Can the Dead Praise?

Last updated on: May 23, 2014 at 12:00 am By Peter Leithart

Heaven, earth, sea: That three-decker universe is standard-issue in biblical cosmology (Exodus 20:11; Psalm 69:34; 96:11; 135:6; 146:6; Revelation 10:6). Occasionally a second heaven is added to the scheme (Nehemiah 9:6). But when the Lamb ascends to take the book, praise arises from four dimensions of creation: heaven, earth, under the earth, and sea (Revelation 5:13). So far as I can tell, this is unprecedented. A fourth dimension is added not by reference to a tip-top story, a highest heaven.... Read more

Hospitable God

Last updated on: May 22, 2014 at 12:00 am By Peter Leithart

Yahweh brings Israel to Sinai and shows Moses the pattern for the tabernacle. For the first time, Yahweh moves into Israel’s neighborhood. The house is closed. Only priests go to the altar, only priests into the holy place, nobody into the most holy place. But focusing on the restrictions on access can distract us from the main import of the house. Israel, after all, is in the house, represented by the stones that are over the heart of the high... Read more

Too Liturgical?

Last updated on: May 22, 2014 at 12:00 am By Peter Leithart

One of the central insights of Jeff Meyers’ book The Lord’s Service is that the liturgy is pre-eminently God’s service to us rather than our service to Him. When we gather each week as His people and bride, He draws near to declare forgiveness, to speak His live-giving Word, to invite us to His table where He gives His Son in the power of the Spirit. Word and Sacrament are the heart of liturgy because these are the ways God gives... Read more

Creation Fulfilled

Last updated on: May 22, 2014 at 12:00 am By Peter Leithart

With the ascent of the Lamb (Revelation 5:13-14), the triple-decker vertical dimension of the universe – heaven, earth, sea – has turned into a fourfold arena – heaven, earth, under earth, sea – and this fourfold is populated by “things in them.” This follows a familiar separation-filling pattern. Four zones are listed, and then the “things that are in them.” That hints back to the forming-and-filling patterns of creation. Creation comes to its fulfillment when it is no longer formless and empty. Creation... Read more

In the End is My Beginning

Last updated on: May 22, 2014 at 12:00 am By Peter Leithart

An elder tells John to stop weeping because someone worthy has been found in heaven (Revelation 5:5). The worthy one is the victorious lion who is from the tribe of Judah, the root of David. How does “root of David” (he riza David) fit grammatically? Is it an explanation of “Judah” or a description of the Lion? The latter seems preferable. The pattern throughout Revelation 4-5 (and elsewhere in the book) is to offer triadic (not dyadic) descriptions of Jesus... Read more

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