Theological adventures?

Deuteronomy 2:1–3:29; 2 Corinthians 1:12–16; Psalm 31:10–24

Many of the people, events, and institutions in the Old Testament are models or pre-representations of people, events, and institutions in the New Testament. The study of this is called typology, but it gained a bad reputation from people whose imagination exceeded good scholarship.

For instance, some say that Abraham taking Isaac up on a mountain foreshadows Christ in some way. That may be true, but the wood that they carried does not represent the Cross Jesus carried, nor is Isaac a type of Christ (Isaac lived, Christ died). If there is a type in the story, it is the ram that did die as a sacrifice in Isaac’s place.

I can understand the wild and crazy ideas that have come out of typology though. Look at it this way; if you are thinking about buying a red car, you will soon start seeing red cars everywhere. If a Bible student is thinking about Jesus and the NT stories, pretty soon everything that student reads in the OT will remind him of something in the NT. Being reminded of Jesus is a good thing, but that does not make the red car parked in Abraham’s tent the same as the red car that carried Herod into Jerusalem. They just happened to be both the same color.

That said, I had one of those non-typology thoughts today. Take this with a grain of salt . . . Moses has the people at the edge of the promised land. God tells him about the enemies before them. He says, “ . . . Rise up, set out on your journey and go over the Valley of the Arnon. Behold, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to take possession, and contend with him in battle. This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you on the peoples who are under the whole heaven, who shall hear the report of you and shall tremble and be in anguish because of you.” (Deuteronomy 2:23–25)

God then said this to Moses, “And I commanded Joshua at that time, ‘Your eyes have seen all that the Lord your God has done to these two kings. So will the Lord do to all the kingdoms into which you are crossing. You shall not fear them, for it is the Lord your God who fights for you’ . . . (now Moses), Go up to the top of Pisgah and lift up your eyes westward and northward and southward and eastward, and look at it with your eyes, for you shall not go over this Jordan. But charge Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he shall go over at the head of this people, and he shall put them in possession of the land that you shall see.’” (Deuteronomy 3: 21–22, 27–28)

Moses could not go in. Instead, Joshua would take over. Now these are my thoughts. Moses represents to my mind the Law of God. He led the people out of bondage in Egypt, and then was allowed to lead them through the wilderness and to the edge of new life. But he was not allowed to bring them into their new life. Joshua would do that.

When God led me out of my old life and brought me to new life in the kingdom of God, I was to live by grace, not by law. Law could not take me in or keep me there. Like the people in the OT were led by Joshua, I also had a new leader. His name? Joshua — which in Greek means “Jesus.”

This is not proper typology, but it still makes me smile. Some might say, “Good sermon, wrong text.”

It delights me that these lovely thoughts also connect in a small way with the other two readings. The NT one says, “For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.” (2 Corinthians 1:12)

If I lived by Law and actually kept it, I could boast. But I do not and cannot. Instead, I live by grace. I can still boast like Paul did in that verse, but not in me. Joshua led me to freedom and Joshua keeps me there. My boast is in the grace of God.

Because of Jesus, I also can say with the psalmist, “Love God, all you saints; God takes care of all who stay close to him, But he pays back in full those arrogant enough to go it alone. Be brave. Be strong. Don’t give up. Expect God to get here soon.” (Psalm 31:23–24)

My seminary professors might slap my wrist over this, but I could claim a new category, not typology, but something like symbol + reminder = Praise for Jesus. I’m sure there are many acceptable words for that!

Symbolism, Prayer, and Looking for Jesus

There is symbolism in the Bible that may not be obvious to all readers. For instance, if you look up all the places where the word “incense” is used, it becomes apparent that it is more about prayer than perfume. Two OT passages popped out when reading in Exodus. They are about the altar of incense was used in the tabernacle. Because the nation of Israel was mobile and on the move, it had to be portable: “And you shall make two golden rings for it. Under its molding on two opposite sides of it you shall make them, and they shall be holders for poles with which to carry it.” (Exodus 30:4)

Because this is about prayer, I started thinking about instructions for praying in the NT where God tells me to pray without ceasing and to pray about everything. That is, wherever I go, take my prayer life along with me. Make it mobile.

The next verses gave more instruction: “And the incense that you shall make according to its composition, you shall not make for yourselves. It shall be for you holy to the Lord. Whoever makes any like it to use as perfume shall be cut off from his people.” (Exodus 30:37–38)

This suggests that prayer is not about me (although I am to pray for my own needs). Instead, this carries the idea of not using prayer to make myself more presentable (like perfume) or to make others think better of me. It reminds me of what Jesus said in His sermon on the mountain . . .

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:5–8)

Prayer is a conversation between God and His child, not one-sided, not posted in social media for the whole world to read, and not a performance for others to admire or applaud. When I pray, it is not to look good, or to appear more pious. Otherwise, I have missed the point. If I only pray for myself and what I want for me, then I am being selfish also. Prayer must include intercession for others.

And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you.” But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’ ” And the Lord relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people. (Exodus 32:9–14)

There is more to that story, but as I read about intercession, I thought of Jesus and how the Bible says that He is always interceding for His people. Surprisingly, the next reading is about the ‘groom’ (a symbol or type of Jesus Christ) who always in the place of incense, always interceding for His bride. It says, “Until the day breathes and the shadows flee, I will go away to the mountain of myrrh and the hill of frankincense.” (Song of Solomon 4:6) These two, myrrh and frankincense, are main ingredients in making incense!

There are more symbols that represent great truths. Moses represents the Law of God that no one has ever wholly kept, the Law that accuses us of our guilt. Jesus used this reality in speaking to the religious leaders. He said to them, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me . . . Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?” (John 5:39, 45–47)

The OT Scripture bears witness of Jesus. Moses wrote about Jesus. When I read the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, I am to search for Jesus. He said He is in both, and I need to believe both. As Jesus said, if I cannot believe what Moses wrote and consider that the Law is not important, then how can I believe what Jesus says about the Law or about anything else?

For me, my prayers are too often me-oriented, about what I want, about how I feel. I need to focus on Jesus more, and the glory of God more, intercede for others more, and even in the pages of the Law, always be on the lookout for Jesus.

The Four-fold Majesty of Jesus Christ

Our city has a budget for art and used a large portion of it for a sculpture that sits beside the approach to a recently renovated bridge. So far, I’ve heard no compliments on this sculpture. Many people think it was a waste of tax-payers money, and a dismal choice of subject matter that makes no sense. Those making the most complaints seem to be looking for a more literal depiction they can recognize rather than art that represents abstract concepts or values.
 

Many who read the Bible have the same struggle. This Book from God is filled with a great deal of literal narration, yet some of it is obviously symbolic. As difficult as this is for some, both forms of literature need to be considered when interpreting God’s Word. For instance, consider this vision seen by John and recorded in the last book of the Bible.

And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (Revelation 4:8)

Today’s devotional reading focused on the “no rest” and never-ending praise that will be part of our experience in eternity with Jesus Christ. For me, I wondered about the four living creatures. This is not the first mention of odd living things full of eyes. Elsewhere, they are said to be like a lion, or an ox, or a man, or an eagle. I can understand the idea of never-ending praise, but what do these creatures represent? 

Apparently, the church Fathers identified them with the four Gospels and how their authors used symbols to express an aspect of Christ in relation to the world. Even the number four is significant as the four quarters of the world, so these four writings present yet another symbol. 

In them, Matthew gives prominence to Jesus as royalty, the Lion of Judah. Mark focus on the laborious endurance of the Savior like the ox. Luke points to Jesus as the man, filled with brotherly sympathy to humanity. John depicts Jesus in soaring majesty, the eagle and the divine Word, God in human flesh. 

As for this passage in Revelation, these four living creatures seem to represent the body of Christ, the redeemed church, who are involved in ceaseless praise. As His people, we are ministering as kings and priests to God, and ministers to bless a redeemed earth. As His people, we will stand at the head of all, human in ourselves yet filled with the divine Holy Spirit. One commentator says we are the lion who is the head of wild beasts, the ox who leads of tame beasts, and the eagle who is over all birds. 

In another view, that of Jewish tradition, there were “four standards” under which Israel camped in the wilderness: Judah to the east, Dan to the north, Ephraim to the west, and Reuben to the south. Respectively, these were a lion, an eagle, an ox, and a man. The tabernacle stood In the midst of their camp, a symbol of God’s presence with them. This pictures “that blessed period when—the earth having been fitted for being the kingdom of the Father—the court of heaven will be transferred to earth, and the ‘tabernacle of God shall be with men’ (Revelation 21:3), and the whole world will be subject to a never-ending theocracy.” 

As is the way of God’s Word, the point of union between the Old and New Testament views is Christ, the perfect realization of Old Testament ideals. He is presented in a fourfold aspect in the four Gospels respectively. Then at the end of time and throughout eternity, the redeemed Church will realize those ideals because of Him. 

We will, as His Body, combine human perfections because we will be fully like Him. This includes: (1) kingly righteousness that hates evil; (2) laborious diligence in every duty; (3) human sympathy; and (4) the contemplation of eternal truth. As the high-soaring intelligence of the eagle forms a contrasted complement to practical labor with the ox bound to the soil; so God’s holy and judicial vengeance against evil is a contrasted complement to human sympathy. 

Earlier, the creatures are each said to have “six wings.” Two covered each face in reverence, as not presuming to lift up their faces to God. Two wings covered the feet of each in humility, not worthy to stand in God’s holy presence. The other two wings gave each creature flight in obedient readiness, instantly doing God’s commands.

This is a picture of what Jesus Christ is like, and what I ought to be like as one small member of His body. In eternity, this will happen day and night. Right now, after reading these things, it should be happening more often.

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Lord, sometimes I focus on my personal relationship with You to the point that I forget the bigger and even grander scheme of things. A song says, “Christ is exalted above all else.” That is what You want from me, to exalt the One who is described in the actions of a God-man who came to earth, but also depicted with symbols as the King over all, Servant to You and to all who call out to You, Friend and caregiver to the masses, and Divine Almighty God who is worthy to receive glory, honor and power. I am not worthy of such a role yet gladly do whatever I can to lift up Your Name.

Depth represented by baptism

The Bible is rich with imagery, figures of speech and symbols. Each of these teaches and represents deep truths that are either difficult to explain in words, or needs a short version to remind us of the longer explanation. Baptism is one of these.

Being baptized is not to be taken lightly. When Jesus left this earth, one of the last commands He gave included making disciples and baptizing them. His intention is that every person who believes in Him experiences it.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (Matthew 28:19)

Yet getting dunked (or sprinkled) by itself has no value for the human soul. A little grime might come off the skin, but the deeper issue is the grime of sin. Sin can only be cleansed by a mighty work of God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. God washes away sin, not water, and He uses blood. In a passage comparing the sacrifices made in the Old Testament to the sacrifice made by Christ, Hebrews 9:14 says, “. . . how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

Christians know this power. It comes to us by grace. When I was a new Christian, the thought came to mind that this grace of having my sin forgiven so freely meant it did not matter much when I sinned again. After all, Jesus died for it all and all was forgiven. However, just being clean is an incredible motivation to stay that way.

The action of water baptism symbolizes even deeper reasons to be clean. Part of the truth that it signifies comes from Romans 6. It says:

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:1-11)

The word “baptism” as used here means to be immersed or submerged, but this isn’t talking about water baptism. Instead, because grace immersed me “in Christ,” whatever happens to Jesus also happens to me. I died with Him; I was buried with Him, and I walk in newness of life with Him. Water baptism doesn’t make this happen but it does symbolize this remarkable and life-changing union with my Lord and Savior. Because of Him, I am clean, and my sin is washed away. I was baptized in water to declare my faith and my union with Christ and to declare that He washed my sins away. I am clean.

However, the New Testament is filled with verses that tell me to keep myself clean. I still sin and even though future sin is covered by grace also, I’m not to take that for granted. Instead, I’m to remember that I died with Him and am set free from sin. Why go again into its bondage? While the benefits of purity are explained over and over, I do get grime in my life, and God offers the way to renew that cleansing.

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:7-9)

God will forgive my sin, but I must confess my sin. Then He can go to work to wash it out of my life. I don’t need to be dunked in a baptism again, but I do need to confess it to Him.

In fact, the way to receive cleansing from sin is the same for those who do not know Jesus as it is for those who do. Doing it the first time was extremely difficult, but the experience of knowing Christ and His grace, and the reality of what baptism symbolizes make confession and cleansing a vital part of living for Him every day.

The tree of life . . . and death . . . and life forever

As an artist and quilt maker, I’m drawn to the beauty of trees. I know others who use this motif exclusively in their art. There is no end to the various ways trees can be depicted. I’ve even a couple of books whose only topics are how to draw trees. Today I learn a bit of why they are so attractive.

In Recalling the Hope of Glory, author Allen P. Ross points out that the ‘tree of life’ in the garden of Eden was designed to be a source of life. After Adam and Eve sinned, God prevented them from eating from this tree lest they live forever as sinners.

Ross then describes how the religions of the ancient Near East and other areas picked up the idea that a ‘tree of life’ existed somewhere with great healing powers. They used images or representations of a tree as part of their idolatrous worship. The Asherah pole is one of these idols, forbidden to the people of God, yet they fell into worship of Asherah and this object anyway and were judged for it.

Yet the tree of life was also part of Israel’s sanctuary, not as an idol but a reminder and symbolized by a lampstand with branches and almond blossoms made of pure gold. This object was also a source of light, another necessity for life. We call this lampstand today a Menorah.

Trees still signify life in arid places. Wherever a clump of trees there is water, and in the desert, water is life. We also marvel at how trees can grow in the rocks on the upper sides of mountains, or sprout from cracks in city cement. Trees have a tenacious power to live.

In the age to come, John’s vision in Revelation includes a Tree of Life with “leaves for the healing of the nations.” He describes it with words that compel readers and stir a desire to be there. In that time, the people of God will again have access to all that the tree represents. Revelation 2:7 says, “To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”

In older Bible versions, verses about Jesus dying on the cross translate the word ‘cross’ in what seems an odd way. I’ve wondered why they did it as the word puts an odd image in my mind. After reading about the tree of life and its significance both in the Bible and in pagan worship, I am seeing a small glimpse of something that is both startling and awe-inspiring.

In Acts 5:29-30 Peter is speaking to those who put him and the other apostles in prison for teaching in the name of Jesus. He says, “We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree.”

This term “tree” instead of “cross” is repeated in several places. My Bible always cross-references it to Deuteronomy 21:22-23: “If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God.”

Galatians 3:13 says, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us, for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.’”

That which was a symbol of life, even everlasting life, and became an object of pagan worship and then the place where the Author and Giver of Life died for our sins. Jesus was not guilty. He had committed no sin, never mind a sin that deserved death, but He willing became “accursed of God” for our sakes and allowed Himself to be hung on a tree.

People wear little crosses as jewelry, often thoughtlessly regarding its symbolism. Others recognize and remember that their cross on a chain represents the death (and if it is empty, the resurrection) of Jesus Christ. Some even come close to worshiping this symbol.

I’ve never seen anyone wear a tree on a chain, as much as most of us like trees. Now I am wondering if a tree is a stronger symbol than a cross. It points to that which was lost in the garden, regained at Golgotha, and is forever mine because the Son of God willingly did what He had to do to give me—and all people—access once again to eternal life.

Symbols only represent . . .

Last night we attended a juried recital by a jazz violinist, sweet friend, and superb musician. Her music makes my heart sing. Congratulations on a fine performance, Erika!

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This morning, I’m thinking about symbols. I’m not much for them, at least not compared to reality. For me, a © signifies a more important legal reality, photos cannot replace a person’s face, the actual win is more significant than the trophy. All reality is more far important than whatever represents it.

In the spiritual realm, the words in the Bible, as any words, are symbols representing the truth God actually speaks. The elements of communion are symbols representing the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, the Ark of the Covenant was a symbol of God’s presence, and while it didn’t guarantee that He was with them, at least at one point, His people thought that it did.

In 1 Samuel 4, Israel went out to battle their enemy, the Philistines and were defeated. They came back to camp and wondered, “Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines?” In their minds, God is sovereign and had allowed their loss. Clearly, He was not “with” them, which was correct. However, they made the same error over and over; instead of asking God what was wrong or for any direction at all, they took the matter into their own hands. They assumed that since His presence was symbolized by the Ark, the Ark was the missing ingredient. “Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord from Shiloh to us, that when it comes among us it may save us from the hand of our enemies.”

The symbol did encourage them. “When the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly that the earth shook.”

It also scared the Philistines, “When the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, ‘What does the sound of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?’ Then they understood that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp. So the Philistines were afraid, for they said, ‘God has come into the camp! . . . Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness. Be strong and conduct yourselves like men, you Philistines, that you do not become servants of the Hebrews . . . . Conduct yourselves like men, and fight.’”

So they sucked up their fears and fought. The Israelites were defeated in a very great slaughter and the Philistines captured their symbol, the Ark.

At that, did either side think that God now dwelt in the camp of the Philistines? They must have. At least one Israelite said that, “The glory has departed from Israel” and the Philistines put the Ark into the house where they kept their idol, Dagon.

I wonder what God thinks of such shenanigans. His people’s idea of His presence was no different than their idol-worshiping enemies. Yet in this narrative, the next morning the Philistine idol was tipped over on its face before the Ark. They set it upright, but the next day, it was again tipped, this time its head and hands broken off. The people were struck with tumors and decided to move the Ark to another city, where even worse things happened. They finally sent it back to Israel, realizing that they had somehow offended God. Duh.

I don’t think they really understood His true nature at this point, but I can see from this incident how prone people are to confuse symbols with reality. We do it all the time.

Yet there is a more important lesson here. When I go to battle against any spiritual enemy, God will not allow me to claim a victory if my heart is not right. I might claim His goodness, cling to His promises and other representations of who He is, but that will not take precedence over His ultimate goal for my life. He wants me to be like Jesus, and Himself glorified as a holy God, not one that will tolerate my sin and let me ‘win’ anyway. If I will not turn to Him and seek His grace and strength for my life, but only make a show of religious piety by holding up my Bible and still doing things my own way, then just like that idol, I will fall on my face.

True faith is never in symbols, or even in His words and promises; it is in Him, the One who gave the words. This may sound like hair-splitting, but there is a difference between ignoring what might be wrong in my life and chanting in my prayers, “But You said . . . “ and cleaning up my life because I’ve put all my hope in the One who said it and know that His holiness is more significant than the appearance of me winning.