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Monday, March 21, 2011

the great puzzle of the Bible

“Though our iniquities testify against us,
Act, O LORD, for your name’s sake” (Jeremiah 14:7)

“We acknowledge our wickedness, O LORD,
And the iniquity of our fathers,
For we have sinned against you.
Do not spurn us, for your name’s sake;
Do not dishonor your glorious throne” (Jeremiah 14:20-21)
How can Israel appeal to the honor of Yahweh’s namesake to forgive their sin when the essence of their sin is the dishonoring of his namesake?

…Romans 3:25-26

2 comments:

  1. Good linkage of the Romans passage to these verses in Jeremiah.

    Will be curious to see how people respond.

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  2. I would say two reasons:

    1. God promised Abraham to multiply and propagate his seed (Gen 15:5-ff).

    2. Israel was God's chosen people, by grace (Deut 7:7).

    So when Israel appeals to God's namesake to "not spurn" them or "act," they are essentially asking God to honor his previous promises. It's basically what Moses did in Exo 32:11-14 when he appealed to God's "reputation" and his promises to Abraham as the basis for not wiping out the Israelites.

    So, yes, the essence of their sin dishonors his namesake -- but God graciously promised to establish them despite this. And it's that promise they are appealing to.

    My dos cents.

    Tom

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