THE WORLD VIEW
In any study of the writings of the Old Testament it is essential
to bear in mind the world view of its authors. In contradistinction
to Greek philosophy, which views history as merely a haphazard
collection of events, or to Buddhist thought, which sees history as
cyclical, replaying itself eternally in an endless reproduction from
which there is no escape, the Old Testament view of history is linear
- history, it affirms, has a beginning, a middle and an end.
The writers of the Old Testament assumed history began with a
Creation in which the world, man, and the universe as a whole came
into being through the direct action of God, that they were created,
and that they were created 'good'. By good is meant that it was
correct morally, that it was created with purpose and with all the
various parts of creation working harmoniously with all the others,
and that there was nothing sinful, evil or painful inherent in it.
The universe and all that is in it was created to function properly as
long as God were in sovereign control.
But the writers were also aware that the world as it now exists
is not as God created it. Thus, there is a second phase of history:
The Fall.
The Fall is the entrance into the world of sin and of all
its consequences. Man broke God's law, committing spiritual treason
against him who is the King of Creation. Thus was introduced into
creation sin, which caused a great separation not only in man's
relationship to God but to all other parts of creation as well. With
the introduction of sin all of man's experiences were skewed, not only
his religious side (spiritual) but also his view of himself
(psychological), his relationship with other men (sociological), with
the environment, and every other part of the universe. This breaking
of relationships, along with every other type of evil we find in the
world, is all a result of a broken relationship between God and man.
Most non-Christians complain that this sort of a view - that the
breaking of a relationship between God and man could have such
universal repercussions - is unrealistic or naive. But is it? If a
boyfriend and girlfriend, or a husband and a wife, have a disagreement
which results in a strain in their relationship, the quite common
experience is that, as the strain continues, eventually everything
begins to come apart. If a husband finds himself estranged from his
wife he will often find he can't sleep or eat, that he begins to have
problems in his relationships with others, and that he begins to lose
concentration at work or elsewhere. The one broken relationship has
affected every area of his life.
The Bible suggests that this is the way of things with man's
relationship with God. Once this relationship - this most crucial of
relationships - was broken, every part of man's existence was
affected.
The result of the fall is that the universe which was created
good has become 'apparently' evil. 'Apparently', because it is not so
inherently. The evil we see in the world around us did come come from
within creation, was not inherent in it, but was introduced from
outside of it. In addition, man's nature has changed. Not only does
man continue to commit acts of sin, but he is by his very nature a
sinner.
The third phase of history then sees God's discontent with the
state of creation as it has become, and with the break in his
relationship with man. Here, then, God moves to restore that
relationship, to reconcile creation, and to rejuvenate the universe.
He moves to set in motion events which will in the course of time
correct the plight of mankind. This is done not only that his
rightful place as King of Creation be restored, but that man's
redemption might be completed.
Thus the writers of the Old Testament viewed the history they
were recording not just as any old history but as a special history -
the history of redemption. The events they recorded were the events
through which the God of the Universe entered into history, acting in
it, revealing himself and the reconciliation and redemption so
desperately needed; they were the events through which God not only
provides but actually applies his reconciling work. And it was with
this history - this history of redemption - this holy history - that
the writers were concerned. It was here that they - and we - could
see God at work.
And history has an end. This is the fourth and final phase:
Consummation. In the age to come, God's holy history will be
complete, and the universe - and with it mankind - will be restored to
harmony and fellowship.
Calvin Culver
Computers for Christ - Chicago
Index of Preacher's Help and Notes
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