That the Coming Generation Might Praise the Lord -- By: James M. Hamilton, Jr.

Journal: Journal of Discipleship and Family Ministry
Volume: JDFM 01:1 (Fall 2010)
Article: That the Coming Generation Might Praise the Lord
Author: James M. Hamilton, Jr.


That the Coming Generation Might Praise the Lord

James M. Hamilton, Jr.

James m. Hamilton, Jr., (Ph.D., the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) serves as Associate Professor of Biblical theology at Southern Seminary and as Preaching Pastor at Kenwood Baptist Church. He blogs at http://jimhamilton.wordpress.com, and is the author of God’s Indwelling Presence (B&H) and The Center of Biblical Theology (Crossway). He is blessed to be married to the woman of his dreams, and their three children are like olive shoots around his table.

God’s Purpose to Cover the Dry Lands with His Glory

Adam’s job was to rule and subdue the earth (Gen 1:28). This seems to mean that his task was to expand the borders of Eden until the whole earth was like Eden, a place where God was present, known, served, worshiped, and uniquely present. Adam sinned and was expelled from Eden, but God did not give up his plan to cover the dry lands with his glory.1 God promised to raise up a seed from the woman who would crush the head of the serpent, defeating evil.2 Later he made promises to Abraham that he would overcome the curses that resulted from sin.3 These promises were passed through Isaac to Jacob and then to the tribes of Israel.4 Having brought Israel out of Egypt, God brought them into a new Eden, the land of promise. Then God gave Adam’s task to Israel: to expand the borders of the realm in which Yahweh is present, known, served, and worshiped (cf. Num 14:21; Ps 72:19). Israel sinned just as Adam had, and Israel was exiled from the land just as Adam was exiled from Eden.5 Through the prophets, God promised that he would restore Israel and accomplish his purpose of covering the lands with his glory as the waters cover the sea (Isa 6:3; 11:9; Hab 2:14). Eventually God sent Jesus, who recapitulated Israel, withstood temptation, conquered the land, overcame death by dying and rising, and has commissioned his followers to make disciples of all nations.6 When the full number of the Gentiles has been gathered, Israel will be saved (Rom 11:25-27), and Jesus will cover the dry lands with the glory of Yahweh.

The purpose of this article is to explore what the Old Testament tells us about how the family factors int...

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