Called of God

“And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is

called of God, as was Aaron” (Heb 5:4)

Jesus Christ fulfilled the role of our high priest perfectly. The book of Hebrews lays out two prerequisites for this role. First he must “…have compassion on the ignorant…for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity” (Heb 5:2). In order to function as a high priest for humanity, one must first be human. This requirement includes the idea of sharing in the sufferings and travails of people in their individual lives. The writer of Hebrews records how Christ, “…in bringing many sons unto glory” was “[made] perfect through sufferings” (Heb 2:10). And again, “…being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Heb 5:9).

Second, and most important, a high priest must be divinely called: “And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God” (Heb 5:4). The high priests function was as the mediator between man and God. Whereas prophets functioned in the role of communicating God’s will to the people, the high priest communicated the people’s self-reproach and repentance to God. With Korah, who coveted the position of priest over his duty to the tabernacle, God dealt very severely: “And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods” (Num 16:32). But Christ, being “…in the likeness of sinful flesh…condemned sin in the flesh” (Rom 8:3), is able to make the high priestly sacrifice “…by a greater and more perfect tabernacle” (Heb 9:11). This efficaciousness of this one-time offering for sin makes clear that Jesus Christ is truly “called by God an high priest” (Heb 5:10). RST

Despised and Rejected

“My God, My God, Why hast thou forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1a)

The 22^nd psalm is a remarkable prophecy of the suffering servant, further detailed in Isaiah chapter 53. Its fulfillment came when Jesus Christ hung on Calvary’s cross, suffering the outpouring of wrath from God which was rightfully owed to you and me.

The apostle Paul tells us that “the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain” (Rom 8:22). Jesus, whom God “made…to be sin for us, who knew no sin” (2 Cor 5:21) Himself groaned upon that tree as the psalmist had said: “O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent” (Ps 22:2).

“…I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people” (Ps 22:6) was echoed in Isaiah in his prophecy of the suffering servant: “He is despised and rejected of men…and we hid…our faces from him; he was despised and we esteemed him not” (Is 53:3). As Jesus was being scourged and afflicted on His way to the cross, upon which He was ultimately nailed, He completely fulfilled this prophetic word.

“All they that see me laugh me to scorn; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head saying, He trusted the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him” (Ps 22:7-8). Jesus bore just such scoffers: “And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross and we will believe him. He trusted God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God” (Matt 27:39-43).

“I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint” (Ps 22:14). One of the effects of crucifixion was just this: that the crucified would suffer dislocation of various joints. Being poured out like water was rather shockingly literally fulfilled in the account of John: “…one of the soldiers pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water” (Jo 19:34).

“Dogs have compassed me” (Ps 22:16). Seen as a derogatory reference, we find Christ crucified with thieves and robbers (Matt 27:38). “They pierced my hands and my feet” (Ps 22:16b). This is a remarkable prophecy, especially considering it was written down nearly a thousand years before the invention of crucifixion as a form of punishment. “They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture” (Ps 22:18) has its fulfillment in “…they…parted his garments, casting lots” (Matt 27:35).

Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, is truly the focal point of all of history as recorded in the Bible. The plan of God to reconcile a fallen world to Himself was prophesied by the Old Testament prophets and perfectly fulfilled in the atoning work of Christ on the cross. He truly is “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Rev 13:8). RST

Fear of Death

“that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death…and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Heb 2:14-15)

Our “walk” with Christ will take each of us through various trials and tribulations. The promise of God in Scripture is to use these trials to strengthen us: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:2-4). Even David, the man after God’s own heart struggled with such trials, most notably with lust and detailed in 2^nd Samuel chapter 11 as he pursued Bathsheba to the point of using his position to affect the death of her husband. However, David repented and ultimately expressed his faith in God to carry him through such trials in the future: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me” (Ps 23:4).

The ultimate work of God to provide hope for His adopted sons and daughters is detailed in the 2^nd chapter of Hebrews. Jesus, who “was made a little lower than the angels” (Heb 2:9), now has “all things in subjection under his feet” (Heb 2:8) and is “crowned with glory and honour; that by the grace of God [He] should taste death for every man” (Heb 2:9). As the Creator God, Jesus, “for whom are all things, and by whom are all things” (Heb 2:10) became one of us – “partakers of flesh and blood…that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death” (Heb 2:14). Now that the devil no longer carries the power of death, we can “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16). For God “hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Tim 1:7). We, therefore, have no need of fear of things like trials and death, for Christ “took on him the seed of Abraham” (Heb 2:16) so that “he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” (Heb 2:17). RST

The Rod of Iron

"I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee...Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." (Ps. 2:7,9)

The book of Psalms consists of individual works revolving around particular aspects of Jewish culture, life and worship. The psalms of ascent, or degrees (120-134), for example, were tied to the annual pilgrimage of Jews to the Temple in Jerusalem. A few psalms were for very particular times or events, such as Psalm 92, which is a "Song for the Sabbath day."

The second psalm falls into the category of Enthronement Psalms. These were originally part of the ceremonies surrounding the coronation of a king. They have, however, found their full meaning through Jesus Christ as the final king in the line of David.

When a king was crowned in Israel, it was said that God had adopted him as His son (Ps 2:7). From that point forward, the king was understood to be working as God's representative as ruler over the house of Israel. When Jesus rose from the baptismal waters of the river Jordan, God declared in the fashion of Psalm 2: "This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matt 3:17).

In the Revelation of John, the apostle is given a vision of the circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus. He sees a woman, giving birth to "a man child, who was to rule all the nations with a rod of iron" (Rev 12:5). At the culmination of the events of the apocalypse, we again see this man child, now a victorious king named Faithful and True:

"His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule over them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." (Rev 19:12-15)

This would be marvelous enough fulfillment of the prophetic word of Psalm 2 for Israel's future king Messiah, but Jesus Himself applies that promise not just to Himself, but to believers as well. Listen as Jesus commends believers in Thyatira with the specific words of our text applied to them directly: "But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father" (Rev 2:25-27). When the True king of Israel adopts us as his own, we truly "are more than conquerors through him that loved us" (Rom 8:37). RST

The Word Made Flesh

“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son…” (Hebrews 1:1-2a)

Throughout Old Testament history, God’s interactions with mankind had been through those specially gifted individuals known as prophets. What they revealed about God through their ministrations paled in comparison with the ultimate revelation of God – God Himself, manifest through the man, Christ Jesus.

The author of Hebrews sets forth seven characteristics of Christ which point to His fulfillment of and superiority over their former ways. First God has “appointed [him] heir of all things” (Heb. 1:2b). This was expected, as the Spirit had said through the psalmist: “I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession” (Ps. 2:8). And now, “being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs” (Tit. 3:7) with Him.

Second, Christ “made the worlds” (Heb 1:2c). John had said as much in his gospel: “all things were made by him” (John 1:3a). As Creator, Christ is fully God Himself, and not to be contained solely within the confines of Judaism. Third, Jesus was “the brightness of his glory” (Heb 1:3a). Where the former prophets had visions of the glory of God (Isa. 6), truly Peter, James and John had witnessed this firsthand on the mount of transfiguration where Jesus “was transfigured before them…his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light” (Matt. 17:2). Indeed, the apostle John indicated the vision of Isaiah was Christ Himself: “These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory and spake of him” (Jo 12:41).

Fourth, Jesus is “the express image of his person” (Heb 1:3b). This might be better rendered “the exact copy of His substance.” Jesus himself said, “He that has seen me has seen the father” (Jo 14:9b). Fifth, Christ is “upholding all things by the word of his power” (Heb 1:3c). The psalmist had attributed to God the day-to-day operations of the creation: “He spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast” (Ps 33:9). Now, however, it is clear that “for of him, and through him and to him, are all things” (Rom. 11:36).

Sixth, he has “purged our sins” (Heb 1:3d). Only God can forgive sins against God, and Christ asserted this authority many times. He carried out this authority, indicating He actually possessed it (Matt 9:6), and thereby proving His divinity, for “who can forgive sins but God only?” (Mar 2:7). Finally, Christ has “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb 1:3e). The work of a priest (i.e. an intercessor to God on man’s behalf) was an ongoing task. As man continued to sin, more intercession was needed. By His dying words on the cross, Christ declared the priestly function completed and took His place at the right hand of the Father. In the same way, God’s revelation of Himself to mankind was fully revealed through His Son, the man Christ Jesus. Amen. RST

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Return from Hiatus

Sorry for the long delay in posting -- I'm sure everyone missed me. :-)

I was recently asked about my ideas about the fact that the majority of humanity's ills seem to stem from the uneven distribution of wealth, and that, therefore, socialism is surely the closest economic system to Biblical principles. My response follows:

While the Bible does, at times, seem to preach a socialistic economic model (Acts 2:45), in reality this passage is more about stewardship than it is about economies. The apostle Paul wrote in his second letter to the church at Thessalonica, "If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat" (2 Th 3:10). This is very clearly antithetical to a socialistic model. But it is directly in keeping with one of stewardship.

All that exists owes its very existence to the will of God. It is all His, ultimately. In the book of Genesis, and again in the giving of the Law in Exodus, God has appointed man to be in charge of His creation. In order that man be a better steward of His creation, God has given permission for individuals to "own" pieces of the creation for himself. When people have a vested (ownership) interest in the results of their works, the tendency is for that work to be of a higher quality. In commanding His people "thou shalt not steal" (Ex 20:15), God is clearly teaching that this ownership princple is both recognized in the Godhead and should be respected by mankind.

The free exchange of goods and services is not normally considered to be a hallmark of socialistic societies. In those areas, government controlled monopolies are necessary to ensure the "fair" distribution of goods with no particular care being placed upon the quality thereof. The Bible, however, teaches exactly the opposite. For example, in the purchase of a cave in which to bury his wife, Abraham gives us the very first "guns and butter" illustration in history. Sarah, Abrahams wife, had died in Hebron, and Abraham desired a place to bury her. Heth, grandson to Ham, owned a piece of land which included a cave near Machpelah. Heth valued the cave at 400 shekels of silver. Abraham evaluated his need with the cost, and determined that such a deal was mutually beneficial to both he and Heth. Therefore, he paid to Heth the 400 shekels of silver for the field and the cave and was, ultimately, buried there himself. This is a classic example of a capitalistic, not a socialistic economy.

Examining the socialistic aspect to Acts chapter 2, one does not actually find what one would expect from a socialistic society. The believers were not selling their things and sharing them equally -- as pure socialism would demand. Rather, possessions were being sold and shared specifically "as every man had need." In other words, the believers in Jerusalem were willing to sell their things to meet the needs of fellow believers. This is not a 'vow of poverty', but is, rather, fully consistent with the stewardship principle, in that even we, as human beings, belong to God himself -- and He has called us to take care of His creation -- ALL of His creation.