The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Isaiah 51:1-2,
"Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness
and who seek the Lord:
Look to the rock from which you were cut
and to the quarry from which you were hewn;
look to Abraham, your father,
and to Sarah, who gave you birth.
When I called him he was only one man,
and I blessed him and made him many."
Geoffrey W. Grogan, in his commentary on Isaiah, in The Expositor's Bible Commentary, has a fascinating comment about this passage:
"The Jewish Midrash on v. 1 reads as follows: 'When God looked on Abraham who was to appear, he said, "Behold, I have found a rock on which I can build and base the world," therefore he called Abraham a rock' (SBK, 1:733). Cullmann has suggested that this passage and its midrashic interpretation may lie behind Matthew 16:18, with Peter-- representing the apostles as the first Christian believers-- paralleling Abraham's place as father of the faithful, but for the new covenant. Just as Abraham's faith in God was a pattern for the OT community that succceeded him (and, of course, for Christians, too), so that of Peter and his fellow apostles in Christ would lead to the building of the church (see O. Cullmann, Peter, Disciple, Apostle, Martyr [London: SCM, 1953]. p.193."
As you recall, in Matthew 16:18 Jesus tells Peter, "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."
"Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness
and who seek the Lord:
Look to the rock from which you were cut
and to the quarry from which you were hewn;
look to Abraham, your father,
and to Sarah, who gave you birth.
When I called him he was only one man,
and I blessed him and made him many."
Geoffrey W. Grogan, in his commentary on Isaiah, in The Expositor's Bible Commentary, has a fascinating comment about this passage:
"The Jewish Midrash on v. 1 reads as follows: 'When God looked on Abraham who was to appear, he said, "Behold, I have found a rock on which I can build and base the world," therefore he called Abraham a rock' (SBK, 1:733). Cullmann has suggested that this passage and its midrashic interpretation may lie behind Matthew 16:18, with Peter-- representing the apostles as the first Christian believers-- paralleling Abraham's place as father of the faithful, but for the new covenant. Just as Abraham's faith in God was a pattern for the OT community that succceeded him (and, of course, for Christians, too), so that of Peter and his fellow apostles in Christ would lead to the building of the church (see O. Cullmann, Peter, Disciple, Apostle, Martyr [London: SCM, 1953]. p.193."
As you recall, in Matthew 16:18 Jesus tells Peter, "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."
Whether this be the case, I find it absolutely fascinating that Jesus may have used a comment from the oral tradition that became the basis for the development of the Midrash on this passage in Isaiah 51:1-2 as he spoke to Peter.
Maybe a bit of "inside baseball" today, but I thought I'd share it as it really struck my interest.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Maybe a bit of "inside baseball" today, but I thought I'd share it as it really struck my interest.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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