Apokalips long role na result

Rol na Result bilong Revelation

By Dr. Neil Neilson

Long ol 34 yia bilong marit bilong mi — na even long 2 yia bipo — mi bin rait wan poem long De Day bilong Valentine.

Em i no gut.

Ol poem i go long stori bilong luv bilong mi long em, makim yia bilong marit bilong mi wantem narapela tema, forma, na mood. Sampela i serius, sampela i funny. Tasol wan samting i komon long ol: em i no gut poetry.

Na hia i poem bilong yia dispela, we em i go senim long Tuesday nait. Yu no inap lukim. Na taim em i lukim, em i go bracketim em i no lukim gut. Em i ekselen poet — wan poet tru — na em i go enjoyim na appreciateim. Na wantem wan ton ikren, em i go analisim olsem poem i deservim atenshn bilong Shakespeare.

Na dispela i bringim yumi long Psalm 19, we C. S. Lewis i raitim,

“Mi ting dispela i olsem greatest poem long Psalter na wan long greatest liriks long wol.”

Olsem, em i beter long mi.

I gat planti tru long kwaliti bilong literatura hia, spesal long ol element bilong Hebrew poetry: ritim, paralal struktur bilong mining, na ol metafor na simile we i strong. Olsem Lewis i nota, ol element dispela i kapabel long survive long translation long narapela langwis — no olsem raim, we i no inap translate. Na olsem, even long English, yumi inap appreciateim grander na byuti bilong dispela poem.

Sapos yu interes long explore ol kwaliti bilong literatura na poetry bilong Psalms, mi rekomandaim C. S. Lewis’s Reflections on the Psalms, na Leland Ryken’s Words of Delight: A Literary Introduction long Bible. Mi toktok, Dr. Ryken i serfim olsem konsultant bilong literatura long proses bilong translation bilong English Standard Version bilong Bible, we mi bilif yu gat long han bilong yu long moning.

But Psalms 19 no olsem wanpela bikman bilong ol manmeri. I tambu olsem, em i psalm we i showim ol manmeri bilong God wanem pasin i ken helpim ol i save long bikman na ol manmeri i ken grasim olsem ol i lukim ol bikman na ol manmeri i ken save long olsem.

Dispela manki, olsem yu ken lukim – na mi grateful long pasin we i showim long dispela bulletin long moning – i kam long ol section.

Ol verse 1–6 i showim olsem God i save long ol manmeri long olsem.

Ol verse 7–11 i showim olsem God i save long ol manmeri long olsem.

Ol verse 12–14 i showim olsem God i ken helpim ol manmeri i save long ol bikman na ol manmeri i ken grasim olsem.

Yu ken harim dispela melodi long psalm, olsem yu ken followim:

Ol manmeri i ken save long ol bikman na ol manmeri i ken grasim olsem – na ol i ken helpim ol i save long gospel na ol i ken karim ol fruit bilong gospel long ol laif.

Yu ken save long pasin we God i ken helpim ol manmeri i save long ol bikman na ol manmeri i ken grasim olsem.

First, olsem, long verse 1–6, psalmist i save long ol bikman long ol manmeri long olsem. Dispela i olsem ol manmeri i ken save long ol bikman na ol manmeri i ken grasim olsem – ol i ken save long ol bikman na ol manmeri i ken grasim olsem. Na psalmist i save long ol bikman long ol manmeri i ken save long ol bikman.

Olsem James Boice, olsem pastor long Tenth Presbyterian long Philadelphia, i save long ol bikman: ol manmeri i ken save long ol bikman na ol manmeri i ken grasim olsem – ol i ken save long ol bikman na ol manmeri i ken grasim olsem, na ol i ken helpim ol i save long ol bikman na ol manmeri i ken grasim olsem.

Dispela gloria bilong God i no olsem wat mi laik kolim moral gloria. Yu bai notis long nem bilong God hia long Hebru i El, wanpela nem i go long God, Kreatim. Na gloria hia i no moral gloria – atribut bilong Em olsem justice, mercy, love, gutpela, grais. I refer long eksistens, majesti, na power bilong Em long kreatim olsem. Mipla bin singim long dispela morning olsem wail.

Long Romans 1, Paul i say gloria bilong kreatim bilong God i no olsem inspire worship bilong majesti bilong Em, tasol i availebel long ol human long face bilong earth. Em i eternal power na divine nature i klia long olsem, olsem i understand long olsem i mekim, olsem man i no ekses. Dispela panorama bilong gloria bilong God long kreatim i inspire worship na awe – na i bringim condemnation long ol i refuse long aknowledj Kreatim.

Interesingly, long ol i involvim long edukation – particularly Kristen edukation – verses 1-6 i gat marvelous implications long wat mipla i do long klasrum long ol disiplin. Mipla learn hia long nature i wail long stadin; i gat beauty, observable, understandable. Mipla i no trap long subjektiviti bilong mind bilong mipla. Mipla i ken observe pattern, regularity, order. Mipla i ken measure. Mipla i ken identify causal interactions. Mipla i ken draw conclusions long olsem efort bilong mipla i ken affect wat i eksis, long gut o long no gut.

Nature i tok kontinuus – de na nait. I tok universal – i go long ol ends bilong earth. I no gat wanpela human i no gat dispela wordless witness long God long fran long ai bilong ol.

Finally, dispela psalm i encourage no long study bilong astronomy, we i seem i go long dispela referens ia, but ol chapter bilong “bok bilong wold.” Mi lukim matematika na physics—measuring, calculating, patterns, order. Na mi already note long form bilong dispela psalm: i poetry, magnificent high literary art wantaim metaphor, simile, lyrical shape, na rhythm.

Naitur i tok. Mi laikim dispela line: san i olsem bridegroom i kam out long hem chamber.

Na sapos yu notice long Bible bilong yu, introduction i say, “To the choirmaster”—dispela i intend long psalm bilong singim.

I gat affirmation bilong musical arts ia too. Long narapela wail, long broadest sense, wat we gat long dispela first six verses i no only mandate long worship long grand Creator bilong universe, but affirmation—a glorious affirmation, mi biliv—bilong ol wok bilong yumi, ol calling bilong yumi, we i gat ol material bilong God i create long wold. Na realization bilong olsem gift, olsem creation long ol order na usefulness na variety, i save prompt ol man long praise Creator.

So taim yu go long wok tomorrow morning—or even taim yu sit ia long dispela morning—lukim around. Ol samting yu luk i shout long glory bilong God. Whether yu i go long bisnis or medicin or lo or manufacturing or even ministry, wat ever material na instrument bilong wok bilong yu, wat ever prinsip we i govern long proper use, wat ever benefit na fruit bilong wok bilong yu—ol i declare long glory bilong God. Na long Romans 1 i say gen, yumi ignore dat glory long danger bilong yumi. Wat a celebration i gat long grandeur na beauty bilong wold na ol samting long en.

But psalmist i no stop longwe, longwe olsem dat pikcha bilong God i no yet komplet. God i shoim stil i no olsem longwe bilong creation, tasol i showim tu long Word bilong en, long olgeta witness bilong en, olsem Skripta. So, sekunde, long vers 7–11, psalmist i tok long witness bilong God long Skripta, olsem long special revelation, olsem “bok bilong Word.”

Now, transision long vers 6 go long vers 7—yu nois longwe mi pause—i seem long sampela man olsem i abrup, olsem de conclude olsem dispela psalm i mas olsem tupela psalm, wanem, i joinim togeta long narapla pasin. Actually, mi think i evidence olsem psalmist i understand olsem dispela tupela subjek—bok bilong wol na bok bilong Word—i no inap longwe, i intimately intertwined.

Harim longwe C. S. Lewis i diskrimb long konekshan long pasin bilong psalm. I longwe, tasol i worth longwe. Lewis i rait:

First i nois longwe long skai, longwe de bilong de i shoim longwe dat pageantry i see longwe, i shoim splendor bilong Creator bilong en. Then i nois longwe long san—i bridal joyus longwe bilong en i rism, longwe bilong en i go longwe long speed bilong en longwe long east go long west; finally, long heat bilong en, no long mild heat bilong klimaten bilong yumi, tasol long cloudless, blinding, tyrannous reys i hammer longwe long hil, longwe long every cranny. Key fraz longwe bilong poem i depend longwe “there is nothing hid from heat thereof.” I pierce longwe longwe long strong, clean ardor bilong en. Then longwe, long vers seven, i nois longwe long narapla samting, olsem i no seem longwe long en, longwe olsem i so olsem long all-piercing, all-detecting sunshine. I nois longwe olsem law i undefiled, klin na everlasting—luminous, severe, disinfectant, exultant. Longwe i feel longwe long san, maybe long desert, longwe i search longwe long every nook bilong shade longwe i try longwe long hide longwe, olsem i feel longwe law, longwe i search longwe long olgeta hiding place bilong sol bilong mi.

Na, kursa, Lewis i stap strong long graun bilong Bible. Yu remember dispela tok long Hebrews 4: Tok bilong God i laip na akit, moa sharper long ol samting we i gat tupela kant i cut… i save distinguishim thought na intention bilong het. Na no creature i hidim long siatin bilong en. Sun bilong fisik, wantaim ol lais bilong en na hat bilong en, i save poinim mipela long moa yet—infinitemoa—penetrating, white-hot, judge na save glare bilong tok bilong God we i written.

I tambu: Mi tokim bifo dat nem bilong God long verse 1–6 i El, nem we i moa general, mekim Creator. Tasol long verse 7, nem bilong God i senisim. Em i Yahweh—promise-makim, promise-keepim, tok-makim God bilong Abraham na Isaac na Jacob na David. Na dispela Lord, Jehovah God, i tok. Em i tok long tok we i recording long Scriptures, raitim daun long ston we ol generation na ol pipel na ol grup bilong tok long ol taim na ol ples i ken holim long han bilong ol.

Yu ken sait dat taim we man i raitim daun tok bilong God—long wei we mi ken understand—i long Deuteronomy 31, we Moses na pipel i ready long go long land bilong promis na Moses i givim lidaship long Joshua. Na mipela i readim long Deuteronomy 31:9 dispela tok: Tain Moses i raitim daun dispela lo. Dispensela tok i ken slip long pasin, tasol i bigin, i game-changin tok. Pipo we i no hear God long year i ken hear, long ol generation we i kam, tok bilong God—even long mipela.

Notis how dispela Word—dispela tok bilong God—i descrim. First, ol nouns: lo, statute, preacepts, komand, fear, ordinans. Ol dispela i go longwe na i givim comprehensiv understanding bilong tok bilong God i kam long us long Skripta. Ol doktrina bilong buk bilong wol i require awe na tenky long em i majesta, buk bilong Word—lo, komand, fear—i require moral na spiritual respon. Mi go rever em. Mi go fear em. Mi go obei em.

Notis ol adjectives: perfekt, shua, rait, klin, tru. Ol dispela i givim perfection bilong tok bilong God. Ol i givim truth. No wan stik bilong falsetood or error long ol dispela.

Na tok bilong verb i descrim fruit bilong tok bilong God i kam ins: i revivim soul. I givim wisdom long ol simple. I givim jay long hart na lait long ai. I i endure forever. I i warnim us na i bringim bik reward.

Buk bilong wol—wantaim ol i granda na beauty na wonder na richness na usefulness—no save givim ol satisfaction na jay na blessing olsem dispela.

Psalmist i urj us long lukim ol engagement bilong mipela long wol—mipela i studi, mipela i wok, mipela i koling, mipela i enjoy—to lukim ol i kam long konteks bilong em i reveal Word, we i more wantim olsem gold, sweeter olsem sweetest honey.

As wondaful olsem vocations bilong mipela, olsem interesting na produktiv olsem i may b, i no komplet, no redemptive, na ultimately no satisfi, sapos no long special revelation bilong Skripta. Tru, ol counsel bilong Skripta i tellim mipela klia we mipela no save understandim wol i kam long mipela, sapos no long tok i write bilong God, we i enable mipela long lukim olsem long lait bilong heart bilong God long em i creation na em i ultimate purpose long redim na rekonsil olsem long em.

Na mi tok liklik: dispela em i wanpela tru bilong Skripta ia i mekim mi eksait long mi thinkim wanem i kam nap long mi. Long ol ples we gospel i strong, we baibel i grow, we ol manmeri i growap kwik long olgeta nating—long ol ples olsem Indonesia na India, na long narapela taim Cambodia na Laos—i gat wanpela nupela movemen long kristian edukesen. Ol lida bilong siasin i save lukim olsem ol i no wailim tru bilong gospel na ol framework bilong Skripta i go long olgeta narapela samting we ol manmeri i save thinkim.

TRULY, ol i tokim mi ol i lavim histri bilong diskaunri, we long ol yia bago ol universitet na kolij i bin estables long framework bilong Skripta. Na mi thinkim we ol i ken se ol larning long dispela kontesto i bin givim rais long ol blessing bilong kulta bilong mi. Mi tu thinkim ol i ken se mipela i danja long diskaunri long lukim o nogat long histri—o tingim olsem i no wail. Nogat long Indonesia, we ol i gat hungah long kristian edukesen bilong olgeta, wedet long ol manmeri i growap kwik na ol ekonomi i growap. Mi go tok moa long dispela lated.

Bagarap long mi i olsem: sapos buk bilong wol i inspirem ol manmeri long worship long Kreate God long olsem He i bin mekim, ino kwik long mi no kwik long yumi long buk bilong Word i inspirem yumi long wonder na humility na worship na obedience na holines na jo. El i Jehovah.

Na sapos yu enjoyim ol kreatim bilong God long ol form na manifestesen—sapos yu lavim naitur na wok long gaden bilong yu, sapos yu lavim haus bilong yu na wok bilong yu na famili bilong yu na ol samting bilong yu—tcn yumi go long ol aportuniti na kontesto we yumi ken hearim Kreate God i tok long ol wurds yumi ken understandim.

God i tok. Na God i continue tok. Na mi laik tok olsem: olsem wanem kain man i tambu long yumi, ol piple bilong God, i ken satisfai long testem long creation—wonderful olsem i stap— taim yumi gat dispela ful testem, we, long James 1, i save miri soul.

But yumi no yet reach long narapela sait long story bilong psalm. Long wanem, God i planim ol revelation bilong E—both general na special—long yumi go long narapela ples. Na olsem yumi turn go long verse 12–14, we psalmist i tok long olsem long aim bilong ol dispela. Wanem long buk bilong wol, long taim? Wanem long buk bilong Word?

Long wanem, long plan bilong God, general revelation i no stap long em yet. Em i glorius ting—good na useful long yumi go long ol man i no ken deny em—long yumi acknowledge na worship God olsem Krier. But i no enuf long yumi celebrate ol gift bilong God long creation na ol wok bilong yumi.

Na long plan bilong God, special revelation i no stap long em yet. Bible—God i inspire, i breth out Word—while i necesiri na essential long jenwin faith na discipleship, i planim long yumi, long Spirit bilong God, long repentance na faith na holiness na trust.

Yumi ken become ekspert long Bible. Yumi ken study em, ken em, enjoy em cover to cover—na stil missim plan bilong God long yumi. Yumi ken become olsem ol man long John 5:39, we Jesus i tok, “Yumi search long Scripture long wanem yumi think long em yumi gat laif i tambu; na em i bear witness long mi, yet yumi refuse long go long mi long yumi ken gat laif.”

Na olsem yumi kam long verse 12–14:

"Hainem i ken discirn em eror? Deklarim mi long nofain long fal long mi. Kepim bek yumi servant na long sin bilong pride; letim no ken rule long yumi. Taim yumi ken be blameless na long nofain long transgression i tambu."

Em i tambuim dispela respons God i laikim. Mi gofren Don Carson i tok olsem: em i tokim wailaut long dispela samting God i laikim long stori bilong God we i givim ol man, na long stori bilong God we i givim spesel. Carson i rait olsem God i laikim moa olsem i no laikim tasol long ai bilong strong bilong God, moa olsem i no laikim tasol long tok bilong God we i talkim. Dispela respons we i go long em i olsem: turnim bel, na bilip, na prea we God i purifaim i tambuim mipela long ai bilong en, na mekim tok na tingting bilong mipela i go wailaut long ai bilong en.

Turnim bel long sins we i hidim—ol sins we i go long narapela hap we mipela i no save.

Turnim bel long sins we i mekim senen—ol akta we i go wailaut long ai bilong God.

Na no tasol turnim bel, but prea long God long protektem: Kimingap long yumi servant long sins we i mekim senen; no letim i no kontrolim mi.

But em i go moa long prea long turnim bel, moa long prea long protektem long ai bilong temptation. Mi bilip dispela prea i go long bilip we i save: long taim David i prea olsem: Deklarim mi long ai bilong noa… orait, orait mi i noa long ai bilong transgresen we i go wailaut.

Em i save mekim David long ai bilong noa? Em i save mekim yumi long ai bilong noa? Noa long ai bilong noa bilong yumi—yumi noa long ai bilong noa. David i save dispela olsem. Read Psalms 32. Read Psalms 51. Em i no tokim noa long ai bilong akseptans long God. Em i prea long deklarasen bilong God.

Deklarim mi long ai bilong noa, em i krai—na orait mi i noa.

Em i wailaut? Mi bilip olsem em i pointer long narapela hap we i go long Jesus i kam long narapela hap—em i go long gospel we i autim olsem: stori bilong God we i mekim yumi long meri na long gras.

Long buk bilong wol, yumi save olsem Em i olsem Kreatim we i kontrolim.

Long long buk bilong God I tambu na stret – na mipela olsem David, mipela i stap olsem man i no save long God, i no stret. Mipela i no ken save mipela i stap long kain krisis.

Na David i go bek long meri bilong God – God i tambu long meri, i no laikim David na mipela long sin bilong mipela, tasol i no laikim, i givim pasin, i tok David na mipela i no ken. Nogat long mipela i no ken, tasol long dai bilong Pikinini bilong God, Jisas – David i no lukim, tasol mipela i lukim – long dai bilong Jisas mipela i celebrate long Supper bilong Lord.

Jisas, wanpela stret man, wanpela man i no ken sin, i dai long ples bilong mipela olsem man i no ken – stret man long ples bilong man i no stret, man i no ken sin long ples bilong man i ken sin – i payim prais bilong mipela long God. Na God i acceptim prais bilong Jisas. Long meri bilong dai bilong Jisas, God i tok mipela i no ken sin long ai bilong God.

Yu no save Psalms 19 i tok long stretim long bilip tasol? Wail.

Tasol dat i no nap long narapela. Psalm i klos long wanpela verse:

"Let long tok bilong maus bilong mi na tok long het bilong mi i go we long ai bilong yu, O Lord, mi no rock na mi no Redeemer."

David i save God i givim pasin long meri bilong God. Nau David i praim long God long tok bilong maus bilong David na het bilong David – olsem tok David i tok na tok David i thinkim – i go we long God. Long narapela tok, David i praim long God i stretim na i holim. I go we long 1 John 1:9: Yumi confessim sin bilong yumi, God i no save long meri, i no stret long givim pasin long yumi sin na i klosim yumi long olkain sin.

Yu no save long olsem kain God we i saveim mipela long stailim na hopeless kondision, olsem? Yu no save long laip we i go long aut olsem gospel, long aut olsem grais bilong God—laip bilong dokim na stilim holinens long olgeta aspekt bilong laip bilong mipela?

Na olsem, mipela i gat ful movemen bilong dispela psalm:

Sapos mipela i laikim dispela tokples les bilong God long general revelation, yu no laikim moa long dispela tok bilong God long special revelation? Mipela i go long wol bilong God, mipela i harim tok bilong God.

But then, sapos mipela i laikim dispela tok bilong God long special revelation, yu no laikim moa long —even dispela moning—stilim yumi long wok bilong konvikting, forgiving, justifying, na sanctifying? Humble na contrite, olsem David, mipela i go long Em, Em i wokim dispela wok long mipela—no wan taim olsem, sapos mipela i no ken, but kontinuim long rejioisim long gutnius bilong deklarasen bilong God long mipela i no giaman, klaimim Jesuis i dai long cross, na stilim holinens na dokim long One we i solid Rok na blest Redeemer.

Olsem, brata na sista, laikim wol bilong God na koling bilong Em we i givim yu long fulfi long en. Even beter, laikim tok bilong God na olsem Em i tokim yumi long en long Himself na Em i redimim. But best long ol, go long rot bilong Psalms 19—go long buk bilong wol na buk bilong tok long olsem gospel: gutnius we God i forgiveim sinners long Jesuis i dai long cross, na gutnius we long dispela gospel mipela i save tok na think na laip long Em i sight.

Dispela trajektori—dispela logik bilong buk bilong wol, buk bilong tok, justification na sanctification—i no en bilong melodic line bilong Psalms 19, but i no en bilong melodic line bilong redemptive purpesis bilong God long creation na long yu.

Na mip laikim i tambu long singim wanpela song i describe long ultimate end bilong dispela grand purpose bilong God – long revealim Sinsel long mipela i ken knowim, i ken forgiveven, na i wokabaut long holiness long ai bilong Sinsel. Yu goin hearim olsem beautifully long las verse:

"Finish, then, Thy new creation; pure and spotless let us be. Let us see Thy great salvation perfectly restored in Thee; changed from glory into glory…. To Jesus Christ alone be the glory and praise."

Niel Nielson em i president bilong Covenant College long Lookout Mountain, GA.

Dispela article i base long wanpela verbatim transcript bilong sermon bilong Dokta Nielson. I tambu lightly edited long Copilot olsem long staff bilong theology long Third Millennium Ministries.