I was listening to the book of Ezekiel. Why? Some may ask that.
This is how I am carrying forward
my Biblical devotions at the moment, listening to the Bible. I am alternating between an Old Testament and
a New Testament book as I listen. One axiom
I have in biblical interpretation is that Jesus is found on every page. Not literally the person, but his presence,
his history, his role as our Messiah, his fulfillment of what came before.
Two things have
emerged that reflect the beginning of Holy Week from the Old Testament. The first is from Ezekiel itself. Ezekiel was written during the Babylonian
Exile. Ezekiel’s visions look from that
Exile at the reason for, the restoration from, and the continued fortunes of
the people in their time of punishment.
Two things I
remember from Ezekiel growing up (yes, I actually remember things from Old
Testament prophets from my childhood).
One was that Ezekiel has UFO’s in it.
“Ezekiel saw the wheel…” was part of the introduction of a television
show in the 70’s. The other is the Valley
of Dry Bones, for the literally visceral reaction that it brings out.
But there are
other visions, some extremely harsh, and many that powerfully reinforce the misogynist
history of Biblical interpretation. But
there are other moments where it speaks of Jerusalem-looking forward to their
return there from the Exile. And it
speaks of the Prince, the leader of the people who will be going up to the
temple, describing his route fairly precisely.
For me,
listening to this prophecy, it connected the return from the Exile, the return
to Jerusalem in triumph to Jesus’ own entry of triumph. Although Jesus’ “Triumphal Entry” has a far
more ironic twist considering what then happens during Holy Week.
Then, another
detail, this time buried in 2 Kings, specifically 2 Kings 9. Jehu is called to be king of Israel (the
Northern Kingdom), to fulfill a prophecy that the evil of Ahab and Jezebel will
be purged from the land. Elisha came to Jehu,
anointed him, prophesied his kingship “then he opened the door and ran.” (verse
10). Jehu, an officer in the army, was
surrounded by his fellow officers who wanted to know what Elisha (or, in their
terms, ‘this maniac’) wanted. Then, from
verses 12 and 13, “Jehu said, “Here is what he told me: ‘This is what the Lord
says: I anoint you king over Israel.’” They quickly took their cloaks and
spread them under him on the bare steps…”
The first
reaction I had was that these passages are extremely obscure and not (to my knowledge)
referenced in the Gospel accounts themselves.
So am I reading into the text?
Well, when I consider what I know of Israel at the time of Jesus, I know
that they are feeling God’s punishment, this time under the Romans. I know that this punishment is expressed as
their disobedience to God, that obedience will bring their independence once
again.
I also know
that the Jews were an extremely literate people, focused on what we know as the
Old Testament. It is from their history
that they find hope in the promises of God, as they have been fulfilled in the
past, so they will be fulfilled again.
And these passages are about God’s restoration of power, the call to a
new and faithful king, the call to be restored to their land and city. Such language, not simply of hope but of hope
fulfilled, would that not be the focus of a people who are looking for deliverance
once again?
There are
patterns in the Bible, patterns of punishment and restoration, patterns of loss
and renewed hope. These patterns, as
everything else in the Bible, find their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus. I wasn’t looking for connections, wasn’t
searching for answers, but just listening.
It has led to some amazing revelations.
Peter Hofstra
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