The promises they hoped for, we have gained in Jesus.
Hebrews 11 (6)
Introduction
As amazing and admirable as were the feats of faith of our Old Testament forebears, yet the saints did not receive the promises in their day, but faithfully looked forward to them. In our day, the writer has been arguing, the promised rest has now come through our Lord Jesus Christ. All the saints we admire looked forward to Him. How can we even think about looking away from Jesus?
Meditate on Psalm 78.1-8.
Read Hebrews 11.38- 40.
Think it through.
1. Why was the world “not worthy” of these Old Testament saints (v. 38)? Is it any more worthy of faithful saints from the New Testament forward? Why then were those old saints left alive? And why are we left alive? What does this suggest about God’s view of the world? Of our role in the world? The saints of old looked forward to the promised rest of God, and persevered in faith to obtain “a good testimony.” What is a good testimony? Is this something we should be seeking? How?
2. The writer indicates that the promise of being made “perfect” (in the hope and rest of God’s favor) was not realized by those Old Testament saints until it was achieved by the finished work of Christ. Meditate on Matthew 27.51-54. These actions were meant to show symbolically that now the promised rest of God had been attained and was available. Explain. God has “provided something better for us” than even what He provided the saints of the Old Testament. What is that? What is the effect of laying hold on that “better” thing?
Meditate.
“For indeed, even the apostles have not yet received their joy, but they also wait that I may be a partaker of their joy. For the saints, when they leave this place, do not immediately obtain the whole rewards of their merits. They also wait for us, though we delay, even though we remain.” Origen of Alexandria (185-254AD)
Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3.13
Lord, teach me to live forward, toward Your promises, toward the City to Come, so that in all my here and now I…
Pray Psalm 91.1-13.
Meditate on the “secret place of the Most High” and His “shadow.” How can thinking on these deliver you today from temptations and trials so that you abide in the Lord as your “dwelling place” and “refuge”?
Psalm 91.1-13 (Lauda Anima: Praise My Soul the King of Heaven)
All who dwell within God’s shelter in His shadow will reside.
He our Tow’r, our Fortress ever, in Him we our trust confide.
From the trapper’s snares He saves us; safe from sickness we abide.
He will shade us with His pinions, ‘neath His wings we safety find.
From night’s terror, from day’s arrow, from the fears that stalk our mind.
When destruction falls at noon time, safe in Him shall we abide.
Thousands at our sides may falter – it will not to us come near!
We instead shall see the end of all who at God’s mercy sneer.
Evil shall no more befall us for we hold the Lord most dear.
He shall give His angels charge to bear us up, lest we should fall;
They will guard and carry all who on the Savior’s mercy call.
Cobra, mighty lion, serpent: We shall tread upon them all!
T. M Moore
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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006.
