Some Key Words (11/11/00)

Heed (hupakouo [5219]):

to hear under, to listen to something, to obey, give head, yield to, to humbly accept the message; to hearken, to respond to the knock at the door as a porter, to hearken to a command, to be obedient to a command; to listen attentively, and to conform to the command

Believed (pisteuo [4100]):

to give credit to, have mental persuasion of, be of opinion, to believe in or on; to consider to be true, to have confidence in, to acknowledge as fact; to have faith in, credit, entrust

Faith (pistis [4102]):

being persuaded, belief, knowledge of, assent to, and confidence in divine truth leading to good works, the knowledge and assent without the fruits - false faith, the doctrine of justification by faith in Christ, fidelity; conviction of the truth of anything, belief, conviction regarding man's relationship to God - bringing trust and holy fervor, belief in God as creator and ruler, and as the source of salvation, belief in Christ as Messiah and as the means of salvation, trust in God, fidelity; credence, moral conviction of religious truth, or of God's truth, reliance upon Christ for salvation, constancy in profession of faith in Christ

Hearing (akoe [189]):

the act of hearing, the sense of hearing, the ear, a rumor or report; oral instruction heard - as in the preaching of the Gospel; the act, the sense, or the object of hearing

Know (ginosko [1097]):

to know experientially, to perceive, be acquainted with, understand, be conscious of, discern, approve; to come to know, to gain knowledge by perception, to feel;

Make jealous (parazeloo [3863]):

to provoke to jealousy, rivalry or anger; to stimulate alongside, excite to rivalry

Without understanding (asunetos [801]):

without insight, unintelligent, without knowledge; stupid; wicked

Found (heurisko [2147]):

to find due to searching, to find without searching, to learn or discover, to gain for oneself, obtain; to come upon, meet with, to find a thing sought, to find by chance, to come to a place, to find by thought or observation, to find by practice and experience, to discover, understand, to be found, to be present, to be detected, recognized, to show one's character as found by others, to come to know God;

Sought (zeteo [2212]):

to seek in order to find, to seek to find out by thought, meditation, and reasoning, to enquire into, to aim at, strive after, to crave; to seek, to worship God, to plot against life

Manifest (emphanes [1717]):

God giving proofs of His saving grace; apparent in oneself

Ask (eperotao [1905]):

to inquire of, beg of, interrogate, demand; to accost with an enquiry, to put a question to, to request or demand; ask for, inquire, seek

Disobedient (apeitheo [544]):

not persuaded, unbelieving, to disobey through unbelief, the inward attitude leading to disobedience; to refuse to believe, not to comply with; to willfully and perversely disbelieve

Obstinate (antilego [483]):

to speak against, gainsay, contradict, to oppose, decline obedience, to declare oneself against; to dispute, refuse

 

Paraphrase: (11/11/00)

16 But not everyone was made glad by the good news, as Isaiah acknowledged when he asked the Lord who had believed his prophecies. 17 Indeed, faith comes of hearing the word of Christ. 18 But have they ever heard Him? Certainly, for Scripture says that the words have gone out to the ends of the world, and been heard in all the earth. 19 But did Israel know this? From the start, for Moses told them they would be made jealous by nations without understanding, 20 and Isaiah told them that God would be found by those who weren't seeking Him, and He would manifest Himself to those who weren't asking after Him. 21 But of Israel, Isaiah says that they have been disobedient and obstinate throughout the long days of God's reaching out to them.

Key Verse: (11/11/00)

11:17 - Faith comes by hearing Christ's words. The remainder of the discussion in this passage is simply there to show that they've heard it, and rejected it.

People Mentioned: (11/11/00)

Moses

Born in Egypt, and adopted by Pharaoh's daughter (Ex 2:10). Fled Egypt after killing a guard, taking residence in Midian (Ex 2:14-2:21). Met God in a burning bush, receiving word that he would be sent to free the Jews in Egypt (Ex 3:1-4:31). Performed many miracles by God's hand in Egypt, until the Jews were freed to go (Ex 7:1-13:22). Led Israel through the desert for 40 years (Ex 14:1-24:14). Met with God on Mount Sinai (Ex 24:15-18). Instructed by God on the building of the tabernacle (Ex 25:1-31:17). Received the Law of God (Ex 31:18). Refused to go on without God's presence (Ex 33:12-17). Prayed to be shown God's glory (Ex 33:18). Oversaw the building of the tabernacle (Ex 35:20-40:33). Could not enter the tabernacle because of the cloud of God's presence within (Ex 40:35). The LORD spoke to Moses (Lev, Nu, Dt). The LORD knew Moses face to face (Dt 34:10). Appeared with Elijah at Jesus' transfiguration (Mt 17:3, Mk 9:4, Lk 9:30). Moses and the Prophets pointed to Jesus in their words. (Lk 16:31, Jn 5:46, Ac 26:22-23).

Isaiah

Son of Amoz (2Ki 19:2), a prophet in the courts of Hezekiah (2Ki 19:5), declaring to him God's promised healing (2Ki 20:1-19). Also present during Uzziah's reign (2Ch 26:22). Prayed in the destruction of Assyria's camp (2Ch 32:20). Appears to have been involved in the writing of Kings (2Ch 32:32). Prophesied concerning Judah and Jerusalem (Isa 1:1, Isa 2:1). Also present in Ahaz' rule (Isa 7:3). Prophesied against Babylon (Isa 13:1), Egypt, and Cush (Isa 20:2-3). Prophesied much that was fulfilled in Jesus' ministry (Mt 3:3, Mt 4:14, Mt 8:17, Mt 12:17, Mt 13:14, Mt 15:7, Mk 1:2, Mk 7:6, Lk 3:4, Jn 1:23, Jn 12:38-39, Jn 12:41).

 

Some Parallel Verses (11/11/00)

10:16

Ro 3:3 - The fact that some don't believe God does not make God unfaithful. Is 53:1 - Who has believed Isaiah, and who has God revealed Himself to? [Parallels] Jn 12:38 - This prophecy was fulfilled inasmuch as so many heard and saw Jesus, but did not believe in Him.

10:17

Gal 3:2 - Did we receive the Spirit by faith or by works? Gal 3:5 - Does God perform miracles amongst us because of our works, or because of our faith? Col 3:16 - We ought to be filled with Christ's word and wisdom, so as to teach and admonish one another with the praises of God, and heartfelt expressions of thankfulness to Him.

10:18

Ps 19:4 - The witness of the heavens, themselves, is spread throughout the earth, revealing God their creator. Ro 1:8 - The faith of the Roman church was being proclaimed throughout the world. Col 1:6 - Throughout the world, the Gospel is bearing fruit constantly. Col 1:23 - The Gospel was proclaimed in all creation. 1Th 1:8 - The faith of the Thessalonians was known in every place that knew of them.

10:19

Dt 32:21 - Israel provoked God's jealous anger with their idolatry, so He moved to provoke their jealousy and anger by means of a foolish nation. Ro 11:11 - The salvation of the Gentiles is designed to make Israel jealous, and thus restore them. Ro 11:14 - Paul's desire is to save them by making them jealous enough to pursue God.

10:20

Is 65:1 - God allowed Himself to be sought by those who weren't asking, and found by those who weren't seeking. He revealed Himself to a nation that did not call upon Him. Ro 9:30 - The Gentiles obtained the righteousness of faith, even though they weren't pursuing righteousness.

10:21

Is 65:2 - God has ever been trying to reach a rebellious people who do as they please, and walk an unwise course.

 

New Thoughts (11/12/00)

Interesting, how Col 3:16 qualifies what wisdom ought to teach us - to admonish and teach through our praises, not through lecturing! Why is this? Because when we admonish through lecturing, we display our own understanding, and we feed our pride. When we admonish through praise, we leave the attention on God, where it belongs. It's not about my studies, it's not about my insights, it's about the God who gave me the abilities to study and understand. Wisdom comes in not allowing His gifts distract me or those I encounter from Him.

It's worth noticing that the word we encounter as 'manifest' in this passage is not the usual word. Instead it indicates that God is offering proofs of Himself. Look at the last line of verse 20: "I became manifest to those who did not ask for me." He gave proofs of His saving grace to those who did not request or demand such proofs. Compare this with the description offered in verse 21: "I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people." To a people who willfully and perversely disbelieve, who dispute and refuse the proofs they have had all along. And now, here we stand at the far end of the church age, and we really need to ask ourselves whether we, too, haven't willfully and perversely disbelieved God's proof. How many tales do we hear of seminaries teaching doubt of Jesus' claims. How many times do we hear about 'ministries' working to deny God's miracles ever occurred? God has given more than sufficient proof of His plan of salvation for us. He has given more than sufficient evidence that His Son is His Son, and that in Him - in trusting Him - we find our redemption, our salvation, and our righteousness. And yet, so much that claims to belong to Him seeks to deny these basic facts in an attempt to be 'inclusive.'

I asked what it would take to make me jealous for my God. I am indeed very zealous to understand better, to know what He has revealed. But I sometimes wonder how much I hunger for Him to actually show up. If I were at the base of Mount Sinai, would I have fared any better than the Israelites did? Would I have joined Moses in climbing up to meet with God? I kind of doubt it. I suspect I should have been every bit as fearful as they in the face of such glory. How much of that reaction was more a forced admission of their own state of soul in the face of perfection? How much of the reaction to Jesus was that same forced admission? When God is present, we cannot help but realize our own wretched condition. We cannot help but recognize that - underneath the clothing of Christ - we remain filthy as ever in our sins. This is, perhaps, why saving faith demands belief in the work of Christ. How much do I trust the clothing He has dressed me in? Do I honestly believe that it's sufficient to stop God's wrath when we meet? Oh, Lord. I know what You have given me, and I know how fully unworthy I am of such a gift. I know, too, that that is part of the point. How I long to do more and better by You, and yet I ever seem to fail when opportunities present themselves. Why is it this way, Father? How do I bring change in that area? Am I jealous for You? Not as much as I should be. I don't want to be jealous in a way that would lead to chasing after every purported move of God in foolish haste. On the other hand, You and I both know that I need to cast off the cynicism that causes me to doubt and question even such moves as are real. In my own way, Lord, I am dangerously similar to those seminary products I complain about, and I ask You to change me. Allow me to be wise in Your ways, without being overly cautious. Teach me to hope the best, think the best, seek the best, as love demands. Teach me how to come at these things seeking proofs in hopes that they are real and true, accepting the truth either way. Help me to be jealous for Your manifest presence.