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FIRST PRINCIPLES OF. THE ORACLES. OF GOD. Thematic Studies In Bible Basics. Lesson 8 Ù Respecting God’s Silence A very common question asked whenever God has not spoken re: a matter is “Why can’t we…?” This is basically decided by 2 extremes – God’s silence is permissive
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FIRST PRINCIPLES OF THE ORACLES OF GOD Thematic Studies In Bible Basics
Lesson 8 Ù Respecting God’s Silence • A very common question asked whenever God has not spoken re: a matter is “Why can’t we…?” • This is basically decided by 2 extremes – • God’s silence is permissive • God’s silence is prohibitive
Lesson 8 Ù Respecting God’s Silence • A key verse containing a guiding principle in this “debate” is Deut 29:29 • What God hassaid belongs to us • What God hasnotsaid is a “secret” – belongs to Him • This is a principle that even earthly parents understand, employ with their children
Lesson 8 Ù Respecting God’s Silence • Principles re: God’s silence from the O.T. • Israel at the Red Sea Ex 14:10-14 • They had to “wait” for God’s answer vv. 13-14 • They had already asked the “Why couldn’t we…” questions vv. 11-12 • They were eventually told to “Go forward” toward the sea Ù God helps in “bleak” situations • This teaches us to “wait” for God’s answer
Lesson 8 Ù Respecting God’s Silence • Principles re: God’s silence from the O.T. • Israel during the Passover Num 9:1-14 • They were told to observe the Passover as the Law directed vv. 2-3 • A situation arose that was an exception vv. 6-7 • Moses’ reply, “Wait…I’ll go ask the Lord”v. 8 • God made additional provisions re: this situation vv. 10-12
Lesson 8 Ù Respecting God’s Silence • Disregarding God’s silence from the O.T. • Saul and his offering 1 Sam 13:8-14 • Saul reasoned, “People are leaving…Samuel’s not coming…I’d better do something” vv. 8, 11-12 • After all, isn’t doing something better than doing nothing? • Samuel rebukes the king’s “foolishness” and his “disobedience” v. 13
Lesson 8 Ù Respecting God’s Silence • Disregarding God’s silence from the O.T. • Saul and his offering 1 Sam 13:8-14 • ThelessonÙ We cannot allow “the moment” to justify doing something God has not authorized • God had already given the authorization re: who was to offer sacrifices Num 3:1-10 • Did He say anything about a king offering them? • What did this “silence” mean?
Lesson 8 Ù Respecting God’s Silence • Disregarding God’s silence from the O.T. • David and the Temple 2 Sam 7:1-7 • David planned to build God a house v. 2 • How would you judge his intentions, his motive? • He even had the “approval” or “endorsement” from Nathan the prophet v. 3 • Modern-day equivalent Ù many act in ways because their preachers give their approval
Lesson 8 Ù Respecting God’s Silence • Disregarding God’s silence from the O.T. • David and the Temple 2 Sam 7:1-7 • God’s response to David’s plans is the theme for this lesson vv. 4-7 • What does this “silence” teach us? • Did God have plans for His house? vv. 8-16 cp. Isa 46:8-10 Rom 4:17 Acts 2:29-31 • Practical lessons for us today? cp. Prov 14:12
Lesson 8 Ù Respecting God’s Silence • Statements Re: God’s Silence From The N.T. • The oracles of God 1 Pet 4:11 • If any man is going to speak (teach), he needs to “speak as the oracles of God” • “Oracles” = utterances, words God has spoken • This limits us to only say what God has said • If God hasn’t spoken about it (SILENCE), we must not speak about it
Lesson 8 Ù Respecting God’s Silence • Statements Re: God’s Silence From The N.T. • The superior Son of God Heb 1:5 • He is Divine…He is a “Son,” a “Spokesman,” the “exact Representation of God’s nature,” and “better than the angels” vv. 2-4 • No angel was ever told, “Thou art My Son…” • God was silent about that…an angel could not assume such a vaunted position
Lesson 8 Ù Respecting God’s Silence • Statements Re: God’s Silence From The N.T. • The Priesthood of Jesus Heb 7:11-14 • His Priesthood is perpetual…“after the order of Melchizedek”5:1-10; 7:1-28 • For Him to be a Priest now necessitates a change in the Law also 7:11-13 • Moses (i.e. God) “…spoke nothing”(SILENCE) re: a priest coming from the tribe of Judah 7:14
Lesson 8 Ù Respecting God’s Silence • Statements Re: God’s Silence From The N.T. • Circumcising Gentiles Acts 15:24 • Certain men decided to teach something v. 1 • The apostles (Christ’s official ambassadors) “…had given no such instruction” v. 24 • Their silence on this matter was prohibitive
Lesson 8 Ù Respecting God’s Silence • Statements Re: God’s Silence From The N.T. • A Final Word Of Caution… • We must be careful not to confuse silence in the Scripture with the earlier study of General & Specific Authority Ù discussion of expediencies • We should not conclude that silence in a specific matter constitutes a prohibition re: a general command
singing Eph 5:19; Col 3:16 assembling Heb 10:25 Lesson 8 Ù Respecting God’s Silence • Statements Re: God’s Silence From The N.T. • A Final Word Of Caution… • The Scripture is silent about song books…but it is not silent about ________________ • The Scripture is silent about church buildings… but it is not silent about ___________________
preaching Mk 16:15; Rom 10:14-15 Lesson 8 Ù Respecting God’s Silence • Statements Re: God’s Silence From The N.T. • A Final Word Of Caution… • The Scripture is silent about gospel meetings… but it is not silent about ________________
Lesson 8 Ù Respecting God’s Silence • Conclusion • God’s silence is authoritative & prohibitive • We must never think too much of ourselves or our ideas above God’s Rom 12:3 1 Cor 4:6 • We must stay within Christ’s doctrine 2 Jn 9 • Whatever we do must be done “in the name of” (by the authority of) Christ Col 3:17