Yesterday, we began taking a look at why we must be
about the serious study of Scripture.
Taking a quick look at Jeremiah 17:4-5, I posited three interpretations
of the passage that might occur on a popular level with someone who has little
knowledge and understanding of the history of Scripture. Each one had a practical component to it that
was a bit off target. Let's take a look at why.
Our first interpretation immediately disregarded the passage
upon reading it, favoring instead the Gospels and Pauline letters. Then, the interpreter did what many might do:
move on to something else that is "more fulfilling," such as watching
the Walking Dead. While our first
interpreter is correct in thinking the text is "for Israel," they
miss the broader point and scope of the passage. Jeremiah 17:4 falls in the middle of a
description of the sins of Israel (i.e. what went wrong that
Israel/Judah got punished) and the consequences of betraying God. Not just that, this passage also has
something to say about Israel's rulers placing their trust in mere mortals
to repel an invading army (i.e. armies, leaders, defenses, etc.) instead of in
the Lord Almighty. We only know this if
we know some history of when Jeremiah was a prophet - in Jerusalem just before
Babylon invades the area twice, both times resulting in exile of the people of
Judah, and the second time climaxing in the destruction of the temple and the
tearing down of Jerusalem's walls.
Next, having an ear (or vision) for the history of Israel - Exodus, covenant,
law as governing relationship with God and others, the taking of the promised
land, establishment of Jerusalem and the Temple of God (God's abode), the anger
of God at idolatry and the leaders of Israel acting very practically, just
like the other nations in political/military alliances instead of trusting in
God - the passage begins to make much more sense about why God is judging Judah/Israel. It also gives us a greater feeling for what's
at stake - nothing less than the entire world falling into complete
darkness (remember the problem God is seeking to solve is broken relationship
with Him that occurred in the Garden of Eden, and the utter descent of humanity
into evil as exhibited in Genesis 6 and on).
Knowing some general background of the overarching story,
and plugging our short passage into that story then lets us say something like
this: "Wow. This is serious stuff.
God isn't fooling around, this is not 'irrelevant,' but the very weighty
outworking of God's redemption plan in history and the consequence of a covenant
people living in disobedience in their ideas about who God is, God's power, and
God's place in the world, and our place under God's Kingship."
Now we can better make an application to our own lives
through prayerful consideration of what we know and asking some questions: "What in my life is the
Holy Spirit working on to change? What
misconceptions of God do I have? What
does this mean for God's working in the church today [remember the church is
now God's people whom He works in and through to bring the world under the
reign of Jesus...]? How does Jesus
change this picture?"
Let me make a quick point here so I am not
misunderstood. I think it is very good
to have "reader responses" to the text that allows the Holy Spirit to
speak a fresh, new, or needed word deep into our souls. Yet, I firmly believe that studying Scripture
seriously will help us cling to and abide in Jesus all the more, that serious
study of Scripture does not deaden Scripture but brings alive all the
more God's wonderful and mighty works in the world and allows us to see Him
still working today. Stay tuned for a
review of Interpreter #2!
No comments:
Post a Comment