Honey From The Rock

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Honey From The Rock
Psalm 81:16

"Sweet Stuff From God's Word"

A daily Bible study with Victor Knowles
Copyright 2007

TOO GOOD FOR THIS WORLD, Part I

This entry was posted on 04-08-2009 and is filed under FAITH.

"They were too good for this world..." (Heb. 11:38 NEB). Now we come to a long list of believers, unsung heroes, who are not even mentioned by name in the faith chapter of the Bible. The KJV says of them "Of whom the world was not worthy." What does this mean? J. B. Phillips says the world was "too evil to see their worth." That's the way it has always been for true believers. They are indeed "too good for this world." And what a price they paid for being a true believer! Yet by faith they "conquered kingdoms, administered justice, gained what was promised, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, escaped the edge of the sword." By faith they saw their "weakness turned to strength, became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies." By faith "women received back their dead, raised to life again." This latter reference (Heb. 11:35) may be a reference to the woman of Zarephath whose son Elijah brought back to life (1 Kings 17:8-24).

Then, in the middle of verse 35, everything changes. "Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection" (NKJV). Notice several interesting translations of this passage. "Some were tortured on the wheel, and refused release..." (TCNT). "Others, who refused release...were stretched and broken on the wheel..." (Berkley). "Others were tortured to death with clubs, refusing to accept release [offered on the terms of denying their faith]..." (Amplified). The graphic picture of saints being "stretched and broken on the wheel" takes away our breath. They could have been taken off the wheel - if they denied their faith - but they refused deliverance. Why? Because they were "trusting that they would rise again to a better life afterwords" (TLB). Through the mist of blood and tears they saw heaven and wanted it more than release from their torturers. Dear God, give us a faith like this!

Hymn: "Faith of our fathers! Living still - in spite of dungeon, fire and sword: O how our hearts beat high with joy when-e'er we hear that glorious word! Faith of our fathers, holy faith! We will be true to thee 'til death!" (Frederick W. Faber)