Lesson&#20& Coda& Coda% 1%

Transcription

1 Lesson&#20& Coda& Coda% 1%

2 Exodus'20'through'Levi2cus'26'expresses'God s'covenant'with'the' Israelites'in'its'totality.''Levi2cus'27'then'func2ons'much'like'an' appendix'to'the'covenant,'and'its'topic'is'vows&and'dedica1ons gies' to'the'sanctuary'which'cons2tute'a'large'part'of'the'income'needed'to' implement'the'covenant,'operate'the'tabernacle'and'compensate'the' priests.' In'Lesson'#19'we'examined'these'vows'and'dedica2ons'in'detail,' focusing'especially'on'the'differing'redemp2on'prices'for'men'and' women,'and'on'the'act'of'placing' under'the'ban 'an'irredeemable,' conquered'people a'very'troubling'concept'to'modern'readers.' Coda% 2%

3 Chris2ans'oEen'view'Levi2cus'as'an'impenetrable'tangle'of'ancient'laws' and'rituals,'things'en2rely'superseded'by'the'sacrifice'of'christ'on'the'cross' and'the'inaugura2on'of'the'new'covenant.' Nothing'could'be'farther'from'the'truth!''For'Jews,'Levi2cus'sits'at'the'very' heart'of'the'torah:''from'god s'lips,'to'moses,'to'you.''as'we'noted'in' Lesson'#1,'from'the'Middle'Ages'onward'Jewish'children'are'introduced'to' Scripture,'not'with'the'great'stories'of'Genesis,'Exodus,'Numbers'or' Deuteronomy,'but'through'the'study'of'Levi2cus,'following'the'great'rabbi' Rashi s'slogan,' Let'the'pure'ones'come'and'study'laws'of'purity. ' For'a'Chris2an,'studying'Levi2cus'and'penetra2ng'to'the'deeper'levels'of' the'anagogical'(future'events'of'chris2an'history),'typological'(how'events' in'the'hebrew'scriptures'foreshadow'those'in'the'new'testament)'and' tropological'(the' moral 'meaning'of'the'stories'and'how'they'are'applied' to'chris2ans'today),'gives'us'the'clearest'picture'we'have'of'god s'plan'of' redemp2on'and'of'the'person'and'work'of'his'son,'our'lord'jesus'christ.' Coda% 3%

4 In'this'concluding'lesson'we'review'and'summarize'what'we'have'learned' from'levi2cus,'placing'the'book'in'its'proper'context'within'the'overall' linear'narra2ve'of'scripture.' Coda% 4%

5 When'we'began'our'study'of' Scripture'we'laid'out'a'set'of' principles'to'guide'us.''' We'noted'that'the'world'of'the'Bible'is:' Patriarchal' Monarchial' Polytheis2c' Slaveholding' These'were'unques2oned'reali2es'of'the' ancient'near'eastern'world;'it'would' never'occur'to'anyone'to'consider'an' alterna2ve'world'view.' And'we'noted'that'all'works'of'art'mirror' the'2me'and'culture'from'which'they' emerge,'including'the'bible.' Coda% 5% ' ''

6 What s'more,'we'noted'that'although'wricen' over'a'period'of'at'least'1,500'years,'with'each' book'of'the'bible'passing'through'the'hands' of'editors'and'redactors,'and'each'book'of'the' Bible'having'its'own'more'or'less'complex' textual'history the'bible,'as'we'have'it'in'its' full'72ebook'septuagint'canon is'a'unified' literary'work:' the'curtain'rises'in'genesis'and'it'falls'in' Revela2on' the'main'character'is'god' the'conflict'is'sin' the'theme'is'redemp2on' The'Chris2an'canon'of'Scripture'has'a'set'of' concrete'images'that'create'textual'cohesion,'' and'it'moves'in'a'straight'line'from'genesis' through'revela2on,'with'recapitula2on' throughout'the'linear'progression.' Coda% 6% ' ''

7 Our'story'begins'in'Genesis'' with'crea2on.' Coda% 7%

8 William'Blake.'' The'Ancient'of'Days'Sehng'a'Compass'to'the'Earth &(Relief'etching'with' hand'coloring),'1794.&&plate'from'europe&a&prophecy&(1794),'copy&k.&& Fitzwilliam&Museum,&Cambridge&University.& Coda% 8%

9 And'it'was'good,'indeed.''In' the'2 nd 'crea2on'story'god' walks'with'adam'and'eve'in' the'garden'of'eden'in'an' in2mate,'loving' rela2onship.' Coda% 9%

10 Hieronymus'Bosch.''Garden&of&Earthly&Delights&[detail]'(oil'on'oak'panel),'c.'1490e1510.' Prado'Museum,'Madrid.' And%he%said%.%.%.%% 10%

11 But'very'quickly'conflict' enters'our'story:''sin.' In'Genesis'3'we'define'sin,'not'as'an'act'that' we'commit,'but'as'a'condi2on'that'we'are'in,' a'condi2on'of'aliena2on'and'separa2on'from' God'that'manifests'itself'in'outward'sinful' ac2on.' And'we'learned'that'sin'has'four' characteris2cs:' 1. Sin'is'subtle' 2. Sin'distorts'our'judgment' 3. Sin'escalates' 4. Sin'cascades'down'through'genera2ons' Coda% 11%

12 William'Blake.''Tempta1on&and&Fall&of&Eve&(watercolor),'1808.' Museum'of'Fine'Arts,'Boston.' And%he%said%.%.%.%% 12%

13 Exactly'who'or'what'is'this' serpent'who'tempts'adam' and'eve?' At'the'end'of'our'story'in'Revela2on'20:'1e3' we'are'told:' Then&I&saw&an&angel&come&down&from&heaven,& holding&in&his&hand&the&key&to&the&abyss&and&a& heavy&chain.&&he&seized&the&dragon,&the&ancient& serpent,&which&is&the&devil&or&satan,&and&1ed&it&up& for&a&thousand&years&and&threw&it&into&the&abyss,& which&he&locked&over&it&and&sealed,&so&that&it&could& no&longer&lead&the&na1ons&astray&.&.&.. & Coda% 13%

14 And'where'did'Satan'come' from;'how'did'he'get'into' the'garden'of'eden?' Revela2on'12:'7e9'gives'us'a'hint.''In'a' flashback'to'events'prior'to'genesis'1,'we' read:' Then&war&broke&out&in&heaven;&Michael&and&his& angels&bapled&against&the&dragon.&&the&dragon& and&its&angels&fought&back,&but&they&did&not& prevail&and&there&was&no&longer&any&place&for& them&in&heaven.&&the&huge&dragon,&the&ancient& serpent,&who&is&called&the&devil&or&satan,&who& deceived&the&whole&world,&was&thrown&down&to& earth,&and&its&angels&were&thrown&down&with&it. & Coda% 14%

15 Isaiah'14:'12e15'gives'us'addi2onal' imagery'associated'with'satan:' How&you&have&fallen&from&the&heavens,& &O&Morning&Star,&son&of&the&dawn!& How&you&have&been&cut&down&to&the&earth,& &you&who&conquered&na1ons!& In&your&heart&you&said:& & I&will&scale&the&heavens;& Above&the&stars&of&God& &I&will&set&up&my&throne;& I&will&take&my&seat&on&the&Mount&of&Assembly,& &on&the&heights&of&zaphon.& I&will&ascend&above&the&tops&of&the&clouds;& &I&will&be&like&the&Most&High! & No!&&Down&to&Sheol&you&will&be&brought& &to&the&depths&of&the&pit! & Coda% 15%

16 This'is'the'Scriptural'context'for'John' Milton s'paradise&lost'of'1667,'the' greatest'epic'poem'in'the'english' language.' ' '' Coda% 16%

17 William'Blake.''Satan&Arousing&the&Rebel&Angels&(watercolor),'1808.' Victoria'and'Albert'Museum,'London.' And%he%said%.%.%.%% 17%

18 William'Blake.''God&Judging&Adam&(color'relief'print'with'pen,'ink'and'watercolor),'c.'1795.' Metropolitan'Museum'of'Art,'New'York.' And%he%said%.%.%.%% 18%

19 Once'banished'from'Paradise,' Adam'and'Eve'struggle'with' pain,'sickness'and'death,'the' direct'consequences'of'sin.' Coda% 19%

20 Peter'Paul'Rubens.''Cane&Slaying&Abel&(oil'on'oak'panel),'c.'1608e1609.' Courtauld'Ins2tute'of'Art,'London.' And%he%said%.%.%.%% 20%

21 And'by'Genesis'6:'5e6'we'read:' When&the&Lord&saw&how&great&the& wickedness&of&human&beings&was&on&earth,& and&how&every&desire&that&their&heart& conceived&was&always&nothing&but&evil,&the& Lord&regrePed&making&human&beings&on&the& earth,&and&his&heart&was&grieved. && So'Genesis'6:'11' '9:'17'God'in' brought'the'flood'to'wash'the' board'clean'and'give'humanity'a' second'chance.' Coda% 21%

22 John'Mar2n.''The&Deluge&(oil'on'canvas),'1834.' Yale'Center'for'Bri2sh'Art,'Paul'Mellon'Collec2on,'New'Haven.' And%he%said%.%.%.%% 22%

23 Armenia'!' Turkey' "'Mt.'Ararat' Iran' And%he%said%.%.%.%% 23%

24 Photography&by&Ana&Maria&Vargas.&&

25 Photography&by&Ana&Maria&Vargas.&&

26 Photography&by&Ana&Maria&Vargas.&&

27 Photography&by&Ana&Maria&Vargas.&&

28 Photography&by&Ana&Maria&Vargas.&&

29 Photography&by&Ana&Maria&Vargas.&&

30 That s'not' Noahs'ark!% Not'me.'' I ll'bet'it'is!' Coda% 30%

31 Once'the'Flood'subsided,'Noah'got' off'the'ark,'planted'a'vineyard,'got' drunk,'cursed'his'children'and'we' ended'up'at'the'tower'of'babel'in' Genesis'11:'1e9.' It&happened&all&over&again!& Coda% 31%

32 ' '' Pieter'Brueghel'the'Elder.''The&Tower&of&Babel&(oil'on'panel),'1563.'' Museum'of'Fine'Arts,'Vienna.' Rewards%and%Punishments% 32%

33 Clearly,'leE'to'our'own'devices' humanity'cannot'resolve'the'issue'of' sin,'so'in'genesis'12:'2e3'god'takes' macers'into'his'own'hands'and' introduces'the'plan'of'redemp2on,' making'a'covenant'with'abraham,'a' covenant'which'involves'both' progeny'(people)'and'property'(land).' Coda% 33%

34 In'the'Abraham/Isaac'story'we'have' our'first'hint'that'god s'plan'of' redemp2on'will'involve'something' far'more'than'god'building'abraham' and'his'wife'sarah'into'a'na2on'and' giving'them'land.' It'will'also'involve'the'sacrifice'of' God s'own'son,'foreshadowed'in'the' story'of'the'sacrifice'of'isaac'in' Genesis'22:'1e19.' Coda% 34%

35 ' '' Rembrandt.'Sacrifice&of&Isaac&(oil'on'canvas),'1635.' Hermitage'Museum,'St.'Petersburg,'Russia.' Rewards%and%Punishments% 35%

36 So,'God'makes'good'on'his'covenant' with'abraham:''abraham'and'sarah' have'isaac;'isaac'and'rebekah'have' Jacob;'and'Jacob'and'his'wives,'Leah' and'rachel'(and'his'concubines' Bilhah'and'Zilpah)'have'twelve'sons' who'become'the'founders'of'the' twelve'tribes'of'israel.' We'leave'Genesis'with'the'en2re' family'of'70'in'egypt'with'their' brother'joseph'who'is' Prime' Minister 'of'egypt,'second'only'to' Pharaoh'himself.' Coda% 36%

37 When'we'turn'the'page'to'Exodus,' 400'years'flash'by,'and'Jacob s'family' of'70'have'become'nearly'2'million and'they'are'now'slaves'in'egypt.' We'shouldn t'be'surprised.''in' Genesis'15:'13,'God'said'to'Abraham:' Know&for&certain&that&your&descendants&will& reside&as&aliens&in&a&land&not&their&own,& where&they&shall&be&enslaved&and&oppressed& for&four&hundred&years. & Why'would'God'do'that?' Coda% 37%

38 There'are'two'reasons:' 1. Slaves'don t'assimilate.''with'400'years' of'slavery'god'ensured'that'jacob s' family'of'70'would'not'assimilate'into' the'dominant'egyp2an'culture,'thereby' enabling'them'to'achieve'cri2cal'mass,' retaining'their'iden2ty.' 2. And'400'years'of'slavery'taught'the' Israelites'very'important'moral'and' ethical'lessons'about'oppression,'jus2ce' and'social'equality,'lessons'that'would' become'cri2cal'for'the'israelites,'god s' vehicle'for'redeeming'humanity.' Coda% 38%

39 But'400'years'of'slavery'is'enough!' In'God s'own'2me'he'raised'up'moses' who'would'lead'his'people'out'of'egypt.'' Finding'him'in'a'basket'in'the'bulrushes'of' the'nile'river,'pharaoh s'daughter' adopted'moses'and'brought'him'up'as'a' prince'of'egypt.'''' We'all'know'the'story'of'Exodus'2:'1e15.' Coda% 39%

40 ' '' Paul'Delaroche.''Moses&in&the&Bulrushes&(oil'on'canvas),'1857.' Private'Collec2on.' Rewards%and%Punishments% 40%

41 Moses'spent'the'next'40'years'as'a' fugi2ve,'living'in'the'land'of' Midian,'in'northwestern'Saudi' Arabia'of'today.''There'he'married' Zipporah,'daughter'of'Jethro,'and' he'tended'sheep'belonging'to'his' fathereinelaw.'' Quite'the'comedown'for'a'prince' of'egypt!' But'in'Exodus'3'God'chose'Moses' to'perform'a'great'task.'' Coda% 41%

42 ' '' Henri'Eugène'Pluchart.''God&Appears&to&Moses&in&the&Burning&Bush&(oil'on'canvas),'1848.' St.'Isaac s'cathedral,'st.'petersburg,'russia.' Rewards%and%Punishments% 42%

43 It'took'the'10'plagues'to'convince' Pharaoh'to'free'the'Israelites,'and' when'he'does,'they'leave'egypt'a'' devastated'land,'ravaged'by' supernatural'disasters'and'the' death'of'every'firstborn'egyp2an' child'and'animal.' The'plagues'did'three'things:' 1. they'taught'the'israelites'who'god'is;' 2. they'taught'the'egyp2ans'who'god'is;' and' 3. they'brought'judgment'on'the' Egyp2an'gods.' Coda% 43%

44 Once'out'of'Egypt'and'across'the' Red'Sea'the'Israelites'make'their' way'to'mount'sinai,'where'in' Exodus'19'God'reaffirms'the' covenant'with'them.' Coda% 44%

45 Rameses'!#' Land'of'Goshen' Succoth'!#' "'Bicer'Lakes' "'Via'Maris' #'"'Marah' #'"'Elim' #'"'Rephidim' "'Mt.'Sinai'

46 Mt.'Sinai' Photography&by&Ana&Maria&Vargas&

47 At'midnight,'Dr.'Creasy s'intrepid'band'of'students'prepare'to'climb'mt.'sinai.' Photography&by&Ana&Maria&Vargas&

48 Dr.'Creasy'leads'the'way'up'the'mountain'in'the'black'of'night!' Photography&by&Ana&Maria&Vargas&

49 Unlike'Moses,'we'stop'halfway'up'for'coffee'and'cookies,'served'by'the'Bedouins!' Photography&by&Ana&Maria&Vargas&

50 Sunrise'from'atop'Mt.'Sinai.' Photography&by&Ana&Maria&Vargas&

51 Early'morning'on'the'mountain'of'God.' Photography&by&Ana&Maria&Vargas&

52 Accep2ng'the'terms'of'the' covenant,'god'gives'his'people' two'great'gies:''the'law'and'the' Tabernacle.' 1. The'Law'is'ten'principles'by'which'a' covenant'people'are'to'live'with'god' and'one'another;'and' 2. The'Tabernacle'is'a'physical'structure' that'enables'a'sinful'people'to'gain'' access'to'a'holy'god.' Coda% 52%

53 Turning'the'page'to'Levi2cus,'we' learn'how'to'apply'the'law'and' how'to'use'the'tabernacle.' Importantly,'the'Tabernacle'provides'a' bridge'between'god'and'humanity,'a' bridge'mediated'by'the'priesthood'and' enabled'by'the' 5'Great'Sacrifices :' 1. Burnt'offering' 2. Grain'offering' 3. Peace'offering' 4. Sin'offering'' 5. Guilt'offering' Coda% 53%

54 The'Tabernacle'

55 The'Law'and'the'Tabernacle'have'great' intrinsic'value'in'their'own'right,'but' viewed'through'a'chris2an'interpreta2ve' lens,'they'speak'of'the'person'and'work' of'christ.' We'learn'in'Hebrews'8:'1e6'that'the'Tabernacle' is' a&copy&and&shadow&of&the&heavenly& sanctuary, &and'we'learn'that'the'5'great' Sacrifices'have'a'deeper'spiritual'meaning,'as' well:' 1. Burnt'offering'='Christ'offers'himself'wholly'to' God;' 2. Grain'offering'='Christ'is'flawless'in'his' humanity;' 3. Peace'offering'='Christ'is'our'peace,'with'whom' we'share'a'meal,'his'body'and'blood'in'the' Eucharist;' 4. Sin'offering'='Christ'takes'our'sin'upon'himself;''' 5. Guilt'offering'='Christ'pays'the'penalty'for'our' sins,'making'res2tu2on'to'god'on'our'behalf.' Coda% 55%

56 Exodus'20'through'Levi2cus'26' encompass'the'en2rety'of'god s' covenant'with'israel,'following'the' standard'6epart'structure'of' ancient'near'eastern'covenants' between'sovereigns'and'vassals:'' 1. Preamble,'or'introduc2on'of'the'speaker;' 2. Historical'prologue;' 3. S2pula2ons;' 4. The'document;' 5. Calling'the'gods'as'witnesses;'and' 6. Blessings'and'curses.' Coda% 56%

57 When'we'leave'Levi2cus'and'move'on'to' Numbers,'we'count'the'people,'organize' them'and'march'toward'the'land'of' Canaan,'the' Promised'Land :' In'Deuteronomy'Moses'tells'the'new' genera2on'their'story,'in'light'of'spending'40' years'in'the'wilderness;' In'Joshua'the'Israelites'conquer'the'land'of' Canaan;'and' In'Judges'the'Israelites'secle'it.' By'the'end'of'Judges,'however,'the' Israelites'have'shacered'the'covenant:'' they'are'far'from'being' a&kingdom&of& priests&and&a&holy&na1on, &a' light&to&the& Gen1les ;'rather,'we'read:&& In&those& days&.&.&.&everyone&did&what&was&right&in& their&own&sight. && The'Israelites'had'forgocen'God,'en2rely.'' Coda% 57%

58 So,'once'again'sin' corrupts'humanity.'' We'really'do'need' Not'me.'' Christ.% Stay'tuned'for' the'rest'of'the' story!' Coda% 58%

59 1. Adam'and'Eve'live'in'paradise,'a'flawless' garden'where'everything'is'as'god'intended:'' yet'they'fall.''why?' 2. The'Abrahamic'covenant'consists'of'two' promises.''what'are'they?'' 3. How'does'the'sacrifice'of'Isaac'foreshadow' the'sacrifice'of'christ?' 4. Why'were'the'Israelites'enslaved'in'Egypt?' 5. When'God'reaffirmed'his'covenant'with'the' en2re'israelite'community'at'mount'sinai,'he' gave'them'two'great'gies.''what'are'they?' Coda% 59%

60 Copyright' '2015'by'William'C.'Creasy' ' All' rights' reserved.' No' part' of' this' course audio,' video,' photography,' maps,' 2melines' or' other' media may' be' reproduced'or'transmiced'in'any'form'by'any'means,'electronic' or' mechanical,' including' photocopying,' recording' or' by' any' informa2on' storage' or' retrieval' devices' without' permission' in' wri2ng'or'a'licensing'agreement'from'the'copyright'holder.' [All'Tabernacle'illustra2ons'in'these'lectures'are'taken'from:''' Paul'F.'Kiene.' 'The&Tabernacle&of&God&in&the&Wilderness&of&Sinai,' trans.' by' John' S,' Crandall.' Grand' Rapids,' Michigan:' ' Zondervan' Publishing'House,'1977.''Used'by'permission.]'' Coda% 60%