Msg#1619 Foreshadowing Christ
What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan’s Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
God’s Hebrew poetry has depth not penetrated by the casual listener. “Give ear, O my people, to my laws incline your ears to my mouth” (Ps 78:1). A most common error in writing is changing of person or perspective. If one begins a story as a first person account from Joe the plumber, they dare not flip-flop to what Mary is thinking or to a third person narrator’s input. When writing, who is speaking and the perspective presented is important. It should be consistent. The second sentence of this Psalm continues, “I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old” (78:2). This is obviously first person narrative from the LORD God. It is his people, his law, and words of his mouth and your, second person plural, ears are the target. That second sentence continues, “Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children” (78:3, 4a). Note that the narrator’s perspective changed from God to man. This is either a narration blunder or perhaps God is showing us his human side, as if he might put on flesh and dwell among us. This Psalm gives this remarkable insight to believers who know something about God’s Messiah. So subtle and so precious. So overlooked by the unbeliever and modernist critical scholar. Such insight gives this Psalm a remarkable new flavor. It is a long Psalm with a curiously negative approach: that the generations to come, “might not be as their fathers, a stubborn rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and who’s spirit was not steadfast with God” (Ps 78:8). Such a promise is only possible if God is made flesh and dwells among us (John 1).
An Essay for week #19 May 8, 16
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