Seder 67: Isaiah 61---Restoration of the Kingdom of Priests

 God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt to be "a kingdom of priests and a holy nation" (Ex 19:6).  But too often in the centuries that followed, the nation failed to live up to its high calling.  In the eighth century BC, Isaiah said that Israel was "like an oak whose leaf withers, and like a garden without water"(Isa 1:30).  

However, God had not given up on his people.  Isaiah prophesied that God would one day restore the nation, so that Jerusalem would be called "the city of righteousness, the faithful city" (Isa 1:26).

Isaiah later showed that this restoration would result from the work of the Messiah, who would bring deliverance from bondage to sin (Isa 61:1-2).  He would give his people "a beautiful headdress" (v 3), like the turban of the high priest (Ex 28:4, 37, 39; 29:6; 39:28, 31).  Instead of an oak with withering leaves, they would become "oaks of righteousness" (v 3).  They would be "called  the priests of the LORD" (v 6), fulfilling their original mission to the nations.  As God's "firstborn son" (Ex 4:22), they would enjoy a "double portion" in the Promised Land (Isa 61:7).  

Isaiah goes on to say that through the "everlasting covenant" (v 8: Jer 31:31-34), Israel will live righteously and will be praised by the nations (v 9).  

As commentator John Oswalt points out, Isaiah's beautiful prophecy issues a challenge for those who have been delivered from sin by Jesus the Messiah and are now part of a "chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation" (1 Pe 2:9-10).  Are we living as "oaks of righteousness" or oaks with withered leaves?  

Seder 142: Deuteronomy 10:12-11:1---What Does God Require?

 Deuteronomy 10:12 marks a key transition in Moses' address:  "And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you....?"  

Paul comes to an analogous transition in Romans 12:1.  Micah asks the same question in Micah 6:8 and gives a three-part answer.

Moses' first answer to his question has five parts, one for each finger:  

1. Fear God---i.e., have trusting awe.
2. Walk in God's ways---as God walks, and as he instructs.
3. Love God---demonstrate covenant commitment.
4. Serve God.
5. Follow God's commandments.  

There is a reason that obedience comes fifth.  Obedience arises out of fear, commitment, and submission. 

In verses 14-15 Moses explains why Israel should do these things.  God is the Owner and Ruler of everything and is Israel's gracious Redeemer.  

Moses gives a second answer to his question in verses 16-19.  This is a metaphorical answer.  Rather than being like stubborn animals, the Israelites should have "circumcised hearts."  There is an irony in Moses' use of this metaphor here, since apparently few of Moses' listeners were physically circumcised.  But the parents of this group had shown that physical circumcision was not enough.  They had been physically circumcised, but too few of them had submitted to God. 

Again, Moses gives reasons for his answer.  God is transcendent, greater than all powers; but his grace is imminent.  He cares for all people, and the Israelites should do the same.  Psalm 146:5-10 echoes this description of God. 

Moses offers a third answer in verses 20-22.  His emphasis can be seen in the Hebrew word order in verse 20, which has object first, then verb.  It is only God that Israel should fear, serve, and swear by.  This is the total commitment implied by the Shema.  In addition to being the Supreme Ruler of the universe, Yahweh is Israel's personal God, to whom they owe everything, and so this commitment is their fitting response.

Daniel Block identifies Dt 10:12-11:1 as the heart of the Gospel according to Moses.  The rest of the Tanakh continues Moses' declaration that devotion to God is more important than mere cultic service.  Examples include 1 Sam 15:22-23; Amos 5:21-24; Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:6-8; and Isa 1:10-17.  The New Testament follows up in passages like Matt 23:23; James 1:27; and Romans 12:1-2.

Block highlights three lessons:

• True religion is not primarily external.
• The ethics of God's people is rooted in theology, particularly in the character of God.
• In worship the desires of God always supersede the desires of contemporary culture or personal taste.