Deuteronomy 11:21 (ESV) that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth.
KJV:
Deuteronomy 11:21 (KJV) That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.
Here’s the LXX:
Deuteronomy 11:21 (LXX) ἵνα πολυημερεύσητε καὶ αἱ ἡμέραι τῶν υἱῶν ὑμῶν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἧς ὤμοσεν κύριος τοῖς πατράσιν ὑμῶν δοῦναι αὐτοῖς καθὼς αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς
And the MT:
Deuteronomy 11:21 (WLC) לְמַ֨עַן יִרְבּ֤וּ יְמֵיכֶם֙ וִימֵ֣י בְנֵיכֶ֔ם עַ֚ל הָֽאֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר נִשְׁבַּ֧ע יְהוָ֛ה לַאֲבֹתֵיכֶ֖ם לָתֵ֣ת לָהֶ֑ם כִּימֵ֥י הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ ס
I think the KJV actually gets this one right: in the obedience of Israel to God’s law, summarized of course in the twin commandments of loving God above all and the neighbor as self, the children of Israel actually get a taste of the sweet savor of heaven itself right here upon the earth!
And not just Israel. Heaven on earth is what Jesus came to bring (as announced by the angels at His nativity). How beautifully Jaroslav Vajda put it in his great Christmas hymn: “Before the marvel of this night”: Give earth a glimpse of heavenly bliss, a teasing taste of what they miss! Sing bliss, sing bliss, sing endless bliss, sing bliss, sing endless bliss.
“The kingdom of heaven is at hand” was our Lord’s message. And very much “at hand” with Him, who lived among us as the perfect fulfillment of the Law and so as the very gift of heaven walking the earth. He gave us days of heaven upon the earth, indeed, as Heaven’s King walked among us. And He established His Church to continue to offer in the liturgy via His saving Word and the Sacraments an ongoing participation in that Kingdom from above right here in this world, albeit hidden under great weakness. For through them He offers to us without ceasing His own life, His righteousness, His trust in His Father, His love to be our very own.
Days of heaven upon the earth. Is that not what we long for, and what we pray for when we take on our lips the prayer He taught us: “Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”?
Will, which translation of Deuteronomy 2:11 Hebrew scholars will agree is accurate, is yet to be seen. From my primitive knowledge of Greek, the Septuagint appears to favor the “heaven on earth” version, though this should definitely not be taken as the opinion of a Greek scholar.
ReplyDeleteNevertheless, thank God that what you write about the Kingdom of God on earth is a never-ending source of joy for the People of God. Fortunately, the knowledge of that Kingdom does not depend on an obscure verse from Deuteronomy, but, as you write, is supported by the words of our Lord, and those of His Apostles, as we find it in Scripture.
My comments are in no way critical of what you wrote. I simply had to respond to the joy you hold before us, because so few write about it, and to say thank you and thanks be to God.
Peace and Joy!
George A. Marquart
Dear George,
ReplyDeleteThe joy is always mine when I hear from you. Thanks for writing your thoughts! May the Lord richly bless you, my friend!