The Year Of Jubilee

Reformation 21's End of Year Review of Books Preaching's Survey of Bibles and Bible Reference "Who shall ascend the mountain of the LORD?" —Psalm 24:3 In many ways, this is the fundamental question of Old Testament Israel's cult—and, indeed, of life itself. How can creatures made from dust become members of God's household "forever"? The question of ascending God's mountain to his house was likely recited by pilgrims on approaching the temple on Mount Zion during the annual festivals. This entrance liturgy runs as an undercurrent throughout the Pentateuch and is at the heart of its central book, Leviticus. Its dominating concern, as well as that of the rest of the Bible, is the way in which humanity may come to dwell with God. Israel's deepest hope was not merely a liturgical question, but a historical quest. Under the Mosaic covenant, the way opened up by God was through the Levitical cult of the tabernacle and later temple, its priesthood and rituals. The advent of Christ would open up a new and living way into the house of God—indeed, that was the goal of his taking our humanity upon himself, his suffering, his resurrection and ascension. In this stimulating volume in the New Studies in Biblical Theology, Michael Morales explores the narrative context, literary structure and theology of Leviticus. He follows its dramatic movement, examines the tabernacle cult and the Day of Atonement, and tracks the development from Sinai?s tabernacle to Zion's temple—and from the earthly to the heavenly Mount Zion in the New Testament. He shows how life with God in the house of God was the original goal of the creation of the cosmos, and became the goal of redemption and the new creation. Addressing key issues in biblical theology, the works comprising New Studies in Biblical Theology are creative attempts to help Christians better understand their Bibles. The NSBT series is edited by D. A. Carson, aiming to simultaneously instruct and to edify, to interact with current scholarship and to point the way ahead.

How did the books of the Bible come to be recognized as Holy Scripture? After nearly nineteen centuries the canon of Scripture remains an issue of debate. Adept in both Old and New Testament studies, F. F. Bruce brings the wisdom of a lifetime of reflection and biblical interpretation to bear in addressing the criteria of canonicity, the canon within the canon, and canonical criticism.

"Eternity can never fathom the depth of love revealed in the cross of Calvary," writes Haskell. "It was there that the infinite love of Christ and the unbounded selfishness of Satan stood face to face. The entire system of Judaism, with its types and symbols, was a shadow of the cross, extending from Calvary back to the gate of Eden, and contained a compacted prophecy of the gospel." This book contains the following chapters: Section I. The Sanctuary I. Light in the Darkness II. The Tabernacle III. History of the Sanctuary Section II. The Furniture of the Sanctuary IV. The Ark V. The Golden Candlestick VI. The Table of Showbread VII. Altar of Incense and Its Service Section III. The Priesthood VIII. Christ Our High Priest IX. Office and Work of the High Priest X. The Priests XI. The Levites XII. Garments of the Priests Section IV. Springtime Annual Feasts XIII. The Passover XIV. The Feast of Unleavened Bread XV. The Offering of the First-Fruits XVI. Pentecost Section V. Various Offerings XVII. The Sin-Offering XVIII. The Burnt-Offering XIX. The Drink-Offering XX. The Meat-Offering XXI. The Trespass-Offering XXII. The Offering of the Red Heifer XXIII. The Peace-Offering XXIV. The Cleansing of the Leper Section VI. Services of the Sanctuary XXV. The Court and Its Services XXVI. The Work in the First Apartment of the Sanctuary XXVII. A Wonderful Prophecy Section VII. The Autumnal Annual Feasts XXVIII. The Feast of Trumpets XXIX. The Day of Atonement, or the Work in the Second Apartment XXX. Duty of the Congregation on the Day of Atonement XXXI. The Nature of the Judgment XXXII. The Feast of Tabernacles Section VIII. Levitical Laws and Ceremonies XXXIII. The Jubilee XXXIV. The Cities of Refuge XXXV. The Rock XXXVI. Various Levitical Laws and Ceremonies Section IX. The Tribes of Israel XXXVII. Reuben XXXVIII. Simeon XXXIX. Levi XL. Judah XLI. Naphtali XLII. Gad XLIII. Asher XLIV. Issachar XLV. Zebulun XLVI. Joseph XLVII. Benjamin XLVIII. Manasseh XLIX. The One Hundred and Forty-Four Thousand L. The Lost Tribes

Beginning with the historical origins of the jubilee in ancient Israel, this book traces the reinterpretation of the jubilee through the Old Testament, Second Temple literature, and Qumran documents, demonstrating a tendency toward eschatological re-readings with the passage of time.

God is radically dedicated to our ongoing growth in spiritual maturity and holiness. This is both glorious and terrifying. It is glorious because the Lord of heaven and earth is for us. But it is terrifying because we are idolaters. This means that when God brings greater redemption into our lives he also brings a death sentence to our fallen desires. In love, God will do whatever it takes - even tearing us to shreds if necessary - to replace our feeble pleasures with lasting desire for himself. Sadly, in our culture two false responses to suffering have become deeply embedded in the Church: deadly dualism and shallow stoicism. Each can effectively hijack God's good purpose in suffering. Torn to Heal equips us to understand and reject these false and self-defeating approaches to suffering, and to embrace God's good purpose in our trials.