As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I wrote this yesterday but then changed my mind when I got to the office. Here is yesterday’s originally written post.
Have you ever heard the phrase “It went from the sublime to the ridiculous”? Another way of saying that is “It went from the high to the low.”
I’d like to turn that around this morning: I went from the ridiculous to the sublime. As I say that, “ridiculous” is a very poor choice of a word. Nothing in God’s Word is ridiculous, except maybe the reactions of some people.
Maybe a better word would be “confusing” or “I don’t get it.” Please read on and I’ll try to explain my thoughts.
I am currently reading the book of Isaiah. I don’t know why I chose to do that. My madness will continue into Jeremiah and on until I finish in Malachi. Anyway, I read Isaiah 18-19 this morning. Talk about totally confused! it sure gives me a greater appreciation for those who spend their lives studying books like this and trying to make sense of them. I was lost…totally.
Fast forward to my NT reading: Mark 12. Talk about the ridiculous to the sublime! That chapter is chock-full of teaching moments:
- The parable of the vine growers who kill and maim representatives of the owner until they kill his son. Can you say, “Jesus”?
- The attempts at entrapment by the Pharisees (taxes) and Sadducees (marriage in heaven by men who didn’t believe in the resurrection).
- The sincerity of the scribe’s response to Jesus about the greatest commandment.
- Finally, the widow who gave more than all the others because she gave out of her heart and they out of their abundance.
Jesus confirms He is the chief cornerstone, and the son killed by the vine growers is Him. They knew it too. And then to end it all by talking about a widow who gave more than all the others because she gave out of her poverty.
Dagger to the heart.
It got me to thinking. One doesn’t appreciate clarity until he/she has been in confusion. Confused by the Old but so grateful for the New.
Maybe someday I will understand Isaiah. Until then, I will follow the lead of Jesus and that widow who gave out of poverty. How about you?
I think that may have been the intention… The path to God is impossible on your own through the obedience of the law (the OT). Be the simplicity of grace and forgiveness gives us all the opportunity to come to God, the difference… We rely on God to bring us to Him. I think the very purpose of the OT was in fact to prove we couldn’t do it or even understand it on our own and only through Christ can we reach a simple understanding that allows us to know Him. Thankful for the simplicity of the message.
Good point Ryan. I never even thought of that aspect of it. But it certainly makes sense.
There are parts of the Bible that are difficult to understand, Bill, but it doesn’t mean we should give up trying. The OT can be a very confusing thing to study in some parts. Maybe, we’re not intended to understand it all.
Blessings!
That would be me for sure Martha!
Hi, Bill!
Today is Virginia’s birthday #12, and Alexandra’s is on the 23rd. Would you say a prayer for them? Thanks!
I most certainly will. Hard to believe it will be 12.
Adienne, is always reading from Isaiah, she loves the OT. I will say when I read what the prophets have said, and then see that in the NT that the events happened in every detail just as they said it would, it makes it pretty clear that God is omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence. That blows my mind that such a powerful & Holy God loves me, and cares about every detail of my life. I am in awe, thank-you Father.
I’m looking forward to reading some later passages from Isaiah. I think it gets better. 😂 meanwhile, I am also blown away by a holy God who loves me