What Days Are These?
“They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” Jeremiah 31:34 NASB
I will forgive – Yeshua cites one of the greatest prophecies of the Tanakh at his last meal. It is the prophecy of Jeremiah 31. Most of us are familiar with the opening line, the declaration that YHWH will make a “new” covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. Christians claim this prophecy as evidence that Yeshua ushered in a new covenant based on His atoning crucifixion. Messianic believers are quick to point out that hadash (the Hebrew translated “new”) means “renewed” in most of its occurrences and that the promise is not to the “church” but rather to unified Israel. But few read on.
It should be obvious that the conditions manifest in this “new” covenant have yet to be fulfilled. Men still teach Torah and it is still necessary to be taught. Not everyone obeys as a result of God writing Torah on the hearts of His followers. Torah obedience is not the case from the greatest to the least. Lots of things still have to happen before this becomes a daily reality. With that in mind, many exegetes suggest that this is prophecy about the Millennial Kingdom. Probably so, but then consider the final thought of this verse. When will the Lord forgive the iniquity of His people? When will their sins no longer be remembered? If forgiveness occurs at the same time as complete Torah obedience, then we are still waiting, aren’t we?
“I will forgive” is the Hebrew ‘eslah, from the verb salah (to forgive, to pardon). When we examine the verb, we discover that it is used exclusively of God. Men may pardon or forgive, but not with the verb salah (for example, see Exodus 10:17 where the verb is nasa’). The distinction is important. When we forgive, we lift away (the literal meaning of the verb) the burden of guilt carried by another. We take it on as if we ourselves were the perpetrator. God describes Himself with this verb in Exodus 34:7. In this respect, we are able to be like God, forgiving (lifting away) in the same way that He forgives. But with salah, things change. The basic idea of salah is the elimination of guilt that stands between God and His children. God is described as ve’atta ‘eloah selihot (a God of forgiveness), but this is not merely a divine attribute. It is an attribute of God’s character expressed in concrete action. Since the verb is only used in cultic (religious) contexts, it suggests that God Himself is anxious to repair any breach in the relationship and is willing to take measures to do so, even to the point of completely extinguishing the guilt of the offender. If nasa’ means “to lift off” so that the guilty party no longer carries the burden of the offense, it only suggests that someone else continues to carry the load, whether men or God. But salah removes the guilt, extinguishes it as if it never existed. Only God is able to do this.
Some important implications of this verb must be mentioned. First, removal of guilt does not mean removal of punishment. What is preserved is the relationship even if punishment and correction are required. Secondly, salah is not limited to unintentional sins. An example is found in YHWH’s forgiveness of the people over the incident of the golden calf. The basis of His forgiveness is hesed but the forgiveness extends to the deliberate acts of disobedience. Finally, 2 Kings 5:18 recounts a completely unique application of salah. The Syrian Naaman asks for forgiveness for a transgression yet to occur. Here forgiveness is applied not only to a non-Israelite but for a transgression that has not yet taken place.
If we understand the background of this verb in the context of Jeremiah’s prophecy, we can draw two conclusions. The prophecy applied to the time of Jeremiah and anticipates the days when Israel will return from Babylon and experience the full presence of the Lord under a restored relationship. And, the prophecy looks ahead to the days of the Messianic Kingdom when the whole house of Israel and Jacob will have their sins permanently removed from any interference in their worship of YHWH. Both nasa’ and salah are needed to understand the full context of God’s forgiveness.
Topical Index: salah, nasa’, forgive, Jeremiah 31:34
The Conqueror
O the cross! The answer to our need for forgiveness? – it is the very cross of Christ! ~ He became sin who knew no sin.. ~ There is only One among us “who knew no sin..” And that One is revealed (for all the world to see) in the (only) sinless (yes, “perfect”) Man, the Man, the second Adam, – our LORD Jesus (who is the) Christ.
The “sinless one” (dare we ask, -which of you convinces Me of sin?) came unto His own, but His own received Him not.. My question is an easy one. Not hard, yet deep. Why not? Why refuse Him? The One who is the sinless, spotless, saving Lamb of God? The One (the only One) who “takes away” the sins of the world?
And yet, (and, sadly yes) He still today remains by many ~ despised and denied,- rejected and refused..
And I am left wondering.. “why?”
There is one word the translators of the word of God seemed to have “missed..” That one word is “if.” To me (what do I know?) this would be “more gooder..” ~ If God be for us..- would be better written: “Since” God be for us.. “If” is so… “iffy..” (for lack of a better word!..)
Since God be for us? Oh? And how would we know this? O, the cross! It is the cross of Christ, the chosen One (and the crowned One) that tells us all (and tells us “each”)- God IS (most certainly) “love.”
And the Bible, (God’s “Blessing Book”) the written word of God tells us, (reveals to us) ~ He that “spared not” His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all- how shall He not with Him – also freely give us all things?~ Is this not the most excellent news ever heard? This, dear ones, is the gospel! (the good news!)
I agree with the songwriter- “O, the Love that drew salvation’s plan, O the grace that brought it down to man..” And I agree with the scriptures that simply state: ~ Because God So loved the world.. ~
Amazing Love! How can this be? -that Thou, my God would die for me? Do you remember the confession of Thomas the doubter? This, when he saw the still bleeding prints of the nails in His hands..- “my LORD and my God!”
For you see ~ God was in Christ- reconciling (what a wonderful word!) the world unto Himself! ~
What is (he inquired) the Source of our salvation?
And what is the Scope of our salvation?
The blood of bulls and goats and calves? (from the Torah of YHWH) ~ for without the shedding of blood, there is no remission (forgiveness) of sin! ~ An atoning, propitiating sacrifice involves blood. And what did the (our) great high priest sprinkle upon the mercy seat? – It was the blood of a Lamb.
For you know (or do you know?) that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, BUT with precious blood(!), as of a Lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of the Messiah.…
~ For by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy ~ (Hebrews 10.14)
“One” and done? Yes!! O, the cross! ~ For the word, the message, of the cross, the tslav, the execution stake is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are (saved and) being saved it is the power of God ~
What is our response to this? The incarnation was in and of itself- “mind-blowing..” but the cross? – and the abject humility (and humiliation) of the Messiah? What have we done? Should we, (may we all) pray this prayer? (ask, and you will receive..) – “Father, forgive us, for we know not what we do?”- And followed by, “Thank you for this cross, LORD..- thank YOU for the price You paid..” (Father, please) Dissolve my heart in thankfulness, and melt mine eyes to tears. May it ever be so.. Amen.
Apparently you didn’t read Cross Word Puzzles.
Skip, your tongue has a bit of an edge, this morning. Blessings on you, my brother. The Way will yet prevail!
“It should be obvious that the conditions manifest in this “new” covenant have yet to be fulfilled. Men still teach Torah and it is still necessary to be taught. Not everyone obeys as a result of God writing Torah on the hearts of His followers. Torah obedience is not the case from the greatest to the least. Lots of things still have to happen before this becomes a daily reality.”
This is something I seem to constantly be having a conversation about with someone. Most Christians are taught everything has been accomplished and we have the “fullness” of everything in the Kingdom right now. One lady always tells me the law has already been written on our hearts. I view it as a process that the Spirit of God is doing but is not yet complete. I even heard a preacher say recently that there was nothing left for Jesus to do when he returns since everything was accomplished at the cross when he said “it is finished”. I really appreciate your studies on what I call the “now but not yet Kingdom”. It’s important to let people know we have more to look forward to in the Kingdom.
It’s a great book! Very challenging. Thanks, Skip, for sticking your neck out.