The Eternally Unquenchable Lamp of the Covenant

2009-07-03

THE ETERNALLY UNQUENCHABLE LAMP OF THE COVENANT - Contents

THE ETERNALLY UNQUENCHABLE
LAMP OF THE COVENANT
- THE GENEALOGY OF JESUS CHRIST -

Rev. Yoon-Sik Park, D.Min., D.D.
Huisun, printed in Korea. 2009. 3. 7.

Chapter 1. God Who is Greater than All

Ⅰ. GOD'S LOVE IS GREATER THAN ALL
The Most High Ruler, the Maker of all
The vast universe
God who upholds all
The agape love of the God of all

Ⅱ. THE HISTORY OF REDEMPTION AND THE COVENANT
The first revelation of the Covenant(the Proto-Gospel)
The Noahic Covenant(The Covenant of the Bow)
The Abrahamic Covenant
The Sinai Covenant
The Davidic Covenant
The New Covenant in Jeremiah

Ⅲ. JESUS CHRIST, THE FULFILLER OF THE ETERNAL COVENANT
The Noahic Covenant and Jesus Christ
The Abrahamic Covenant and Jesus Christ
The Sinai Covenant and Jesus Christ
The Davidic Covenant and Jesus Christ
The New Covenant in Jeremiah and Jesus Christ

Chapter 2. God's Administration in the History of Redemption and the Genealogy of Jesus Christ

Ⅰ. THE BOOK OF THE GENEALOGY OF JESUS CHRIST
The Son of David, the Son of Abraham
The seed of the woman

Ⅱ. STRUCTURE OF THE GENEALOGY OF JESUS CHRIST
Comparison of the genealogies in Matthew 1 and Luke 3
Structure of the genealogy in Matthew 1 (Matthew 1:1-17)
Structure of the genealogy in Luke 3 (Luke 3:23-38)

Ⅲ. THREE PERIODS THAT APPEAR IN THE GENEALOGY OF JESUS CHRIST

Ⅳ. THE NUMBER OF GENERATIONS OMITTED AND THE NAMES OF THE PEOPLE RECORDED
Number of generations omitted from the 430 years of slavery in Egypt
Number of generations omitted from the period between settlement in Canaan and King David
Number of generations omitted from the period of the kings in Judah
The names of the people recorded in the genealogy
* 1 * THE 42 GENERATIONS IN THE GENEALOGY OF JESUS CHRIST AT A GLANCE

Chapter 3. The Genealogy of Jesus Christ: History of the First Period Fourteen Generations from Abraham to David

Abraham: father of a multitude, father of many nations
Isaac: to laugh
Jacob: the one who takes by the heel, supplanter
Judah: to praise
Perez: broken out, forcefully broken out
Hezron: surrounded by a wall, fence
Ram or Aram(Arni): exalted, high
Amminadab: my noble kinsman
Nahshon: know from experience, diligently observe, that foretells
Salmon: garment, coat, cloak
Boaz: excellence/keenness, a mighty man of wealth
Obed: serve, servant
Jesse: God exists, God lives
King David: beloved, friend
* 2 * OUTLINE OF 42 GENERATIONS IN THE GENEALOGY OF MATTHEW (FIRST PERIOD) - 14 GENERATIONS FROM ABRAHAM TO DAVID

Chapter 4. The History of the Period of the Judges

Ⅰ. UNDERSTANDING THE JUDGES
Definition of the Judges
Characteristics of the period of the judges

Ⅱ. CHRONOLOGY OF THE PERIOD OF THE JUDGES
The periods of the reign of Ehud and of Shamgar appear to overlap
The periods of the reign of Tola and of Jair appear to overlap
The periods of oppression by Ammon (Judg 10:7-8) and by Philistine (Judg 13:1) appear to overlap

Ⅲ. THE WORKS OF THE JUDGES
Othniel: God is strength, God moves forward
Ehud: tightly joined, united
Shamgar: sword, God-given
Deborah: honey bee, bee
Gideon: woodcutter, lumber jack, warrior
Tola: worm, maggot
Jair: enlightener, the one who shines light
Jephthah: he will open it up, God will open it up
Ibzan: splendid, brilliant
Elon: oak
Abdon: slave, servant
Samson: man of sun, like the sun, sunshine
* 3 * CHRONOLOGY OF THE PERIOD OF THE JUDGES

Chapter 5. The History from Saul to David

Ⅰ. HISTORY OF KING SAUL
Selection of Saul
Saul's reign
Relationship between Saul and David
The wretched fall of Saul and his entire family

Ⅱ. HISTORY OF KING DAVID
David's life of refuge
David's ascension to the throne
The Davidic Covenant and victories in battles
David's transgression
Absalom's rebellion
The latter years of David
* 4 * THE ROUTE OF DAVID'S FLIGHT

Conclusion. The Eternally Unquenchable Lamp of the Covenant

The genealogy of Jesus Christ and God's administration in the history of redemption
The unquenchable lamp of the covenant
God's zeal to fulfill the work of salvation

2009-07-02

THE FORGOTTEN ENCOUNTER - The covenant of the flaming torch and its fulfillment - Contents

THE FORGOTTEN ENCOUNTER
THE COVENANT OF THE FLAMING TORCH AND ITS FULFILLMENT
VIEWED THROUGH GOD'S WORK OF SALVATION
Rev. Yoon-Sik Park, D.Min., D.D.
Huisun, printed in Korea. 2008. 5. 17.

Chapter 1. God's Divine Plan of Redemption and the Covenant of the Flaming Torch

Ⅰ. JESUS CHRIST, THE CENTER OF THE DIVINE PLAN OF REDEMPTION

1. Jesus Christ, the center of the history of redemption
2. Jesus Christ's work of atonement

Ⅱ. THE DIVINE PLAN OF REDEMPTION AND THE COVENANT

1. Meaning of the covenant
2. Characteristics of the covenant with God
3. Kinds of covenants
4. Progressive magnification of covenantal revelation

Chapter 2. The Covenant of the Flaming Torch and the "Four Generations"

Ⅰ. CONTENT AND CONFIRMATION OF THE COVENANT

1. Content of the covenant
2. Confirmation of the covenant
3. The covenant and the trustworthy God

Ⅱ. TIME OF THE RATIFICATION

1. Calculation of the year of the Exodus
2. Calculation of the time of the ratification

Ⅲ. MEANING OF "IN THE FOURTH GENERATION THEY WILL RETURN"

1. Calculating one generation as one hundred years View that four hundred years (Gen 15:13) are equivalent to four generations (Gen 15:16)
2. Evaluation of the view that four hundred years are equivalent to four generations

Ⅳ. THE BEGINNING OF "FOUR GENERATIONS"

1. View that four generations are counted from the time Abraham's descendant settled in Egypt
2. View that four generations are counted from Abraham

Chapter 3. The Fulfillment of the Covenant of the Flaming Torch (1)
- The History of the Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph)

THE CHRONOLOGY OF THE PATRIARCHS(Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph)

Ⅰ. HISTORY OF ABRAHAM

1. Birth of Abraham (Gen 11:26)
2. Calling of Abraham (Gen 11:26-32, 12:1-5, Act 7:2-4)
3. Ratification of the Covenant of the Flaming Torch (Gen 15:7-21)
4. Abraham Takes Sarah's Maidservant Hagar (Gen 16:1-3)
5. Birth of Ishmael through Hagar (Gen 16:1-16)
6. Abram and Sarai Renamed (Gen 17:5, 15-16), Covenant of Circumcision (Gen 17:9-14)
7. Birth of Isaac, the Covenantal Son (Gen 21:1-5)

Ⅱ. HISTORY OF ISAAC

1. Hagar and Ishmael Cast Out to the Wilderness of Paran (Gen 21:8-21)
2. Isaac Given as Burnt Offering on a Mount in Moriah (Gen 22:1-18)
3. Death of Sarah (age 127) and Purchase of the Cave of Machpelah
4. Marriage of Isaac and Rebekah (Gen 24, 25:20)
*Ref. 1 * ABRAHAM'S GENEALOGICAL CHART

Ⅲ. HISTORY OF JACOB AND ESAU

1. Birth of Jacob and Esau (Gen 25:19-26)
2. Death of Abraham (age 175; Gen 25:7-8)
3. Marriage of Esau (age 40; Gen 26:34)
4. Jacob Receives the Blessing of the Firstborn

*Ref. 2 * A SINGLE BLESSING OF THE FIRSTBORN (GOD'S SOVEREIGN PROVIDENCE)
-Initially, Isaac was unaware that he was blessing Jacob.
-Later, Isaac blessed Jacob through faith.
-There is only one firstborn whom God acknowledges.

5. Jacob Flees from His Brother Esau (Gen 27:41-28:5)
6. Jacob's Twenty Years of Refuge (Gen 29-31)
7. Birth of Joseph (Gen 30:22-24)
8. Jacob Returns to Canaan (Gen 33:18-20)
9. Leah's Daughter Dinah Disgraced (Gen 34)
10. Birth of Benjamin and Death of Rachel (Gen 35:16-20), Reunion with Isaac (Gen 35:27)

*Ref. 3 * THE NUMBERS OF YEARS THAT ABRAHAM, ISAAC, JACOB, AND JOSEPH LIVED TOGETHER

Ⅳ. HISTORY OF JOSEPH

1. The Two Dreams that God Gave to Joseph and the Thirteen Years of Trial (Gen 37, 39, 40)
2. Death of Isaac (Gen 35:28-29) and Accession of Joseph to Prime Minister (Gen 41:1-46)
3. Seven Years of Plenty (Gen 41:47-53), Seven Years of Famine (Gen 41:54-57)
4. Jacob and the Seventy Members of His Family Migrate to Egypt
5. Israel Dwells in the Land of Goshen and Raises Livestock (Gen 46:28-34, 47:1-12)
6. Death of Jacob (age 147) and His Funeral (Gen 47:28-31, 49:29-33, 50:1-14)
7. Death of Joseph (age 110; Gen 50:22-26)

Chapter 4. The Fulfillment of the Covenant of the Flaming Torch (2)
- The History of the Exodus until the Conquest of Canaan

THE CHRONOLOGY FROM THE EXODUS UNTIL THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN

Ⅰ. EMERGENCE OF MOSES

1. New King Who Did Not Know Joseph (Exo 1:8)
2. Birth of Moses (Exo 2:1-22)
3. Moses Flees to the Land of Midian at the Age of Forty (Exo 2:11-15)
4. Moses Trained for Forty Years in the Land of Midian (Exo 2:16-22)
5. Calling of Moses for the Great Exodus

Ⅱ. THE EXODUS
 Israel's Great Exodus (Moses' age 80)

1. God's remembrance and the Exodus (Exo 2:23-25, 3:7-9, 3:16)
2. The sin of the Egyptians against the chosen people
3. Ten plagues in Egypt
4. The sons of Israel leave Egypt in martial array
5. Moses carries Joseph's bones out of Egypt
6. God's plan to lead the Israelites throug the Red Sea
7. Dry land through the midst of the sea

Ⅲ. THE FORTY YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS
 Moses' Age from 80 to 120

1. The 40-year journey condensed into Numbers 33
*Ref. 4 * THE 40-YEAR JOURNEY AT A GLANCE
2. The forty-two camp sites
3. A wilderness journey without lack
4. Grumblings and complaints in the wilderness
5. Death of three leaders in the wilderness
6. Death of 603,548 soldiers among those numbered in the first census
7. Battles immediately prior to entry into Canaan
8. Death of 24,000 people in Moab/Shittim (Num 25:1-9)
9. Second census of soldiers (Num 26:1-51)

Ⅳ. ARRIVAL AND CONQUEST OF CANAAN
- Entry and Conquest of Canaan, the Promised Land

1. Joshua, a new leader for the conquest of Canaan
2. Caleb, the godly man who helped Moses and Joshua
3. Duration of the conquest of Canaan

Chapter 5. The Final Fulfillment of the Covenant of the Flaming Torch

Ⅰ. THE FULFILLMENT OF THE PROPHECY REGARDING ABRAHAM AND HIS DESCENDANTS

1. The fulfillment of the prophecy regarding Abraham
2. The fulfillment of the prophecy regarding Abraham's descendants

Ⅱ. THE FULFILLMENT OF "IN THE FOURTH GENERATION THEY WILL RETURN HERE" (GEN 15:16)

1. According to the genealogies, after how many generations did they return to Canaan?
2. Who was the fourth generations?
3. Reuben and the inheritance of faith
4. Joseph and the inheritance of faith
5. The fulfillment of the "fourth generation" through Joseph
6. Shechem, the location of the fulfillment of the Covenant of the Flaming Torch

Ⅲ. THE BLESSING OF THE COVENANT OF THE FLAMING TORCH

1. The blessing that Joseph received
2. Joseph's faith
*Ref. 5 * SIMEON, LEVI AND JUDAH
-Rape of Dinah at Shechem (Gen 34)
-Jacob's prophecy regarding Simeon and Levi
-The fate of the tribe of Simeon
-The fate of the tribe of Levi (tribe restored)
-The blessing that Judah received
*Ref. 6 * JACOB'S TWELVE SONS WHO BECAME THE TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL

Conclusion. The Covenant of the Flaming Torch to Be Fulfilled in the Future

THE COVENANT OF THE FLAMING TORCH TO BE FULFILLED IN THE FUTURE

1. The Covenant of the Flaming Torch yet to be fulfilled
2. Faith needed for the future fulfillment of the covenant
3. God's zeal for the fulfillment of the covenant

The Mystery of the Generations Omitted in the Genealogy of Jesus Christ

A Glimpse at "The Eternally Unquenchable Lamp of the Covenant": 3rd Book of the History of Redemption Series

By Rev. Abraham Park.

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham
Matt 1:1

This is a grand proclamation of the beginning of the New Testament, a new history, after concluding the Old Testament, the past history (John 1:17). This is a testimony that all of the Old Testament history has reached its climax through Jesus Christ who fulfills the Old Testament and begins a whole new history of the New Testament. Thus, the genealogy of Jesus Christ an abridgment of the history of redemption that comprises both the Old and New Testaments, that opens up a new horizon of interpreting the entire Bible through the scope of the redemptive history.
The genealogy of Jesus Christ recorded in Matthew chapter 1 is divided into three time periods. The first period consists of 14 generations from Abraham to David, the second period consists of 14 generations from David to the Babylonian captivity, and the third period consists of 14 generations from the Babylonian captivity to Jesus Christ (Matt 1:17).

The reason that the genealogy of Jesus Christ is recorded in the first chapter introduction of the New Testament is because all the characters that appear in the genealogy form a passage to God’s administration for redemption, through which the Messiah the Savior of all mankind came to the earth. The genealogy of Jesus Christ does not only reveal the orthodoxy of the physical lineage, but also shows the footsteps of faith that continued down through the generations of faith until Jesus Christ came to the earth through incarnation. One thing we must notice is the fact that this genealogy in Matthew chapter 1, unlike other ordinary genealogies that are recorded in the order of lineage, is not a record of continuous generations without omissions. Rather, there are many generations omitted in several places in this genealogy.

1. The generations omitted from the 430-year period of slavery in Egypt

Hezron, the grandson of Judah is included in the list of the 70 people in Jacob’s family at the time of migration to Egypt (Gen 46:12). Hezron, thus, is a character that lived during the first stage of the 430-year period of slavery in Egypt. Seeing that Amminadab’s son Nahshon appears as a leader of the sons of Judah during the journey in the wilderness after the Exodus (Num 2:3, 10:14), he must have been of the last generation of the slavery in Egypt. Since Rahab the harlot lived during the first stage of the Canaanite conquest after the entry into Canaan in 1,406 BC (Josh 2:1), Salmon, who married Rahab, was a second generation born in the wilderness and his father Nahshon was the last generation who lived under slavery in Egypt.
This summarizes that the genealogy of Jesus Christ records only four generations – Hezron, Ram, Amminadab, and Nahshon (Matt 1:3-4) – for the 430-year period of slavery in Egypt. Considering the fact that the actual number of generations for this period of time – from Ephraim to Joshua – is 10 generations (1 Chr 7:20-27), it is deduceable that the genealogy of Jesus Christ has many generations omitted from the 430-year period of slavery in Egypt.

2. The generations omitted from the period from the settlement in Canaan and Kind David

The time Israel entered into Canaan after the Exodus was 1,406 BC and the time David appeared in history was about 1,010 BC. Nevertheless, the genealogy of Jesus Christ only records four generations – Salmon, Boaz, Obed, and Jesse (Matt 1:5-6) – for the long period of about 396 years.

As mentioned above, Salmon and Rahab were people who lived during the first stage in the period of the Canaanite conquest whereas Boaz and Ruth were people who lived during the last stage in the period of the Judges (Ruth 1:1, 4:21-22). In other words, there is a gap of more than 300 years between Salmon and Boaz. Jephthah, who was one of the last judges, argues with the king of Ammon that it is wrongful to claim the land of Israel when it had been the land of the Israelites for 300 years already (Jdg 11:26). We are confronted with a shocking fact that people who lived during the dark age of the period of the Judges since the death of Joshua and the people of his generation were not recorded in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. By deleting the names of the people who lived in the period of the judges from the genealogy in Matthew chapter 1, God has made clear the biblical testimony about the spiritual darkness of the period of the judges.

3. The generations omitted from the period of the kings of the southern kingdom Judah.

The genealogy of Jesus Christ records 14 generations since David, down to king Josiah (Matt 1:6-11), but three generations – Ahaziah, Joash, and Amaziah – are found missing in comparison to the genealogy in the First Chronicles (1 Chr 3:11-12). These are all kings related to the most wicked king Ahab and his wife Jezebel of the northern kingdom by blood lineage (2 Kgs 8:26). Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, was a person who wanted to dry up the seed of the royal lineage, through which the Messiah would come, in order to cut off God’s work of redemption altogether (2 Kgs 11:1; 2 Chr 22:10). The three kings who were cut off from the genealogy were related to Athaliah and did evil things (1 Kgs 21:21).

Also in the genealogy of Jesus Christ, three generations – Jeohaz, Jehoiakim, and Zedekiah – are missing around the time of the migration to Babylon (Matt 1:11-12; 2 Chr 36:1, 5, 11).

Likewise, the genealogy of Jesus Christ in Matthew chapter 1 is disconnected for a long period of time and continues again in different places. We must understand that this genealogy not only testifies to the fact that Jesus is the Messiah who came as the son of Abraham and David, but also that the genealogy of Jesus Christ is linked by the people of faith, who were faithful to the covenant of God.

A Summary of Genesis genealogies viewed through God's Divine Plan of Redemption by Rev. Abraham Park

A Summary of Genesis genealogies viewed through God's Divine Plan of Redemption
by Rev. Abraham Park

1. THE REDEMPTIVE SIGNIFICANCE FOUND IN THE GENEALOGIES

1. What is God's redemptive history?

∙ The history of God's Work to save mankind(who fell into the path of death because of sin)
∙ The history of His Work to save the entire universe
∙ Flows in the plot of creation, all and restoration
∙ Focus is on who the Promised Seed(Messiah) is
∙ How the people of God will find salvation through Him
∙ Topics and focus of redemptive history pointed out clearly through each character that appears in the genealogies

⧠ The history of redemption is very concisely compressed in the names and ages of the characters recorded in the genealogies

∙ Genesis 5 is Adam's genealogy, 10 generations from Adam to Noah
∙ Genesis 11 is Shem's genealogy, 10 generations from Shem to Abraham
∙ Introduces the flow from Adam to Abraham and how Messiah would come as a descendant of Abraham
∙ Forms a list of each character's birth, age at procreation and lifespan
∙ These characters lived 4,000 to 6,000 years ago
∙ Completeness of the genealogies affirms God's Work of redemption did not cease in any generation but continued throughout history

⧠ After Genesis genealogies, genealogy continues to Boaz (Ruth 4:18-22) from Perez, Judah's son and then to King David.

∙ Matthew 1 summarizes Old Testament history of redemption (Matthew 1:1)
2. WHY DO WE STUDY THE GENESIS GENEALOGIES?

∙ Careful study of the Genesis genealogies will lead to a clearer understanding of God's divine plan for redemptive work through Jesus Christ.
∙ All the descriptions of persons, their names, births and deaths offer insight into circumstances surrounding each time period and play a role in uncovering different aspects of Jesus Christ who would come through their lineage.
∙ These genealogies are the core of the redemptive history and provide a short cut to comprehending God's divine plan (of salvation)
There is no meaningless sound in the world(1 Corinthians 14:10). The Biblical genealogies contain countless treasures of meaning to be discovered. We must not commit the grave mistake of overlooking them as meaningless lists of persons. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we must discover and follow the rich vein of redemptive history that flows through the genealogies.

2. STRUCTURE AND FLOW OF THE GENEALOGIES

God's work in redemptive history in various forms has 1 clear purpose and direction a to send the promised Messiah for the redemption of His chosen people (Hebrews 1:1-2). The Bible records how God carried out His Plan and how Jesus, who is at the center of this plan was sent. Genealogies organize this vast plan into a concise and compressed structure.
1. Structure of the genenalogies

⧠ 2 linear forms, ascending or descending:

∙ Linearly ascending order (from descendants to ancestors), e.g. Luke 3
∙ Linearly descending order (from ancestors to descendants), e.g. Genesis 5 and Genesis 11. The focus of descending order is the last person on the list. Noah, 10th generation in Genesis 5 genealogy and Abraha, 10th generation in Genesis 11 genealogy

⧠ Vertical or horizontal:

∙ Vertical format records the direct line of offspring, e.g. Cain's line in Genesis 4 and Seth's line in Genesis 5.
∙ Horizontal format records simultaneously the lineages of different sons of one figure, e.g. Noah's sons, Ham and Jepheth in Genesis 10:2-20, Nahor (Genesis 22:20-24), Ketutah (Genesis 25:1-6) and Esau (Genesis 36:1-43).

2. Two distinct flows of genealogies

⧠ Satan relentlessly attempts to thwart God's work of redemption as it continues through each era.

∙ Cain's act of murder (Genesis 4)
∙ Herod's conspiracy to kill the infant Jesus (Matthew 2:1-13)

⧠ Biblical genealogies divided into 2 different lines:

∙ Genealogy of the faithful who lived to fulfill God's Will (Seth's line, Genesis 5)
∙ Genealogy of the unfaithful, whose lives stood against God's Will (Cain's line, Genesis 4)

⧠ Genealogies of the sons of faith are the center stem of the Biblical genealogies.

∙ Adam's genealogy in Genesis 5 (Adam to Noah)
∙ Shem's genealogy in Genesis 11 (Shem to Abraham)
∙ Boaz's genealogy in Ruth 4 (Judah's son, Perez to King David)
∙ Matthew 1 genealogy (42 generations from Abraham to Jesus)

⧠ Bible also writes about genealogies of unfaithful:

∙ Cain's genealogy in Genesis 4
∙ Sons of Ham in Genesis 10:6-20
∙ Ishmael's genealogy in Genesis 25:12-16
∙ Esau's genealogy in Genesis 36:1-43

Genealogies of faithful are recorded in vertical format, without omitting any generation from the first to the last until it finally bears fruit with Jesus Christ. Genealogies of the unfaithful come to an abrupt halt. Although they prosper and became founders of new cultures and civilizations, they ultimately perish and disappear from history because they opposed God and afflicted His chosen people.

The Eternally Unquenchable Lamp of the Covenant

2009-11-03

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2009-07-03