OT Bible Study #19: How can we see God and live?
Make the pure light of Your divine knowledge shine in our hearts, Loving Master, and open the eyes of our minds that we may understand the message of Your Gospel. Instill also in us reverence for Your blessed commandments, so that overcoming all worldly desires, we may pursue a spiritual life, both thinking and doing all things pleasing to You. For You, Christ our God, are the Light of our souls and bodies, and to You we give the glory, together with Your Father, without beginning, and Your All Holy, Good, and Life- Creating Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen. (2 Corinthians 6:6; Ephesians 1:18; 2 Peter 2:11)
Review. Vestments.
Feast of Pentecost
Numbers 11:16-17, 24-29. What is the connection with the Pentecost of the Second Covenant?
St. Cyril of Jerusalem. Eldad and Medad were not present. To make it clear that it was not Moses who bestowed the gift but the Spirit who wrought, Eldad and Medad, who had been called but had not yet presented themselves, also prophesied. … Do not be overzealous on my account, because they have prophesied, and you do not yet prophesy. Await the proper time. “Would that all the people of the Lord might prophesy, whenever the Lord shall give them his spirit.” Catechetical Lecture 16.25 & 26.
Joel 2:23-32 (confirmed by St. Peter in Acts 2:16).
St. Cyril of Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit is no respecter of persons, for he seeks not dignities but piety of soul. Let neither the rich be puffed up nor the poor be dejected, but only let each prepare himself for reception of the heavenly gift. Catechetical Lecture 27.19.
Ferreiro, A. (2003). Introduction to the Twelve Prophets. In A. Ferreiro (Ed.), The Twelve Prophets (p. 76). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Ezekiel 36:24-28. Note the gathering of the nations (finally, Babel is being overcome; what will keep us from repeating the same mistakes all over again?).
Subdeacon and Poet Arator. Long after the old ark had overcome the waters of the sea, malicious people wished to extend their tower [of Babel] into heaven. In them, irreligious hearts divided the forms of their speech, and the good will in these arrogant confederates perished with their voice. At that time there was a confusion of language for a homogenous race; now there is one [language] for many since [that language] rejoices at the appearance of the coming church, [a language that] will have harmonious sounds; and [the church] brings about a return of eloquence in peace for the obedient [apostles], and the humble order gathers again what arrogant people scattered. On the Acts of the Apostles 1.
From the GNE Pentecost Aposticha. The arrogance of building the tower in the days of old / led to the confusion of tongues, / but now the glory of the knowledge of God brings them wisdom. / There God condemned the impious for their transgression; / here Christ has enlightened the fishermen by the Spirit. / There disharmony was brought about for punishment; // now harmony is renewed for the salvation of our souls.
The Golden Calf
Exodus 32. Moses intercedes for his people; note that not all were saved. Why is idolatry so bad?
St. Ambrose. The greater the sin, the more worthy must be the prayers that are sought. For it was not any one of the common people who prayed for the Jewish people, but Moses, when forgetful of their covenant they worshiped the head of a calf. Was Moses wrong? Certainly he was not wrong in praying, who both merited and obtained that for which he asked. For what should such love not obtain as that of his when he offered himself for the people and said, “And now, if you will forgive their sin, forgive; but if not, blot me out of the book of life.” We see that he does not think of himself, like a man full of fancies and scruples, whether he may incur the risk of some offense, as Novatian says he dreads that he might. But rather, thinking of all and forgetful of himself, he was not afraid lest he should offend, so that he might rescue and free the people from danger and offense. Repentance 1.9:42.
God’s Glory
Exodus 33. Moses wants to see God. Why is this impossible? What made it possible?
St. Cyril of Jerusalem. Now here please note carefully what I am to say, because of the Jews. For it is our purpose to demonstrate that the Lord, Jesus Christ, was with the Father. The Lord then said to Moses, “I will make all my beauty pass before you, and in your presence I will pronounce my name, ‘Lord.’ ” Being himself the Lord, what Lord does he proclaim? You see how in a veiled manner he was teaching the holy doctrine of Father and Son. Again, in what follows, it is written in express terms: “Having come down in a cloud, the Lord stood with him there and proclaimed his name, ‘Lord.’ Thus the Lord passed before him and cried out, ‘The Lord, the Lord, merciful and gracious, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity, and guarding justice and continuing his kindness for a thousand generations, and forgiving wickedness and crime and sin.’ ” And thereafter: “Moses at once bowed down to the ground in worship” before the Lord proclaiming the Father, and said, “O Lord, do come along in our company.” Catechetical Lecture 10.8.
Exodus 34. New tablets. And the sanctification of Moses.
Leviticus 10:1-11. Bad incense. The idea of the holy vs. the profane (also see 2 Samuel 6: 6-11).
St. Bede. This is not far from being a sign of our unhappy time, in which some who have attained positions as priests and teachers—merely to mention it is both distressing and sad enough—are consumed by the fire of heavenly vengeance because they prefer the fire of cupidity to the fire of heavenly love. Their eternal damnation was prefigured by the temporal death of Aaron’s sons. On the Tabernacle 3.2.
Bibliography
Lienhard, J. T., & Rombs, R. J. (Eds.). (2001). Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Ferreiro, A. (2003). Introduction to the Twelve Prophets. In A. Ferreiro (Ed.), The Twelve Prophets (p. 76). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Martin, F., & Smith, E. (Eds.). (2006). Acts (p. 26). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
I hope you have benefitted from this series; we will resume in the Fall!
