Willmington, Harold

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Liberty UniversityScholars Crossing101 Most Asked Questions 101 Most Asked Questions About the Bible1-2019Question 62 - How has the nation Israel viewed theScriptures?Harold WillmingtonLiberty University, hwillmington@liberty.eduFollow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/questions_101Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, Christianity Commons, and the Religious Thought,Theology and Philosophy of Religion CommonsThis Article is brought to you for free and open access by the 101 Most Asked Questions About the Bible at Scholars Crossing. It has been accepted forinclusion in 101 Most Asked Questions by an authorized administrator of Scholars Crossing. For more information, please contactscholarlycommunication@liberty.edu.Recommended CitationWillmington, Harold, "Question 62 - How has the nation Israel viewed the Scriptures?" (2019). 101 Most Asked Questions. 47.https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/questions_101/47101 MOST ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BIBLE  62. How has the nation Israel viewed the Scriptures? “For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen” (Rom. 9:3-5). A. Old Testament leaders: 1. Moses.  In the book of Deuteronomy Paul’s great lawgiver wrote the following concerning the Holy Scriptures:  a. It was not to be added to or taken from (4:2). b. To obey God’s Word meant to live (4:1; 6:25; 11:13-15, 22-25; 28:1-14). c. To disobey God’s Word was to die (11:16-17, 28; 28:15-68).  d. It would be the source of Israel’s wisdom and understanding (4:6). c. It would be the envy of pagan nations (4:6-8). d. The Word was to be diligently taught to one’s sons, grandsons, etc. (4:9-10; 6:2, 7, 9). e. Future kings were to be guided by it (17:18-20). f. The blessings and curses of the Law were to be read from the two mountains of Gerizim and Ebal after Israel entered the promised land (27:12-13). 2. Joshua a. God told him he would prosper if the Law was read and obeyed (Josh. 1:7-9). b. Joshua commanded the Law to be read from Mounts Gerizim and Ebal as Moses had instructed (8:34). c. During his final message to Israel’s leaders, Joshua reminded them of God’s faithfulness in keeping his word (23:14). 3. Samuel a. He taught the Scriptures throughout Israel (1 Sam. 3:19-21; 4:1; 7:15-17). b. He reviewed it to Saul, hoping (unsuccessfully) to keep Israel’s first king in the center of God’s will (1 Sam. 9:27; 15:1).   4. David a. David testified concerning the inspiration and inerrancy of the Scriptures (2 Sam. 23:2). b. He wrote Psalm 119, by far the Bible’s most lengthy chapter, a chapter given completely in describing the titles, functions, and importance of the Scriptures. 5. Solomon – Israel’s most fabulous king writes the following concerning the Scriptures: a. They will direct one’s feet (Prov. 3:6-7). b. They bring great peace (Prov. 3:24-26). c. They bring God’s favor (Prov. 8:35). d. They produce happiness and result in great honor (Prov. 3:13; 4:8). e. They are better than silver, gold, or rubies (Prov. 3:14-15; 8:19). f. They are of utmost importance (Prov. 4:7). g. They become “the whole duty of man” (Eccl. 12:13).  6. Isaiah a. He wrote concerning the eternality of the Scriptures (40:6-8). b. He wrote concerning the effectiveness of the Scriptures (55:10-11). 7. Jehoshaphat – This godly Judean king sent teachers throughout all Israel to instruct the people concerning the Scriptures (2 Chron. 17:9). 8. Josiah – During his reign a copy of the Law of Moses was found in the temple.  Upon reading it the king led his people in a revival (2 Chron. 34:14). 9. Ezekiel – This prophet was commanded to literally eat a portion of the Word (Ezek. 3:1-3).  Later, John the apostle was given the same instructions (Rev. 10:9). 10. Daniel a. Daniel’s reading of Jeremiah helped prepare him for the prophecy of the 70 weeks (Dan. 9:1-2, 24). b. Following this, an angel personally instructed Daniel from “the Scriptures of truth” (Dan. 10:21). 11. Ezra – His faithful and fearless proclamation of the Scriptures produced a two-fold reaction: a. The first occasion led to a great repentance among God’s people (Ezra 10). b. The second occasion led to a great rejoicing among God’s people (Neh. 8).  B. New Testament leaders: 1. Peter.  He quoted from several key Old Testament passages to explain those awesome events transpiring just prior to and immediately following Pentecost.  Thus: • In Acts 1:20 he quoted from Psa. 69:25; 109:8 • In Acts 2 he quoted from:  ▪ 2:16-21, from Joel 2:28-32 ▪ 2:25-28, from Psa. 16:8-11 ▪ 2:34-35, from Psa. 110:1 2. Philip.  He was immediately able to identify with and expound upon a mysterious passage being read by an Ethiopian eunuch in the Gaza desert.  (Compare Acts 8:32-33 with Isa. 53:7-8.)  Here is the account:  “The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus” (Acts 8:32-35). 3. Stephen.  He totally condemned the Jewish leaders for their unforgivable sin of rejecting the Spirit of God, the Word of God, and the Son of God (Acts 7:51-53). 4. Paul.  Paul loved and revered the Word of God.  By actual count he quoted from or alluded to no less than 752 Old Testament scriptures in his epistles, taking these from 30 Old Testament books.  During these 752 he refers to at least 27 Old Testament individuals and some 30 Old Testament events.  In regards to the relationship between the Word of God and the nation Israel Paul sadly concluded: a. He said Israel had understood the letter of the Law (its morality) but would not obey it (Rom. 2:17-23). b. He said Israel had not understood the spirit of the Law (its Messiah) and would not receive him (Acts 13:27; 2 Cor. 3:14-15).   5. James. a. He reminds us our very redemption was effected by the scriptures (James 1:18). b. We are therefore to hear and harken to God’s Word (James 1:23). 6. Jude.  He refers to three Old Testament individuals (Cain, Balaam, and Korah), and two godless groups (fallen angels and citizens of Sodom) during his description and denunciation of religious apostasy.  

Question 62 - How has the nation Israel viewed the Scriptures?

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Question 62 - How has the nation Israel viewed the Scriptures?

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