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The story of the Bible is the death and resurrection of the Christ, but often there is an important nuance to this story-line.
The house of Ahab is not destroyed during the reign of Ahab, but during the reign of his son Jehoram, the best of the Omrides (2 Kings 3:2). After the death-reign of Ahab and Jezebel, Jehoram might look like the beginning of new life. But that new life is not enough. Before Israel is restored, she must go through the deeper death of Assyrian conquest.
The house of David is destroyed not during the reign of Manasseh, but after the reign of Josiah, among the best of the Davidic kings. After the death-reign of Manasseh (and some of his predecessors - Ahaz), Josiah is definitely new life for Judah. But that new life is not enough. Before Judah can be restored, she must not only go through the death of apostasy, but the deeper death of exile.
Jesus is opposed by the Pharisees and scribes, but at the beginning of Passover week things seem to be on the upswing. Cheering crowds greet Him as He enters Jerusalem, and He silences the Pharisees in debate in the temple. One can imagine Peter musing that all that talk about the cross was greater exaggerated. But the death of rejection must be followed by the deeper death of the cross.
Resurrection is not merely an upswing after a period of decline. Resurrection is not merely improving fortunes, a kind of spiritual upsurge in the GNP. Resurrection is resurrection, new life after a death deeper than decline.
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Friday, May 12, 2006 at 09:28 AM
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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
