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Hebrews 12:27 This
expression,
"Yet
once
more,"
denotes the
removing of
those things
which can be
shaken, as of
created
things,
so that
those things
which
cannot be
shaken may
remain.
(NASB:
Lockman) |
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Greek:
to
de,
Eti hapax
deloi
[ten]
ton
saleuomenon
metathesin
os
pepoiemenon,
ina
meine
ta
me
saleuomena.
Amplified: Now this expression, Yet once more, indicates
the final removal and transformation of all [that can be] shaken—that
is, of that which has been created—in order that what cannot be shaken
may remain and continue.
(Amplified
Bible - Lockman)
NLT: This means that the things on earth will be shaken, so
that only eternal things will be left. (NLT
- Tyndale House)
Wuest: And this word, Yet once more, makes evident the
transferring to a new basis the things that are shaken as of things
made, in order that the things that are not shaken might remain [the
present universe under the curse of sin changed to the perfect
universe of the eternal conditions]. (Erdmans)
Young's Literal: and this -- 'Yet once' -- doth
make evident the removal of the things shaken, as of things having
been made, that the things not shaken may remain; |
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AND THIS
[EXPRESSION], "YET ONCE MORE," DENOTES THE REMOVING OF THOSE
THINGS WHICH CAN BE SHAKEN AS OF CREATED THINGS IN ORDER THAT THOSE
THINGS WHICH CANNOT BE SHAKEN MAY REMAIN: to de eti hapax deloi
(3SPAI) (ten) ton saleuomenon (PPPNPG) metathesin os pepoiemenon (RPPNPG)
hina meine (3SAAS) ta me saleuomena (PPPNPN):
(Psalms
102:26,27;
Ezekiel 21:27;
Matthew 24:35;
2 Peter 3:10,11;
Revelation 11:15;
21:1)
Yet once more - Isaiah echoes this warning
Therefore
I shall make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken from
its place at the fury of the LORD of hosts in the day of His burning
anger. (Isaiah 13:13).
It is this greater shaking from which there is no
escape. That shaking will culminate in the great judgments described
in Daniel and Revelation. The earth and heaven will flee away and be
replaced by the new heavens and the new earth.
Isa
65:17 For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the
former things shall not be remembered or come to mind.
Isa
66:22 "For just as the new heavens and the new earth Which I make
will endure before Me," declares the LORD, "So your offspring and your
name will endure. (Comment: For those who think God is finished with
Israel, this verse creates a huge problem. In fact God promises that
like the eternal new heavens and new earth, Israel will endure
forever!)
2 Peter 3:13 (see note)
But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new
earth, in which righteousness dwells.
Revelation 21:1 (see note)
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the
first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.
Vincent comments that...
Attention
is called to this phrase (yet once more) as specially
significant, because it indicates that the shaking prophesied by
Haggai is to be final. It is to precede the new heaven and the new
earth.
This cataclysmic event will
explode the myth that what we can see and touch and handle is real and
that unseen things are unreal. When God ends the sifting and shaking
process, only that which is real will remain. Those who were occupied
with the tangible, visible ritualism of Judaism were clinging to
things that could and would be shaken.
Denotes (1213)
(deloo from delos = manifest,
evident) means to make plain by
words and thus to declare. To make manifest to the mind. Deloo is used of
indications which lead the mind to conclusions about the origin or character
of things. It means to make some matter known that was
unknown or not communicated previously. It means to show clearly, to signify,
to make manifest, visible, clear, or plain and to make known. When spoken of
things past it means to tell, relate or impart information (as in 1Cor 1:11;
Colossians 1:18 [note]).
Although deloo is used most often in reference to declarations through
articulate language, it is also used often (as in the present verse) of any
kind of indirect communication.
When spoken of things future or hidden,
deloo means to reveal, show or bring to light.
Deloo is used 28 times in the
Septuagint (LXX)
(Exod. 6:3; 33:12; Deut. 33:10; Jos. 4:7; 1 Sam. 3:21; 1 Ki. 8:36; 2 Chr.
6:27; Est. 2:22; Ps. 25:14; 51:6; 147:20; Isa. 42:9; Jer. 16:21; Dan. 2:5f,
9, 11, 16, 23ff, 28ff, 47; 4:18; 7:16). Here are some uses in the
Septuagint (LXX)
Exodus 6:3 and I appeared to
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name, LORD, I did not
make Myself known (deloo) to them.
Exodus 33:12 Then Moses said to
the LORD, "See, Thou dost say to me, 'Bring up this people!' But Thou
Thyself hast not let me know (deloo) whom Thou wilt send with me.
Moreover, Thou hast said, 'I have known you by name, and you have also found
favor in My sight.'
Esther 2:22 But the plot became known
(deloo) to Mordecai, and he told Queen Esther, and Esther informed the king
in Mordecai's name.
Psalm 25:14 The secret of the LORD
is for those who fear Him, And He will make them know (deloo) His covenant.
Psalm 51:6 Behold, Thou dost
desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part Thou wilt
make me know (deloo) wisdom.
Psalm 147:20 He has not dealt thus
with any nation and as for His ordinances, they have not known
(deloo) them. Praise the LORD!
Isaiah 42:9 "Behold, the former
things have come to pass, Now I declare new things; Before they spring forth
I proclaim (Lxx = deloo = make them known) them to you."
Daniel 2:25 Then Arioch hurriedly
brought Daniel into the king's presence and spoke to him as follows: "I have
found a man among the exiles from Judah who can make the
interpretation known (deloo) to the king!"
Deloo is used 7 times in the NT...
1 Corinthians 1:11 For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe's people, that there are
quarrels among you.
1 Corinthians 3:13 each man's work
will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed
with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work.
Colossians 1:8 (note)
and he also informed us of
your love in the Spirit.
Hebrews 9:8 (note)
The Holy Spirit is
signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been
disclosed, while the outer tabernacle is still standing,
Hebrews 12:27 (note)
And this expression, "Yet once
more," denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as
of created things, in order that those things which cannot be shaken may
remain.
1 Peter 1:11 (note)
seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was
indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to
follow.
2 Peter 1:14 (note)
knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also
our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear (of something divinely
communicated) to me.
Removing
(3331)
(metathesis from metatíthemi =
transfer from meta = implying change + tithemi =
put) is literally, the act of transferring from one place to another
and so the removal or taking up or away. And so it can describe a
transfer from one place to another, as for example the translation of
a person to heaven...
By faith Enoch was taken up so that
he should not see death; and he was not found because God took him up;
for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up
he was pleasing to God. (see note
Hebrews 11:5).
Hebrews 12:27
uses metathesis with the idea of removal.
Figuratively,
metathesis means to transpose or put one thing in the place of
another. It can mean a change of things instituted or established,
such as a changeover from the Levitical priesthood
For when the priesthood is
changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. (see
note
Hebrews 7:12)
(Comment: The priesthood after the order of Melchizedek was put
in the place of the priesthood after the order of Aaron. The blood of
animals could not pay for sin, but the blood of Messiah could. Thus,
the New Covenant was substituted for the Old Covenant, Jesus’ blood,
the reality, for animal blood, the type. But that could only be done
by changing the law governing the priesthood. Thus, if a transfer to a
new and different order of priesthood was to be effected, it must be
by reason of a transfer to a new basis. The law governing the
priesthood as found in the Mosaic economy must be abrogated in favor
of another which would provide for an order of priesthood that would
function successfully in the very thing in which the Aaronic
priesthood failed.-
Wuest)
Transliterated
it gives us the English word metathesis which is defined as the
transposition of a letter of a word.
Vincent
comments on the meaning of metathesis in
Hebrews 7:12
writing that there it refers to
A change. A transfer to a new
basis. Only in Hebrews. See notes
Hebrews 11:5;
Hebrews 12:27.
The inferiority of the Levitical priesthood is inferred from the fact
that another priesthood was promised. If perfection was possible at
all under the Mosaic economy, it must come through the Levitical
priesthood, since that priesthood was, in a sense, the basis of the
law. The whole legal system centered in it. The fundamental idea of
the law was that of a people united with God. Sin, the obstacle to
this ideal union, was dealt with through the priesthood. If the law
failed to effect complete fellowship with God, the priesthood was
shown to be a failure, and must be abolished; and the change of the
priesthood involved the abolition of the entire legal system.
Wuest explains the
removing writing that...
It refers to the act of God
transferring to a new basis, this present universe which is under the
curse of Adam’s sin, that new basis being a new and perfect universe.
John speaks of this in the words “I saw a new heaven and a new earth:
for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away”
Revelation 21:1 (see note).
The universe was created by God, but will be made to pass away, and to
be substituted by a new universe which will exist forever. Thus,
transitory, perishable things must pass away, in order that the
eternal things may appear in their abiding value. The writer is
pointing out that the passing away of perishable things only
emphasizes the eternal. One of these is mentioned in the next verse,
an eternal kingdom, the kingdom of God’s rule over the saved of the
human race on a new earth all through eternity. The old earth will
pass away and a new earth will be made so that the saints might have a
fit place of habitation throughout the eternal ages. (Wuest,
K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans
or
Logos)
><> ><> ><>
C H Spurgeon - Morning and
evening : Daily readings (June 22 PM) - We have many things in our
possession at the present moment which can be shaken, and it ill
becomes a Christian man to set much store by them, for there is
nothing stable beneath these rolling skies; change is written upon all
things. Yet, we have certain “things which cannot be shaken,” and I
invite you this evening to think of them, that if the things which can
be shaken should all be taken away, you may derive real comfort from
the things that cannot be shaken, which will remain. Whatever your
losses have been, or may be, you enjoy present salvation. You are
standing at the foot of his cross, trusting alone in the merit of
Jesus’ precious blood, and no rise or fall of the markets can
interfere with your salvation in him; no breaking of banks, no
failures and bankruptcies can touch that. Then you are a child of God
this evening. God is your Father. No change of circumstances can ever
rob you of that. Although by losses brought to poverty, and stripped
bare, you can say, “He is my Father still. In my Father’s house are
many mansions; therefore will I not be troubled.” You have another
permanent blessing, namely, the love of Jesus Christ. He who is God
and Man loves you with all the strength of his affectionate
nature—nothing can affect that. The fig tree may not blossom, and the
flocks may cease from the field, it matters not to the man who can
sing, “My Beloved is mine, and I am his.” Our best portion and richest
heritage we cannot lose. Whatever troubles come, let us play the man;
let us show that we are not such little children as to be cast down by
what may happen in this poor fleeting state of time. Our country is
Immanuel’s land, our hope is above the sky, and therefore, calm as the
summer’s ocean; we will see the wreck of everything earthborn, and yet
rejoice in the God of our salvation. (Spurgeon, C. H.).
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Hebrews 12:28 Therefore,
since we
receive a
kingdom which
cannot be
shaken, let us
show
gratitude, by
which we may
offer to
God an
acceptable
service with
reverence and
awe
(NASB:
Lockman) |
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Greek:
Dio
basileian
asaleuton
paralambanontes
echomen
charin,
di'
es
latreuomen
euarestos
to
theo
meta
eulabeias
kai
deous;
Amplified: Let us therefore, receiving a kingdom that is
firm and stable and cannot be shaken, offer to God pleasing service
and acceptable worship, with modesty and pious care and godly fear and
awe
(Amplified
Bible - Lockman)
NLT: Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be
destroyed, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with
holy fear and awe. (NLT
- Tyndale House)
Wuest: Wherefore, receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken,
let us be having grace, by means of which we might be serving God,
well pleasing to Him, doing this with pious care and fear (Erdmans)
Young's Literal: wherefore, a kingdom that cannot
be shaken receiving, may we have grace, through which we may serve God
well-pleasingly, with reverence and religious fear; |
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THEREFORE SINCE
WE RECEIVE A
KINGDOM WHICH CANNOT BE SHAKEN LET US
SHOW GRATITUDE
BY WHICH WE MAY OFFER TO GOD AN
ACCEPTABLE SERVICE
WITH REVERENCE) AND AWE: Dio basileian asaleuton paralambanontes
(PAPMPN) echomen (1PPAS) charin, di' es latreuomen (1PPAS) euarestos
to theo meta eulabeias kai deous: (Isaiah
9:7;
Daniel 2:44;
7:14,27;
Matthew 25:34;
Luke 1:33;
17:20,21;
1 Peter 1:4,5;
Revelation 1:6;
5:10)
(we may
Psalms 19:14;
Isaiah 56:7;
Romans 12:1,2;
Ephesians 1:6;
5:10;
Philippians 4:18;
1 Peter 2:5,20)
(reverence and awe -
Heb 4:16;
5:7;
10:19,22;
Leviticus 10:3;
Psalms 2:11;
89:7;
Proverbs 28:24;
Romans 11:20;
1 Peter 1:17;
Revelation 15:4)
Therefore
since we receive
- for this cause ~ because of the truth that follows. This truth
should give us a motivation
and should inspire worshipful service
out of a heart filled with thanksgiving at the truth that what we have
in Christ can never be moved or shaken no matter what we might be
experiencing in the temporal by and by. We today like the original Jewish readers
of this letter have a Solid Rock,
Who was also a merciful and faithful High Priest, seated forever as
our Advocate at the right hand of God.
NKJV is a
somewhat more literal rendering than NAS...
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken,
let us have grace (instead of "let us show gratitude"), by which we
may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
Note let us
have is in the
present tense
so it could be
paraphrased let us have a lifestyle of grace, one lived continually in
His transforming power. Grace is the only
way a believer can offer an "acceptable" service to a holy God (deeds
done in our own strength are as "filthy rags" Isaiah 64:6). Grace is the
only way to we can continually show affection to brethren (Hebrews
13:1) and the
only way to not neglect demonstrating affection to strangers (Hebrews
13:2).
Click
for all 12 "let us..." exhortations in Hebrews (in the
NASB).
Why should we
"show gratitude"? Because we have a kingdom which cannot be shaken.
This should inspire the most fervent worship and adoration. We should
unceasingly praise Him with reverence and godly fear.
Kingdom which
cannot be shaken - This emphasis on
stability permeates Hebrews, the writer using a variety of Greek
words that speak of stability...
Hebrews 2:2
For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and
every transgression and disobedience
received a just recompense,
Hebrews 3:6
but Christ was
faithful
as a Son over His house whose house we are, if we hold fast our
confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.
Hebrews 3:14
For we have become
partakers
of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm
until the end;
Hebrews 6:19
This hope we have as an
anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one
which enters within the veil,
Hebrews 9:17
For a covenant is valid (steadfast) only when men are
dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives.
Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering,
for He who promised is faithful;
Acceptable
(2102)
(euarestos from euárestos = pleasing, well–pleasing from
eu = well + arésko = please) pertains to that which
causes someone to be pleased. Pleasingly, acceptably. In an acceptable
way, a manner well-pleasing to another.
How can our
service be "acceptable" to God? To help understand meaning see root
aresko (700) in Romans 8 where Paul writes that...
and those who are in the flesh
cannot please (aresko) God. (see note
Romans 8:8)
S Lewis Johnson writes that
Romans 8:8...
is one of the clearest texts
teaching that an unbelieving man cannot please God until a work of the
Spirit has been performed on his inner man. In fact, it is a verse
that plainly teaches that regeneration must precede faith. The reason
is clear. Faith pleases God (see note
Hebrews 11:6),
but they that are in the flesh, the unsaved individuals, cannot please
God. Thus, they cannot exercise faith as long as they are in the
flesh. They exercise faith only after the Holy Spirit in efficacious
grace takes them out of the flesh and puts them, in the Spirit by
giving them new life. The first activity of the new life is to believe
(cf. 1 John 5:1). The man dead in sins is given new life, which
manifests itself in saving trust through the gospel. Could anything be
plainer? To affirm that the unsaved man can believe is to deny the
biblical teaching on total depravity and human inability; it is to
lapse into Arminian error, as Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer used to call it.
(Romans
8:5-17)
Awe (127)
(deos) from Homer down refers to fear or awe and then
reverence. It is like an apprehension of danger as when alone in a deep, dark
forest. Apprehension due to God's glory and majesty. It is that sense
of profound respect and reverence for deity, in this case the living
God, His majesty and holy presence.
When the
voice and tread of a wild beast are distinctly heard close at hand the
deos becomes phobos.
But what is this
reverence and awe? Is is not similar to the repeated OT concept of the "fear of
the Lord"? It is that affectionate reverence by which the child of
God bends himself humbly and carefully to his Father’s law. His wrath
is so bitter, and His love so sweet; that hence springs an earnest
desire to please Him, and—because of the danger of coming short from
his own weakness and temptations—a holy watchfulness and fear, “that
he might not sin against him”.
As Ray Stedman ( reference)
says...
there are some things
which cannot be shaken and which will remain forever. That which is
shaken and removed is so done in order that what cannot be shaken may
stand revealed. Such an unshakable thing is the kingdom of God into
which those who trust in Jesus have entered. It is
present wherever the King is honored, loved and obeyed. The
present active participle (“are receiving”) indicates a continuing
process. We enter the kingdom at conversion, but we abide in it daily
as we reckon upon the resources which come to us from our invisible
but present King. Such unbroken supply should arouse a continuing
sense of gratitude within us and lead to acceptable worship of God.
What renders such worship acceptable is the sense of God as incredibly
powerful and majestic in person, and yet loving and compassionate of
heart. An old hymn ( play)
puts it well:
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible, hid from our eyes.
How blessed, how glorious, the Ancient of Days
Almighty, Victorious, thy great name we praise!
><> ><> ><>
Our Daily Bread - Temporary
Or Eternal - The Seven Wonders of the Ancient
World were wonderful indeed! These impressive creations of human
genius include the Tomb of Mausolos, built in 350 bc; the Temple of
Artemis at Ephesus; the Hanging Gardens of Babylon; King Ptolemy's
lighthouse near Alexandria; the 100-foot statue of Apollo called the
Colossus of Rhodes; the 40-foot statue of Zeus in the city of Olympia;
and the great pyramids of Egypt.
Six of these remarkable achievements have been destroyed--Ptolemy's
lighthouse by an earthquake, and the other five demolished by
plunderers. Only the pyramids remain to fill us with awe.
We may marvel over these Seven Wonders, but we must never forget that
everything in our world is temporary. I remember looking at the
skyline of New York City from the stern of a ferryboat and recalling
the lines of a hymn: "These all shall perish, stone on stone; but not
Thy kingdom nor Thy throne."
The writer of Hebrews said, "Since we are receiving a kingdom which
cannot be shaken, let us . . . serve God acceptably with reverence and
godly fear" (12:28). These words and the words of Psalm 102 help us to
keep the temporary and the eternal in perspective. —Vernon C Grounds (Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day,
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see--
O Thou who changest not, abide with me! --Lyte
Hold tightly to what is eternal and loosely to what is temporal.
><> ><> ><>
Our Daily Bread -
Temporary Or Eternal - The Seven Wonders of the Ancient
World were wonderful indeed! These impressive creations of human
genius include the Tomb of Mausolos, built in 350 bc; the Temple of
Artemis at Ephesus; the Hanging Gardens of Babylon; King Ptolemy's
lighthouse near Alexandria; the 100-foot statue of Apollo called the
Colossus of Rhodes; the 40-foot statue of Zeus in the city of Olympia;
and the great pyramids of Egypt.
Six of these remarkable achievements have been destroyed--Ptolemy's
lighthouse by an earthquake, and the other five demolished by
plunderers. Only the pyramids remain to fill us with awe.
We may marvel over these Seven Wonders, but we must never forget that
everything in our world is temporary. I remember looking at the
skyline of New York City from the stern of a ferryboat and recalling
the lines of a hymn: "These all shall perish, stone on stone; but not
Thy kingdom nor Thy throne."
The writer of Hebrews said, "Since we are receiving a kingdom which
cannot be shaken, let us . . . serve God acceptably with reverence and
godly fear" (12:28). These words and the words of Psalm 102 help us to
keep the temporary and the eternal in perspective. —Vernon C Grounds (Ibid)
Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day,
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see--
O Thou who changest not, abide with me! --Lyte
Hold tightly to what is eternal and loosely to what is temporal
><> ><> ><>
Our Daily Bread -
Frozen Snowball - Baseball pitcher Tug McGraw had
a wonderful philosophy of pitching. He called it his “frozen snowball”
theory.“ If I come in to pitch with the bases loaded, ”Tug explained,“
and heavy hitter Willie Stargell is at bat, there’s no reason I want
to throw the ball. But eventually I have to pitch. So I remind myself
that in a few billion years the earth will become a frozen snowball
hurtling through space, and nobody’s going to care what Willie
Stargell did with the bases loaded!”
The Bible tells us the earth will someday “melt with fervent heat;
both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up”(2 Peter
3:10). Yet McGraw’s point is valid: We need to keep life in
perspective. Most of the things we worry about have no eternal
significance.
The writer of Hebrews was concerned about our perspective. Throughout
the book, he keeps our eyes focused on heaven and away from earth.
Unless our minds are on heaven, we will have little eternal influence
on earth.
There will come a time when the earth will be shaken, and things that
once seemed permanent will be gone (Hebrews 12:27). What you fear most
today will be forgotten like yesterday’s headlines. What really
matters is what you do today that has a touch of eternity about
it.—Haddon W. Robinson (Ibid)
O for a heart that is willing to serve,
Laboring while it is day!
Nothing is lost that is done for the Lord,
He will reward and repay. —Anon.
The one who lives for this life only will have eternity to regret it
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FOR OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE: kai gar o theos hemon pur
katanaliskon. (PAPNSN):
(Heb
10:27;
Exodus 24:17;
Numbers 11:1;
16:35;
Deuteronomy 4:24;
9:3;
Psalms 50:3;
97:3;
Isaiah 66:15;
Daniel 7:9;
2 Thessalonians 1:8)
Stedman
sums up this fifth and final warning writing that...
The proper attitude of Christians
must be one of awe that a Being of such majesty and glory could find a
way to dwell eternally with such sin controlled and sin-injured
creatures as us. Since our “God is a consuming fire,” we must cry with
Isaiah, “Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who of us can
dwell with everlasting burning?” (Isaiah 33:14). God’s love is just
such a fire, it destroys what it cannot purify, but purifies what it
cannot destroy. In Jesus we have a relationship that cannot be
destroyed (Rom 8:38-39). Our great king is leading us through trials
and difficulties in order that we may at last cry with Job, “He knows
the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold”
(Job 23:10 KJV). (Hebrews 12:25-29 Fifth and Final
Warning )
Note our text well! It says that
“our ‘God IS [not was!] a consuming fire.’ The God of Zion
is the same God as the God of Sinai. God has not changed. Granted,
Christians ought to laugh and in fact in one sense they ought to have the best sense of humor
on this planet. And Christians ought to enjoy life but they must also
know and understand that God remains a “Consuming fire” and that
acceptable worship takes place when there is authentic “reverence and
awe.” This is God’s Word! And so when we come to
worship, we must keep both mountains in view, the approachable Mt Zion
with its consuming love, and the unapproachable Mt Sinai with its
consuming fire and then come in reverent boldness.
Consuming
fire - one of the more awesome pictures of the perfect holiness of God:
See Ex 24:17, Dt 4:24, 9:3 (cp Isa 66:15, Da 7:9, Rev 1:14 )
God is a
consuming fire as shown by His actions against sin: Nu 11:1,16:35,
Ps 50:3, 97:3,2Th 1:7-
8 Zeph 3:8
Everything depends on how we see God. If we see him Scripturally we
will experience awe and reverence and there will be times when we are
overwhelmed with the His majesty as our souls are engaged by God. Our
heart’s desire for ourselves and those around us ought to be that
they be regenerated, they have a radical Biblical vision of God, a
sense of his holiness and transcendence, and this will inform all
of life, their worship, their sense of mission and evangelism, their
stewardship, their affirmation and delight in creation, their
relationships, their sexual ethics, in short, everything!
It is so easy to
succumb to focusing on one mountain at the expense of the other. But
theological balance is the key. Keep the paradox in view that our God
is both unapproachable and approachable!
The twin peaks of our spiritual life demand two things as we march toward
Zion. The demand our obedience and our worship. Let us obey his Word implicitly, for it
is effectual, never failing and ever final for it will one day (soon) shake the whole
universe. Let us worship Him with reverence and awe and thanksgiving!
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