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Dr. Meredith Kline, Prologue, Lecture 33
© 2012, Dr. Meredith Kline and Ted Hildebrandt
ParentalAuthority
Itisunderhisparentalauthority.ThiswasIsaacorJacobandsoon
rightdownthelinethenthewholeteachinginRomansthatiftherootisholy
thenthebranchesareholy.Sothat’smyunderstandingofit.Thereareno
problemswithitthatIcansee.Soitisinfantsarebornintotheholycovenant
communitybythissign(circumcision).It’ssimplybecausetheyareunder
ourparentalauthorityandmygeneralthoughtisthatthemainquestionis
simplywhenGodorganizesthefamilyofthecovenant,thefamilyofJesus,
doesheordoeshenothonorthenaturalfamilyandauthoritystructurewhich
hehassetup?SotheLordhassetupthenaturalauthorityofparentsover
children,nowdoeshebypassthatignoreitordoeshehonoritand
incorporateitintheconstituencyofthiscovenantfamily?AsIseeit,the
consistentclimateofbiblicaltestimonyfrombeginningtoendthathehonors
thatfamilyauthorityandthatispreciselythebasisforbaptizinginfants.And
anassumptionofelectionorregenerationissimplynotwhatisgoingon
there.
Grace,worksandthelaw
StudentQuestion:CanweapplythesamecategoriesfromtheOld
Covenantandthetypologicalcategories,thecovenantofworksandelection
inthesamewaytothechurch?
Kline’sresponse:No,absolutelynot.Weareinadifferentage.Thatis
adistinctiveagecharacteristicpreciselyofthatsecondlayeroftheMosaic
economy.IfyouwantedthecharacteristicoftheoftheOldCovenantthen
youwanttoidentifythewholecovenantwiththatsecondlayer.No,that
belongstothatbut,ofcourse,circumcisionwasn’tjustinitiatedinconnection
withthatbutwasinitiatedwithAbrahambeforethat.Soyoumightsaythat
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theNewTestamentcontinuitythenyoucouldtracebackintermsofbeingan
ageofgraceratherthananageofworksbacktoitspatriarchalorigins.So
circumcisiongetstakenupintotheotherarrangementhere.Assuchthen,it
takesontheparticularmeaningthecurseitsymbolizes,takesonaparticular
meaningofthecursethatisgoingtoovertakecorporateIsrael.Thatisa
specializedfunctionthatitperformsinthatcontextbutinitselfbeforethat,
andafterthatitispointingtoamoregeneraljudgmentofGod.Thenatureof
theNewCovenantorderthenisnotofworksbutthatofgraceandsoon.
Studentquestion:
Kline’sresponse:Salvation,theofferforthatmatterofelectionisnot
onthebasisofforeseenworks.
StudentQuestion:Butstilllifeinthekingdominthechurchtodaywe
recognizethatforustolivepeacefullywithoneanotherwehavetoliveout
certaindoctrinesandwehavetoliveoutandliveaccordingtothelaw.
Kline’sresponse:Whatdoesthatmean?Doyoumeanthatweare
underaworksprinciple?Justexplainhowyouareusing“law,”asworksand
inheritanceorwhetheryouareusingitasastandardofconduct.
Studentquestion:thestandardofconduct.
Kline’sresponse:That’sanotherquestionalltogether.
Studentquestion:
Kline’sresponse:WhatisnecessaryistotrulybeintheKingdomof
God.andtoexperiencehisblessingsofjustificationandpeacewithGodand
fellowshipwiththesaints.Whatwasnecessary.Isitbyfaithalone?Orwere
thereformerswrong?Itwasbyfaith.I’msureyouwouldagreebyfaithalone.
Sowhateveryouwanttosayaboutworksafterthatjustsaysomethingthatis
consistentwiththefactthatitisbyfaithalone.Thenthereisthequestionof
lawasstandardsofconductwhichisaseparatequestion…that’sa
completelyseparateissue.Thisisanimportantonewewanttokeepstraight
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onisthis.Weareinthekingdomandblessedbyfaithaloneandwhatever
worksarestilldemandedofusfunctioninsomeotherwayespeciallyby
validatingfaithalone.
StudentQuestion:Isthereanyconnectionbetweenthestandardof
conductideaandthecovenantofworksthatGodmadewithIsrael?Because
theywerenotworkingtowardstheexperienceofthekingdomofGod,that
wasstillbygrace.
Kline’sresponse:That’satthebottomlevel,rememberwekeep
talkingaboutthecovenantofgraceandsofarasyou’retalkingabout
individualsgettingtoheaven.Fromthefalltoconsummationitisonewayby
faithalone.That’strueundertheOldCovenantaswell.Whentheoldproblem
comesupwiththispeculiarotherdimensionthatcomesintothepicturewith
theMosaiccovenant,namelynationalelectionwithtypologicalkingdom.That
iswhereworksarefunctioning,that’swheretheworksprinciplesis
functioning.
Nowstandardsofbehaviorarethesamethroughout.Thefunctionof
theobedienceisdifferenthowever.Thefunctionofobedienceatthislevelis
attestingtothevalidityofthefaithwherebytheygettoheaven.Thefunction
ofobedienceofcorporalIsraelatthislevelwasactuallythemeritorious
crownofhangingontotheblessings.SothecontinuityintheNewCovenantis
withthisbottomline.It’sindiscontinuitywiththat.ThereforePaulsays,this
isnotoffaith,thelawwasnotoffaith.He’snottalkingaboutthebottomline
obviouslyhe’stalkingaboutthetopline.Thereisadifferenceintheoperative
principlewiththemeritoriousground.Faithalonehere,itwastheobedience
ofIsraelfunctioningatadifferentlevel.That’sthequestionofthefunction.
Therearealwaysthestandards,therearealwaysthedemands.Thereare
alwaysthecommandmentsforthegoodworks.Thequestioniswhatisthe
functionofthegoodworks.
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SothefunctionofAdam’sgoodworkswouldbethat’sthemeritorious
groundofhismovingontotheeschatologicalblessings.ThefunctionofJesus
ineternitywasthatofthemeritoriousgroundofhisreceivingtheblessings
whichthenhewasthemediatorofthecovenantbestowedonusbygrace.The
functionofIsrael’sobediencewaslikeAdam’sandJesus’.Itwasthe
meritoriousgroundofhangingontoatleastthetypologicalversionofthe
eschatologicalblessings.Soworksobediencefunctionsinonewayinaworks
arrangementandfunctionsalltogetherdifferentlyinagracearrangement.
That’sthewholeproblemtodistinguishthesethings.
ThePromisesoftheAbrahamicCovenant
Nowwewillmoveon.Ithinkwewillwanttokeepmovingheretodo
atleastsomeoftheselastthingsthatIwantedtodotogetherinourlast
eveningfolks.Thenextonethatwedealwithisthepromisesofthe
Abrahamiccovenants.SowehaddealtwiththeAbrahamiccovenantinsofar
aswhobelongstoitandbyastudyofcircumcision.Now,ofcourse,thereare
otheraspectsofit.Nowhereagainisthiscovenantofgrace.Ithashadits
earlierparticularcovenantalexpressionsespeciallyinthecovenantwith
Noahandtheark.BeforethattherewasthecovenantlineofSeth,andafter
that,thecovenantlineofShemleadinguptoAbraham.Nowleadingupto
Abrahamwehavethiscovenantthatgivesshapeandcolortoalltherestof
redemptivehistory.
Itisaswehavejustbeensuggestingacovenantofpromise,itwasa
covenantofgrace,itwasnotinitselfacovenantofworks.Paulmakesa
strongcontrastbetweenthese.Hespeaksaboutthelawcomingthosefour
centurieslaterasonethatdidnotannulthepromise.Sothatinitselfshows
thathesawthatthelawwasdifferentthanthepromise.Thereforehehadto
raisethequestionofwhetherbeingdifferentitdidn’tannulit.Then,of
course,hesays,itdidn’tannul.Ourquestionishowcomeitdidn’tannulit?If
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lawistheoppositeofpromiseandcomeslater,howdoesitnotobliteratethe
promise?Isubmittoyoutheonlywayyoucananswerthatisifyoudowhat
I’mdoingandrecognizethatthelawwasfunctioninguphere.Downhereitis
intermsofindividualsalvation.Thesamethingwasgoingonunderthe
MosaicperiodandundertheAbrahamicpromisenamely,theprincipleof
promise.Soeventhoughthelawcameinlaterandwasdifferentithasbeen
annulledbecausetherewasnotanyapplicationwithinthispeculiarareaup
here.
Nowthenthisparticularperioddoeshoweverrepresentstagenumber
oneinthefulfillmentoftheAbrahamicpromises.TheAbrahamiccovenantas
acovenantofpromiseissayingthatitisanarrangementoffaithandgrace
andspiritasoverandagainstworks.Nowweareaskingaboutthespecific
promises.BygraceGodistobestowthekingdom.Ultimatelyhereisthe
kingdom,theSabbathkingdom,thekingdomofheavenwhichwillberealized
inthecomingofChristintwostagesAandBforthatmatter.Sowelookthen
attheseAbrahamicpromisesandwhatwediscoveristhatthereisindeedthe
promiseoftheultimatekingdombutalsoinvolvedinitisthepromiseofan
earlierstage.Soinourcovenantalunderstandingofthething,thebookof
Genesis,aswesay,isthekingdomprologue.Duringthewholepatriarchalage
ofAbraham,IsaacandJacobthekingdomhasn’tcomeyet,noteveninstage
one.
GodcomestoAbrahamandhepromiseshimakingdomandakingdom
wewilltrytobreakdownintotheideasoftheking,thepeopleandtheland.
Thosecomponentsmakeupthekingdom.Thatkingdomhadn’tcomeinany
senseyetwithinGenesis12‐50‐‐thetimeofAbrahamiccovenant.
WiththecomingofMoseswecometoafulfillmentofthosekingdom
promises.Butitisonlyaprovisionalnottheperfectthing.It’sonlyapassing
fulfillment,it’snotpermanentone.It’sonlyatypologicalfulfillment,notthe
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realthing,nottheantitype.It’sonlyarestatementofthepromisereally.It’s
notthefulfillmentbutitisstagenumber1‐‐thetypologicalfulfillment.
Thereforethishermeneuticalapproach,I’musingtheword“type”or
“typological”or“covenantal”becauseitunderstandsthenatureofthisMosaic
economyaspreciselyhavingthatprovisionalshadowytypologicalfunction.
Butthat’snottheultimatefulfillmentaswesaidfromtheoutset.WhatGod
waspromisingwastheultimatekingdom.Sothere’scontinuityinbetween
them.Sowecankeepthechalkontheboardwhilewe’redoingthis.Thereis
nobigbreakinthisparticularplan.
NowyoucometotheNewCovenantandhereyougettheperfect,not
theprovisional,thepermanentnotthetransientorpassing.Yougetthe
antitypenotjustthetype.Hereyougetthefulfillmentnotjustasymbolic
restatementofthepromiseagain.Howeveritunfoldsintwostagesrelatedto
thefirstcomingofourLordandthesecondcomingofourLord.Nowthat’s
thewayinwhichwewillbeinterpretingthesepromiseswhichwewillthen
berunningthroughandlookingatthebiblicalevidenceinsomedetailastime
allows.
Descriptionofdispensationalism
Whatwewillbeopposingtothisandbeingcriticalofisthe
dispensationalistapproachwhichisanon‐typologicalhermeneutic.They
don’tunderstandtherelationshipbetweentheOldandNewcovenantas
havingthattype/antitypepromise/fulfillmentcontinuitybetweenthem.
WhatischaracteristicofatleastandespeciallyoftheoldestSchofieldBible,
whichistheclassicaldispensationposition,istoinjectadiscontinuity
betweenwhatwewouldregardasthetwolevelsoffulfillment.Theywouldn’t
liketwolevelsoffulfillmentatallbecausetheydon’tseeanyconnection.In
fact,theyrepudiatetheconnectionbetweenthetwo.Thechurch,theyallege,
isnotintheOldCovenantatall.
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Soclassicaldispensationalismthenposits:sohereyouhavethe
AbrahamiccovenantandhereyouhaveafulfillmentinMoses‐‐theOld
Covenantwhichthengetsinterruptedatthepointwhereaswehaveseen
thereisafailuretorecognizetheLordofthevineyard’sson.Theyhave
rejectedtheprophetsandnowtheyrejecttheson.Sothereisabreakinthe
continuityofthatarrangement.Nevertheless,itisn’tthatitisonlypassing
andtransientandnowobsolete,aswewouldsay,butitissomethingthatwas
intendedtobereallypermanent.It’snotthatthiswastheOldCovenantand
replacedbytheNewCovenant.It’sjusttheoldercovenantandtheNew
Covenantwasaneweronebuttheolderonehasn’tbeenreplaced.Theold
oneisn’tobsoleteonthebackburnerforawhileandnewdealisonthefront
burner.Butthischurchdealwillbetakenoffthefrontburnerandwhenthe
oldercovenantwillbeputbackonthefrontburner.
Meanwhilethenwedotakethechalkofftheboardhere.Wecometoa
turningpointwhichverypreciselytheywanttoidentifyasthetriumphal
entryintoJerusalem.Theywouldexpoundthisthingintermsoftheir
misinterpretationofthetheseventyweekspassageinDaniel9:24‐27.They
wouldsaythatthefirst69weeksofthe70weeksendsatthetriumphalentry.
Thenthepropheticclockstopsticking,accordingtothem,andwehavethis
parenthesiswhichisnowthechurchbutthatisdiscontinuouswiththe
church.Thechurchissomehowprojectedintothepicturewhichhadnot
beenspokenofintheOldCovenantbeforethat.Thechurchwillfulfillits
visionintheworldnotasthatwhichfulfillsthisbutassomethingthatsortof
runsparalleltoitandmighthavesomeanalogies.Thatisthewordthey
woulduseinsteadoftypology.Weseetypologyandthisistheantitypeand
that’sthetype.Alldispensationalistswouldallowforsomesortof
similaritieswithcertainanalogiesbetweenthetwobutit’snotthesame
program.It’saparenthesis.It’ssomethingelsegoingonwhichwillbe
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removedfromtheworldintermsofwhattheyconceiveofasasecretrapture
andfollowedthenbythe70thweekofDanielastheyunderstanditatthat
pointculminatinginaresumptionoftheoldorder,ortheoldercovenantand
millenniumexperience.
Inamillennialexperiencewhichresumesthefeaturesoftheoldorder
includingland,templeandsoon.Attheendofthemillenniumthenyouhave
thequestionofwhetherthechurchwhichhasbeenrapturedoutoftheworld
andisexperiencingsomethingelsewhereandwhethertheexperienceof
whoeverisupthereultimatelymeldsandblendstheexperienceofJewish
communitydownhereorwhetherforevertheycontendthesame.Butthat
wastheclassicalpre‐millscene.
Problemswithclassicaldispensationalism
Nowallkindsofproblemshavebeenseenwiththat.EspeciallyIwon’t
getintothewholeworks/gracebusiness.I’llhaveto.Intalkingaboutthe
oldercovenant,theclassicaldispensationalistsrecognizethattherewasa
worksprinciplethere.Sotheyweren’tsofaroff.Theywererightthereisa
worksprincipleofferedintheOldCovenant.TheirproblemwaswhatKline
didwiththethingthattheydidn’trecognizewasthatthereweretwolevels.
Theworksprincipleappliestoonlythetoplevelnotthebottomlevel.Nowif
youobliteratethatdistinctionandyousaythatthereisonlyonethinggoing
onthereandit’sworks.It’sverydifficulttoavoidsayingthatthesalvation
andtheinheritanceoftheeschatologicalsalvationissalvation.Soyou’reina
positionwhereyouseemtobesayingsalvationisbyworksandthat’swhere
theywere.Ofcourse,theywerecriticizedveryheavilyonthatscoreandthe
criticismhassunkinthroughtheyearsandthat’sgood.Sotheyhavemade
someimprovement.
Nowtheremaybeotherwaysandsomeofyoumayhaveworkeditout
andsolvedthisbutIknowonestandardwayofanalyzingthedevelopments
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ofdispensationalistsistospeaknextofa“revisionist”ratherthanthe
classicalposition.Nowthereistherevisionistpositionwhotakeup
especiallythisproblemofwhethersalvationisbyworksthenandover
againstthat,totheircredittheyrecognizethemessageforthechurchwasone
ofgrace.Sothewholebusinessofalaw/gospeltheygotstraightwhichalotof
covenanttheologiansmessupon.Buttheirproblemwas,asIsaid,theydidn’t
distinguishthetwodifferentlevels.
Nowtherevisionistscomealongandtheyrecognizethatsalvationis
alwaysbygrace.Sotheyrepudiatethatidea.Theysaythatwhatever
blessingcameunderthatoldercovenantthatpresumablyislaterresumption
wasbygrace.ItisonlyinChristthatanyonecanbeblessedandthisisabig
stepintherightdirection.Butatthesametimeitismessingupinotherways.
It’sthrowingoutthebabywiththewasherbecausenowtheysaythatall
that’sgoingonthereisgrace.TheynolongerrecognizedwhatIinsistisgoing
on,thatPaulinsistsisgoingon,thattherewasactuallywasworks.Theydon’t
havetheirschemesstraightbutmostcovenanttheologiansdon’thaveit
straighteither.Butintermsofthedispensationaliststheyhaverejectedthe
elementoftruththeyhadbeforewhichisthattherewasaworksprinciple
operatingatonelevelthere.
Sonowtheysayeverythingisindeedbygracebutstilltheyhaven’t
givenupthe“parenthesis”bit.SoIsrael’sblessingscometothembygrace,the
churchesblessingscomeitbygracebuttheyaredifferentblessingsto
differentkingdomscomesotheywouldstillhavethiswholeeschatological
thingaspartofthefuturestheysee.Sotherestillwouldbecomingtheday
thatafterthechurchisrapturedyougothroughthiswholebusinessagain
includingtheJewishkingdomfortheJewsandthesomeotherheavenlyrealm
forthenon‐Jewishbelievers.
Progressivedispensationalism
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Nowthenextstepofimprovementofthisevolutionof
dispensationalismisthenatleastI’veoftenseenitcalled“theprogressives.”
TheytakethenextstepwhichisoneofrecognizingtheunityoftheNew
CovenantpeoplewiththeOldCovenantpeople.Sowegetridofthe
“parenthesis”now.Sohere’sIsrael,andhere’sthechurch.Salvationisby
graceallthewaythroughandthereiscontinuityofthechurchwiththeOld
Testamentpeople.Sowe’regettingthere.
Nowinconsistentlytheyhaverecognizednowthatthereisblessing
onlyinChristandtheproblemis,ofcourse,thatifyouareinChristyouareno
longeraJeworGentile.Themiddlewallpetitionhasbeenbrokendownand
inChrist,whichistheonlyplacewherethereisblessing,thereisnoJew.
Gentiledistinction.Soiftheyhaverecognizedthatallblessingsareonlyin
Christthentheycan’tresurrectagaintheideaofadistinctionbetweenJewish
believersandnon‐Jewishbelieversbutthatispreciselywhattheydo.
Soinconsistentlytheystillprojecttwodifferentfuturesforthepeople
ofGoddependingoniftheyareJewsornon‐Jews.Theywouldstillconceive
ofamillenniumtoo.Sothereisamillennialkingdomwhichinvolvesan
earthlyCanaanitetypeofkingdominheritancefortheJewishChristiansand
someotherdistinctiveheavenlykingdominheritanceforothers.Sothat’sjust
aninconsistencywheretheyhaven’tcarriedthethingoutproperly.
ClassicalPremillenialsm
Thenbeyondallthesethereisthisstraightforwardstandardoldpre‐
millennialismwhichisnon‐dispensationalist.Sonowyouhavejustapremil
positionwhichisnon‐dispensationalists.Theywouldbejustlikethe
progressiveshereexceptwhenitcametothispointtheywouldn’thavea
distinctionbetweenaJewishkingdomandanon‐Jewishkingdom.All
believershavethesameone.Theonlyplacewhichtheyarewrong,andI’m
sayingitfromanamilposition,isthenthattheysaythatafterthesecond
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comingofJesuswheretherewillbeamillennialcomingofthekingdomof
powerandglory.
Alittleearlieronwediscussedmillennialism.Wesaidthatthemain
distinctiontobeawareofinanalyzingthedifferentmillennialviewsiswhere
theseviewsplacethecomingofthekingdominpowerandglory.Dothey
placeitaspre‐millsandpost‐mills?Dotheyplacethecomingofthekingdom
andpowerandglorybeforetheconsummationoftheworldordotheyplace
afterwards.Sopre‐mills,ofcourse,placethecomingofthekingdomofpower
inthemillennium.Itisonethatissharedbyallbelieversthat’sfine.Butitisa
millenniumwhichforonethingiswrongandsayingthatitfollowsthe
parousia.Itisalsowronginsayingthatthiscomingofthekingdominpower
andgloryprecedestheconsummationoftheworld.Weargued,whenwe
talkedaboutcommongraceremember,wesaidthatcommongrace
guaranteespoliticalcoexistenceandequalrightsforbelieversand
unbelieversaslongastheearthendures.Sobeforetheconsummationitis
intolerable.ItwouldbeacontradictionofGod’scovenantofcommongraceto
haveakingdominpowerandglorywhichwouldobliteratetheequalrightsof
unbelieverstohavethebeforetheendoftheworld.Pre‐millennialismdoes
that,andaswearguepost‐millennialismalsodoesthat.
Post‐millennialismdoesn’tmakethesamemistakeofmakingthe
millenniumcomebeforetheparousia.Postmillennialismrecognizesthe
millenniumisnowbeforetheparousia.Buttheydothinkofthemillenniumas
consistinginthiscomingofthekingdominpowerandglorybeforethe
consummation.Sotheytooareinvolvedinthisbasictheologicalfallacyof
contradictingtheguaranteesoftheprinciplesofcommongrace.
[StudentQuestion]
Forprogressives,let’stakethepresidentoftheseminaryinHamilton
Massachusetts,WalterKaiser.Ryrehaswrittenanewbookwithrevisions.
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WilhelmVanGemerenwouldfitinthatcategory.NowWalterKaiserwould
beanexampleofaprogressive.IknowhecringeswhenItellhimhe’sa
dispensationalist.Butheisbecausehestillholdstothis.Whenitcomesto
Dan.9:24‐27thatwholeseventiethweekthingheisstillwiththethreeanda
halfweeksandallthatjazz.Hestillhasthatdispensationalisteschatologyit
seems.
AbrahamicKingshippromise
Nowthosearetheoptionswearethinkingandoveragainstallofthe
thesedispensationalistviewsandwearecontendingforatypological
approach.Solet’stakeseveralelements,aswesaid,thepromiseoftheking,
thepeopleandland.Justbygoingthroughthebiblicalevidencewewantto
demonstratethatthebiblicalevidencethedataconfrontuswiththese
promisesandeachoneofthemattwolevelsnotjustoneortheother.
NowheremaybeweshouldgetourBiblesatsomeplacesifweare
wantingtoreadtheverses.Maybesomeofyoucouldhelpmereadthese
versesifIjustmentionthemyoucanfindthemforme.Insupportofthe
fundamentalstructurethatwearetalkingaboutthereisatwostagefulfilling
ofthesekingdompromises.Thereistheappearanceofthelanguageofdivine
rememberingatthebeginningofeachstage.Godremembershiscovenantin
thedevelopmentoftheNoahicCovenantrightinthemiddleofthingswhen
thewatersarecoveringtheearthandsoonandthingsseemdisastrous.Right
inthemiddleofit,itannouncesthatGodremembershiscovenantwithNoah.
Godhadacovenantthattherewouldbedeliverance.Sointhemiddleofthe
apparentdisasternowGodremembersthepromisesandheproceedstofulfill
them.Nowthewatersbegintoassuageandsoon.SothelanguageofGod
rememberinghiscovenantequalsGodfulfillsthepromisesofhiscovenant.
ThatlanguageofGod’srememberinghispromisestoAbraham,Isaacand
Jacobtheverythingwe’retalkingaboutisfoundinthebeginningofthisin
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thebookofExodus.It’sfoundatthebeginningofthesecondstagein
connectionwiththeGospels.
Morespecificallylet’scheckoutsomeoftheversesinExodus2:24,
someoneelsewhomightbelookingupExodus6:5and8.ButExodus2then
verse24“Godheardtheirgroaningandherememberedhiscovenant,his
covenantwithAbrahamIsaacandJacob.”Weknowwhatthatmeant.He
proceededtodeliverhispeopleandleadthemuptotheirpromiseland.
DoessomeoneelsehaveExodus6:5‐8?“Moreover, I have heard the
groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have
remembered my covenant. Therefore, say to the Israelites: 'I am the LORD, and I
will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from
being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with
mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your
God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out
from under the yoke of the Egyptians. And I will bring you to the land I swore
with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you
as a possession. I am the LORD.'” SowhatGod’sdoingthroughMosesisa
fulfillingclearlyoftheAbrahamiccovenant.
Psalm105:8lookingbackonthisexperiencesaysthesamesortof
thing:“herememberedhiscovenantforever,thewordhecommandedfor
1000generations,thecovenanthemadewithAbraham,theoathhesworeto
Isaac,heconfirmedittoIsaacandconfirmedittoJacob,todecreetoIsraelas
aneverlastingcovenant.”
SotheretheAbrahamiccovenantisseenasonenotjustmadewith
AbrahambutwithIsaacandwithJacobsothatthewholepatriarchalperiod
canbeconceivedasthemakingandconfirmingofthatAbrahamiccovenant
andtheMosaicperiodislaunchingafulfillmentofit.
Then the Gospel of Luke especially some of the New Testament. Someone
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can be finding Luke1:54 and also verses 72-73. “He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful.” Then verses 72-73, “to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham.” So
what is about to happen now, not through Moses, but throughMessiah,isalso
rememberingoftheMosaiccovenant.
Sothisisaverysimplefundamentalbiblicalstructurethenwhich
servestoshowthatthesetwothingsaretwostagesinfulfillmentoftheone
setofpromisesthatweregiventoAbraham.Sothatpackageofthose
promisesisthiscomplexprogressineschatologicalhistorythattypological
andanti‐typologicalstage.
Nowlet’stakethepromisesonebyoneandseehowtheyfound
fulfillmentatthesetwolevels.Firstisthepromiseofthekingandwithinthe
patriarchalnarrativesthemselvesthatcomesoutespeciallyinthe
circumcisionchapterofGenesis17whereGodpromisestoAbrahamandalso
toSarahthatamongtheirdescendantstherewillbekings.Theywillhavea
royaldynastyembeddedintheirdescendants.Wewon’ttakethetimetoread
thembutGenesis17you’refamiliarthemwithverses6and16thatinvolve
thepromiseofakingorofkingshiparoyaldynasty.
PatriarchalBlessinginGen.49andJudah’skingship
Asthepatriarchalagemovedalongwecometowardtheendofthe
bookofGenesis.WecometoapointinGenesiswherethepromiseoftheking
ispickedupandmadetheparticularsubjectofJacob’sdying,deathbed
blessingsonhissonsandinparticularhisblessingonJudah.SoinGenesis49
thereisJacob’swords“Judahyourbrotherswillpraiseyou.”Nextyearwhen
youwillhavehadyourHebrewcourseandyouwillbestudyingyour
prophetsyou’llbeseeingtheHebrew.Wewilllookatthispassageagainand
howheispunningonthiswordfor“praise”asindeedJudah’smotherhad
punnedonthisword“praise”whenshegavehimthenameJudahinthefirst
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place.“Judah,yourbrotherswillpraiseyou.”Thatword“praise”isrelatedto
thebrother’spraise.“Yourhandwillbeontheneckofyourenemies,your
father’ssonswillbowdowntoyou.”SoJudahistheoneandwhotheleaders
thetwelvetribesaretobeinvested.TheparticulartimethatJacobgavethis
propheticblessinghe,Jacob,wasthepatriarchalheadandintermsofthe
immediatesituationinEgypt,Josephwasthehead.Butnowbeyondthat
JacobforeseesthedaywhenJudahwillemergeastheleaderofthetwelve
tribessystem.KingshipwillbeinvestedinJudah.Itgoesontodescribethis
leadershipwhichisrelatedtotheirmilitaryvictoriesaswellaswehaveseen.
Itissetforthinthefigureofthelion,thelionofthetribeofJudah.“Youarea
lion’scub,OJudah.Youreturnfromtheprey,myson,likealionchargesand
liesdown,likealionesswhodarestorouse.”
Thenwecometothekeyverseinverse10wherethingsturnon
especiallyontheHebrewmeaningofthetermshilohandwhetheritisa
propernameorwhatitis.IfitisthenameofthecityShilohorthecoming
messianickinghimselfasapropernameorwhetheritisacomposedofa
coupleofwordsthatdescribesthemessianicking.NowIhaveanNIVhere
takesthethirdofthoseapproaches.“ThescepterwillnotdepartofJudah,”
fromtheprecedingtwoversesthatkingshipissymbolizedbythescepterwas
goingtobeinvestedinJudah.Judahisgoingtohavethesupremacyoverall
forthetwelvetribeswillbebowingdownrecognizinghisleadershipand
kingship.
Nowoncethathappens,andbytheway,whendidthathappen?When
waskingshiptrulyinvestedinJudah?‐‐clearlywithDavid.Atwhichtimeit
wassortofregisteredasaspecialcovenantthat’swhenithappenedwiththe
Davidiccovenant.Onceithappeneditwasgoingtostaythere.“Thescepter
willnotdepartfromJudah,buttheruler’sstafffrombetweenhisfeet.”So
kingshipwasgoingonremaininthedynastystartedbyDavid.
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“Untilhecomes,”hereishowthewordsshilohistreatedbytheNIV
translators.Ifwehadthetimewecouldmaketheplausiblecasethatled
themtoadoptthis.Itconsistsoftakingtheelementsofshilohapartas
representingtherelativepronoun(“which”)ontheonehandandthen
followedbyaprepositionwithapronominalsuffix(“tohim”)literallymeans
“whichtohim.”Sothisisunderstoodthenasthekingshipwillremaininthe
lineforJudahuntilthatonecomes,namelyChristMessiah.Alltheseviews
wouldbeunderstoodmessianically‐‐untiltheMessiahcomes.Heistheoneto
whomthescepterreallybelongs.Inotherwords,thispromisedkingshipwill
notpassawaypermanently,ofcourse,itwasinterrupted.Itstartedwith
Davidandcontinueduntilthedaysoftheexileandthatwastheninterrupted
butthepromisewasstilltobefulfilled,notatthislevelanymorebut
neverthelessinthecareerofthecomingMessiah.Inhim,ofcourse,itis
consummatedanddoescontinueforever.Sothat’swhatthisprophecyis
predicting,thekingshippromisedtoAbraham.
Alreadywecanseeherehowthereiscontinuitybetweentheold
typologicalDavidicdynastyandthesecondlevelfulfillmentintheMessiah.
“Untilhecomestowhoitbelongs,”nownoticewhenhecomestherealmof
commitmentisnotjustintermsoftheOldTestamentwithtwelvetribesbut
nowitsays,“theobedienceofthenations.”Yougetthethemeofuniversalism
nowwhichischaracteristicofmessianicprophesy.Thenationsnowaregoing
toberecognizingthisultimatekingpromisedtoAbraham.
Thefollowingversesarefascinatingandcryptic.Itwouldtaketoo
muchtimetodefendaparticularinterpretation.Iwouldjustpointouttoyou
thatthereseemstobemysteriouslyenoughconveyedheresomesuggestions
aboutthefactthatthisgloriouslionofthetribeofJudahwillalsobethe
princeofpeace,thelambofGodwhomustsuffer.Sowegetthisdouble
themeinthismessianicprophesythatwefindinallmessianicprophecy
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mainlythesufferingsofChristandthentheglorythatwillfollow.Sowehave
hadthegloryofthekingwhohasuniversaldominionandeveryone’sbowing
downtohimrecognizinghispowersandsoon.
Butneverthelessthereisthesufferinghintedatherebythereference.
EarlieronweweretalkingaboutthecovenantsandIusedtheillustrationof
covenantswerecutbytakingcertainanimalsandcuttingthem.Remember
thatbusinessandwetalkedabouttheparticulardonkeythatwouldbeused
tocutthecovenantsacrifice.Here’saplacethenwherethereisareferenceto
thatcovenantdonkeyandit’sapeculiartypeofanimalthatwasusedtobe
sacrificedinordertomakecovenants.Sothere’sasuggestionhereandthis
referencetothatpeculiarkindoftechnicallanguageforthatspecialbreedof
donkey.
Thesuggestionhereespeciallywhenit’srelatedtotheideathenof
washinggarmentsinwineandthenrobesinthebloodofgrapes.Soyouget
thismysteriousimageryofbloodandofwashingofgrapes.Elsewherelater
ontheBiblethisispickedupintermsofthebloodofChrist,thesacrificial
donkey,andthesaintshadtheirrobeswashedinthatblood.Sothereisthis
kindofsuggestionthenjusthasteningon.Thereisalsoreferenceto“hiseyes
willbedarkerthenwine,histeethwillbewhiterthenmilk”isthissome
referencetothegeneralprosperityofthemessianicagewhichisacommon
theme.
ButinanycasemymainpointclearlyisthatJacobinthisblessingon
Judahpicksupthepromiseofthekinghefindsitmorepreciselyforusand
showshowitissomethingthatwillbemadepermanentintermsofthat
ultimateshilohfigure.Iwouldprefermyselftheinterpretationofshilohasa
propernamewhereit’srelatedtoHebrewwordslikeshalaaverbandshala
nounthathavetodowiththeideaofpeaceandprosperity.Soitbecomes
almostavirtualsynonymforshalom,“peace.”Sothat’stheotheroptionyou
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have.IwouldguesstheKingJamesVersionhadshilohdownasapropername
sothat’swhatwe’llbegoingonthere.
TranscribedbyKatherineBailey
RougheditedbyTedHildebrandt