The Japanese Book of ancient matters (Kojiki) is the oldest chronicle dating from the early 8th century CE .
The Book was compiled and edited by O No Yasumaro (died August 15, 723). The Empress Genmei (707-721) charged him with the duty of writing the Book using the differing clan chronicles, myths, early legends, songs, genealogies, oral traditions and semi-historical accounts concerning the origin of the Japanese archipelago.
The primary purpose of the Book was to erase falsehoods and establish truth furthering in this way the imperial agenda.
The historical narrative in the Book is clearly broken into the Age of Gods and the Age of Human Emperors, wherein the myth of the Gods which gave birth to the land is told and transitioned in a chronological fashion to the reign of the emperors, who descend from these same gods.
The story of the creation of heaven and earth is described first-hand at the beginning of the Book. It says that at the beginning the universe was immerse in a beaten and shapeless kind of matter (chaos), sunk in silence. Later there were sounds indicating the movement of particles. With this movement, the light and the lightest particles rose but the particles were not as fast as the light and could not go higher.
Thus, the light was at the top of the universe, and below it, the particles formed first the clouds and then Heaven, which was to be called "High Plain of Heaven" (Takamagahara). The rest of the particles that had not risen formed a huge mass, dense and dark, to be called Earth.
The Seven Generations of the Age of the Gods is called "Kamiyonanayo" and emerged after the formation of heaven and earth. They were born in the World of Heaven (Takamagahara) and unlike the later gods, these deities were born without any procreation.
The 3 deities that first came into being alone without any procreation, as opposed to those who came into being as male-female pairs, were: -Central Master (Amenominakanushi); -High Creator (Takamimusubi); -Divine Creator (Kamimusubi). Later, 2 more gods came into existence: -Energy (Umashiashikabihikoji); and -Heaven (Amenotoko-tachi).
The next 7 generations of gods born in the world of heaven that followed the previous gods were the Kamiyonanayo, which included the patriarch and matriarch of all other Japanese gods, respectively.
Amaterasu is the Japanese expression of the solar goddess. The name Amaterasu is derived from Amateru and means "shining in heaven" and the meaning of her whole name is "the great august deity who shines in heaven." The Emperors of Japan are considered to be direct descendants of Amaterasu.
The oldest records of Amaterasu (712 CE) presents her as the sister of the god of storms and the sea (Susanoo), and of the god of the moon (Tsukuyomi). Amaterasu painted the Japanese landscape with her siblings while she created ancient Japan. She was said to have been created by the divine couple Izanagi and Izanami, who were themselves created by, or grew from, the originator of the Universe, Amenominakanushi.
The World of the Dead (Yomi) or the World of Darkness is located beneath the earth. Once one has eaten at the heart of Yomi it is impossible to return to the land of the living. In there all the deceased carry on a gloomy shadowy existence.
Saturday, 15 December 2018
Sunday, 9 December 2018
THE WORLD OF THE DEAD.
Do people have any idea of what the world of the dead means? Are they aware of soul's victories and defeats? Death is one of the most misunderstanding subject of today world. For many Death is a mystery and evokes dread, uncertainty, and hopelessness. For others believe the dead are not dead but instead live in other realms. Millions are confused about the relationship between the body, spirit and soul. What you believe about the Dead will have a profound impact on what happens to you in the near future.
The Devil lied to Eve about Death. He said to her that she would not die. This lie is one of the pillars of his treacherous teachings since the beginning of the world. He has worked powerfully using sorcery to trick people and deceive the world about the real meaning of being dead.
1 Thessalonians 4: 13-13 says, "Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in Death so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no Hope." "David ... is both dead and buried and his tomb is with us to this day ... For David did not ascend into the Heavens" (Acts 2: 29, 34)."
Genesis 2:7 says, "The Lord formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of Life; and man became a living soul." Ezekiel 18:20 says, "The soul that sinned, it shall die." Also Ezekiel says in chapter 37:8 "And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no God's breath in them."
Ecclesiastes 12:7 says, "Then the dust will return to the Earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it." James 2: 26 says, "The body without the spirit is dead."
2 Corinthians 5:1 says, "For we know that if the Earthly Tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an Eternal House in Heaven, not built by human hands."5:4-10 "For while we are in this Earthly Tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the One who has fashioned us for this very Purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by Faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at Home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please Him, whether we are at Home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."
1 Corinthians 15: 12-22 says, "But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the Dead, how can some of you say that there is no Resurrection of the Dead? If there is no Resurrection of the Dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is the Faith. More than that, we are then found to be False Witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that He raised Christ from the Dead. But He did not raise Him if in fact the Dead are not raised. For if the Dead are not raised, the Faith is futile; and we are still in our sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this Life we have Hope in Christ,we are of all people the most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been Raised from the Dead, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since Death came through a man, the resurrection of the Dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."
Ecclesiastes 9:10 says, "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom."
Job 14: 12, 21 says, "Man lies down and does not rise. Till the Heavens are no more, they will not awake nor be roused from their sleep ... His sons come to honor, and he does not know it; they are brought low, and he does not perceive it."
John 5: 28-29 says, "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His Voice and come out -those who have done what is good will rise to live and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned."
The Scripture in Luke 16: 23 says, "And being in torments in Hades( the rich man) lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom."
Hebrews 12: 1-2 says, "Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also let aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely and let us run with perseverance the race set before us, looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our Faith, who for the sake of the Joy that was set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame and has taken His seat at the right of the Throne of God.
Matthew 10: 28 says, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in Hell."
Philippians 3: 20-21 says, "But our citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the Power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body."
Revelations 20: 11-15 says, "Then I saw a great white Throne and Him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from His presence and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the Throne, and Books were opened. Another Book was opened, which is the Book of Life. The dead were judge according to what they had done as recorded in the Books. The Sea gave up the dead that were in it and Death and Hades gave the dead that were in them
and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the Lake of Fire. The Lake of Fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the Book of Life was thrown into the Lake of Fire."
Remember what Timothy says in chapter 3 :16-17 "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in Righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work." ... "For we walk by Faith and not by sight" (2 Cor. 5:7) .
The Devil lied to Eve about Death. He said to her that she would not die. This lie is one of the pillars of his treacherous teachings since the beginning of the world. He has worked powerfully using sorcery to trick people and deceive the world about the real meaning of being dead.
1 Thessalonians 4: 13-13 says, "Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in Death so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no Hope." "David ... is both dead and buried and his tomb is with us to this day ... For David did not ascend into the Heavens" (Acts 2: 29, 34)."
Genesis 2:7 says, "The Lord formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of Life; and man became a living soul." Ezekiel 18:20 says, "The soul that sinned, it shall die." Also Ezekiel says in chapter 37:8 "And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no God's breath in them."
Ecclesiastes 12:7 says, "Then the dust will return to the Earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it." James 2: 26 says, "The body without the spirit is dead."
2 Corinthians 5:1 says, "For we know that if the Earthly Tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an Eternal House in Heaven, not built by human hands."5:4-10 "For while we are in this Earthly Tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the One who has fashioned us for this very Purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by Faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at Home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please Him, whether we are at Home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."
1 Corinthians 15: 12-22 says, "But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the Dead, how can some of you say that there is no Resurrection of the Dead? If there is no Resurrection of the Dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is the Faith. More than that, we are then found to be False Witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that He raised Christ from the Dead. But He did not raise Him if in fact the Dead are not raised. For if the Dead are not raised, the Faith is futile; and we are still in our sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this Life we have Hope in Christ,we are of all people the most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been Raised from the Dead, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since Death came through a man, the resurrection of the Dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."
Ecclesiastes 9:10 says, "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom."
Job 14: 12, 21 says, "Man lies down and does not rise. Till the Heavens are no more, they will not awake nor be roused from their sleep ... His sons come to honor, and he does not know it; they are brought low, and he does not perceive it."
John 5: 28-29 says, "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His Voice and come out -those who have done what is good will rise to live and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned."
The Scripture in Luke 16: 23 says, "And being in torments in Hades( the rich man) lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom."
Hebrews 12: 1-2 says, "Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also let aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely and let us run with perseverance the race set before us, looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our Faith, who for the sake of the Joy that was set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame and has taken His seat at the right of the Throne of God.
Matthew 10: 28 says, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in Hell."
Philippians 3: 20-21 says, "But our citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the Power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body."
Revelations 20: 11-15 says, "Then I saw a great white Throne and Him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from His presence and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the Throne, and Books were opened. Another Book was opened, which is the Book of Life. The dead were judge according to what they had done as recorded in the Books. The Sea gave up the dead that were in it and Death and Hades gave the dead that were in them
and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the Lake of Fire. The Lake of Fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the Book of Life was thrown into the Lake of Fire."
Remember what Timothy says in chapter 3 :16-17 "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in Righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work." ... "For we walk by Faith and not by sight" (2 Cor. 5:7) .
Saturday, 8 December 2018
INCANTATIONS.
Incantations were belief-rhyme magical formulas recited to prevent or ward off potential harm from evil influences, to cure disease by driving away the demons that caused it or to obtain favors from higher forces -for example, ending the rains or a drought or hastening the return of an absent beloved.
The spoken magical words were considered to activate a force and only qualified individuals were able to understand its powerful language and transfer it on suitable objects. Even meaningless and meaningful words, names, numbers, vowels and certain phrases recited backward have been viewed as a force magically powered.
Magic can be described as the art of influencing the course of events by the use of hidden forces in control of natural phenomena through the application of known oral or written ritual observances.
Deuteronomy 18: 9-12 says, "When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the incantation practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you."
Ezekiel 13:18 says, "Thus says the Lord God: 'Woe to the women who sew magic bands upon all wrists, and make veils for the heads of persons of every stature, in the hunt for souls! Will you hunt down souls belonging to My people and keep your own souls alive?' "
Micah 5: 12 says, "And I will cut off incantations from your hand, and you shall have no more tellers of fortunes."
Exodus 7: 10-12 says, "So Moses and Aaron went to the Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a serpent. Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts. For each man cast down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs.
Acts 19: 17-19 says, "And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them, and the Name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices.And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to 50,000 pieces of silver."
1 John 4: 1 says, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world."
Colossians 2:8 says, "See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."
Colossians 2: 20 says, "If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations."
Acts 8: 9-24 says, "But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the City and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, 'This man is the power of God that is called Great.' And they paid attention to him for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. But when they believed Philip as he preached Good News about the Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed."
"Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (for as yet He was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus). Then laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, Simon offered them money, saying, 'Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.' But Peter said unto him, 'Your money perish with you, because you have thought that the Gift of God may be purchased with money. You have neither part nor lot in this matter: for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee, for I perceive that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.' Then Simon answered and said, 'Pray you to the Lord for me, that none of these things which you have spoken come upon me.' "
Many Christian believers are guilty of using the precious power of the Name of Jesus Christ like an incantation or magic spell. They use this power as a means of communication trying to make demands of and direct God as to what He should and should not do. This type of action is incantation. The use of any formula of particular words during a prayer and use it as a spell or verbal charm in order so that it will produce the desired effect is an incantation.
There is a clear evidence in the Scripture that the enemy uses the Word of God and twist its effect to his own purpose. Do not be fooled by him because what he wants is your soul. That is why it is important to look at the entire Word of God, not just a tiny piece of it. When we pray and ask in His Name, we pray as an authorized of and approved soul by Him and directed by the Holy Ghost, then He will listen to it. We are in essence, acting as His agent in this world. We have no authority on our own but He has given us authority to do as he directs our actions according to His plan of action. This not something to be taken lightly. This is very serious!
Sunday, 25 November 2018
THE VALUE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
GENESIS 24 says: Abraham was now very old, and the Lord had blessed him in every way. He said to the senior servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, "Put your hand under my thigh. I want you to swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living, but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac."
The senior servant asked Abraham,"What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me to this land?
Shall I then take your son back to the country you came from?"
Abraham said, "Make sure that you do not take my son back there. The Lord, the God of heaven, Who brought me out of my father's household and my native land and Who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, 'To your offsprings I will give this land' -He will send His angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there. If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there."
So the senior servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter. (24: 1-9)
Sometimes we do not understand the importance of obedience, because we truly do not understand the severity of God. We fail to appreciate the enormous value of belonging to the kingdom of God.
MATTHEW 13 says: The kingdom of God is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it grows larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree. The birds of the air can come and make nests in its branches (13:31-32). The kingdom of God is like leaven that a woman took and hid in 3 measures of flour, till it was all leavened (13:33). The kingdom of God is like treasure hidden in a field. A man found it, and he concealed it. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field (13:44). Again, the kingdom of God is like a merchant in search of fine pearls (an already made treasure), who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it (13: 45-46). Again, the kingdom of God is like a net that fisher-folk threw into the sea. The net gathered all sorts of fish. When the net was full, the fisher-folk drew it ashore. They sat down and sorted the good fish into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and cast the evil into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (13:47-50). Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of God is like a master of a house, who brings out his treasure both what is new and what is old (13: 52).
We won't find the spiritual kingdom of God, far more greater than any of the world empires if we are not seekers of it. God's kingdom has no boundaries and it will be revealed to us only when we seek for it and its value is far superior to all of the riches of the earth. We must secure it in our heart and keep it safe from the devil tricks trying to steal the power of it, because it brings us joy that last forever. Jesus said: "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees" (Matthew 16:6) in regards of how the power of evil can permeate the heart of the believer just as much as the goodness of God can and we are the ones to notice the difference between nurturing our spiritual life or killing it.
MARK 4 says: The kingdom of God is like a man scattering seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows -he knows not how. The earth, by itself, produces first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once man puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come (4: 26-29).
The spiritual nature of the kingdom of God is shown through our hearts. The kingdom is of God, not of man. It is the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes. All we mortals can do is seek for it. As soon as we find it God alone make the seed grows stage by stage until it mature for harvest. We can not offer to anyone a place in heaven, we has nothing to do with that, except to nurture the process in all brothers and sisters in faith and watch it happen with wonder.
MATTHEW 22 says: The kingdom of God is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. Then he sent some more servants and said, "Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner. My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet." But they paid no attention and went off -one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized the king's servants, mistreated them and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, "The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find." So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes.
"Friend," the king asked, "how did you get in here without wedding clothes?"The man was speechless.
Then the king told the attendants, "Tie him hand and foot and throw him outside into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Nothing is hidden from God. You cannot serve two masters. Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death.
REVELATION 21 says: And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
And I saw the dead small and great, stand before God; and the Books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Book, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
The senior servant asked Abraham,"What if the woman is unwilling to come back with me to this land?
Shall I then take your son back to the country you came from?"
Abraham said, "Make sure that you do not take my son back there. The Lord, the God of heaven, Who brought me out of my father's household and my native land and Who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, 'To your offsprings I will give this land' -He will send His angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there. If the woman is unwilling to come back with you, then you will be released from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there."
So the senior servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore an oath to him concerning this matter. (24: 1-9)
Sometimes we do not understand the importance of obedience, because we truly do not understand the severity of God. We fail to appreciate the enormous value of belonging to the kingdom of God.
MATTHEW 13 says: The kingdom of God is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it grows larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree. The birds of the air can come and make nests in its branches (13:31-32). The kingdom of God is like leaven that a woman took and hid in 3 measures of flour, till it was all leavened (13:33). The kingdom of God is like treasure hidden in a field. A man found it, and he concealed it. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field (13:44). Again, the kingdom of God is like a merchant in search of fine pearls (an already made treasure), who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it (13: 45-46). Again, the kingdom of God is like a net that fisher-folk threw into the sea. The net gathered all sorts of fish. When the net was full, the fisher-folk drew it ashore. They sat down and sorted the good fish into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and cast the evil into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (13:47-50). Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of God is like a master of a house, who brings out his treasure both what is new and what is old (13: 52).
We won't find the spiritual kingdom of God, far more greater than any of the world empires if we are not seekers of it. God's kingdom has no boundaries and it will be revealed to us only when we seek for it and its value is far superior to all of the riches of the earth. We must secure it in our heart and keep it safe from the devil tricks trying to steal the power of it, because it brings us joy that last forever. Jesus said: "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees" (Matthew 16:6) in regards of how the power of evil can permeate the heart of the believer just as much as the goodness of God can and we are the ones to notice the difference between nurturing our spiritual life or killing it.
MARK 4 says: The kingdom of God is like a man scattering seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows -he knows not how. The earth, by itself, produces first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once man puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come (4: 26-29).
The spiritual nature of the kingdom of God is shown through our hearts. The kingdom is of God, not of man. It is the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes. All we mortals can do is seek for it. As soon as we find it God alone make the seed grows stage by stage until it mature for harvest. We can not offer to anyone a place in heaven, we has nothing to do with that, except to nurture the process in all brothers and sisters in faith and watch it happen with wonder.
MATTHEW 22 says: The kingdom of God is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. Then he sent some more servants and said, "Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner. My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet." But they paid no attention and went off -one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized the king's servants, mistreated them and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, "The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find." So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes.
"Friend," the king asked, "how did you get in here without wedding clothes?"The man was speechless.
Then the king told the attendants, "Tie him hand and foot and throw him outside into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Nothing is hidden from God. You cannot serve two masters. Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death.
REVELATION 21 says: And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
And I saw the dead small and great, stand before God; and the Books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Book, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Wednesday, 31 October 2018
THE SYMBOLIC ROLE OF THE EGYPTIAN ARMY.
The first evidence of horses in Egypt dates from the 13 dynasty. But they were introduced on a major scale only from the Second Intermediate Period onwards.
Horses were very luxury animals, and only the very wealthy could afford to keep them and treat them according to their worth. they were never used for ploughing and only rarely ridden during the 2nd millennium BC. For war and hunt alike they were harnessed to chariots.
Tutankh'Amen enjoyed not only driving his chariot, but also mounting on horseback. this has been inferred from a riding crop found in his tom bearing the inscription that "he came on his horse like the shining Re."
Ramses II (1278-1237BC), remembered for his military campaigns and his extensive building program,
built a complex of six rows of stables for 460 horses at Per-Ramses on the Southern edge of the Delta, covering 1,700 square meters. They had sloping floors and troughs at the lower end for keeping the floor as dry as possible and catching the horses' urine. The stables contained stone water basins and stone tethers. He, like his father Seti I, pursued a vigorous foreign policy by attacking the Hittites, the chief opponents of the Egyptian empire in the East. The army of Ramses consisted mostly of Egyptians, with a few Nubian contingents and some Sherden mercenaries. The chariots were mannered esclusively by Egyptian noblemen. It is generally assumed that an Egyptian division was comprised of 5,000 foot soldiers. Ramses setting out with 4 dividions of 20,000 seems reasonable.
Pharaohs often supervised personally the treatment their horses were getting. Ramses III frequented his stables and Piye (Pi'Ankhi, son of Kashta, the Golden Age of Nubian domination of Egypt), having conquered the Middle Egyptian Town of Shamumu after a lengthy siege, accused the defeated prince Nam'Lot of not feeding his horses properly. He said: "As I have lived and loved Re and breath is in my nostrils' thus my heart grows heavy seeing how these horses have been starved, which is worse than anything you have done from the evil in your heart."
Egyptian horses became famous throughout the Eastern Mediterranean. The Assyrian conquerors, when extracting tribute, made sure to get as many of them as possible.
The great prophet Isaiah who lived in Jerusalem says : "Those who go to Egypt for help are doomed! They are relying on Egypt's vast military strength -horses, chariots, and soldiers. But they do not rely on the Lord, the holy God of Israel, or ask Him for help. He knows what He is doing! He sends disaster. He carries out His threats to punish evil people and those who protect them. The Egyptians are not gods -they are only mortals. Their horses are not supernatural. When the Lord acts, the strong nation will crumble, and the weak nation helped by the strong nation will fall. Both of them will be destroyed.
(Isaiah 31: 1-3)
Horses were prime material in those ancient days, so multiplying horses indicated territorial aggression and warlike spirit, and most importantly, it showed a lack of Faith in God and too great a faith in the fleshy nature of the armies.
We can notice God's instruction to kings in Deuteronomy 17, which specifically warns against multiplying horses, wives, silver and gold. The king Solomon was blessed with wisdom that no one could gainsay, he was also blessed with wealth and ability no one had ever possessed before. This king, the son of Davis and Bathsheba, a man of peace and learning, was commissioned to build the most beautiful Temple to God in the City of Jerusalem. David and his armies had essentially subjugated all of the world that mattered at that time. King David of Israel, was the head of the nations and faraway kings he did not even know trembled at the mention of his name. As the sole superpower in the region, wealth poured into Israel. When Solomon was made king upon David's death, not a nation on the face on the earth would have considered attacking Israel. So, Solomon ruled the known world and as time progressed, he did not see the need to obey God's Law fully that He had commanded the kings of Israel to do. In his power and wealth, Solomon saw no problem with compromising a little with God's Law.
He failed completely in his old age, but the seeds of that failure were sown early in his reign.
1 King 10 says that Solomon had thousands of horses imported from Egypt. he also imported chariots and sold horses and chariots to other nations. Solomon armed the Hittites and Syria, providing them with the means to attack Israel and Judah in later years (1 Kings 11; 20; II Chronicles 22).
From the action of importing horses, Solomon was an accessory to the sins of idolatry and outright murder, sins that he would never have considered committing at the beginning of his reign. At the end of his life, Solomon himself worshipped Ash'Tor'Eth, Milcom, Chemosh, and Molech.
Horses were very luxury animals, and only the very wealthy could afford to keep them and treat them according to their worth. they were never used for ploughing and only rarely ridden during the 2nd millennium BC. For war and hunt alike they were harnessed to chariots.
Tutankh'Amen enjoyed not only driving his chariot, but also mounting on horseback. this has been inferred from a riding crop found in his tom bearing the inscription that "he came on his horse like the shining Re."
Ramses II (1278-1237BC), remembered for his military campaigns and his extensive building program,
built a complex of six rows of stables for 460 horses at Per-Ramses on the Southern edge of the Delta, covering 1,700 square meters. They had sloping floors and troughs at the lower end for keeping the floor as dry as possible and catching the horses' urine. The stables contained stone water basins and stone tethers. He, like his father Seti I, pursued a vigorous foreign policy by attacking the Hittites, the chief opponents of the Egyptian empire in the East. The army of Ramses consisted mostly of Egyptians, with a few Nubian contingents and some Sherden mercenaries. The chariots were mannered esclusively by Egyptian noblemen. It is generally assumed that an Egyptian division was comprised of 5,000 foot soldiers. Ramses setting out with 4 dividions of 20,000 seems reasonable.
Pharaohs often supervised personally the treatment their horses were getting. Ramses III frequented his stables and Piye (Pi'Ankhi, son of Kashta, the Golden Age of Nubian domination of Egypt), having conquered the Middle Egyptian Town of Shamumu after a lengthy siege, accused the defeated prince Nam'Lot of not feeding his horses properly. He said: "As I have lived and loved Re and breath is in my nostrils' thus my heart grows heavy seeing how these horses have been starved, which is worse than anything you have done from the evil in your heart."
Egyptian horses became famous throughout the Eastern Mediterranean. The Assyrian conquerors, when extracting tribute, made sure to get as many of them as possible.
The great prophet Isaiah who lived in Jerusalem says : "Those who go to Egypt for help are doomed! They are relying on Egypt's vast military strength -horses, chariots, and soldiers. But they do not rely on the Lord, the holy God of Israel, or ask Him for help. He knows what He is doing! He sends disaster. He carries out His threats to punish evil people and those who protect them. The Egyptians are not gods -they are only mortals. Their horses are not supernatural. When the Lord acts, the strong nation will crumble, and the weak nation helped by the strong nation will fall. Both of them will be destroyed.
(Isaiah 31: 1-3)
Horses were prime material in those ancient days, so multiplying horses indicated territorial aggression and warlike spirit, and most importantly, it showed a lack of Faith in God and too great a faith in the fleshy nature of the armies.
We can notice God's instruction to kings in Deuteronomy 17, which specifically warns against multiplying horses, wives, silver and gold. The king Solomon was blessed with wisdom that no one could gainsay, he was also blessed with wealth and ability no one had ever possessed before. This king, the son of Davis and Bathsheba, a man of peace and learning, was commissioned to build the most beautiful Temple to God in the City of Jerusalem. David and his armies had essentially subjugated all of the world that mattered at that time. King David of Israel, was the head of the nations and faraway kings he did not even know trembled at the mention of his name. As the sole superpower in the region, wealth poured into Israel. When Solomon was made king upon David's death, not a nation on the face on the earth would have considered attacking Israel. So, Solomon ruled the known world and as time progressed, he did not see the need to obey God's Law fully that He had commanded the kings of Israel to do. In his power and wealth, Solomon saw no problem with compromising a little with God's Law.
He failed completely in his old age, but the seeds of that failure were sown early in his reign.
1 King 10 says that Solomon had thousands of horses imported from Egypt. he also imported chariots and sold horses and chariots to other nations. Solomon armed the Hittites and Syria, providing them with the means to attack Israel and Judah in later years (1 Kings 11; 20; II Chronicles 22).
From the action of importing horses, Solomon was an accessory to the sins of idolatry and outright murder, sins that he would never have considered committing at the beginning of his reign. At the end of his life, Solomon himself worshipped Ash'Tor'Eth, Milcom, Chemosh, and Molech.
Monday, 29 October 2018
THE MEANING OF INTEGRITY.
The Hebrew terms relating to integrity have the root meaning of that which is "complete" or "whole."
But mainly it describes unswerving devotion to righteousness.
The first human couple were given the opportunity to manifest integrity in the Garden of Eden. The restriction regarding the tree of knowledge put to the test their devotion to righteousness. Under the pressure of temptation from God's adversary and his appeal to selfishness, they gave way to sin. Their shame, their reluctance to face God and their lack of candor in responding to His questions all gave evidence of their lack of Integrity.
When Satan's rebellion occurred, it produced an issue of universal importance -that of the Rightfulness of God's sovereignty over all His creatures, His right to require full obedience of them.
Psalm 119 says: -Determination to Obey the Law of the Lord: "I lie defeated in the dust, revive me, as You have promised. I confessed all I have done, and You answered me; teach me Your Ways. Help me to understand Your Laws and I will meditate on Your wonderful teachings. I am overcome by sorrow; strengthen me, as You have promised. Keep me from going the wrong way, and in Your goodness teach me Your Law. I have chosen to be obedient; I have paid attention to Your Judgments. I have followed Your Instructions, Lord; don't let me be put to shame. I will eagerly obey Your Commands, because You will give me more understanding. (25-32)
Since the issue with Satan was not one of superiority of power but, rather, a moral issue, it could not be settled merely by the exercise of power, as by God's immediately crushing Satan and the human couple out of existence. This fact is an important aid to understanding why Wickedness and its author, Satan, have been allowed to continue so long.
Since God's adversary first drew upon humans for support and endorsement of his rebel course, this made the question of man's integrity to God's sovereign Will an essential part of the overall issue. Proof of this is seen in the case of Job.
Satan's challenging statements in Job's case show he held the position that all persons could be drawn away from God's side, as it occurred in the story of David and Bathsheba, that none served out of a purely unselfish motive.
Proverbs 11 says: 1-The Lord hates people who use dishonest scales. He is happy with honest weights.
3-If you are good, you are guided by Honesty. People who can't be trusted are destroyed by their own dishonesty. 4-Riches will do you no good on the Day you face Death, but Honesty can save your life.
5-Honesty makes a good person's life easier, but the wicked will cause their own downfall. 7-When the wicked die, their hope dies with them. 6-Righteousness rescues those who are honest, but those who can't be trusted are trapped by their own greed. 8-The righteous are protected from trouble; it comes to the wicked instead. 9-You can be ruined by the talk of godless people, but the Wisdom of the righteous can save you. 11-A city becomes great when the righteous give it their blessing; but a city is brought to ruin by the words of the wicked. 13-No one who gossips can be trusted with a secret, but you can put Confidence in someone who is Trustworthy. 12-It is foolish to speak scornfully of others.16-A gracious
woman is respected, but a woman without virtue is a disgrace. 18-Wicked people do not really gain anything, but if you do what is right, you are certain to be rewarded. 19-Anyone who is determined to do right will live, but anyone who insists on doing wrong will die.
Since all men are imperfect and unable to measure up perfectly to God's standards, it is evident that the integrity of man does not mean perfection of action or speech. Rather, the Scripture shows that the spirit of integrity means wholeness or completeness of heart devotion.
David committed several serious wrongs, but he, nevertheless, "walked with integrity of heart," for he accepted reproof and corrected his way (1 King 9). David thereby proved that his heart still retained genuine love for God's ways (Psalms 26). As David later told his son Solomon: "Know the God of your father and serve Him with a complete heart and with a delightful soul; for all hearts God is searching, and every inclination of the thoughts He is discerning."
Integrity is therefore not restricted to any one aspect of human conduct; it does not apply just to matters defined as "religious." To serve God is a way of life in which the individual walks constantly searching to know God's Will (Psalms 119).
One "proves himself faultless" before God over a period of time, as did Noah, Abraham, David and others (Genesis 6; 17; 2 Samuel 22).
Integrity requires uncompromising Loyalty to God and adherence to Righteousness, not merely under favorable conditions or circumstances, but under all conditions and at all time.
But mainly it describes unswerving devotion to righteousness.
The first human couple were given the opportunity to manifest integrity in the Garden of Eden. The restriction regarding the tree of knowledge put to the test their devotion to righteousness. Under the pressure of temptation from God's adversary and his appeal to selfishness, they gave way to sin. Their shame, their reluctance to face God and their lack of candor in responding to His questions all gave evidence of their lack of Integrity.
When Satan's rebellion occurred, it produced an issue of universal importance -that of the Rightfulness of God's sovereignty over all His creatures, His right to require full obedience of them.
Psalm 119 says: -Determination to Obey the Law of the Lord: "I lie defeated in the dust, revive me, as You have promised. I confessed all I have done, and You answered me; teach me Your Ways. Help me to understand Your Laws and I will meditate on Your wonderful teachings. I am overcome by sorrow; strengthen me, as You have promised. Keep me from going the wrong way, and in Your goodness teach me Your Law. I have chosen to be obedient; I have paid attention to Your Judgments. I have followed Your Instructions, Lord; don't let me be put to shame. I will eagerly obey Your Commands, because You will give me more understanding. (25-32)
Since the issue with Satan was not one of superiority of power but, rather, a moral issue, it could not be settled merely by the exercise of power, as by God's immediately crushing Satan and the human couple out of existence. This fact is an important aid to understanding why Wickedness and its author, Satan, have been allowed to continue so long.
Since God's adversary first drew upon humans for support and endorsement of his rebel course, this made the question of man's integrity to God's sovereign Will an essential part of the overall issue. Proof of this is seen in the case of Job.
Satan's challenging statements in Job's case show he held the position that all persons could be drawn away from God's side, as it occurred in the story of David and Bathsheba, that none served out of a purely unselfish motive.
Proverbs 11 says: 1-The Lord hates people who use dishonest scales. He is happy with honest weights.
3-If you are good, you are guided by Honesty. People who can't be trusted are destroyed by their own dishonesty. 4-Riches will do you no good on the Day you face Death, but Honesty can save your life.
5-Honesty makes a good person's life easier, but the wicked will cause their own downfall. 7-When the wicked die, their hope dies with them. 6-Righteousness rescues those who are honest, but those who can't be trusted are trapped by their own greed. 8-The righteous are protected from trouble; it comes to the wicked instead. 9-You can be ruined by the talk of godless people, but the Wisdom of the righteous can save you. 11-A city becomes great when the righteous give it their blessing; but a city is brought to ruin by the words of the wicked. 13-No one who gossips can be trusted with a secret, but you can put Confidence in someone who is Trustworthy. 12-It is foolish to speak scornfully of others.16-A gracious
woman is respected, but a woman without virtue is a disgrace. 18-Wicked people do not really gain anything, but if you do what is right, you are certain to be rewarded. 19-Anyone who is determined to do right will live, but anyone who insists on doing wrong will die.
Since all men are imperfect and unable to measure up perfectly to God's standards, it is evident that the integrity of man does not mean perfection of action or speech. Rather, the Scripture shows that the spirit of integrity means wholeness or completeness of heart devotion.
David committed several serious wrongs, but he, nevertheless, "walked with integrity of heart," for he accepted reproof and corrected his way (1 King 9). David thereby proved that his heart still retained genuine love for God's ways (Psalms 26). As David later told his son Solomon: "Know the God of your father and serve Him with a complete heart and with a delightful soul; for all hearts God is searching, and every inclination of the thoughts He is discerning."
Integrity is therefore not restricted to any one aspect of human conduct; it does not apply just to matters defined as "religious." To serve God is a way of life in which the individual walks constantly searching to know God's Will (Psalms 119).
One "proves himself faultless" before God over a period of time, as did Noah, Abraham, David and others (Genesis 6; 17; 2 Samuel 22).
Integrity requires uncompromising Loyalty to God and adherence to Righteousness, not merely under favorable conditions or circumstances, but under all conditions and at all time.
Sunday, 28 October 2018
WHAT WE LEARN FROM DAVID/BATHSHEBA's SIN..
David is a young shepherd, chosen by God, and anointed by Him to be a King, who first gains fame as a musician and later by killing Goliat. He went from being a shepherd boy to the Palace as king.
David, with the help of the Mighty Warriors, conquers Jerusalem, taking the Ark of the Covenant into the city and establishes the kingdom founded by Saul.
Bathsheba is the wife of Uriah the Hittite, one of the Mighty Warriors in King's David army, that later became the wife of David. She was the daughter of Eliam, also a Mighty Warrior, and he is mentioned in 2 Samuel 23 as the son of Ahithophel, who is described as the Gilonite. Ahithophel was a counselor of King David and a man greatly renowned for his sagacity. During Absalom (David's third son) 's revolt Ahithophel deserted David and supported Absalom. When he saw that the revolt would fail, he left Absalom's camp at once and returned to Giloh, his native place, and after arranging his worldly affairs, hanged himself and was buried in the sepulcher of his fathers (2 Samuel 17).
The Haggadah, a Jewish text that tells to every Jew's son about the liberation from slavery in Egypt (things of the flesh), states that Ahithophel was misled by his knowledge of astrology into believing himself destined to become a king of Israel. He therefore induced Absalom to commit an unpardonable crime (2 Samuel 16), which sooner or later would have brought with it, according to the Jewish Law, the penalty of death. His astrological information had been, however, misunderstood by Ahithophel; for in reality it only predicted that his granddaughter, Bathsheba, the daughter of his son Eliam, a Mighty Warrior, would become queen.
The mighty warriors at the front battle lines are identified in 2 Samuel 23 and in its final 4 chapters as a group of his best 37 fighters (later expanded to around 80) with mighty powers, who fought side-by-side with King David. According to the text, Abishai, the brother of Joab, killed 300 men with a spear, and so became famous among the The Mighty Warriors. The Text also states that despite the fame and respect Abishai was not included among the Three Best Warriors, suggesting that being part of the The Three powerful ones, fame was not the only accountable thing, but something which an individual has to prove or achieve beyond it in order to gain such exclusive title, and that is integrity (what we do when we think nobody is looking at us).
David's first interaction with Bathsheba, the granddaughter of Ahithophel, is described in 2 Samuel 11.
David decided to leave the place where God call him to be and take a time off. The Scripture does not give us a reason why he did that. What we can see is that all of the overwhelming victory caused by his role as a leader was really beginning to affect him. He was a shepherd by nature and a leader by the calling of God. He was designed to lead men face to face, not from afar.
Bathsheba was summoned by King David during his time off, after had seen her bathing in her courtyard from the roof of his palace and lusted after her. 2 Samuel 11 says:"One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of his palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, 'She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.' Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (Now she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness). Then she went back home. The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, 'I am pregnant.' (2-5) Informed that her husband was Uriah the Hittite, David summoned Uriah from battle to meet him, suggesting that he go home and "wash his feet," meaning to spend time at home and attend to his wife. He refused, claiming a code of honor with his fellow warriors while they were in battle. It was common for Mighty Warriors and in warriors in general in preparation for battle to abstain from sex. Uriah repeatedly refused to see his wife, forcing David to elaborate a sinister plan to kill him in battle due to Bathsheba's pregnancy, and finding no way to hide it. David sent Uriah to the captain and commanding officer Joab, with a letter that ordered Joab to put Uriah on the front lines and have the other Mighty Warriors move away from him so that he would be killed by the enemy soldiers.
Uriah the Hittite was from the ethnic Hittite residents in Israel that had lived in and around the region, the Land of Canaan, since before the time of Abraham. The Hebrews, upon their entry into Canaan, had been commanded (Deuteronomy 20) "to kill anything that breathes .. in the cities of the nations the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance," with the explanation that "otherwise, they will teach you to follow all the detestable things they do .. and you will sin against the Lord your God." Some of the earlier inhabitants were spared, in some cases for cooperating with the Hebrews (Joshua 2, Joshua 6, Judges 1) in other cases from failure to carry out the extermination order of the forces of evil (Joshua 15, Joshua 16, Judges 1).
In the era of David's rule, many residents of non-Hebrew descent followed the Hebrew faith and came to be accepted as Israelites. This included Uriah, as his name in Hebrew means "God is my light." His status as an mightier officer and his closeness to David, living closely to David's roof, would indicate this acceptance within the ethnic community.
Joab the son of Zeruiah, king David's sister, on the other hand, was David's nephew and he made him captain of his army (2 Samuel 8; 20; 1 Chronicles 11; 18; 27).The name Joab is derived from "Yahweh" meaning "Father." Uriah referred to Joab and not David as "my lord or commander" (2 Samuel 11). Joab is a king maker who dispatches ruthlessly his own military rivals, Abner and Amasa.
Joab is sufficiently powerful that David, on his deathbed, advises Solomon to arrange his death (1 Kings 2). David saw a deeper threat from Joab through his entanglement with Uriah's wife.
Joab's name is given to two other individuals in the Scripture (Ezra 2; 8). Those are the descendants of Joab of Bethlehem the son of Zeruiah, king David's sister; the subject is of the House and head of the House. The individual is Obadiah the son of Jehiel. Joab had two brothers, Abishai and Asahel. Asahel was killed by Abner in combat, for which Joab took revenge by murdering Abner in Ambush, against David's wishes and shortly after Abner and David had secured Peace between the House of David and the House of Saul. (2 Samuel 2; 3 )
The prophet Nathan confronted David about Uriah's murder plan, by telling him a story of a rich man and a poor man. Hearing the story, David grew angry and replied: "As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this deserves to die! He must pay for that lamb 4 times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity." Nathan replied: "You are that man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: "I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master's House to you, and your master's wives into your arms. I gave you the House of Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you more. Why did you despise the Word of the Lord by doing what is EVIL in His Eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the Sword of the Ammonites. Now, therefore, the Sword will never depart from Your House, because you despised Me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own."
Nathan then informs David that his child with Bathsheba must die. David mourns and begs for mercy. Indeed, their first child dies after 7 days. His entire story from that moment results in civil war and division in his family. The consequences for his actions were severe.
Proverbs 28:2 says: "When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability." Every great person live by core values and integrity. They pave pathways in life rather than just allow life to take its course. What goes inside of every individual determines where they are headed in life.
It takes integrity to maintain what God gives us. It takes persistence, determination, and consistency to make sure that we are focused.
David's heart pushed him towards the throne. It was not title, prestige, good money or job, not even favor with his family that did that for him. God never held a person back from transformational leadership, and the invitation will always be on the table.
Unfortunately, temptation is like a filter that always sneak in when our guard is down. Let's no make room for temptation. We have to show integrity by keeping our word and stay faithful and hold ourselves accountable to the standards we want to live out based on God's Word and calling.
David, with the help of the Mighty Warriors, conquers Jerusalem, taking the Ark of the Covenant into the city and establishes the kingdom founded by Saul.
Bathsheba is the wife of Uriah the Hittite, one of the Mighty Warriors in King's David army, that later became the wife of David. She was the daughter of Eliam, also a Mighty Warrior, and he is mentioned in 2 Samuel 23 as the son of Ahithophel, who is described as the Gilonite. Ahithophel was a counselor of King David and a man greatly renowned for his sagacity. During Absalom (David's third son) 's revolt Ahithophel deserted David and supported Absalom. When he saw that the revolt would fail, he left Absalom's camp at once and returned to Giloh, his native place, and after arranging his worldly affairs, hanged himself and was buried in the sepulcher of his fathers (2 Samuel 17).
The Haggadah, a Jewish text that tells to every Jew's son about the liberation from slavery in Egypt (things of the flesh), states that Ahithophel was misled by his knowledge of astrology into believing himself destined to become a king of Israel. He therefore induced Absalom to commit an unpardonable crime (2 Samuel 16), which sooner or later would have brought with it, according to the Jewish Law, the penalty of death. His astrological information had been, however, misunderstood by Ahithophel; for in reality it only predicted that his granddaughter, Bathsheba, the daughter of his son Eliam, a Mighty Warrior, would become queen.
The mighty warriors at the front battle lines are identified in 2 Samuel 23 and in its final 4 chapters as a group of his best 37 fighters (later expanded to around 80) with mighty powers, who fought side-by-side with King David. According to the text, Abishai, the brother of Joab, killed 300 men with a spear, and so became famous among the The Mighty Warriors. The Text also states that despite the fame and respect Abishai was not included among the Three Best Warriors, suggesting that being part of the The Three powerful ones, fame was not the only accountable thing, but something which an individual has to prove or achieve beyond it in order to gain such exclusive title, and that is integrity (what we do when we think nobody is looking at us).
David's first interaction with Bathsheba, the granddaughter of Ahithophel, is described in 2 Samuel 11.
David decided to leave the place where God call him to be and take a time off. The Scripture does not give us a reason why he did that. What we can see is that all of the overwhelming victory caused by his role as a leader was really beginning to affect him. He was a shepherd by nature and a leader by the calling of God. He was designed to lead men face to face, not from afar.
Bathsheba was summoned by King David during his time off, after had seen her bathing in her courtyard from the roof of his palace and lusted after her. 2 Samuel 11 says:"One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of his palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, 'She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.' Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (Now she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness). Then she went back home. The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, 'I am pregnant.' (2-5) Informed that her husband was Uriah the Hittite, David summoned Uriah from battle to meet him, suggesting that he go home and "wash his feet," meaning to spend time at home and attend to his wife. He refused, claiming a code of honor with his fellow warriors while they were in battle. It was common for Mighty Warriors and in warriors in general in preparation for battle to abstain from sex. Uriah repeatedly refused to see his wife, forcing David to elaborate a sinister plan to kill him in battle due to Bathsheba's pregnancy, and finding no way to hide it. David sent Uriah to the captain and commanding officer Joab, with a letter that ordered Joab to put Uriah on the front lines and have the other Mighty Warriors move away from him so that he would be killed by the enemy soldiers.
Uriah the Hittite was from the ethnic Hittite residents in Israel that had lived in and around the region, the Land of Canaan, since before the time of Abraham. The Hebrews, upon their entry into Canaan, had been commanded (Deuteronomy 20) "to kill anything that breathes .. in the cities of the nations the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance," with the explanation that "otherwise, they will teach you to follow all the detestable things they do .. and you will sin against the Lord your God." Some of the earlier inhabitants were spared, in some cases for cooperating with the Hebrews (Joshua 2, Joshua 6, Judges 1) in other cases from failure to carry out the extermination order of the forces of evil (Joshua 15, Joshua 16, Judges 1).
In the era of David's rule, many residents of non-Hebrew descent followed the Hebrew faith and came to be accepted as Israelites. This included Uriah, as his name in Hebrew means "God is my light." His status as an mightier officer and his closeness to David, living closely to David's roof, would indicate this acceptance within the ethnic community.
Joab the son of Zeruiah, king David's sister, on the other hand, was David's nephew and he made him captain of his army (2 Samuel 8; 20; 1 Chronicles 11; 18; 27).The name Joab is derived from "Yahweh" meaning "Father." Uriah referred to Joab and not David as "my lord or commander" (2 Samuel 11). Joab is a king maker who dispatches ruthlessly his own military rivals, Abner and Amasa.
Joab is sufficiently powerful that David, on his deathbed, advises Solomon to arrange his death (1 Kings 2). David saw a deeper threat from Joab through his entanglement with Uriah's wife.
Joab's name is given to two other individuals in the Scripture (Ezra 2; 8). Those are the descendants of Joab of Bethlehem the son of Zeruiah, king David's sister; the subject is of the House and head of the House. The individual is Obadiah the son of Jehiel. Joab had two brothers, Abishai and Asahel. Asahel was killed by Abner in combat, for which Joab took revenge by murdering Abner in Ambush, against David's wishes and shortly after Abner and David had secured Peace between the House of David and the House of Saul. (2 Samuel 2; 3 )
The prophet Nathan confronted David about Uriah's murder plan, by telling him a story of a rich man and a poor man. Hearing the story, David grew angry and replied: "As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this deserves to die! He must pay for that lamb 4 times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity." Nathan replied: "You are that man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: "I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master's House to you, and your master's wives into your arms. I gave you the House of Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you more. Why did you despise the Word of the Lord by doing what is EVIL in His Eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the Sword of the Ammonites. Now, therefore, the Sword will never depart from Your House, because you despised Me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own."
Nathan then informs David that his child with Bathsheba must die. David mourns and begs for mercy. Indeed, their first child dies after 7 days. His entire story from that moment results in civil war and division in his family. The consequences for his actions were severe.
Proverbs 28:2 says: "When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability." Every great person live by core values and integrity. They pave pathways in life rather than just allow life to take its course. What goes inside of every individual determines where they are headed in life.
It takes integrity to maintain what God gives us. It takes persistence, determination, and consistency to make sure that we are focused.
David's heart pushed him towards the throne. It was not title, prestige, good money or job, not even favor with his family that did that for him. God never held a person back from transformational leadership, and the invitation will always be on the table.
Unfortunately, temptation is like a filter that always sneak in when our guard is down. Let's no make room for temptation. We have to show integrity by keeping our word and stay faithful and hold ourselves accountable to the standards we want to live out based on God's Word and calling.
Saturday, 22 September 2018
THE CHARIOTS AND ITS SUPERNATURAL USE OF POWER.
A chariot is a two-wheeled horse-drawn vehicle, developed for the battlefield rather than as a means of transportation for troops movement behind the lines of war. Basically, it consists of a semicircular platform mounted on a single axle, with sides thigh-high and curved around the front. The open back of the car has a tongue and yoke harnessed to speedy horses and a floor of rope network that provides speed, maneuverability and stability for fast and easy entrance in combat and gives soldiers a mobile firing platform and furnish them with psychological shock power when charging into ranks of foot soldiers.
The Book of Joshua testifies about the power of this type of instruments of war by saying in chapter 17:
The descendants of Joseph said to Joshua, "Why have you given us only one part of the Land to possess as our own? There are very many of us because the Lord has blessed us." 17:14
Joshua answered, "If there are so many of you and the Hill Country of Ephraim is too small for you, then go into The Forests and clear ground for yourselves in the Land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim." 17:15
They replied, "the Hill Country of Ephraim is not big enough for us, but the Canaanites in the Plains have Iron Chariots, both those who live in Beth Shan and its surrounding Towns and those who live in Jezreel Valley." 17:16
Joshua said to the Tribes of Ephraim and West Manasseh, "There are indeed many of you, and you are very powerful. You shall have more than one share. The Hill Country will be yours. Even though it is a Forest, you will clear it and take possession of it from one end to the other. As for the Canaanites, you will drive them out, even though they do have Iron Chariots and are a strong people."
The Book of Judges also testifies about the use of the chariots' power by saying in chapter 1:
The descendants of Moses' father-in-law, the Kenite, went on with the People of Judah from Jericho, the City of Palm Trees, into the barren country South of Arad in Judah. There they settled among the Amalekites. The People of Judah went with the People of Simeon, and together they defeated the Canaanites who lived in the City of Zephath. They put a curse on the City, destroyed it, and named it Hormah. The Lord helped the People of Judah, and they took possession of the Hill Country. But they did not capture Gaza, Ashkelon, or Ekron, with their surrounding territories. These People living along the Coast had Iron Chariots, and so the People of Judah were not able to drive them out. 1: 16-19
As Moses had commanded, Hebron was given to Caleb, who drove out of the City the three clans descended from Anak. But the People of the Tribe of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem, and the Jebusites have continued to live there with the People of Benjamin ever since. 20-21
Chariots with many variations of design are widely illustrated on ancient monuments, attesting their widespread use in antiquity. Often they were outfitted with auxiliary equipment consisting of quiver and bow cases, shields and spears. And added menace to foot soldiers were the iron scythes that sometimes extended from the hubs of the wheels. When there was only one charioteer, the reins were held around his waist or hips in battle, leaving his hands free to handle the weapons. Larger and heavier chariots with multiple spans of horses had crews of two, three or four, with a driver and one or two fighters and a shield-man. Also by moving the axle toward the rear, greater maneuverability and stability were achieved. Spoked wheels replaced the solid ones, lightening the weight and increasing the speed.
In Israel no sizable national Chariot force developed until the time of Solomon. This was due in large measure to YHWH's warning that the King was not to multiply horses, as if the nation's security depended on them. Horses were used at that time to power such vehicles of war (Deut,17). Samuel warned of the burden that human kings inflict on God's people by saying, "Your sons YHWH will take and put them as His in His Chariots ... and some will have to run before His Chariots" (1 Sam 8).
Both Absalom and Adonijah, in attempting to usurp the kingship, had chariots made for themselves and put 50 men to run before each chariot (2 Sam 15). When David defeated the king of Zobah, he preserved a hundred chariot horses (2 Sam 8-10). King Solomon expanded the number of chariots of Israel's army to 1,400 (1 Ki 10; 2 Chron 1).
1 Kings 7 says: King Solomon sent for a man named Hu'Ram, a craftsman living in the City of Tyre, who was skilled in Bronze work. His father, who was no longer living, was from Tyre, and had also been a skilled Bronze craftsman, his mother was from the Tribe of Naphtali. Hu'Ram was an intelligent and experienced craftsman. He accepted King Solomon's invitation to be in charge of all the Bronze work (13-14). Hu'Ram cast two Bronze columns, each 27 feet tall and 18 feet in circumference, and placed them at the entrance of the Temple (15). Huram placed these two Bronze columns in front of the entrance: the one on the South side was named Jachin and the one on the North was named Boaz (21).
He also made two Bronze capitals, each one 7 1/2 feet tall, to be placed on top of the columns (16). The capitals were shaped like lilies, 6 feet tall (19). The top of each column was decorated with a design of interwoven chains and two rows of pomegranates (17). There were 200 pomegranates in two rows around each capital (20). The lily shaped Bronze capitals were placed on top of the columns on a rounded section which was above the chain design (19).
Hu"Ram made a round tank of Bronze, 7 1/2 deep, 15 feet in diameter, and 45 feet in circumference.
All around the outer edge of the rim of the tank were two rows of Bronze gourds, which had been cast all in one piece with the rest of the tank. The tank rested on the backs of twelve Bronze bulls that faced outward, three facing in each direction. The sides of the tank were 3 inches thick. Its rim was like the rim of a cup, curving outward like the petals of a lily. The tank held about 10,000 gallons (23-26).
Hu'Ram also made 10 Bronze Carts, each was 6 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 4 1/2 feet high. They were made of square panels which were set in frames with the figures of lions, bulls, and winged creatures on the panels; and on the frames, above and underneath the lions and bulls, there were spiral figures in relief. Each cart had four Bronze wheels with Bronze axles. At the four corners were Bronze supports for a basin; the supports were decorated with spiral figures in relief. There was a circular frame on top for the basin. It projected upward 18 inches from the top of the Cart and seven inches down into it. The circular frame had carvings around it. The wheels were 25 inches high; they were under the panels, and the axles were of one piece with the carts. The wheels were like Chariot wheels; their axles, rims, spokes, and hubs were all of Bronze. There were four supports at the bottom corners of each cart, which were of one piece with the cart. There was a 9-inch band around the top of each cart; its supports
and the panels were of one piece with the cart. The supports and panels were decorated with figures of winged creatures, lions, and palm trees, wherever there was space for them, with spiral figures all around. This, then, is how the Carts were made; they were all alike, having the same size and shape.
Huram also made ten basins, one for each Cart. Each basin was 6 feet in diameter and held 200 gallons.
He placed five of the Carts on the South side of the Temple, and the other five on the North side; the tank he placed at the South East corner (27- 39).
In addition to Jerusalem, other towns known as "Chariot Cities" had special facilities for taking of all this vehicles of war (1 Kin 9; 2 Chron 8-9). After Solomon's death, chariots were very common in both the Northern and Southern kingdoms. The Northern kingdom had a "chief of half the chariots"(1Ki16).
War Chariots were employed in Biblical times by many of the nations who opposed the God of Israel. At the Red Sea, Pharaoh's entire army including his 600 special war chariots, and "all the other chariots of Egypt,"were destroyed by YHWH (Exodus 14-15; Joshua 24).When conquering the Promised Land the Israelites routed the enemy and burned many of their captured chariots (Joshua 11). Jabin the king of Canaan held the Israelites in bondage for 20 years until YHWH pinned down and destroyed his fleet of 900 Chariots equipped with iron scythes and commanded by Sisera, at the Kishon River (Judg 4-5).
During Israel's kings period, at one time or another, the Philistines, Egyptians, Ethiopians, Syrians, Assyrians and Babylonians battled against them with large Chariot forces, as many as 30,000/32,000
chariots on different occasions (1 Sam 13; 2 Sam 1; 1 Chron 19; 2 Chron 12-14-16; Isa 37). Prophets, in their pronouncements of doom era, mentions the chariots in which enemy nations prides themselves
(Micah 5; Jer 50-51).
Though the Chariot was primarily a war instrument, there are also instances where it was used for other peaceful purposes. Joseph as a food administrator of Egypt rode in a Chariot of Honor, second only to that of Pharaoh. In his chariot he rode out to meet his father Jacob when he entered Egypt (Gen 41-46).
Upon Jacob's death many chariots were in the funeral procession that went from Egypt to Mach'Pelah, the burial place that Abraham had purchased (Gen 50). As a means of transportation, chariots were also employed by Kings Rehoboam and Ahab, Naaman the Syrian army chief and the Ethiopian official who invited the evangelist Philip to ride with him on the Road down to Gaza (1Ki12; 18; 2 Ki 5; Act8).
Richly decorated and shaded Chariots carried victorious rulers in processions. Sacred Chariots and the horses that drew them were dedicated to the power of the sun by apostate Judean rulers and were used in ceremonial driving to meet the energy that encompasses the rising of the sun (2 Ki 23).
In a figurative and prophetic sense, chariots are used as symbols of war, just like the bow and sword.
Isaiah 22 says: This is a message about the Valley of Vision. What is happening? Why are all the people of the City of Jerusalem celebrating on the roof of the houses? The whole City is in uproar, filled with noise and excitement. Your people who died in this war did not die fighting. All your leaders run away and were captured before they shot a single arrow (1-3). This is a time of panic, defeat, and confusion in the Valley of vision, and the Sovereign Lord Almighty has sent it on us. The walls of our City have been battered down, and cries for help have echoed among the hills. The soldiers from the Land of Elam came riding on horseback, armed with bows and arrows. Soldiers from the Land of Kir had their shields ready. The fertile Valley of Judah were filled with Chariots; soldiers on horseback stood in front of Jerusalem's Gates. All of Judah's defenses crumbled (4-7). When that happened, you People brought weapons out of the arsenal. You found the places where the Walls Of Jerusalem needed repair (8-10). In order to store water, you built a reservoir inside the City to hold the water flowing down from the Old Pool. But you People paid no Attention to God's Word, who planned all this long ago and who caused it to happen. The Sovereign Lord Almighty was calling you People then to weep and mourn, to shave your heads and wear sackcloth. Instead, you People laughed and celebrated. You killed sheep and cattle to eat and you drank wine.You said,"We might as well eat and drink! Tomorrow we will be dead." The Sovereign Lord Almighty Himself spoke and said, "This evil will never be forgiven them as long as they live. I, the Sovereign Lord Almighty, have spoken."(11-14)
Isaiah 27 says: On that Day the lord will use His powerful and deadly sword to punish Levi'Athan, that wriggling, twisting dragon, and to kill the monster that lives in the sea (1). On that Day the Lord will say of His pleasant vineyard, "I watch over it and water it continually. I guard it night and day so that no one will harm it. I am no longer angry with the vineyard. If there were thorns and briers to fight against, I would burn them up completely. But if the enemies of My people want My protection, let them make peace with Me. Yes, let them make peace with Me (2-5). Israel's sins will be forgiven only when the stones of idol altars are ground up like chalk, and no more incense altars or symbols of the goddess Ash'Erah are left" (9). On that Day, from the Euphrates to the Egyptian border, the Lord will gather His people one by one, as threshing separates the wheat from the chaff. When that Day comes, a trumpet will be blown to call back from Assyria and Egypt all the Israelites who are in exile there. They will come and worship the Lord in Jerusalem, on His sacred hill (12-13).
"The War Chariots of YHWH"are said to be "in tens of thousands, thousands over and over again, "denoting YHWH's invincible power to destroy His enemies. (Psalm 68; 2 King 6).
The Book of Joshua testifies about the power of this type of instruments of war by saying in chapter 17:
The descendants of Joseph said to Joshua, "Why have you given us only one part of the Land to possess as our own? There are very many of us because the Lord has blessed us." 17:14
Joshua answered, "If there are so many of you and the Hill Country of Ephraim is too small for you, then go into The Forests and clear ground for yourselves in the Land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim." 17:15
They replied, "the Hill Country of Ephraim is not big enough for us, but the Canaanites in the Plains have Iron Chariots, both those who live in Beth Shan and its surrounding Towns and those who live in Jezreel Valley." 17:16
Joshua said to the Tribes of Ephraim and West Manasseh, "There are indeed many of you, and you are very powerful. You shall have more than one share. The Hill Country will be yours. Even though it is a Forest, you will clear it and take possession of it from one end to the other. As for the Canaanites, you will drive them out, even though they do have Iron Chariots and are a strong people."
The Book of Judges also testifies about the use of the chariots' power by saying in chapter 1:
The descendants of Moses' father-in-law, the Kenite, went on with the People of Judah from Jericho, the City of Palm Trees, into the barren country South of Arad in Judah. There they settled among the Amalekites. The People of Judah went with the People of Simeon, and together they defeated the Canaanites who lived in the City of Zephath. They put a curse on the City, destroyed it, and named it Hormah. The Lord helped the People of Judah, and they took possession of the Hill Country. But they did not capture Gaza, Ashkelon, or Ekron, with their surrounding territories. These People living along the Coast had Iron Chariots, and so the People of Judah were not able to drive them out. 1: 16-19
As Moses had commanded, Hebron was given to Caleb, who drove out of the City the three clans descended from Anak. But the People of the Tribe of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem, and the Jebusites have continued to live there with the People of Benjamin ever since. 20-21
Chariots with many variations of design are widely illustrated on ancient monuments, attesting their widespread use in antiquity. Often they were outfitted with auxiliary equipment consisting of quiver and bow cases, shields and spears. And added menace to foot soldiers were the iron scythes that sometimes extended from the hubs of the wheels. When there was only one charioteer, the reins were held around his waist or hips in battle, leaving his hands free to handle the weapons. Larger and heavier chariots with multiple spans of horses had crews of two, three or four, with a driver and one or two fighters and a shield-man. Also by moving the axle toward the rear, greater maneuverability and stability were achieved. Spoked wheels replaced the solid ones, lightening the weight and increasing the speed.
In Israel no sizable national Chariot force developed until the time of Solomon. This was due in large measure to YHWH's warning that the King was not to multiply horses, as if the nation's security depended on them. Horses were used at that time to power such vehicles of war (Deut,17). Samuel warned of the burden that human kings inflict on God's people by saying, "Your sons YHWH will take and put them as His in His Chariots ... and some will have to run before His Chariots" (1 Sam 8).
Both Absalom and Adonijah, in attempting to usurp the kingship, had chariots made for themselves and put 50 men to run before each chariot (2 Sam 15). When David defeated the king of Zobah, he preserved a hundred chariot horses (2 Sam 8-10). King Solomon expanded the number of chariots of Israel's army to 1,400 (1 Ki 10; 2 Chron 1).
1 Kings 7 says: King Solomon sent for a man named Hu'Ram, a craftsman living in the City of Tyre, who was skilled in Bronze work. His father, who was no longer living, was from Tyre, and had also been a skilled Bronze craftsman, his mother was from the Tribe of Naphtali. Hu'Ram was an intelligent and experienced craftsman. He accepted King Solomon's invitation to be in charge of all the Bronze work (13-14). Hu'Ram cast two Bronze columns, each 27 feet tall and 18 feet in circumference, and placed them at the entrance of the Temple (15). Huram placed these two Bronze columns in front of the entrance: the one on the South side was named Jachin and the one on the North was named Boaz (21).
He also made two Bronze capitals, each one 7 1/2 feet tall, to be placed on top of the columns (16). The capitals were shaped like lilies, 6 feet tall (19). The top of each column was decorated with a design of interwoven chains and two rows of pomegranates (17). There were 200 pomegranates in two rows around each capital (20). The lily shaped Bronze capitals were placed on top of the columns on a rounded section which was above the chain design (19).
Hu"Ram made a round tank of Bronze, 7 1/2 deep, 15 feet in diameter, and 45 feet in circumference.
All around the outer edge of the rim of the tank were two rows of Bronze gourds, which had been cast all in one piece with the rest of the tank. The tank rested on the backs of twelve Bronze bulls that faced outward, three facing in each direction. The sides of the tank were 3 inches thick. Its rim was like the rim of a cup, curving outward like the petals of a lily. The tank held about 10,000 gallons (23-26).
Hu'Ram also made 10 Bronze Carts, each was 6 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 4 1/2 feet high. They were made of square panels which were set in frames with the figures of lions, bulls, and winged creatures on the panels; and on the frames, above and underneath the lions and bulls, there were spiral figures in relief. Each cart had four Bronze wheels with Bronze axles. At the four corners were Bronze supports for a basin; the supports were decorated with spiral figures in relief. There was a circular frame on top for the basin. It projected upward 18 inches from the top of the Cart and seven inches down into it. The circular frame had carvings around it. The wheels were 25 inches high; they were under the panels, and the axles were of one piece with the carts. The wheels were like Chariot wheels; their axles, rims, spokes, and hubs were all of Bronze. There were four supports at the bottom corners of each cart, which were of one piece with the cart. There was a 9-inch band around the top of each cart; its supports
and the panels were of one piece with the cart. The supports and panels were decorated with figures of winged creatures, lions, and palm trees, wherever there was space for them, with spiral figures all around. This, then, is how the Carts were made; they were all alike, having the same size and shape.
Huram also made ten basins, one for each Cart. Each basin was 6 feet in diameter and held 200 gallons.
He placed five of the Carts on the South side of the Temple, and the other five on the North side; the tank he placed at the South East corner (27- 39).
In addition to Jerusalem, other towns known as "Chariot Cities" had special facilities for taking of all this vehicles of war (1 Kin 9; 2 Chron 8-9). After Solomon's death, chariots were very common in both the Northern and Southern kingdoms. The Northern kingdom had a "chief of half the chariots"(1Ki16).
War Chariots were employed in Biblical times by many of the nations who opposed the God of Israel. At the Red Sea, Pharaoh's entire army including his 600 special war chariots, and "all the other chariots of Egypt,"were destroyed by YHWH (Exodus 14-15; Joshua 24).When conquering the Promised Land the Israelites routed the enemy and burned many of their captured chariots (Joshua 11). Jabin the king of Canaan held the Israelites in bondage for 20 years until YHWH pinned down and destroyed his fleet of 900 Chariots equipped with iron scythes and commanded by Sisera, at the Kishon River (Judg 4-5).
During Israel's kings period, at one time or another, the Philistines, Egyptians, Ethiopians, Syrians, Assyrians and Babylonians battled against them with large Chariot forces, as many as 30,000/32,000
chariots on different occasions (1 Sam 13; 2 Sam 1; 1 Chron 19; 2 Chron 12-14-16; Isa 37). Prophets, in their pronouncements of doom era, mentions the chariots in which enemy nations prides themselves
(Micah 5; Jer 50-51).
Though the Chariot was primarily a war instrument, there are also instances where it was used for other peaceful purposes. Joseph as a food administrator of Egypt rode in a Chariot of Honor, second only to that of Pharaoh. In his chariot he rode out to meet his father Jacob when he entered Egypt (Gen 41-46).
Upon Jacob's death many chariots were in the funeral procession that went from Egypt to Mach'Pelah, the burial place that Abraham had purchased (Gen 50). As a means of transportation, chariots were also employed by Kings Rehoboam and Ahab, Naaman the Syrian army chief and the Ethiopian official who invited the evangelist Philip to ride with him on the Road down to Gaza (1Ki12; 18; 2 Ki 5; Act8).
Richly decorated and shaded Chariots carried victorious rulers in processions. Sacred Chariots and the horses that drew them were dedicated to the power of the sun by apostate Judean rulers and were used in ceremonial driving to meet the energy that encompasses the rising of the sun (2 Ki 23).
In a figurative and prophetic sense, chariots are used as symbols of war, just like the bow and sword.
Isaiah 22 says: This is a message about the Valley of Vision. What is happening? Why are all the people of the City of Jerusalem celebrating on the roof of the houses? The whole City is in uproar, filled with noise and excitement. Your people who died in this war did not die fighting. All your leaders run away and were captured before they shot a single arrow (1-3). This is a time of panic, defeat, and confusion in the Valley of vision, and the Sovereign Lord Almighty has sent it on us. The walls of our City have been battered down, and cries for help have echoed among the hills. The soldiers from the Land of Elam came riding on horseback, armed with bows and arrows. Soldiers from the Land of Kir had their shields ready. The fertile Valley of Judah were filled with Chariots; soldiers on horseback stood in front of Jerusalem's Gates. All of Judah's defenses crumbled (4-7). When that happened, you People brought weapons out of the arsenal. You found the places where the Walls Of Jerusalem needed repair (8-10). In order to store water, you built a reservoir inside the City to hold the water flowing down from the Old Pool. But you People paid no Attention to God's Word, who planned all this long ago and who caused it to happen. The Sovereign Lord Almighty was calling you People then to weep and mourn, to shave your heads and wear sackcloth. Instead, you People laughed and celebrated. You killed sheep and cattle to eat and you drank wine.You said,"We might as well eat and drink! Tomorrow we will be dead." The Sovereign Lord Almighty Himself spoke and said, "This evil will never be forgiven them as long as they live. I, the Sovereign Lord Almighty, have spoken."(11-14)
Isaiah 27 says: On that Day the lord will use His powerful and deadly sword to punish Levi'Athan, that wriggling, twisting dragon, and to kill the monster that lives in the sea (1). On that Day the Lord will say of His pleasant vineyard, "I watch over it and water it continually. I guard it night and day so that no one will harm it. I am no longer angry with the vineyard. If there were thorns and briers to fight against, I would burn them up completely. But if the enemies of My people want My protection, let them make peace with Me. Yes, let them make peace with Me (2-5). Israel's sins will be forgiven only when the stones of idol altars are ground up like chalk, and no more incense altars or symbols of the goddess Ash'Erah are left" (9). On that Day, from the Euphrates to the Egyptian border, the Lord will gather His people one by one, as threshing separates the wheat from the chaff. When that Day comes, a trumpet will be blown to call back from Assyria and Egypt all the Israelites who are in exile there. They will come and worship the Lord in Jerusalem, on His sacred hill (12-13).
"The War Chariots of YHWH"are said to be "in tens of thousands, thousands over and over again, "denoting YHWH's invincible power to destroy His enemies. (Psalm 68; 2 King 6).
Monday, 10 September 2018
ANCIENT INDIAN RELIGION.
Indian religions based on a contemplative life and not centered on the idea of deities, are the ones that originated in the Indian subcontinent: Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism.
Evidence attesting to prehistoric religion in the Indian subcontinent derives from the corresponding final period of hunter-gatherer cultures and from which scattered rock paintings have been found.
- Hinduism has been called the oldest religion in the world and today scholars refer to it as a way of life widely practiced since 1500 BCE. It contains a broad range of philosophies linked by shared concepts, rituals such as worship (Puja) and recitations, meditation, family oriented rites of passage, cosmology, annual festivals, textual resources and pilgrimage to sacred sites. Sources of authority and eternal Truths in its texts play an important role and there is a strong tradition of questioning authority in order to deepen the understanding of these Truths and to further develop them. Hinduism prescribes the eternal duties, such as honesty, refraining from injuring leaving beings (Ahimsa), patience, forbearance, self-restraint, and compassion, among others. Prominent themes include the 4 proper goals or aims (Purusarthas) of human life: 1) ethics/duties (Dharma), 2) prosperity/work (Artha), 3) desires/passions (Kama), 4) liberation/freedom/salvation (Moksha); action, intent and consequences (Karma), cycle of rebirth (Samsara), and the various paths or practices to attain liberation/freedom/salvation (Yogas).
- Jainism postulates an eternal and ever-existing world which works on universal laws. It has a firm and an unalterable shape which is measured by means of a unit (Rajju) that is supposed to be very large. The universe is divided into 3 parts. The world is surrounded by 3 atmospheres: dense-water, dense-wind, and thin-wind. It is then surrounded by infinitely large non-world which is absolutely empty. The whole world is said to be filled with living beings. In all 3 parts, there is the existence of a very small living beings (nigoda). Nigoda are of 2 types: Nityas which will reborn as Nigoda forever and the Itaras which will be reborn as other beings too. Within the mobile region of universe there are animals and plants everywhere and where humans are restricted to 2.5 continental area of middle world. The beings of the lower world are called Naraki (hellish). The demi-gods (Deva) live in whole on the top and middles world and the top 3 realms of lower world. Living beings are divided into 14 classes (Jivasthana): 1)fine beings with one sense. 2)Crude beings with one sense. 3)Beings with two sense.
4)Beings with three sense. 5)Beings with four sense. 6)Beings with five sense without mind. 7)Beings with five sense with a mind. These can be under-developed or developed which makes it a total of 14. Humans get any form of existence and are the only ones which can attain salvation. The followers are called "Jains," a word derived from the Sanskrit word "Jina" meaning "victory" and connoting the path of victory in crossing over life's stream of rebirths through an ethical and spiritual life.
- Buddhism is the world 4th-largest religion or 7% of the global population, known as Buddhists. It is an Indian religion attributed to the teachings of the Buddha. He was moved by the innate suffering of humanity and its endless repetition due to rebirth. He set out on a quest to end this repeated suffering.
He first studied under Vedic teachers, learning meditation and ancient philosophies, particularly the concept of "nothingness, emptiness" and "what is neither seen nor unseen." Finding this teachings to be insufficient to attain his goal, he turned to the practice of a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from sensual pleasures, often to the purpose of pursuing spiritual goals. Then he turned to the practice of meditation, which he had already pursued in his youth. He famously sat in meditation under a sacred Fig Tree. He gained insight and attained enlightenment. He attracted followers and founded a monastic order (Sangha). Now, as the Budha, he spent the rest of his life teaching what he had discovered and died at the age of 80 in India. His teachings were propagated by his followers, and in the last centuries of the 1st millennium BCE, 18 Buddhist sub-school of though were founded, each with its own basket of texts containing different interpretations of Buddha's teachings.
- Sikhism was founded in Punjab area of South Asia, which now falls into the present day states of India and Pakistan. The Sikh faith began around 1500 CE, when Guru Nanak (1469-1539) began teaching a faith that draw from the religious ideas of Hindu and Islamic thought. He was already an original spiritual thinker and expressed his thoughts in extraordinary poetry that became the basis of Sikh scripture.
Nanak's birth and early years were marked with many events that demonstrated that God had marked him out for something special and was keeping an eye on him. He soon showed an advanced interest in religion and studied Islam and Hinduism extensively. As a child he demonstrated great ability as a poet and philosopher. One famous story about him tells of his rebellion at the age of 11. At this age Hindu boys of his caste would star to wear the sacred thread to distinguish them. Nanak refused to wear the sacred thread by saying that people should be distinguished by the things that they did, and their individual qualities, rather than by a thread.
Nanak continued to demonstrate a radical spiritual streak by arguing with local holy men and sages, both Hindu and Muslim, that external things like pilgrimages, penances and poverty were of far less spiritual importance than internal changes to the individual's soul.
He worked for a while as an accountant but while still quite young decided to devote himself to spiritual matters. He was inspired by a powerful spiritual experience that gave him a vision of the true nature of God, and confirmed his idea that the way to spiritual thought was through meditation and through living in a way that reflected the presence of the divine within each human being.
In 1946, although married and having a family because of his family tradition in the Hindu faith, Nanak set out on a set of spiritual journeys through India, Tibet and Arabia that lasted nearly 30 years.
Nanak studied and debated with learned men he met along the way and as his ideas took shape he began to teach a new route to spiritual fulfillment. The last part of his life was spent at Katarpur in the Punjab, where he was joined by many disciples attracted by his teachings.
The most famous teachings attributed to Nakar are that there is only one God, and that all human beings can have direct access to God with no need of rituals or priests. His most radical social teachings denounced the caste system and taught that everyone is equal, regardless of caste or gender.
Evidence attesting to prehistoric religion in the Indian subcontinent derives from the corresponding final period of hunter-gatherer cultures and from which scattered rock paintings have been found.
- Hinduism has been called the oldest religion in the world and today scholars refer to it as a way of life widely practiced since 1500 BCE. It contains a broad range of philosophies linked by shared concepts, rituals such as worship (Puja) and recitations, meditation, family oriented rites of passage, cosmology, annual festivals, textual resources and pilgrimage to sacred sites. Sources of authority and eternal Truths in its texts play an important role and there is a strong tradition of questioning authority in order to deepen the understanding of these Truths and to further develop them. Hinduism prescribes the eternal duties, such as honesty, refraining from injuring leaving beings (Ahimsa), patience, forbearance, self-restraint, and compassion, among others. Prominent themes include the 4 proper goals or aims (Purusarthas) of human life: 1) ethics/duties (Dharma), 2) prosperity/work (Artha), 3) desires/passions (Kama), 4) liberation/freedom/salvation (Moksha); action, intent and consequences (Karma), cycle of rebirth (Samsara), and the various paths or practices to attain liberation/freedom/salvation (Yogas).
- Jainism postulates an eternal and ever-existing world which works on universal laws. It has a firm and an unalterable shape which is measured by means of a unit (Rajju) that is supposed to be very large. The universe is divided into 3 parts. The world is surrounded by 3 atmospheres: dense-water, dense-wind, and thin-wind. It is then surrounded by infinitely large non-world which is absolutely empty. The whole world is said to be filled with living beings. In all 3 parts, there is the existence of a very small living beings (nigoda). Nigoda are of 2 types: Nityas which will reborn as Nigoda forever and the Itaras which will be reborn as other beings too. Within the mobile region of universe there are animals and plants everywhere and where humans are restricted to 2.5 continental area of middle world. The beings of the lower world are called Naraki (hellish). The demi-gods (Deva) live in whole on the top and middles world and the top 3 realms of lower world. Living beings are divided into 14 classes (Jivasthana): 1)fine beings with one sense. 2)Crude beings with one sense. 3)Beings with two sense.
4)Beings with three sense. 5)Beings with four sense. 6)Beings with five sense without mind. 7)Beings with five sense with a mind. These can be under-developed or developed which makes it a total of 14. Humans get any form of existence and are the only ones which can attain salvation. The followers are called "Jains," a word derived from the Sanskrit word "Jina" meaning "victory" and connoting the path of victory in crossing over life's stream of rebirths through an ethical and spiritual life.
- Buddhism is the world 4th-largest religion or 7% of the global population, known as Buddhists. It is an Indian religion attributed to the teachings of the Buddha. He was moved by the innate suffering of humanity and its endless repetition due to rebirth. He set out on a quest to end this repeated suffering.
He first studied under Vedic teachers, learning meditation and ancient philosophies, particularly the concept of "nothingness, emptiness" and "what is neither seen nor unseen." Finding this teachings to be insufficient to attain his goal, he turned to the practice of a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from sensual pleasures, often to the purpose of pursuing spiritual goals. Then he turned to the practice of meditation, which he had already pursued in his youth. He famously sat in meditation under a sacred Fig Tree. He gained insight and attained enlightenment. He attracted followers and founded a monastic order (Sangha). Now, as the Budha, he spent the rest of his life teaching what he had discovered and died at the age of 80 in India. His teachings were propagated by his followers, and in the last centuries of the 1st millennium BCE, 18 Buddhist sub-school of though were founded, each with its own basket of texts containing different interpretations of Buddha's teachings.
- Sikhism was founded in Punjab area of South Asia, which now falls into the present day states of India and Pakistan. The Sikh faith began around 1500 CE, when Guru Nanak (1469-1539) began teaching a faith that draw from the religious ideas of Hindu and Islamic thought. He was already an original spiritual thinker and expressed his thoughts in extraordinary poetry that became the basis of Sikh scripture.
Nanak's birth and early years were marked with many events that demonstrated that God had marked him out for something special and was keeping an eye on him. He soon showed an advanced interest in religion and studied Islam and Hinduism extensively. As a child he demonstrated great ability as a poet and philosopher. One famous story about him tells of his rebellion at the age of 11. At this age Hindu boys of his caste would star to wear the sacred thread to distinguish them. Nanak refused to wear the sacred thread by saying that people should be distinguished by the things that they did, and their individual qualities, rather than by a thread.
Nanak continued to demonstrate a radical spiritual streak by arguing with local holy men and sages, both Hindu and Muslim, that external things like pilgrimages, penances and poverty were of far less spiritual importance than internal changes to the individual's soul.
He worked for a while as an accountant but while still quite young decided to devote himself to spiritual matters. He was inspired by a powerful spiritual experience that gave him a vision of the true nature of God, and confirmed his idea that the way to spiritual thought was through meditation and through living in a way that reflected the presence of the divine within each human being.
In 1946, although married and having a family because of his family tradition in the Hindu faith, Nanak set out on a set of spiritual journeys through India, Tibet and Arabia that lasted nearly 30 years.
Nanak studied and debated with learned men he met along the way and as his ideas took shape he began to teach a new route to spiritual fulfillment. The last part of his life was spent at Katarpur in the Punjab, where he was joined by many disciples attracted by his teachings.
The most famous teachings attributed to Nakar are that there is only one God, and that all human beings can have direct access to God with no need of rituals or priests. His most radical social teachings denounced the caste system and taught that everyone is equal, regardless of caste or gender.
Sunday, 9 September 2018
THE MEANING OF KIDRON VALLEY.
The Kidron Valley is frequently mentioned in the New Testament as being crossed by Jesus in his journeyings to and fro (John 18). It was through this Valley that Jesus walked to go from Jerusalem to the Garden of Gethsemane immediately prior to His arrest and His death by crucifixion. It was at Gethsemane that the Lord felt the full force of His upcoming death. It was also at Gethsemane that we see the Lord's perfect unselfish submission to the Will of His Father. Also, Judas Ischariot travelled the same path to Gethsemane, resulting in the betrayal and arrest of Christ.
In the Book of Matthew, the Kidron Valley is mentioned as the place where Jesus was tempted by Satan. It says: "Then, after Jesus was baptized, he was led out into the Wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted there by the Devil. For 40 days and 40 nights Jesus ate nothing and became very hungry. Then the Devil came and said to Him, 'if you are the Son of God, change these stones into loaves of bread.' But Jesus told him, 'No! The Scripture says, People need more than bread for their life; they must feed on every Word of God.' Then the Devil took Jesus to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, 'if you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scripture says, God orders His Angels to protect you. And they will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your food on a stone.' Jesus responded to the Devil, 'the Scripture also says, Do not test the Lord your God.' Next the Devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him the nations of the World and all their glory and said, 'I will give it all to you if you will only kneel down and worship me.' "Get out of here, Satan,' Jesus told him. 'For the Scripture says, 'You must worship the Lord your God; serve only Him.' Then the Devil went away, and angels came and cared for Jesus.
The Book of Mark mention the Kidron Valley in relation to Jesus by saying: "Immediately after finishing supper, Jesus and his disciples leave the Old City and cross the Kidron Valley heading towards the Mount of Olives."
The Hebrew name Kidron is derived from the root "Qadar,"meaning "to be dark, ashy dark color, or turbid" The Valley is related to the feeling of sorrow, the state of mourning and death.
The central point of reference for the Upper Kidron Valley (a mountain ravine) today is its confluence of Jerusalem's richest concentration of rock-hewn tombs and graves. Burying people here became a practice in the days of Josiah (2 Kings) in the Second temple period. Its precipitous, rocky banks (outskirts of the Old City) are filled with ancient tombs, especially the left bank opposite the Temple area. The greatest desire of the Jews of today is to be buried there, from the idea that the Kidron is the Valley of Jehoshaphat mentioned in the Book of Joel. Through this mountain ravine no water runs, except after heavy rains in the mountains round about Jerusalem.
In the Old Testament the Scripture says in the Book of Jeremiah: "The days are coming"declares the Lord, "when this City will be rebuilt... The whole Valley where dead bodies and ashes are thrown, and all the terraces out to the Kidron Valley on the East as far as the corner of the Horse Gate, will be holy to the Lord. The City will never again be uprooted or demolish."
In Christian tradition the similarity between the Greek word for "cedar"(kedros) and the Greek name of the valley "Kedron," has led to the Kidron Valley being wrongly called "Valley of the Cedars."
The Kidron Valley is on the Eastern side of the Old City of Jerusalem, and runs North-South separating the Eastern Wall of the Temple Mount from the Mount of Olives (the city of David). The Valley then continues through the Judean desert in the West Bank towards the Dead Sea, descending 4000 feet along its 20-mile course. It is important to realize that the Kidron Valley was much deeper 2,000 years ago. The bottom of the Valley has been raised by the rubble and debris of centuries falling into it.
The Gih'On Spring naturally filled this Valley, but the settlers of Jerusalem diverted the natural water into pools and channels to be used by the city. In the Book of Genesis, the Gih'On (to burst forth) is described as one of the 4 Rivers that branched out from the main River issued on Eden and "encircling the entire land of Cush."
At various times in the Old Testament it was at Kidron, where false idols were destroyed, symbolically representing termination, or death of idolatry itself. This took place 3 different times: under the rule of Asa (1 King 15, under the rule of Josiah (2 Kings 23), and under the rule of Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 29;30).
In 2 Samuel, a situation is described involving King David fleeing bare-foot and weeping, across the Valley of Kidron up to the Mount of Olives with all his followers, to escape his son Absalon.
In 2 Kings, Athaliah is mentioned as being executed at the entrance to the King's House, out to the Gate where the horses enter the palace grounds, in the Kidron Valley, after her evil reign in Judah was brought to a violent end.
The Kidron Valley afterwards became the receptacle for all manner of impurities. 2 Chronicles 29 says,
Hezekiah was 29 years old when he became the king of Judah and he reigned in Jerusalem 29 years. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. He did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight, just as his ancestor David had done. ..Hezekiah reopened the doors of the Temple of the Lord and repair them.
He summoned the priests and Levites to meet him at the Courtyard East of the Temple. He said, "Listen to me, you Levites! Purify yourselves, and purify the Temple of the Lord, the God of your ancestors. Remove all the defiled things from the sanctuary. Our ancestors were unfaithful and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, our God. They abandoned the Lord and His Temple; they turned their backs on Him. They also shut the doors of the Temple's foyer, and they snuffled out the lamps. They stopped burning incense and presenting Burnt Offerings at the sanctuary of the God of Israel. That is why the Lord's Anger has fallen upon Judah and Jerusalem. He has made us an object of dread, horror, and ridicule, as you can so plainly see. Our fathers have been killed in battle and our sons and daughters and wives are in captivity. But now i will make a Covenant with he Lord, the God of Israel, so that His fierce anger will turn away from us. My dear Levites, do not neglect your duties any longer! The Lord has chosen you to stand in His presence, to minister to Him, and to lead the people in worship and make offerings to Him." ... The work began (by specific men whose names were mentioned) on a Day in early Spring. These men called together their fellow Levites, and they purified themselves. Then they began to purify the Temple of he Lord. They were careful to follow all the Lord's instructions in their work. The priests went into the sanctuary of the Temple of the Lord to cleanse it, and they took out to the Temple Courtyard all the defiled things they found. From there the Levites carted it all out to the Kidron Valley. In 8 Days they had reached the foyer of the Lord's Temple. Then they purified the Temple of the Lord itself, which took another 8 days. So the entire task was completed in 16 Days.
The Lord's end times renovation of Kidron is a beautiful picture of us being saved permanently from the darkness of sin to the light of God's Holiness.
In the Book of Matthew, the Kidron Valley is mentioned as the place where Jesus was tempted by Satan. It says: "Then, after Jesus was baptized, he was led out into the Wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted there by the Devil. For 40 days and 40 nights Jesus ate nothing and became very hungry. Then the Devil came and said to Him, 'if you are the Son of God, change these stones into loaves of bread.' But Jesus told him, 'No! The Scripture says, People need more than bread for their life; they must feed on every Word of God.' Then the Devil took Jesus to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, 'if you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scripture says, God orders His Angels to protect you. And they will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your food on a stone.' Jesus responded to the Devil, 'the Scripture also says, Do not test the Lord your God.' Next the Devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him the nations of the World and all their glory and said, 'I will give it all to you if you will only kneel down and worship me.' "Get out of here, Satan,' Jesus told him. 'For the Scripture says, 'You must worship the Lord your God; serve only Him.' Then the Devil went away, and angels came and cared for Jesus.
The Book of Mark mention the Kidron Valley in relation to Jesus by saying: "Immediately after finishing supper, Jesus and his disciples leave the Old City and cross the Kidron Valley heading towards the Mount of Olives."
The Hebrew name Kidron is derived from the root "Qadar,"meaning "to be dark, ashy dark color, or turbid" The Valley is related to the feeling of sorrow, the state of mourning and death.
The central point of reference for the Upper Kidron Valley (a mountain ravine) today is its confluence of Jerusalem's richest concentration of rock-hewn tombs and graves. Burying people here became a practice in the days of Josiah (2 Kings) in the Second temple period. Its precipitous, rocky banks (outskirts of the Old City) are filled with ancient tombs, especially the left bank opposite the Temple area. The greatest desire of the Jews of today is to be buried there, from the idea that the Kidron is the Valley of Jehoshaphat mentioned in the Book of Joel. Through this mountain ravine no water runs, except after heavy rains in the mountains round about Jerusalem.
In the Old Testament the Scripture says in the Book of Jeremiah: "The days are coming"declares the Lord, "when this City will be rebuilt... The whole Valley where dead bodies and ashes are thrown, and all the terraces out to the Kidron Valley on the East as far as the corner of the Horse Gate, will be holy to the Lord. The City will never again be uprooted or demolish."
In Christian tradition the similarity between the Greek word for "cedar"(kedros) and the Greek name of the valley "Kedron," has led to the Kidron Valley being wrongly called "Valley of the Cedars."
The Kidron Valley is on the Eastern side of the Old City of Jerusalem, and runs North-South separating the Eastern Wall of the Temple Mount from the Mount of Olives (the city of David). The Valley then continues through the Judean desert in the West Bank towards the Dead Sea, descending 4000 feet along its 20-mile course. It is important to realize that the Kidron Valley was much deeper 2,000 years ago. The bottom of the Valley has been raised by the rubble and debris of centuries falling into it.
The Gih'On Spring naturally filled this Valley, but the settlers of Jerusalem diverted the natural water into pools and channels to be used by the city. In the Book of Genesis, the Gih'On (to burst forth) is described as one of the 4 Rivers that branched out from the main River issued on Eden and "encircling the entire land of Cush."
At various times in the Old Testament it was at Kidron, where false idols were destroyed, symbolically representing termination, or death of idolatry itself. This took place 3 different times: under the rule of Asa (1 King 15, under the rule of Josiah (2 Kings 23), and under the rule of Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 29;30).
In 2 Samuel, a situation is described involving King David fleeing bare-foot and weeping, across the Valley of Kidron up to the Mount of Olives with all his followers, to escape his son Absalon.
In 2 Kings, Athaliah is mentioned as being executed at the entrance to the King's House, out to the Gate where the horses enter the palace grounds, in the Kidron Valley, after her evil reign in Judah was brought to a violent end.
The Kidron Valley afterwards became the receptacle for all manner of impurities. 2 Chronicles 29 says,
Hezekiah was 29 years old when he became the king of Judah and he reigned in Jerusalem 29 years. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. He did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight, just as his ancestor David had done. ..Hezekiah reopened the doors of the Temple of the Lord and repair them.
He summoned the priests and Levites to meet him at the Courtyard East of the Temple. He said, "Listen to me, you Levites! Purify yourselves, and purify the Temple of the Lord, the God of your ancestors. Remove all the defiled things from the sanctuary. Our ancestors were unfaithful and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, our God. They abandoned the Lord and His Temple; they turned their backs on Him. They also shut the doors of the Temple's foyer, and they snuffled out the lamps. They stopped burning incense and presenting Burnt Offerings at the sanctuary of the God of Israel. That is why the Lord's Anger has fallen upon Judah and Jerusalem. He has made us an object of dread, horror, and ridicule, as you can so plainly see. Our fathers have been killed in battle and our sons and daughters and wives are in captivity. But now i will make a Covenant with he Lord, the God of Israel, so that His fierce anger will turn away from us. My dear Levites, do not neglect your duties any longer! The Lord has chosen you to stand in His presence, to minister to Him, and to lead the people in worship and make offerings to Him." ... The work began (by specific men whose names were mentioned) on a Day in early Spring. These men called together their fellow Levites, and they purified themselves. Then they began to purify the Temple of he Lord. They were careful to follow all the Lord's instructions in their work. The priests went into the sanctuary of the Temple of the Lord to cleanse it, and they took out to the Temple Courtyard all the defiled things they found. From there the Levites carted it all out to the Kidron Valley. In 8 Days they had reached the foyer of the Lord's Temple. Then they purified the Temple of the Lord itself, which took another 8 days. So the entire task was completed in 16 Days.
The Lord's end times renovation of Kidron is a beautiful picture of us being saved permanently from the darkness of sin to the light of God's Holiness.
Thursday, 23 August 2018
WHO WAS ELIJAH?
Elijah was the last and one of the foremost Hebrew prophets and a supernatural worker in the two Books of Kings in the Old Testament. His name means "my God is YHWH." Elijah's home was in Tish'Beth, a village in the land of Gilead, East of the Jordan River. He started his long career as prophet during the reign of King Ahab of Israel and his Phoenician-born queen Jezebel, and continued as such during the reign of Ahab's son Ahaziah. The last time he is mentioned serving as a prophet (this time for Judah) is toward the end of the 8th Year reign of King Jehoram of Judah (2 Chronicles 21; 2 Kings: 8).
Israel, still united under Solomon, it was ripped in two as it is mentioned in the Scripture:- the Northern kingdom of Israel and -the Southern kingdom of Judah which retained Jerusalem along whit its Temple.
The first king of the 10-tribe kingdom of Israel, Jeroboam, was the son of Nebat, one of Solomon's officers in the village of Zered'Ah; of the tribe of Ephraim. At an early age Jeroboam was left fatherless, to be raised by his widowed mother Zeru'Ah (1King 11). When Solomon observed that Jeroboam was not only a valiant, mighty man but also a hard worker, he was put in charge of the compulsory labor force of the House of Joseph. Subsequently, God's prophet Ahij'Ah approached him with specific news. After tearing his new garment into 12 pieces the prophet told Jeroboam to take 10 of them in a way to symbolize how God would rip Solomon's kingdom in 2 and make Jeroboam king over 10 of the tribes.This was a governmental division and not a departure from true worship centered at the temple in Jerusalem, the capital of the Southern Kingdom. So God assured Jeroboam that He would bless and prosper his reign and build him a lasting House of Successors as long as he keeps God's Law and Commandments (1King11:40).
It was upon learning of these events that Solomon sought to kill Jeroboam. He fled to Egypt and there under the sheltering protection of Pharaoh Shishak he remained alive until the death of Solomon. Upon the news he quickly returned to his homeland where he joined his people that at that specific time were demanding that Solomon's son, Rehoboam, lighten their burdens if he wanted the support of the 10 tribes to his kingship. Rehoboam disregarded the good advice of the older counselors in taking the supporting offer, preferring to take the advice of his younger companions who told him to increase the workload of the people. The 10 tribes responded to this harshness by making Jeroboam their king. This turn of affairs took place in order to make Jeroboam the one to carry out the task that God had spoken by means of Abij'Ah the prophet (1Kings 12; 2 Chronicles 10). Jeroboam immediately set about to build up Shechem as his royal capital, and East of Shechem, on the other side of the Jordan, he fortified the settlement of Penuel (Peniel), the place where Jacob had wrestled with an angel (Genesis 32).
Jeroboam, upon seeing his subjects streaming up to the temple in Jerusalem to worship God, he thought in a human way that in time his subjects might switch their allegiance to Rehoboam and kill him.
So, to secure himself in his post, Jeroboam designed a religion centered around 2 golden calves, which he set up, one at Beth'El in the South, the other at Dan in the North, with his own non-Aaronic priest-hood, composed of those among the people in general who were willing to procure the office by offering 1bull and 7 rams. These designed religion then served for the high places, for the goat-shaped demons and for the calves that he had made. He also invented special holy days and personally led the people in sacrificing to his newly created gods (1 Kings 12; 2 Kings 22; 2 Chron 11; 13).
Omri, succeeded him as King of Israel and continued the policies of king Jeroboam, contrary to God's Law. He also encouraged the building of local temple altars for sacrifices and worship of Baal. He, for a time, achieved economic prosperity and domestic security using a marriage alliance between his son Ahab and princess Jezebel, a priestess of Baal and daughter of the king of Sidon. But the marriage did not bring peace between the spiritual forces at stake. The true prophets of God exercised at that time a very strict interpretation and application of God's Law to the people who followed the true worship of the God of Israel. The tensions grew and this was the time when the spiritual and moral condition of the people of Israel fell to an alarmingly low state. Ahab, committed to build a strong worship for Baal and Asherah, his wife Jezebel, a priestesses and queen of the Northern kingdom, brought a large entourage of Baal &Asherah's priests, priestesses and prophets into their territory.
It is in this context that Elijah is introduced in 1Kings 17 as Elijah "the Tish'Bite." He is sent by God to announce chastisement. With his first reported words: "As the Lord, the God of Israel before whom I do stand Is Living," he pointed out that the living God of Israel made a decree that no sacred rain or dew will occur for a period of Years, except at Elijah's word (3 Years and 6 Months). After this, God directed Elijah to the Torrent Valley of Cherith to the East of the Jordan in the territory of the Tribe of Gad. Here ravens brought food to him. He got sacred water from the Torrent Valley, which in God's due time dried up. God continued to guide him, sending him across to the Western side of Ahab's land to Zarephath, between Sidon and Tyre, where Ahab's father-in-law Eth'Baal was ruling (1 King 16).
In this place, Elijah meets a widow preparing a final meal for herself and her son with their very last bit of sacred flour and oil. He requested the widow to make a cake for him promising that the provision of the God of Israel would protect her and her son during the sacred drought. Because she recognized him as a man of God she complied to his request and she received the blessing. During Elijah's stay in her home the widow's son died. Elijah prayed to God, and God brought him to life. Many believers have the thought that the widow's son was Jonah, the prophet who disobeyed God's command, and since the Scripture teaches God's Law in a very symbolic way, the thought is correct.
Eventually God instructed Elijah to show himself to Ahab requesting a meeting with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asher'Ah on Mount Carmel. Elijah proposed a test to prove Who is the True God to be followed in front of all the people of Israel. Whichever god answer by consuming a bull sacrificing to him is to be acknowledge by all. Baal is first called on, but in vain, no proof that Baal is a living god, although his prophets kept praying to him even cutting themselves according to their ritual.
Elijah mercilessly mocked them, increasing their frenzy (1 Kings 18). Now Elijah was free to perform his act. He mended an altar that had been torn down using 12 stones. Then he had the priests soaking in water the offering and the altar 3 times with the trench around the altar circumscribing the squared area filled with the water. About the time of the daily evening Grain Offering, Elijah payed once to the God of Israel, the only living God, and Fire came from the heavens consuming not just the offering, but also the wood, the stones of the altar and the water in the trench. The people seeing this, fell upon their faces saying: "God is the true living God of Israel!" Then Elijah slaughtered all the 450 prophets of Baal at the torrent Valley of Kish'On. Then God answered Elijah's prayer and broke the drought by a downpour of sacred rain.
On being informed of the death of Baal's prophets, Jezebel vowed to have Elijah put to death. Elijah fled in fear Southwestward of Beer-Sheba, to the West of the lower Dead Sea. Leaving his attendant there, he went still farther into the wilderness, praying to die. Here the angel of the Lord appeared to him, to prepare Elijah for a long journey to the sacred mountain of the True God, Horeb. Sustained for 40 days by what he ate on his journey, he arrived at Horeb. Then God spoke to him after a display of His Power in an awe-inspiring wind, earthquake and fire. Unlike the personalized and idolized power of Baal as the god of sky, storm, weather and vegetation, that represent natural forces, God showed to Elijah that He is not in these manifestations, which are merely expressions of His Active Force. Then God manifested to Elijah His Power with the purpose of correcting Elijah's thought about considering himself the lone worshiper of God in Israel. God showed him the 7,000 ones who have not bowed to Baal's power. Elijah was sent back to his assignment, naming 3 persons who were to be anointed or commissioned to do a work for God: Hazael as king over Syria, Jehu as king over Israel, and his own successor Elisha (1 Kings 19). Time later, the greedy Baal-worshiper Ahab, illegally seized a sacred vineyard, the hereditary possession of Nab'Oth the Jezre'Elite, by allowing his wife to use false charges, false witnesses and unrighteous judges to have Nab'Oth murdered. Elijah met Ahab at the vineyard and told him that his blood will be licked up by dogs at the same place where the dogs licked up the blood of Nab'Oth. Elijah also announced a similar fate for Jezebel. Three Years later Ahab died in battle. His war chariot was washed by the pool of Samaria and the dogs licked up his blood. Time later, his wife was executed and also her blood was licked by dogs.
Then the time for Elijah to transfer his sacred mantle of his prophetic office to Elisha, came. Elijah went to Beth'El, from there to Jericho and then down to the Jordan. Elisha sticked close to him all the way. Because of his faithfulness Elisha is rewarded by seeing a fiery war chariot with fiery horses and Elijah ascending to the heavens in a windstorm, and at the same time Elijah's garment fell off him and it was received by Elisha and the two parts (like a firstborn son's portion) of Elijah's spirit.
In Matthew 10, Jesus shadows the same circumstances that occurred in Elijah's time by saying: "Those who declare publicly that they belong to Me, I will do the same for them before My Father in heaven. But those who reject Me publicly, I will reject them before My Father in Heaven. Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the world. No, I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. I came to set sons against their fathers, daughters against their mothers, daughters-in-law against their mothers-in-law, your worst enemies will be the members of your own family. Those who love their father or mother more than me are not fit to be My disciples; those who love their son or daughter more than me are not fit to be My disciples.Those who do not take up their cross and follow in My steps are not fit to be My disciples. Those who try to gain their own life will lose it; but those who lose their life for My sake will gain it."
Ahab and his queen Jezebel, stand at the end of a line of kings of Israel who are said to have "done evil in the sight of the Lord" it projects the same end of times in which all believers are going to be tested and the circumstances of today proved to be the same.
Elijah is the one who holds the keys of the priesthood and is portrayed as the leader of the school of prophets known as "the sons of the prophets," that was continued by his successor Elisha.
Israel, still united under Solomon, it was ripped in two as it is mentioned in the Scripture:- the Northern kingdom of Israel and -the Southern kingdom of Judah which retained Jerusalem along whit its Temple.
The first king of the 10-tribe kingdom of Israel, Jeroboam, was the son of Nebat, one of Solomon's officers in the village of Zered'Ah; of the tribe of Ephraim. At an early age Jeroboam was left fatherless, to be raised by his widowed mother Zeru'Ah (1King 11). When Solomon observed that Jeroboam was not only a valiant, mighty man but also a hard worker, he was put in charge of the compulsory labor force of the House of Joseph. Subsequently, God's prophet Ahij'Ah approached him with specific news. After tearing his new garment into 12 pieces the prophet told Jeroboam to take 10 of them in a way to symbolize how God would rip Solomon's kingdom in 2 and make Jeroboam king over 10 of the tribes.This was a governmental division and not a departure from true worship centered at the temple in Jerusalem, the capital of the Southern Kingdom. So God assured Jeroboam that He would bless and prosper his reign and build him a lasting House of Successors as long as he keeps God's Law and Commandments (1King11:40).
It was upon learning of these events that Solomon sought to kill Jeroboam. He fled to Egypt and there under the sheltering protection of Pharaoh Shishak he remained alive until the death of Solomon. Upon the news he quickly returned to his homeland where he joined his people that at that specific time were demanding that Solomon's son, Rehoboam, lighten their burdens if he wanted the support of the 10 tribes to his kingship. Rehoboam disregarded the good advice of the older counselors in taking the supporting offer, preferring to take the advice of his younger companions who told him to increase the workload of the people. The 10 tribes responded to this harshness by making Jeroboam their king. This turn of affairs took place in order to make Jeroboam the one to carry out the task that God had spoken by means of Abij'Ah the prophet (1Kings 12; 2 Chronicles 10). Jeroboam immediately set about to build up Shechem as his royal capital, and East of Shechem, on the other side of the Jordan, he fortified the settlement of Penuel (Peniel), the place where Jacob had wrestled with an angel (Genesis 32).
Jeroboam, upon seeing his subjects streaming up to the temple in Jerusalem to worship God, he thought in a human way that in time his subjects might switch their allegiance to Rehoboam and kill him.
So, to secure himself in his post, Jeroboam designed a religion centered around 2 golden calves, which he set up, one at Beth'El in the South, the other at Dan in the North, with his own non-Aaronic priest-hood, composed of those among the people in general who were willing to procure the office by offering 1bull and 7 rams. These designed religion then served for the high places, for the goat-shaped demons and for the calves that he had made. He also invented special holy days and personally led the people in sacrificing to his newly created gods (1 Kings 12; 2 Kings 22; 2 Chron 11; 13).
Omri, succeeded him as King of Israel and continued the policies of king Jeroboam, contrary to God's Law. He also encouraged the building of local temple altars for sacrifices and worship of Baal. He, for a time, achieved economic prosperity and domestic security using a marriage alliance between his son Ahab and princess Jezebel, a priestess of Baal and daughter of the king of Sidon. But the marriage did not bring peace between the spiritual forces at stake. The true prophets of God exercised at that time a very strict interpretation and application of God's Law to the people who followed the true worship of the God of Israel. The tensions grew and this was the time when the spiritual and moral condition of the people of Israel fell to an alarmingly low state. Ahab, committed to build a strong worship for Baal and Asherah, his wife Jezebel, a priestesses and queen of the Northern kingdom, brought a large entourage of Baal &Asherah's priests, priestesses and prophets into their territory.
It is in this context that Elijah is introduced in 1Kings 17 as Elijah "the Tish'Bite." He is sent by God to announce chastisement. With his first reported words: "As the Lord, the God of Israel before whom I do stand Is Living," he pointed out that the living God of Israel made a decree that no sacred rain or dew will occur for a period of Years, except at Elijah's word (3 Years and 6 Months). After this, God directed Elijah to the Torrent Valley of Cherith to the East of the Jordan in the territory of the Tribe of Gad. Here ravens brought food to him. He got sacred water from the Torrent Valley, which in God's due time dried up. God continued to guide him, sending him across to the Western side of Ahab's land to Zarephath, between Sidon and Tyre, where Ahab's father-in-law Eth'Baal was ruling (1 King 16).
In this place, Elijah meets a widow preparing a final meal for herself and her son with their very last bit of sacred flour and oil. He requested the widow to make a cake for him promising that the provision of the God of Israel would protect her and her son during the sacred drought. Because she recognized him as a man of God she complied to his request and she received the blessing. During Elijah's stay in her home the widow's son died. Elijah prayed to God, and God brought him to life. Many believers have the thought that the widow's son was Jonah, the prophet who disobeyed God's command, and since the Scripture teaches God's Law in a very symbolic way, the thought is correct.
Eventually God instructed Elijah to show himself to Ahab requesting a meeting with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asher'Ah on Mount Carmel. Elijah proposed a test to prove Who is the True God to be followed in front of all the people of Israel. Whichever god answer by consuming a bull sacrificing to him is to be acknowledge by all. Baal is first called on, but in vain, no proof that Baal is a living god, although his prophets kept praying to him even cutting themselves according to their ritual.
Elijah mercilessly mocked them, increasing their frenzy (1 Kings 18). Now Elijah was free to perform his act. He mended an altar that had been torn down using 12 stones. Then he had the priests soaking in water the offering and the altar 3 times with the trench around the altar circumscribing the squared area filled with the water. About the time of the daily evening Grain Offering, Elijah payed once to the God of Israel, the only living God, and Fire came from the heavens consuming not just the offering, but also the wood, the stones of the altar and the water in the trench. The people seeing this, fell upon their faces saying: "God is the true living God of Israel!" Then Elijah slaughtered all the 450 prophets of Baal at the torrent Valley of Kish'On. Then God answered Elijah's prayer and broke the drought by a downpour of sacred rain.
On being informed of the death of Baal's prophets, Jezebel vowed to have Elijah put to death. Elijah fled in fear Southwestward of Beer-Sheba, to the West of the lower Dead Sea. Leaving his attendant there, he went still farther into the wilderness, praying to die. Here the angel of the Lord appeared to him, to prepare Elijah for a long journey to the sacred mountain of the True God, Horeb. Sustained for 40 days by what he ate on his journey, he arrived at Horeb. Then God spoke to him after a display of His Power in an awe-inspiring wind, earthquake and fire. Unlike the personalized and idolized power of Baal as the god of sky, storm, weather and vegetation, that represent natural forces, God showed to Elijah that He is not in these manifestations, which are merely expressions of His Active Force. Then God manifested to Elijah His Power with the purpose of correcting Elijah's thought about considering himself the lone worshiper of God in Israel. God showed him the 7,000 ones who have not bowed to Baal's power. Elijah was sent back to his assignment, naming 3 persons who were to be anointed or commissioned to do a work for God: Hazael as king over Syria, Jehu as king over Israel, and his own successor Elisha (1 Kings 19). Time later, the greedy Baal-worshiper Ahab, illegally seized a sacred vineyard, the hereditary possession of Nab'Oth the Jezre'Elite, by allowing his wife to use false charges, false witnesses and unrighteous judges to have Nab'Oth murdered. Elijah met Ahab at the vineyard and told him that his blood will be licked up by dogs at the same place where the dogs licked up the blood of Nab'Oth. Elijah also announced a similar fate for Jezebel. Three Years later Ahab died in battle. His war chariot was washed by the pool of Samaria and the dogs licked up his blood. Time later, his wife was executed and also her blood was licked by dogs.
Then the time for Elijah to transfer his sacred mantle of his prophetic office to Elisha, came. Elijah went to Beth'El, from there to Jericho and then down to the Jordan. Elisha sticked close to him all the way. Because of his faithfulness Elisha is rewarded by seeing a fiery war chariot with fiery horses and Elijah ascending to the heavens in a windstorm, and at the same time Elijah's garment fell off him and it was received by Elisha and the two parts (like a firstborn son's portion) of Elijah's spirit.
In Matthew 10, Jesus shadows the same circumstances that occurred in Elijah's time by saying: "Those who declare publicly that they belong to Me, I will do the same for them before My Father in heaven. But those who reject Me publicly, I will reject them before My Father in Heaven. Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the world. No, I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. I came to set sons against their fathers, daughters against their mothers, daughters-in-law against their mothers-in-law, your worst enemies will be the members of your own family. Those who love their father or mother more than me are not fit to be My disciples; those who love their son or daughter more than me are not fit to be My disciples.Those who do not take up their cross and follow in My steps are not fit to be My disciples. Those who try to gain their own life will lose it; but those who lose their life for My sake will gain it."
Ahab and his queen Jezebel, stand at the end of a line of kings of Israel who are said to have "done evil in the sight of the Lord" it projects the same end of times in which all believers are going to be tested and the circumstances of today proved to be the same.
Elijah is the one who holds the keys of the priesthood and is portrayed as the leader of the school of prophets known as "the sons of the prophets," that was continued by his successor Elisha.
Friday, 20 July 2018
THE WISDOM OF THE PROVERBS.
The Book of Proverbs contains many valuable lessons for everyone. Over thousands of years, it has taught billions of people how to live their lives and how to improve their lives as well. It is packed with life lessons and insights that are still very valuable to our lives in the world of today.
The very beginning of Wisdom is fearing the Lord. This fear is not the kind of fear of being struck dead but one reverential fear, respect of His Laws, and deep admiration of His Glory. To have this fear we must continually abide in His Word, the Scripture. The more we know about God the more we learn to fear Him. Where there is no fear there is no Wisdom.
Wisdom is the ability to discern which aspects of knowledge are true, right, lasting, and applicable to our personal life. Knowledge is made of about facts and ideas that we acquire through investigation, observation or experience. Insight is a truer understanding, and the deepest and clearest perception of life . It grasp the underlying nature of knowledge, and the essence of wisdom. Proverbs 2 says: "Indeed if you Call Out For Insight, Cry Aloud For Understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for gold, then you will Understand the Fear of the Lord and Find Knowledge of God" (3-5).
Some Scriptural verses tell us how things were wrong when every man did what was right in his own eyes (Judges 17:6; 21:25). The idea of Trusting God is trusting in What He Says and what He says is often contrary to what humans believe. Proverbs 16:20 says: "Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who Trust In The Lord." The more we lean on our own ideas we are showing a lack of Trust in God. Our own understanding lead us to a hard fall and eventually to an eternal death.
The greatest way to build discernment is to lean in God's Words for it has power to discern what is the best path to take. It is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Dark paths lead us to death.
David knew this kind of power and that is why he wrote "The Law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The Statutes of the Lord are Trustworthy, making wise the simple"(Psalm 19:7).
It is not a coincidence that there is so much Wisdom in the Book of Proverbs. It has 31 chapters that are there waiting to be read and become part of our deep thinking. They reveal God's perspective on our daily life, increasing our power of observation and the effect that they bring is to gain Wisdom day by day. They comments extensively on relationships, mentioning more than 180 different kinds of people. Each of them may speak about our friends, neighbors, coworkers, and even our enemies.
Some Proverbs refer to behavioral patterns that God either applauds or condemn pinpointing the behavior that God wants us to implement or curb. Other Proverbs describe the positive or negative consequences of a particular course of action motivating us to discard unwise behaviors. For example, Proverbs 15:25 warns us about the damaging consequences of pride: "The Lord tears down the proud man's house." Also Proverbs 16:18 says: "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before fall."
Over 100 verses in the Book of Proverbs talk about the tongue describing conversational sins. When we provide an apt answer or a timely word, it is because we adopted a listening posture before we talk.
Spend time meditating on each one of the chapters and commit to your memory verses that challenged you the most or left the biggest impression in your conscience. For example, if you have a tendency of being rude in your conversational manners remember Proverbs 1:15 that says: "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Proverbs 14:30 says as well: "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones."
Applying Truth from Proverbs to stimulate the growing of your personal character in your walk with God, remember them as practical tools to enhance your vision and not a legalistic straightjacket. Think of it as a kaleidoscopic approach that enables us to see many facets of Truth in each of the chapters and soak deeply on the Wisdom of this practical Book of Proverbs.
The very beginning of Wisdom is fearing the Lord. This fear is not the kind of fear of being struck dead but one reverential fear, respect of His Laws, and deep admiration of His Glory. To have this fear we must continually abide in His Word, the Scripture. The more we know about God the more we learn to fear Him. Where there is no fear there is no Wisdom.
Wisdom is the ability to discern which aspects of knowledge are true, right, lasting, and applicable to our personal life. Knowledge is made of about facts and ideas that we acquire through investigation, observation or experience. Insight is a truer understanding, and the deepest and clearest perception of life . It grasp the underlying nature of knowledge, and the essence of wisdom. Proverbs 2 says: "Indeed if you Call Out For Insight, Cry Aloud For Understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for gold, then you will Understand the Fear of the Lord and Find Knowledge of God" (3-5).
Some Scriptural verses tell us how things were wrong when every man did what was right in his own eyes (Judges 17:6; 21:25). The idea of Trusting God is trusting in What He Says and what He says is often contrary to what humans believe. Proverbs 16:20 says: "Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who Trust In The Lord." The more we lean on our own ideas we are showing a lack of Trust in God. Our own understanding lead us to a hard fall and eventually to an eternal death.
The greatest way to build discernment is to lean in God's Words for it has power to discern what is the best path to take. It is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Dark paths lead us to death.
David knew this kind of power and that is why he wrote "The Law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The Statutes of the Lord are Trustworthy, making wise the simple"(Psalm 19:7).
It is not a coincidence that there is so much Wisdom in the Book of Proverbs. It has 31 chapters that are there waiting to be read and become part of our deep thinking. They reveal God's perspective on our daily life, increasing our power of observation and the effect that they bring is to gain Wisdom day by day. They comments extensively on relationships, mentioning more than 180 different kinds of people. Each of them may speak about our friends, neighbors, coworkers, and even our enemies.
Some Proverbs refer to behavioral patterns that God either applauds or condemn pinpointing the behavior that God wants us to implement or curb. Other Proverbs describe the positive or negative consequences of a particular course of action motivating us to discard unwise behaviors. For example, Proverbs 15:25 warns us about the damaging consequences of pride: "The Lord tears down the proud man's house." Also Proverbs 16:18 says: "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before fall."
Over 100 verses in the Book of Proverbs talk about the tongue describing conversational sins. When we provide an apt answer or a timely word, it is because we adopted a listening posture before we talk.
Spend time meditating on each one of the chapters and commit to your memory verses that challenged you the most or left the biggest impression in your conscience. For example, if you have a tendency of being rude in your conversational manners remember Proverbs 1:15 that says: "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Proverbs 14:30 says as well: "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones."
Applying Truth from Proverbs to stimulate the growing of your personal character in your walk with God, remember them as practical tools to enhance your vision and not a legalistic straightjacket. Think of it as a kaleidoscopic approach that enables us to see many facets of Truth in each of the chapters and soak deeply on the Wisdom of this practical Book of Proverbs.
Sunday, 15 July 2018
ANCIENT EDUCATION IN MESOPOTAMIA.
In ancient Israel, the chief source of information regarding education was the teachings written in the Old Testament. The writers of the Old testament were not interested in education as it is known now in the Western world, instead they were more concerned about the transmission of ceremonial traditions, and the provision of information concerning this type of educational processes.
This evidence is supplemented by other literary sources and archaeological discoveries. A form of cuneiform writing was established, scribal places of teachings emerged, with the aim to teach the understanding of the form of writing to scribes serving in palaces, temples, and administration offices. In ancient Summer and Egypt, a form of schooling was developed prior to Israel's conquest of Canaan and this practice influenced the education and development of teaching practices in Israel, related to the family unit.
The places of teaching this art flourished between 2,500 and 2,000 BC and the variety of positions held by the scribes suggests that the places were numerous. The students were the sons of wealthy families and the fathers of the students generally held responsible positions. The head of the institution was the most experienced father, the assistants were "the big brothers"and the students were called "sons" or "sons of the Tablet House." The curriculum included both oral and written practices. Discipline was enforced by strong methods that included whipping or caning. Ancient instruction texts that have been recovered bears the writing of students at various stages along the way towards mastery of the script.
Young-scribes-to-be were taught lists of words and terms which would be needed for writing various ceremonial documents; and also the practice of copying them was enforced.
Rooms used to teach these practices have been found in Nippur, Sippar, Ur, and Mari. A"teaching day"
article written about 2,000 BC by an anonymous instructor vividly describes the daily routine at the instruction places and a successful attempt at"apple polishing." Learning the staggering number of of necessary characters of the oral and writing process took a great deal of time; the student memory was taxed, and discipline was harsh. The use of Wisdom's sayings in their curriculum was popular since they were brief and generally edifying.
Sumerian teachings in cuneiform writing were later collected by the Assyrian king Ashur'Banipal, whose library also contained interlinear texts of Sumerian and Assyrian.
In Egypt, this formal type of education was introduced sometime during the 3rd millennium BC. It was primarily vocational in aim, teaching the skills needed to become a priest, crafter, noble, or soldier.
The priests were the first to use writing taught in temple schools, since lives of the dead were written and buried with them. Sacred music and dance were also taught because of the ceremonial significance.
Written texts for teaching purposes unearthed from trash heaps near the temples suggest that great attention was paid to calligraphy. In addition to various correspondences and documents used as models to be copied by the students, there are writings which praise the scribe's occupation and exhort the student to diligence.
The nomadic Israelites were influenced directly or indirectly by this approach of philosophical training prior to the settlement of the tribes of Israel in Canaan. We can only speculate about it in the person of Moses and his personal education among the Egyptians and his role as mediator of Egyptian pedagogy to the Israelites. (Acts 7:22; Exodus 2: 10-15) After the Conquest, educational practices were adopted and more youths were taught to write. Alphabetic writing developed by the Hyksos period of 1730-1580 BC. It is the earliest known alphabet . The Phoenician alphabet also influenced the development of early Hebrew writing.
For ancient Israelites, the training of one's children was a religious duty, and much of the content of what was taught in the homes was the sacred religious beliefs of Israel. Genesis 18:19 states: "For I have chosen Abraham, that he may charge his children and his household after him to keep the Way of the Lord by doing Righteousness and Justice; so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He Has Promised him." This verse underscores the importance of instruction, its purpose (that children might live righteously and justly), and the integral relationship of this kind of instruction to the hope of the nation ("that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has Promised him).
This evidence is supplemented by other literary sources and archaeological discoveries. A form of cuneiform writing was established, scribal places of teachings emerged, with the aim to teach the understanding of the form of writing to scribes serving in palaces, temples, and administration offices. In ancient Summer and Egypt, a form of schooling was developed prior to Israel's conquest of Canaan and this practice influenced the education and development of teaching practices in Israel, related to the family unit.
The places of teaching this art flourished between 2,500 and 2,000 BC and the variety of positions held by the scribes suggests that the places were numerous. The students were the sons of wealthy families and the fathers of the students generally held responsible positions. The head of the institution was the most experienced father, the assistants were "the big brothers"and the students were called "sons" or "sons of the Tablet House." The curriculum included both oral and written practices. Discipline was enforced by strong methods that included whipping or caning. Ancient instruction texts that have been recovered bears the writing of students at various stages along the way towards mastery of the script.
Young-scribes-to-be were taught lists of words and terms which would be needed for writing various ceremonial documents; and also the practice of copying them was enforced.
Rooms used to teach these practices have been found in Nippur, Sippar, Ur, and Mari. A"teaching day"
article written about 2,000 BC by an anonymous instructor vividly describes the daily routine at the instruction places and a successful attempt at"apple polishing." Learning the staggering number of of necessary characters of the oral and writing process took a great deal of time; the student memory was taxed, and discipline was harsh. The use of Wisdom's sayings in their curriculum was popular since they were brief and generally edifying.
Sumerian teachings in cuneiform writing were later collected by the Assyrian king Ashur'Banipal, whose library also contained interlinear texts of Sumerian and Assyrian.
In Egypt, this formal type of education was introduced sometime during the 3rd millennium BC. It was primarily vocational in aim, teaching the skills needed to become a priest, crafter, noble, or soldier.
The priests were the first to use writing taught in temple schools, since lives of the dead were written and buried with them. Sacred music and dance were also taught because of the ceremonial significance.
Written texts for teaching purposes unearthed from trash heaps near the temples suggest that great attention was paid to calligraphy. In addition to various correspondences and documents used as models to be copied by the students, there are writings which praise the scribe's occupation and exhort the student to diligence.
The nomadic Israelites were influenced directly or indirectly by this approach of philosophical training prior to the settlement of the tribes of Israel in Canaan. We can only speculate about it in the person of Moses and his personal education among the Egyptians and his role as mediator of Egyptian pedagogy to the Israelites. (Acts 7:22; Exodus 2: 10-15) After the Conquest, educational practices were adopted and more youths were taught to write. Alphabetic writing developed by the Hyksos period of 1730-1580 BC. It is the earliest known alphabet . The Phoenician alphabet also influenced the development of early Hebrew writing.
For ancient Israelites, the training of one's children was a religious duty, and much of the content of what was taught in the homes was the sacred religious beliefs of Israel. Genesis 18:19 states: "For I have chosen Abraham, that he may charge his children and his household after him to keep the Way of the Lord by doing Righteousness and Justice; so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He Has Promised him." This verse underscores the importance of instruction, its purpose (that children might live righteously and justly), and the integral relationship of this kind of instruction to the hope of the nation ("that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has Promised him).
Saturday, 14 July 2018
THE AMARNA TABLETS.
The Amarna Tablets are an archive, written on clay, primarily consisting of correspondence between the Egyptian representatives in Canaan and the rest of the Great Powers and independent kingdoms, between 1360-1332 BC. The recovery of the Amarna Tablets in our time was the result, in part, of their storage in ancient times in the Royal Records Office in the kingdom of Egypt. They total 382 ordered chronologically and geographically and the time in between the correspondence spans a period of at most 30 years. Several Tablets dates back to the rule of Amen'Hotep III (1390-1353 BC), father of Akhen'Aten, meaning that they were brought to the new royal city from an older archive. The primary reason for the storage is explained practically by the information recorded in them -recent ceremonial promises, requests, gifts and tribute- tangible traces of important contracts forged across long distances that needed to be checked or verified by the future generation of rulers.
Most of the Tablets are ceremonial correspondence written from rulers of the lands North of Egypt and received by the Egyptians, and only a few of them were written by the Egyptian king. Some of the letters, written on the clay surface, seem to have been made to be visually impressive, with larger tablet sizes and bold handwriting as well as carefully planned margins or marked-off sections.
Like other rulers who wrote to the Egyptian king, Abi-Milku and Ashur-Uballit sought to achieve specific goals: -one practical like the assurance of safety and protection, -the other ideological and status-oriented like establishing contact with Egypt and acquiring knowledge of the foreign land. Other correspondence are inscribed with myths, epics, syllabary, lexical texts belonging to the kind used to learn cuneiform writing. Also some of them contain instructions for ceremonial training purposes, the exchanged correspondence requests or send a list of gifts asking something in return.These information is divided into Tablets that exchanged correspondence between Great Powers and the ones with correspondence to independent kingdoms only.
-The Great Powers were considered an exclusive group in which kingdoms were treated equally. They were the most influential and prosperous. Egypt only entered this group after the campaigns of Thut'Mose III. The others were Babylon, Hatti, Mitanni, and Assyria. They had a brotherly relationship and had to employ a specific pattern when writing to each other. At first, they had to identify who was writing and for whom the letter was written, then, report their wishes to the other, as showed in this example : "Say to Nap'Hurreya, the king of Egypt, my brother, my son-in-law, whom I love and whom loves me: Thus Tush'Ratta, Great King, the king of Mittani, you father-in-law, who loves you, your brother. For me all goes well. For Tadu-Heba, my daughter, your wife, for the rest of your wives, for your sons, for your magnates, for your chariots, for your horses, for your troops, for your country, and for whatever else belongs to you, may all go very, very well." The rest of the correspondence was less stereotypical, making requests or listing the items being sent.
- The Independent Kingdoms are only two places, which is Ar'Zawa and Al'Ash'Iya. Ar'Zawa was located on the South of the Anatolian coast. The alliance with Egypt was made via marriage. Al'Ash'Iya was on Cyprus and was known as a source of copper.
The Amarna Tablets were discovered around 1887 CE, in Upper Egypt (Land of Reeds), by local Egyptians who secretly dug most of them from an area located in the center of the ruined city, the short lived capital of Akhen'Aten, founded by pharaoh, Akhen'Aten (1350s-1330s BC) and sold them in the antiquities market.
Akhen'Aten, known before the 5th BC as Amen'Hotep IV (Amun is satisfied), was a pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty who ruled for 17 years and died in 1336 BC. He is noted for abandoning traditional Egyptian polytheism and introducing worship centered on the Aten, an aspect of the god Ra, focusing on the monotheistic religion of Atenism. He tried to shift the traditional Egyptian religion to the monotheistic one. The shift was not widely accepted. After his death, his monuments were dismantled and hidden, his statues destroyed, and his name excluded from the king lists. Traditional Egyptian practices were gradually restored and years later, new rulers without clear rights of succession from the 18th Dynasty climbed into power, they founded a new dynasty, discrediting Akhen'Aten and his immediate successors, referring to Akhen'Aten himself as "the enemy" or "that criminal" in archival records. He was all but lost in history until the discovery of the Amarna Tablets.
In 1891- 1892 the ruins of the site of Akhen'Aten, the city built and designed for the worship of Aten, were explored more by an English digger and archaeologist by nature, with no formal education, but instructed at home as a surveyor by his own father. He uncovered 21 fragments. Then, since 1903, more tablets, or fragments, have been found, either in Egypt, or identified in the collections of various museums in Germany, England, Egypt, France, Russia, and the United States.
The Tablets were found in Upper Egypt (named: "the Land of Reeds,"a strip of land on both sides of the Nile between Nubia to Lower Egypt), at Amarna, the modern name for the ancient Egyptian capital of Akhet'Aten (el-Amarna), founded by pharaoh, Ahken'Aten (1350s-1330s BC) during the 18th dynasty of Egypt (classified as the 1st of the Ancient New Kingdom period lasting from 1549 to 1292 BC). This dynasty boasts several of Egypt's most famous pharaohs, including Tutankh'Amun.
The Amarna Tablets are of great significance for Scriptural studies since they shed light on the ancient culture and language of the Canaanite people several centuries prior to their actual manifestation. The tablets are mostly written in Akkadian cuneiform, rather than of ancient Egypt, and heavily colored by the mother tongue of the writers, who spoke an early form of Canaanite, the language family which later evolved into its daughter languages, Hebrew and Phoenician.
The Tablets of Amarna proofs that the history of the Scriptural writings and the conquest of the Promise Land under Joshua leadership, is true. The Hebrew conquest of Canaan took 8 Years to complete but it was not counted until he began the conquest of Southern Israel, followed by the conquest of Northern Israel. Aaron died on the 1st Day of the 5th Month of the 40th Year of the wilderness wandering. Shortly after mourning Aaron for 30 Days, the people left Mount Hor, defeated Trans'Jordan nations, and then mourned for Moses 30 Days. They crossed the Jordan on the 10th Day of the 1st Month of the 41st Year, 4 Days before the Passover, which was exactly 40 Years to the Day they left Goshen.
From Joshua 14 we know that Caleb was given Hebron 45 Years after Moses promised it to him. This correspond with the 5th Year after crossing the Jordan.
The Habiru (also spelled Apiru) who are attacking the ones who are writing the Amarna Tablets, are the Hebrews under the command of Joshua. The etymology of "Hebrew" is "one who wanders." The 1st time the word "hebrew" is used in the Scripture is in Genesis 14 when it is applied to Abraham.
The Amarna Tablets make the connection of Habiru with Hebrew and tells about the Hebrews taking possession of the Land of Canaan shortly after they crossed the Jordan River under the command of Joshua. They are a secular witness to the Power of God and the truthfulness of the Scriptural record.
Most of the Tablets are ceremonial correspondence written from rulers of the lands North of Egypt and received by the Egyptians, and only a few of them were written by the Egyptian king. Some of the letters, written on the clay surface, seem to have been made to be visually impressive, with larger tablet sizes and bold handwriting as well as carefully planned margins or marked-off sections.
Like other rulers who wrote to the Egyptian king, Abi-Milku and Ashur-Uballit sought to achieve specific goals: -one practical like the assurance of safety and protection, -the other ideological and status-oriented like establishing contact with Egypt and acquiring knowledge of the foreign land. Other correspondence are inscribed with myths, epics, syllabary, lexical texts belonging to the kind used to learn cuneiform writing. Also some of them contain instructions for ceremonial training purposes, the exchanged correspondence requests or send a list of gifts asking something in return.These information is divided into Tablets that exchanged correspondence between Great Powers and the ones with correspondence to independent kingdoms only.
-The Great Powers were considered an exclusive group in which kingdoms were treated equally. They were the most influential and prosperous. Egypt only entered this group after the campaigns of Thut'Mose III. The others were Babylon, Hatti, Mitanni, and Assyria. They had a brotherly relationship and had to employ a specific pattern when writing to each other. At first, they had to identify who was writing and for whom the letter was written, then, report their wishes to the other, as showed in this example : "Say to Nap'Hurreya, the king of Egypt, my brother, my son-in-law, whom I love and whom loves me: Thus Tush'Ratta, Great King, the king of Mittani, you father-in-law, who loves you, your brother. For me all goes well. For Tadu-Heba, my daughter, your wife, for the rest of your wives, for your sons, for your magnates, for your chariots, for your horses, for your troops, for your country, and for whatever else belongs to you, may all go very, very well." The rest of the correspondence was less stereotypical, making requests or listing the items being sent.
- The Independent Kingdoms are only two places, which is Ar'Zawa and Al'Ash'Iya. Ar'Zawa was located on the South of the Anatolian coast. The alliance with Egypt was made via marriage. Al'Ash'Iya was on Cyprus and was known as a source of copper.
The Amarna Tablets were discovered around 1887 CE, in Upper Egypt (Land of Reeds), by local Egyptians who secretly dug most of them from an area located in the center of the ruined city, the short lived capital of Akhen'Aten, founded by pharaoh, Akhen'Aten (1350s-1330s BC) and sold them in the antiquities market.
Akhen'Aten, known before the 5th BC as Amen'Hotep IV (Amun is satisfied), was a pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty who ruled for 17 years and died in 1336 BC. He is noted for abandoning traditional Egyptian polytheism and introducing worship centered on the Aten, an aspect of the god Ra, focusing on the monotheistic religion of Atenism. He tried to shift the traditional Egyptian religion to the monotheistic one. The shift was not widely accepted. After his death, his monuments were dismantled and hidden, his statues destroyed, and his name excluded from the king lists. Traditional Egyptian practices were gradually restored and years later, new rulers without clear rights of succession from the 18th Dynasty climbed into power, they founded a new dynasty, discrediting Akhen'Aten and his immediate successors, referring to Akhen'Aten himself as "the enemy" or "that criminal" in archival records. He was all but lost in history until the discovery of the Amarna Tablets.
In 1891- 1892 the ruins of the site of Akhen'Aten, the city built and designed for the worship of Aten, were explored more by an English digger and archaeologist by nature, with no formal education, but instructed at home as a surveyor by his own father. He uncovered 21 fragments. Then, since 1903, more tablets, or fragments, have been found, either in Egypt, or identified in the collections of various museums in Germany, England, Egypt, France, Russia, and the United States.
The Tablets were found in Upper Egypt (named: "the Land of Reeds,"a strip of land on both sides of the Nile between Nubia to Lower Egypt), at Amarna, the modern name for the ancient Egyptian capital of Akhet'Aten (el-Amarna), founded by pharaoh, Ahken'Aten (1350s-1330s BC) during the 18th dynasty of Egypt (classified as the 1st of the Ancient New Kingdom period lasting from 1549 to 1292 BC). This dynasty boasts several of Egypt's most famous pharaohs, including Tutankh'Amun.
The Amarna Tablets are of great significance for Scriptural studies since they shed light on the ancient culture and language of the Canaanite people several centuries prior to their actual manifestation. The tablets are mostly written in Akkadian cuneiform, rather than of ancient Egypt, and heavily colored by the mother tongue of the writers, who spoke an early form of Canaanite, the language family which later evolved into its daughter languages, Hebrew and Phoenician.
The Tablets of Amarna proofs that the history of the Scriptural writings and the conquest of the Promise Land under Joshua leadership, is true. The Hebrew conquest of Canaan took 8 Years to complete but it was not counted until he began the conquest of Southern Israel, followed by the conquest of Northern Israel. Aaron died on the 1st Day of the 5th Month of the 40th Year of the wilderness wandering. Shortly after mourning Aaron for 30 Days, the people left Mount Hor, defeated Trans'Jordan nations, and then mourned for Moses 30 Days. They crossed the Jordan on the 10th Day of the 1st Month of the 41st Year, 4 Days before the Passover, which was exactly 40 Years to the Day they left Goshen.
From Joshua 14 we know that Caleb was given Hebron 45 Years after Moses promised it to him. This correspond with the 5th Year after crossing the Jordan.
The Habiru (also spelled Apiru) who are attacking the ones who are writing the Amarna Tablets, are the Hebrews under the command of Joshua. The etymology of "Hebrew" is "one who wanders." The 1st time the word "hebrew" is used in the Scripture is in Genesis 14 when it is applied to Abraham.
The Amarna Tablets make the connection of Habiru with Hebrew and tells about the Hebrews taking possession of the Land of Canaan shortly after they crossed the Jordan River under the command of Joshua. They are a secular witness to the Power of God and the truthfulness of the Scriptural record.
Friday, 6 July 2018
ANCIENT EGYPTIAN KNOWLEDGE.
Ancient Egyptians had a rich knowledge, since prehistoric times (5th BC), of the patterns and behaviors of the sky which permeated every aspect of their society. This knowledge led them to create a number of myths to explain the astronomical phenomena that played a considerable part in fixing dates of religious festivals and determining the hours of night. Trained priests were especially adept at watching the stars and observing the conjunctions and risings of the Sun, Moon, and planets, as well as the lunar phases. This is the reason why Egyptian gods and goddesses were so numerous and they are pictured in many paintings and murals.
Only certain gods were seen in the constellations, and others were represented by actual astronomical bodies.The constellation Orion, for instance, represented Osiris, who was the god of death, rebirth, and the afterlife. The Milky Way represented the sky goddess Nut giving birth to the sun god Ra. The stars were represented by the goddess of writing, Se'Shat, while the moon was either Toth, the god of wisdom, or Khons, a child moon god.
In the 3rd BC the observation of the horizon was extremely important, since it was here that the Sun appeared and disappeared daily. The Sun itself was represented by several gods, depending on its position. A rising morning Sun was Horus, the divine child of Osiris and Isis. The noon Sun was Ra because of its incredible strength. The evening Sun became Atum, the creator god who lifted pharaohs from the tombs to the stars. The red color of the Sun at sunset was considered to be the blood from the Sun as he died. After the Sun had set, it became Osiris, god of death and rebirth. In this way, night was associated with death and day with life or rebirth.
Egyptians grew in number and made the Nile River the center of its civilization, which flooded every year at the same time and provided rich soils for agriculture. Owing to the flood's own irregularity, the extreme precision of the Sirius star and the time of its return was very important to them. They named it Sopdet (meaning: Triangle), a goddess who was the guarantor of fertility over their land. The Egyptian priests, recognized that the flooding always occurred at the summer solstice, which was also when the bright star Sirius rose before the Sun. The priests, who were actually astronomers, were able to predict the annual flooding.
Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, is recorded in the earliest astronomical records. Its displacement from the ecliptic (the mean plane in the sky the Sun follows over a year), causes the star rising above the others in a remarkably regular basis compared to other stars, with a period exactly 365 days holding it constant in relation to the solar year. This occur at Cairo on July 19 (Julian), placing it just prior to the summer solstice and the onset of the annual flooding of the Nile.
The Egyptians continued to note the times of Sirius's annual return, which led them to discover the 1460-year Sothic cycle (Egyptian civil years of 365 days each or 1460 Julian years averaging 363 days each) and influenced the development of the Julian and Alexandrian calendars.
The Egyptian structures were built using astronomical orientation. The temples and pyramids were constructed in relation to the stars, zodiac, and constellations. In different cities, the structures had different orientations based on the specific beliefs of that place. For instance, some temples were built to align with a star that either rose or set at harvest or sowing time. Other structures were oriented toward the solstices or equinoxes.
As early as 4,000 BC, temples were built so precisely in its orientation that sunlight entered a room at only one precise time of the year. Another alternative building method was to gradually narrow successive doors into a specific room, in order to concentrate the sunbeams onto a god's image on the wall. The designs sometimes became quite complex. At the temple of Medinet Habu, there are actually two structures which are slightly off-kilter. It has been suggested that the second structure was built when the altitude of the other temple's orientation stars changed over a long period of time.
Their pyramids were carefully aligned towards the pole star (axis of rotation), and the temple of Amun-Ra at Karnak (meaning "fortified village"), a vast open site, was aligned on the rising of the midwinter Sun.
In Ptolemaic Egypt, after the death of Alexander the Great in 323BC, the Egyptian tradition merged with Greek and Babylonian astronomy, with the city of Alexandria in Lower Egypt becoming the centre of universal knowledge and activity across the Hellenistic world. Following the Muslim conquest of Egypt, the region came to be dominated by Arabic culture and Islamic astronomy.
Ybn Yunus, born in Egypt between 950-952 CE, became an important Egyptian Muslim astronomer.
His father, a historian, biographer, scholar of Islamic religious law,wrote 2 volumes about the history of Egypt. Ybn's father has been described as a prolific who became Egypt's most celebrated early historian and first known compiler of a biographical dictionary devoted exclusively to Egyptians. Ybn's works are noted for being ahead of time, and, like his father, having been based on meticulous calculations and attention to detail. He worked as an astronomer for the Fatimid Dynasty which came to power and the new city of Cairo was founded. In astrology, Ybn is noted for making predictions and having written a work concerning the heliacal risings of Sirius ("On attainment of Desire"), and on predictions concerning what day of the week the Coptic (Alexandrian calendar) year will start on. Ibn's most famous work in Islamic astronomy is a handbook of astronomical tables which contains very accurate observations expressing them without mathematical symbols. Ybn described 40 planetary conjunctions (Two objects have either same right ascension or same ecliptic longitude observed from earth) and 30 lunar eclipses. For example, he accurately describes the planetary conjunction that occurred in the year 1000CE as follows: A conjunction of Venus and Mercury in Gemini, observed in the Western sky: "2 planets were in conjunction after sunset on the night of Sunday, May 19, 1000. The time was 8 equi-noctial hours after midday of Sunday ... Mercury was North of Venus and their latitude difference was a 3rd of a degree." Ybn's observations on conjunctions and eclipses were so accurate that they were used by the surveyor Richard Dunthorne, and the autodidactic Simon Newcombs' respective calculations of the secular acceleration of the moon.
In 1006CE, Ali ibn Ridwan, an Arab of Egyptian origin, observed a supernova (SN 1006), reaching an estimated 7.5 visual magnitude, and exceeding 16 times the brightness of Venus). He wrote: "the spectacle was a large circular body, 3 times as large as Venus. The sky was shining because of its light.
The intensity of its light was a little more than a quarter of that of Moon light." Ali ibn also noted that the new star was low on the Southern horizon. It was regarded as the brightest stellar event in recorded history, and Ali ibn left the most detailed description of it. Some astrologers of his time interpreted the event as a portent of plague and famine.
In the 14th CE, Najm al-Din al-Misri, from Egypt wrote a treaty describing over 100 different types of astronomical instruments, many of which he invented himself.
In the 20th CE, Farouk El-Baz from Egypt worked for NASA and was involved in the first Moon Landings (arrival of manned and unmanned robotic missions) with Apollo program, where he assisted in the explorations' plans of the Moon.
Only certain gods were seen in the constellations, and others were represented by actual astronomical bodies.The constellation Orion, for instance, represented Osiris, who was the god of death, rebirth, and the afterlife. The Milky Way represented the sky goddess Nut giving birth to the sun god Ra. The stars were represented by the goddess of writing, Se'Shat, while the moon was either Toth, the god of wisdom, or Khons, a child moon god.
In the 3rd BC the observation of the horizon was extremely important, since it was here that the Sun appeared and disappeared daily. The Sun itself was represented by several gods, depending on its position. A rising morning Sun was Horus, the divine child of Osiris and Isis. The noon Sun was Ra because of its incredible strength. The evening Sun became Atum, the creator god who lifted pharaohs from the tombs to the stars. The red color of the Sun at sunset was considered to be the blood from the Sun as he died. After the Sun had set, it became Osiris, god of death and rebirth. In this way, night was associated with death and day with life or rebirth.
Egyptians grew in number and made the Nile River the center of its civilization, which flooded every year at the same time and provided rich soils for agriculture. Owing to the flood's own irregularity, the extreme precision of the Sirius star and the time of its return was very important to them. They named it Sopdet (meaning: Triangle), a goddess who was the guarantor of fertility over their land. The Egyptian priests, recognized that the flooding always occurred at the summer solstice, which was also when the bright star Sirius rose before the Sun. The priests, who were actually astronomers, were able to predict the annual flooding.
Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, is recorded in the earliest astronomical records. Its displacement from the ecliptic (the mean plane in the sky the Sun follows over a year), causes the star rising above the others in a remarkably regular basis compared to other stars, with a period exactly 365 days holding it constant in relation to the solar year. This occur at Cairo on July 19 (Julian), placing it just prior to the summer solstice and the onset of the annual flooding of the Nile.
The Egyptians continued to note the times of Sirius's annual return, which led them to discover the 1460-year Sothic cycle (Egyptian civil years of 365 days each or 1460 Julian years averaging 363 days each) and influenced the development of the Julian and Alexandrian calendars.
The Egyptian structures were built using astronomical orientation. The temples and pyramids were constructed in relation to the stars, zodiac, and constellations. In different cities, the structures had different orientations based on the specific beliefs of that place. For instance, some temples were built to align with a star that either rose or set at harvest or sowing time. Other structures were oriented toward the solstices or equinoxes.
As early as 4,000 BC, temples were built so precisely in its orientation that sunlight entered a room at only one precise time of the year. Another alternative building method was to gradually narrow successive doors into a specific room, in order to concentrate the sunbeams onto a god's image on the wall. The designs sometimes became quite complex. At the temple of Medinet Habu, there are actually two structures which are slightly off-kilter. It has been suggested that the second structure was built when the altitude of the other temple's orientation stars changed over a long period of time.
Their pyramids were carefully aligned towards the pole star (axis of rotation), and the temple of Amun-Ra at Karnak (meaning "fortified village"), a vast open site, was aligned on the rising of the midwinter Sun.
In Ptolemaic Egypt, after the death of Alexander the Great in 323BC, the Egyptian tradition merged with Greek and Babylonian astronomy, with the city of Alexandria in Lower Egypt becoming the centre of universal knowledge and activity across the Hellenistic world. Following the Muslim conquest of Egypt, the region came to be dominated by Arabic culture and Islamic astronomy.
Ybn Yunus, born in Egypt between 950-952 CE, became an important Egyptian Muslim astronomer.
His father, a historian, biographer, scholar of Islamic religious law,wrote 2 volumes about the history of Egypt. Ybn's father has been described as a prolific who became Egypt's most celebrated early historian and first known compiler of a biographical dictionary devoted exclusively to Egyptians. Ybn's works are noted for being ahead of time, and, like his father, having been based on meticulous calculations and attention to detail. He worked as an astronomer for the Fatimid Dynasty which came to power and the new city of Cairo was founded. In astrology, Ybn is noted for making predictions and having written a work concerning the heliacal risings of Sirius ("On attainment of Desire"), and on predictions concerning what day of the week the Coptic (Alexandrian calendar) year will start on. Ibn's most famous work in Islamic astronomy is a handbook of astronomical tables which contains very accurate observations expressing them without mathematical symbols. Ybn described 40 planetary conjunctions (Two objects have either same right ascension or same ecliptic longitude observed from earth) and 30 lunar eclipses. For example, he accurately describes the planetary conjunction that occurred in the year 1000CE as follows: A conjunction of Venus and Mercury in Gemini, observed in the Western sky: "2 planets were in conjunction after sunset on the night of Sunday, May 19, 1000. The time was 8 equi-noctial hours after midday of Sunday ... Mercury was North of Venus and their latitude difference was a 3rd of a degree." Ybn's observations on conjunctions and eclipses were so accurate that they were used by the surveyor Richard Dunthorne, and the autodidactic Simon Newcombs' respective calculations of the secular acceleration of the moon.
In 1006CE, Ali ibn Ridwan, an Arab of Egyptian origin, observed a supernova (SN 1006), reaching an estimated 7.5 visual magnitude, and exceeding 16 times the brightness of Venus). He wrote: "the spectacle was a large circular body, 3 times as large as Venus. The sky was shining because of its light.
The intensity of its light was a little more than a quarter of that of Moon light." Ali ibn also noted that the new star was low on the Southern horizon. It was regarded as the brightest stellar event in recorded history, and Ali ibn left the most detailed description of it. Some astrologers of his time interpreted the event as a portent of plague and famine.
In the 14th CE, Najm al-Din al-Misri, from Egypt wrote a treaty describing over 100 different types of astronomical instruments, many of which he invented himself.
In the 20th CE, Farouk El-Baz from Egypt worked for NASA and was involved in the first Moon Landings (arrival of manned and unmanned robotic missions) with Apollo program, where he assisted in the explorations' plans of the Moon.
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