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Prophetic Promises and the Writings

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propheticwritings

Guest post by Justin Alfred

Previous posts in this series:

From the beginning of the biblical revelation, we see glimpses of God’s promise of a Savior that will deliver God’s people from the penalty of sin and provide an eternal relationship with God for those people. Therefore, we are going to look for some of these promises through the Old Testament according to its three major divisions:

  1. the Law
  2. the Prophets
  3. the Writings

Last week, we looked at the Prophets. Today, we will take a look at the Writings.

III. The Writings

One of the books that is in the Writings is the Book of Psalms, and there are several passages in the Psalms that are prophetically related to Jesus’ first coming, but we are going to look at only one:

31 He presented another parable to them, saying,

“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; 32 and this is smaller than all other seeds; but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” 33 He spoke another parable to them, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three pecks of meal, until it was all leavened.” 34 All these things Jesus spoke to the multitudes in parables, and He did not speak to them without a parable, 35 so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world [cf. Psalm 78:2 – my note].”
(Matthew 13:31-35)

As we look at Psalm 78:2 in its context from which this last quote in verse 35 was taken, we observe first of all that Psalm 78 is one of the longest Psalms in the Bible. Secondly, the message of Psalm 78 is about God’s continued blessing and provision for the children of Israel, both in the wilderness, as well as after they were settled in the Promised Land. However, this Psalm also speaks of the continued and repeated rebellion against the Lord in so many ways by the people because their heart was hardened toward Him whenever they encountered difficult situations. Therefore, as Jesus is speaking to the Jews in parables, He is equating the Jews of His day to those who were in the wilderness and in the Promised Land, but who were also rebellious in their heart and blind in their mind to the things of God. Thus, what He is saying to them are truths that only the Holy Spirit can and will make real, and He will only make those truths real to those whose hearts are broken over their sin and are truly looking to the Lord for their salvation, support, strength, provision, and guidance. On the other hand, for those who are not looking to the Lord in this fashion, the words of the Kingdom that He is speaking appear to be mere “foolishness” to them, including the fact that all Scripture points to Him as the Promised Messiah!

Comments

  1. Biblically, God chose a people.

    Gen 4:26, Gen 5:22, Gen 6:5-8, 6:22, Gen 7:21-23, Gen 12:1-3, Gen 18:19, Rom 4:3, Rom 4:16, Gal, 3:6, Jam 2:23, Rom 10:11-12, Exd 6:2-9

    God made promises, God fed them, God protected them yet the people continue to err.

    1Cr 10:11

    The protracted evidences, the parable of the Bible is the insufficiency of the flesh. God is faithful, He is patient, His promises are sure for His honor. The critical element is, believe God.

    The chosen people Israel are the repository, the time capsule. They have the honor of the physical lineage of the sacrificial lamb, Messiah yet it is the Spirit, not the flesh that is the lesson.

    Rom 9:3-4

    Paul, a Pharisee of Pharisees acknowledges the blessings of God unto Israel yet the lament is that they are blinded. Paul cannot decide for them. Paul must acknowledge the will of God. Paul proceeds with the Gospel of our Savior and God.

    Rom 11:25

    Navigating unworldly, exotic, instances of thought as we are does lend weight to skeptics. We might even question what we are about if not for involvement of the Holy Spirit. We are required to believe God. Each of us initially introduced to God by the Spirit has multiple opportunities over a lifetime to accept or discount the record provided. This has always been the requirement. The Old Covenant was fulfilled by that which is perfect, the New Covenant. The records attest that God is faithful. God is sure to honor those who believe Him. The record is undeniably clear; all sacrifice was fulfilled in the perfect sacrifice. Those who believe God, the perfect sacrifice do not prevent those who believed God in the former covenant. The stumbling stone and rock of offense is very truth in a world created by, and for Jesus.

          • Sacrifice requires that the flesh is wholly expended, the life blood poured out. Currently we have a pause to share the good news while our God calls those who will be saved until the completion of the time of the Gentiles, then the enlightenment of Jerusalem.

            Messiah stated His kingdom is not of this world.

            What is the purpose for Israel to be chosen? Certainly, they were not selected because they were numerous, a force in the world to be feared. They are stiffnecked and exhibit detrimental human behaviors. More specifically, what is the significance of one of twelve tribes, Judah? The behavior of Judah corporate did not evoke a special honor. The honor to produce the flesh for the perfect sacrifice was not earned it was announced, and then effected. The lineage of the flesh is not the agent responsible for the redemption and salvation. Not Israel, Judah or Christians can claim that they earned salvation. Jesus will return to Israel when they acknowledge their Messiah because He is faithful.

            Jhn 4:20-26

          • Well, I’ll let you go then. Don’t see the need for all the tap dancing though. Simple question with a simple answer – Jewish.
            J.

  3. It is necessary to consider what remains of all the races and nations of this world. There is the Bible, there is Israel. Israel is a type and is a physical entity. The Bible is a parable of humanity where Israel is both figurative and literal.

    Num 14:12, Mat 3:9-10, Eze 37:4-6, 1Pe 4:6

    Humans, all subject to death have a physical perspective. Our short lifetime narrows our focus to a personal journey. Short lives are more concerned with details than with whole or eternal considerations. This is the condition of this world for those who die.

    Jhn 8:23, 18:36, Luk 12:30-32, Hbr 2:14-15, 1Pe 4:1-6, 1Cr 12:12-13

    Prophecy has an understanding. Look to the 38th and 39th verse of Mat 23 and the 35th verse of Luke 13.

    Rev 19:10, Mat 23:37-39. Luk 13:34-35

    • Plainly the sacrifice is completed. Jews currently do not accept Jesus. I would not describe comments and scripture references concerning this matter as tap dancing. Did the demons acknowledge a Jew or were they compelled to witness the presence of God?

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