Old and New

The Scriptures are a primary meditation in my life: the Old and the New

Jesus said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure things new and old."

Melchizadek met Abraham after the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,and they sat down together and shared bread and wine. This first priest refered to in the Bible was not of the priesthood which serves in accordance with the law of the first covenant. Also his ministry is prophetically marked with the very emblems which Jesus instituted in remembrance of his death. Now this King, Priest, and Prophet met Abraham after victory in the promised land. Considering how much of the Jewish Bible is concerned with kingship, priesthood, prophecy, and battle for the promised land, it seems clear that Melchizadek meeting Abraham lays a foundation for understanding the entire canon, yet Melchizadek is not under the Law.

Put another way, the Covenant of the Law is contained within the Old Testament Scriptures yet the Old Testament Scriptures are not contained within the Law. A Christian may not then throw out the Old Testament saying that we live under a New Covenant, more discernment is required.

Consider 1 Corinthians 10:1-11 I will include only vs 11 here "Now these things happened to them (Israel) as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

Again our head of household, Jesus, lived perfectly according to the Law of the Old Covenant and stated that not one dot or tittle would disappear.

I am not advocating that Christians begin to try and fulfill the law, however the importance of the Old and New Testament I have understated.

A marvelous foundation

As we have seen from the beginnings (see last post), the Bible is marvelous and holds hidden marvels.

Psalm 118:8 is the numerical center of the Bible. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. Psalm 118 is also between the shortest chapter in the Bible Psalm 117 and the longest chapter in the Bible Psalm 119. Incredible.

I was reading the 118th Psalm and noticed the 22nd verse... the stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. In this the centerpiece chapter of the Bible we find reference to the capstone, the foundation of the structure. The Bible, like the church is an intricately formed structure built upon a solid foundation. This structure is the temple of the Lord which is full of His presence and glory.

Understanding the Bible begins upon the foundation which is rejected by men yet thankfully as the center capstone has proclaimed we do not trust in man and therefore have no fear of man. Rather as wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord we take refuge in the Lord.

This is the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes. Psalm 118:23