January 16, 2006 -- I am not satisfied.
These are the things I would have missed:
Obama' birth certificat: Let the record show
Ever since Obama started running for president, the birthers (no, really that’s what they are being called) have been up in arms about Barack's lack of a valid birth certificate.
First they accused him of not submitting a certificate of birth because it was just a “live birth certificate”. Well, all righty then, he was born alive. What else did they want? There is enough red tape at the state level without the states being required to issue live birth certificates for every infant that enters the state. That goes beyond ridiculous. My birth certificate states
Nothing is impossible
God has shown us beyond any reasonable doubt that nothing is impossible. Since the creation of the universe and the promise of a Savior, God has made sure that we know with Him all things are possible.
What is that single thing which causes things to be possible?
Noah built an ark with no prior knowledge of boat building, and built it through divine guidance. (Gen 6:14) Then, God shut the door after Noah and family entered it along with all the animals two by two and two by sevens.
Was it Noah's faith that brought his and his family's salvation from the floods? First and foremost it was Noah's belief that God is who He says He is and God will do what He says He will do. Without belief, Noah would never have cut the first plank for the ark.
God did not miraculously make the ark appear. Noah and his sons built it. Therefore, it was God and Noah together who made that ark happen. Even after 120 years of preaching (Gen 6:3, 2 Peter 2:5) the flood would come, Noah never gave up his belief. That took faith: his knowledge of things not seen because of his belief in the one, true God Almighty.
Noah believed and he built.
Abraham was asked by God to sacrifice His only son by Sarah, the promised boy that the Angel of the Lord had told both Abraham and Sarah would come in about nine months. Abraham took the boy with him and headed for Mt. Moriah to sacrifice the boy. When Isaac asked where was the animal they would sacrifice, Abraham replied, "Don't worry, God will provide." Abraham was absolutely sure of one thing: God would always keep His promises.
Abraham told his servant to wait because he and the boy would return. This is not only belief, but faith in action. It is taking God at His word, expecting Him to uphold His promise whether supernaturally or physically. Oh, to have faith such as this!
God spoke to Joseph in two dreams and Joseph believed God. The young boy was transformed from a spoiled brat into a forgiving and loving man who trusted God at His word. He became second in command of the vast kingdom of Egypt. He only answered to Pharaoh himself, but he put God above all and was blessed beyond measure.
Rahab knew the Israelites God had parted the waters and had provided strength to the Children of Israel beyond mere human strength. When others trembled, she trusted Caleb and Salmon and their God. When the walls of Jericho tumbled down, her home in the wall of Jericho did not falter and her family remained safe. Was it because of a scarlet cord stretched down from her window? It was certainly a sign, but it was the power of the Lord that kept them secure.
The Hall of Faithers is in Hebrews 11. For all time, those who have trusted in the only true God have been blessed with fascinating testimonies. Those like Moses have told God, "I can't" then God has proven to them and the world, "I can with God."
It was with willing hearts they trusted and with God's power they did. God will make sure His promises are fulfilled and that His work gets done. What a blessing to be called, to act willingly to be the conduit of God's power as a testimony to the world.
What is that single thing which causes things to be possible?
Noah built an ark with no prior knowledge of boat building, and built it through divine guidance. (Gen 6:14) Then, God shut the door after Noah and family entered it along with all the animals two by two and two by sevens.
Was it Noah's faith that brought his and his family's salvation from the floods? First and foremost it was Noah's belief that God is who He says He is and God will do what He says He will do. Without belief, Noah would never have cut the first plank for the ark.
God did not miraculously make the ark appear. Noah and his sons built it. Therefore, it was God and Noah together who made that ark happen. Even after 120 years of preaching (Gen 6:3, 2 Peter 2:5) the flood would come, Noah never gave up his belief. That took faith: his knowledge of things not seen because of his belief in the one, true God Almighty.
Noah believed and he built.
Abraham was asked by God to sacrifice His only son by Sarah, the promised boy that the Angel of the Lord had told both Abraham and Sarah would come in about nine months. Abraham took the boy with him and headed for Mt. Moriah to sacrifice the boy. When Isaac asked where was the animal they would sacrifice, Abraham replied, "Don't worry, God will provide." Abraham was absolutely sure of one thing: God would always keep His promises.
Abraham told his servant to wait because he and the boy would return. This is not only belief, but faith in action. It is taking God at His word, expecting Him to uphold His promise whether supernaturally or physically. Oh, to have faith such as this!
God spoke to Joseph in two dreams and Joseph believed God. The young boy was transformed from a spoiled brat into a forgiving and loving man who trusted God at His word. He became second in command of the vast kingdom of Egypt. He only answered to Pharaoh himself, but he put God above all and was blessed beyond measure.
Rahab knew the Israelites God had parted the waters and had provided strength to the Children of Israel beyond mere human strength. When others trembled, she trusted Caleb and Salmon and their God. When the walls of Jericho tumbled down, her home in the wall of Jericho did not falter and her family remained safe. Was it because of a scarlet cord stretched down from her window? It was certainly a sign, but it was the power of the Lord that kept them secure.
The Hall of Faithers is in Hebrews 11. For all time, those who have trusted in the only true God have been blessed with fascinating testimonies. Those like Moses have told God, "I can't" then God has proven to them and the world, "I can with God."
It was with willing hearts they trusted and with God's power they did. God will make sure His promises are fulfilled and that His work gets done. What a blessing to be called, to act willingly to be the conduit of God's power as a testimony to the world.
Longing...
(I knew I had heard that teaching about eternity from somewhere so I went searching for it and found it in my archives from 2006. I'm reposting it today because my feelings have been stirred into such a longing.)
Does anyone know why we Christians have such longing in our spirits?
Adrian Rogers preached not too long ago
Adrian Rogers preached not too long ago
Reunion for the boys in Heaven
It was very sudden and my aunt barely had time to call the ambulance. However, our life here is such a fleeting thing, barely time for getting old and then we go on to our eternal life with Jesus; that is if you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Today, there is a great rejoicing and reunion of the four brothers.
How precious is our time together in the here and now. I can remember as teenagers my cousins and sister and I were sitting on Grandma Burgess's front porch. Uncle Butch stomps by. He was trying to fix the discus so he could turn the ground. Someone (I'm not admitting anything, but it could have been me) stated, "There's nothing to do. I'm bored!"
"I think I know just the thing!" he cried, sounding just like my dad. "Wait here and I'll be right back."
My cousin said, "No telling what he'll bring back. We'd better hike it to the woods."
A difficult saying is found in Matthew 5:48:
Be ye therefore perfect, as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
How can we possibly be perfect?
Τέλειος teleios (tel'-i-os)From G5056; complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neuter (as noun, with G3588) completeness: - of full age, man, perfect.
I like that "complete" part. Jesus makes
Worship is a lifestyle
David shows us his style of worship in 1 Chronicles 16 starting with verse 8.
1Ch 16:8 Give thanks to Jehovah, call on His name, make known His deeds among the people. 9 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him, talk of all His wondrous works. 10 Glory in His holy name, let the heart of those who seek Jehovah rejoice. 11 Seek Jehovah and His strength; seek His face continually. 12 Remember His marvelous works which He had done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,
And he adds something incredibly important across the page in verse 29
1Ch 16:29 Give to Jehovah the glory of His name; bring an offering and
Worship with a clean heart
1 Samuel 1:3
Here is the story of Hannah but, we’re only going to look at one verse here. Her husband regularly went up before the Lord of Hosts of Shiloh to worship and sacrifice. Here there is a distinction between worshiping and sacrifice. In Genesis, it was implied that the sacrifice was the worship of Abraham. But actually the worship was obedience, or
Here is the story of Hannah but, we’re only going to look at one verse here. Her husband regularly went up before the Lord of Hosts of Shiloh to worship and sacrifice. Here there is a distinction between worshiping and sacrifice. In Genesis, it was implied that the sacrifice was the worship of Abraham. But actually the worship was obedience, or
Worship: God has given us a choice
Exodus 33
is an interesting chapter. Moses sets up the Tabernacle tent far outside the camp. If anyone was seeking God, they went to the Tabernacle. God tells the people that He won’t go up among them because He just might consume them (literally to kill them) because they are a stiff-necked people. Proud. Foolish. Disobedient by making a gold calf to worship after God had specifically told them in Exodus 20 they were to have no other gods before Him. Many lost their lives over that escapade. This is an example of how not to act and the consequences of worshipping idols instead of the One True God.
Therefore, the people had to worship at a distance from God. In Exodus 33:10, when the people saw the cloud descend, all of them would "arise" and worship, each man in his tent door, when the cloud descended to the tent. Why not gather together and worship corporately? Why each man in his own tent door? We see why in the preceding chapter of Exodus 32. The people had made that golden calf to worship corporately, which deeply angered God and Moses. They could go individually to the Tabernacle to seek God and to sacrifice, but not corporately unless God called them all together.
There is more involved in worship than a bent neck or knee.
Deuteronomy 30:11-20
Worship involves the ear which is listening, along with the heart and service. This describes the will of man. It is a choice to hear. My daughter tells me all the time, “You are not listening to me.” I am listening to her. I’m looking right at her, hearing the words come from her lips but what I hear may not be what she means. We must be on the same wavelength in order to understand what we hear. That involves paying attention while we listen, not thinking about what we’re going to cook for supper while we listen. This also means the heart which is our understanding and willingness to serve.
Look at verse 14 -- “But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart that you may do it.” God gave them a choice. God’s relationship to mankind has changed since then because He sent His son. Those who choose to be are reconciled to Him now. But, how God deals with us remains the same from Adam to now all the way through the 1,000 years of peace. God has given us a choice. His command is not far away. As He states in verse 12, “it isn’t in Heaven where we cannot get to it, nor in the sea, but right in our hearts.” The choice is given between “life and good” or “death and evil”, verse 15. This is one of several warnings to Israel not to be drawn away into serving the gods of foreign countries. Jesus said that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also Matthew 6:21 and in Matthew 12:35 He says that out of the good treasure of the heart comes good things and out of the evil treasure of the heart comes evil things. Our heart is most definitely required to be engaged when we worship.
Warnings before worship
(continued from yesterday's post--see below)
They are the same warning. Jesus was calling those scribes and Pharisees exactly what they were... a brood of vipers. In verse 13 of Isaiah 58, God is saying to refute that way and delight not only in deed but in heart in the LORD.
There are 5 Hebrew words that are translated – Worship, we’ll look at two.
Shachah – (shaw-khaw) to bow down in homage, prostrate oneself before God or false gods or angels.
‘abad – (aw-bad’) to serve, to work, to labor or be enticed to serve.
There are 11 Greek words that are translated – Worship, we’ll look at one.
Proskuneo – (pros – koo – neh – oh) to kiss the hand to/towards one in token of reverence; to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence; kneeling or prostration in homage. From a word that loosely means to kiss like a dog licking his master’s hand.
I was a member of a Lay Renewal team back when I was an older teen. We called it Worship Service back then. I really liked that term. When we would have our "debriefing sessions"...some of us would say, "The Holy Spirit was really working in this!" And others would say, "You really think so? I couldn't see it!" And yes, we were at the same church on the same weekend... I have been to the exact same service as someone else and received such a deep blessing while the person beside me had to cover yawns and fight to keep awake.
What is illustrated here is that worship is definitely a 2-way street. We must work with the Holy Spirit. If we work with Him and prepare our hearts for Him then we have a completely different experience than if we just go through the motions and our heart is not in it. And if you don’t believe me, in the next few minutes, I’ll prove it. Remember the dog licking the master's hand.
Today we call our singing service before the preaching, Praise and Worship. We just spent a Wonder-Full half hour singing praises to my beloved Lord. However, I suggest to you that Worship is far more than singing, raising hands, praying, preaching and anything else we do in our Sunday Morning Worship services.
As I studied this Worship thing, it seems that God was teaching the Israelites in the OT that worshiping was different than anything else mentioned along with it. Uncountable times it reads, “Bow down and worship” or “Sing praises and worshipped.” Starting with Abraham in Genesis through Revelation, Worship or some form of it is mentioned 385 times in Scripture.
Turn with me to Genesis 22:5.
When my girls were young, about 3 and 4 years old, my Mom was so excited at Christmas because they were old enough to actually understand the Christmas story. She gathered them up in her lap and read the story to them from the Bible. When she got through, she said, “Now, that was the story of the very first Christmas almost 2000 years ago and why every year we remember Jesus’ birth at this time.” My older daughter, Lauri Anne looked up at her with her eyes wide and such a look on her face, we thought for sure she was going to say something profound or really sweet about the baby Jesus, when she said, “You’re not going to tell us all the other 2000 Christmas stories are you?”
So, no, we’re not going to explore all 385 times worship or a word like it is mentioned. I’ve whittled it down to several verses, though. So hang on to your hats.
Genesis 22:5
Gen 22:5 And Abraham said to his young men, You stay here with the donkey. I and the boy will go over there that we may worship and may return to you.
Gen 22:6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac; and he took the fire and the knife in his hand. And the two went together.
שׁחה
shâchâh
shaw-khaw'
A primitive root; to depress, that is, prostrate (especially reflexively in homage to royalty or God): - bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.
The first time this word is used is a few chapters before in Genesis 18. But this is the first time Shaw-khaw is translated worship. Shaw-khaw. Notice that Abraham takes wood and fire and the knife and the two went together to Moriah (Mo-ree-yaw). Moriah means “Chosen by God.” This mountain that Abraham and Isaac offer sacrifice on is the same mountain where Old Jerusalem stands. The same mountain that David bought in order to build God’s Temple and the same mountain where Solomon built the Temple. It is the same mountain where Jesus died on the cross.
Wood
Fire and a
Knife –
The Cross,
Judgment and the
Nails.
Oh, I wish we had time to camp on that awhile. This is an illustration that we don’t have time to investigate further but can’t just be passed over.
Now look a few verses higher in 22:1. Abraham is being tested. We see here that Abraham is a man of few questions of God. He obeyed. He remembered what God had promised about Isaac so he didn’t fear and he obeyed God without question. He and the boy would go over yonder and worship and return to them, the servants.
What an incredible testimony of faith and worship. He obeyed God no matter the apparent cost.
In the Old Testament, the people bowed low to worship most of the time. What does that literally mean, to bow down or to bow low? Let’s consider this for a moment. If we are proud of something, what is our stance? Standing up straight, chest out, neck back, arms wide sometimes. When we are bragging on our children, grandchildren, husband …. Fill in the blank, we are proud…stiff-necked… focused on “me”, “my” and “mine”. Right?
Here is the problem with that focus; it is inward and earthly. But, when we bow our heads and bow down, we are in the perfect position to take on the yoke of possession of God. Taking on that yoke is part of belonging to Him. It is submission. It is acknowledging that God is greater and higher and mightier than “me”, “my”, “mine”. Idols are earthly things. When we have an earthly focus we leave out God.
They are the same warning. Jesus was calling those scribes and Pharisees exactly what they were... a brood of vipers. In verse 13 of Isaiah 58, God is saying to refute that way and delight not only in deed but in heart in the LORD.
There are 5 Hebrew words that are translated – Worship, we’ll look at two.
Shachah – (shaw-khaw) to bow down in homage, prostrate oneself before God or false gods or angels.
‘abad – (aw-bad’) to serve, to work, to labor or be enticed to serve.
There are 11 Greek words that are translated – Worship, we’ll look at one.
Proskuneo – (pros – koo – neh – oh) to kiss the hand to/towards one in token of reverence; to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence; kneeling or prostration in homage. From a word that loosely means to kiss like a dog licking his master’s hand.
I was a member of a Lay Renewal team back when I was an older teen. We called it Worship Service back then. I really liked that term. When we would have our "debriefing sessions"...some of us would say, "The Holy Spirit was really working in this!" And others would say, "You really think so? I couldn't see it!" And yes, we were at the same church on the same weekend... I have been to the exact same service as someone else and received such a deep blessing while the person beside me had to cover yawns and fight to keep awake.
What is illustrated here is that worship is definitely a 2-way street. We must work with the Holy Spirit. If we work with Him and prepare our hearts for Him then we have a completely different experience than if we just go through the motions and our heart is not in it. And if you don’t believe me, in the next few minutes, I’ll prove it. Remember the dog licking the master's hand.
Today we call our singing service before the preaching, Praise and Worship. We just spent a Wonder-Full half hour singing praises to my beloved Lord. However, I suggest to you that Worship is far more than singing, raising hands, praying, preaching and anything else we do in our Sunday Morning Worship services.
As I studied this Worship thing, it seems that God was teaching the Israelites in the OT that worshiping was different than anything else mentioned along with it. Uncountable times it reads, “Bow down and worship” or “Sing praises and worshipped.” Starting with Abraham in Genesis through Revelation, Worship or some form of it is mentioned 385 times in Scripture.
Turn with me to Genesis 22:5.
When my girls were young, about 3 and 4 years old, my Mom was so excited at Christmas because they were old enough to actually understand the Christmas story. She gathered them up in her lap and read the story to them from the Bible. When she got through, she said, “Now, that was the story of the very first Christmas almost 2000 years ago and why every year we remember Jesus’ birth at this time.” My older daughter, Lauri Anne looked up at her with her eyes wide and such a look on her face, we thought for sure she was going to say something profound or really sweet about the baby Jesus, when she said, “You’re not going to tell us all the other 2000 Christmas stories are you?”
So, no, we’re not going to explore all 385 times worship or a word like it is mentioned. I’ve whittled it down to several verses, though. So hang on to your hats.
Genesis 22:5
Gen 22:5 And Abraham said to his young men, You stay here with the donkey. I and the boy will go over there that we may worship and may return to you.
Gen 22:6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac; and he took the fire and the knife in his hand. And the two went together.
שׁחה
shâchâh
shaw-khaw'
A primitive root; to depress, that is, prostrate (especially reflexively in homage to royalty or God): - bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.
The first time this word is used is a few chapters before in Genesis 18. But this is the first time Shaw-khaw is translated worship. Shaw-khaw. Notice that Abraham takes wood and fire and the knife and the two went together to Moriah (Mo-ree-yaw). Moriah means “Chosen by God.” This mountain that Abraham and Isaac offer sacrifice on is the same mountain where Old Jerusalem stands. The same mountain that David bought in order to build God’s Temple and the same mountain where Solomon built the Temple. It is the same mountain where Jesus died on the cross.
Wood
Fire and a
Knife –
The Cross,
Judgment and the
Nails.
Oh, I wish we had time to camp on that awhile. This is an illustration that we don’t have time to investigate further but can’t just be passed over.
Now look a few verses higher in 22:1. Abraham is being tested. We see here that Abraham is a man of few questions of God. He obeyed. He remembered what God had promised about Isaac so he didn’t fear and he obeyed God without question. He and the boy would go over yonder and worship and return to them, the servants.
What an incredible testimony of faith and worship. He obeyed God no matter the apparent cost.
In the Old Testament, the people bowed low to worship most of the time. What does that literally mean, to bow down or to bow low? Let’s consider this for a moment. If we are proud of something, what is our stance? Standing up straight, chest out, neck back, arms wide sometimes. When we are bragging on our children, grandchildren, husband …. Fill in the blank, we are proud…stiff-necked… focused on “me”, “my” and “mine”. Right?
Here is the problem with that focus; it is inward and earthly. But, when we bow our heads and bow down, we are in the perfect position to take on the yoke of possession of God. Taking on that yoke is part of belonging to Him. It is submission. It is acknowledging that God is greater and higher and mightier than “me”, “my”, “mine”. Idols are earthly things. When we have an earthly focus we leave out God.
Busy with worship, lazy in ministry
Isaiah 58
Your Prayers Won't Get Off the Ground1"Shout! A full-throated shout!
Hold nothing back--a trumpet-blast shout!
Tell my people what's wrong with their lives,
face my family Jacob with their sins!
2They're busy, busy, busy at worship,
and love studying all about me.
To all appearances they're a nation of right-living people--
law-abiding, God-honoring.
They ask me, "What's the right thing to do?'
and love having me on their side.
3But they also complain,
"Why do we fast and you don't look our way?
Why do we humble ourselves and you don't even notice?'
"Well, here's why:
"The bottom line on your "fast days' is profit.
You drive your employees much too hard.
4You fast, but at the same time you bicker and fight.
You fast, but you swing a mean fist.
The kind of fasting you do
won't get your prayers off the ground.
5Do you think this is the kind of fast day I'm after:
a day to show off humility?
To put on a pious long face
and parade around solemnly in black?
Do you call that fasting,
a fast day that I, GOD, would like?
In verse 2 we see the outward show of religious fervor.
In verse 3a we see grumbling that God isn’t taking notice of their self-sacrifices
In verse 3b we see God’s answer. You make a big show, but you don’t really care about Me you care about your fattening your wallet. That isn’t what I’m all about.
In verse 4 we see Him go into greater detail. Fighting and bickering makes your worship a lie. You fight with your fists and not just words. Your prayers won’t get off the ground.
In verse 5, God gets a little cranky. Is this what you think I’m all about?
There is a lot of speculation among scholars about who this is directed to specifically. Some say it was to a specific group of Jews during the time of Isaiah’s prophesying.
Some think it’s directed those Jews who be led captive to Babylon.
Matthew Henry says it is directed to all hypocrites of all ages. I tend to agree with him.
So what were they doing wrong?
They looked good on the outside but were like whitewashed graves, which indeed appear beautiful outside, but inside they are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. (Matt 23:27) Some scholars believe that Isaiah’s vision is about the Jews of Jesus’ day when he proclaims the “Woe to you” curses.
Matthew 23.
Jesus spoke to the crowds and to the disciples and in verse 3 He tells them “do as they say, but not as they do, for they say and do not.” 4 For they bind heavy and hard to bear burdens, and lay them on the shoulders of men, but they do not desire to move them with their finger.
Isa 58:2 Yet they seek Me day by day, and desire knowledge of My ways. As a nation that has done right, and not forsaking the judgment of their God, they ask Me about judgments of righteousness; they desire to draw near to God.
Isaiah 58:3 … Behold, on the day of your fast you find pleasure; and you drive all your laborers hard. (The employees never find a day of rest.)
In other words, the appearance of godliness, but the heart intent is not there. You fast, but you bicker and fight. You fast but you act mean.
So, again, what were they doing wrong? I believe what Isaiah is saying here correlates with Jesus’ cursing of the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23. Only Jesus says it much harsher drop down to verse 25.
Mat 23:25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of extortion and excess.
26 Blind Pharisee! First cleanse the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which indeed appear beautiful outside, but inside they are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also appear righteous to men outwardly, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Now compare Isaiah 58:13 If you turn your foot because of the Sabbath, from doing what you please on My holy days, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of Jehovah, honorable; and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words…
They are almost exactly the same.
Your Prayers Won't Get Off the Ground1"Shout! A full-throated shout!
Hold nothing back--a trumpet-blast shout!
Tell my people what's wrong with their lives,
face my family Jacob with their sins!
2They're busy, busy, busy at worship,
and love studying all about me.
To all appearances they're a nation of right-living people--
law-abiding, God-honoring.
They ask me, "What's the right thing to do?'
and love having me on their side.
3But they also complain,
"Why do we fast and you don't look our way?
Why do we humble ourselves and you don't even notice?'
"Well, here's why:
"The bottom line on your "fast days' is profit.
You drive your employees much too hard.
4You fast, but at the same time you bicker and fight.
You fast, but you swing a mean fist.
The kind of fasting you do
won't get your prayers off the ground.
5Do you think this is the kind of fast day I'm after:
a day to show off humility?
To put on a pious long face
and parade around solemnly in black?
Do you call that fasting,
a fast day that I, GOD, would like?
In verse 2 we see the outward show of religious fervor.
In verse 3a we see grumbling that God isn’t taking notice of their self-sacrifices
In verse 3b we see God’s answer. You make a big show, but you don’t really care about Me you care about your fattening your wallet. That isn’t what I’m all about.
In verse 4 we see Him go into greater detail. Fighting and bickering makes your worship a lie. You fight with your fists and not just words. Your prayers won’t get off the ground.
In verse 5, God gets a little cranky. Is this what you think I’m all about?
There is a lot of speculation among scholars about who this is directed to specifically. Some say it was to a specific group of Jews during the time of Isaiah’s prophesying.
Some think it’s directed those Jews who be led captive to Babylon.
Matthew Henry says it is directed to all hypocrites of all ages. I tend to agree with him.
So what were they doing wrong?
They looked good on the outside but were like whitewashed graves, which indeed appear beautiful outside, but inside they are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. (Matt 23:27) Some scholars believe that Isaiah’s vision is about the Jews of Jesus’ day when he proclaims the “Woe to you” curses.
Matthew 23.
Jesus spoke to the crowds and to the disciples and in verse 3 He tells them “do as they say, but not as they do, for they say and do not.” 4 For they bind heavy and hard to bear burdens, and lay them on the shoulders of men, but they do not desire to move them with their finger.
Isa 58:2 Yet they seek Me day by day, and desire knowledge of My ways. As a nation that has done right, and not forsaking the judgment of their God, they ask Me about judgments of righteousness; they desire to draw near to God.
Isaiah 58:3 … Behold, on the day of your fast you find pleasure; and you drive all your laborers hard. (The employees never find a day of rest.)
In other words, the appearance of godliness, but the heart intent is not there. You fast, but you bicker and fight. You fast but you act mean.
So, again, what were they doing wrong? I believe what Isaiah is saying here correlates with Jesus’ cursing of the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23. Only Jesus says it much harsher drop down to verse 25.
Mat 23:25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of extortion and excess.
26 Blind Pharisee! First cleanse the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which indeed appear beautiful outside, but inside they are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also appear righteous to men outwardly, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Now compare Isaiah 58:13 If you turn your foot because of the Sabbath, from doing what you please on My holy days, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of Jehovah, honorable; and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words…
They are almost exactly the same.
Ye Shall Laugh - from Louisiana
This is my favorite Pierre and Boudreaux joke.
Pierre and Boudreaux was flying Cajun Airlines.
Boudreaux was flying da plane and Pierre was in da back foolin wit da cargo equipment an stuff.
Suddenly da plane hit some turbulence an started bouncing around an Boudreaux da pilot got knock unconcience… Den da plane started driftin’.
Pierre him come runnin’ up to da front an Boudreaux was sprawl out over da steerin’ wheel. Well, Pierre don’t know no-ting bout flyin no plane and he start to get pan-a-key!
He grab da microphone and holla “May Day! May Day! Dis is Cajun Air Line 10210. Boudreaux him knock unconscience an I don’t know no-ting bout flyin dis here plane!”
Pierre and Boudreaux was flying Cajun Airlines.
Boudreaux was flying da plane and Pierre was in da back foolin wit da cargo equipment an stuff.
Suddenly da plane hit some turbulence an started bouncing around an Boudreaux da pilot got knock unconcience… Den da plane started driftin’.
Pierre him come runnin’ up to da front an Boudreaux was sprawl out over da steerin’ wheel. Well, Pierre don’t know no-ting bout flyin no plane and he start to get pan-a-key!
He grab da microphone and holla “May Day! May Day! Dis is Cajun Air Line 10210. Boudreaux him knock unconscience an I don’t know no-ting bout flyin dis here plane!”
Prayer and results
Is it so bad to want to see results of prayer?
We just cannot know or understand God's ways. Only He knows why some prayers we know are within His deepest desires (like praying for the lost to be saved) are seemingly not answered and why some prayers are answered before they are uttered.
We ask, and we receive. Then we ask, and then we receive. It seems to be a results motivated prayer life.
Jesus taught His dicisples to pray, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." Why isn't that enough?
We are told in many different ways, but most clearly through Paul to, "worry over nothing, to pray about everything.
Phi 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
So the mature Christian should be able to leave everything in God's hands and be comfortable with how He answers our prayers. It is rather difficult to just let go and let God. God showed me in no uncertain terms that His will is done for those who love Him. And sometimes... sometimes He is waiting on us to conform to His desires and to let go of our desires.
It all boils down to Trust. When we know our God has plans not to harm us, but for our good, then there is no way we can go wrong. It's just those trials and painful tribulations, and that dark valley of death that we know we must walk through that gets us all twisted into knots.
Has He ever failed me? Never.
Will He ever fail me? Never.
That must be enough.
Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD rejoices over you. He will quiet you with His love.
Or as The Message puts it,Your GOD is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you. Happy to have you back, he'll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs.
We just cannot know or understand God's ways. Only He knows why some prayers we know are within His deepest desires (like praying for the lost to be saved) are seemingly not answered and why some prayers are answered before they are uttered.
We ask, and we receive. Then we ask, and then we receive. It seems to be a results motivated prayer life.
Jesus taught His dicisples to pray, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." Why isn't that enough?
We are told in many different ways, but most clearly through Paul to, "worry over nothing, to pray about everything.
Phi 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
So the mature Christian should be able to leave everything in God's hands and be comfortable with how He answers our prayers. It is rather difficult to just let go and let God. God showed me in no uncertain terms that His will is done for those who love Him. And sometimes... sometimes He is waiting on us to conform to His desires and to let go of our desires.
It all boils down to Trust. When we know our God has plans not to harm us, but for our good, then there is no way we can go wrong. It's just those trials and painful tribulations, and that dark valley of death that we know we must walk through that gets us all twisted into knots.
Has He ever failed me? Never.
Will He ever fail me? Never.
That must be enough.
Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD rejoices over you. He will quiet you with His love.
Or as The Message puts it,Your GOD is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you. Happy to have you back, he'll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs.
Obama's heart or agenda?
I am greatly concerned over the stand our pres has taken in Libya. I am forthrightly delighted Congress is hesitating to arm the rebels there because we just do not know who they are. We hear what they are saying every evening, but are they speaking truth or just what the Americans want to hear?
News reporters spoke with Egyptians who hated America along with other Arabs in the other countries (there are so many it is hard to keep up) where the civil unrest has made news since January. In Tunisia, where it seems it all began, the folks there were organized enough to set up food lines to feed the rebels and refugees from Libya. Their focus was just humanitarian, but it was very well organized, almost too organized.
So, why did Obama publicly declare the date we would be pulling our troops from Iraq?
Why did Obama turn a blind eye to murder and torture of peaceful Iranian protesters who wanted fair elections in 2009? Why did Obama ignore the molestation of an American reporter in Egypt?
Now the Muslim Brotherhood is ruling Egypt. How is that good for the U.S.?
I watched Obama postulate on March 28 about how some countries could sit by and watch innocents be maimed and tortured (not exactly his words), but America is different. What is see is the U.S. President putting our brave soldiers in harm's way for something that has no vested interest in U.S. security or welfare.
This has set a pattern for the democrats, Bill Clinton embroiled us in a war/police action in the Balkans because Milosevic was committing genocide and ethnic cleansing. That had no harm to the U.S. whatsoever. Yet, when Stalin and Lenin were doing the same, the U.S. sat by and watched because the U.S. does not have an interest in regime change... However, those very words came out of Obama's mouth Monday night.
Here is the crux. We have already spent $1 trillion in Iraq and Afghanistan which have proven to be grounds of terrorist activities and terrorists are actively moving against the U.S. and have attacked us on our soil. There is money well spent, I believe, especially when I know my grandchildren (when I have some) will be able to sleep safely in their beds at night.
I can plainly see, even though I'm not privy to diplomatic cables or military secrets, there is an agenda to pave the path toward less moderate regimes led by Muslim Brotherhood in the Arab nations. We have seen a river of passion pouring across these Muslim nations with an organization unprecedented, but to what end?
Let's not forget that these leaders who are ousted and being ousted have had good relations with the U.S. as well as being somewhat calm when faced with Israel. The hate that is bubbling under the surface of this unrest has a heat source which is America and Israel. In order for the Anti-Christ to rise to power in a bloodless coup, these Arab nations must be united and the best way for multiple countries to unite is to have a single enemy.
What is happening now is pivotal.
News reporters spoke with Egyptians who hated America along with other Arabs in the other countries (there are so many it is hard to keep up) where the civil unrest has made news since January. In Tunisia, where it seems it all began, the folks there were organized enough to set up food lines to feed the rebels and refugees from Libya. Their focus was just humanitarian, but it was very well organized, almost too organized.
So, why did Obama publicly declare the date we would be pulling our troops from Iraq?
Why did Obama turn a blind eye to murder and torture of peaceful Iranian protesters who wanted fair elections in 2009? Why did Obama ignore the molestation of an American reporter in Egypt?
Now the Muslim Brotherhood is ruling Egypt. How is that good for the U.S.?
I watched Obama postulate on March 28 about how some countries could sit by and watch innocents be maimed and tortured (not exactly his words), but America is different. What is see is the U.S. President putting our brave soldiers in harm's way for something that has no vested interest in U.S. security or welfare.
This has set a pattern for the democrats, Bill Clinton embroiled us in a war/police action in the Balkans because Milosevic was committing genocide and ethnic cleansing. That had no harm to the U.S. whatsoever. Yet, when Stalin and Lenin were doing the same, the U.S. sat by and watched because the U.S. does not have an interest in regime change... However, those very words came out of Obama's mouth Monday night.
Here is the crux. We have already spent $1 trillion in Iraq and Afghanistan which have proven to be grounds of terrorist activities and terrorists are actively moving against the U.S. and have attacked us on our soil. There is money well spent, I believe, especially when I know my grandchildren (when I have some) will be able to sleep safely in their beds at night.
I can plainly see, even though I'm not privy to diplomatic cables or military secrets, there is an agenda to pave the path toward less moderate regimes led by Muslim Brotherhood in the Arab nations. We have seen a river of passion pouring across these Muslim nations with an organization unprecedented, but to what end?
Let's not forget that these leaders who are ousted and being ousted have had good relations with the U.S. as well as being somewhat calm when faced with Israel. The hate that is bubbling under the surface of this unrest has a heat source which is America and Israel. In order for the Anti-Christ to rise to power in a bloodless coup, these Arab nations must be united and the best way for multiple countries to unite is to have a single enemy.
What is happening now is pivotal.
4 cups of the Passover
(This is from my friend Wayne whom I met in my online Bible study at Studylight.org)
I completely agree regarding Passover as a picture of the wedding. Here is my understanding of the meaning of the 4 Cups of the Passover meal.
Exodus 6: 6 "Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, 'I am the YHWH, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.
7 'Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your Elohim; and you shall know that I am YHWH your Elohim, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
8 'I will bring you to the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you for a possession; I am YHWH.'"
The Four Cups of the Passover are Four "I Wills"
1. “I will bring you out” – Yatsa – the Cup of Sanctification/Kiddush
2. “I will rescue you” – Natsal – the Cup of Deliverance
3. “I will redeem you” – Ga’al – the Cup of Redemption
4. “I will take you as my people” – Laqach (take) – the Cup of Praise/Acceptance
The cool thing is the Cup of Praise and the word Laqach, take.
It is the same word meaning to take a bride.
Examples:
Gen 24: 51 "Here is Rebekah before you, take (laqach) her and go, and let her be the wife of your master's son, as the LORD has spoken."
Leviticus 21: 13 'He shall take (laqach) a wife in her virginity."
I believe the 4th Cup of the Passover is the Cup that Messiah will drink with us in the Kingdom, at the wedding feast of the Lamb:
Matthew 26: 29 "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."
Question: Why does Jesus want to marry the Bride?
I completely agree regarding Passover as a picture of the wedding. Here is my understanding of the meaning of the 4 Cups of the Passover meal.
Exodus 6: 6 "Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, 'I am the YHWH, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.
7 'Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your Elohim; and you shall know that I am YHWH your Elohim, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
8 'I will bring you to the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you for a possession; I am YHWH.'"
The Four Cups of the Passover are Four "I Wills"
1. “I will bring you out” – Yatsa – the Cup of Sanctification/Kiddush
2. “I will rescue you” – Natsal – the Cup of Deliverance
3. “I will redeem you” – Ga’al – the Cup of Redemption
4. “I will take you as my people” – Laqach (take) – the Cup of Praise/Acceptance
The cool thing is the Cup of Praise and the word Laqach, take.
It is the same word meaning to take a bride.
Examples:
Gen 24: 51 "Here is Rebekah before you, take (laqach) her and go, and let her be the wife of your master's son, as the LORD has spoken."
Leviticus 21: 13 'He shall take (laqach) a wife in her virginity."
I believe the 4th Cup of the Passover is the Cup that Messiah will drink with us in the Kingdom, at the wedding feast of the Lamb:
Matthew 26: 29 "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."
Question: Why does Jesus want to marry the Bride?
The Wane of Etiquette
I found the most delicious book on etiquette written by Sarah Anne Foster in 1869 or somewhere thereabouts. It is public domain and an ebook which can be found by clicking on the post title.
Never smack the lips when eating.
Never take a long, deep breath after you finish eating, as if the exercise had fatigued you.
Never make noises in your mouth or throat.
Never suck your teeth, or pass your tongue round the outside of your gums.
Never, even with cheese, put your knife into your mouth.
Never pick your teeth, or put your finger into your mouth. If you find you have a fish-bone in your mouth, cover your lips with a napkin to remove it. It is better to be very careful to remove all bones before putting fish into your mouth. On no account spit the bones out upon your plate.
(I did read an article on how Alexander Pope went to a dinner party and spit out the searing bite of potato saying, "A man would be a fool to keep that in his mouth! Of course, he lived in the eighteenth century.)
Never take the bones of fowl or birds up in your fingers to gnaw or suck them. Remove the meat with your knife, and convey it to your mouth with your fork, never being too eager to clean off every particle of flesh.
Wipe your finger tips, if soiled, upon the table napkin, never upon your tongue or the table-cloth. An elegant eater will never have occasion to think of his fingers.
Never use the table-cloth to wipe your mouth, you might as well use it in place of your pocket handkerchief.
Never remark upon what is placed before you, either in praise or dispraise of it.
Neither drink nor speak when you have anything in your mouth.
When you are helped, begin to eat, without regard to those who have already, or have not yet, been helped.
Never watch the dishes as they are uncovered, nor make any exclamation when you see their contents. Under no circumstances tuck your napkin, bib-fashion, into your shirt collar. Unfold it partially and put it in your lap, covering your knees. A lady may slip a corner under her belt if there is danger of its slipping upon her dress, but a gentleman must be awkward indeed if he lets his napkin fall upon the floor.
No gentleman will ever settle himself in his chair, pushing back his cuffs, as if for a "set-to," at the table.
If you make any general remark, do not look up at the waiters to see what effect it has upon them. If they are well-trained they will not move a muscle at hearing the most laughable story, nor will they give any sign whatever that they have not closed their ears like deaf adders to all that has been going on. In any case, however, you must refrain from noticing them. If you want anything, take the occasion of a waiter being near to you, to ask for it in an undertone. To shout out "Waiter!" or order one about, as if you were in a restaurant, is a certain mark of ill-breeding. Unless the party is a very small one, general conversation is impossible. In such a case, you must converse with those on either side of you, not confining your remarks exclusively to one.
As I have been reading this most enlightened etiquette book, I have noticed such a drastic and, sorry to say, great chasm between the mid-nineteenth century and today. Not just in years, but in everything that is genteel and courteous. I read these dos and dont's and I can remember my mother teaching some of them to me, like a gentleman should always remove his hat in church. When I grew up, gentlemen did not wear hats. They were called caps and baseball was always said in front of it. Baseball cap. I remember gentlemen opening doors for me and greatly watching their language when I was in the room. Now, I see all kinds of foul things on the internet and within my hearing if I'm not careful about what movie I'm watching.
It makes me want to cry out, "Oh, Jesus, come quickly!" Then the faces of people I love flash in my memory. People I know do not have Jesus in their hearts and I say, "Wait, Lord Jesus, get them; gather them like a hen gathers her chicks. Continue just a little longer until they finally get it." So I will bear the crassness of today, just so the lost will have a bit more time to come home.
Bombing in Jerusalem
I received an update from Chosen People Ministries this morning; and I want to share it with you all.
Dear Gina,
I wanted to share with you this first-hand report from Michael Z., director of Chosen People Ministries' work in Israel:
We heard the terrible explosion near the Jerusalem Bus Station, which is located just a half mile from our home. The first news from the field showed that it was a suitcase packed with explosives that exploded just outside the bus stop, injuring at least 30 people and killing one. There is Jewish blood spilled on the streets of Jerusalem; the blood of people whose only crime was being born Jewish is again crying to the world in an effort to be heard and understood.This attack comes after a few days of intense bombing from the Gaza strip. Recently, almost 50 missiles fell in one day in the Ashkelon area, and the next day two Grad missiles landed in Beer Sheva and injured several people. In addition, a week ago Israel was shocked by the cold-blooded murder of five people from one family - a husband, wife and three children were stabbed to death in their sleep. The youngest child was only a few months old.We are shocked and saddened by this violence, but we know that there is still a hope for our people despite all the attempts of the enemy - this hope is in Yeshua (Jesus), and we are praying for the day all Israel will recognize Him as Messiah.Please pray with us, and may God bless you.Thankfully, all of Chosen People Ministries' staff workers in Israel are safe and sound. Pray for the Lord to open witnessing opportunities for us in the midst of this unstable time in the Holy Land.
To get the most up-to-date news from Chosen People Ministries in Israel and around the world, please join us on Twitter and Facebook, where we will be posting daily updates.
In Messiah,
Mitch
Did you know God has commanded to pray for peace in Jerusalem?
Psalm 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you.
Isaiah 62:6 I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent, 7 And give Him no rest till He establishes And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
The blessing is a settled heart and abundant living. The underlying blessing is those who obey the LORD will always stand under the open windows of Heaven. God promised that every nation which loved His chosen people, which befriended His beloved nation of Israel would have His blessing.
Kay Arthur made a startling observation in her book, "My Beloved Israel", when she illustrated how each country that mounted a massive expulsion of the Jews eventually fell into ruin. From Judah to Rome (Constantine enveloped the Roman Empire) to Spain, to the Russian Czar Alexander's assignation, to Germany's fall in WWII. There are more examples and you can look them up.
Even though God has said there will be no peace until His Son comes again, we are to pray for peace.
Ezekiel 13:16 that is, the prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her when there is no peace,' " says the Lord GOD.
Zechariah 9:10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim And the horse from Jerusalem; The battle bow shall be cut off. He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be 'from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth.'
Pray for peace in Jerusalem, and pray that the United States will no longer tread this path of removing support from Israel. Being friends with Israel is the only hope for the U.S.
The Wedding Principle
I have read about twenty translations of Song of Solomon 8:6. The paraphrases do not seem to get that this verse is from the Ketubah or the Marriage Contract. I have heard at least a hundred sermons on how our relationship with Jesus is as a betrothal between the groom and the bride, but I haven't heard much at all on the contents of the marriage contract, or the Ketubah.
It’s fascinating, in a word.
The original purpose of the ketubah was to protect the wife and children in case something ever happened to the husband and papa. In ancient times, the family of the husband could just absorb the whole estate leaving the wife and children with nothing. In Jewish thought, this is tzedek, or justice.
In the ketubah the bride and groom did not sign the document, but the two witnesses attested to the promises made by the groom who would speak the words out loud to the bride and then would drink from the goblet of wine, then offer it to her. The wine represented the groom’s blood and offering it to his betrothed was the symbolic gesture that he would give up his life for her. When she took the goblet and drank it, she was telling him, the witnesses, and all who were present that she accepted his life and his promises. Thus the betrothal was complete.
I was going to finish this tonight, but it's just not going to happen...
It’s fascinating, in a word.
The original purpose of the ketubah was to protect the wife and children in case something ever happened to the husband and papa. In ancient times, the family of the husband could just absorb the whole estate leaving the wife and children with nothing. In Jewish thought, this is tzedek, or justice.
In the ketubah the bride and groom did not sign the document, but the two witnesses attested to the promises made by the groom who would speak the words out loud to the bride and then would drink from the goblet of wine, then offer it to her. The wine represented the groom’s blood and offering it to his betrothed was the symbolic gesture that he would give up his life for her. When she took the goblet and drank it, she was telling him, the witnesses, and all who were present that she accepted his life and his promises. Thus the betrothal was complete.
I was going to finish this tonight, but it's just not going to happen...
The Jewish Wedding depicts our relationship with God
I have so often been intrigued by the ceremonial Jewish wedding. The significance of how the wedding rituals relate so closely to our relationship with God is astounding to me.
My problem has been trying to find a source of explanation that uses the full Bible rather than starting at the belief then trying to fit the facts to the belief system. Several have excellent premises then falter when it comes to fitting biblical facts to their own belief system so the whole tumbles down because of faulty interpretation. An example if this is here.
I did find Don Ratcliff's "Jewish Wedding in Bible Times" which gives some insight.
The arrangements made before the betrothal (Fiddler on the Roof) required a matchmaker. The first one in the Bible is God who created Eve for Adam. The next one recorded is Abraham's servant sent out to find the bride for Isaac (Genesis 24).
Adam paid a most personal bride price--his rib. Abraham paid a bride price rich with gold and with life (the camels etc.), but more importantly, God answered the Abraham's supplication and the servant's prayer by showing him who He had chosen for Isaac's wife.
Then comes the question put to Rebekah, "Would you go with this man?" She said, "I will go." This is a point often missed because it indicates the willingness of the maid for the betrothal. She is asked and she says yes. Her willingness to be betrothed was crucial and planned for before this point because the Abraham told his servan if the woman refused to come, then the oath was canceled.
How interesting...
If she refused, the servant would not be held to his oath. What was it? To go to the country from which Abraham came to his family and take a wife for Isaac. If she refused then the servant would not have to bring the bride home to Isaac.
This meant that God only desired a willing bride. Rebekah was fully cognizant of what was required of her in this betrothal. She placed her trust in the servant of Abraham and faith that Isaac would be a good husband. She stepped out on faith.
But, let's not put too much awe into this. She saw the abundance of the camels, the silver, gold and clothing which told her that this was a rich man and not just something for show. She was willing to fill the troughs for ten camels to drink. That was considerable work considering thirsty camels can drink anywhere from thirty to fifty gallons of water. Rebekah drew water until the camels were satisfied. She most likely did this as part of her every workaday world. However we must note that camels can go as long as seven months without drinking water, so she might not have had this hard work on an everyday basis. Regardless of her other duties, going with Abraham's servant, she would be a princess so to speak and her status would be exponentially increased. It didn't take her long to recognize this.
So we have a betrothal with the willingness of the bride as priority. (Please read the comments to this post because the discussion is very interesting.)
What other parallels have you seen in this Genesis story that depicts our relationship with God?
My problem has been trying to find a source of explanation that uses the full Bible rather than starting at the belief then trying to fit the facts to the belief system. Several have excellent premises then falter when it comes to fitting biblical facts to their own belief system so the whole tumbles down because of faulty interpretation. An example if this is here.
I did find Don Ratcliff's "Jewish Wedding in Bible Times" which gives some insight.
The arrangements made before the betrothal (Fiddler on the Roof) required a matchmaker. The first one in the Bible is God who created Eve for Adam. The next one recorded is Abraham's servant sent out to find the bride for Isaac (Genesis 24).
Adam paid a most personal bride price--his rib. Abraham paid a bride price rich with gold and with life (the camels etc.), but more importantly, God answered the Abraham's supplication and the servant's prayer by showing him who He had chosen for Isaac's wife.
Then comes the question put to Rebekah, "Would you go with this man?" She said, "I will go." This is a point often missed because it indicates the willingness of the maid for the betrothal. She is asked and she says yes. Her willingness to be betrothed was crucial and planned for before this point because the Abraham told his servan if the woman refused to come, then the oath was canceled.
How interesting...
If she refused, the servant would not be held to his oath. What was it? To go to the country from which Abraham came to his family and take a wife for Isaac. If she refused then the servant would not have to bring the bride home to Isaac.
This meant that God only desired a willing bride. Rebekah was fully cognizant of what was required of her in this betrothal. She placed her trust in the servant of Abraham and faith that Isaac would be a good husband. She stepped out on faith.
But, let's not put too much awe into this. She saw the abundance of the camels, the silver, gold and clothing which told her that this was a rich man and not just something for show. She was willing to fill the troughs for ten camels to drink. That was considerable work considering thirsty camels can drink anywhere from thirty to fifty gallons of water. Rebekah drew water until the camels were satisfied. She most likely did this as part of her every workaday world. However we must note that camels can go as long as seven months without drinking water, so she might not have had this hard work on an everyday basis. Regardless of her other duties, going with Abraham's servant, she would be a princess so to speak and her status would be exponentially increased. It didn't take her long to recognize this.
So we have a betrothal with the willingness of the bride as priority. (Please read the comments to this post because the discussion is very interesting.)
What other parallels have you seen in this Genesis story that depicts our relationship with God?
Blessed by Kelly Beaver, 2001
Blessed
My soul shines bright
With Jesus' light
As He gently guides me through
A life of trials
and joys and smiles
and things that I must do.
He found me mired,
Distraught and tired,
'Midst the rushing tide of sin;
He reached out and
He grabbed my hand
And pulled me out again.
He'd not condemn
me of my sin
But offered me His grace;
He'd died for me
at Calvary
With love, He took my place.
My heart now sings,
my soul has wings
my mind and spirit glow
My life is blessed --
Who would have guessed
Such happiness I'd know?
and now...
He gives me voice
to pose the choice
to those who have not heard
The Good News of
His precious love
Spoke loud; without a word.
Kelly Beaver, 2001
I have not heard from Kelly in a very long time, we've lost touch over the years. How often that has happened to me. Sweet friends that I remember with such poignant fondness have large places in my heart and memory, but sadly I do not write or call. Praise God one day we will all be in Heaven, and after about the first million years of sitting at my Lord's feet, I'll look them all up and we'll catch up with hugs and smiles and I be able to tell them all how much I love them... how much they all have enriched my life.
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