Bible

Trinity

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Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

~ Matthew 28:19-20

As with any relationship, in order to get closer to another, it’s important to learn about them as much as you can.  So, what or who exactly is God? We can learn much about how He works, thinks, and feels from his Word and the world around us. However, what about His physical essence? God is largely unknowable simply because we are humans and incapable of fully understanding a being so far advanced, complex, and all-encompassing as Yahweh. It’s fun to try, though, and I believe He encourages us to learn as much as we are able.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

~ Matthew 7:7-8

The Bible never says the word “trinity,” and it never says a lot of words we use to describe Biblical concepts; however, the trinity idea itself is throughout the Bible. Let’s start at the beginning.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

~ Genesis 1:1

The word God in the above verse was translated from the Hebrew Elohim, which is used to describe all spiritual beings from God Himself to angels and other divine existences throughout the Bible (Blue Letter Bible). You may be surprised to know this is a word that can be used for both singular or many beings (for an example in English, think “sheep”).

The word Spirit was translated from the Hebrew Ruach, which is used to describe breath, mind, and spirit, especially as in reference to the Holy Spirit (Blue Letter Bible). Whether we listen to its “still, small voice” is up to us.

There are many times the Holy Spirit is mentioned in the Old Testament. He is described as words being placed into people’s mouths or the Spirit of God who guides and comforts.

“The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.

~ 2 Samuel 23:2

“As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants-from this time on and forever,” says the Lord.

~ Isaiah 59:21

Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.

~ Psalms 51:11

But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin.

~ Micah 3:8

The Spirit is spoken up numerous times in the New Testament in the exact same manner. His attributes are unchanged.

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My [Jesus’] name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

~ John 14:26

On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages,as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

~ Acts 2:1-4

God speaks in the plural several times, yet it isn’t clear who He’s speaking to until you get further along in the Bible and meet more and more of the Trinity.

Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever.

~ Genesis 3:22

God speaks in the plural, and in Hebrew, the words used indicate that Yahweh Elohim (as in Yahweh the divine being) proclaimed that man has become knowing, the word also in the plural (Strongs, “Angels”). Is He speaking to Jesus, the Holy Spirit, or just the other divine beings among Him?

Jesus shows up many times, possibly more than we realize. However, here’s a few clear examples that point toward a Son of the Father God.

I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill. I will tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you… Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in him.

~ Psalm 2:6-7, 12

Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know!

~Proverbs 30:4

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

~ Isaiah 9:6

It’s obvious that He shows up in the New Testament, so I won’t post the entirety of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John here. 🙂

God, the divine Elohim, has shown up since the beginning in a three-fold force of love, light, and power. Understanding fully how He functions is probably impossible. However, we can peek a glance at His face at times when we read His Word and seek Him with all our heart. God bless!

After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

~ Matthew 3:16-17

Sources other than the Bible:

Blue Letter Bible

Strong’s Concordance

Angels: What the Bible Really Says About God’s Heavenly Host – Michael Heiser

Middle Eastern Revival

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Christian Revival In Unlikely Places

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”

~Mark 16:15

There have been rumors from various sources of a Middle Eastern Christian revival in countries as anti-Christian as Iran. Please pray for our brothers and sisters of God as they strive to simply follow their path toward God and gather in secret groups to worship while avoiding the law. It is illegal to preach and convert people to Christianity in Iran. Church services in the national language are forbidden. Yet, still, a revival has been sweeping the country, and converts have been fleeing to surrounding countries in order to live in safety: https://www.npr.org/2018/12/14/669662264/iranians-are-converting-to-evangelical-christianity-in-turkey.

Yet, the influx of Christians are beginning to burden Turkey, and there is fear that their welcome won’t be for long. Many are under the risk of being deported back to Iran where they could face jail, torture, or death due to their beliefs: https://www.christianpost.com/news/pastor-tortured-in-iranian-prison-fears-deportation-from-turkey-after-4-years.html.

A major distributor of Bibles and Biblical materials to various countries (Eastern European Mission – although they aren’t solely for Eastern European countries anymore) reported that some anti-Christian countries (for obvious reasons they aren’t specific) have groups begging for Bibles in their language and books for their children to teach them the Word. There is a desperate cry for God coming up from these persecuted lands!

In fact, there have been a flood of people reporting dreams and visions, most of them featuring a man who calls Himself Yeshua who guides them to people who can share the gospel. It has become so common that in more open countries, like Turkey, there have been billboards asking if anyone has had a vision or dream and who they can contact to receive the gospel (nakedbiblepodcast).

Sometimes, we can take for granted, especially here in the U.S., our religious freedom. Please pray for those of us who live in fear. May they be able to simply love Him and guide others to love Yahweh.

God bless!

Sources other than the Bible:

https://www.charismanews.com/opinion/53443-the-underground-revival-in-the-middle-east-that-might-take-down-islam

 https://www.christianpost.com/news/scores-of-muslims-turning-to-christ-in-middle-east-churches-expecting-millions-of-converts.html 

https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/episodes/ (episode 305 EEM.org)

Why Doesn’t God Heal Everyone?

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To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ~2 Corinthians 12:7-9

Paul states that he had an unnamed affliction that would not disappear, but he comes to understand that it’s more to God’s glory that he persists in his weakness.

If God only wants the best for us, then why doesn’t He heal everyone? Jesus certainly seemed to heal everyone who demonstrated faith in the New Testament. Aren’t we more faithful since we can’t see Him and yet still believe?

God DOES want only the best for us, and we don’t always know what that is exactly. You can’t lean on your own understanding of good and bad. He wants for us to eventually be beyond a world that causes death, disease, pain, and infirmities, yes. However, He uses the bad that occurs in our corrupt world to bring out the good, either for ourselves or others.

Let’s not forget Job who suffered from a skin disease (not to mention losing his entire family and all his possessions). In the most beautiful passage in the Bible, God explains everything and nothing when He responds to Job’s moans. He told him and his faithful friends that Job certainly didn’t suffer due to lacking faith.

Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! ~Job 38:4-5

People, many times good people, suffer because of reasons unknown to us. We should trust that God is in control and He is good.

Your purpose here on Earth is bigger than living in comfort. It’s to show others the Light and the joy of His Love. Sometimes, that comes from miraculous healing. Sometimes, that comes from a believer withstanding through hardship and serving as a guide to others who must suffer the same. Sometimes, the circumstances call for a bit of both.

You may see all the healing Jesus did during His ministry here, and see that He healed everyone who asked for healing and had faith He would. He was also here for a purpose bigger than living in comfort. Part of His mission was to show that He cares and loves us.

There’s no possible way to list all the times God healed in the Bible from Old through New Testaments (or God was referred to as a healer or God was asked to heal) without just linking to the entire Bible. He is the ultimate Healer. However, He doesn’t heal everyone all the time. With the exception of those faithless who reject His healing, why would He not heal His children?

Jesus healed everyone who had faith and pursued Him in the new Testament, but that can’t be said to be true before nor after. He was here on Earth for the express purpose of proving that He was God (only God can heal, forgive, etc.) and to serve as a sacrifice for our sins to eliminate the forces of darkness for His disciples’ souls. His healing had a dual purpose: Healing is symbolic of His spiritual healing and salvation. Notice this though: Jesus still died.

Then He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke this message quite frankly, and Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. But Jesus, turning and looking at His disciples, rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” ~Mark 8:31-33

They say courage is not the absence of fear but rather the knowledge that there is something bigger than it. This is exemplified by Jesus.

Death, serious injury, and disease are products of an evil world. Notice that evil still exists, even for us believers. We still live in a fallen world, and God has not yet eliminated it all. Though we are Children of God, we must suffer a little while just as Jesus did.

Yet, this evil is not forever.

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” ~ Revelations 21:4

God is bigger than anything you may ever face. Keep your eyes on Him and not the storm.

God bless!

~Dedicated to my mama who is facing great unknowns right now. Our Healer is in control, and your suffering is not without purpose.~

Sources other than Bible:

https://www.learnreligions.com/why-doesnt-god-heal-everyone-701958

https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/bible-questions-and-answers/why-didnt-jesus-christ-heal-the-gentile-womans

https://www.ligonier.org/blog/why-jesus-heal/

https://www.biblestudytools.com/blogs/chris-russell/why-doesn-t-god-heal-every-sickness-disease-and-illness.html

The Seed, The Branch, The King Forever

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Did you know God announced Jesus’ birth to Adam and Eve? Did you know the Bible repeatedly prophesized Jesus in books dated thousands of years before His arrival as human?

God spoke to the serpent in the garden:

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Genesis 3:15

Abraham is told that through his offspring, “all nations on earth will be blessed.” Genesis 22:18

Many times in Genesis, the Angel of the Lord (just a title for a messenger of heaven) appears who is also called “the Lord/Yahweh,” which makes many believe He may have been Jesus himself. Hagar even tells this “Angel”, “You are the God who sees me… I have now seen the One who sees me.” Genesis 16:13

Abraham was halted in his sacrifice of Jacob by an Angel of Yahweh (Genesis 22:11,15), Moses spoke to an Angel of Yahweh who spoke through a burning bush (Exodus 3:2) and announced He was Yahweh, at which point Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God(Exodus 3:6). This “angel” shows up many more times throughout the Old Testament.

Jacob is told “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.” Numbers 24:17

Jesse is told “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a branch will bear fruit. The spirit of the Lord will rest on him.” Isaiah 11:1

Jesus would be born of a virgin as foretold long before:

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and you will call him Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14

David is told “The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land … This is the name by which he will be called: the Lord our righteous savior.” Jeremiah 23:5-6

He is also told “When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” 2 Samuel 7:12-13

This turns out to not be Solomon (notice his throne was not established forever). He failed to be the perfect man needed for the job.

Jeremiah prophesized the King’s edict to kill all first-borns once Jesus was born:

“A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” Jeremiah 31:15

Micah, a prophet, announced “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Micah 5:2

The fact Joseph and Mary would flee to Egypt until King Herod died was predicted by Hosea:

“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.” Hosea 11:1

Finally, Jesus’ earthly parents learned of His nature when God sent messengers and dreams to them:

“Don’t be afraid, Mary; God has been gracious to you. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. The Lord God will make him a king, as his ancestor David was, and he will be the king of the descendants of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end!” Luke 1:30-33

The prophecies of old came to fruition, and the angels praised God.

Suddenly, a multitude of the Heavenly Army appeared with the angel, praising God by saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to people who enjoy his favor!” Luke 2:13-14

For those doubtful of His identity, Jesus stated, “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,” John 5:39

May you all have a Merry Christmas and God bless!

Sources other than the Bible:

Jesus in the Old Testament

Old Testament Prophecies about the Birth of Jesus

Finding Eden

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God spoke through me this past weekend.

I’ve been listening to a Podcast (The Bible Project, if you’re interested) in which the hosts have been speaking about the Sabbath, the number 7 as reflective of the Sabbath day, and the repetition of both in the Bible. The first time the Kingdom of God was recognized was within the Garden of Eden. During this time of bliss, we were in complete harmony with each other, with nature, and ultimately with God. It was there where work never exhausted our souls, and we never depended on our blood, sweat, and tears to ensure our survival. We depended only on God and never doubted that we had enough.

The Sabbath, a day of rest, existed even then, but it appeared to be more of a reminder of God’s providence than a necessity. In a way, every day was Sabbath. The 7th day is a microcosm of the Kingdom of God, and now that we no longer live in the Garden of Eden, we need that reminder of God’s promises more than ever. Plus, we need the rest.

Over and over, God reminds us to rest. There first was the weekly Sabbath, then as festivals and holy days were added to the Hebrew calendar, there were yearly Sabbaths, and Sabbaths which came every 7 years (all slaves were freed and debts forgiven as the ideal God wanted every day). Every time the number 7 comes up in the Bible (and I dare say elsewhere in our lives), God is reminded us of this:

Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10

The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Psalm 37:7

For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” Isaiah 30:15

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. Psalm 127:2

So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Hebrews 4:9-10

I can’t put here all the times God told us to rest. We’ve been out of Eden so long we don’t even realize how hard we toil, but God does, and He wants you to stop, be still, rest. However, we no longer live in Eden; we no longer live in the Kingdom of God… or do we? Where is the Kingdom of God? People throughout history have searched for the elusive Eden that used to be between the waters of the Tigris and Euphrates. If we found that place, would we find the Kingdom of God? Or maybe it’s in the land of Israel, the promised land the Hebrews wondered the desert for forty years to find?

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” John 18:36-37

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17

I need for you to understand this thing God has revealed to me. Eden is not here or there. Eden is wherever God is. Is it not with Him that we are provided for, in Him we rest with peace and joy, for Him that we raise one another up in love? The Kingdom of God is here, amongst us, and those who have faith and live in love live also in the Kingdom of God already. We have enough, and we are enough through God.

As you reflect on the Christmas season that’s upon us, notice the “Christmas Spirit,” as people call it. We should be living it daily. Can you imagine the dark corners of this world that would be illuminated with the light and joy we could spread? When Jesus walked on this Earth, He lived as a person already in the Kingdom of God. One day, there will be a new Heaven and Earth, and the whole of humanity will live without the storms and darkness we have now. Until then, live as if you already are in the New Heaven and Earth because the Kingdom of God resides wherever the King does, and that’s here and now.

It is by Him, not our own toils, that we live and die. So, rest.

I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10

God bless!

Sources other than the Bible:

https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/513212/jewish/When-Is-the-Next-Jubilee-Year.htm

How does God see Time?

/ EloquentMuse

What is Time according to God?

A seven day week can be found in both Jewish and Babylonian cultures. Most sources will state that the seven day week originated with Babylon since they have written accounts of that measurement of time going back about 3000 years. They would, of course, scoff at using a religious document like the Torah, which goes back just as far, to justify the origin being with Jews or even a simultaneous idea that originated with both cultures. Days, months, and years all correspond to natural phenomena. The week does not. All efforts to explain how this came to be (as separate from God speaking to the Hebrews) are very speculative.

No matter; Yahweh approved the seven day week since creation when He took six days (starting sun down and ending with the next sun down) to create the world and the seventh to enjoy His creation. Since then, Jews and then Christians, along with many other cultures as they came across those peoples, follow a seven day week.

It all makes you think: God made the week an important concept (particularly the seventh day)for humanity along with a host of annual festivals and holy days. It’s obvious the cyclical nature of these observances are there to remind us continually of various lessons, comforts, and warnings. However, was there more to it all? Does it give us an idea of how God perceives time itself?

Lord, You have been our dwelling place

through all generations.

Before the mountains were born

or You brought forth the earth and world,

from everlasting to everlasting,

You are God.

You return man to dust,

saying, “Return, O sons of mortals.”

For in Your sight a thousand years

are but a day that passes,

or a watch of the night.

You whisk them away in their sleep;

they are like the new grass of the morning—

in the morning it springs up new,

but by evening it fades and withers. – Psalm 90:1-6

What does a man gain from all his labor,

at which he toils under the sun?

Generations come and generations go,

but the earth remains forever.

The sun rises and the sun sets;

it hurries back to where it arose.

Blowing southward,

then turning northward,

round and round the wind swirls,

ever returning on its course.

All the rivers flow into the sea,

yet the sea is never full;

to the place from which the streams come,

there again they flow.

All things are wearisome,

more than one can describe;

the eye is not satisfied with seeing,

nor the ear content with hearing.

What has been will be again,

and what has been done will be done again;

there is nothing new under the sun.

Is there a case where one can say,

“Look, this is new”?

It has already existed

in the ages before us.

There is no remembrance

of those who came before,

and those to come will not be remembered

by those who follow after. – Eccles 1:3-11

Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. – 2 Peter 3:8

One thing is obvious: we are all but a moment to the eternity of God. Can you imagine every time you love someone, they pass away the next moment? Of course, God is determined to not allow that to happen. As the scripture states, God wants very badly for no one to die the second death of the soul. He wants us to all exist forever with Him and love Him and each other. Some of us are just as determined to not exist one day. This grieves Him greatly.

Another thing is true: to God, nothing is new. Everything that was returns again because humanity has bad memories and worse will powers to resist repeating our offensive histories. In that manner, all of existence is cyclical. That’s one reason why God wants us to remember cyclically whose children we are and how deeply He loves us.

Let’s look at the Sabbath He instituted. It’s a continual reminder of many things: our blessings, our day to day hustle for progress and more is not important in the grand scheme, and we are not in control. The Bible Project Podcast (check out episode 159) brought up this last point. The Sabbath is inconvenient on purpose. We have to stop everything we’re doing and pause. It is in this we can finally realize that we are never in control of our time. It exists to serve God, and as we all know, our best plans can be laid to waste quite easily. Yet, our plans are not as good as God’s. God is in control, and that’s the best thing.

Time is such an abstract concept. Some cultures in the world don’t even recognize a past or future in the sense we do like the Amondawa tribe. Many countries like the U.S., Germany, northern Europeans, etc., have a linear idea of time. The past flows out behind us and the future before us, and time can be equivalent to the idea of money. We can waste time or invest it. Punctuality is key.

Many Southern European, South Americans, and Middle Easterners have a multi-active idea of time. In other words, time passing is not bound to a calendar or clock. It doesn’t have firm boundaries and either conforms to the person and events or is dispensed with entirely. It’s not that they don’t have a linear idea of time so much as it’s not as firm and unchanging. It stretches between events rather than between blocks on a schedule.

Eastern countries see time as cyclic. The past will also be the future, so they can never waste it, simply apply patience for it to return. However, China is very time-aware. They also look at time as an investment into relationships even in businesses. Japanese have a sense of time “unfolding,” as if unwrapping a gift or peeling an onion with many layers.

Now, Madagascar see the future as something that flows from behind and is laid out before them as the past, since the past is the only thing one truly sees. Since the future can not be truly planned for, businesses run differently. Buses leave, not at specific times, but when they are full, stock is refilled once empty, and gas replenished in cars once empty.

It is my belief that God is outside of any concept of time. However, in as much as time exists, He, as an eternal being and as evidenced through various parts of the Bible, must see events returning time and again just with different people and places. Although it is cyclical, in a sense, there is also a past (which must be accounted for and remembered as His various observances note) and a future before us controlled only by Him. Our sense of time is not His as our thousand years are a day to Him and a day to us is a thousand years to Him. In other words, time is of no consequence to Him. Our past, present, and future are all laid before Him at once.

Don’t worry dear soul, about tomorrow. As they say, God is already there.

God bless!

Sources other than Bible:

https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/437-biblical-concept-of-time-the

The 2 Concepts of Time in the Bible

https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/CGG/ID/2368/Time-Gods-Perspective-of.htm

https://muse.jhu.edu/article/390204

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-13452711

https://www.businessinsider.com/how-different-cultures-understand-time-2014-5

God on Warfare

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A time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. – Ecclesiastes 3:8

As the author of Ecclesiastes says, there are times when love is appropriate and times when hate is appropriate. Cue the sound of screeching tires as we slam on brakes. What? I thought that love was always the answer. Then, he says there’s a time for war and a time for peace. Why would a God of love ever want war and death?

That’s what we’ll be taking a moment to think about today. As always, let’s go to His love letter (not hate and war letter, right) and seek a discussion with the Most High on this topic.

“You are my hammer and weapon of war: with you I break nations in pieces; with you I destroy kingdoms; -Jeremiah 51:20

Oh, well, ok Jeremiah, calm down.

And I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians, and they will fight, each against another and each against his neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom; – Isaiah 19:2

“When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. And when you draw near to the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people and shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’ – Deuteronomy 20:1-4

The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is his name. – Exodus 15:3

What in tarnation? Oh, I guess I can’t tell God to calm down.

There are many examples, especially in the Old Testament, where God called out Israelites to destroy entire cities and nations. We can agree that God hasn’t called us believers to do such a thing in a long, long time. Ok, so maybe we can’t all agree on that. There have been wars that Americans consider righteous (I assume other countries are similar in this regard). Let’s say for example, World War II… at least we consider it righteous now. We were hesitant to enter the frontlines and joined late; many were heated over the fact we ever joined. The battles in Europe felt like a movie to so many in the mainland of U.S.A., divided by seas and lack of instant communications. Now, we can look back and say we’re happy to have overthrown such an obviously evil overlord and the hell he inflicted.

Maybe we were supported by God for this decision, maybe we weren’t. It was difficult to say in the moment, and it’s not clear now because God can turn any bad thing into a good thing at His will.

Most of what God or His people say on the subject of war is that of condemnation and a message that He is working toward a world of peace forever more.

He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. – Isaiah 2:4

He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. – Isaiah 25:8

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. – Romans 12:18

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” -Romans 12:19

Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? – Matthew 26:52-53

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. – Matthew 5:9

Wait, what about this?

Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. – Luke 12:51

When drug addicts and alcoholics decide to change their lives and let go of drugs or alcohol, they usually go through a period of great division. They have to separate themselves from friends, sometimes family, many times their homes, in order to be successful in disengaging in the behaviors that those loved ones still encourage and perhaps in which still are enmeshed.

After Jesus there was a division. Friends and family were at odds because of this new radical Jewish movement that eventually separated into Christianity. At that point, there was a time for hate and war. That doesn’t mean God wanted it. However, in a time of growth, there are growing pains because, in this case, many people fought change.

I believe, from what I’ve read, that God never wants war or hate or anything bad. Like a father, He would have us be at peace and joyful, but we’ve fought Him on that since the beginning when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit. Due to that, now there is sometimes a time for tears and bloodshed. Why? Because we chose to create a world where there are valleys of darkness to walk through in order to get to the mountaintop.

So, why would God ever order warfare and lead an army toward murder of others?

We chose to bring evil into the world, and because of that, we must fight against the spiritual powers of darkness. We can’t win the fight alone. We have to push them back to where they came from so we can claim victory in a new reality without them. If we ever actually declare war, I believe God would want us to be darn certain He is asking for it. As His commandments clearly state to not murder, we MUST know first when He is making an exception.

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. – James 4:1-2

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. – Ephesians 6:11-12

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. – Revelation 12:7-11

As for some details concerning war, God shows us, if it is to be carried out, how it should be done. See Deuteronomy 20 for Rules of War. It explains that if anyone has unfinished business, is newly engaged, or is too afraid to fight, that they should go home. That rules out the draft. It specified to not cut down fruit trees, as “these trees are not the enemy, so don’t make war against them.” It also says a few messy things our civilian ears may have difficulty reading such as enslaving those cities who make peace with you and killing all of the people in others. This is so “they will not be able to teach you to sin against the Lord your God or to do any of the terrible things they do when they worship their gods.” They were corrupt, murderous, and dark-minded people who God didn’t want to tarnish His people. Are those specific people listed in these verses still the same people they were back in the day? No, much has changed, and so have God’s children. We are not called to kill every living person now in war. It’s good to understand context.

In conclusion, we brought evil into the world from the beginning and yearn to return to our Eden, full of peace and life. Step-by-step, God is bringing us back, but that means that sometimes He has, in the past, called us to seek war against other nations. Those instructions were for specific people in specific times, and they had meaning and purpose when they were ordered. Unless we KNOW that God is asking for us to disregard one of His commandments, we really shouldn’t seek all out warfare. Defense is one thing. Offense is another. We are called to be peacemakers, to show the world what God’s Kingdom will be like on Earth.

God bless!

A Musical God

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When you think of music, do you think of the creator of the universe? One of God’s many languages He uses to speak with us is song, and I’m not necessarily speaking of songs with worship lyrics.

It’s cliché to think of heaven as a place with cloud floors and cherubic angels who play on harps. There’s nothing in the Bible that would suggest that is anywhere close to the truth of heaven. However, I can guarantee one thing you’ll encounter when you cross the “pearly gates”: there will be music. There’s no telling what genre of music is prevalent or if they all exist there, possibly more genres than we know. In fact, I dare to say that music is something our soul uses to communicate in a language no one has to learn to understand. It’s one of the many ways we are a mirror of God’s attributes, and music came straight down from God. Why would God have music in heaven? Because He loves it!

And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, And they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. – Revelation 14:2-3

And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.” – Revelation 5:8-10

When the morning stars sang together And all the sons of God shouted for joy? – Job 38:7

And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” – Luke 2:13-14

I’ve actually read some sources that state angels don’t seem to be able to sing as they are usually shown as “saying” things and never singing even while humans (albeit sometimes in heaven) are shown as “singing.” Whatever the case may be, music is after God’s own heart.

Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! – Psalm 150:1-6

He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. – Psalm 40:3

Psalms are an entire book of songs, many of them written by David, the musician king. Then, of course, there’s the Song of Solomon.

While we’re on the subject of music, the Bible is filled with dancing.

Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took the timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dancing. – Exodus 15:20

“Again I will build you and you will be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel! Again you will take up your tambourines, And go forth to the dances of the merrymakers. – Jeremiah 31:4

Praise Him with timbrel and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe. – Psalm 149:3

And David was dancing before the LORD with all his might, and David was wearing a linen ephod. – 2 Samuel 6:14

It happened when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and celebrating; and she despised him in her heart. – 1 Chronicles 15:29

I know there are denominations which do not condone dancing, but if the Bible has anything to say about the matter, it seems God likes dancing in worship. He likes songs filled with instruments and those filled with voices.

Do you have a song in your heart? Will you sing or dance to it before God today?

God bless!

God’s Name

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You’ll come across it all the time in the Bible: God’s name. You’ll see it in so many forms. He’s called Yahweh, I am that I am (or “I will be who/what I will be” depending on translation), El Shaddai, the Elohim, El Roi, Lord of hosts/armies, and sometimes simply The Name.

Why is God’s name so important that it’s brought up repeatedly? First, the Hebrews were surrounded by nations who had their own “gods,” and they wanted to make sure to differentiate their One True God from all the others. Back in the Old Testament, when God “left” the other nations to the “foreign gods” after they abandoned Him at the tower of Babel, the Hebrews were brought out from this confusion to start over with God as the light for all. He’d always intended to save us all, and to do that, we needed to know who He is.

There is power in a name. It signifies an identity, of course, but also the characteristics and reputation of that identity. God is not like the other “gods,” who were like fallen humans with some magic capabilities or like distant stars that left people to their destinies with little care.

We learn His characteristics:

He’s holy.

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. – Matthew 6:9

He’s a place of refuge.

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. – Proverbs 18:10

He is salvation.

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. – Acts 4:12

He was the same God of all the righteous people He’d called on before. He is the uncreated creator.

Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I am who (that) I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. – Exodus 3:13-15

He existed first and will always exist.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” – Revelation 1:8

He is our Father and comforter.

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” – Romans 8:15

He is the only way, truth, and life.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14:6

He is our healer.

Saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.” – Exodus 15:6

He has the ultimate power and knowledge above all others.

Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name? Surely you know! – Proverbs 30:4

He is jealous as He’s the One who created, loves, and guides you. Why would you follow another?

…for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God – Exodus 34:14

He is very serious about His reputation as it’s how His people will know Him. He is all the above characteristics and more.

“Therefore, behold, I will make them know, this once I will make them know my power and my might, and they shall know that my name is the Lord.” – Jeremiah 16:21

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, – Matthew 28:19

Therefore my people shall know my name. Therefore in that day they shall know that it is I who speak; here am I.” – Isaiah 52:6

You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord. – Leviticus 19:12

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. – Exodus 20:7

Just skimming the Bible, you’ll find that names were important to God and the Hebrews for signifying the essence of a being, including humans. Names were changed when the person made a change in their identity. They were usually assigned a name change by God Himself.

Abram (high father) became Abraham (father of a multitude) when he was promised descendants as numerous as the sands and stars. Sarai (princess) became Sarah (mother of nations) as she would be the mother of the multitude. Jacob (supplanter) became Israel (to strive with) when God told him he’d no longer be known by his trickery but rather by his striving with God. Simon (God has heard) became Peter (rock) when he became a disciple and Jesus declared he would be the rock of His church.

What is the meaning of your name, and what do you believe God would call you? Have you experienced a deep change in identity like those in the Bible?

So will I ever sing praises to your name, as I perform my vows day after day. – Psalms 61:8

Sources outside of the Bible:

https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/why-it-matters-that-god-is-yahweh.html
https://thebibleproject.com/podcast/theme-god-e10-gods-name-character/
https://thebibleproject.com/podcast/theme-god-e13-what-gods-name-feat-dr-michael-heiser/
https://drmsh.com/the-naked-bible/yhwh/

How the Bible, Fairy Tales, and Judicial Branch are Related

/ EloquentMuse / Leave a comment

Some unbelievers like to call the Bible a fairy tale, but did you know there actually is a similarity in their purpose?

There is such a disconnect between the mind set and cultural norms between our modern world in the West and the ancient world in the East that it’s easy to misunderstand where the writers of the Bible were coming from. Did you know there are 613 laws in the Old Testament? Did you know Torah (the first give books of the Bible) is not correctly translated as the Law but as Instruction or Revelation? In fact, our understanding of law and judges are not the same as the understanding of people living in the Old Testament.

We are a society with statutory law. In other words, nowadays, judges use detailed written law codes to make judgements. Back then, as sources state, they used a fluid wisdom tradition or an “intuition of justice with a background of cultural norms” (bibleproject). It was not formulaic. They relied on the morality of the judges. Now, we hope they are moral, but they are still allowed to make judgements as they are no longer considered the authority: the law is.

The laws as described in the Old Testament included both natural, obvious transgressions and other customary wisdoms, which could be fluid within reason. For instance, “Don’t murder” is obviously a good rule for ever and everywhere. There are exceptions even in that law, present even in the Bible (i.e. self-defense, warfare, etc.). Some are murkier like “Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard” (Leviticus 19:27). This is generally agreed to be a practice done by other nations who were idolaters either in the worship of their gods or in excessive, immoderate mournings. This is, in our western modern world, not a known practice that still exists. If you’re cutting the sides of your head or beard, you probably aren’t doing it because you worship other gods. This is what the laws boil down to. Most of the odd laws in the Bible are simply clarifying, for the people of that time and place, the main commandments such as the Big 10 (i.e.Don’t worship other gods).

Fast forward to the 1800’s Germany, there were two brothers whose father was a lawyer. They were librarians, writers, and scholars. The two professions collided when they decided to collect old tales from across Germany.

What compelled the (Brothers) Grimm to concentrate on old German epics, tales, and literature was a belief that the most natural and pure forms of culture—those which held the community together—were linguistic and based in history. According to them, modern literature, even though it might be remarkably rich, was artificial and thus could not express the genuine essence of Volk culture that emanated naturally from experience and bound the people together. Therefore, all their efforts went toward uncovering stories from the past. (neh.gov)

They’d realized that old tales, passed down to children throughout the ages, held the collective moral conscience and what it meant to be a German. Publication of their collected tales spurred several other European countries to do the same (neh.gov/notablebio).

In the same way, the writers of the Bible were writing down history, stories, poetry, much of which were previously conveyed before by oral traditions in order to pass down the collective moral conscience of the community and what it meant to be a Child of God. Throughout most of history, people just didn’t think to write every single thing down, but at some point someone realized that it might be important preserve this sense of right and wrong and sense of cultural identity for future generations.

By the time Jesus arrived on Earth as a human, there were several sects of Judaism who were seeing the Old Testament in more of a statuary law sense. This is what people call legalism. It can sprout many rabbit trails, which begin to make things impossible.

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. Matthew 5:17-22

The law remained the law. The collective knowledge of God’s ways and truths remained His truths. However, as Jesus explains, some people were so tied up in correcting people over washing of hands and plucking an ear of corn on the Sabbath that they failed to see that these laws were there to promote a gentle, loving soul. The heart and spirit of the laws were not about just abstaining from causing death: they were about raising up to life.

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40

Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands before they eat.”

Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said: ‘Honor your father and mother’a and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say that if anyone says to his father or mother, ‘The help you would have received from me has been given to God,’ he need not honor his father or mother with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you:

‘These people honor Me with their lips,

but their hearts are far from Me.

They worship Me in vain;

they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’ …

“Do you not yet realize that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then is eliminated? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander. These are what defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile him.” Matthew 15:1-20

Jesus was returning their attention to the spirit of the law, which boils down to the collective moral conscience of the Israelite people.

It’s important to know where the writers and intended readers of the Bible were coming from in context of their own culture, time period, assumed mores, etc. It helps us to fully understand the messages they’re trying to convey.

God bless!

https://www.notablebiographies.com/Gi-He/Grimm-Brothers.html
https://www.neh.gov/humanities/2015/marchapril/feature/how-the-grimm-brothers-saved-the-fairy-tale
http://www.yashanet.com/library/under2.htm
https://reformjudaism.org/learning/torah-study/va-etchanan/torah-rules-or-wisdom
http://www.helsinki.fi/teol/pro/_merenlah/oppimateriaalit/text/english/judaism.htm

Podcast:
The Bible Project – Law as a Revolution (and others)