Two stories of Healing
Text: Mark 4:35 – 5:43
Outline:
A. 4:35-41, Calming down a storm
B. 5:1-20, Healing a man with a demon
C. 5:21-43, Healing of two “girls”
Comments:
I told you I am a fan of Creation. Here we go again. Just look at the outline. Nature, then Man, then Woman (actually two of them – God loves His daughters). Now, let us go to the text.
Psalm 13 – How Long?
It is a
difficult psalm for interpretation. The first two verses begin with 4
questions. Or ONE question, repeated four times: HOW LONG?
How long? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face? (Numbers 6:24-26)
How long must I take counsel in my soul (being
self-taught) and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long
shall my enemy be exalted over me?
In a square
shaped world (four corners), every corner of psalmist’s life is in distress. He
feels that God forgot about him and hides His face. There is no other source of
comfort but his own soul, but his heart (decision making organ) is in distress.
Then the worst comes: his enemies exalt over him – they feel victorious!
We face
these kinds of situations in our lives: when friends fail us, spouses are very
sick, or there is a threat of losing a job with nowhere to go… All of these
feelings resurface one after another…
But
ultimately, this is what Jesus experienced on the Cross – My God, my God, why
have You forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46). There is no inner source of comfort –
for death is near (cp. v. 3b, sleep of death). And enemies were sure of their
glorious victory.
Reaction to
“absence” of God – prayer
David wants
to stay “in touch” with God: consider and answer… as a result of this
communication – light up my eyes! Make my eyes shine – the second part of the
Aaronic blessing (Numbers 6:24-26).
Then come
three “lest”
Lest I sleep the sleep of death
Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
Lest my foes
rejoice because I am shaken.
The ultimate
collapse – death – is a threat to the psalmist. The way it is written tells
that it is not the final and peaceful rest (that’s why Christians write Rest in
Peace [RiP]). It is an expectation of distress, collapse, and separation from
God.
This might
look like enemies prevailed… That the psalmist is shaking – unstable…
But in the
midst of his troubles his confession is strong:
I trusted
in Your steadfast love.
My heart
shall rejoice in Your salvation. God is the One who restores – us on our paths, life to life
eternal, even the Son of God was brought back to live, to ascension, to sit at
the right hand of the Father.
I will
sing to the LORD –
worthy to note that there is a shift from proclaiming in Revelation 4 to
singing in Revelation 5, just as the Lamb comes to the Throne of God.
Because He
has dealt bountifully with me – when we talk to other people about God, His
love and care for us we share our personal interaction with Him. How blesses us
day after day, providing food, roof, clothing etc. And never leaving us, no
forsaking – regardless of how we feel…
Salvation of Israel
Text: Romans 11
Structure:
a. 1-5, God is
the source of Israel’s salvation
b. 6-10, gracious gift of salvation
c. 11-12, Salvation of Gentiles to provoke
the Jews
d. 13-16, image of olive branches
d’. 17-21, application of the branch
imagery
c’. 22-24, They will be grafted in if will
not abide in unbelieve
b’. 25-32, Covenant of salvation
a’. 33-36, He is the unsearchable source of all
vv. 1-5 –
this is not the most boasting phrases of St. Paul, the real fun is in Philippians
3:5-6. The apostle refers to a very dark moment in Israel’s history – the
kingdom is split, and the Northern one is under a severe spiritual oppression.
Yet, even then the Lord has preserved and protected 7000 men of true worshiper
(they did not bow their knees to Baal) (1 Kings 19:10,14,18).
vv. 6-10 – St.
Paul draws a distinction between Israel as elect group of people and the rest –
similar to his example from the Book of Kings. To support his idea, he quotes
from Deut. 29:3(4) followed by psalm 69:22-23. Therefore, it is not even the response
that makes them the recipients of the gift, but the grace extended to them. If
it would be response based – then salvation would be based on works/achievements.
vv. 11-12 –
on the other hand, there is a responsibility of their response. As a result of
their fall Gentiles were brought into salvation which made Israel jealous. It
could’ve been “good” jealousy – they would be even more zealous to save their
Jewish neighbors, showing who were the “founders” of the covenant. Unfortunately,
they ended up with bad jealousy – my way or highway attitude. Yes, it would be
way more glorious if Jews and Gentiles were united around the Gospel (v. 12).
vv. 13-16 – Introduction
of the Branch imagery. Apostle, actually, begins with an image of the
sacrificial dough – part of which is offered as the rite of the first fruits
(Lev. 2:12; 23:10; Num 15:17-21; Deut. 18:4). His logic is if the offering is
holy the whole lump is holy – because the offering represents the whole. Therefore,
the holiness of branches depends on the holiness/sanctity of the root (v. 16) –
thinking of an image of Psalm 1.
vv. 17-21 –
on the other hand, this should not be a reason for boasting among the Gentiles.
Being an Apostle of Gentiles, St. Paul expresses his pastoral heart rooting for
his team – for their spiritual benefit, but not to their pride.
vv. 22-24 –
same what happened with them – being cut off – can happen with the Gentiles if
pride prevails (v. 22). Their repentance and return will be graciously accepted,
and they will be grafted back in.
vv. 25-32 –
Appearance of the term “mystery” might be confusing. So, some people believe
that currant Israel is THE ISRAEL. Yet, St. Paul is consistent with his usage
of “mystery” (cp. Eph. 5:32) – the mystery of incarnation of Jesus Christ and
salvation of the whole world. God called them in the times of their forefathers
and is not going to change His mind (otherwise we would have unreliable capricious
God). His mercy is open to all, same as all were “labeled” as disobedient. All sinned
in Adam, and the sins of all have been pain in the Cross.
Book of Numbers
Title: Numbers – numbering the people in
the wilderness,
Hebrew:
B’midbar – in the wilderness (cp. Is. 40:3, Mt. 3:3, 4:1-11).
Date of
writing: around 1406
BC
Date of
Narrative: 1446 –
1406 BC
Structure:
A. 1 –
10:10, Census and Arrangement of the Camp
B. 10:11-36, Israel leaves Sinai
C. 11 – 14, Bad leadership at the
entrance into the land
D. 15:1-36, Rules of proper
conduct
E. 15:37-41, A sign of royal
priesthood
F. 16, Rebellion of Korah (attempted power
grab)
F’. 17, Aaron’s rod blossoms (God’s
answer to the attempt)
E’. 18, Duties of Priests and
Levites
D’. 19, Rules of proper
purification
C’. 20 – 21, Old leaders die
B’. 22 – 25, Unfaithfulness at Moab
A’. 26 – 36,
New census and arrangements in the Land
Main
themes:
The presence
of God in the midst of the structured and numbered encampment turned the people
of God into His army (cp. Is.6:3). This will develop into the theology of
Church Militant (cp. Mt. 16:18; Rev. 7).
Faithfulness
and unfaithfulness of the leaders and the people (cp. Deut).
Centrality
of God’s provision and redemptive grace regardless of the unfaithfulness of
men.
Important
role of women in the Israeli society.
Main
Characters: Moses,
Aaron, Miriam, Joshua and Kaleb, Korah, Balak and Balaam, Eleazar and Phinehas,
Daughters of Zelophehad, Tribes of Reuben, Gad and a half of Manasseh
(trans-Jordan settlement).
Reflection
in other parts of the Bible:
Numbering
the tribes has celestial meaning (f.ex. 1:36-37) as Gen. 5 (:23-24), the theme
of people as lights.
God has given
power and authority to the people in the ministry – Korah’s rebellion vs.
Psalms of the sons Korah; John 20:19-23 and Acts 6.
The unity of
“distant” tribes – Joshua 22 (:10-34).
Supremacy of
the Word over the feelings/inclinations of the heart (15:37-31) – Jer. 17:9;
Rom. 7:13-25; Heb. 5:11-14.
Lutheran
teaching:
The proper
relationship between the Nazirites and monastic vows – Ap. XXVII (XIII):58.
An example
of typology of Christ-centered worship is found in the three-folded rite of
daily offering, Num. 28:4-8 – Ap. XXIV (XII):36-37.
Christian oath
as a proper use of God’s name: Num 30:2 – LC, I:64.
Lutheran
hymnody:
The Aaronic
blessing is found in Num. 6:22-27
LSB 837 –
Lift High the Cross (Num. 21:4-9 to John 3:14)
Relevancy
of the Book:
The Book of
Numbers shows that God takes the sin of disobedience very seriously, especially
done by the leaders (priests and/or princes). Yet, regardless of people’s
disobedience God will execute/complete His plans.
Memory
verses:
