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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
“Come near,” Yahweh invites Israel (Isaiah 48:16). The verb is qarab, a liturgically charged term used frequently in Leviticus. Especially in Leviticus 1, various forms of the word describe what worship is for (drawing near, qarab), what Israel does with its offerings (a different form of the verb), and the offerings they bring (qorban).
Come near to . . . what? From Leviticus, we might expect “offer sacrifice” or “bring your gift.” That is biblical language. But in Isaiah 48, the invitation is, somewaht unexpectedly, to draw near to “hear.” Teaching doesn’t seem to have a prominent place in the drawing-near rites of the tabernacle and temple, but Isaiah views hearing as one of the reasons to “draw near.”
Especially in the New Covenant, where the sanctuary has been opened and the gifts of God – Word, Manna, Rod – have been offered to God’s people, especially now we “draw near to hear.”
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Friday, October 26, 2012 at 7:52 am
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