Real People, Real Lessons #6 Lamech: The Pride of Life with Dan Robinson

Today we began reading the letter the Hebrews.  Many of its verses are full of meaning!  It is important to grasp the flow of reasoning – and not to take one phrase or sentence out of its context.  The writer was most probably Paul; but since it is written primarily for the Jews – and he had fallen out of favour with many of them because he worked among the Gentiles and was converting so many, but had not (as they thought he should) taught them to keep the Jewish laws and practices, Paul was unpopular. This may explain why this epistle (more suitable to call it a book) was circulated without the author being named.

He starts by telling them “God spoke to the fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things” [1 v.2]  and “after making purification for sins (i.e. dying for our sins) he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs” [v.3,4] 

It was Centuries later that theologians in the by then ‘Roman’ church came up with the concept referred to as ‘the mystery of the Trinity’ – and the man-made creeds which then resulted confuse human understanding. The creeds seem to have influenced translators a little  in their rendering of Greek prepositions, en, dia, etc, But read the total context and we will grasp the obvious flow of Paul’s reasoning.

Verse 8 is interesting, it is the only verse in the Bible in which Jesus is called ‘God.’ (apart from when the astonished and doubting  Thomas said, “My Lord and My God”)  Verse 8 and 9  quote Psalm 45 verses 6 & 7 which prophesy about Jesus that “Your throne O God is forever and ever … you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God. has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”  Jesus represented God, he said, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” [John 14 v.9], but he wasn’t the Father. In the same way in Old Testament times  angels represented God on special occasions.

Do true believers represent Christ?  Well Jesus told Paul on the road to Damascus, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” [Acts 9 v.4]. Jesus has “ransomed people for God … and you have made them a kingdom … and they shall reign on earth.” [Rev. 5 v.9,10] and will surely represent Christ in a special way at that time.  The 2nd chapter in Hebrews presents us with a heart-searching challenge and question, “… we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it … how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?” [v,1,3]     .

We are reading the dramatic story of Esther.  When I was young, around 60 years ago – and a member of the large Melbourne Youth Group, we put on an elaborate presentation of Esther and I played the part of Mordecai.  It is the sort of thing that sticks in your mind.

The pivotal point in this book is the challenge that Mordecai gave to Esther now that she had the position of Queen to King Ahasuerus.  Mordecai’s declaration was that she must go before the King and plead for the life of the Jews – and this would include revealing that she herself was a Jew. 

Such was the protocol of the Palace that anyone pushing their way into the King’s presence without being invited – could be put to death.  Esther had a crucial decision to make, self-preservation, to put her personal safety first, or to act on behalf of others.  This was an action she was the only one who was in a position to undertake. 

Esther chose to do what Mordecai requested, declaring, “If I perish, I perish” [Ch.4 v.16]  It is an exciting drama to read, especially the events which followed, but the lesson for us is that there always seems to be at least one pivotal event in everyone’s life, a cross roads as to the destination we decide to aim for, the pathway that beckons us to go down!  Whether we go or not, becomes for us, a decision which is a life changing event.

To make NO decision, is itself a decision!  It is a decision to drift along with life with no specific destination in view.  From a spiritual point of view that is what many are doing, refusing to decide whether there is a God or not! 

But if they have no time for God – then God will have no time for them – this life is their only future – and how increasingly uncertain is it becoming – and how many will “perish” eternally, because of their failure.