Redemption as Restoration or Elevation (1)

 ME> In Psalm 111, it says he has sent redemption to his people. The he most likely refers to God. Actually, it refers to God. But what is the redemption referring to? Isn't the signal act of redemption in the Old Testament the Exodus, the parting of the Red Sea and the Exodus? Isn't that the signal event? What is redemption referring to? Is it referring to the Passover lamb incident right on the heels of the Exodus?

ChatGPT> Yes, the "redemption" in Psalm 111:9, which says, "He sent redemption to his people," does indeed refer to God and likely alludes to the Exodus event, which is the signal act of redemption in the Old Testament.

In the context of the Old Testament, the term "redemption" often refers to God's deliverance of Israel from bondage, particularly the deliverance from Egypt. The Exodus, including the parting of the Red Sea and the liberation of the Israelites from slavery, is a defining moment in Israel's history, symbolizing God's saving power and faithfulness to His covenant with His people.

The Passover lamb is also closely connected to this act of redemption. The Passover, which occurred on the night before the Exodus, involved the sacrifice of a lamb and the application of its blood on the doorposts of the Israelite homes. This act spared the Israelites from the final plague, the death of the firstborn, and led directly to their release from Egypt. The Passover lamb thus became a powerful symbol of God's redemptive action.

Therefore, when Psalm 111:9 speaks of God sending "redemption to his people," it is very likely referring to the entire complex of events surrounding the Exodus—God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt, the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, and the institution of the Passover. These events together constitute the central act of redemption in the Old Testament, serving as a powerful symbol of God's saving grace and covenantal faithfulness.

ME> So, let me explain to you how I think redemption works. And I sense that there are two ways to understand it from the Old Testament, or actually the whole Bible, and I haven't quite made the two ways to complement one another. 

So, in my first understanding, the way redemption works is this. Redemption is a movement of someone or something from a bad place to a good place. And this is predicated at some kind of a cost or some kind of a price. 

One quick example is the story of Dinah in Genesis. When Dinah is raped by Shechem, the son of Hamor, they come later and propose to Jacob and his sons, marriage to Shechem. And Jacob and his sons say, well, there's a price. You have to be circumcised. And so, they agree to it. 

And in other words, the proposal for redemption is Dina is now in a lowly, humble state, a really bad state, but she's going to become like the first lady of the village of Shechem. She moves from a bad place to a good place, and the price is circumcision. 

So, that's the first way in which I understand redemption. 

The second way in which I understand redemption is that it still involves a movement from a bad place to a good place, but the price is some kind of a buying back phenomena. You're not simply buying, but you're buying something back. I'm not 100% clear on this. What do you think of my thoughts here?

ChatGPT> Your thoughts on redemption touch on two important and nuanced aspects of the concept as it is presented in the Bible. Both ways of understanding redemption that you've outlined capture significant elements of the biblical narrative, and they can indeed complement one another to give a fuller picture of redemption in Scripture.

1. Redemption as Movement from a Bad Place to a Good Place at a Cost:

• This understanding of redemption highlights the idea of rescue or deliverance. In many biblical narratives, redemption involves moving from a place of distress, bondage, or degradation to a state of freedom, honor, or well-being. This movement, however, comes at a cost or requires a payment of some sort.
• The example of Dina in Genesis 34 illustrates this concept well. Dina, after being violated by Shechem, is in a dishonorable and vulnerable position. The proposed "redemption" involves a movement from this degraded state to an elevated status as the wife of a prince, but it requires a significant cost—circumcision of all the men in Shechem. While this story ends in violence rather than true redemption, it still reflects the principle of movement from a bad to a good place with a cost involved.
• This understanding can also be applied to the Exodus, where Israel is redeemed from slavery (a bad place) to the Promised Land (a good place), with the cost being the plagues on Egypt and the sacrifice of the Passover lamb.

2. Redemption as Buying Back:

• The second understanding introduces the concept of “buying back,” which is particularly prominent in the idea of ransom or redemption. This idea is often connected to situations where someone or something that rightfully belongs to someone is lost or in bondage, and must be "bought back" or reclaimed.
• In the Old Testament, this is seen in laws related to property and slavery, where a relative could "redeem" or buy back land or a family member sold into slavery (Leviticus 25:25-55). The concept here is not just about paying a price, but paying a price to reclaim what was lost or to restore it to its rightful place.
• This idea reaches its fullest expression in the New Testament, where Jesus’ death is described as a ransom (Mark 10:45). Humanity, which belongs to God but has been "lost" through sin, is "bought back" at the cost of Christ's sacrifice. This buying back isn't just a transaction; it's a restorative act that moves humanity from bondage to sin (a bad place) to reconciliation with God (a good place).

Complementing the Two Understandings:

• These two perspectives can be seen as complementary rather than contradictory. The first understanding emphasizes the movement from a bad to a good place, which can include various scenarios of redemption—whether physical, social, or spiritual. The second understanding adds depth by emphasizing the restoration of something that was lost, often through a significant sacrifice or payment.
• In many biblical cases, redemption involves both elements: a movement from a bad to a good place and a "buying back" or restoration process. For instance, in the Exodus, Israel is not only delivered from Egypt (bad place) to the Promised Land (good place), but they are also restored as God's covenant people, whom He "redeemed" as His own.

In sum, your reflections capture two critical aspects of redemption in the Bible. Redemption often involves a movement from a state of bondage or degradation to one of freedom and restoration, and this movement frequently comes at a cost or through a process of "buying back." Understanding these two dimensions together enriches our grasp of the multifaceted nature of redemption as portrayed in the biblical narrative.