or to be a partaker of something, can mean at least three things!

1. having the qualities or attributes of something
2. having, giving or receiving something
3. to consume

Jesus Christ was a Partaker! Did you know that? He was a Partaker, in so much as that when He became human, He adorned human flesh and blood! WOW!

Come hear more by playing and/or downloading the mp3 audio using the link below!

 

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Glimpses Into The Bible Part 7

Palestinian Covenant

G'day and welcome to Partake! We are now on day 7 of our series "Glimpses", looking at the story of the Bible in 30 days, from the time of creation through to the time of the fullness of redemption!

Let's read together Deuteronomy 29:12-18; You are standing here today to enter into the covenant of the Lord your God. The Lord is making this covenant, including the curses.  By entering into the covenant today, he will establish you as his people and confirm that he is your God, just as he promised you and as he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. "But you are not the only ones with whom I am making this covenant with its curses.  I am making this covenant both with you who stand here today in the presence of the Lord our God, and also with the future generations who are not standing here today. "You remember how we lived in the land of Egypt and how we traveled through the lands of enemy nations as we left.  You have seen their detestable practices and their idols made of wood, stone, silver, and gold.  I am making this covenant with you so that no one among you-no man, woman, clan, or tribe-will turn away from the Lord our God to worship these gods of other nations, and so that no root among you bears bitter and poisonous fruit.

Deuteronomy 30v15-18 "Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy. "But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods,  then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy.

Covenant or not?

This, the Palestinian Covenant, is the third of the theocratic covenants (those which pertain to the rule of God).  Some people say there is no such covenant and others say that there is. Some say that the covenant has not been fulfilled in its entirety yet and some say that is has. Others say that it is merely Moses reiterating and elaborating the Mosaic covenant given at Sinai. I put it here so you can make up your own mind.

Link to the Past

The first thing we can say is that you will note that it is tied to the covenant given to Abraham (Deuteronomy 29v13). This Palestinian Covenant adds details to the giving of the land to Israel as promised in the Abrahamic covenant. Since the Mosaic covenant given at Sinai, the nation had wandered in the desert for 40 years until that generation died out because they had refused God and been disobedient to Him. This covenant is a call for a new beginning as a nation under the rule of God!

Link to the Future

The nation of Israel is about to change hands from the proven leader, Moses, into the unproven hands of Joshua! As a nation, they were sitting on the plains of Moab, waiting to enter the land of Canaan, which was given to them by their God.  As they waited, they would reflect that their God is a living God who was not made of wood, stone, silver or gold! He was alive and living amongst them! As they waited, no doubt they were reflecting upon the validity of the promises made to them via Moses at Sinai. They could easily reflect on the lessons learnt from the disobedience of the previous generation who had been disobedient to God, found to be unfaithful and were never to enter the land promised to them! It served as a reminder of how one generation obedience or disobedience would affect the next generation. Recognizing this as God doing as He said he would do under the Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants - punish Israel for unfaithfulness and disobedience. So this covenant, while being additional to the Mosaic covenant, serves also to remind this generation of Israelites of their special relationship with God. It is also abundantly clear that it is not just for the then current generation of Israel when it was given but for future generations of the nation of Israel to come after.

Covenant Features

This covenant has two main features to it.

• Legal features which are immediate and conditional
• Grace features which are without condition

The enjoyment of the immediate blessings is initiated by the conditional principle "if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God ... the Lord your God will set you high about all the nations of the earth" (Deut 28v1). Some say that this, the unconditional grace facet of this Palestinian Covenant is initialised but set for a fulfilment in the future!  The covenant also gives a glimpse of a future messiah or saviour who would come from within the nation of Israel.

Be warned!

There is a final warning to the nation of Israel (both at the time of the covenant and future generations) which is also a challenge: obedience to the LORD God alone!  The nation of Israel is warned that unfaithfulness and disobedience has multiple consequences! If they are unfaithful and disobedient, then as a nation they can expect to be scattered and exiled before eventually being restored to the land following sincere national repentance.

Overall

Overall this Covenant adds details to the giving of the land to Israel as promised in the Abrahamic covenant.  It gives glimpses of a generous and holy God who is filled with majestic mercy and abundant grace who seeks obedience and faithfulness from His people so He can live intimately with His people.  As a nation, they were to reflect this and be a light to all nations of the glory of their God, Jehovah! It shows the continuity from Eden to Adam to Abraham to Moses. Where are we off to next in this line of continuity? Where do you think?  Thank you.

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Bible Thought - Sovereignty of God - Christian WOW Word 31

WOW Word - Sovereignty Of God

G’day! The WOW word for today is Sovereignty of God.

The sovereignty of God means that God is in control at all times and nothing can occur outside of His control and will.  God loves His creation and cares for it.  He won’t deny people their humanity when dealing with them. 

Decrees – a part of Sovereignty

Sovereign decree: When God says “Eternal life is available for all.  You may choose to accept or reject it.  Those that accept it, I will call my children.”  Your own reaction as a Christian Disciple is that you have taken up God’s offer and are trusting and obeying.

Conditional decree: When God says “I am willing to give you my opinion and help when you ask.”  Our reaction should be to read the Bible, and pray and talk to God about the situation!

Natural decree:  When God has created a lemon tree, that lemon tree wont produce potatoes.”  Our reaction should be to plan in view of that.

But!

A question often posed is one that goes “Well if God is sovereign, then why doesn’t He do something about the suffering of the masses such as those in who are dying for lack of food?” But God has done something about it!  God has provided enough food for all people everywhere, just that we in the West are greedy! So the problem is not with God, but with people! God’s provision to all people has become God’s provision for the minority, through humanity’s inhumanity to others. As for other kinds of suffering, that’s part of the reason for the cross, where God Himself experienced human suffering when Jesus died on the cross: Jesus, the man who was both fully God and fully human.  God is not so removed from our sufferings, which He Himself endured and suffered at the Cross.  Just because God allows free will to all people to sin, doesn’t mean that God is responsible for the sin – that is, and must remain, people’s responsibility! If not, we would all just be robotic automatons instead of free people.

God knows…

God’s sovereignty is inclusive in that it covers all actions of people, good or bad (Acts 2v23; Ephesians 2v10).  The foundation of God’s sovereignty is wisdom according to Paul (Ephesians 3:8-11).  So, when we are faced with a decision, God knows what is going to occur. He knows all the options and choices.  It is important when faced with making decisions to pray about it and read the Bible.  He seeks you to respond to Him with love and affection. Why not start today, and ask Him for help? God is interested in every facet of your life.  If He were not, then He couldn’t be personal, and He certainly wouldn’t be sovereign!

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Glimpses Into The Bible Part 6

Mosaic Covenant

G'day and welcome to Partake! We are now on day 6 of our series "Glimpses", looking at the story of the Bible in 30 days, from the time of creation through to the time of the fullness of redemption! Lets read together

Exodus 19v1-13: Exactly two months after the Israelites left Egypt, they arrived in the wilderness of Sinai. After breaking camp at Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and set up camp there at the base of Mount Sinai. Then Moses climbed the mountain to appear before God. The Lord called to him from the mountain and said, "Give these instructions to the family of Jacob; announce it to the descendants of Israel: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians. You know how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.

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. And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.' This is the message you must give to the people of Israel." So Moses returned from the mountain and called together the elders of the people and told them everything the Lord had commanded him. And all the people responded together, "We will do everything the Lord has commanded." So Moses brought the people's answer back to the Lord. Then the Lord said to Moses, "I will come to you in a thick cloud, Moses, so the people themselves can hear me when I speak with you. Then they will always trust you." Moses told the Lord what the people had said.

Then the Lord told Moses, "Go down and prepare the people for my arrival. Consecrate them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing. Be sure they are ready on the third day, for on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai as all the people watch. Mark off a boundary all around the mountain. Warn the people, ‘Be careful! Do not go up on the mountain or even touch its boundaries. Anyone who touches the mountain will certainly be put to death. No hand may touch the person or animal that crosses the boundary; instead, stone them or shoot them with arrows. They must be put to death.' However, when the ram's horn sounds a long blast, then the people may go up on the mountain.

Israel as a nation

The people of the nation of Israel were living as those promised by God in the covenant to Abraham "I will make you into a great nation" (Genesis 12v1). They have been on a long journey and has we have read, left Egypt under the leadership of Moses.

Mosaic Covenant Details!

This is the fifth covenant between God and humanity and also the second theocratic. The verses we read were only an introduction and the covenant goes on to the end of Exodus 24!  The 10 Commandments are a very good summary and the book of Deuteronomy gives the greatest detail of it! This covenant commences with the stipulation in Exodus 19v5 "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." . This covenant was to the nation of Israel in order that those who believed God's promise to Abraham could know how to live rightly before God!  For Abraham was declared righteous by God, solely on the basis of his faith in God alone!

Covenant Areas

This Mosaic covenant covered  three areas of life:

• The commandments were given so they would know how to correctly relate socially to God (Exodus 20v1-6)
• The judgments were given in order that they could relate socially to each other properly (Exodus 21v1 - 24v11)
• The decrees dictate their religious life so that God could be approached by humanity on His terms (Exodus 24v12 - 31v18).

Of course included in here were the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20) which breaks down into two categories. Firstly identifying the God of Israel as their God, what He has done for them in bringing them out of Egypt and that they were to worship Him alone! These are the Israelites duty to their God!  Then, secondly, how they were to live rightly before Him - speaking of how they were to behave to themselves and others! This Mosaic covenant however, was never meant as a replacement for  the Abrahamic Covenant! By no means no! It was rather to be seen as an addition to it! It was looking forward to that day when it would be fulfilled when the long promised saviour and messiah would come. All the Covenants point towards this momentous event.

A Special Nation

Under the terms of this covenant Israel would be a special nation if they were obedient to Him and served Him faithfully. The Mosaic Covenant was never a means towards salvation. This covenant speaks of the living God who wants to live with His people! This was a God not made of stone or wood but the great God who desired intimacy with His people and wanted to live amongst them. But of course it had to be on His terms alone or He would not be able to live amongst them. The great and majestic God showing mercy and grace to His people Israel, who were to be a shining light to all nations of the glory of God, until the long promised saviour or messiah came from them. So, we have been through the Edenic, Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic and now the Mosaic Covenant - the story continues tomorrow! Where do you think we are going next? Thank you!

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Bible Thought - Growing As A Christian - WOW Word 20

WOW Word - Growing as a Christian~

Galatians 5:16-26 - "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”

What is the response of a Christian to be to these words of Jesus? Come, listen and discover!

 

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Glimpses Into The Bible Part 5

Abrahamic Covenant

G'day and welcome to Partakers! We are now on day 5 of our series "Glimpses", looking at the story of the Bible in 30 days, from the time of creation through to the time of the fullness of redemption! Lets read together:

Genesis 12v1-9 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. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 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." So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. He took his wife, Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all his wealth-his livestock and all the people he had taken into his household at Haran-and headed for the land of Canaan. When they arrived in Canaan, Abram traveled through the land as far as Shechem. There he set up camp beside the oak of Moreh. At that time, the area was inhabited by Canaanites. 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. After that, Abram traveled south and set up camp in the hill country, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built another altar and dedicated it to the Lord, and he worshiped the Lord. Then Abram continued traveling south by stages toward the Negev.

A Theocratic Covenant

Whilst the Edenic, Adamic and Noahic Covenants were universal covenants, this fourth Covenant is the first covenant which is theocratic, or relating to the rule of God. It is dependent on God alone! A God, who through grace in the "I will..." statements promises to bestow blessings! This covenant with Abraham, or the Abrahamic Covenant, is also the basis for all theocratic covenants to come and provides blessings on three levels:

• Personal level to Abraham: "I will make your name great; and you will be a blessing" (Genesis 12v2)
• National level: "I will make you into a great nation" (Genesis 12v2)
• Universal level:  "all peoples on the earth will be blessed through you." (Genesis 12v3)

Initially here in Genesis 12, this covenant can be seen in broad outline, but God later confirms it to Abraham in greater detail as we shall see. The Abrahamic covenant is a link to all of God's activities and programs until the end of time.

Personal Aspects

The personal aspects of the Covenant, particular to Abraham are:

• Abraham will be a father of a great nation (Genesis 12v1)
• Abraham will receive personal blessing (Genesis 12v2)
• Abraham will receive personal honour and reputation (Genesis 12v2)
• He, Abraham, will be a source of blessing to others. (Genesis 12v3)

Universal Aspects

The aspects of the Abrahamic Covenant, pertinent universally are:

• God will bless those who bless Abraham and the nation of Israel which comes from him (Genesis 12v3)
• curses on those who curse Abraham and Israel (Genesis 12v3)
• blessings on all the earth through Abraham (Genesis 12v1-3)

This was the first time God made this promise to Abraham, but not the only time as Abraham received it another 5 times as God gives great detail to it (Genesis 13:14-18, Genesis 15:4-5, 13-18, Genesis 17:1-8, Genesis 18:17-19 and  Genesis 22:15-18.

All Change!

Abram, as Abraham was originally known, was weaned away from his native land by God, into a journey of the unknown! It was in this way that Abraham would develop his faith in God and use it like a muscle. In fact, when God reiterated the covenant in Genesis 17 to Abram, God changed his name from Abram meaning "glorious father", to Abraham, which means "father of many nations!" (Genesis 17v5)

Reminded and renewed!

So important was this covenant that God renewed it with:

• Isaac, the "only begotten son" of Abraham twice: Genesis 26:4 and Genesis 26:23-24
• Jacob twice as well Genesis 28:14-15 and Genesis 35:9-12

This covenant gives yet further glimpses of God's essential character of grace and mercy, as well as hinting at somebody who is to come as a messiah or saviour! Can you tell how and where these glimpses are? Tomorrow our story continues! Do you know where to next?

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Bible Thought - Christian Commitment

A Christians' Commitment

Matthew 7:21-29

Matthew 7:21-29 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,' will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?' Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.' Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn't fall, for it was founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn't do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell-and great was its fall." It happened, when Jesus had finished saying these things, that the multitudes were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them with authority, and not like the scribes.

A Radical Choice

1. The danger of a merely spoken profession (v21-23)

2. The danger of a merely intellectual knowledge (v 24-27)

3. What is our response?

4. Jesus the Great Teacher

Go and be different from those around you

The claims of Jesus were spoken so naturally, modestly and indirectly that many people never even notice them. But they are there, and we cannot ignore them. Throughout the Sermon on the Mount, we have seen the Jesus is teacher, the Christ, the Lord, the Saviour, the Judge, the Son of God and also God.. Either all these things are true, or he was a power seeking maniac suffering with insanity. But the Sermon on the Mount could never be the product of someone who was either insane or a seeker of power, because it would go against what was taught in the Sermon on the Mount. Our only alternative then, is to take Jesus at his word, and his claims for all that they are worth. The Sermon on the Mount contains the picture for God's alternative society, with the standards, values and priorities of the kingdom of God, not the kingdom of man. Too often throughout history, the church has conformed to the pattern set by the world, and ignored the pattern required by God and by Jesus. Sometimes, there is no difference, with the Church having lost its saltiness, and its light put out. It is only as we the church, live the truths in the Sermon of the Mount that a true Christian community will be attractive to those outside in the world, and let God be glorified. Jesus therefore, when he calls us, calls us to be the unique Christian culture in a world full of lost culture.

So here is a challenge for you.  Are you, as a Christian heeding Jesus' words and being obedient to them and therefore living a life worthy of being called Christian?  Are you being salt and light amidst those who are in darkness and in a lost culture?

Finally, if you would not call yourself a Christian today, and this Jesus appeals to you, this Jesus who speaks with authority, and you want to become a Christian there are three simple steps to follow.  Firstly, admit that you have done wrong against God and His ways.  Secondly, believe and trust in Jesus.  Call on Him, receive, trust, obey and worship Him, recognizing Him for who He is and what He has done.  Lastly, confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour.   Once sin has been confessed, and Jesus is believed in and trusted as Saviour, then you are a Christian. Now you are ready as Peter writes in the Bible, "to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18).  Welcome to the family of God. God has chosen you; Jesus has paid for you and has put His mark within you through His Spirit (Ephesians 1:1-13).

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Glimpses Into The Bible Part 4

Noahic Covenant

G'day and welcome to Partake! We are now on day 4 of our series "Glimpses", looking at the story of the Bible in 30 days, from the time of creation through to the time of the fullness of redemption!

Reading from Genesis 9v1-17: Then God blessed Noah and his sons and told them, "Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth. All the animals of the earth, all the birds of the sky, all the small animals that scurry along the ground, and all the fish in the sea will look on you with fear and terror. I have placed them in your power. I have given them to you for food, just as I have given you grain and vegetables. But you must never eat any meat that still has the lifeblood in it. "And I will require the blood of anyone who takes another person's life. If a wild animal kills a person, it must die. And anyone who murders a fellow human must die. If anyone takes a human life, that person's life will also be taken by human hands. For God made human beings in his own image. Now be fruitful and multiply, and repopulate the earth." Then God told Noah and his sons, "I hereby confirm my covenant with you and your descendants, and with all the animals that were on the boat with you-the birds, the livestock, and all the wild animals-every living creature on earth.

Yes, I am confirming my covenant with you. Never again will floodwaters kill all living creatures; never again will a flood destroy the earth." Then God said, "I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life. When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth." Then God said to Noah, "Yes, this rainbow is the sign of the covenant I am confirming with all the creatures on earth."

This, the Noahic Covenant, is the third covenant between God and man given after the flood had wiped out earth's population, apart from Noah and his family.  The increase of humanity's wickedness and disobedience against God, was so great that God repented of His decision to create humanity. Genesis 6v6 "So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart."  As a result of humanity's sin, the whole earth was to be destroyed! But, one man and his family was found to be in fellowship with God - Noah!  Because they are in fellowship with each other (Genesis 6v9), God gives Noah a plan of rescue!  After the rain and flood, God makes another covenant with humanity and also all note, all living creatures of the earth -  through Noah! Wow! The terms of the Noahic covenant are

• Populate the earth is reaffirmed (Genesis 9v1).
• Subjection of the animals to humans is reaffirmed (Genesis 9v2).
• Humans are allowed to eat animal flesh but are to refrain from drinking/eating the blood  (Genesis 9vv3, 4)
• Human life's sanctity is established. (Genesis 9vv5, 6).
• God promises to never to destroy the earth again by flood (Genesis 9v11).
• The covenant is a binding Covenant for all time (9v12) and with all creatures on earth!
• The rainbow is given as a symbol of this covenant and its existence (Genesis 9v12-17)
• God will sustain all life on earth(Genesis 9v17)

Here again, God gives humanity the opportunity to live rightly with Him.  Whereas before, there was the hint of the sacrifice, about which Martin Luther, commenting on this story, wrote: Here there is mentioned for the first time the burnt offering of Noah, which he made according to the example of his pious ancestors So even before Noah, there must have been some type of sacrifice made to God although we don't know what kind they were! Sacrifices, in order to somehow appease God, who had received painful hurt inflicted by human disobedience.

But this story, and the Covenant, while telling about God's rightful rule of Judge also shows his desire for intimacy with humanity. The Almighty God wants to have fellowship with humanity, but it has to be on God's terms. God has never broken His promise or covenant with humanity, but both times so far, humanity has contravened the covenant by actively disobeying God and therefore breaking the Covenant made - whether the Edenic or Adamic!  God in saving Noah, shows also hints of a God of grace!

What God wants humanity to do, He will provide the means in which for them to do it!  He is concerned for every aspect of humanity's life, from birth to death and the food they eat. As a symbol of this covenant, there are to be rainbows! This covenant as we have seen is a binding contract between humanity and God! But the story doesn't end there - it continues tomorrow with God revealing just a bit more of those things we have seen glimpses of: true fellowship between God and humanity being restored through grace and sacrifice.

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Thursday with Tabitha - Hosea

Thursday with Tabitha

4. Hosea by Tabitha Smith

If you have ever felt that God is distant, disinterested, and aloof from his creation, or you’ve thought that God is a cruel, heartless God who punishes his creation harshly, then the book of Hosea has truth for you. This short prophetic book contains heartrending descriptions of God’s feelings for wayward Israel. It is one of the parts of the Bible that most vividly demonstrates the intensity of feeling and the depth of emotion in the heart of God.

 

Hosea prophesied during the latter half of the eighth century BC. This was one of the most turbulent and difficult times in Israel’s history, just before the captivity to Assyria. The nation of Israel went through six kings in about 30 years. There was violence, political intrigue and great instability.

 

Hosea primarily writes to the people of Israel, whom he sometimes refers to as Ephraim. His main concern is the way that the Israelites have turned away from worshipping God and instead started to worship Baal.

 

Baal was a false god of the region of Syria and Palestine. He was thought to control agriculture, rainfall and fertility. Practices involved in the worship of Baal included human sacrifice and mutilation of the body; incest, sex with animals, the use of shrine prostitutes and drinking alcohol in excess.

 

At the start of the book of Hosea the prophet is called to do something extraordinary. God asks him to marry an unfaithful wife. The events that unfold in Hosea’s family will become a vivid image of the events occurring in Israel. Hosea marries a woman called Gomer and she bears him a son.

 

After this she has a daughter and another son but the wording of the text suggests that these two children do not belong to Hosea. Gomer has been unfaithful to him. The children are given names that mean “not loved” and “not my people”.  In this way, Hosea’s illegitimate children become a picture of Israel, a child that will not be shown mercy and does not belong to its father. However, even at this tragic point, there is a promise of the mercy and love that the Father will show. God declares that in spite of this terrible unfaithfulness, he will show mercy and love again to Israel and Judah.

 

In chapter 2 God expands on the image of the unfaithful wife that was introduced in chapter 1. Israel has strayed from God, turning to worship Baal. She has taken part in pagan worship ceremonies and she has not acknowledged the way that God’s hand has graciously provided all of her crops, wine, oil, silver and gold, which she now uses in the worship of Baal. God declares that he will punish Israel and expose her adultery.

 

But even in the next breath he expresses his desire to heal her, and restore her and draw her back into a loving relationship with himself:

In verses 19-20 God says:

I will betroth you to me for ever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion.

I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD.

And in verse 23 he says:

I will plant her for myself in the land; I will show my love to the one I called 'Not my loved one'. I will say to those called 'Not my people', 'You are my people'; and they will say, 'You are my God.' "

The language God uses is tender, affectionate and merciful. Israel will be his beloved bride again.

 

To complete the real-life metaphor, Hosea is instructed to go and love his wife again, even though she has been unfaithful to him. The fact that he has to buy her back suggests that she may have fallen into slavery. It costs Hosea to take Gomer back into his house. Hosea promises his faithfulness to Gomer and asks her to be faithful to him in return. This is powerful picture of love in action. It is love that is not based on warm glowing feelings but on commitment, intention, and faithfulness. This is love that hurts.

 

In the remaining 11 chapters of the book, Hosea continues his prophecy from God with a series of vivid pictures about unfaithful Israel. She is described as an adulterous wife, a disinterested mother, an illegitimate child, an ungrateful son, a stubborn heifer, a silly dove and a half-baked cake that is unfit for eating.

Hosea also paints a picture of Israel as a luxuriant grapevine that looked very promising at the start but then went bad. Another image likens Israel to grapes or new figs found in the desert – a wonderful discovery that then turned rotten.

Perhaps the most heartbreaking and tender passage comes in the first part of chapter 11. God describes Israel as a small child, a little son, who God himself called out of Egypt. God taught his child to walk, comforted him, kissed his wounds better and led him with kindness and love. But the child did not recognise the Father’s love and care and rejected the Father in favour of idols.

 

In spite of this painful rejection, God cannot abandon his child. In verse 8 God exclaims, ‘how can I give you up, O Ephraim?’

 

The book closes with an impassioned plea for Israel to turn back to the Lord and enjoy the blessing that this change of heart would bring.

 

As I’ve read Hosea, I’ve been drawn to the image of Israel as God’s bride. God pledged his covenant faithfulness to his bride but she was unfaithful. As we move into the New Testament we discover a new image of the church, the new covenant people of God, as the bride of Christ. This image culminates in the glorious wedding feast of the Lamb in the book of Revelation. The church, now perfected and redeemed by Jesus, is presented to him for eternal union in the new heaven and new earth. Jesus has loved his bride, the church with the same complete commitment and devotion that God showed his original covenant people.

In the last days of his earthly life, Jesus had to experience the pain of loving those who would betray, desert and deny him. John’s gospel poignantly says, “having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” (John 13:1).

 

Jesus demonstrated the kind of resolute, faithful, steadfast love that would hurt so badly it would cost him his life.

 

So what do we take away from the book of Hosea? I think primarily it is a powerful reminder of the intensity of the love of God for his people. That includes us. If we are unfaithful to him and put other things in a higher place of importance in our hearts, this hurts God. The human emotion of having been cheated on by someone we love is only dim shadow of the effect of our unfaithfulness on God’s perfect heart.

 

I think Hosea can also draw us into deeper wonder at what Jesus did for us on the cross. If we marvel at the love Hosea showed to Gomer, and what it cost him to buy her back whilst she was still a slave, how much more should we be floored by the love that Jesus showed for each one of us on the cross, giving everything he had to buy us back for God, whilst we were still dead in sin!

 

Last Friday was Good Friday and Christians around the world remembered the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross. After the grief comes joy and on Sunday we celebrated Jesus’ resurrection. Each Sunday is a commemoration of Jesus’ rising on the first day of the week. Each time we celebrate the Lord’s supper, the breaking of bread and the sharing of wine, we commemorate what happened on Friday.

 

Easter week may be over for another year, and of course we continue to celebrate each Sunday, but I think it is good to spend regular time thinking about the trial and the suffering of Friday. In doing so we remember what our freedom cost our Father, as we gather at the feet of our broken bridegroom, who loved us to the very end. 

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