Date: Tue, 9 May 1995 09:11:31 +0100
Reply-To: t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl
Sender: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
From: Teus Benschop
Subject: The Scriptures opened, 30
To: Multiple recipients of list CHR-EXP
Contents
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1. Weekly reading, Leviticus 23:3, The Sabbath
2. 1 Chronicles 13:12, The ark of God
3. 1 Corinthians 2:2, Jesus Christ, and him crucified
1. Weekly reading, Leviticus 23:3, The Sabbath
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Six days shall work be done:
but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation;
ye shall do no work [therein]:
it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.
This third verse of Leviticus is one of the many cases, wherein
mention is made of the holy Sabbath. Many things are said of the
Sabbath, in this verse.
"Six days shall work be done." God gave us six days to do our work
therein. It concerns our daily work, necessary for the maintenance of
our life on earth. "Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work."
(Exodus 20:9)
"But the seventh day is the sabbath of rest." The sabbath of rest
is given us, because God rested on the seventh day, after He had
created heaven and earth in six days. "In six days the LORD made
heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the
seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed
it. (Exodus 20:11) The hard workers, who laboured during six days, may
rest on that day. "Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh
day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son
of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed." (Exodus 23:12)
"An holy convocation." On the sabbath-day, we have to go up to
God's house, to listen to the preaching of His Word. This convocation
is not profane, but "holy". Holy people will behave themselves also
holy in that convocation on the sabbath-day. They consider that the
sabbath is a holy day, and reject vain talking and doing vain things.
Looking around us, we discern that against being holy is sinned very
much. In the convocation, many talk about their worldly employments,
their holidays, about eating, and many other vain things. You will
scarcely meet one, who is truly holy. The holy convocation, truly
holy, is separated from the profane world. Otherwise, they are not
holy. Holy men live in the world, but they do not participate in its
sins. Of course, we cannot and may not withdraw ourselves from this
world, because we have our divinely appointed task here. But yet, we
ought to be holy, and behave ourselves holy therein.
"Ye shall do no work [therein]." On the sabbath-day, we shall do no
work. Many agree with this, at least, they say so. But when it becomes
dangerous, or unfavourable to rest on the sabbath-day, or when there
is to earn some money by working on the sabbath, they barefacedly
transgress. The farmer will be busy in the harvest, yet the Scripture
says that they also shall rest "in earing time and in harvest".
(Exodus 34:21) The service of God, not working on the sabbath, is more
important then some harvest, which may get soaked in the rain.
"It is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings." The sabbath
is not some day, appointed by the government, to rest in it. No, it is
a day of the LORD. And, it is added, "in all your dwellings". So, when
you are on holiday, you also will observe the sabbath. When you are by
your friends, you also will observe it, going to the church, being
holy, etc.
The sabbath-day is the day of rest. After six days hard work, there is
day of rest. On that day men must withdraw from all business of the
world. It can be asked now, if there is rest on this day? Is there
true rest in this world? Is everybody observing the sabbath, not only
with words, but also in deeds, and with an upright heart? We know,
that there has never been such a sabbath in this world. The sinners
sin on that day, the feigned feign to rest, but are busy in their
hearts. The reprobate shamelessly work on that day. Wars continue.
Society also continues. But true rest? Also the Israelites of old,
when they came in Canaan, had they the complete rest? No, true rest
hasn't been there until now. Therefore, we expect another rest. The
obedient expect the heavenly rest. Amidst all difficulties of this
world, they hope on God, Who truly rested on the seventh day.
Waiting for God's spiritual rest, we are still in this world. Being
here, we have to obey God's will. The sabbath of rest typifies
spiritual rest from sin, and our rest in God, during this life on
earth. We rest from our works, to let God work in us, renewing our
understanding, will, and our whole life.
2. 1 Chronicles 13:12, The ark of God
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And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the
ark of God [home] to me? (1 Chronicles 13:12)
David was afraid of God, after the anger of the LORD was kindled
against Uzza, who put out his hand to hold the ark, and was killed.
David was afraid, and did not know how to bring the ark of God to him.
Let we now look at this history.
The beginning of our chapter shows us David, consulting with the
captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader of Israel.
He said unto all the congregation if Israel: If it seem good unto our
brethren everywhere, who are in the land of Israel, that they may
gather themselves unto us. He said: Let us bring again the ark of our
God to us; for we enquired not at it in the days of king Saul. We see
David, who already at the beginning of his reign began to restore the
service of God, bringing the ark to Jerusalem. Let we learn from this,
when we begin something, that we begin with the service of God. No
sooner they had made David king over all Israel, or he restored the
ark. In his speech to the congregation of Israel, he also said that
they not enquired at the ark in the days of Saul. They offered in
Gibeon, but the ark was in Kirjath-Jearim at that moment. So, there
was not a little negligence in them, in the days of Saul. A half
service is not very pleasing unto the LORD. Let we therefore,
thoroughly search the Scriptures, lest we worship God according to the
general custom of our days, not according to His will. That was the
error of Israel of that days. Everybody followed everybody, but only a
few followed God.
David has proposed his suggestion unto the entire congregation.
What is their answer? "And all the congregation said that they would
do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people." (verse
4) Through the working of God's Spirit, they came back from their
negligence, and considered it right to get the ark unto them. So,
David gathered all Israel together, to bring the ark of God from
Kirjath-Jearim. They went up, and all the people, to Kirjath-Jearim,
to bring up thence the ark of God the LORD, That dwells between the
cherubim, Whose Name is called on it. They put the ark of God in a new
cart, out of the house of Abinadab, where the ark stood. Uzza and Ahio
drove the cart. David, and all Israel had great delight in bringing up
the ark; therefore they played before God with all their might; with
singing, with harps, psalteries, and other instruments of music.
Herein we see the delight of their heart. Rejecting any false shame,
they played in the public before the LORD. It is said, in verse eight,
that they played "before God". We must understand this so, that God
showed His presence above the ark. There was visible some divine
glory, what is called: the face of God.
But now, the gladness was suddenly disrupted. Verse nine says that
they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, and that the oxen of the
cart stumbled. The ark was in danger to fall on the ground. Therefore
Uzza put forth his hand to hold it. It was, however, written in the
law, that nobody should touch the ark except the priests. "They shall
not touch any holy thing, lest they die." (Numbers 4:15) Only the
priests were allowed to touch any holy thing, like the ark was. Who
was not a priest, would die. Uzza, in his carelessness, not being a
priest, touched the ark. Maybe, he was so careless in studying the
law, that he now knew this. Howbeit, the anger of the LORD was kindled
against Uzza, and He smote him, because he put his hand to the ark.
And there he died before the face of God. We see herein, that,
especially in holy things, we must be holy. The LORD is holy. Maybe
the people had forgotten that too much, and acted as if God was one of
them. David was displeased, because the LORD had smitten Uzza. He not
only was displeased with this happening, but also he began to fear the
LORD. That is our text, which says: And David was afraid of God that
day. Before, he had acted to familiarly with God, but now, he was put
back in the right attitude of mind: the fear of the LORD.
"And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring
the ark of God home to me?" After this accident, David was afraid of
God, asking how he should bring the ark of God home unto him. Asking
himself this, he began to pray, and to study the Scriptures, and there
he found the answer. He also found there, what he had done wrong. He
had put the ark on a cart, but the Torah commanded that it had to be
borne by the Levites. "The sons of Kohath shall come to bear [it]: but
they shall not touch [any] holy thing, lest they die. These things are
the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the
congregation." (Numbers 4:15) In the fifteenth chapter, David says
this: "Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the
Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and to
minister unto him for ever." (2 Chronicles 15:2). We see that the
anger of God was needed, before David began to study the Scriptures.
He began too rashly, in his delight, to take the ark unto Jerusalem.
But God requires order in His service, not rashness mingled with
negligence in the knowledge of Scripture. This time, David and all
Israel brought the ark unto Jerusalem, with gladness, and with
offerings, according to God's will.
3. 1 Corinthians 2:2, Jesus Christ, and him crucified
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I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and
him crucified.
Paul, the holy apostle, determined not to know any thing among them,
save Jesus Christ,and Him crucified. This is the plain truth: Jesus
Christ crucified. Paul well knew that "the Jews require a sign, and
the Greeks seek after wisdom." (1 Corinthians 1:22) The Jews refuse to
believe in Jesus Christ, but require a sign. The Greeks seek after
wisdom, and the simple preaching of Christ, they considered as having
too little worth. When Paul sought after human honour, He would have
polished up his sermons. He could try to give the Jews signs, and to
make his preaching seem more wise, for the Greeks. But now, Paul,
being a faithful servant of God, rejected the unbelievers, and
preached Christ crucified. He said: "We preach Christ crucified, unto
the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness. (1
Corinthians 1:23) When they stumble over Christ, let them stumble and
fall. When they consider Christ foolish, let them think so, and
perish. The truth will not be changed by the unbelievers. Let the
false prophets seek much converts by their distorting of the gospel; I
determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him
crucified. Maybe many Jews stumble over Christ, and many Greeks
consider Him foolish, yet, unto them which are called, both Jews and
Greeks, I preach Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. The
wisdom of God is too high for natural men; they stumble over it, or
they consider it foolishness. But they, who are called with a calling
which brings salvation; they have gotten an eye to see the wisdom of
God, and to admire at it.
I determined not to cherish my flesh, like many ministers do, but I
determined to preach Christ crucified. The knowledge of this Christ is
so exceedingly excellent, that I count all things but loss for this
knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. Many preach their own knowledge,
when they speak out the pulpit. They show in their sermons their own
knowledge. But I determined not to preach any thing among you, save
Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. Some become preachers for the pay;
other become ministers, for "then can you move house to another place,
now and then". Some become preacher, because they were unfit for any
other work. But Paul suffered all things, to preach Christ crucified.
Preaching Christ crucified means that he explained the work of
Christ. He was crucified for the sins of His people, to pay for them.
He underwent the death in their stead. They had sinned against God,
and therefore, as the law says, are to be put to death. "The soul that
sinneth, it shall die. (Ezekiel 18:20) Jesus underwent this
punishment, and died for them, in order that they might be redeemed.
Jesus also, through His obedience, earned eternal life for them. That
is it, what I preach. "And this is life eternal, that they might know
thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John
17:3)
The thousands of law-preachers deceive their audience, when they
represent the law as the way to life. How can the law be a way to
life, when it is not kept? There has never been one, who has kept the
law as it should. The law, which was the way unto life in Paradise,
has still this function, but because of our wicked nature, nobody
walks in that way, neither will anyone ever be able. All the people,
who try to do the law, know in their conscience that they fail each
day. Therefore, I preach not the law, but Jesus Christ crucified, the
Son of God. Let the law-preachers deceive their audience. May God open
their eyes. Though they delude their people, I determined to do not
so, and therefore I know nothing among you save Jesus Christ, and him
crucified. The false and blind prophets preach the law, but the true
preach the belief in Christ.
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Chr-Exp, a Christian explanation of the Bible to Israel
Editor: Teus Benschop - t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl
Institution Practical Bible-education, the Netherlands
End of The Scriptures opened, 30
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