Saturday, March 30, 2013

Mark 12:2-4 comments: faithless caretakers


2 And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.

The husbandmen, while the rulers and priests of Israel here, in type could also be likened to modern day preachers. They are making a mess of the vineyard. The servant would be the prophets sent to ancient Israel to give them God’s word and warn them of His correction.

3 And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty. 4 And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.

This is a history of the nation of Israel literally and doctrinally and all the prophets you can read about in the Old Testament as they tried to keep Israel straight and turn it back on the path that God had set. Trying to line up which prophets were stoned and which were beaten might be a problem, though, as there were probably many prophets that didn’t write books that God preserved for us nor were mentioned. Not knowing who Antipas was in Revelation 2:13 is an example of the fact that God has not chosen to reveal everything to us and we do err when we demand that His Book must satisfy our every curiosity.

Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

The Bible represents God’s revelation of Himself to mankind in writing. It is, in type, Jesus Christ, the visible image of God, in written form. Notice the importance that God gives the Scriptures as being in His place in the following verses.

Romans 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

Now, look what that verse was a reference to and see where the Scripture replaces God.

Exodus 9:16 And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.

Note this placement of the word, scripture.

Galatians 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

And the verse that the verse in Galatians alluded to;

Genesis 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

See Genesis 18:18; 22:18; 26:4; & 27:9. God has elevated His Bible on a par with Himself. Note how God views His words.

Psalm 138:2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

If you can wrap your mind around this, or “attain unto it” as the Bible says, you will not want to mess with the Bible. Do not view God’s book like a textbook, demanding a detailed explanation of all you desire to know. View it as a conversation with God speaking to your heart and making His will for your life and for the history of humanity, both in yours and humanity’s relationship to Him.

Don’t be too concerned about what God doesn’t tell you, as you are not believing and following what He does tell you. Questions like where do the heathen go who have never heard of Christ or “been given a chance?” are meaningless questions. One might just say, “well, they go to Walmart and Starbucks.”

Read God’s word with an open mind, but not so open your brains fall out. Read it with a mind open to His leading and His understanding and His wisdom. Read it over and over asking the Holy Spirit for guidance. God speaks to you through it. Don’t make it a rationale for your fears, bigotry, and paranoia.

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