Psalm 8
Here's another familiar psalm, or at least it has some familiar verses. Many of us have sung the chorus, O LORD, our LORD, how majestic is your name in all the earth. The psalm starts with the twin assertions, big God, little man, but then the "yet" highlights the important idea that man is valued by God, God has great purposes for man. Man is to have dominion over creation; that's still the plan even after the fall of man. The creation mandate still stands.
I know in the initial chapters of Hebrews we are told that this dominion of man over creation will be fully realized in Christ, now that man is fallen.
Bible study tip here - look for the words that set up a contrast - in this case yet. Such little words like yet, but, still, so, for, therefore - they often set up the big idea in the text. Watch for them!
Genesis 8.20-9.19
The Ark has landed and everyone out. Time for a barbecue. First reference to sacrifice causing a pleasing aroma for God.
Noah and sons get to eat everything but the blood. Blood sacred to God, acknowledges all life comes from God. Capital punishment - note revenge is not the issue, but rather a reckoning required by God from both offending men and beasts. Human life held so dear, to take it means one's own life to be forfeit. This seems to be a pretty straight forward support for capital punishment - what do you think?
God's Covenant with Noah's offspring - guess that includes us. It's initiated by God, a promise not to destroy by flood, it's eternal, two parties, there's a sign, the rainbow. If it's made in the context of the sacrifices at the end of chapter 8, then a meal/sacrifice involved as well -seals the deal. Keep these elements in mind as we encounter other covenants in the Bible. Compare to Lord's Supper - initiated by God, salvation promise, two parties, sign, two signs bread and wine, sacrifice made to seal deal - Jesus himself, meal. Keep your eye out for covenant language in the Bible. Even the name LORD is God's covenant name for Himself in relationship to His People Israel.
1 Chronicles 9
Yeah, we are at the end of the lists of names! See 1 Chron 9.2, we are given the reason for Judah's exile - they breached faith with their God and the exile was His judgment/punishment. The return of the exiles demonstrates that God remains faithful to His people.
One question that struck me is this. Where is the ark of the covenant? Not the ark in Gen 8 but the one that's made to hold the law. Was it lost in the exile or even before the exile, when Judah was being plundered by foreign empires? Did the exiles return it to Jerusalem? Is it mentioned in the Book of Ezra? Was the ark in the temple at the time of Jesus? I don't remember a reference to it. Any thoughts? When do we lose track of the ark in the Biblical records? Comment if you know - please!
Luke 5.1-6.16
Big doings in these chapters. Luke 5.1, the crowds pressing on Jesus to hear the word of God. I wonder if this wore on Jesus, all the people pressing in on Him. I'm thinking give me some space people. Stepping into the boat was brilliant.
Jesus tells Peter put out to the deep and let down the nets. Peter offers up a reason they shouldn't, but does relent and obey. How often God says do this, and we say I don't think that's going to work God. I can always find a good reason not to do what God asks.
Peter's response classic - Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O lord. Must be his first real sense of who Jesus was. Jesus response classic, like the angels on Christmas to the Shepherds, or Gabriel to Mary, Do not be afraid.
You will be catching men - a mandate for the church.
See many references to Jesus praying in rest of chapter.If Jesus needed to pray, how about me?
Lk 5.17 Does this verse imply there were times when the power of the Lord was not on Jesus to heal? In Nazareth? Among faithless people?
Lk 5.26 People responding to healing of paralytic. We have seen extraordinary things today. Now that's an understatement!
Lk 5.32 Very important purpose statement!
End of Luke 5 beginning of Luke 6, getting the impression the Pharisees aren't crazy about Jesus.
See Jesus praying again in Lk 6.12. Need to pray!
Luke 5:17 says " on one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come fromevery village of galilee and judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal." And you could say that that is an argument for Jesus not always have power and he did give up his power when he came to earth. But the there was the scene at Jesus's baptism were the holy spirit descended apron him Did he not get his divine power back? Earlier in chapter 5 verse 12 the leper comes to Jesus asking if it was his will to heal him perhaps it was not that Jesus didn't have the power at all times it was that the Father did not will him to us it at all times.
ReplyDeleteGreat comment! You are asking questions that are at the heart of the Incarnation question. What does it mean that Jesus was fully human and fully divine? We know he remained what he was, fully God, and became what previously he was not, fully human. We also know that as both human and God, as you rightly observe, he was always submissive to the Father's will. Let's keep an eye on this topic of Jesus having power to heal in the rest of Luke. Keep up the great reading and thinking - Pastor Lincoln
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