History of the Work of Redemption in Vol I of the Works - Edwards - VI - Period I continued

Required readingHistory of the Work of Redemption in Vol I of the Works by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Part VI of Period I.

My summary.

This week we look at the history of redemption from the Babylonish Captivity to the coming of Christ.  

Firstly, Edwards gives some notice of general things wherein this last period of the Old-Testament times was distinguished:

(i) Though we have no account of a great part of this period in the scripture history, yet the events of it are more the subject of scripture prophecy, than any of the preceding periods;

(ii) This last period of the Old Testament seems to have been remarkably distinguished from all others by great revolutions among the nations of the earth, to make way for the kingdom of Christ;

(iii) Another thing for which this last space of time before Christ was particularly remarkable, was the wonderful preservation of the church through all those overturnings.

Then Edwards moves to consider how the work of redemption was carried on in particulars:

(i) the captivity of the Jews into Babylon;

(ii) the addition of the prophecies of Ezekiel and Daniel;

(iii) the destruction of Babylon and the overthrow of the Chaldean empire by Cyrus;

(iv) the return of the Jews and rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple;

(v) the addition of the books of Haggai and Zechariah;

(vi) the pouring out of the Spirit of God that accompanied the ministry of Ezra the priest;

(vii) the addition of the book of Ezra;

(viii) Ezra is supposed to have collected all the books of which the Holy Scriptures did then consist, and disposed them in their proper order;

(ix) the multiplying of the copies of the law, and appointing the constant public reading of them in all the cities of Israel in their synagogues;

(x) God's remarkably preserving the church and nation of the Jews, when they were in imminent danger of being universally destroyed by Haman, as in the book of Esther;

(xi) the addition of the books of Nehemiah and Esther;

(xii) the canon of the Old Testament was completed and sealed by Malachi;

(xiii) the spirit of prophecy ceased among that people till the time of the New Testament;

(xiv) the destruction of the Persian empire, and setting up of the Grecian empire by Alexander;

(xv) the translating of the Old Testament into the Greek language, which was commonly understood by the Gentiles;

(xvi) the wonderful preservation of the church when it was eminently threatened and persecuted under the Grecian empire;

(xvii) the destruction of the Grecian, and setting up of the Roman, empire;

(xviii) learning and philosophy were risen to their greatest height in the heathen world;

(xix) the Roman empire was raised to its greatest height, and also settled in peace.

What grabbed me

I really liked this summary statement of this period: 'God did two things to prepare the way for Christ's coming, wherein he took a contrary method from that which human wisdom would have taken. He brought his own visible people very low, and made them weak; but the heathen, his enemies, he exalted to the greatest height, for the more glorious triumph of the cross of Christ. With a small number in their greatest weakness, he conquered his enemies in their greatest glory. Thus Christ triumphed over principalities and powers in his cross.'

The wonderful providence of God!

Next week's reading

Read Part VII of Period I.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.