SCRIPTURAL THEMES TO FOLLOW UP THE STEEL cables that support suspension bridges, the ropes used to fasten boats to their moorings, and the natural fibres from which many clothes are made, consist of a collection of smaller strands of steel, hemp, cotton or silk which, during the production of the thread, have been twisted together. It is from this twisting together that the cable, rope or fibre derives much of its strength.
In the production of cloth by the weaving process, fibres, threads or yarns are interlaced to produce a sheet of fabric. This orderly interlacing produces a strength which far outstrips that displayed by the same threads haphazardly jumbled together.
The writer of the book of Ecclesiastes knew of this principle, for he wrote: "a threefold cord is not quickly broken" (4:12). The fact is easily demonstrated. A single piece of sewing cotton can be easily snapped by winding the two ends around the hands and sharply pulling the hands apart. But take three strands, twist them together and repeat the action, and the cord is more likely to remain intact and cut into the skin. The twisting, intertwining and consequent mutual support produce a cord which is not quickly or easily broken.
The Scriptures are made up of many themes. These, like the threads in a rope or the yarn in a fabric, link together, intertwine and interlace, producing an object of strength and reliability. The product is a fabric of words which shows evidence of forethought, purpose and design. Their number, their interdependence and their mutual support result in a work which is dependable. This shows design beyond human capability, which cannot be broken and which has been recorded and preserved for a purpose—to bring the existence, plan and glory of God to the knowledge of men and women.
With the greatest confidence in its reliability we can put it to good use in our lives, and this framework of threads and the themes themselves provide us with an opportunity of profitable and worthwhile study.
The first theme, which immediately follows, illustrates in detail how a theme can be followed through; five further themes are given in outline on subsequent pages for readers to follow up for themselves.
THEME 1. THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM OF GOD ON EARTH
FROM THE beginning it is clear that God intended the earth to be a place of beauty, harmony, fruitfulness and peace. This is how He created it, and according to the highest standards it was declared to be "very good" (Gen. 1:31). It was created to be shared with men and women who were the pinnacle of His creation, and by those who could and do appreciate the beauty and order in creation and its purpose.
In due time God chose Abraham, through whom His plan would be furthered. To him God said: "I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed" (12:2,3). Later more detail was divulged: "Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever" (13:14,15).
Some time later Moses heard God calling "unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou... tell the children of Israel... if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine: and ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation" (Ex. 19:3-6). In order that their obedience might be demonstrated, and that they might show that their thoughts were God’s thoughts, God gave them the detailed Law which affected the whole of their lives. Sadly, often they were disobedient, and sometimes very disobedient, and Moses had to plead to God for them. On one occasion he said: "Pardon, I beseech Thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of Thy mercy" (Num. 14:19). In response "the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word: but as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD" (vv. 20,21).
Some 400 years later, as Samuel’s period of office neared its end, the "elders of Israel" demanded: "make us a king to judge us like all the nations. But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us" (1 Sam. 8:4-6). So their misguided wishes were granted. Saul was the first king, then David, and of his successor David said: "the LORD... hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel" (1 Chron. 28:5). This, then, was the Kingdom of God on the earth.
Psalm 145 is one of David’s psalms of praise. He speaks of the glories of God’s creation, and makes reference to the Kingdom as one of those glories: "Thy saints shall bless Thee. They shall speak of the glory of Thy kingdom, and talk of Thy power; to make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Thy dominion endureth throughout all generations" (vv. 10-13). It is this everlasting kingdom that is "the kingdom prepared for you [the blessed] from the foundation of the world" (Mt. 25:34), and Proverbs 11 confirms that the Kingdom is an earthly Kingdom with the words: "the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth" (v. 31).
It is the same Kingdom which was brought to the attention of King Nebuchadnezzar in the dream that Daniel was enabled to interpret (Dan. 2). It featured also in the vision which Daniel himself witnessed (ch. 7). The culmination of the dream is described thus: "in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever" (2:44). Daniel’s record of his vision ends like this: "one like the Son of man came... And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom... his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed" (7:13,14).
The links with Jesus are made quite clear in the opening of the Gospels. Of Jesus the angel said to Mary: "He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end" (Lk. 1:32,33).
Once he had grown to manhood and his ministry had begun, he declared: "I must preach the kingdom of God" (4:43). From that point on, his preaching finds its emphasis in the Kingdom. To take Luke’s writings only, it appears in the Sermon on the Plain (6:20); in his advice as to how life should be lived (12:31,32); in his instruction to his disciples to go and preach the good news (9:2); in his guidance on prayer (11:2); in his parables (13:18, for example); at his crucifixion (23:38); after his resurrection (Acts 1:3); and at his ascension (1:11).
The apostles continue with the theme in their preaching: Philip (Acts 8:12); Paul and Barnabas (14:22); Paul (19:8); and Paul again right to the end of his life (28:31). It features in the Epistles to Rome (14:17), Corinth (1 Cor. 4:20), Galatia (5:21), Ephesus (5:5), Colosse (1:13; 4:11) and Thessalonica (1 Thess. 2:12; 2 Thess. 1:5); and, being the culmination of God’s purpose, it is to be found in the closing Revelation too, with the seventh angel sounding and voices in heaven declaring: "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever" (11:15).
The everlasting Kingdom of God on earth is, then, one of the primary themes of Scripture. It runs from the beginning to the end. It is to be found in Genesis, in the Law, in the historical books, in the Psalms and in the Proverbs. It is there in the prophecies, in the Gospels, in the Epistles and in the Revelation. It is spoken of directly and indirectly, through prophecy, parable, miracle and prayer. It is the subject of dream, vision and revelation.
The sub-strands of a Kingdom, on earth, lasting for ever, link and intertwine (as the bold type for emphasis has highlighted), binding the whole into a remarkable framework of words, phrases, thoughts and ideas that declares: ‘This is God’s Word—without a shadow of a doubt’.
SCRIPTURAL THEMES TO FOLLOW UP
Trees, magnificent in structure and strength, diverse in form and colour, varied in size and nature of fruit, were an important part of God’s creation. Two in particular had special significance associated with them in God’s earliest dealings with man and woman (Gen. 2:9,17). It is to be expected, then, that trees and their component parts would be used to convey essential details of God’s message throughout His revelation. Below are some of the references which illustrate this facet of God’s Word. |
"I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done" (Isa. 46:9,10). God, therefore, from the beginning, knew that His Son must play the central role in reconciling mankind to Himself. From beginning to end of His written record of the past, present and future, He has declared His Son to His creation. In prophecy, figure, type and direct statement we find mention of His Son, so that, no matter what portion of Scripture we read, our attention might be drawn to His Son and our dependence upon him. |
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Starting in Genesis, trace the following themes throughout Scripture: |