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f. This'3TĨŽůĚ ŽĨĨŝĐĞ ǁŽƌŬƐ ǁĞůů ŝŶ ĂǀŝĚ͛Ɛ ƌĞŝŐŶ,'and''Chaplains'can'learn'from'the'
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ǁŽƌƐŚŝƉƉŝŶŐ͕ ƚĞĂĐŚŝŶŐ ŬŝŶŐ͗ ƚŚĞ ƚƌƵĞ ƉƌŽƉŚĞƚƐ ǁŚŽ ĐĞƌƚĂŝŶůǇ ͚ƐƉĞĂŬ ƚƌƵƚŚ ƚŽ ƉŽǁĞƌ͛ 'and'
encourage'faith'in'king'and'people:'and'the'effective'priests'frequently'enquiring'of'the'
Lord.'Chaplains'can'also'be'warned'by'the'selfishness'and'idolatry'of'David'and'later'
kings,'the'bored'ritualist'priests,'and'the''cowardice'and'dishonesty'of'false'prophets.''

g. God'was'revealed'and'present'in'Wisdom'ministry,'which'complemented'the'Torah,'
especially'as'it'disallowed'overTmechanical'interpretations'of'the'Mosaic'Covenant͛Ɛ
blessings'and'curses.''Hence'Job'and'Psalms'develop'a'refined'doctrine'of'Providence,'
so'essential'to'skilful'living'on'earth:'and'of'course'they'have'much'else'to'say'on'living'
in'a'world'of'thorns'and'thistles.'Proverbs'shows''ŽĚ͛Ɛ wisdom'ƚŽ ďĞ ƚŚĞ ͚ŽƉĞƌĂƚŝŶŐ
ƐǇƐƚĞŵ͛ ĨŽƌ ĐƌĞĂƚŝŽŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƉĂƚŚ ŽĨ ƐĂĨĞƚǇ ĂŶĚ ďůĞƐƐŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚŽƐĞ ǁŚŽ ŚĞĞĚ ŝƚ͘
Chaplains'need'and'may'dispense'this'wisdom'ʹ'and'as'they'reflect'on'these'scriptures,'
will'be'ĐŚĂƐƚĞŶĞĚ ďǇ ƚŚĞ ŵŝƐƚĂŬĞƐ ŽĨ :Žď͛Ɛ ĨƌŝĞŶĚƐ͕ warned'by'the'corruption'of'
Ahithophel,'and'encouraged'by'the'example'of'Daniel.'

13. Old'Testament'Summary.''The'promises'given'to'Abraham'are'the'clear'early'manifesto'of'God'
with'us.''The'formation'of'the'nation'of'Israel'at'the'exodus'was'the'next'great'step'in'God'being'with'
the'people'of'this'world,'but'a'tension'is'immediately'evident'as'ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ͛Ɛ ĞŶŵŝƚǇ had'to'be'crushed'
for'Israel'to'be'established.'Israel'herself'as'a'nation'had'the'Immanuel'principle'installed'within'her'
through'the'formal'presence'of'ark,'temple,'prophets,'priests'and'kings.''The'sinfulness'of'Israel's'
people'meant'that'God's'presence'amongst'his'own'people'led'more'frequently'to'judgment'rather'
than'blessing,'and'consequently'it'was'only'on'rare'occasions'that'the'world'recognised'that'Israel'was'
God's'blessing,'and'not'just'an'irritation.''The'high'point'comes'in'Solomon's'reign'when'the'Queen'of'
Sheba'recognises'not'only'Solomon's'wisdom,'but'also'his'relationship'to'the'Lord.''The'low'point'is'
recorded'by'Ezekiel'who'records'what'Paul'would'turn'into'the'accusation'that'God's"name"is"
blasphemed"among"the"gentiles"because"of"you"Jews"(Ezek'36:20ff/Rom'2:24).''But'nonetheless,'God͛Ɛ'
purposes'were'not'thwarted,'and'at'the'close'of'the'interTtestamental'period'when'Jesus'came,'for'all'
the'failure'of'secondTtemple'Judaism,'synagogues'honoured'God'and'attracted'GodTfearers.''The'old'
covenant'had'done'its'work'despite'the'sinfulness'of'the'covenant'people,'and'the'stage'was'set'for'
Jesus'to'be'born'under'the'law'and'fulfil'God's'promise'to'Abraham'to'bless'the'nations.'

14. Birth'to'Baptism.'In'the'person'of'Jesus,'God'was'present'with'people,'and'not'just'his'chosen'
people,'as'Matthew'quickly'shows'us'through'the'visit'of'the'Magi:'which'account'also'shows'us'the'
tension''ŽĚ͛Ɛ ŚŽƐĞŶ Kne'experienced'whilst'in'the'world'He'loved.''Jesus'entered'the'spiritual'milieu'
of'OT:'he'came'to'those'who'rejected'him'and'sought'to'kill'him:'the'ancient'war'of'the'Serpent'against'
God,'carried'on'within'humanity'through'murder,'lies'and'other'schemes'(John'8:44,'Eph'6:12)'was'
brought'to'bear'on'Him,'as'it'would'be'until'He'died.''Chaplains,'whilst'welcomed'by'an'institution'of'
this'world,'remember'that'human'cultures'reflect''ŽĚ͛Ɛ ŐŽŽĚŶess'and'image,'but'also'oppose'his'
Kingdom'by'many'schemes.''

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
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'This'phrase'appears'to'come'from'an'18 'Century'charge'to'Quaker'believers.'

Gospel'Chaplaincy'in'a'Secular'Age'ʹ'page'6'of'9'ʹ'September'2011'

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