Date: Tue, 14 Feb 1995 20:10:13 +0100
Reply-To: t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl
Sender: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
From: Teus Benschop
Subject: The Scriptures opened, 18
Contents
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1. Weekly reading, Exodus/Shemot 34:28-29
2. Psalm Ps.72:18-19
3. New Testament, Hebrews 10:19-39, part 2
4. Books
1. Weekly reading, Exodus/Shemot 34:28-29
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Exod.34:28,29
And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did
neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the
words of the covenant, the ten commandments.
And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two
tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount,
that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with
him.
This is a remarkable story. Moses was on the mount with the LORD during
forty days, without eating, and when he came down, his face shone.
To understand it, we need to read it well, follow the text, and
compare it with other texts in the Bible.
Moses was on the mount Sinai "with the LORD". Moses was so great a
prophet, that he, like a friend with his friend, spoke with the LORD, and
was with Him. The LORD Himself says of Moses: "With him will I speak
mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the
similitude of the LORD shall he behold." (Num.12:8)
He was there with the LORD during "forty days and forty nights; he did
neither eat bread, nor drink water." No common man can live without food
and drink for so long a time, forty days and forty nights. Moses however
did, through God's extraordinary power. This was to show the more to the
nation Israel, that Moses was not a common prophet. He was not a common
man, but he had an extraordinary function. He received the Law on the
mount. This Law was not a common law, like the heathens have, but it was
given from heaven, from God. Moses had been so long without food, and
showed thereby the truth of the Scripture, which says "that man doth not
live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of
the LORD doth man live." (Deut.8:3)
Afterwards, Moses came down from the mount. While doing so, he did not
know that his face shone. The text says, that it happened "when he came
down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone
while he talked with him." Moses had been during forty days with the LORD
on the mountain. There, he had seen His glory. See herein, what will
happen with the people who live close to God. Their face will shine forth
a remnant of God's glory. Moses' face shone like that of an angel. God is
a Light, and He is excellent. Moses had been forty days with the LORD,
and his face shone. How much the more will the chosen people shine, who
will, not forty days, but eternally be with Him in heaven. At the other
hand, how great will the darkness be of the disobedient, who are thrown
away from God's excellency and glory.
Who has received eyes, to see the glory of God, also sees some glory
in the common things of the world. Listen to David, that holy prophet.
This man says: "O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the
earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens." (Ps.8:1) David believed
in God, loved Him through God's grace, and therefore saw God's excellency
"in all the earth", yea, "above the heavens".
May God give also to us His grace, in order that we also see His
glory. When we see His glory, what will be the result in us? Will we
become proud with it? No, far from that. Listen again to David, in the
same Psalm. He says, as a result of having seen God's glory: "What is
man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest
him?" (Ps.8:4) He knows that a man is only like dust of the earth,
nevertheless, God visits him, and gives him all what he needs. What is
man, that insignificant being, o LORD, that Thou are mindful of him? That
is the result of having seen God's glory. We exalt God to the highest,
and humble ourselves to the deepest.
Reader, ask God for grace, that He shows His mercy also to you.
Without having seen a little of God's glory, and without humbling
yourself, you will not enter the Kingdom of God.
2. Psalm Ps.72:18-19
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Ps.72:18-19
Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous
things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole
earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.
The Psalm containing our text is spoken out by David, for his successor
Solomon. David says glorious things about his son, like for example in
verse eight: "He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the
river unto the ends of the earth." (Ps.72:8). Further that they shall
fear him as long as the sun and moon endure. "They shall fear thee as
long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations." (Ps.72:5)
We know however, that all these, and other things, have not happened
during Solomon's life. Also not during the other kings of Judah or of
Israel. Therefore, we conclude that David in this Psalm, besides speaking
about Judah's kings, also speaks about the Greatest of the kings of
Judah, the Messiah, Who will be King over the whole world. His dominion
shall truly be "from sea tot sea", and "unto the ends of the earth". His
kingdom shall endure as long as the sun shines and moon is there,
throughout all generations.
When we now go to the end of this Psalm, our text, we see that David,
who begun with saying things about Solomon, now fully has addressed
himself to the LORD God. "Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who
only doeth wondrous things." He calls his God blessed, the God Who cares
for Israel. He has done "wondrous things" while saving the land from the
hands of the enemies. David has experienced and seen this, and he
believes and knows that God will do the same in the future. In God lies
his belief, that Israel's kingdom will endure forever. This earthly
kingdom has ceased now, but it continues in the Person of the Messiah,
thus fulfilling this Psalm. Had the Messiah not come, Israel's kingdom
now being ceased, this Psalm had not been fulfilled. It says that David's
kingdom will endure forever, not that it will cease after some centuries.
"And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be
filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen." In Exodus, we saw and heard in
this week's reading, that God's glory was on the mount Sinai. Therefore,
Moses face shone, namely to show this glory. God's glory has extended
from that place to the nation Israel, especially in the temple. But now,
David goes further in this Psalm. Let God's glory be, not only in the
temple, and in Israel, but in the whole world. "And let the whole earth
be filled with his glory." God's glory only being in Israel, that is too
little an honour. Therefore, let now the whole earth be filled with His
glory. David prophesied this, and we know that this has happened now. The
whole world is filled with God's glory, through the preaching of the
gospel. It may be that the people not accept God's Word, nevertheless,
the gospel shines like a light in a dark place, and it shows God's glory.
Let the whole earth be filled with God's glory; Amen, and Amen.
3. New Testament, Hebrews 10:19-39, part 2
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The apostle here begins the second part of the letter to the Hebrews. In
the first part, he wrote about the excellence of the Persons and the
offices of Christ, using a very godly style. This second part contains
the incentives to the due obligation of the believers, namely the faith
and the christian conversation.
In the rest of this tenth chapter, he urges them to
- boldness in the belief (19-22),
- firmness in the confession (23-31),
- patience in the oppression (32-39).
The previous time, we came to verse 24, which will be repeated here.
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good
works:
This word "consider" means in Greek to spy on, and that word "to provoke"
means to drive in an unfavourable sense. So, in the world, to spy on each
other leads to provoke to angry words and envy. This must not go thus in
the christian congregation. There we must well consider one another, to
make each other the more zealous in love and good works. The congregation
considers each other for a better purpose than the world does.
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner
of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see
the day approaching.
Let we not forsake the assembling of ourselves together. These assemblies
are the christian meetings, set up to hear God's Word, do general and
public prayers, and use the holy sacraments. Some examples of these
assemblies: "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and
fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." (Acts 2:42) "And
upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break
bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and
continued his speech until midnight." (Acts 20:7) The apostle warns us
not to forsake these holy assemblies, but to attend them. Some had the
bad manner to forsake them. Why did they so? This is not written down,
but we can imagine that some left the truth because of fear of the Jews,
or through negligence, or because of a proud feeling of themselves, or
that they through "the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of
riches, and the lusts of other things," (Mark 4:19) began to forsake the
meetings. This happens often. The people forsake God through several vain
excuses, and walk after the lusts of their flesh. These people will
receive their reward of God. Let we not do so, but "exhort one another"
to God's service in faith and repentance. After having said that we have
to exhort one another, the apostle adds: "and so much the more as ye see
the day approaching". He speaks about "the day". So, it must be a great
day, when it simply is called "the day". He means here the day of
judgement, the last day of the world. This day is also called "the day of
the Lord". "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in
the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the
elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that
are therein shall be burned up." (2 Pet.3:10) In this very important day,
The Day, everybody will be judged after his works, good or evil. This is
so very important, because here falls the definitive, eternal decision.
Let therefore everybody prepare himself for this day! Let we therefore
exhort one another, and so much the more, as ye see "the day"
approaching.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of
the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.
When we wilfully sin, having received the knowledge of the truth,
forgiving is impossible. What this sin is, the apostle will further
explain it in verse 29. For now, it is enough to know that, who wilfully
sins, wilfully falls away from the belief he had accepted before. The
apostle does not speak about all sorts of sin, but of this sin, which
Jesus Christ calls the sin of slander against the Holy Ghost. "And
whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven
him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be
forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come."
(Matt.12:32)
"After that we have received the knowledge of the truth". After
somebody knows the truth, and is convinced of it, and then falls away
from it, that man wilfully sins, and commits the sin against the Holy
Ghost. For him, "there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins". For there
was one sacrifice for sins, namely Jesus Christ's sacrifice. Who rejects
this sacrifice, has no more another. This sacrifice of Jesus was the one,
the only, the complete. No other is there to expect. When you not accept
this sacrifice through the belief, there remains not another. When you do
this, what can you expect? Without forgiving of your sins through
Christ's sacrifice, you will expect God severe and fiery judgment, like
is written in the next verse.
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery
indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
What will happen to the disobedient? What do they have to expect? "A
certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation." God will
punish the disobedient. Who rejects God will be rejected by Him. Who
rejects the only sacrifice of Jesus Christ, accomplished on the cross,
has to expect God's severe judgement. "It is a fearful thing to fall into
the hands of the living God." (Heb.10:31) The fiery indignation will
devour the adversaries. Do not think easy of it, for it will be awful
judgement, and a burning fire which will consume you, when you are an
unbeliever. When you wilfully reject Jesus' offering, and His doctrine -
terrible will it be! The "adversaries" meant here are the enemies of God,
the apostates of the truth, the persecutors of God's people.
The apostle continues to clarify his doctrine, using Moses' law. He
is, in his letter, not inventing something new above the law, but he
applies the same law. Look therefore at his comparison.
28He thatdespisedMoses' lawdiedwithout mercyundertwoor threewitnesses.
Despising of Moses' law costs one his life. Despising the law means that
he wilfully rejects it, wilfully forsakes it, wilfully denies it. Here is
not a matter of sinning by accident, or sin which one confesses, but of
designedly sinning. That man will die under two or more witnesses.
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought
worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted
the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy
thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
Moses had a certain value, but the Son of God has infinite more value.
When one rejected Moses' law, he was put to death. Of how much sorer
punishment will he be worthy, who rejects the Son of God. So infinite
more as Jesus is then Moses, so infinite heavier will the punishment of
the unbelievers be. The despising of the law was punished with death. But
when one rejects the Son of God, the punishment will be much sorer. When
the apostle writes that one "has trodden under foot the Son of God", he
means that one has rejected Him, and counted Him of no worth. For, what
we reject are we wont to tread under the feet. When one not believes in
the salvation, offered by Jesus' blood, then he counts that blood of the
covenant an unholy thing. Doing so, he also does despite unto the Spirit
of grace. For that Spirit offers the blood of God's Son to everybody who
hears the gospel. When you then not accept His offer, you do despite unto
Him.
The apostle is here speaking about those, who have confessed with
their mouth their belief in Jesus as the Son of God, but afterwards
apostated from that faith. They were, as it were, sanctified by that
blood, but afterwards counted it for an unholy thing. When one, who has
been a christian, afterwards falls away from that belief, how dreadful
will it be for him!
30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will
recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his
people.
The apostle quotes the Old Testament to show that God is terrible for the
disobedient. First, he quotes: "To me belongeth vengeance, and
recompence." (Deut.32:35) The LORD promises that He will avenge His
people on their enemies, and that He will judge them against all
persecutors and oppressors. The LORD will protect His nation, and judge
the hypocrites and the apostates. And again: "The LORD shall judge his
people." (Deut.32:36) Or: "The LORD will judge his people." (Ps.135:14)
The LORD will judge His people to their profit. He will protect the
righteous, but the false believer will be judged to his damage.
Therefore, reader, take heed. Keep in mind what a judging Lord we have.
Do not play with Him; serve not the world; do not sin wilfully; believe
in the LORD, and in His Son Jesus Christ.
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
It is very fearful for the sinner when he falls in the hands of the
righteous God. The God Who cannot see any spot without punishing it.
Sinner! Look out, for it will be fearful to meet that God in the day of
judgment, when you are still not reconciled with Him through Jesus. "The
sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites.
Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall
dwell with everlasting burnings?" (Isa.33:14) The sinners and the
hypocrites in Zion were afraid, for they saw something of how fearful a
thing it is to fall into the hands of that living God.
32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were
illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
"After ye were illuminated". What is this? Being illuminated means
becoming a believer, and afterwards being incorporated in the christian
congregation through baptism. It is Jesus' work to illuminate the
believers, "to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light,
and from the power of Satan unto God." (Acts 26:18) The sense of this
sentence is therefore: Remember the former days. After you began to
believe, you endured many afflictions. How much the more must you, now
believing during a long time, be steadfast.
33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and
afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were
so used.
This verse, and also the next, are examples of what the apostle had said
in the previous. There, he made mention of their former distress, saying
"ye endured a great fight of afflictions". In this verse, he gives
examples of it. The two examples go about two sorts of afflictions.
Partly own suffering, and partly sharing others' sufferings. They "were
made a gazingstock, both by reproaches and afflictions". Being made a
gazingstock means that their sufferings were public to everybody. The
christians were often made a spectacle, being thrown in the theatres
before the beasts. See Paul, who fought against the beasts: "After the
manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus." (1 Cor.15:32) They
were also, in the public, in the synagogues and courts of justice,
scandalously displayed and badly treated. Christ has foresaid this. "They
bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers." (Luke
12:11) "But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and
persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons,
being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake." (Luke 21:12)
Also the apostle Paul has said this of himself and of others. "For I
think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed
to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and
to men." (1 Cor.4:9)
34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the
spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a
better and an enduring substance.
Also in this verse, we see two sorts of afflictions, namely having
compassion with others, and own sufferings. They had, though being
persecuted themselves, compassion of the other people in the bonds.
Moreover, while their goods were robbed, they joyfully accepted it
instead of mourning about that, as the world does. Those early christians
took joyfully the spoiling of their goods, for they knew that they had a
better good in heaven. Who not believes that his better and enduring
substance is in heaven, he will cleave unto his earthly goods. But now,
through the belief, they were able to bear all afflictions and robberies.
This all according to Jesus' commandment and promise: "Blessed are ye,
when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of
evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad:
for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets
which were before you." (Matt.5:11,12) Also the apostles gave this good
example: "And they (the apostles) departed from the presence of the
council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his
(Jesus') name." (Acts 5:41)
Reader, the true belief will loose you from your goods, from your
seeking of honour, from your pride, from your maintenance of yourself. On
the other hand, it will give you patience in the afflictions, hope for an
enduring good in heaven, true faith in God and His Son to your salvation,
firmness in the midst of the enemies, love to your brothers, compassion
with the persecuted and afflicted, offering yourself to the service of
God, and the hope on eternal life. Choose then. Choose the life, and
forsake death, so that you may live. Choose life by believing in Christ
Jesus.
(to be continued)
4. Books
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Thomas Watson, The Lord's Prayer
This volume is one of Thomas Watson's complete "Body of Practical
Divinity" One of the most precious of the peerless works of the Puritans,
and those best acquainted with it prize it most.
ISBN 0 85151 145 7
300pp. Large Paperback.
Price around $10,00.
Ordering: ask your local bookstore or reply this description to
chr-exp-request@nic.surfnet.nl - Your order will be forwarded to a
bookshop. When ordering by reply, include your full name, address, ZIP-
code and state and/or country.
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Chr-Exp, a Christian explanation of the Tanach and the New Testament
Editor: Teus Benschop - t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl
No copyrights on this publication
Institution Practical Bible-education, the Netherlands
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