IS GOD PARTICULAR?
In many ways the Bible is like an intricate piece of music.
At the beginning of the Bible, the initial themes are laid down. They always have a reference to the time when the world was first created, and all was perfect. Gradually the Bible unfolds, and the themes given in simplicity at the beginning enlarge, and develop new dimensions, but the themes remain the same. No new tunes are introduced, for the theme throughout is
Jesus Christ, the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8
The prophecies provide an overview of how these tunes will develop, so that when we see things happening around us, we will recognise the prophecy. In the Bible there are counter themes of sinister darkness, that follow the main themes of light and hope. It is as if the Bible writers are different instruments, all contributing under Christ’s direction to this revelation of God, for this is what the Bible is. When Christ came to earth all these themes met in Him. As He enlarged them in His teachings, the tunes and cadences take on deeper and richer repetitions and amplifications.
As with any piece of music there are certain parts that we like and keep humming to ourselves. This is the danger with the music of the Bible. We become familiar with some aspects of it and continue to repeat it, eventually forgetting its context in the whole piece.
Mingled with the seriousness of His teachings and warnings and promises, are hints of the glorious finale, when the tunes and themes of the Bible will culminate in the same perfection and freshness as the introduction. The music began with Creation, and in some ways the Bible is a Creation Symphony. At first the entire world was ‘very good’ as it came from the hand of God.
Then the dark theme of sin came in very quickly. The original perfect tunes continue to develop to show us how God can recreate human hearts. Both these Bible prayers,
Search me, O God and know my heart’. Psalm 139:23
Create in me a clean heart. Psalm 51:10
are sung as an answering chorus. The creation theme is continued in Christ as He heals the sick and restores damaged minds and takes the Sabbath and removes it from the influence of darkness to show us His Creation Plan of refreshment and restoration for us through Him.