Tools for the road
Tobit: Part 3 • Sermon • Submitted
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Tobit’s prayer of distress
Sarah’s prayer of distress
Archangel Raphael, disguised as a man, came to heal Tobit and release Sarah from her distress
Named Azarias…God helps
Orthodox approach to OT is to interpret from the lens of Christ
Christ came to heal and set free humanity…Raphael is an image of that
Raphael and Tobias begin their journey
Tobit gives Tobias advice along the way to continue in generosity, service and almsgiving.
Journey’s into the unknown
Everyone takes a journey in life
new city for school or work
moving
uncertainty with health concerns
getting married
QUESTION: what are things you do, practices you keep, or things you remind yourself of in order to stay grounded during your journey?
Ex.
“God is for me, not against me”
Prayer, exercise, church
Remember: The book of Tobit among other books were kept in the canon because they provided encouragement and practical instruction for people.
The Journey Begins
The Journey Begins
1 So she stopped weeping. The young man went out and the angel went with him; 2 and the dog came out with him and went along with them. So they both journeyed along, and when the first night overtook them they camped by the Tigris river. 3 Then the young man went down to wash his feet in the Tigris river. Suddenly a large fish leaped up from the water and tried to swallow the young man’s foot, and he cried out. 4 But the angel said to the young man, “Catch hold of the fish and hang on to it!” So the young man grasped the fish and drew it up on the land. 5 Then the angel said to him, “Cut open the fish and take out its gall, heart, and liver. Keep them with you, but throw away the intestines. For its gall, heart, and liver are useful as medicine.”
What are your thoughts after reading a portion of scripture like this?
Did this really happen
discredit the authenticity of the book
Weird things happened back then
Ways to approach unique passages in scripture?
Allegory: Most commonly, patristic fathers will interpret this allegorically (story or picture that reveals a hidden meaning)
Sometimes the allegorical interpretation is seen differently but the idea or gist is there.
Many father don’t comment
AUGUSTINE. That fish which came alive out of the river to Tobias, whose heart, liver, consumed by passion, put the demon to flight, was Christ, and by the bitterness of the gall, the blind man was healed, and the world was restored. [Augustine of Hippo, Sermon 4 on Peter and Paul]
BEDE (7th century benedictine monk). Here again the mystery of the Lord’s suffering is plainly signified. For the huge fish that Tobias killed at the angel’s prompting, after it tried to devour him, signifies the ancient devourer of humankind, namely the devil, whom the divine power snared while the devil was eagerly anticipating the death of the flesh in our Redeemer.
2. Spiritually: The provisions of God for the journey. God’s divine intervention which is essential to the success of the story
3. Analytically: What fish could it be that was common to the Tigris river? Was gall, liver and heart really used medicinally back then?
There is flexibility in approach. But flexibility must be safe guarded by sound doctrinal/dogmatic belief
The explanation by Raphael for the purpose
8 He replied, “As for the fish’s heart and liver, you must burn them to make a smoke in the presence of a man or woman afflicted by a demon or evil spirit, and every affliction will flee away and never remain with that person any longer. 9 And as for the gall, anoint a person’s eyes where white films have appeared on them; blow upon them, upon the white films, and the eyes will be healed.”
Uncertainty about the next step
As they Journey Raphael prepares Tobias for a marriage to Sarah
As Sarah is the only child, the inheritance is her on one condition she marries a kinsmen, or else her father will be put to death.
Tobias, has heard of Sarah and her 7 husbands and is clearly troubled.
Remember: He is the only son, his death would grieve his parents
This journey is a last ditch effort to salvage the family and retrieve the silver deposited by Tobit decades ago. His death would be a catastrophe: financially and emotionally.
Raphael tries to comfort Tobias’ anxiety
16 But Raphael said to him, “Do you not remember your father’s orders when he commanded you to take a wife from your father’s house? Now listen to me, brother, and say no more about this demon. Take her. I know that this very night she will be given to you in marriage.
17 When you enter the bridal chamber, take some of the fish’s liver and heart, and put them on the embers of the incense. An odor will be given off;
18 the demon will smell it and flee, and will never be seen near her any more. Now when you are about to go to bed with her, both of you must first stand up and pray, imploring the Lord of heaven that mercy and safety may be granted to you. Do not be afraid, for she was set apart for you before the world was made. You will save her, and she will go with you. I presume that you will have children by her, and they will be as brothers to you. Now say no more!” When Tobias heard the words of Raphael and learned that she was his kinswoman, related through his father’s lineage, he loved her very much, and his heart was drawn to her.
The balance between anxiety and faith is real.
We have to learn to balance this tension
1) rely on prayer 2) trust in his promises and 3) reaffirm God’s sovereignty
God promised his people if they obeyed his commands He would provide for them. Though they are in exile Tobit (and family) are righteous people and God is taking care of them as they keep their eyes on him.
The Marriage of Tobias and Sarah (7)
The Marriage of Tobias and Sarah (7)
Upon reaching Ecbatana Raphael leads them to Raguel house.
Sarah greets them and welcomes them in
Raguel sees the resemblance of Tobias to Tobit....they discover they are kinsmen
Raguel, Edna and Sarah are happy Tobit is alive but sad that he is blind
Tobias asks Raphael to ask for Sarah’s hand
10 for it is your right to take my child. But let me explain the true situation to you.
11 I have given my daughter to seven husbands, and when each came to her he died in the night. But for the present be merry.” And Tobias said, “I will eat nothing here until you make a binding agreement with me.”
12 So Raguel said, “Take her right now, in accordance with the law. You are her relative, and she is yours. The merciful God will guide you both for the best.”
Full disclosure...
I’m guessing Raguel was quiet wealthy…why would 7 others try to marry Sarah knowing the fate of the last guy.
The boldness of Tobias: Steps of faith lead to greater faith
Tobias on the road was troubled
Prayer, trust, reaffirmation helped
Tobias prompted the proposal after a brief meeting
He would not eat until the agreement was finalized
Taking steps of faith on a journey have a characteristic of building us up along the way!
Concluding Chapter 7
Bridal sweet is prepared
Sarah is crying, fearing Tobias will be dead
Edna, comforts her daughter hoping and praying the outcome will be different.
Sarah is scared but she is a fighter!
Wedding night (8)
Wedding night (8)
Every journey has a moment or moments of truth. Its the make it or break it of the journey. If the moment goes well, there is an unbelievable sigh of relief. Renewed strength
The wedding night is the pinnacle of the journey for Tobias.
What can we learn from his approach?
1 When they had finished eating and drinking they wanted to retire; so they took the young man and brought him into the bedroom.
2 Then Tobias remembered the words of Raphael, and he took the fish’s liver and heart out of the bag where he had them and put them on the embers of the incense.
3 The odor of the fish so repelled the demon that he fled to the remotest parts of Egypt. But Raphael followed him, and at once bound him there hand and foot.
4 When the parents had gone out and shut the door of the room, Tobias got out of bed and said to Sarah, “Sister, get up, and let us pray and implore our Lord that he grant us mercy and safety.”
5 So she got up, and they began to pray and implore that they might be kept safe. Tobias began by saying, “Blessed are you, O God of our ancestors, and blessed is your name in all generations forever. Let the heavens and the whole creation bless you forever.
6 You made Adam, and for him you made his wife Eve as a helper and support. From the two of them the human race has sprung. You said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; let us make a helper for him like himself.’
7 I now am taking this kinswoman of mine, not because of lust, but with sincerity. Grant that she and I may find mercy and that we may grow old together.”
8 And they both said, “Amen, Amen.”
QUESTION: What strikes you about Tobias and Sarah. How do they approach their moment of truth?
How does Raguel approach the night?
9 Then they went to sleep for the night. But Raguel arose and called his servants to him, and they went and dug a grave,
10 for he said, “It is possible that he will die and we will become an object of ridicule and derision.”
Then when he sent a maid to check on them and found them alive and sleeping she reported back to Raguel who rejoiced
Tobit 8:15–17 (NRSV)
15 So they blessed the God of heaven, and Raguel said, “Blessed are you, O God, with every pure blessing; let all your chosen ones bless you. Let them bless you forever.
16 Blessed are you because you have made me glad. It has not turned out as I expected, but you have dealt with us according to your great mercy.
17 Blessed are you because you had compassion on two only children. Be merciful to them, O Master, and keep them safe; bring their lives to fulfillment in happiness and mercy.”
Mercy and compassion: two defining characteristics of God
Faith and obedience are important on the Journey
They pave the way for us to experience the mercy and compassion typical of God.
Each person of this story contributed in part to the outcome. Each one showed faith and obedience in someway
Its a beautiful example how God masterfully weaves everything together.
Its important to remember that your outcome is tied to someone else…your faith and obedience impacts someone close to you.
each of us must be committed to our unique journeys
Close of Chapter 8
The wedding feast is planned…14 days long
Raguel gives half of his inheritance to the couple…the other half upon his death
Chapter 9 - retrieval of the silver
Because the journey has taken long, Tobias is worried that his parents will begin to worry about his safety.
an alloted time was set for the whole journey
He has yet to retrieve the silver, but the wedding feast is about to start and he can’t leave
he sends Raphael to find Gabael, with the receipt. The silver is brought back.
Chapter 10
Tobit and Anna worried (v1-7)
Tobit goes through different scenarios as to why he could be delayed.
His wife Anna believes him to be dead
Tobit forbids her to think that way.
Anna goes daily to the road to lament in hope.
Tobias and Sarah leave
after 14 days Raguel begs them to stay
Tobias insist on going and wins out.
Raguel and Edna give parting advice
12 He said also to his daughter, “Honor your father-in-law and your mother-in-law; they are now your parents. Let me hear a good report of you.” And he kissed her. And Edna said to Tobias, “The Lord of heaven bring you back safely, dear brother, and grant me to see your children by my daughter Sarah, that I may rejoice before the Lord. See, I am entrusting my daughter to you; do nothing to grieve her.”
Conclusion next week. New series after Thanksgiving