Christ Preached in Hades (8)

David saw Hades (Sheol) as a place of the presence of God.  He said, “If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!” (Psalm 139:8).  This insight unknowingly anticipates Christ’s descent there.  Paul says that we do not need to descend there to find Him or even ascend to heaven to bring Him down.  “⁶But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down) ⁷“or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).  ⁸But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); ⁹because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:6–9 ESV).  We believe God raised Him from the dead, God even raised Him from Hades as the Triumphant One, by whose victory we are saved from death and enter life.  

⁷  Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 

⁸  If I ascend to heaven, you are there!  If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! ⁹  If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 

¹⁰  even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 

¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” ¹²  even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, 

for darkness is as light with you.  (Psalm 139:7–12 ESV).