Source: http://montreal.anglican.org/comments/archive/zsmaam.shtml
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 02:55:04+00:00

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Isaac has dispatched Jacob to find a wife for himself in “Haran”. He, like his father, is expected to marry one of his own clan, but unlike his father, is sent on the journey himself. On the way, Jacob stops for the night at Bethel (meaning house of God) and dreams. (Travellers slept on the ground using hard pillows!) The word translated “place” (v. 11) implies that the place is sacred. The scene is reminiscent of a ziggurat, on which there was a stairway (“ladder”, v. 12) to the top, where the deity was believed to live. The Tower of Babel (meaning gateway to a god) was probably a ziggurat. The angels “ascending and descending” suggest contact with God. God speaks, identifying himself as God of the patriarchs, Abraham and Isaac, i.e. not just a local god of that place alone, as was common in the region. The promises in vv. 13-14 are those made to Abraham, but the one in v. 15 is specially for Jacob: God will watch over (“keep”) him wherever he is; God is present everywhere, not just here.
In v. 17, Jacob is awe-struck (“afraid”) and says that the place is awe-inspiring (“awesome”). This, he says, is the “house of God” (hence Bethel) and the “gate of heaven”. Next morning, Jacob sets up his stone pillow to mark the presence of a deity, as was the local custom. He consecrates it with “oil” (v. 18).
This psalm is both one of thanksgiving and a hymn of praise. After recalling that God cares for the oppressed, forgives sins, loves dearly those who hold him in awe, and that he is a compassionate father, it contrasts him with humankind: our lives are transitory but God’s love is for ever. Then, in the verses we say or sing today, it says: may all over whom he rules, the heavenly court (“angels ... mighty ones”, v. 20, “hosts ... ministers”, v. 21), creation (“all his works”, v. 22) and the psalmist himself “bless” (praise) “the Lord”!
Jesus says to Nathanael: here’s a true Israelite: in popular etymology, Israel meant one who sees God. Nathanael answers: how could you possibly recognize me? We haven’t met. Jesus answers him: I saw you (possibly when he was somewhere else, conversing with Phillip). This is clearly miraculous: Nathanael proclaims that Jesus is the Messiah (“Son of God”, v. 49, and “King of Israel”).
Jesus asks him rhetorically: did you believe because of this miracle? As your faith grows, you will understand much more about me; in fact, you will see the meeting of God with people. V. 51 is like Genesis 28:12 (read today) but different: the angels ascend and descend “on the Son of Man” rather than on the ladder from earth to heaven. Jesus is our way of reaching the immortal. In the Genesis passage, the ladder is the means of communication between heaven and earth; in this passage, Jesus declares that he is the medium of communication, the mediator between God and humankind.

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