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Date: Tue, 30 Apr 1996 08:44:24 +-200
Reply-To: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
Sender: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
From: Teus Benschop
Subject: ChrExp, The Scriptures opened, 81
To: Multiple recipients of list CHR-EXP
Contents
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1. Leviticus 24:11-14,23 - The blasphemer stoned
2. Song of Solomon 1:3,4 - God draws people
3. Matthew 11:28 - Christ's rest
1. Leviticus 24:11-14,23 - The blasphemer stoned
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Weekly reading: Leviticus 21 - 24
Leviticus 24:11-14,23
11 And the Israelitish woman's son blasphemed the name of the LORD,
and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses. [...]
12 And they put him in ward, that the mind of the LORD might be shewed
them.
13 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
14 Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that
heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation
stone him.
[...]
23 And Moses spake to the children of Israel, that they should bring
forth him that had cursed out of the camp, and stone him with stones.
And the children of Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses.
The man, in his madness, blasphemed the NAME. That is, he blasphemed
the Name of the LORD. What we have translated with "he blasphemed",
actually means "he pierced", or "he injured". The man, with his
terrible words, as far as was in his power, pierced the Name of the
LORD. They brought the criminal to Moses, and put him in ward, that
the mind of the LORD might be showed them. Moses asks the LORD, and
the divine answer is that the blasphemer should be stoned by all the
congregation. And those that have heard the curse, should lay their
hands upon his head. By this ceremony, they testify that he indeed has
blasphemed; that their accusation was true.
The sin of blasphemy is very great. Stoning is the commanded
punishment thereof. All of us that ever did likewise, should
understand what reward they deserve. The piercing through of the Name
of God should be punished by the same: the piercing through of the
person that did so. One that curses the Name of God - let his own name
be a curse for always.
The word we have translated with "to curse" means "to esteem light".
This man esteemed the Name of the LORD so light, that he dared
blaspheme Him. This light estimation of God's Name is possible when
the fear of the LORD is lacking. The fear of the LORD saves us from
many sins. When this fear is lacking, we sin more easily. Because of
the fear of the LORD, we dare not sin. We think of the high God; he is
so high and righteous and majestic and fearful, that we dare not sin
whenever we think of the consequences it will have for us. Therefore,
when we are not restrained by this fear, we will blaspheme Him without
fright. This is what David says us: "The transgression of the wicked
saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes."
Ps 36:1. And elsewhere we read: "The fear of the LORD is a fountain of
life, to depart from the snares of death." Prov 14:27. This verse
means that we, because of the fear of the LORD, depart from sins; that
is, we depart from the snares of death. And again: "By the fear of the
LORD men depart from evil." Prov 16:6.
Let's therefore not blaspheme the LORD, as this man did and was
stoned. Maybe we are not stoned while in this life, but our reward
will once be given us by God Himself. Let the fear of this LORD make
you depart from the snares of death. When you curse God in your heart,
no human will hear it, but God knows the inner parts of your heart and
your thoughts. Nothing is hid from Him. "Whosoever curseth his God
shall bear his sin. And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he
shall surely be put to death".
2. Song of Solomon 1:3,4 - God draws people
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Song 1:3,4
Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment
poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee. Draw me, we will run
after thee.
The servants of God bring forth a very good report of their God and
Father in heaven. Through their preaching, they elevate and praise
God's Name. Their sermons smell good because of the good report of
God's virtues they give to their hearers. Their speech is like the
savour of good ointments. Whenever you hear them, you smell the
goodness of God in their words. As soon as they open their mouth, they
produce pleasant and sweet words about their Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ, the Son of God. They represent Him so lovely and good, that
several hearers are impressed by it. They then say with the bride in
Songs: "Because of the savour of Thy good ointments, Thy Name is as
ointment poured forth". They fall in love with that good God. Such a
good God and Father, and such a lovely Son, would they not fall in
love with them? Because of the savour of God's good ointments, His
Name is as ointment poured forth: "therefore do the virgins love
thee". Yes, those that have not given their promise to the world, are
virgins. They have no man. But as soon as they hear the good report,
they love Him. Many love the world, and play the harlot with it. But
those that are spiritually pure, the virgins, as soon as they hear of
the eternal love of God in Christ, it is said of them: "therefore do
the virgins love Thee".
"Draw me, we will run after thee." The virgins are drawn after Christ.
They feel themselves inwardly bound with Him. By the sweet smelling
Person of Christ, they feel themselves drawn. As soon as they come in
His presence, or when they hear Him speak in the Word and the
ordinances, they feel themselves drawn. "Draw me", they say, and "we
will run after Thee". The virgins love Christ. There is none on earth
that is more fair in their eyes. He is fairer than the other men.
Christ, Who gave His life for those that love Him, is better and more
pleasant than other men. Draw me, and we will run after Thee. As often
as Christ is preached in the gospel, the virgins will run after him.
As often as He is represented in the Lord's supper, His bride, the
church, again experiences His sweetness. They are drawn, and will
always follow Him. They follow Christ, because they have heard His
voice: "come, take up the cross, and follow me." Mark 10:21.
3. Matthew 11:28 - Christ's rest
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Come unto me,
all ye that labour and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.
Who is so busy with all kinds of things, that he never has rest? Who
has wearied himself in seeking to enter heaven through works? Who is
there, that has opened eyes, so as to see and feel the heavy pack of
sins on his back? "Come unto Me", says Jesus, "all ye that labour and
are heavy laden; and I will give you rest". For those that labour, and
never succeed, there is rest. It is gratis, because Christ will not
sell it, but give it you, freely, out of His grace. He gives rest for
no price. He gives rest to all those that labour and are heavy laden.
Who is restless? Who is persecuted by his own vices? Who has satan as
a ceaseless pursuer? Who is driven forth by his own desires, and never
can fully satisfy them? Who is kept in prison by satan? Come unto
Jesus, all you that are restless, and He will give you rest. And His
rest will be pleasant and very good. Then those that are weary may
rest. They may lay off the burden of sin and vice. The heavy load will
be taken from them. Come unto your Messiah, o restless people. People
that seek salvation by performing the works of the law, come to Christ
and He will give you rest. The law is very cruel. It gives nothing,
unless you fully and perfectly perform it. If not, then your only
reward is death. Are you still labouring under the unbearable yoke of
the law? That cruel thing, which requires of you what Adam was able to
do, but you aren't? Come unto Christ, and be clothed with His perfect
righteousness and fulfilment of the law. You are restless at present,
but as soon as you come to Christ, you will be given rest. Have your
fathers told you, being misled themselves, that you should keep those
human laws of your tradition? Are you trying it, and labouring under
them? Come unto Christ, and He will give you rest.
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath
no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without
money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is
not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken
diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul
delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear,
and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with
you, even the sure mercies of David." Isa 55:1-3. "Look unto me, and
be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is
none else." Isa 45:22. Come unto God, all ye that labour! Your labour
will die with you, it will take both your strength and life; come unto
God, you that are heavy laden, and Christ will give you rest.
Many are there that have their days filled. In the morning, they
arise, wash themselves, take breakfast, and go to work. The whole day
they are busy with several things, and at the end of this day, their
head buzzes of all what they have heard, said and thought. They go
home again, and there they eat, give their attention to their family,
do some necessary duties, go to bed and fall asleep. This goes on, day
after day, week after week, year after year. Rest? No; they spend
their life without God. They care not for God. But they know not that
they not live, but are lived. Serving God? No. They labour day and
night, without rest. And at the end they die. Their bodies rest in the
grave, but they will arise again, and be condemned because they
haven't served God in their life, nor obeyed and loved Him.
Therefore, if you will have life, come to Christ, and He will give you
rest.
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chr-exp@nic.surfnet.nl
"A Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel"
Institute Practical Bible-education
http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/ipb-e/ipbe-home.html
Written by Teus Benschop -- t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl
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file: /pub/resources/text/so: s-open-081.txt
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