Friday: Further Thought - Fulfilling Old Testament Prophecies

Daily Lesson for Friday 22nd of November 2024

Read Ellen G. White, “ ‘Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled,’ ” Pages 662–680, in The Desire of Ages.

Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com

“As a golden treasure, truth had been intrusted to the Hebrew people. The Jewish economy, bearing the signature of Heaven, had been instituted by Christ Himself. In types and symbols the great truths of redemption were veiled. Yet when Christ came, the Jews did not recognize Him to whom all these symbols pointed. They had the word of God in their hands; but the traditions which had been handed down from generation to generation, and the human interpretation of the Scriptures, hid from them the truth as it is in Jesus. The spiritual import of the sacred writings was lost. The treasure house of all knowledge was open to them, but they knew it not.

“God does not conceal His truth from men. By their own course of action they make it obscure to themselves. Christ gave the Jewish people abundant evidence that He was the Messiah; but His teaching called for a decided change in their lives. They saw that if they received Christ, they must give up their cherished maxims and traditions, their selfish, ungodly practices. It required a sacrifice to receive changeless, eternal truth. Therefore they would not admit the most conclusive evidence that God could give to establish faith in Christ. They professed to believe the Old Testament Scriptures, yet they refused to accept the testimony contained therein concerning Christ’s life and character. They were afraid of being convinced lest they should be converted and be compelled to give up their preconceived opinions. The treasure of the gospel, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, was among them, but they rejected the greatest gift that Heaven could bestow.”—Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 105.

Discussion Questions

How do the prophecies fulfilled in Jesus’ life build faith?
What are the three or four major obstacles that stood in the way of the religious leaders’ believing in Jesus? How are these same principles manifested today?
Take a personal inventory of where your confidence resides today. What steps do you think can strengthen your faith?
What should your answer to the question at the end of Monday’s study teach us about the authority of Scripture, and why must we reject anything that casts doubt on the final and ultimate authority of the Scriptures?

<–Thursday

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The Problem: When we look at the passages in the Old Testament that are often accepted as messianic prophecies, we find that they are often talking about more local issues than projecting forward to the time of Christ. We believers look at these passages through the lens of their interpretation in the New Testament and accept their messianic intent. Such a lens does not work for non-believers, and we should be aware that they use a different criteria for evaluation than believers.

The Reflection: That is the reason why I look at the writings of C S Lewis who has gone through the process of losing his faith, and then returning to it. He has been careful enough to think about the process and the reasoning and has had the presence of mind to write down his thought processes. I do not agree with everything that Lewis writes but I admire his tenacity in his search for meaning beyond simply accepting a creed as the basis for belief.

His “Reflections on the Psalms” is not an easy read, mainly because the topics he covers are not easy. He recognises that some of the language of the Psalms is quite vengeful. It is notable that this book begins by discussing “judgement” and “the cursings” before getting on to the “praise” and “blessings”. That is another topic so we will leave it for another time.
The final chapter deals with second meanings in the Psalms and deals mainly with the messianic prophecies. Having said that, it is difficult to summarise his argument in a couple of paragraphs, particularly since I have read this chapter only a few days ago and am still thinking about it. Please understand that what I have to say is really a development rather than a conclusive summary.

Lewis makes a diversion to remind readers who are familiar with the classics that Plato speaks of the fate of a righteous man in a wicked world in terms that are remarkably similar to those of the psalmist and Isaiah.

Plato in his Republic is arguing that righteousness is often praised for the rewards it brings—honour, popularity, and the like—but that to see it in its true nature we must separate it from all these, strip it naked. He asks us therefore to imagine a perfectly righteous man treated by all around him as a monster of wickedness. We must picture him, still perfect, while he is bound, scourged, and finally impaled (the Persian equivalent of crucifixion). At this passage a Christian reader starts and rubs his eyes. What is happening? Yet another of these lucky coincidences? But presently he sees that there is something here which cannot be called luck at all. Lewis C S, “Reflections on the Psalms p87,88

The point I think Lewis is trying to make is there are references to a Jesus, in principle, not only in the Bible but in other literature as well. That should not surprise us. The story of the Wise Men from the East infers that they had learned of Jesus birth from their own literature. Further Paul makes reference to Gentile literature in his discourse on Mars Hill:

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Acts 17 28KJV

Thus there are precedents for prophetic messianic writings outside of the Bible. As an aside this gives some credibility to the idea that God has not limited his effort to communication with the Hebrews alone. The point that is relevant to this discussion is that this literature was written without a messiah in mind.

Thus it is possible that the Biblical messianic prophecy poetry was written with a very different purpose in mind and that the “second meaning” was hidden there waiting to be discovered at the appropriate time.
The shocking thing is that Jesus took these Biblical passages and applied them to himself, claiming he was their fulfillment. And for someone to make that claim he must either be who he says he is, or else a demonic madman. (You can read C S Lewis statement on that in “Mere Christianity”) The fact is that Jesus not only claimed these prophecies as his own, but he lived as “the perfectly righteous man” despite the treatment received. It is that consistent righteousness that establishes his claim for fulfilling the prophecy, his divinity and ultimately our salvation..

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Comments

Friday: Further Thought – Fulfilling Old Testament Prophecies — 6 Comments

Maurice Ashton on November 21, 2024 at 4:09 pm said:

The Problem: When we look at the passages in the Old Testament that are often accepted as messianic prophecies, we find that they are often talking about more local issues than projecting forward to the time of Christ. We believers look at these passages through the lens of their interpretation in the New Testament and accept their messianic intent. Such a lens does not work for non-believers, and we should be aware that they use a different criteria for evaluation than believers.

The Reflection: That is the reason why I look at the writings of C S Lewis who has gone through the process of losing his faith, and then returning to it. He has been careful enough to think about the process and the reasoning and has had the presence of mind to write down his thought processes. I do not agree with everything that Lewis writes but I admire his tenacity in his search for meaning beyond simply accepting a creed as the basis for belief.

His “Reflections on the Psalms” is not an easy read, mainly because the topics he covers are not easy. He recognises that some of the language of the Psalms is quite vengeful. It is notable that this book begins by discussing “judgement” and “the cursings” before getting on to the “praise” and “blessings”. That is another topic so we will leave it for another time.
The final chapter deals with second meanings in the Psalms and deals mainly with the messianic prophecies. Having said that, it is difficult to summarise his argument in a couple of paragraphs, particularly since I have read this chapter only a few days ago and am still thinking about it. Please understand that what I have to say is really a development rather than a conclusive summary.

Lewis makes a diversion to remind readers who are familiar with the classics that Plato speaks of the fate of a righteous man in a wicked world in terms that are remarkably similar to those of the psalmist and Isaiah.

Plato in his Republic is arguing that righteousness is often praised for the rewards it brings—honour, popularity, and the like—but that to see it in its true nature we must separate it from all these, strip it naked. He asks us therefore to imagine a perfectly righteous man treated by all around him as a monster of wickedness. We must picture him, still perfect, while he is bound, scourged, and finally impaled (the Persian equivalent of crucifixion). At this passage a Christian reader starts and rubs his eyes. What is happening? Yet another of these lucky coincidences? But presently he sees that there is something here which cannot be called luck at all. Lewis C S, “Reflections on the Psalms p87,88

The point I think Lewis is trying to make is there are references to a Jesus, in principle, not only in the Bible but in other literature as well. That should not surprise us. The story of the Wise Men from the East infers that they had learned of Jesus birth from their own literature. Further Paul makes reference to Gentile literature in his discourse on Mars Hill:

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Acts 17 28KJV

Thus there are precedents for prophetic messianic writings outside of the Bible. As an aside this gives some credibility to the idea that God has not limited his effort to communication with the Hebrews alone. The point that is relevant to this discussion is that this literature was written without a messiah in mind.

Thus it is possible that the Biblical messianic prophecy poetry was written with a very different purpose in mind and that the “second meaning” was hidden there waiting to be discovered at the appropriate time.
The shocking thing is that Jesus took these Biblical passages and applied them to himself, claiming he was their fulfillment. And for someone to make that claim he must either be who he says he is, or else a demonic madman. (You can read C S Lewis statement on that in “Mere Christianity”) The fact is that Jesus not only claimed these prophecies as his own, but he lived as “the perfectly righteous man” despite the treatment received. It is that consistent righteousness that establishes his claim for fulfilling the prophecy, his divinity and ultimately our salvation..

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John Herscher on November 21, 2024 at 6:30 pm said:

Building Our Faith.

Faith is built up with the evidence at hand. What do we have in our hands? I do believe the Bible, New and Old Testament. Also words and books written by those who speak according to what is a good and right testimony.
Isaiah 8:20.
A message down the same line was Paul's advice to Timothy. 2 Timothy 2:1-7. If you think about it, just as athletes have a few rules to go by, we have rules that keep us on the truth, as we build our faith.
Follow the Bible and spiritual messages that speak in line with the scriptures.

The Old Testament prophecies prove God is consistent with text after after text being fulfilled,through Christ. What's my message. Christ came to fulfill the Old Testament and the law not to be contrary. And we look back and sure enough He did. This confirms that Christ prophecies on earth and through John the Revelator are true, of things to come, and are genuine and authentic. Do we have an advantage with our modern prophet? Remember some have the gift of Prophecy and of visions, and of dreams. Acts 2:17.

Have we not been in the last days since 1844?

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Beverley Joseph on November 22, 2024 at 5:07 am said:

Today many are failing to identify God’s remnant church and its mission as spelled out in the book of Revelation because of misinterpretation of Bible prophecies and because of the many changes one would have to make in their lives such as diet and the day they choose to keep holy.

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Yolanda Helena on November 22, 2024 at 6:43 am said:

The WORD resides among us in a Spiritual sense and within us in a Teachable way as well as in a Tangible-Spiritual way through Faith! We must reject anything that cast doubt in the Authority of SCRIPTURE because doubt can tear down Strong walls built simply by faith if we allow negative interferences to dwell within, among or around us in any way form or fashion!

JESUS says that HE is The Way Truth and Life! That's why we must come unto him All who are weary and heavy laden and HE will give us rest! A rest of Peace among the storms of life!

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Brigitte Humphery on November 22, 2024 at 9:41 am said:

Believing Jesus’ saying: John 14:1: ”Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” is truly world-changing for those who choose to believe. One’s whole world view changes in an instance as, from then on, one understands that one is no longer ‘alone’ in this ever-changing world. Life's foundation is now set on the rock called 'Jesus Christ', the Son of God.

We learn from Jesus saying: John 14:27: ”Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
All who seek for peace in heart and mind, God invites to believe His Son. He promises that in Him we will experience the peaceful state of HIS protection amidst the forces of evil surrounding us all.

This Truth reaches beyond the theological aspects of choosing a 'religion' or correctly applying its statutes. It represents the ultimate Truth God wants every person to know. “The world offers roughly 10,000 distinct religions and as many truths', and all require to believe the person who spoke of their ‘truths’. Roughly 16.4% of the global population is unaffiliated with a religion.” [AI Overview].

The harvest is still ripening! Mankind is still available for God’s Truth to reach into their hearts and minds to change them from living in darkness to living in His comforting Light of Truth. We pray for the Holy Spirit to bring God’s Light to all mankind! Having Faith is not so much about giving up something, but rather trusting that something much better as come which does not cost 'anything' but one’s faith in God’s eternal Truth.

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JC Zielak on November 24, 2024 at 2:04 am said:

God has a Mission out there, but I cannot go out empty-handed. I need to look for Jesus from an inner perspective, and first seek the Lord with all my house. Only afterward focusing on others.

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