I
guess the starting place for us is to take a brief look at the covenants God
made with Israel. These covenants can be divided into two categories, those
that are conditional and those that are unconditional. For instance the
Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12) is an unconditional covenant and the Davidic
Covenant (2nd Samuel 7) is an unconditional covenant. By
unconditional it is meant that God made the covenant not dependent upon the
actions or inaction, the obedience or the disobedience of Israel. The
conditional covenants like the Mosaic Covenant, as found in Exodus, or the
Palestinian Covenant, as found in Deuteronomy, contain conditions for blessing
or cursing. God will perform all of the promises contained in the Abrahamic
Covenant and He will perform those promises made in the Davidic Covenant and He
will do so because His promises are “yea and amen”! The New Covenant (Jeremiah
31) is an unconditional covenant as well. The reason I mention these covenants
is because, though the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants are dependent entirely
upon the integrity of God, the Mosaic and Palestian covenants are dependent
upon the obedience of God’s people, Israel. It is, however, the Palestinian
covenant with which we will concern ourselves here.
Israel did not exist between A.D. 70 and the
20th century as the people were scattered across the world. Today,
there is a land of Israel but keep in mind that there are millions of Jews all
over the world and a considerable number here in the United States today. But
what happened that Israel became scattered? What happened that Israel lost her
land? And what has it to do with the Sign of Tongues in the Bible? Let me make
one thing perfectly clear, though I do not intend to get into it in this essay.
I believe there is only one kind of “tongues” in the Bible and I believe it
refers to human languages and is not a heavenly prayer language as some insist.
Not only so, but I believe the Bible is absolutely clear about the reason for
them, when they appeared, and when they subsided. When we reference tongues it will always be in the context
of human languages just as it is in the Scriptures.
How
Is Tongues Linked with Israel’s Judgment?
In the First Letter to the
Corinthians, after his teaching regarding gifts and offices the Apostle Paul
gives the only definitive reason or purpose for tongues found in the Bible. He
says, “Brethren, be not children in understanding:
howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. In the law it is
written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this
people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore
tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not:
but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them
which believe.” (1 Corinthians 14:20-22) Now we can ascertain some of
things from the verses. First biblical tongues have a
purpose and that purpose is: 1. For those who are NOT believers; 2. Tongues are
grounded in the Old Testament which is here called the Law; 3. Tongues are for
a Sign; 4. A particular people, “this people” (the
people of Israel) are in mind. Second, in this definitive explanation,
tongues are not a prayer language
and tongues are not ecstatic speech.
Again, Tongues are for a sign to the Jews who are in unbelief. In fact,
whenever legitimate tongues are found in the New Testament there is always an
Apostle present and there are always Jews present. There is much more to say
about tongues but we’ll leave that for another day.
The Old Testament Prophecies Regarding
Tongues
In Deuteronomy 28 we find what is called
the Palestinian covenant and this covenant is a conditional covenant that will
bring either blessings or curses, depending on the obedience or disobedience of
the Children of Israel. Verses 1-14 describe the blessings that follow
obedience and the remainder of the
chapter describes the curses that follow disobedience. But notice verses 47-49
which say, “Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God
with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;
Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against
thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things:
and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee. The LORD shall bring a nation against thee
from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a
nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;” So because of their
disobedience they would be destroyed and be dominated by a people whose tongue
(language) they would not understand.
Now go with me to the Book of Isaiah and this is the verse Paul quotes
in 1 Corinthians 14:21:
“For with stammering
lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.” (Isaiah 28:11)
This chapter is about judgment toward Israel for their stubbornness and
rebellion. In verse 16 the prophet says, “Therefore
thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a
tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that
believeth shall not make haste.”
From here we’ll go to Jeremiah 5 where we find, “For
the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously
against me, saith the LORD.” (v.11) and God’s answer to that rebellion
is, “Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O
house of Israel, saith the LORD: it is a mighty nation, it is an
ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest
what they say.” (v.15) So we see that in each of these instances one of
the signs of God’s displeasure will be domination by another nation whose
language (tongue) is not understood. This is EXACTLY what the Apostle Paul was
speaking of when he said that tongues “are for a sign”! Tongues then, are for a
sign to the Jews of impending judgment. Now let’s go to the New Testament.
A Short Chronology in Matthew’s Gospel
Matthew’s Gospel is called the Kingdom
Gospel and it is predominately Jewish in character. In it the King is presented
and His Kingdom offered. In Chapter 10 we find Jesus sending out the 12
disciples with this message, “And as ye go, preach,
saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (v.7) but in the 11th
chapter we find “Then began he to upbraid the cities
wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:”
(v.20) So the Kingdom was offered but those who witnessed Christ’s mighty works
did not repent! Then, in Chapter 12 we find that the Pharisees plotted against
Him (v.14) but that Jesus knew it (v.15) and in verses 17-18 we find that Jesus
opens the way to God to the Gentiles. And in chapter 13 Jesus begins to speak
in parables and tells the reason why, “Therefore speak
I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not,
neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith,
By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see,
and shall not perceive: For this people's heart
is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed;
lest at any time they should see with their
eyes, and hear with their
ears, and should understand with their heart, and should
be converted, and I should heal them. ” (vs.13-15) Here then we have the
prophecy of Isaiah mentioned again and judgment is looming for Israel. The King
and Kingdom are rejected and the way is made clear for the Gentiles.
A Brief Look Into What Paul Writes In
Romans
The Apostle Paul through chapters 9-11 of Romans tells us that his
countrymen are those to whom the blessings came. He says, “Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption,
and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of
God, and the promises;” (v.4) but that they stumbled in substituting
works for faith (vs.31-33). Then in chapter 10 we find it written, “But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that
sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. But to
Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a
disobedient and gainsaying people. ” (vs.20,21) So once again we find
why the Gospel went to the Gentiles and why Israel suffered judgment. Finally,
in Chapter 11 we find that Israel has been set aside for a time while the
Gentiles are grafted in to the Olive Tree until such time as all Israel shall
be saved! PTL!
So What About Those “Tongues” Again?
If you study the Book of Acts you will find three occasions, and ONLY
three occasions where tongues (languages) are spoken as signs. In Acts chapter
two, on the Day of Pentecost when Jewish pilgrims came from many different
areas and who spoke many different languages a miracle occurred when the
Apostles spoke in Tongues. Every Jew there would have realized what was
happening regarding the sign. There we find the Baptism of the Holy Spirit
(Acts 1:5) where the believing Jews were baptized into the Body of Christ (See
1 Cor.12:13) and the Sign of Tongues as Authentication of the New Body and a
witness of Impending Doom on Israel!
Then, in Acts 10 we find a man named Cornelius who is called “a devout man and one that feared God” (Acts 10:2) and
you know the story of how Peter was brought to him and in verse 14 of that
chapter Peter tells Cornelius how to be saved! And then, the Holy Ghost came
upon Cornelius and his house just like it did upon the Jews at Pentecost and
they were baptized by the Holy Ghost and the authenticating sign of “tongues”
was present with the Gentiles as well (vs.l4-16) Son now we have both New
Testament Jews and Gentiles brought into the Body of Christ and because there
is an Apostle and other Jews present the sign of judgment is manifest. But
wait, there is one more time tongues appears!
In Chapter 19 Paul comes across of group of Jews, at Ephesus, who had
been baptized by John the Baptist but who had never heard of the Holy Spirit or
the Crucifixion of Christ. When Paul gave them the Gospel they believed and
were baptized by the Holy Spirit. Here’s what the text says, “When they heard this, they were baptized in the name
of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy
Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.”
(vs.5,6) So here we have a group of Jews, still under Old Testament teaching
who receive the baptism and, yes, the SIGN of tongues is seen here as well! It
is a sign of impending doom for Israel.
And so the Body of Christ is established including both Jews and
Gentiles. Authentication is made and the warning that Israel will reap what she
has sown is manifest. After this point tongues is nowhere to be seen except in
the immature Corinthian Church where the gifts of the Spirit are coveted and
abused but where the fruit of the Spirit is absent. In my Bible’s chronology
the events of Acts 19 occur somewhere between A.D. 56-59. In A.D. 70 the Roman
General Titus destroyed Jerusalem and the people were scattered for nearly
2,000 years! They had plenty of warning and the sign of speaking in tongues was
part of the warning.
What About the Israel of Today?
Keep in mind that God promised
that eventually Israel will be saved (Romans 11:26) but the Israel of today has
still not believed on Jesus Christ as Saviour. However, Israel will be
protected, not because of their righteousness, but because of God’s promises.
Remember the Covenant that God made with Abraham regarding the land and the
blessings, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and
I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I
will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee
shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:2-3 and
remember the Covenant that God made with David regarding an eternal King and a
perpetual Kingdom “He shall build an house for my name,
and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. ” (2 Samuel
7:14)! God keeps his promises! The Israel of today still has enemies and the
threats against them are strong. But we know that God is stronger and in order
for Him to keep his promises there must be a people. Pray for Israel!
NOTE: I first learned these
things from George Gardiner, Pastor of Calvary Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan
and while I was attending the Grand Rapids School of the Bible and Music. That
was over thirty years ago. I used to own the tape series but they somehow got
lost over the years. The good news is, you can find his sermons on Spiritual
Gifts online and I think they are the best available. Also, though my
proposition is in regards to the Sign gift of Tongues in relation to the
Judgment of Israel, I encourage you to learn all you can about the Biblical use
of tongues as found in the Bible. I am confident that if you are not already
bound to protect your honor as a tongues speaker, you will find the truth. Also, I have surely forgotten to add this or that so if you see an update you may want to check it out.
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