Investigation of Scriptural References Essay -- Religion Bible

Investigation of Scriptural References We find one hundred and ninety times the Hebrew verb rà »m, â€Å"to be high, or to be exalted† in the Old Testament. Basically rà »m represents either the â€Å"state of being on a higher plane,† or the â€Å"movement in an upward direction.† The second emphasis represents what is done to the subject or what it does to itself. Like the stormy wind that lifts up the waves of the sea (Ps. 27:5). God is the Most High, the great king over all the earth and exalted far above all gods (Pss. 47:2; 83:18); 97:9). He alone rules over mankind and grants dominion to whomever he wishes (Dan. 4:17, 25, 32; 5:21). Therefore Israel in response must exalt him above all others as they are his people. It must result that all nations and all creation are called to praise God and exalt him (Ps.148:13). Fanning concludes that all of life is put in its proper perspective only when God is exalted in this way. In the Old Testament â€Å"exaltation† is related to the Kingdo m of God, reflected by God’s chosen people, Israel. We will see later in this point that these reflections have priestly, prophetically and royal tendencies. In the New Testament various Greek verbs are used to express â€Å"exalt†: hupsoÃ…  â€Å"to lift up† for the exaltation of Christ by God the Father (Acts 2:33); huperupsoÃ…  â€Å"to exalt highly† with reference to Christ (Phil. 2:9); epairÃ…  â€Å"to exalt oneself† for being lifted up with pride (2 Cor. 10:5); and huperairÃ…  â€Å"to exalt oneself exceedingly† for the exceeding self-exaltation (2 Cor. 12:7). In this regard we note that exaltation is an act of God alone (Luke 1:52). The exaltation causes also a social effect (2 Cor. 11:7) and contains an eschatological element (1 Pet.5:6 and explicit Phil. 2:5). In the New Testament foll... ...0. Matt. 1:20-23. Jacob van Bruggen, Commentaries New Testament Matthew (Kampen: Kok, 2004), 33. Mark 1:14-15. Jacob van Bruggen, Commentaries New Testament Mark (Kampen: Kok, 1998), 50. Matt. 9:27-29. Donald A. Hagner, WBC Matthew1-13, vol 33a (Colombia: Thomas Nelson, 1993), 254. G. Van den Brink, Centre for Biblical Research, Matthew (Utrecht: Van Wijk, 2003), 539. Mark 1:11. Jacob van Bruggen, Commentaries New Testament Mark (Kampen: Kok, 1988), 45. Matt. 4:3. Donald A. Hagner, WBC Matthew1-13, vol 33a (Colombia: Thomas Nelson, 1993), 69. Matt. 14:33 Matt. 11:27. Donald A. Hagner, WBC Matthew1-13, vol 33a (Colombia: Thomas Nelson, 1993), 69. Stephen R. Holmes, God of Grace and God of Glory (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001), 142. Holmes, God of Grace and God of Glory, 149. Holmes, God of Grace and God of Glory, 252.