Take Two: Hebrews 2, Proverbs 13

Hopefully you are seeing from the pace of this book...that you can't get behind. You also can't "speed read" through this book. The chapters of Hebrews are so "full" of theology and explanation...that you have to slow down and be very deliberate...or you will miss it. If you try to just "burn through it," to check off the list...you will likely become frustrated.

If you have ever asked, "Why did God do 'Salvation' the way He did," or "why the cross"...then this chapter is for you.

Heb 2:1-4 gives the argument from the writer of why we should pay close attention. "For this reason" points back to the previous verses. Since the ministry of the angels was both for the service of God and for the benefit of the saints...then (Heb 2:1-2) we must pay much closer attention to the account (of God's Salvation through Jesus alone) we have heard, SO THAT we do not drift away from it. Because, if what the angels said proved to be true, how can we not expect what Jesus said to be true? [Good logical application of the point the writer is making.]

Heb 2:5-8 gives the next logical connection. We trust in the angel's message...but God did not put angels in charge of the world. He gave this to Jesus. In placing the world in subjection to Jesus, God left nothing that was not subjected to Jesus.

Now you may ask, "Why did he say that?" He notes that Jesus is superior to angels...because some would have suggested that...since Jesus was crucified...then he was really lesser than the angels. They would say that angels were "celestial" beings...and Jesus was human. Angels never died...and Jesus did. Angels are powerful ministering spirits...and Jesus was killed. The "champions" of the angels are simply wondering the same thing many have asked through the years. Why does God save the world through the crucifixion of His Son? For some, they can never get over the stumbling block of the cross (Gal 5:11).

The writer concedes that Jesus was made lower than the angels (for a little while/ a season) SO THAT He would taste death for all of us (Heb 2:9). The cross is not a plan that just got out of hand...it was purposeful.

The cross is FITTING (Heb 2:10) because God brought about a substitutionary sacrifice which both SAVED all those who would believe AND SATISFIED the demands of His own holiness in judging sin for what it is in the economy of God. Through the HUMILITY (theological concept) of Christ becoming a man (not as a man...or like a man...but a man), he became perfected as the sacrifice of God by being a fitting substitution in every way. He became as man is...and became their brother. (Heb 2:10-11). The writer then supports his thesis from OT Scripture. It was exactly as God designed that Jesus would be "flesh and blood" as His brethren (humans) are...so as to defeat (render powerless) the enemy (Heb 2:14-16).

Heb 2:17-18 gives the final logical connection. THEREFORE Jesus had to be a man in every way SO THAT He could experientially be the intercessor/high priest who would make atonement for our sin.

In the media recently, they have spoken of a financial "perfect storm." They mean from this that many different things converged in a particular way and caused an outcome (perfect storm) which was impossible except for the convergence of the different factors. In the Salvation narrative...God brought together His justice, His judgment, His substitutionary sacrifice, and His grace. We see an enemy who had gained power through the Law, man who was sinful, His own Son who was perfect, and a cross which was shameful. In the Salvation narrative, God did what only He could do...in a perfect storm...He satisfied His judgment and showed His grace. We demonstrated that He is both JUST and the JUSTIFIER in a way that no other one or no other thing could ever accomplish.

If God did do this and can do this to save all of humanity from sin...isn't He worthy of our loyalty and allegience? Can't we trust Him with the other aspects of our lives?

Proverbs 13:18 is the takeaway today. Sometimes we can look at trouble or trials that come our way as "attacks of the enemy." Sometimes they are. Sometimes though...they are just the outworking of consequences for decisions/actions we have taken. A person who overextends himself with bills and credit...may find himself suffering and lacking. This is not an enemy attack...it is a lack of discipline. What does one do? Listen to the reproof (correction/ instruction) of the wise and be redeemed.