Chapter 19
What Say the Scriptures? Continued
What Say the Scriptures? Continued
For the sake of a more thorough investigation, however, suppose, that we broaden our selection of specimen, and consider any passage, which refers to God’s rôle in the creation of the universe: Instead of examining only those scriptures, which literally recite of God’s having “made the heavens and the earth” as in Exodus 20:11 and 31:17, what if we consider, and search any and all scripture, that is of any pertinence to God’s schedule of creation?
Might this uncover, and adduce further evidence and biblical exposition of his having “rested”, and having been “refreshed”?
If ever successful
Are we at our quest
Its dilemma’s solution
To make manifest
The definitive question
We will have addressed
Is the fable or fact
Of the Almighty’s “rest”
Because: If the Almighty
And “made holy”, or “sanctified”
Said “sabbath day”
Could he also this same day
“The seventh day” “rest”
As tradition so long
Has ordained, that we say?
Can the Almighty God
Have exerted the strength
To continue his labour
And work through the length
Of six toilsome days
In succession, and then
Need to “rest”, as do wearied
And over-worked men?
Could it be, that a sampling of such scriptural evidence might yield corroboration or simply more information about God’s having “rested”, or his having been “refreshed”?
A. This Passage Is Typical
Let us now investigate the following pertinent verses. Beginning with which, Isaiah 40:21-26 makes recall of God’s creating and his subsequent involvement with the universe and world (RSV):
21“Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22It is he who sits above the circle1 of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens 1ike a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in; 23who brings princes to naught, and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing. 24Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows upon them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble. 25To whom then will you compare me that I should be like him?…says the Holy One. 26Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing”.
As becomes apparent through any reading of scripture, this passage is typical of the Bible’s reminiscence of God’s activities, both during and after the creation of the world: Including a brief account of his creation agenda (verses 22 and 26), his subsequent involvement in the maintenance of his universe is appropriately also briefly outlined.
Isaiah 42:5-6 likewise so discloses to its readers, as follows (RSV):
5“Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread forth the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: 6‘I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations…’”
Notice the recollection (in verse 5 here), which these verses submit of that same creation, which is first deliberated by Exodus 20:11 and 31:17.
What account is here presented of God’s pursuits and of his “resting”, either during (or after) his creation agenda? Among these verses, what is the contingency or contextual prospect of recall or even mention of God’s possibly having “rested”, or his perhaps being “refreshed”?
In Jeremiah 10:12-13 (and 51:15-16), again, Yahweh’s having “made heaven and earth” is reviewed (RSV):
12“It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens. 13When he utters his voice there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightnings for the rain, and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses”.
Yet again, Psalm 89:8-13 (Hebrew 9-14) reads (RSV):
8“O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty as thou art, O Lord, with thy faithfulness round about thee? 9Thou dost rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, thou stillest them. 10Thou didst crush Rahab like a carcass, thou didst scatter thy enemies with thy mighty arm. 11The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine; the world and all that is in it, thou hast founded them. 12The north and the south, thou hast created them; Tabor and Hermon joyously praise thy name. 13Thou hast a mighty arm; strong is thy hand, high thy right hand”.
These above scriptures exhibit, and present somewhat similar reminiscence of Yahweh God’s having created, having made, and having established the universe, the heavens and the earth.
B. All Later Scripture
As is the case with all biblical writings, which are subsequent to, and follow the Bible’s first five books, the above verses all recall the writings of Moses. Any book, pursuant to the Bible’s first five2 books must relate the words of Moses, and make review, and tell of Moses: In truth, all later scripture is foreseen, and predetermined by these preliminary and earliest books of the Bible.
C. Of Such Creation Data
And that is ultimately to say: Had Isaiah’s author, for example, not been told by Genesis 1st and 2nd Chapters, Exodus 20:11 of the Fourth Directive and Exodus 31:17 about Yahweh’s being the world’s maker and creator, he would have had no better knowledge of such creation data, than did those, who learned about it through mere contemporary fables.
D. Whatever Truths Emerge
Nevertheless, having learned of such things through these foundation scriptures, Isaiah’s understanding of God’s creation schedule would accordingly be swayed by what he learned from such scripture: Whatever truths emerge through the above sort of passage would to some extent accompany relevant comment on the part of Isaiah, Jeremiah or any other biblical writer, concerning “the creation”.
Quite often, Scripture makes recall
Of him, who did the world install
And doing so it deigns to tell
What further he installed as well
If God’s having “rested” as if from fatigue were there, they would have made some mention of it, in some way, once, somewhere.
E. Without Exception
Without exception, though, the Bible’s numerous verses in recall of Genesis 1-2 and the Exodus 20:11 and 31:17 account of God’s making and creating never mention, or even hint at his potentially having “rested”, or perhaps being “refreshed”.
“I speak no more than truth”3.
In addition to copious record of the universe’s origin, including Isaiah 40:28; 43:1, 7, 15; 45:8, 12, 18; 48:13; Amos 4:13; Psalms 24:1; 93:1-2; 96:10-13; 148:5-6; Proverbs 3:19; 8:22-31 as well as those already, and yet remaining to be cited, no reminiscence of God’s origin agenda ever mentions, or acknowledges his “rest” or his “refreshment” either afterwards, or ever.
F. On Quite the Contrary
On quite the contrary, Isaiah 40:21-26, Jeremiah 10:12-13 (and 51:15-16) and Psalm 89:8-13 (Hebrew 9-14) above are quite the standard in their review of God’s creation rôle for specifically the purpose of affirming “his power”.
“Look to’t, think on’t, I do not use to jest”4.
It would, thus, sound rather odd, if, for instance, Jeremiah 10:12-13 above were to phrase its declaration: “It is he who made the earth by his power, ‘and then rested (RSV Exodus 20:11), and was refreshed (RSV Exodus 31:17)’”.
For to speak of God’s power is effectively to preclude, and in its import to pre-empt any consistence of God’s possible fatigue, “rest” or “resting”. Though all such verses necessarily depend upon Exodus 20:11 and 31:17 as the model to recall Yahweh’s making, and creating, they are totally devoid of any allusion to his weariness or possible exhaustion. Which is all “well steel’d with weighty arguments”5 and proof.
G. Why?
How, then, have these two Exodus passages come to cite, and in time to be associated with God’s having “rested”? Why is it, that biblical commentators within the Bible itself make no such recollection of either Exodus 20:11 or 31:17?
While these same particular scriptures are expounded, and reviewed in a manner, that must assume, and indeed necessitates the de MontSabbathby Translation of these scriptures.
Conduct an exhaustive
Inquiry and quest
In an effort to learn
Why some scriptures suggest
That the Almighty wearies
And even did “rest”
But in accurate Scripture
Such won’t be professed
For instead the Almighty
“Your sanctification”
Embraces as his
Only preoccupation
He means universally
This motivation
To be, and exemplify
Its presentation
Because: “Ever doing
Good works”6 he intends
To accomplish alike
For opponents and friends
Magnanimity he
To all people extends
Never, ever such “work”
He neglects, or suspends
1Could this ancient writer be referring here to the earth’s rotundity?
2Hopefully, you know, that the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) constitutes those five books, authored my Moses, which begin the Bible.
3Troilus and Cressida I.1.66
4Romeo and Juliet III.5.189
5Richard III I.1.147
6Acts 14:17
For the sake of a more thorough investigation, however, suppose, that we broaden our selection of specimen, and consider any passage, which refers to God’s rôle in the creation of the universe: Instead of examining only those scriptures, which literally recite of God’s having “made the heavens and the earth” as in Exodus 20:11 and 31:17, what if we consider, and search any and all scripture, that is of any pertinence to God’s schedule of creation?
Might this uncover, and adduce further evidence and biblical exposition of his having “rested”, and having been “refreshed”?
If ever successful
Are we at our quest
Its dilemma’s solution
To make manifest
The definitive question
We will have addressed
Is the fable or fact
Of the Almighty’s “rest”
Because: If the Almighty
And “made holy”, or “sanctified”
Said “sabbath day”
Could he also this same day
“The seventh day” “rest”
As tradition so long
Has ordained, that we say?
Can the Almighty God
Have exerted the strength
To continue his labour
And work through the length
Of six toilsome days
In succession, and then
Need to “rest”, as do wearied
And over-worked men?
Could it be, that a sampling of such scriptural evidence might yield corroboration or simply more information about God’s having “rested”, or his having been “refreshed”?
A. This Passage Is Typical
Let us now investigate the following pertinent verses. Beginning with which, Isaiah 40:21-26 makes recall of God’s creating and his subsequent involvement with the universe and world (RSV):
21“Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22It is he who sits above the circle1 of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens 1ike a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in; 23who brings princes to naught, and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing. 24Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows upon them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble. 25To whom then will you compare me that I should be like him?…says the Holy One. 26Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing”.
As becomes apparent through any reading of scripture, this passage is typical of the Bible’s reminiscence of God’s activities, both during and after the creation of the world: Including a brief account of his creation agenda (verses 22 and 26), his subsequent involvement in the maintenance of his universe is appropriately also briefly outlined.
Isaiah 42:5-6 likewise so discloses to its readers, as follows (RSV):
5“Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread forth the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: 6‘I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations…’”
Notice the recollection (in verse 5 here), which these verses submit of that same creation, which is first deliberated by Exodus 20:11 and 31:17.
What account is here presented of God’s pursuits and of his “resting”, either during (or after) his creation agenda? Among these verses, what is the contingency or contextual prospect of recall or even mention of God’s possibly having “rested”, or his perhaps being “refreshed”?
In Jeremiah 10:12-13 (and 51:15-16), again, Yahweh’s having “made heaven and earth” is reviewed (RSV):
12“It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens. 13When he utters his voice there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightnings for the rain, and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses”.
Yet again, Psalm 89:8-13 (Hebrew 9-14) reads (RSV):
8“O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty as thou art, O Lord, with thy faithfulness round about thee? 9Thou dost rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, thou stillest them. 10Thou didst crush Rahab like a carcass, thou didst scatter thy enemies with thy mighty arm. 11The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine; the world and all that is in it, thou hast founded them. 12The north and the south, thou hast created them; Tabor and Hermon joyously praise thy name. 13Thou hast a mighty arm; strong is thy hand, high thy right hand”.
These above scriptures exhibit, and present somewhat similar reminiscence of Yahweh God’s having created, having made, and having established the universe, the heavens and the earth.
B. All Later Scripture
As is the case with all biblical writings, which are subsequent to, and follow the Bible’s first five books, the above verses all recall the writings of Moses. Any book, pursuant to the Bible’s first five2 books must relate the words of Moses, and make review, and tell of Moses: In truth, all later scripture is foreseen, and predetermined by these preliminary and earliest books of the Bible.
C. Of Such Creation Data
And that is ultimately to say: Had Isaiah’s author, for example, not been told by Genesis 1st and 2nd Chapters, Exodus 20:11 of the Fourth Directive and Exodus 31:17 about Yahweh’s being the world’s maker and creator, he would have had no better knowledge of such creation data, than did those, who learned about it through mere contemporary fables.
D. Whatever Truths Emerge
Nevertheless, having learned of such things through these foundation scriptures, Isaiah’s understanding of God’s creation schedule would accordingly be swayed by what he learned from such scripture: Whatever truths emerge through the above sort of passage would to some extent accompany relevant comment on the part of Isaiah, Jeremiah or any other biblical writer, concerning “the creation”.
Quite often, Scripture makes recall
Of him, who did the world install
And doing so it deigns to tell
What further he installed as well
If God’s having “rested” as if from fatigue were there, they would have made some mention of it, in some way, once, somewhere.
E. Without Exception
Without exception, though, the Bible’s numerous verses in recall of Genesis 1-2 and the Exodus 20:11 and 31:17 account of God’s making and creating never mention, or even hint at his potentially having “rested”, or perhaps being “refreshed”.
“I speak no more than truth”3.
In addition to copious record of the universe’s origin, including Isaiah 40:28; 43:1, 7, 15; 45:8, 12, 18; 48:13; Amos 4:13; Psalms 24:1; 93:1-2; 96:10-13; 148:5-6; Proverbs 3:19; 8:22-31 as well as those already, and yet remaining to be cited, no reminiscence of God’s origin agenda ever mentions, or acknowledges his “rest” or his “refreshment” either afterwards, or ever.
F. On Quite the Contrary
On quite the contrary, Isaiah 40:21-26, Jeremiah 10:12-13 (and 51:15-16) and Psalm 89:8-13 (Hebrew 9-14) above are quite the standard in their review of God’s creation rôle for specifically the purpose of affirming “his power”.
“Look to’t, think on’t, I do not use to jest”4.
It would, thus, sound rather odd, if, for instance, Jeremiah 10:12-13 above were to phrase its declaration: “It is he who made the earth by his power, ‘and then rested (RSV Exodus 20:11), and was refreshed (RSV Exodus 31:17)’”.
For to speak of God’s power is effectively to preclude, and in its import to pre-empt any consistence of God’s possible fatigue, “rest” or “resting”. Though all such verses necessarily depend upon Exodus 20:11 and 31:17 as the model to recall Yahweh’s making, and creating, they are totally devoid of any allusion to his weariness or possible exhaustion. Which is all “well steel’d with weighty arguments”5 and proof.
G. Why?
How, then, have these two Exodus passages come to cite, and in time to be associated with God’s having “rested”? Why is it, that biblical commentators within the Bible itself make no such recollection of either Exodus 20:11 or 31:17?
While these same particular scriptures are expounded, and reviewed in a manner, that must assume, and indeed necessitates the de MontSabbathby Translation of these scriptures.
Conduct an exhaustive
Inquiry and quest
In an effort to learn
Why some scriptures suggest
That the Almighty wearies
And even did “rest”
But in accurate Scripture
Such won’t be professed
For instead the Almighty
“Your sanctification”
Embraces as his
Only preoccupation
He means universally
This motivation
To be, and exemplify
Its presentation
Because: “Ever doing
Good works”6 he intends
To accomplish alike
For opponents and friends
Magnanimity he
To all people extends
Never, ever such “work”
He neglects, or suspends
1Could this ancient writer be referring here to the earth’s rotundity?
2Hopefully, you know, that the Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) constitutes those five books, authored my Moses, which begin the Bible.
3Troilus and Cressida I.1.66
4Romeo and Juliet III.5.189
5Richard III I.1.147
6Acts 14:17