SUNDAY-SCHOOL TEACHERS!
WORDS from the WORD by Charles L. Feinberg, Th.D., Ph.D., Director, Talbot Theological Seminary
L a m b
P robably no word in the Bible, apart from the actual names of deity, has more tender associations than the word “lamb.” Some 10 Hebrew words are rendered by “lamb,” most ly kebes (with its feminine form also) and seh. In the New Testament three words are used ( amnos, arnos and arniori), with most of the occur rences being arniori. This last form is found 27 times in the Book of Reve lation; a diminutive form, it suggests affection and tenderness. There are three distinct senses in which the term “lamb” is used in the Bible. The first is the literal sense. The flesh of the young of the sheep was used for food (Lev. 3:7; 2 Sam. 12:4; Amos 6:4). The lamb had a large and indispensable place in the sacrifices of the Old Testament. Lambs were offered in sacrifice even before the giving of the Mosaic Law (Gen. 4:4; 22:7). At the institution of the Passover in Egypt a lamb of the first year was killed and eaten (Ex. 12:3, 5). Under the regulations of the Mosaic ritual a male lamb a year old was. offered every morning and one every evening for a burnt offering. On the Sabbath there were two. Exodus 29:39-41; Numbers 28:4. On the first of each month, during the seven days of the Passover, at the Feast of Weeks, on the day of the blowing of trumpets, and on the Day of Atonement, seven male lambs a year old were part of a special burnt offering. At the Feast of Tabernacles the lambs numbered 14 for every day of the week, and seven on the eighth day. See Numbers 28 and 29. For all the main sacrifices of ordinary offer ings a lamb could be used: for a bumi offering (Lev. 9:3), a sin offer ing (4:27,32), a trespass offering
(5:6), or a peace offering (3:6,7). A lamb could not be slain until it was a week old (Ex. 22:30; Lev. 22:27), and even then the lamb and its dam could not be killed on the same day (Lev. 22:28). The second usage is a figurative or metaphorical one. In certain Old Testament passages it conveys the idea of harmlessness (Isa. 11:6), guile lessness (Jer. 11:19), and playfulness (Ps. 114:4, 6). The term is at times employed for believers (Isa. 40:11; John 21:15). The last and most important usage is the typical. In an old apocryphal book the word is used for the Mes siah: “Honor Judah and Levi, for from them shall arise for you the Lamb of God, saving all nations by grace.” When lamb is used of Christ, there is a sacrificial emphasis. In every instance the lamb for sacrifice had to be without blemish. Christ was like a lamb in His purity (1 Pet. 1:19). Because of His gentleness and submission to undeserved suffering without murmuring (Isa. 53:7; Acts 8:32; 1 Pet. 2:21-23), He is the great antitypical Lamb of God. And like a lamb He was sacrificed for the guilt of others. See John 1:29, 36; Rev. 13: 8. He was the Lamb of God, the sac rifice of God’s providing. Someone has aptly put it: “Notwithstanding every effort to take out of this strik ing phrase its deeper meanings, which involve most probably the com bination of all the sources above de scribed, it must ever remain one of the richest mines of evangelical thought. It occupies, in the doctrine of atonement, a position analogous to that brief word of our Lord, ‘God is a Spirit’ (John 4:24), in relation to the doctrine of God.” END. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ a HERB JAHN, Christian Talent Associates Box 147 Bl, Hollywood 28, California Without obligation, send me Brochure and free sample lessons. Plus T.Q.T. I am interested in playing (check one) □ accordion □ piano □ organ O I do □ do not have an instrument now. Name_______ _ _____________________________ Address_______________________________________ C ity---------------- Zone____ State___________
one.. ■ Start with the finest, purest in gredients available: Christ-centered, soul-win ning ASSU Lesson Helps. two.. . Mix carefully all week with equal parts of prayer and study. three.. . Season to the taste of your pupils with illustrations appropriate to their age and interests. ASSU materials give you special helps here. four . . . Serve on tim e Sunday morning. Be there early to welcome your pupils to the best lesson they've ever lis tened to. five... Follow up with attractive ASSU Sunday school pap ers-to keep your class interested all week. YtS, ASSU LESSON HELPS TAKE THE GUESSWORK OUT OF TEACHING. Send for our free sample Sunday school kit. Write Dept. K 6 AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION 1816 Chestnut St., Philadelphia 3, Pa.
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