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Studies │Books of Life

Books of Life and Deeds

     The Bible contains many statements about various books concerning mankind. Although God knows all things, including all the secrets of  men (Romans 2:16, page 1760), He still makes written records contained in books.  In this study, we will look at the various books described in Scripture.

Book of the Living

         Among the books kept by God, Moses spoke of a book about the people of the Exodus.  According to Moses, God blots names out of the Book of the Living ((The Hebrew term “from your book” (“מִסִּפְרְך”) indicates a scroll.  Yahweh personally wrote in the book (“כָּתָבְתָּ”–Qal perfect) and personally blotted out names (“מְחֵנִי”–Qal imperative).)) when they sin.  Notice too that God Himself blots out ((The Hebrew term here for “blot him out” (“אֶמְחֶנּו”) means to wipe clean, to remove completely.  This same root word is used to wipe clean a mouth (Proverbs 30:20, page 1046), or to remove tears from a face (Isaiah 25:8, page 1106).  Speaking of corporate Israel, the LORD also warned Moses of His intention to “blot out their name from under heaven” for their rebellion (Deuteronomy 9:14, page 302; compare 2 Kings 14:25, page 619).  Likewise, the LORD brings judgment upon the stubborn individual idolater so that the LORD will “blot out” his name from under heaven (Deuteronomy 29:21, page 336).)) their name from this book based upon sin. ((The Hebrew term used for “sin” (“חָטָא-לִי”) means to fall short of a mark, to be wrong morally, and to be guilty before God.))

[stextbox id=”black” caption=”Exodus 32:32-33, Page 144″ float=”left” width=”610″ bgcolor=”19679C” bgcolorto=”19679C”]But now, if You will,  forgive their sin–and if not, please blot me out from Your book which You have written!  The LORD said to Moses, ‘Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.'[/stextbox]

Therefore, we see that God apparently has a book containing all the names of every person born on earth.  God Himself makes choices 

about blotting out the names of the living upon the earth from that book, which I will call the Book of the Living.  Although Moses certainly sinned, God never threatened Moses with having his name blotted out of the Book of the Living. In Exodus 32, the people of israel had worshiped a golden calf while Moses received the tablets bearing the Ten Commandments.  Moses then sought to make atonement ((The Hebrew phrase  “perhaps I will make atonement for your sins” (“אוּלַי אֲכַפְּרָה בְּעַד חַטַּאתְכֶם”)  indicates the uncertainty in the mind of Moses about God’s willingness to withhold punishment from His people for their great sin of idolatry. Moses understood the flagrant, corporate sin of Israel, and sought to give his own life in exchange for the nation’s survival, illumining the great love of Moses to lay down his life for his brethren.  Yet, God did not allow one sinful human (Moses) to atone for the sin of the nation of Israel.  That role of Savior Yahweh reserved exclusively for Jesus as the God-Man, the final and perfect sacrifice for sin.)) for the sins of the nation of Israel.  Moses had great concern that God may destroy the entire nation for the entire nation’s sin of idolatry with the golden calf.  God responded, however, that He would judge each individual for sin, and not blot out the entire nation for this sinful disaster.

        The story of Moses interceding for the people of Israel after the terrible idolatry of the corporate worship of the golden calf teaches us about the Book of the Living mentioned from Exodus 32:32.

Book of Living–Summary

  1. Every Birth. At the time of birth, God Himself apparently records in the Book of the Living every live birth on earth.
  2. God Himself Records and Removes.  God Himself wrote down every individual born under heaven into the Book of the Living.  We know this fact because every individual name of the people of Israel could be removed individually from the Book of the Living.
  3. Individual Sin.  One single sin can cause God to blot out that sinner’s name from the Book of the Living.
  4. Not Every Sin.  God exercises perfect, loving judgment in the decision to blot out a name from the Book of the Living.  Not every sin requires that sinner’s  name to be removed from the Book of the Living, because Moses sinned, and his name was not blotted out in Exodus 32.
  5. Distinction.  The Book of the Living may be distinguished from other books because this Book of the Living has every name written in it, and only God records births and blots out names as a judgment for individual, not corporate, sin.

 

Book of Remembrance

        In Malachi 3:16, page 1497, we read about a Book of Remembrace. ((The Hebrew phrase there for “Book of Remembrance” (“סֵפֶר זִכָּרוֹן”) means a book used to remind the reader.)) [stextbox id=”black” caption=”Malachi 3:16, Page 1497″ float=”left” width=”610″ bgcolor=”19679C” bgcolorto=”19679C”]Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who esteem Him.[/stextbox]

In the same verse, we also learn about the persons described in that book. Only those who “fear the LORD” and “esteem Him” will have their names written in the Book of Remembrance. ((The Hebrew phrase for “fear the LORD” (“לְיִרְאֵי יְהוָה”) (notice the masculine noun for “fear” in construct with Yahweh) used a common word for “fear” and here it stands directly related to “esteem Him” (“לְחֹשְׁבֵי שְׁמוֹ”–qal particple).  Taken together, only those who have an abiding “fear” of Yahweh and “esteem” Yahweh will have their names recorded in the Book of Remembrance)) Yahweh directed that those names be written down in the Book of Remembrance before Him. ((The Hebrew term for “before Him” (“לְפָנָיו”) means literally before His face, and in this context indicated that Yahweh had the Book of Remembrance written down before Him, apparently at the time the living men “feared” and “esteemed” Yahweh.))  The purpose behind the Book of Remembrance may be seen clearly in Malachi 3:17, page 1497.

        In Malachi 3:17, page 1497, we read: They will be Mine.” This phrase summarized well the purpose for memorializing the men who “feared” and “esteemed” Yahweh.  When Yahweh prepares His possession, He will spare the people named in His Book of Remembrance as a man spares His son.      Notice that we learn further in Malachi 3:18, page 1497, that Yahweh will rely upon this Book of Remembrance when He “again will distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.”  This time of judgment seems very similar to parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 35:31-46, pages 1548-1549.  At this time of judgment, Jesus will separate the sheep from the goats. The sheep will inherit kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world, while the goats will be cast into eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. Likewise, the sheep gained favor with Jesus when they helped the foreigner, hungry, naked, thirsty and imprisoned.  To honor those people was the same as honoring Jesus.  Likewise, to ignore those people, would be to dishonor Jesus.  The righteous enter eternal life, and the wicked enter eternal punishment.

 work in progress

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