Arise, O God, Judge the Earth

Thus far in Luke’s genealogy, the writer has emphasized two critical points within the broader storyline of the New Testament. First, after paralleling Matthew’s dismissal of Joseph’s patrimony, Luke builds on Matthew’s handling of Hebrew terminology in Genesis, pushing the biblical tension between the positive, godly expression, “Son of Man,” and the pejorative worldly title, “Son of God.”  Pejorative, according to the Bible’s lexicon, but not in the uncircumcised minds of those hearing the New Testament. It is this sin that Matthew, Mark, and now Luke hope to correct—or reformat—in our hearing. Only now will Luke use the expression “Son of God”—only the second time in his gospel, and even now, only within the tedious syntax of his genealogy: “Son of Man (ben adam), Son of God.” Perhaps later, when we hear John, we will finally understand why Jesus was accused of treason. For now, in Luke’s gospel, we need only recognize why Jesus kept telling people to keep their mouths shut in Mark. It is not because he was shy or humble.  It is because they did not know what they were talking about and, therefore, should not be allowed to preach. At least, not yet. In Psalm 82, we find everything we need to know about the Bible’s use of these terms. Calling specifically upon Elohim (not Yahweh, not the Messiah) to judge the earth, along the lines of Ezekiel and Isaiah, David calls upon Elohim to rise above all the other gods as the only King upon the earth.  All these gods, the “sons of the Most High,” who exercise power on earth, are hoaxes. From generation to generation and age to age, they are a fraud. They will “die like the sons of men and fall like any of the princes” because they themselves are sons of men, just like you and me. They will pass away, but our God, Elohim, is in the heavens, unseen and untouchable. He does not die, and his words will abide forever. Elohim alone is the Judge who subdues unjust rulers, those who show partiality to the wicked. Elohim alone is the Judge who vindicates the weak and the fatherless, who cares for the afflicted and the destitute. Elsewhere David proclaims: “Put not your trust in princes, in sons of men, in whom there is no salvation.” (Psalm 146:3)When Luke carrying the torch for Matthew and Mark is finally ready to shout from the rooftops what Mark was certain you did not understand, he hopes that you will finally realize the value of Jesus Christ, that, unlike the princes and rulers who will condemn him in the story, he was not glorious upon the earth. Instead, he was obedient to his Father—the only Judge—and that is why Elohim will arise to vindicate him, standing in the midst of his council as Judge. Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Luke 3:32-34 (Episode 486)

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