Joshua and Judges: The allotment of the land, part 13 - Predestination; Jos 14-17.

Title: Joshua and Judges: The allotment of the land, part 13 - Predestination; Jos 14-17.  

 

Announcements / opening prayer:  

 

HEB 2:10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.

 

HEB 2:11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,

 

Because the Sanctifier and the sanctified are one, all from one Father, He can call us brethren who actually become one with Him.

 

The sanctifier sanctified the brethren. If He had not, the gulf between us and Him would be so vast that He would have to be ashamed to call us His brothers and sisters. The cross filled that gulf and now all may freely come to Him in joy rather than shrink from Him in shame. Now that we are with Him and in Him we each have a glorious purpose which is revealed in our predestination.

 

The truth of this plan for the church was so important that it was not entrusted to the agency of angels, but was reserved for the Lord Himself.

 

EPH 3:4-5

when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit

 

Hence this truth was not told to the OT saints and prophets, but was a mystery to them, and similarly the Lord removed Satan from the presence of the upper room before He began to first reveal it that very night. The message was then entrusted to the apostles, who were themselves recipients of predestination, and who were given the power of miraculous signs and spectacular spiritual gifts in their communication of it. The King has restored us to our own dominion and in service of Him and His people, and due to the position He has given to us, He is not ashamed to declare us as His closest family.  

 

Then the writer quotes three OT passages (PSA 22:22; ISA 8:17, 18) to show the Messiah's identification with man and, at the same time, emphasize the humanity of Jesus.

 

HEB 2:12 saying,

"I will proclaim Your name to My brethren, In the midst of the congregation I will sing Thy praise." [PSA 22:22]

 

HEB 2:13 And again,

"I will put My trust in Him." [ISA 8:17]

And again,

"Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me." [ISA 8:18]

 

David and Isaiah were writing these truths to the remnant of their day, to be fulfilled in the Millennium. The writer of Hebrews is writing the same to the remnant of his day, but these things are as true for them as they are true for us now since we are not waiting for a future fulfillment.

 

Israel had the outline or the shadow of these truths which they were to rely upon and patiently wait for, but we, having our esteemed position, possess the reality of them in our everyday lives.

 

David and Isaiah's trust in the future deliverance of Israel was founded upon the coming Messiah. It's fulfillment was to them and their brethren. Yet now, we possess the reality of this fulfillment in the resurrected Christ who sits at the right hand of God  until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet.

 

The next reason for His cross was to overcome the prince of death.

 

HEB 2:14 Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless [inoperative] him who had the power of death, that is, the devil;

 

Christ has rendered Satan inoperative and if he no longer has power over death then he has no power over life.

 

Satan is still around and he still possesses power and a certain authority over the world system, but insofar as the believer is concerned, he has been rendered inoperative respecting the believer's death, and if he has no power over death, it should not be that the believer should allow him any power over life.

 

HEB 2:14 Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless [inoperative] him who had the power of death, that is, the devil;

 

HEB 2:15 and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

 

The believer is free to walk in the plan of God. No matter what may come against him, nothing can stop him from completing the course, only, he can choose not to. For the unbeliever, this material life in the world is his only option and death is a punishment. For the believer his only option is the life that is Christ and death is no longer a punishment, but only a passage to heaven. To him, death is time's last gracious gift from God.