Hebrews 4 - Day 199 (link to reading plan)
Scripture: Hebrews 4:1-5 Commentary: The remainder of the exposition, dealing with the theme of the “rest” mentioned in the psalm, falls into two portions, each marked by an inclusion and each focused on a verse of the psalm.15 Yet the two segments are intimately related since they provide a unified development of the theme and are in turn bounded by an inclusion. The exegetical argument is subtle and somewhat elusive and its course has been variously described. It begins with a warning against failure to attain the promise that remains open. The comparable failure of the exodus generation was caused by faithlessness (vss. 2–3a*), which is not, or ought not be, a characteristic of the community addressed. The key to understanding how it is that the promise remains open is to see that God’s promised “rest” is not the earthly land of Canaan but a heavenly reality, which God entered upon the completion of creation (vss. 3b–5*). The author uses again a literary technique that had served him well earlier.17 Up to this point he had used the richly suggestive term “rest” without providing any clues as to its meaning. Now, through an exegetical argument, he reduces the ambiguity. Attridge, H. W., & Koester, H. (1989). The Epistle to the Hebrews: a commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews (p. 123). Philadelphia: Fortress Press. Application: Our actions have consequences that affect our lives now and beyond. The Israelites that rebelled against God, all suffered the repurcussions of their defiance and died in the desert. Their example served as a warning for all future generations, including ours today. Sadly, our modern society has discarded the bible as irrelevant and obsolete so the lessons have been lost and the sins of the past continue to repeat themselves. However, that's not what God wants or how he designed us to live. Prayer: Lord, have mercy on us. Comments are closed.
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January 2024
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