Post 2 of Study: Hebrews 1:1

 The writer asserts right "off the bat" (not really a fitting cliche here) that God spoke. There is no greeting, no identification of self, no defense of who he/she is (yes, it is possible, some scholars say, that a woman was involved, but I wouldn't argue it). Not only did God speak in relatively simple terms of eternal matters so that humans could understand, but He did it in "various" (sundry, diverse) ways by people called prophets. 

First, prophets were not essentially foretellers of the future events. We have to get that out of our minds; otherwise we reject the gift of prophecy. They were forthtellers, revealers, confronters of the truth and revelation. Second, they were more diverse in their methods than we think. Abraham, Noah, Moses, David, etc. were all prophets in their own way. Third, in speaking through the prophets, God used 1. direct words  2. nature and natural events (nonverbal communication) 3. miracles  4. signs and symbols/images 5. drama 6. poetry and 7. historical events. Let's not keep what God spoke in the box of words.The prophets did some stupendous and strange things in their work of revealing truth: everything from delivering the commandments to cooking human waste to holding back the sea. 

However, the writer makes a big contrast. God did that, and now ("but" is not used; it's an addition, not a negation of the past) He has spoken through His Son. The Son uses all of the past methods, but He of course uses one more unrepeatable, undeniable method of revelation, which is discussed in the next verse. 

I listen to Tim Keller sermons/podcasts sometimes in the morning while getting ready. They are a blessing. Today's was about the ten commandment, not coveting, which Augustine saw as the keystone of all the commandments. Augustine said that sin was "disordered loves," which gets at covetousness, rather than simply breaking some rules.  He ended with this: Every rule or set of rules is preceded by a story. I like that. He referenced Hebrews 12:18-24, where the writer contrasts the fear the Israelites felt at Sinai with our approach to God now. We'll get to it later, but it grabbed my heart today.