long ago

June 5, 2017

Many people in the pit (Ezek 32:27-32:28)

“They do not lie

With the fallen warriors

Of long ago,

Who went down

To Sheol

With their weapons

Of war.

Their swords

Were laid

Under their heads.

Their shields

Are upon their bones.

The terror

Of the warriors

Was in the land

Of the living.

So,

You shall be broken.

You shall lie

Among the uncircumcised.

You shall lie

With those

Who were killed

By the sword.”

Although the fallen warriors of long ago also went down to Sheol, they, however, brought their weapons of war with them. Their swords were laid under their heads. Their shields were placed on their bones. Despite this honor in the shadowy underworld afterlife of Sheol, these good warriors had also brought terror in the land of the living. As for the Egyptians and their allies, they would be broken. They would lie in the bad section with the uncircumcised and those who were killed by the sword.

September 11, 2016

New things (Isa 48:6-48:8)

“From this time forward,

I make you hear new things.

These hidden things,

You have not known.

They are created now,

Not long ago.

Before today,

You have never heard of them.

Thus you could not say.

‘I already knew them.’

You have never heard!

You have never known!

From of old

Your ear has not been opened.

I knew that

You would deal

Very treacherously.

I knew that

From birth

You were called a rebel.”

Now Second Isaiah has Yahweh reveal new hidden things, revelations that they did not know anything about. These were created now, not long ago. Nobody could have heard about them, so that they cannot say that they already knew about them. This is something that nobody heard or knew about. Their ears were not open. Besides, he knew that they were rebels from birth. They would deal treacherously with this information, if they had it. Once again, these are remarks about their unfaithfulness.

September 9, 2016

Yahweh is a universal God (Isa 45:20-45:21)

“Assemble yourselves!

Come together!

You survivors of the nations!

They have no knowledge.

They carry about their wooden idols.

They keep on praying to a god

That cannot save.

Declare!

Present your case!

Let them take counsel together!

Who told this long ago?

Who declared it of old?

Was it not I?

Yahweh?

There is no other god besides me.

I am a righteous God!

I am a Savior!

There is no one besides me.”

Next Second Isaiah has Yahweh proclaim to all the nations that he is the only God. Yahweh wanted all the survivors of the various nations to assemble and come together. They were stupid, since they carry around their wooden idols. They pray to these wooden idols that cannot save them. Let them make their case and counsel together. Who was able to tell about things long ago before they actually happened? Only Yahweh was able to do that. There is no other god besides Yahweh, who is a righteous God who saves. Yahweh defends himself against all these other gods.

April 9, 2016

God’s attitude towards Canaan (Wis 12:3-12:7)

“Those who lived long ago in your holy land,

You hated for their detestable practices.

They had their works of sorcery.

They had their unholy rites.

They had their merciless slaughter of children.

They had their sacrificial feasting of human flesh.

They had their sacrificial feasting of human blood.

These were initiates from the midst of a heathen cult.

These were parents who murdered helpless lives.

You willed to destroy them

By the hands of our ancestors.

Thus the land is the most precious of all to you.

Thus you might receive a worthy colony

Of the children of God.”

Now this author turns to God’s holy land (τῆς ἁγίας σου γῆς) of Canaan and its former inhabitants who lived there long ago. They had detestable practices of sorcery. They had rites of sacrificial children with feasting on human flesh and blood. These heathen cults had parents kill their helpless children. God wanted to destroy all of them because the land was so precious. Thus there he created a colony for the children of God (Θεοῦ παίδων).

August 31, 2015

Yahweh should be merciful (Ps 25:6-25:7)

Zain   

“Be mindful of your mercy!

Yahweh!

Be mindful of your steadfast love!

They have been from of old.

Het     

Do not remember the sins of my youth!

Do not remember my transgressions!

According to your steadfast love,

Remember me!

For your goodness’ sake!

Yahweh!”

David wanted Yahweh to be merciful. He wanted him to remember his love from long ago. Yahweh was not to remember the sins of his youth or other transgressions. However, he was to remember only love because Yahweh is good.