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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
Exodus 20:23-24: You shall not make other gods besides me, gods of silver or gods of gold, you shall not make for yourselves. You shall make an altar for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and oxen; in every place where I cause My name to be remembered.
Yahweh spoke these words to Moses on Mount Sinai. Some forty days later, at the foot of Sinai, Israel broke every one of these commandments.
They made a calf of gold (32:2-4). They offered ascension offerings and peace offerings before their god (32:6). They sat down to feast and rose up to play (32:6), which means they were engaged in an orgy, exposing their nakedness before Yahweh. The fear of God did not remain with them.
Like Adam in the garden, they seized forbidden fruit. As in the garden, Yahweh confronted Israel. The Lord’s people worshiped idols, and turned the Lord’s feast into a table of demons. So Yahweh severely judged them and threatened to leave.
This is a table of joy, but it is also for testing and sifting. If you come to this table hating your brother, it will bring sickness and even death. If you spent the week abusing your wife, children, and employees, this table brings judgment. If you try to eat here and get takeout from the table of demons on the side, you provoke the Lord our Husband to jealousy.
Worship always brings judgment. Unless we repent, we will be judged. But, Paul says, if we judge ourselves, we will not be condemned with the world. When we do that, this table purifies us. Jesus comes to judge us unto life, so that His joy and His fear may be in us, so that we may not sin.
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Sunday, June 24, 2012 at 7:07 am
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