I've been spending the week with Daniel Block working through the book of Deuteronomy this week. He's just touched on a topic that keeps coming up in Deuteronomy: the relationship of Israel to the land and creation. Block says this is a theme all throughout Deuteronomy, and in fact, all throughout Scripture.
We often tend to think of Scripture in terms of our relationship with God, like this:
But this is not accurate. It's only part of the picture. In reality, Scripture establishes a three-part relationship that looks more like this:
You see this right from Genesis, with the creation mandate. It's also spelled out in the Torah in terms of our relationship with the land and creatures. God establishes covenants with his people, and his people have responsibility in terms of that covenant to administer creation. When we are not faithful to covenant, things fall apart in creation as well.
You see this all throughout Scripture. An example in the prophets is Hosea 4:1-3:
Hear the word of the Lord, O children of Israel,
for the Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land.
There is no faithfulness or steadfast love,
and no knowledge of God in the land;
there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery;
they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.
Therefore the land mourns,
and all who dwell in it languish,
and also the beasts of the field
and the birds of the heavens,
and even the fish of the sea are taken away.
I asked Dr. Block if this helps us understand the cosmic implications of the gospel, and he said, "Of course!" The gospel isn't only about reestablishing a bipartite relationship between God and us; it restores a tripartite relationship between God, his people, and the earth. Not only is our relationship with God restored through Christ's work, but creation itself is being redeemed.
Fascinating.
Tullian Tchividjian has been blogging about this lately. I also just ordered a copy of Heaven is a Place on Earth, which I hear is an excellent book that touches on this topic.
Darryl, excellent post. You just improved my conference notes. I e-mailed the others to point them to this.
Chris.
How about this...it really is about the relationship between God and People. The Earth is just something God gives people (or takes away in the case of your example) for their enjoyment?
Same thing at the end of the age - new heaven and new earth FOR PEOPLE.
Just a thought.
You, sir, have been stealing from my dissertation! (http://revmike.us/WATERS%20OF%20JUSTICE%20AND%20RIVERS%20OF%20RIGHTEOUSNESS.pdf -- see p. 114.) That or two different people just may have hit on the same idea. ;)
Hey Darryl;
It was great to get to know you a bit more a couple of weeks ago at DWELL/ Stetzer. Great to hook into your blog.
First thing...DO you have those Stetzer notes from the day we hooked up with him? I had em but working off a dell.....had a short out....the notes recovered were incomplete. No worries though I have a MACbook being dropped off to me today:) Wondering if you could send me your notes - no worries on how complete they are send as is and I'll piece together the rest. my email brad@paxnorth.ca
Now regarding this BLOG entry... If I could.
One of the greater questions that might need to be asked is.... Is there a greater reason behind the creating of the world? Is the original design intented for a display of God's greatness and glory primarily, or is it a display of God's greateness and glory primarily given under the authority of humankind? I just find it interesting how the earth is created/recreated as a dwelling for man kind and placed under his authority then as Adam sins- sin enters the world from under his authority/rule/ care. So I do agree with your Proff. that God has a redemptive reason instore for creation I think though that prehaps the 'schematic' is not right. Prehaps it would be better, or more in line with scripture if the Redemptive mode was From God to Man and then to all that was placed/designed/ given to man under his authority and rule. I admit that I have only thought on this in fits and starts over the last couple of years so may be approaching it with some incomplete thought.
Cheers for H-fax!
Chris:
It was great to see you this past week. I'm going to add you to my blogroll.
Jacob:
I think that makes sense, but I wonder if it goes far enough. It may minimize the physical as primarily for man rather than for God's pleasure and praise. Still, I don't think it's too far off.
Mike:
That is close. Wow.
Brad:
I'll take a look and send you my notes. It was great to see you as well.
Dr. Block had a line counterclockwise in the schematic, that God rules earth through humanity. He had a lot more detail than I put in this summary. I think this schematic could be enhanced; I would have liked to hear him explore this even more than he did.
This is great. I wrote my own brief explanation of the Gospel a few years ago and worked very hard to include this point. Great to see it articulate so well here!
Darryl, I spent some time with Dan Block at ACTS last fall.. really enjoyed it. And here is a different take on "self at the center.."
The diagram could use some work but is explained by the text...
http://nextreformation.com/?p=2089
Len:
Good stuff. I like it!