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Date: Tue, 20 Jun 1995 10:40:55 +0200
Reply-To: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
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From: Teus Benschop
Subject: The Scriptures opened, 36
To: Multiple recipients of list CHR-EXP
Contents
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Numbers 14:1,2, Israel's unbelief
Isaiah 40, part 5, God, the Only God, incomparable
Luke 18:9-14, The Pharisee and the publican
Numbers 14:1,2, Israel's unbelief
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Weekly reading: Num 13:1-15:41
And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried;
and the people wept that night.
And all the children of Israel murmured
against Moses and against Aaron:
and the whole congregation said unto them,
Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt!
or would God we had died in this wilderness!
Here is the story of the coming of Israel at the borders of the
promised land, of Canaan. They had sent out spies, to explore the
land. Twelve spies went out. When they came back, ten of them were
unbelievers. They brought an evil report of the land unto the people.
Only two, namely Joshua and Caleb, believed in God's might and power.
They said to the people that God surely would bring them in. But the
ten brought an evil report. What was the result of that evil report?
We read it in our text: "And all the congregation lifted up their
voice, and cried; and the people wept that night." The people rather
believed the bad report of ten unbelievers, than to believe the good
report of two believers. The believers were a minority. That has
always been so. Many people utter evil reports about God's promises,
but only a few speak the truth, namely a right report. The people of
Israel, of whom the majority was also unbeliever, rather believed the
ten ungodly spies than the two godly: Joshua and Caleb. Here we see
how a few people, only ten, can set afire a whole nation. The whole
nation was polluted with unbelief, of which the ten bad spies were the
causes. Let we learn of this not to listen to all, who bring forth an
evil report of God's promises. The majority is doing so, but let we
rather listen to the few righteous, to the people like Joshua and
Caleb, to the true believers.
After all the congregation had lifted up their voice, and after
they had cried, and after they had wept that whole night, they went
on. Now they began also to murmur against their leaders, as is
written: "And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and
against Aaron". What is that unreasonable! Just as if Moses and Aaron
were the cause of their unbelief! The people had better done, when
they had been silent, and when they had put their trust in God. But
no, they murmured against their leaders. Because God had set their
leaders over them, their murmuring against the leaders was also
murmuring against God Himself. They rebelled against God! God, Who had
redeemed them out of Egypt. God, Who had done so many wonders for
them! God, Who had fed them by heavenly bread in the desert. God, Who
went before them in a cloud by day, and in a fiery pillar by night.
God, Who had led them to this place. How unthankful!
What did they say in their murmur? "And the whole congregation said
unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would
God we had died in this wilderness!" We see where unbelief brings the
people. Through their unbelief, they expect the death, when they would
enter Canaan. They chose rather to have died in Egypt, or in the
desert, than to be killed by the inhabitants of Canaan. We see how the
unbelief leads to despair. They saw themselves placed before a task,
which was too heavy for them. A task, which was impossible for them to
carry out. Yes, no wonder, because without God, we are utterly unable
to do any task. Through their unbelief, they did not know that God
would help them, and that God would exterminate all their enemies.
When we look around us, we see a world full of unbelief. They who,
through unbelief, become despaired, sometimes make an end of their
lives. They say with unbelieving Israel: It is better to die in this
wilderness of life, then to go forth in our despair. How unhappy is
mankind without the one true God. Darkness all around. Fear jumps on
them. They are without God, without hope, without salvation. They are
like Israel of old, but in a new form. What is people without God?
When we, however, look somewhat better around us, we will descry
the few believers. The great heap doesn't see them, like Israel didn't
listen to Joshua and Caleb. Yet, the few believers are still in the
world. Their voice is often overshouted by the unbelievers, yet, when
you listen well, you can hear them. They call you up to believe God.
They call you up to trust Him, however many your enemies may be. The
new Joshuas and the new Calebs. They still blow on the trumpet of the
Word. The world doesn't listen to them. The world says that there is
no God, because of all the wars, catastrophes, etc. Reader, listen not
to them. Listen to Joshua and to Caleb: "Only rebel not ye against the
LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for
us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear
them not." (Numbers 14:9)
Isaiah 40, part 5, God, the Only God, incomparable
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Isaiah is pointing out the majesty of God, using several pictures to
describe that.
17 All nations before him [are] as nothing; and they are counted to
him less than nothing, and vanity.
The prophet continues the raising of God's greatness and the abasing
of mankind. He has done so until now. He said that the high mountains
would be brought low, in verse four. There, he used the picture of
mountains, but here, he explains his message further. The high
mountains, that are the nations. All pride will be subdued. The
nations before Him are as nothing. They are counted to Him less than
nothing, and vanity. Maybe, the nations think that they are powerful.
But in reality, they are less then nothing before the high Lord. They
are vanity, that is, they are nothing, and passing. When whole nations
are counted less then nothing, how much less are we then, an
inhabitant of one vain nation!
18 To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare
unto him?
Nothing can be compared unto God. The prophet has showed that until
now, but he continues therewith. He now begins to speak, in the
following verses, about graven images. The Israelites made images, to
"serve" God through them. How dull! How erroneous! God is
incomparable, so each image is a severe dishonouring of God.
19 The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth
it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.
The prophet portrays how an image is made. In the previous verse, he
has asked wherewith God could be compared. In this verse, he speaks
about the comparison, which many make. They compare God with a graven
image. God is not made, for He is eternal. But an image must be made
through a workman. A workman, of whom just is said, that he is less
then nothing, vanity. To compare the unmade God with a man-made image
is therefore a very bad comparison. God had an infinite amount of
glory, but the glory of that image is nothing more than a thin layer
of gold. So, a very bad comparison. The workman also casts silver
chains to decorate the image. God however, needs no decoration, but He
decorates all with His glory.
Many decorate the Torah-scroll, but the Torah is holy enough in
itself. All decoration, consisting of cloth or crowns, darken the real
glory of the Torah, and of God. They peoples' eyes get stuck in the
outward appearance, and they do not penetrate into the Torah itself.
In this way, many have their graven image, which they lug through
the synagogue sometimes. The workman makes the outward parts of the
scroll and the holder, and the goldsmith spreads it over with gold,
and casts silver chains. In this way, they darken God's Word. They
spread a veil over the Word, in order that nobody can read it.
(to be continued)
Luke 18:9-14, The Pharisee and the publican
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In the parable of the Pharisee and the publican, Jesus shows us the
difference between the self-righteous, and the humbled people.
9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in
themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
Jesus spoke this parable to some people, who trusted in themselves.
They thought that they were righteous. They not only committed that
sin, but added thereunto, that they despised others. Despising others
is already a sin in itself, so I cannot understand why they thought to
be righteous. Perhaps they were blind for their own sins. That is, by
the way, the case with all people who think to be righteous in
themselves. Being spiritual blind, they overlook their sins, and
therefore become haughty, and begin to despise the others. Jesus, as a
good Teacher, instructed them by a parable. He was also a good
Physician, in applying this medicine of the parable. Maybe, they
understood, and would be healed from their sickness.
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee,
and the other a publican.
In the parable, there were two men. A Pharisee, and a publican.
Pharisees were honoured by the common people. The people thought them
to be very righteous, and unfortunately, the Pharisees themselves
thought the same. A publican, however, was despised by the people, and
justly. Publicans worked together with the Romans, the occupiers of
the land.
Both went up into the temple to pray. But what a very different
motives did they have. The Pharisee went to pray, that is, to boast in
his supposed righteousness. The publican went to pray in humility, to
ask forgiveness.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank
thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust,
adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
The Pharisee thanked God that he was not as the other men. He was much
better. Yes, he was even so good, that he despised the other men.
"Lord, I am very good, and I thank Thee for that". He counted up all
his external works, as abstaining from great sins, and paying tithes,
etc. He counted up his works, but he left out the pride of his heart.
How blind can self-love, and contempt of others make a man!
This Pharisee still lives in our days. Not only one Pharisee, or
a few, but great crowds. Nearly everybody thinks of himself, that he
is not too bad. He helps the other people, he prays now and then to
God, goes to church, goes to synagogue; so, what does God want more? I
fast twice in the week. I go twice a Sunday to church. I go three
times on Sabbath to the synagogue. I give tithes of all that I posses.
I give not a little to the collections. I am not a public sinner; so
God, I'm rather good. The present Pharisees thank God; yes, there is
prayer and thank enough; but, they overlook the pride of their inward
parts. They say: I am not an adulterer, like many others; but they
forget that already the unclean look at a women is like adultery. They
aren't extortioners, but yet, they severely claim their money.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much
as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God
be merciful to me a sinner.
There was a world of difference between the self-righteous Pharisee,
and the humbled publican. The Pharisee went close to the altars of the
temple, but the publican stood afar off. He did not count himself
worthy to enter so far into the temple. He knew that he was a great
sinner, as he indeed was. The proud Pharisee lifted up his eyes unto
heaven, but the publican dared not. He would not lift up so much as
his eyes unto heaven, but looked to the ground in shame. He did not
thank God for his righteousness, as the Pharisee did, but he smote
upon his breast as a sign of self-contempt, and indignity before the
Lord. He also prayed, like the Pharisee, but his prayer was very
different. "God, be merciful to me, a sinner". He counted himself
worthy of punishment, because of his great and many sins. Yet, he
asked for mercy.
Also in our days, when you listen here and there, you discover
churches full of Pharisees. They always thank God. But the prayer of
the publican, where do you hear it? But on a few places, they know and
pray the publican's prayer: O God, be merciful to me, a sinner. The
religious world is thanking God for their supposed righteousness, but
the people of God are asking for mercy.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified [rather]
than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be
abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
It is sure that the publican went down to his house justified, in
opposition to the Pharisee, who, according to his own words, did not
need any justification. He was already righteous, so why did he need
God's righteousness? The Pharisee was left under God's coming wrath,
but the publican was redeemed. He, though a sinner, was justified by
God. That is, his sins were forgiven him.
The Pharisee was proud. He exalted himself. But according to
Scripture, he who exalts himself shall be abased. "A man's pride shall
bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit."
(Proverbs 29:23) The publican was humbling himself, and he was
therefore exalted. The publican declared himself to be a great sinner,
and was acquitted by God.
The proud and self-righteous in our days also will be abased, but
the humble, who confess their sins, will receive forgiveness.
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Teus Benschop | t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl | editor of the list Chr-Exp
"A Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel"
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