Monthly Archives: September 2023

Arts, Bible, Christianity, Culture, History

Christ is all you need

Rome, c. AD 68

(Hebrews 1–13)

AN unsigned letter, from an unspecified address, urging Jewish Christians to endure hardship and not to compromise Christ by reverting to Hebrew traditions has been received here. Among the candidates as author, who says he was not an eyewitness of Christ, are Barnabas, Paul’s former associate, and Apollos, one of Paul’s converts. ‘The letter to the Hebrews’ describes in considerable detail the difference between the work of Christ as High Priest and the ministry of Jewish priests. Its readers, who may belong to an isolated house church or who share a common background such as the priesthood, are taught Christian truth with Hebrew imagery.

The author is aware of their sufferings (10:32–34), although whether these refer to persecution in Jerusalem or more recent events under Nero in Rome is unclear. They are encouraged to persevere by recalling the greater sufferings of Christ (12:3–4). He is superior to angels, to Moses and to the traditional priesthood, he claims. Christ’s divinity is stated, but the letter focuses on his humanity.

Christ’s sacrifice for sin remains effective for ever, he asserts, whereas ‘it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins’ (10:4). As a result of Christ’s death, a new covenant with God has been enacted which supersedes all previous covenants.

The letter contains numerous warnings against drifting from God (2:1), falling into unbelief (3:12, 6:4–6), isolationism and habitual sin (10:25–27), bitterness, immorality, and greed (chs 12–13). But it is also peppered with encouragements. God can be approached confidently because Christ understands human weakness (4:14–16), giving hope as secure as a ship’s anchor (7–19) and an assurance that God will keep his word (10:36).

Even if persecution seems hard, it can be seen as God’s discipline of love (12:4–11). A summary of the endurance of the saints of the past includes such unlikely characters as the prostitute Rahab and Samson, the womaniser, as well as Moses, Abraham and David. The author says they remained faithful even though they knew less of God’s purposes than his readers do now.

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Arts, Christianity, Culture, History

Give us a king!

Ramah, c. 1050 BC

(1 Samuel 8)

GROWING popular demand for a centralised monarchy has become so strong in Israel that a delegation of leaders from all 12 tribes has presented an official request for one to Samuel.

The demand stems partly from a sense of déjà-vu which is troubling many in Israel today.

Samuel is now elderly and has nominated his sons as his successors as judge. But like Eli before him, Samuel has the sadness of knowing that his sons are corrupt and far from honouring Yahweh.

Future-watchers with a sense of history are remembering the bad old days when Israel had no central leadership of any kind. Some suggest that nations with kings do better in battle.

Samuel sees the request as a rejection of all he has done for the people. But he is more grieved that the people are rejecting Yahweh as their King and leader, in preference for a human monarch.

He has warned the elders that God says that a human king will rule harshly, will over-tax his people, will restrict their liberty, extort, oppress them, and not listen to their pleas for relief.

But they are in no mood to listen. Strangely, Yahweh appears to be sympathetic despite the evident rejection of the ideal of theocracy, a state ruled by religious agreement. It is rumoured that he has authorised Samuel to appoint a king.

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Arts, Christianity, Culture, History

No guard but bullion train stays on track

– Jerusalem, August 458 BC

(Ezra 7,8; cf. 2:2–60)

A LARGE CONSIGNMENT of gold and silver has safely avoided the attentions of the robber barons during a 4-month, 900-mile-journey from Babylon to Jerusalem.

The treasure, a gift from King Artaxerxes for the worship of Yahweh, was carried in a human train of more than 1,700 people, the first major migration to Judah for half a century. Many were relatives of people already in the city.

Led by the widely-respected priest and teacher, Ezra, they had refused the king’s offer of an armed guard as they walked across the fertile crescent of northern Mesopotamia.

It was a bold act of faith in Yahweh’s protection, by a devout group which had spent three days in prayer and fasting before setting out in April from the Ahava Canal where they had gathered.

Ezra carried personal letters from Artaxerxes authorising the expedition and ordering Persian officials in Judah to provide wine, oil, wheat, salt and gold and silver for the temple officers, who were also granted tax exemption.

It is said that Ezra has been personally commanded to teach the law of Yahweh and to mete out traditional punishments on people who do not obey it.

– The name Yahweh is mentioned more than 6,800 times in the Old Testament. It appears in every book but does not appear in Esther, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs. In English translations of the Bible “Yahweh” is translated to mean LORD

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