The Aspen Grove

Biblical Themes (Typology)

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The Big Idea

Starting to collect instances and resources around big biblical themes.

Similar Ideas: Notes from Conversation with Sarah Salzburg

The Core Seven

Biblical Themes Packet Biblical Themes Outline (Modified one with Questions to Ask)

1. Temple (Heaven+Earth) and Mountain of God

  • Yahweh’s presence
  • Layout of the temple alluded to
  • Garden of Eden imagery/Mountains
  • Access by sacrifice
  • Yahweh’s space and people’s space
  • Presence of spiritual beings

Examples:

  • The two important mountains are Mount Zion and Mount Esau as kind of opposing places of authority and power but the end of the book pictures saviors going up to rule on both mountains under the authority of God alone.
  • Mountains of Scripture
  • The Tabernacle
  • Sacred Space

2. Sabbath

  • Number 7 is used to signal theme
  • Rest from __________
  • Cycles of time

3. Image of God

  • Rulers/caretakers on behalf of God
  • Priests in the temple

4. Tree of Life

  • Trees/bushes/wood
  • Choices made to either follow Yahweh or define good and bad for yourself

Examples:

5. Exile

  • “East of ______ / “Down to ________
  • “Babylon”/ “Egypt”/ “Assyria”
  • Wilderness (Number 40)
  • Temple destroyed

6. Water of Life

  • Water/wells/rivers/springs/streams
  • Water brings life out of desolation
  • Water rescues

Examples:

  • In the split rock. water of life
  • river out of Eden.

7. Day of Yahweh or Day of the Lord

  • “Day of the Lord”/”The Day”
  • Passover/Exodus referenced or alluded to

Examples:

  • Amos 5:18–24 - warning about desiring the day of the lord
  • Isaiah 2:11–12
  • Joel 2:30–31
  • Joel 3:14–16
  • 2 Peter 3:10–13
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:2-6
  • 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 - Description of coming of the Lord from the perspective of believers.

Major Background Theme: Covenant

  • “God of your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”
  • Agreements made at mountains/trees/springs

The Three Witnesses

1 John 5:5-9 ESV

Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son.

John 19: 33-35

But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe.

Water of Life

  • Water from the rock
  • Living Water

Blood of Life or Lifeblood

  • sacrificial blood
  • life in the blood from Leviticus

Holy Spirit

  • Breath of life

Other Themes

  • Family Relations
    • Edom and Israel decedents of brothers.
  • High vs Low and Pride vs Humble
    • They thought they could raise themselves up or be safe because they lived in high places.
  • Chosen Nation and All Nations
    • Transition from chosen nation to all nations
    • In The Book of Obadiah, Edom becomes an emblem of all the nations in the middle of the book in verse 15 where is switches to judgment against all nations for refusing to acknowledge God
  • Justice
    • Justice according to God’s rule and definition of what is right not what the Edomites convinced themselves was right.
  • Rule of God
    • Picture the rule of God as deliverance and restoration of Israel’s proper place as well as the humbling of the proud nations.
  • Cup of Wrath and Cup of Blessing
    • Psalm 11:5-6
    • Psalm 75:6-8
    • Ezekiel 23:31–33
    • Isaiah 51:17
    • Jeremiah 25:15-17
    • Matthew 26:39 - Jesus asking that the cup would pass from Him.
    • Revelation 14:10
    • Revelation 16:1–17 - The seven bowls.
  • New Jerusalem and New Creation- Heavy in Isaiah, Revelation
  • Blood and Fat
  • Sacrifice
  • Babylon, Assyria, Egypt - Place of captivity and enemies
  • Pure vs Impure
  • Holy vs Common
  • Blessing vs Curse

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