Better than the Prophets

Hebrews 1:1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

1 Πολυμερῶς καὶ πολυτρόπως πάλαι ὁ θεὸς λαλήσας τοῖς πατράσιν ἐν τοῖς προφήταις 2  ἐπ᾽ ἐσχάτου τῶν ἡμερῶν τούτων ἐλάλησεν ἡμῖν ἐν υἱῷ, ὃν ἔθηκεν κληρονόμον πάντων, δι᾽ οὗ καὶ ἐποίησεν τοὺς αἰῶνας·

I admit that the book of Hebrews has always intimidated me.  I've never been quite sure what to do with it as I've tried to jam it into a theological system.  I've decided that this time through I'm just going to take it as face-value as much as I can.

Even if you don't know much about the book of Hebrews you've probably at least heard the "at many times and in many ways" line.  What did God do?  He λαλήσας τοῖς πατράσιν ἐν τοῖς προφήταις.  More literally it is that He "spoke to the fathers by the prophets."  But since this is a book addressed to Jews and presumably written by a Jew, it is fine for the author to use "our" here.  Whether or not that is appropriate for a Gentile to read it that way is another discussion.

I notice that there is no adversative in verse 2, but that is added by the translators.  The phrase ἐπ᾽ ἐσχάτου τῶν ἡμερῶν τούτων is most literally understood as "on these last days" or something similar.  We need a conjunction here to make it work as good English.  Incidentally, the HCSB, KJV, NASB, and NET do not add the conjunction, but the ESV and NIV do.  This is one of those places where the ESV goes a bit beyond the literal.

I think it is valid to add the conjunction here because it would seem that there is a contrast between God speaking through the prophets and now speaking through the Son.  You may note that the word "his" does not exist in the Greek, but that it is consistent with the phrase ἐν υἱῷ.

Why am I going into all this detail?  I think it is important that we handle the text faithfully, which is one of the goals of this blog.  And, frankly, because I have a little bit more time this morning than usual :)

What do we get from this?  What I see is that the prophets had their place.  God spoke to the Jews through the prophets.  As we see one fulfilled prophecy after another we can take great assurance in God's faithfulness and His sovereignty to accomplish His will.  But in the times of the author of Hebrews (I suspect Paul, but we can't be sure), God spoke to His people through His Son.

This means that the Son is better than the prophets.  It means that He fulfilled what was predicted of Him.  The Jews missed it as they were waiting for a king like David who would throw off the shackles of Rome.  They didn't realize that Jesus was the better David who would ultimately come to set the captives truly free, rather than simply politically free.

There is much debate about whether the NT should interpret the OT.  When I read this I see no question.  We'll get into this more when we get to 1 Peter 1.  The point for now is that God has spoken to us through His Son.  Let's listen to what the Son and His apostles have to say.  That is not to say that we throw out the OT.  Far from it.  But let us realize that Jesus came as the fulfillment of the law.  I am finding that it really makes things much clearer as I read my Bible.

It Will Happen

Ezekiel 12:21-25

(21) And the word of the LORD came to me:

(22) "Son of man, what is this proverb that you have about the land of Israel, saying, 'The days grow long, and every vision comes to nothing'?

(23) Tell them therefore, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: I will put an end to this proverb, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel.' But say to them, The days are near, and the fulfillment of every vision.

(24) For there shall be no more any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel.

(25) For I am the LORD; I will speak the word that I will speak, and it will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, but in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it, declares the Lord GOD."

Not being a prophet, the son of a prophet, or even working for a non-profit, I can't be too sure about this, but I've got to think that unfulfilled prophecies have to be very high on the list of the frustrations of God's annointed. Ezekiel and others predicted doom for Jerusalem. The people saw some of it, but were in kind of a limbo time. The final exile was yet to happen, so they went back to thinking that all was well. Plus, it seems that there were those who gave false prophecies to tickle the ears of the people.

Our inclination is always for certaintly. I know that I tend to have such small faith when it comes to things like these. I know that Christ will return someday, but I would really appreciate a date. God chose not to give us any kind of certain dates, despite what some folks with their end-time charts may tell us. We are to accept His promises by faith.

What seems bizarre to me is that we can look at how many of His prophecies were fulfilled even within the time of Scripture. This book is a great example of it. King Zedekiah was eventually exiled and blinded. The city did fall. And getting outside of this book, we know that the prediction of Isaiah 7:14 was ultimately fulfilled in the coming of Christ. It's prophecies like these that help to cement my faith in Scripture.

All this tells me that I need to patiently wait on God. He has given me no promises other than my salvation and that Christ will eventually come to set the world right again. Frankly, that needs to be enough.

Woe to Babylon

Isaiah 13:20-22
(20) It will never be inhabited or lived in for all generations; no Arab will pitch his tent there; no shepherds will make their flocks lie down there.
(21) But wild animals will lie down there, and their houses will be full of howling creatures; there ostriches will dwell, and there wild goats will dance.
(22) Hyenas will cry in its towers, and jackals in the pleasant palaces; its time is close at hand and its days will not be prolonged.

Have you ever visited Tyre or Sidon? How about Sodom or Gomorrah? Ever been to Babylon?

I didn't think so. Scripture gives prophecy to the destruction of these cities and promises that they would never come back. And, as far as I know, they haven't. I do know that Saddam Hussein had an idea of rebuilding the original Babylon since it is in modern-day Iraq. However, he was deposed before that could happen.

Reading prophecy like this firms up my faith in Scripture. If the Bible says it's going to happen then it's going to happen. It also means that we'd better take Scripture pretty seriously.

Preaching in Adversity

Jeremiah 15:16-21
(16) Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.
(17) I did not sit in the company of revelers, nor did I rejoice; I sat alone, because your hand was upon me, for you had filled me with indignation.
(18) Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will you be to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail?
(19) Therefore thus says the LORD: "If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth. They shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them.
(20) And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, declares the LORD.
(21) I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless."

I think that this passage has served as a balm for many a weary preacher. Jeremiah delighted in God's Word. Unlike the reaction of many, Scripture was sweet to Jeremiah.

However, he couldn't understand why his life turned out the way it did. Where were the blessings that came from faithfulness? Why were things so hard for him?

God reassures Him that He would protect Jeremiah. He would take care of him as he preached truth. I know that this certainly comforts and encourages me, assuming that I can claim the promise for me as well. I'm not sure if it applies or not. After all, this was God talking to Jeremiah. He wasn't necessarily giving this promise to all future preachers. Therefore, it may be a stretch to say that it applies to faithful men today.

However, I sure hope that it does. I do know that even if things don't go so well in this life God will take care of the faithful in the next.

Vengeance

2 Thessalonians 1:5-10
(5) This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering--
(6) since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
(7) and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels
(8) in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
(9) They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,
(10) when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.

This is one of those passages that reminds me how God's timeline is not always the same as mine. If someone wrongs me I want to see instant payback. I want to have the sense that God is right there ready to smite them for what they've done.

However, this passage shows us that it doesn't necessarily work like that. If we are in Christ we will eventually experience relief from our affliction, but it may not be until we die. We may not see the recompense for our enemies' sin, but it will happen when they die. A day of judgment is definitely coming. Are you ready for it?