The
Hebrew writer continued to share concerning the “rest”
of God Almighty which He
provided for everyone, and in chapter four and verse seven of
Hebrews the writer tells his
readers, “he limits a certain day” where we read:
Again, he
limits a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time;
as it is
said, To day if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
The
verse begins, “Again, he limits a certain day, saying in
David, To day, after so long a time;” The
writer began with the words, “Again”
which means “anew, renewed, the repetition of the action, further
and moreover” “he limits”
which refers to “God marks out, determines and appoints the
boundaries of” “a certain day”
which means “some particular time”, “saying”
or “uttering, proclaiming and declaring” “in David”
which means “beloved” and refers to “the second king of Israel
and ancestor of Jesus Christ”, “To day”
or “this very and happening day”, “after so long a
time” which means “beyond a
great quantity and much while, space and season”. The idea was that
even though it was after some five hundred years possession of
Canaan, God's limit to “a certain day”
was just as valid “today”.
The
verse goes on to say, “as it is said, To day if you will
hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” The
writer added, “as it is said” which
means “uttered, proclaimed and declared”, “To day”
or “this very and happening
day” “if you will hear”
which means “in case people will hearken and give audience to”
“his voice” which
refers to “God's sound and noise”, “harden not” or
“do not render obstinate or stubborn” “your hearts”
which means “the centers of all physical and spiritual life”. The
time for hearing the “voice”
of God is now, and not to do so is to “harden” “your
hearts”.
When
we think through these words in Hebrews, we understand there is a
limited time in which a person may receive the “gospel” or
“good news” of God through Jesus Christ His Son. As the scripture
says, “now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2),
and those who forestall their decision have actually said “no, I
will not hearken to or obey” God's “good news”. The Lord's
encouragement is not to “harden your hearts”, and those
who are wise will understand how foolish it is to do so.
Next
time
writer will share how Jesus would not “afterward
have spoke of another day”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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