Monday 30 October 2023

Psalm 4

Background

So many of the New Testament letters have a pivot point, where the theology and theory the writer has been expounding is turned into practical advice for action. Most of Paul’s letters follow this format, as do the letters of Peter. Here the writer of the letter to the Hebrews does the same.

In the previous nine and a half chapters the writer has explained how Jesus is the great high priest, and how his sacrifice is the fulfilment of the sacrificial system instituted by Moses and Aaron. This is what convinces me that Barnabas is the author of the letter.

By way of comparison, Barnabas’ great missionary companion Paul was a Pharisee, obsessed with following the law as a means of obtaining the righteousness of God. When he started following Jesus he remained obsessed with the law, but saw us as being set free from the rigours of obeying the law because of Christ’s death on the cross. His letters, therefore, focus on the impossibility of living out the full law, and Jesus liberating us from the law.

The writer of Hebrews was presumably obsessed with the Levitical sacrificial system centred around the Jewish Temple. He was fascinated by this as being the means by which we have our relationship with God. And then when he started following Jesus, he remained fascinated and saw Jesus as the complete fulfilment of that system. Since Barnabas was a Levite (see Acts 4:36) it was natural that in his teaching and his writings he would focus on this sacrificial system, and on Jesus as our great high priest, just as the writer of this letter does.

 So having given us this long theological backdrop, the writer then pivots into a series of actions we should do, in view of all God has done for us. He uses several ‘let us’ statements to set out his expectations for us. Four come in this section, and a further three are added in chapter 12.

The first four calls to action for us are:

• Let us draw near to God.
• Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess.
• Let us spur one another on to love and do good deeds.
• Let us not give up meeting together to encourage each other.

These are four actions we should all do, as followers of Jesus, in view of all he has done for us.

To Ponder:

• How can you draw near to God, with a sincere heart? What does that look like in practical terms for you?
• What is the hope that you profess in Christ? And what does it mean for you to hold unswervingly to it?
• How can you spur others on to love and do good deeds over this coming week?
• Who will you meet with and how will you encourage them this coming week? 

Prayer

Lord Jesus, we ask for the courage and the faith to follow you where you lead. May we also set our face towards the things you call us to, and walk boldly into the future you have for us. Amen.