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Between Babel and Beast
(America and Empires in Biblical Perspective)
The Glory of Kings: A Festschrift for James B. Jordan
Fyodor Dostoevsky
(Christian Encounters Series)
Athanasius
(Foundations of Theological Exegesis and Christian Spirituality)
The Four: A Survey of the Gospels
Defending Constantine: The Twilight of an Empire and the Dawn of Christendom
From Behind the Veil: The Epistles of John
Deep Exegesis:The Mystery of Reading Scripture
1 & 2 Kings
Brazos Theological Commentary
The Promise Of His Appearing: An Exposition Of Second Peter
A Great Mystery: Fourteen Wedding Sermons
Deep Comedy: Trinity, Tragedy, And Hope In Western Literature
Miniatures & Morals: The Christian Novels of Jane Austen
The Priesthood of the Plebs: A Theology of Baptism
A Son To Me: An Exposition of 1 & 2 Samuel
From Silence to Song: The Davidic Liturgical Revolution
Ascent to Love: A Guide to Dante's Divine Comedy
Blessed Are the Hungry: Meditations on the Lord's Supper
A House For My Name: A Survey of the Old Testament
Heroes of the City of Man: A Christian Guide to Select Ancient Literature
Brightest Heaven of Invention: A Christian Guide To Six Shakespeare Plays
Wise Words: Family Stories That Bring the Proverbs to Life
The Kingdom and the Power: Rediscovering the Centrality of the Church
Adam and Eve seize the forbidden fruit before it’s time. When they cover themselves, they again jump the gun – using leaves to hide their shameful nakedness. They aren’t ready for that either, and the Lord gives them skins of a sacrificed animal to cover. From that time until the Last Adam, human beings come into Yahweh’s presence wearing animal skins. At Sinai, Yahweh allows a handful of people to approach Him wearing plants as well as animal skin – the linen + wool garments of the priests. Most draw near through animals, clothed in the smoke of a sacrificial substitute. By clothing themselves with leaves, Adam and Eve were claiming a priestly privilege they did not have.
In Revelation, the bride and the saints are clothed in linen (19:8, 14). No animal skins at all. And more centrally, the clothing of the saints is Christ Himself. The progression of clothing is from animal skins, through the animal/plant combination of the priests, to the human covering that Jesus gives.
The progression in clothing is matched by a progression in food. Old Testament sacrifices were meat, but the eschatological meal is from plants, grain and grapes. The progression is also from animal to human: Israel feasted on the animals that figured the coming human savior; we feast on Christ Himself.
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Sunday, May 20, 2012 at 7:01 am
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