A TREE, A ROOT AND A BRANCH
God created Eden to help us understand redemption. He created trees to spring up out of the ground to produce food (Genesis 2:8-9). In Psalm 80:8, Asaph uses creation language to describe the redemption of Israel from Egypt. They were like vine planted by the Lord. The prophet Isaiah develops this imagery (Isaiah 5:5, 6:9-13). Because of Israel's rotten fruit they would eventually be driven into exile. Israel will be a tree stump which is then burned but it remains with a holy seed in it. Assyria will be the axe that chops Israel down (Isaiah 10:5-15). But shoot will come up and bear fruit (Isaiah 11:1-10). The shoot is a symbol of an individual to come and also the re-emerging of Israel. Isaiah then connects this shoot from the burnt stump of Jesse to the Suffering Servant who is a root out of dry ground (Isaiah 53:2). Treem imagery is all over the Bible. The example we looked at tells the story of Israel. They will be exiled for violating the Mosaic Covenant but God will keep His word to David.
Psalm 1 speaks of the one that is like a tree flourishing because it is planted near streams of water. The life-giving streams are the Word of God. The connections between Psalm 1 and 2 are that in Psalm 2 we see that the kings of the nations reject the counsel or the Word of God. This is not so with the Son who rules over the nations. The fate of the nation of Israel depends on this godly King to come. The fate of our salvation depends on the shoot from the stump of Jesse. He fully obeyed God's Word and suffered for our sins. In this way He is the ultimate One who flourishes, the one in whom we can take refuge and flourish as well. We must remain connected to the Vine of Jesus as we are the branches. In Him we flourish and only in Him. Those who aren't in Christ, those who rebel against God are chaff. The exact opposite imagery of the Flourishing One and those who are in Him.
THE FLOOD
Creation and redemption are connected. But so are judgment and de-creation. In creation water covered the whole earth and the Spirit of God was hovering over them. God then separated the waters from the land. In the flood, which was a judgment on the whole earth, creation went to de-creation. The waters covered the whole earth. God sent the wind to drive up the waters and once again separate the waters from the dry ground. The same command that Adam received was given to Noah (be fruitful and multiply). Noah was like a new Adam. But just as Adam sinned in the garden, Noah sinned in a vineyard and got wasted. Nakedness and shame followed both sins. Covering following both sins. Curses followed both sins.
Creation and redemption are connected. But so are judgment and de-creation. In creation water covered the whole earth and the Spirit of God was hovering over them. God then separated the waters from the land. In the flood, which was a judgment on the whole earth, creation went to de-creation. The waters covered the whole earth. God sent the wind to drive up the waters and once again separate the waters from the dry ground. The same command that Adam received was given to Noah (be fruitful and multiply). Noah was like a new Adam. But just as Adam sinned in the garden, Noah sinned in a vineyard and got wasted. Nakedness and shame followed both sins. Covering following both sins. Curses followed both sins.
Moses wants us to see the connection between him and Noah. Noah was saved in an ark through waters. So Moses was saved in an "ark" through waters. Noah entered into covenant with God after the flood. So too, Moses entered into covenant with God after leaving the old world. Noah was leading his family into the new creation as Moses was leading Israel into a new creation--the promised land. Other Biblical others use the flood in ways that help us to see that a future judgment is coming. In Noah's and Moses' account both were saved through judgment. So, too, when Christ comes again, we shall be saved through judgment. In Mark 10:38-39 Jesus described His death as a baptism into the waters of God's judgment. This is the judgment through which God's people are saved. The flood explains the Bible's storyline: sin, salvation through judgment, new covenant, new creation. God purified the world by water the first time and will purify it by fire the next time (2 Peter 3:6-7).
THE TEMPLE AND THE IMAGE WITHIN IT
The world is a cosmic temple reflecting the dwelling place of God (Psalm 78:69). Thus, the temple is meant to be a picture of the cosmos which is mean to be a picture of heaven. Yet God created the cosmos to dwell in and earth is His footstool. Revelation reminds us that God will dwell in the New Creation with us. The New Jerusalem is a Most Holy Place. There is no temple there, but God is the Temple.
Idol worshippers put carved images of their gods in their temples. In the world-temple that God created, He placed His images in this temple. They are not wood, but walking and talking images called mankind. God's image represents Him in His temple. The temple summarizes the Bible's story: temple creation, God's glory filled the temple (not just in creation, but in the tabernacle, temple, new creation).
Whenever we see God tearing down the temple it's a reminder of the judgment to come or a tearing down of the world. Destroying is deconstructing. 2 Peter 3:12 speaks of this.
Whenever we see God tearing down the temple it's a reminder of the judgment to come or a tearing down of the world. Destroying is deconstructing. 2 Peter 3:12 speaks of this.
Jesus, the temple, speaks of His death as God's judgment. Darkness and gloom surrounds the death of Jesus which reminds us of judgment/de-creation to come.
SHADOWS AND SUBSTANCE
The things mentioned in this chapter are shadows and Christ is the substance (Colossians 2:17). Christ is the perfect image of God (Colossians 1:15). As the rituals on the day of Atonement purified the Old Testament Temple, so too, the blood of Christ purifies the New Covenant Temple.
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