JESUS, THE BRIGHTNESS OF GOD'S GLORY -- Tomorrow:
"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they." (Hebrews 1:1-4)
Devotion 3 of 14
Our text is very focused! God has spoken in the past. He has done so at various ways and different times. These words, however, were addressed "to the fathers by the prophets"--by "holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Pet 1:21, NKJV). The words were not simply thrown out into the air, or placed in public libraries, to be found only by prodigious thinkers. These were words to be spread to all the world, yet they were spoken to a select nation through Divinely selected messengers!
God spoke "to the fathers." The contemporary church does not make much of "the fathers" i.e., the fathers of the faith. These were specifically Abraham., Isaac, and Jacob (Ex 3:15,16; 4:5; Deut 1:8; 6:10; 9:5; Luke 1:55; Acts 3:13), and generally their progeny (Acts 3:22; 13:32). Stephen, quoting from Moses, reminded his critics of God's words. "I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob" (Acts 7:32).
The emphasis of the contemporary church has turned the consideration of men away from "the fathers" to other things. To some, "fathers" means church fathers. To others, it means the fathers of our country. Such views are unbecoming for the sons and daughters of the Most High God!
In a foundational sense, "the fathers" refers to the progenitors of the Jewish nation, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In the immediate context, it refers to the chosen people themselves. Often the term is used in this sense. "For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you" (Acts 3:22). "And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers, that God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus" (Acts 13:32,33b). "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our fathers . . . " (Acts 22:3). Similar references may be found in John 6:31, Acts 7:11-19,38,39,44,45, Acts 28:17, and 1 Corinthians 10:1. It is essential that God's people speak in words that the Holy Spirit employs!
We must not allow ourselves to forget, "salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22). The Spirit states the case with undeniable strength in Romans 9:4-5. " . . . Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen" (NASB). God did not speak to the Gentiles about a coming Messiah, but to "the fathers"--the Jews! After all of the concocted theories about the contemporary status of the Jews, it is still true: "But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you" (Rom 11:17-18, NASB). Have a wholesome regard for "the fathers!" It is because of them that you are blessed, and the "root" of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob still supports you!
Although the world had produced many supposedly great philosophers and thinkers, God did not speak through them! There have been renown historians, poets, and thinkers--but God spoke "to the fathers by the prophets," not by the worldly-wise! The following list records the names of individuals that are considered great by this world, with the general time frame in which they lived. I have also interspersed holy men of God, to show many of the world's great men were actually contemporaries of them. Yet God makes no mention of the worldy men, nor does He speak of their accomplishments.
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* ENOCH (3052-3187 B.C.)
* 3500 B.C. Menes unites kingdoms of Egypt, introduces irrigation.
* NOAH (3118-2168 B.C.)
* 2780 B.C. Imhotep designs first step pyramid at Saqqara, Egypt.
* 2700 B.C. Cheops builds Great Pyramid at Giza.
* 2697 B.C. Huang-ti becomes legendary "Yellow Emperor" of China.
* 2640 B.C. Si Ling-chi introduces silk production in China.
* THE FLOOD (2518 B.C.)
* THE TOWER OF BABEL (2403 B.C.)
* 2340 B.C. Sargon establishes Semitic and Sumerian civilizations.
* ABRAHAM (2166-1991)
* JOSEPH IN EGYPT (14898-1805 B.C.)
* 1750 B.C. Hammurabi, Babylonian king, issues code of laws.
* MOSES (1526-1407 B.C.)
* PERIOD OF THE JUDGES (1367-1015 B.C.)
* 1270 B.C. Abulfaraj, Syrian historian, compiles first encyclopedia.
* 1100 B.C. Pa-out-She, Chinese scholar, compiles first dictionary.
* DAVID ANOINTED KING (1025 B.C.)
* KING SOLOMON (968 B.C.)
* ELIJAH (868 B.C.)
* ELISHA (852 B.C.)
* OBADIAH AND JOEL (850 B.C.)
* AMOS AND JONAH (760 B.C.)
* 760 B.C. Homer, poet, writes Iliad and Odyssey.
* HOSEA/MICAH/ISAIAH (740 B.C.)
* 730 B.C. Ahaz, prince of Judah, invents sundial.
* 700 B.C. Sennacherib, Syrian king, builds first aqueduct.
* 673 B.C. Terpander, Greek musician, develops stringed instruments.
* NAHUM/ZEPHENIAH/JEREMIAH/HABAUKKUK (636 B.C.)
* DANIEL AND EZEKIEL (605 B.C.)
* 600 B.C. Lao-tze develops philosophy of Taoism.
* 563 B.C. Siddhartha Gautama develops Buddhist philosophy.
* 559 B.C. Cyrus establishes Persian Empire.
* 551 B.C. K'ung Fu-tzu develops philosophy of Confucianism.
* 550 B.C. Confucius
* 550 B.C. Anaximander invents star charts and model of spherical Earth.
* 540 B.C. Pythagoras, mathematician, studies musical harmonics.
* HAGGAI AND ZECHARIAH (516 B.C.)
* 508 B.C. Cleisthenes introduces democratic government in Athens.
* 485 B.C. Aeschylus writes first early Greek tragedies.
* 480 B.C. Sophocles writes early Greek tragic poems.
* 460 B.C. Pericles establishes democracy in Athens.
* EZRA/NEHEMIAH/MALACHI (450 B.C.)
* 450 B.C. Euripides writes Greek tragedies; Herodotus becomes known as father of history.
* 440 B.C. Democritus introduces concept of atomic structure of matter; * Hippocrates becomes known as father of medicine; Socrates teaches that virtue and knowledge are identical.
* 400 B.C. Aristophanes introduces political satire in Greek comedies;
* Plato writes dialogues that help shape Western thought.
* PERIOD OF DIVINE SILENCE UNTIL JOHN THE BAPTIST
* 340 B.C. Aristotle contributes to development of logical thought.
* 334 B.C. Alexander the Great begins conquest of known world.
* 321 B.C. Chandragupta forms first great empire in India.
* 300 B.C. Euclid develops deductive system of mathematics; Meng-tse spreads philosophy of Confucius in Orient.
* 250 B.C. Aristrarchus develops modern concept of universe.
* 236 B.C. Asoka, emperor of India, becomes Buddhist missionary.
* 221 B.C. Shih Hwang-ti, first emperor of China, begins Great Wall.
* 220 B.C. Archimedes, Mathematician, develops physics and mechanics.
* 218 B.C. Hannibal leads army from Spain over Alps to Italy.
* 160 B.C. Hipparchus develops trigonometry.
* 78 B.C. Julius Caesar begins his climb as ruler of Roman Empire.
* 63 B.C. Cicero, orator, compiles record of Roman life.
* 38 B.C. Horace, Roman poet, classic satires.
* 30 B.C. Virgil, Roman poet, writes Aeneid.
* 27 B.C. Caesar Augustus becomes first Roman emperor.
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While men recognized by the world were responsible for some remarkable accomplishments, God did not speak to the fathers by them! They were not unique by heaven's standards.
Whatever we may think of the "great men" of the world, a higher priority must be placed on the holy prophets. They were spokesmen for God! We must not allow ourselves to forget, "salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22). The Spirit states the case with undeniable strength in Romans 9:4-5. " . . . Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen" (NASB). God did not speak to the Gentiles about a coming Messiah, but to "the fathers"--the Jews! After all of the concocted theories about the contemporary status of the Jews, it is still true: "But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you" (Rom 11:17-18, NASB). Have a wholesome regard for "the fathers!" It is because of them that you are blessed, and the "root" of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob still supports you!
We must not allow ourselves to become enamored by the world's wise men. Their wisdom, however astute, has neither moral nor spiritual power. It cannot adequately address the matter of sin, nor can it justify us before God. The Lord has not spoken to us through them, but through the Son! Let us bow before Him, and Him alone! Let God's people develop an unquenchable appetite for the word of Christ! Let them see the Scriptures as His message. Let them behold Jesus as their Theme, their Focus, their Message! If we do not relate Jesus Christ to Scripture, we only have a lifeless book of law--one that cannot confer the life we so sorely require. The Bible reflects Christ's Person!
PRAYER POINT: Father, thank You for speaking to the fathers through the holy Prophets, thereby preparing the world for Your Savior and Your great salvation. Thank You most of all for the thorough revelation You have given through Christ.