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March 27th, 2021

3/27/2021

This Sunday is Palm Sunday, and it is also called the Sunday of the Passion, and this year the perspective is from the Gospel according to Mark. Although there is no mention within this gospel account of the Old Testament text from Zechariah [9:9-12] with the importance of Israel’s king coming on a donkey/colt, the way Jesus gets that animal is certainly significant, and the people in Jerusalem are certainly making a big deal when Jesus enters that way (Mark 11:1-10).

Perhaps within this event there is a reference back to the only Old Testament reference given by the writer of this gospel account, only in the third verse of the entire account: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord….’ And perhaps that is why this is only the ‘beginning’ of the gospel (Mark 1:1).

There was also a much more recent event that is causing some people to make a big deal of it. Within the Dead Sea Scrolls, there was a significant find, two verses of Zechariah 8[:16-17]. These verses are just a few verses ahead of the text for this Sunday from Zechariah 9. Here is a link to an article about this that appeared on the Christianity Today website:

www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2021/march-web-only/new-dead-sea-scrolls-discovery-bible-translation-israel.html

One of the interesting things that is noted in this article is the way that the special name for God is written. The author states that the name is in older lettering and in letters, instead of the normal way from left to right, these letters are written in the Hebrew way, from right to left. This is obviously a very special way to write a very special name. And it is sort of the opposite of the historical present, in saying that something is happening, in a sense, right now. Sometimes things that happened a long time ago are also extremely important. And sometimes this fact is being overlooked in today’s modern society.

Another recent publication that is more academic (but still very helpful) is the book, The Formation and Significance of the Christian Biblical Canon: A Study in Text, Ritual and Interpretation. It was written by Tomas Bokedal [T & T Clark, Bloomsbury Press, 2014], and he happens to be a Lutheran who lives in the UK. He devotes an entire chapter to the idea of ‘nomina sacra’, the fact that some very special words were abbreviated in the early New Testament manuscripts in some special ways. In that chapter (‘The nomina sacra: Highlighting the Sacred Figures of the Text’) he includes a chart (pages 89-90) that groups the special words into four different levels of frequency:

1. The primary group (99%-100% nomina sacra forms in the singular): God, Christ, Jesus, Lord

2. The secondary group (89%-95% nomina sacra forms) Cross, Spirit,

3. The tertiary group (23%-62% nomina sacra forms) Crucify, Father, Human being, Jerusalem, Son, Israel, Spiritual

4. The quaternary group (0%-5% nomina sacra forms) Heaven, Mother, David, Saviour (sic).

How interesting that the words relating to the cross are so frequent. Also mentioned within the same chapter is that a two-letter abbreviation for Jesus, along with a Greek letter that looks like the cross has a numerical value of 318, and this number was important for some early Christians. (For more detail, see pages 106-7.) With that in mind, having the Sunday of the Passion does not seem at all inappropriate.

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March 20th, 2021

3/20/2021

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This Sunday is the last Sunday in Lent before Palm Sunday, the Sunday of the Passion. And this year it is the first Sunday in Lent when the Old Testament text is not from the first five books. The text is still an important one, since it is from the prophet Jeremiah [31:31-34]. And the book of Jeremiah is a good reminder that the message of salvation is more important than a lesson from history.

In other words, it is a good thing to remember that the oracles of Jeremiah are not in chronological order. The Concordia Self-Study Bible even makes a point of this in its introduction to the book—see page 1120 for more detail. This Sunday’s text from Jeremiah is an important part of the so-called ‘Book of Comfort’, and this is placed near the middle of the entire book. This importance of a middle point is especially seen later in time with the Gospel according to Matthew. It may also be seen earlier in time with the first five books of the Old Testament.

To be more specific, there seems to be a significant midpoint and an endpoint within some of these important books. The structure of a book is, by all means, a very multi-faceted thing, but there are certain similarities among these books, and a certain message may be given from their texts, but one may also be gleaned from these structures. After sin came into the universe, God still seems like he wants to get involved with his people in some different and truly significant ways. And can you believe that he sometimes even wants to be in the middle of things? So, it might be helpful to have a somewhat broader view of some of these books, rather than simply have a closer look at a small text within these books.

Within the book of Genesis, when the family of Jacob was getting bigger, Rachel his wife was still unable to have a child, and so she pleads with her husband, and he responds, in Genesis 30:2, with the words ‘Am I in the place of God?’ This is echoed by Joseph near the very end of the book when his brothers come to him, regretting what they had done, in Genesis 50:19 (although you may wish to note that the Greek translation at this point is significantly different).

Within the book of Exodus, the glory of the LORD is mentioned for the first time in Exodus when the children of Israel start to receive the manna from heaven in chapter 16. But they see the glory in a very significant way the second time in chapter 24, near the middle of the book, when the glory ‘settles’ or ‘dwells’ on Mount Sinai. At that time, the glory looks like a ‘consuming fire’ [Exodus 24:16-17]. And at the very end of the book, the cloud and the glory of the LORD fill the ‘tabernacle’—the ‘settling’ or ‘dwelling’ place. Then the fire of the LORD is there at night and the cloud of the LORD is there during the day, to lead the children of Israel in their travels [Exodus 40:34-38]. That the LORD settles and dwells with his people is certainly significant.

Within the book of Leviticus, there are two very negative events, the deaths of Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu [chapter 10], and the one (whose name is never mentioned) who ‘blasphemes the Name [chapter 24]’. These two events are more at one-quarter and three-quarter points within this book, but in their special placement they bring the reader/listener into a closer relationship with God who is responsible for all things. This closer relationship may be seen in the descriptions of how and when the LORD says something. This is especially seen in the middle of the book with that very special Day of Atonement, and this chapter starts with this somewhat-literal description: ‘And Yahweh said to Moses after the death of two of the sons of Aaron when they approached the face of Yahweh, and they died [16:1].’ A special phrase of Yahweh speaking is also seen near the end of the book with this unique description: ‘And Yahweh spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai [25:1].’ Although Yahweh speaks many times to Moses within this book, this is the only time that description is given in that way. Through the events of this book, the reader/listener in a way joins Moses on Mount Sinai.

The book of Numbers is often divided geographically, by the location of the children of Israel as they make their way to the Promised Land. But a somewhat-better way to see the events of the text may be to see the connections between what happens in the middle and near the end, in somewhat the same way as the tabernacle is laid out with the place for offering—where something is sacrificed—and then that special place where the LORD would meet with the priest, and this is a way in which the previous books have been somewhat laid out as well. One of the problems is that, in the book of Leviticus, there were only two negative events, but in Numbers there are lots more!

In Numbers 14:22 the LORD numbers TEN times that the children of Israel tested him, but it seems like this list goes back even to the book of Exodus [the Concordia Self-Study Bible also has a note about this]. After the children of Israel make the significant move of leaving Sinai in Numbers 10, there seem to be several (perhaps seven?) ‘test-like’ events which approach the middle of the book:

11:1-3 the people complaining/fire

11:4-35 the ‘rabble’ [literally ‘the gathered ones’] wailing/elders/quail & plague

12 Miriam and Aaron talk against Moses/leprosy

13-14 the people rebel after Canaan is explored

15:1-31 Offerings for sin

15:32-36 Sabbath-breaker put to death

15:37-41 Tassels on garments to remember the commands

16:1-35 Korah’s rebellion with the Levites

16:36-50 The rebellion after the rebellion and the making of the censers

17 The budding of Aaron’s staff

These last three tests seem to be connected to the priests. And after the budding of Aaron’s staff, there is talk about the priests and their duties and how they are supported.

The above events could probably be organized in a variety of ways, but a significant test seems to be the one in the center, the fourth one of the seven, with the punishment being to wander in the desert for forty years. And it would make sense that other important things which should be mentioned come up after this significant event.

It does not seem, though, like those three indented things that follow should fit together. How can offerings, a sabbath-breaker, and tassels be connected? In Leviticus, two bad events brought people closer to the LORD. In the same way, in the tabernacle, it was often the death of an animal that brought people closer. (And, in the New Testament, it was the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross that brings us closer.) Offerings have something being sacrificed, the sabbath-breaker dies, and I also think that the tassels fit in well here because of their visual similarity to the flame of a fire at a sacrifice.

Offerings are also mentioned again, in the first part of chapter 28, near to the end of the book, and this includes offerings for the Sabbath. These two special placements of offerings may point out that special theme that something bad leads to something good. And our Lenten theme for this year has supported that: ‘It’s a Matter of Death and Life'.

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March 14th, 2021

3/14/2021

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This Sunday we continue in the Pentateuch for the Old Testament reading. ‘Pentateuch’ is a Greek word for the first five books of the Old Testament. And this Sunday we are in the book of Numbers [21:4-9], and this is also a title that comes from the Greek translation of the Old Testament. The actual title in Greek is ‘arithmoi’, a word that sounds a lot like ‘arithmetic’. Does that make the book seem even more interesting? Some people avoid math like the plague.

And speaking of plagues, it is good to remember that numbers are important in the Old Testament. In the Hebrew language, the connection between numbers and letters is extremely close. Their letters were also numbers. In the book of Exodus, there were ten plagues against the Egyptians while the Israelites were slaves. In the book of Numbers [14:22], the LORD speaks of ten tests that were part of the difficult times that the Israelites went through when they were making their way to the Promised Land. A possible list of those ten tests is given in the notes of the Concordia Self-Study Bible, and that list goes from Exodus 14 to Numbers 14 and does not include the text for this Sunday. But the note also indicates that the number ‘ten’ could simply mean ‘many times’ [Published in 1986 by Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, Missouri; page 210].

In the introductory section on the theological teaching in the book of Numbers, the Concordia Self-Study Bible has some great things to say about the account of Balaam in chapters 22-24. It is called ‘one of the most remarkable sections of the Bible [Concordia Self-Study Bible, page 185].’

One thing in terms of numbers that is sometimes misunderstood regarding the retelling of the Balaam event is that his FINAL prophecy is seen as the one ultimately predicting the Savior. It is actually the middle of seven prophecies, the fourth one. And the first four are simply longer than the last three. Seven is an important number, combining the things of God—the number three points to the three persons of the Trinity—with the things of man—the number four points to the four ‘corners’ of the world.

And speaking of four corners, although the earth is round, four corners may be seen in the important constellations that appear overhead at regular intervals in the year. I should point out at the beginning that this is NOT a discussion of astrology, where a person is said to predict what will happen because of the positions of the stars or planets. A better understanding of this is that it is one aspect of THEOLOGY, where IN THE BIBLE, at the creation account, the stars are said to rule [Genesis 1:16-18]. And the LORD’s throne in both the Old Testament and the New [Ezekiel 1 and Revelation 4] is said to have four living creatures, and these creatures may be connected to some of the constellations. The living creature of a man could be connected to Aquarius (the water carrier), a lion is obviously connected to Leo, and an ox, to Taurus. And the eagle may be shaped in a similar way to Scorpio, and these four constellations are at regular intervals in the year.

People have been always interested in the future. More important than many future events are a few of the most critical events in the past. And these four living creatures testify to the LORD’s glory that has been manifested on the earth at certain, important times. One helpful Bible verse to keep things in perspective is a small portion of the start of the Epistle to the Hebrews: ‘…but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son [1:2].’ And I do not think it is a coincidence that his Son has spoken to us in four gospel accounts.

The different ways Jesus worked in these four accounts may also be seen in the ways the angel of the LORD showed up in the Old Testament. In the account of Balaam, the angel of the LORD is definitely ready for battle. [See Numbers 22:22; the Hebrew word used to describe that angel’s task is actually our source for the name ‘Satan’.]

That battle-perspective is also given in the Gospel according to Mark. There are no stories of Jesus as a baby or even a young boy. At the beginning of this account, he stands ready for battle. And that is definitely a good thing, because he really does win in the end. You have his word [see Mark 16:7].

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March 6th, 2021

3/6/2021

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This time the Old Testament reading for the Third Sunday in Lent is arguably one of the most familiar texts within the entire Old Testament, the text of the Ten Commandments. There are actually two times that these Ten Commandments appear, and this also testifies to their importance. The first time is in Exodus 20:1-17 (the text for this Sunday), and the second time is in Deuteronomy 5(:6-21). This second time was spoken about forty years later, and Moses is going over what had happened previously.

Much could be said about any or all of these commandments. One of the first significant and interesting differences between these two texts is in the commandment concerning the Sabbath day. Here are somewhat-literal translations from both books:

Exodus 20:8 Remember the day of the Sabbath to sanctify it.

Deuteronomy 5:12 Guard the day of the Sabbath to sanctify it, as he commanded you, Yahweh your God.

One might think that the word ‘remember’ should be used forty years later and not ‘guard’. But you might remember that the word ‘remember’ is a very special word, one that is often used at important, turning-point places within the book of Genesis. It is used to describe an action of God rather than a person’s. (See Genesis 8:1, 19:29, and 30:22).

When God remembers a person, that makes all the difference. Near the beginning of the book of Exodus (2:23f), the text says that God heard the groaning of the children of Israel while they were enslaved, and he remembered his covenant with them. And then Moses shows up. Since sin pushed Adam and Eve away from the presence of the LORD, it is wonderful that he still remembers his people, people who deserve to be forgotten! Our remembering in this commandment, therefore, comes from his remembering.

The word ‘guard’ in the Deuteronomy text shows the seriousness of such a command. The word in the Greek translation of this text is very close to the word ‘phalanx’, a type of Greek soldier. Guards are important because the thing that they are guarding is usually important. As our Lenten preaching series this year points out, what God did as Jesus and what he continues to do among us is most certainly ‘a matter of death and life’.

It should probably also be said that Martin Luther, in his German translation of the Small Catechism, also has some significant changes to this command, as well as to others. Each command begins with the words ‘Du solt….’, and, although a good translation of these words is ‘You should….’, a better translation may be ‘You are to….’ It shows the seriousness of the situation.

Also in this commandment, the word ‘Feiertag’ is given instead of ‘Sabbath’. This is a word meaning ‘holiday’, and it speaks to the present time. The woodcuts that accompanied the Small Catechism depict some of the ancient biblical texts, but the people have clothing that they would have had in Luther’s day. That also points to the present time. The woodcut that appears below is the one connected to the Third Commandment. This appears in the following work: A Facsimilie of Luther’s Small Catechism: Wittenberg, 1531; published by Concordia Publishing House; St. Louis, Missouri, 1979; page 20f. I hope you enjoy it.

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A Sabbath Day's Journey

March 27th, 2021

March 20th, 2021

March 14th, 2021

March 6th, 2021

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