TOOLS FOR INTERPRETING SCRIPTURE PART 5

Jeremiah chapter 6













Today we are walking in: Tools For Interpreting Scripture Part 5










Today we look to the word-COVENANT-H1285 bĕriyth--covenant, alliance, pledge; between men; constitution, ordinance (monarch to subjects); covenant (divine ordinance with signs or pledges)














The Torah testifies...............








Deuteronomy 4:13




And he declared unto you his covenant, H1285 which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.









The prophets proclaim..................








Isaiah 24:5




The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. H1285










The writings bear witness...........................






2 Kings 17:38




And the covenant H1285 that I have made with you ye shall not forget; neither shall ye fear other gods.









Divisions: Old and New




In Scripture, the terms old and new apply to several items, all of which pertain to our necessary provision. We see the old [ancient] paths in Jeremiah 6:16 and 18:15; the old and new covenants in Hebrews 8:13; the old and new wine in Luke 5:37-39; the old and new commandments in 1 John 2:7, and others.




Let's look further at our need for both the old and the new, as our necessary provision:




And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new. (Leviticus 26:10)




In the above Leviticus passage, we see that 'bringing forth' [giving birth to] the correct understanding of the old, must be preceded by our walking in the new. This passage speaks prophetically of the provision and promises of the two [Earlier and Later] versions of The Most High's Covenant.




Let's see another:




The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates [doors] are all manner of pleasant fruits ['precious things'], new and old, which I have laid up ['hidden'] for thee, O my beloved. (Song of Songs 7:13)




In the above passage, we see that both new and old have been laid up, or hidden for the Bride. These hidden things are called pleasant fruits — 'precious things' — that are hidden in Messiah [who is called the door or gate]! These too speak prophetically of the Earlier and Later versions of The Most High's Covenant.




Now we will see further light on what the old and new consist of:

Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. (Matthew 13:52)




In the above passage, we first note that the 'treasure' of a scribe consists of his writings. If he is instructed unto the Kingdom, those treasures, we are told, consist of both new and old, in that exact, chronological order. Here we learn that the fullness of instruction unto Messiah's kingdom consists of both new and old.




Now notice How Messiah relates the 'old' Testament writings to the New Covenant:




Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11:29)




Thus saith the LORD, Stand [remain; abide] ye in the ways, and see, and ask [seek] for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. (Jeremiah 6:16)




Notice that the above two passages do not contradict one another. These passages reveal to us that 'rest for our souls' can be seen from two different perspectives, yet this rest for our soul comes from only one source:




This rest comes from taking Messiah's yoke, and learning of Him — by learning His Words, and walking in His ways (Matthew 11:29);


This rest comes from abiding in The Way [in Messiah] — by asking for, seeking, and walking in, the 'old paths' (Jeremiah 6:16).




Each of the above speaks the same message — each one explains the details of the other! The difference is that both are New Covenant provisions — one seen in the 'new' Testament writings, and the other in the 'old' Testament writings!




One may ask, "Why do we not see this taught today?" and, "Why are there so many stumbling-blocks in the Way, that must be removed prior to Messiah's return?"




The prophet Jeremiah has already given us the answer to these questions, seen in the above passage (Jeremiah 6:16b): "...But they said, We will not walk therein." Today many refuse to read, and to walk in the New Covenant provisions found in the 'old' Testament writings.




Why is this? Many Bible teachers today are teaching the error that the 'Old Covenant' means the 'Old Testament' section of the Bible — and these teachers, and their followers, refuse to walk therein!




But the prophet goes on to give us further details:




Because my people hath forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity, and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in paths in a way not cast up [in a way not established by The Most High]; (Jeremiah 18:15)




What do the old paths, as seen above in Jeremiah 6:16, and the ancient paths, as seen above in Jeremiah 18:15, refer to?

John tells us exactly what these are:




Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from 'the beginning' [B'Re'sheit].The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from 'the beginning'. (1 John 2:7)




Notice in the above passage that the phrase 'the beginning' is the Hebrew word B'Re'sheit, which is the very first word in the Book of Genesis. This word is also the Hebrew title of the book of Genesis.




Thus we see that the Word that you have heard from 'the Beginning' speaks of the written Words of Scripture that you have heard, starting from the first word in the Book of Genesis.

John confirms to us what all these other passages tell us: that the 'Good Way' that defines how we are to walk, is found within the Old paths and the Ancient paths of which Jeremiah speaks.




John then tells us this is Old Commandment is the Word which you have heard from 'the beginning.' This speaks of all the written Word, the 'old' testament writings from Genesis onward.




In John's day, the only written Word they had was the 'old' testament writings, the T-N-K ["TaNaK"] — the Torah [Instruction], the Nebiim [Prophets], and the Ketubim [Writings]. Together, John and Jeremiah tell us that walking in the Old paths refers to walking according to Torah!




Let us see briefly why this is true.




We must remember, that the Old 'Covenant,' as an agreement, is not the same as the Old Testament 'writings,' as a section of the Bible! This truth becomes evident, when we see that almost all of the New Covenant provisions and promises are found within the Old Testament section of the Bible! We will further discuss this.




We have seen a brief glimpse, a mere hint, of the necessary [New Covenant] provisions that have been laid up [treasured] for the Fiveamprayer, in both the 'old' Testament writings and the 'new' Testament writings.




But Fiveamprayer, there is much more to see!
Divisions: The Torah and The Testimony




Notice the following Scripture passage:

To the law [Torah] and to the testimony [witness] if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. (Isaiah 8:20)




The Bible itself claims two main sections, called in Scripture the Torah and the Testimony (Isaiah 8:20). These are not 'divisions' as such, but functional descriptions that we might designate as sections of Scripture. It is important that we understand the meaning of these two sections, as they will help us to correctly understand the overall Bible message.




We will see what the Torah and the Testimony are.

TOOLS FOR INTERPRETING SCRIPTURE PART 4

2 Peter Chapter 1












Today we are walking in: Tools For Interpreting Scripture Part 4










Today we look to the word-UNDERSTAND- H8085 shama`--to hear with attention or interest, listen to understand (language)










The Torah testifies...............




Genesis 11:7




Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand H8085 one another's speech.










The prophets proclaim..................




Nehemiah 8:2




And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear H8085 with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.











The writings bear witness...........................




1 Kings 3:9




Give therefore thy servant an understanding H8085 heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

The Bible: Its Content

The Bible appears to many as merely a collection of historical writings, or perhaps a book of guidelines to live by. But the Bible is much more than that. The Bible is a supernatural writing, like no other book in existence.




Its pages are the complete, written instructions from the Creator of the universe, addressed to mankind! And within its pages can be seen the many different forms of the Author's personal signature, all confirming and verifying the authenticity of its contents!




The Bible itself tells us (2 Peter 1:21) that Holy men of ancient times wrote these words of Scripture, as the Holy Spirit moved upon them, telling them what to write. All the words within it pages gave testimony to the Truth, through the absolute agreement of the various writers, even though unknown to each other, and written over a long time span.




From the internal testimony of the Bible, we see that the Bible tells us that it is the Word of the Creator, and all of its Words are Truth (Deuteronomy 32:4; 2 Samuel 7:28; 1 Kings 17:24; Nehemiah 9:13; Psalms 19:9, 119:142, 119:151, 119:160; John 17:17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Revelation 21:5).




As an overview, we might say the Bible speaks a broader message to the many, and a more narrow message to the few, also called His Disciples.




Within the broader message of the Bible can be seen the life-and-death message of coming judgment against all the inhabitants of the world, and also a message of Redemption and forgiveness for all who choose to receive this forgiveness.




The Scriptures pronounce judgment on all people for having rebelled against the Creator, and having transgressed His eternal Laws. There is also a parallel message of the Creator's gift of eternal love and redemption, for all those who choose to return to Him.




This two-fold message confronts all people, and the decision each one makes becomes the most important issue each one must face, within his own lifetime.




Throughout the Bible, a more narrow purpose for the Scriptures can also be seen. The Most High has chosen to hide much of the Bible's Content, so that only those who diligently search for Messiah, as one would search for gold, jewels, and hidden treasure, would find Messiah. Those who choose to follow Him would then learn His Ways, by walking with Him, and abiding [remaining] in Him. They would then delight in Him, and would come to know Him!




There are many other purposes for the Scriptures. The central focus of this writing, however, is based on the one purpose of seeking Messiah with all our hearts, so that we can identify and remove the stumbling-blocks from our lives. Only then can we walk in the Light of His Word, abide in Him, and learn His Ways.




And so as we dig deeply to study the Scriptures for the purpose of seeking Messiah, we soon realise that the Scriptures are pure and without fault [in the original manuscripts in which they were written], notwithstanding the variations found within many different manuscripts and translations. The Holy Bible does not merely 'contain' the written Words of the Creator — the Holy Bible is the sum of His written Words!




There are some who study the Bible, however, and never arrive at a correct understanding of the Bible message. Unless the student approaches the study of Scriptures with humility and with a teachable heart, the eyes of his understanding will not be opened, and he will receive no understanding.




We might say that the fundamental reason for incorrect understanding of the Bible is that a correct understanding of Scripture is fully dependent on The Most High — for it is He alone who opens our spiritual eyes to understand. We will discuss the 'opening of eyes' throughout this teaching.




Let us look next at what the Scriptures themselves tell us about how the Bible is to be divided.
The Bible: Its Divisions

Over the centuries, men have divided the Holy Bible into two basic sections, and have called these the 'old' testament and the 'new' testament. These are not Biblical divisions, but are erroneously based on men's observations. We will refer to these as 'old' testament writings and 'new' testament writings in order to communicate, and to clarify some of the Biblical meanings.




The Bible is not actually divided, in the usual sense of the word. Instead, there is a single, unified message seen throughout the old and new testament writings. The Scriptures do however, use several terms, such as Torah and Testimony, and Old and New, to distinguish between certain covenant aspects of The Most High's word.




For example, the Scriptures use the terms old and new not to refer to sections of the Bible, but to various aspects of Father's Covenant provisions for His people. When we associate the terms old and new with sections of the Bible, we begin to walk in error, for these are man-made divisions, of which the Scriptures do not speak. As long as we think of old and new as merely sections of the Bible, we create confusion — and we cut ourselves off from much of our Heavenly Father's provision for His children!




Let us see what the Bible itself says about Old and New.