Topical Encyclopedia The imagery of the lamb holds profound significance throughout the biblical narrative, symbolizing innocence, sacrifice, and redemption. In the context of the Lord's people, the lamb is a central figure that encapsulates the themes of deliverance and divine provision.Old Testament Foundations The concept of the lamb as a sacrificial offering is deeply rooted in the Old Testament. The Passover lamb, as described in Exodus 12, is a pivotal symbol of God's deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. The Lord instructed each household to select a lamb "without blemish, a year-old male" (Exodus 12:5) and to apply its blood to the doorposts and lintel of their homes. This act of faith and obedience resulted in the Lord passing over the houses of the Israelites during the final plague, sparing them from the death of the firstborn. The sacrificial system established in the Mosaic Law further underscores the significance of the lamb. In Leviticus, lambs were offered as sin offerings and burnt offerings, symbolizing atonement and reconciliation with God. The requirement for the lamb to be without blemish (Leviticus 4:32) prefigures the ultimate sacrifice that would be fulfilled in the New Testament. The Prophetic Lamb The prophetic literature of the Old Testament also alludes to the lamb as a figure of suffering and redemption. Isaiah 53 presents the Suffering Servant, who is "led like a lamb to the slaughter" (Isaiah 53:7). This passage foreshadows the coming of a messianic figure who would bear the sins of many, offering himself as a sacrificial lamb for the redemption of God's people. New Testament Fulfillment In the New Testament, the imagery of the lamb reaches its fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. John the Baptist identifies Jesus as "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). This declaration affirms Jesus as the ultimate sacrificial lamb, whose death and resurrection provide the means for humanity's reconciliation with God. The Book of Revelation further amplifies the significance of the Lamb. In Revelation 5:6, John describes seeing "a Lamb standing as though it had been slain." The Lamb is central to the heavenly worship and is worthy to open the scroll, symbolizing authority and the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. The Lamb's victory over sin and death is celebrated by the multitude in heaven, who proclaim, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain" (Revelation 5:12). Theological Implications The Lamb of the Lord's people embodies the core of Christian soteriology. The sacrificial death of Jesus, the Lamb of God, is the means by which believers are justified and reconciled to God. The lamb's innocence and purity highlight the sinlessness of Christ, who bore the sins of humanity. The Passover lamb's blood, which protected the Israelites, prefigures the atoning blood of Christ, which cleanses believers from sin. The Lamb also serves as a model for Christian living. Believers are called to emulate the humility and obedience of the Lamb, following in the footsteps of Christ. The sacrificial love demonstrated by the Lamb is the standard for how Christians are to love one another and serve the world. Conclusion The Lamb of the Lord's people is a profound and multifaceted symbol within the biblical narrative. From the Passover lamb in Exodus to the Lamb of God in the New Testament, this imagery encapsulates the themes of sacrifice, redemption, and divine provision. Through the Lamb, God's people are delivered from sin and death, and are called to live lives marked by humility, obedience, and sacrificial love. Torrey's Topical Textbook Isaiah 5:17Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, and the waste places of the fat ones shall strangers eat. Torrey's Topical Textbook Isaiah 11:6 Library The Lord's Supper Our Lord's Prayer for his People's Sanctification Canticles 4:12 the Lord's Garden. Of the Lord's Passion, and that it was Foretold. The Marriage of the Lamb. On the Lord's Passion iv. , Delivered on Wednesday in Holy Week. The Character of Christ's People Fifth Day. Holiness and Redemption. The Exodus How the Steps in the Passion of the Saviour were Predetermined in ... Resources What is the significance of sheep in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgIf Jesus is our atonement, why did He die at Passover instead of the Day of Atonement? | GotQuestions.org If Jesus was crucified on the Day of Preparation, why had He already eaten the Passover meal? | GotQuestions.org Lamb: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Lamb: Not to be Seethed (Boiled) in Its own Mother's Milk The Lamb of Any Thing Dear or Cherished The Lamb of Christ As a Sacrifice The Lamb: (Among Wolves) of Ministers Among the Ungodly The Lamb: (Brought to Slaughter) of the Wicked Under Judgments The Lamb: (Consumed in Sacrifice) of Complete Destruction of The The Lamb: (Deserted and Exposed) of Israel Deprived of God's The Lamb: (Patience of) the Patience of Christ The Lamb: An Extensive Commerce In The Lamb: Considered a Great Delicacy The Lamb: Covenants Confirmed by Gift of The Lamb: Exposed to Danger from Wild Beasts The Lamb: Numbers of, Given by Josiah to the People for Sacrifice The Lamb: Offered in Sacrifice by the Wicked not Accepted The Lamb: Offered in Sacrifice: At a Year Old The Lamb: Offered in Sacrifice: At the Passover The Lamb: Offered in Sacrifice: Every Morning and Evening The Lamb: Offered in Sacrifice: Females The Lamb: Offered in Sacrifice: from the Earliest Times The Lamb: Offered in Sacrifice: Males The Lamb: Offered in Sacrifice: While Sucking The Lamb: The First Born of an Donkey to be Redeemed With The Lamb: The Image of, Was the First Impression of on Money The Lamb: The Shepherd's Care For The Lamb: The Young of the Flock The Lamb: Tribute often Paid In Related Terms The-not-beloved (1 Occurrence) Kir'iath-je'arim (18 Occurrences) Kirjathjearim (17 Occurrences) Vine-dressers (18 Occurrences) Kirjath-jearim (17 Occurrences) Kibroth-hattaavah (5 Occurrences) |