A Child is Born, a Son is Given

On By TimIn Creation, Daily Walk, Encouragement, Eternal Security, Freedom, Heaven, Isaiah 09, Jesus, Prophecy, Reconciliation, Resurrection, Salvation, The CrossLeave a comment

Here’s something that has occupied the spare processing cycles in my brain when the screen saver is active. In other words, there is something that I have been considering deeply.

For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder. And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This is one of those memory verses I learned from years of listening to Handel’s Messiah. In that first line is a distinction that is easy to overlook. A child is born and a son is given. It is a prophetic announcement of the birth of Jesus. A child would be born to us humans. Not just any child, but a Son would be given. That Son would be unique. This announcement clearly shows that Jesus is God, not that He came from God.

In a discussion on the Godhead I just perused, I again pondered this idea. This God-Man… This Son, or Word, that was given to us. The interesting part of the conversation prompted me to write my thoughts down and share them.

The discussion was over the Son or Word and whether saying He is begotten by God somehow darkens the idea of His existence from “eternity past.” It’s precisely what derives from the idea of being begotten means, and sort of considers the hypostatic union. That is the union of God and man that is Jesus.

I want to give a foundation from here. This is what God says of Himself in the final chapters of the Old Testament.

For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.

Malachi 3:6 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no change or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.

James 1:17–18 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

From these two witnesses, it is clear that God doesn’t change. The writer of Hebrews adds to this.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

Hebrews 13:8 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

How does a God Who doesn’t change incarnate?

It sort of intrigues me that the God Who clearly says He is the same and doesn’t change somehow put on humanity.

It is precisely that idea that I think is too simplistic of an explanation. If He puts on humanity, He changes. Or maybe that doesn’t count as a change.

God has a Unique Relationship with Humans

I think it goes back to something foundational.

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Genesis 1:26–27 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This idea of God making us in His image. What is that, really?

I know one of my favorite Bible nerds says we are imagers. Meaning we get to make God known to others in unique ways.

What if this image is something profound like it is something that is really a part of God?

No… I am not drifting off into pantheism or panentheism.

I’m not saying we are God. Yet there is something more here. When you read the Bible, you’re going to read some things that you might be tempted to glance over.

Beloved, now are we children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

1 John 3:2 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

There is something so spectacular reserved for humanity. It cannot be put into words.

For those whom He foreknew, He predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified; and those whom He justified, He also glorified.

Romans 8:29–30 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

It’s this imager-thing. We are made in His image initially and will be conformed to His image. There are other texts that iterate these ideas like being a joint-heir with Jesus.

Jesus even spoke of this in some of His last words before the crucifixion.

I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You. May they also be one in Us, that the world may believe that You have sent Me. I have given them the glory which You gave Me, that they may be one even as We are one: I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfect in unity, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

John 17:20–23— Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

I don’t think we can even begin to ponder what is in store for each of us who loves Jesus.

And Many Animals

On By TimIn Jonah 3, Redemption, Second ChanceLeave a comment

Sometimes I cannot read the Bible without other ideas swirling in my brain. Most of those ideas are just vapidity. Yet every once in a while, an idea coalesces with the Scriptures that is intriguing. It happened this morning.

In reading Jonah, this stood out.

Then he made a proclamation in Nineveh:
“By decree of the king and his nobles:
No man or animal, no herd or flock, shall taste anything. They shall not eat or drink water. Both man and animals shall cover themselves with sackcloth and cry mightily to God. All shall turn from their evil ways and from the violence that is in their hands. Who knows? God may relent and change His mind. He may turn from His fierce anger, so that we will not perish.”

Jonah 3:7–9 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

To give some context, Jonah was sent to Nineveh because of the wickedness practiced in the city. It is said that the wickedness itself came up before God.

Of course, Jonah didn’t heed God’s command to go and purposed to go to sea traveling in the opposite direction away from Nineveh. God sent a storm on the ship, Jonah persuaded the shipmates to throw him overboard. God appointed a fish to swallow Jonah. In that fish, Jonah came to his senses and was spit out on dry land.

The fish must have brought Jonah very near Nineveh as God commanded Jonah yet again to go and give them His message.

Upon this second command, Jonah complied and did as God said. He preached the coming destruction of Nineveh to the inhabitants of the vast city. The message was heard, even by the leaders of the city. That takes us to the passage above.

Aside from the repentance and crying to God for mercy, there is a tacit confession of sin in the decree. Not only that, all people and animals were to participate in this plea for mercy.

That is where ideas collide. Sometimes, I read scriptures with the objections of skeptics in mind. In this instance, clearly the animals are involved in the plea for mercy. That says to my way of thinking, that the animals are also complicit in the evil of the city, most likely not of their own volition.

The objections skeptics raise are sometimes centered around the genocidal portions of the Old Testament where God wiped out entire nations that included men, women, children and animals. Why “innocent” animals is what some ask.

Implicit in this king’s decree is that animals are used in ways perhaps to perpetrate calamity on others.

It was a passing thought on encountering that, and I pushed on thinking that was probably a fancy imagination.

There is a biblical principle, on the testimony of two or three witnesses, a thing is established. I tend to apply this to what the Scriptures say. But God wants to make sure we understand.

After God relents in bringing judgment to Nineveh because of their confession, Jonah disdains the compassion of God. God gives Jonah a practical lesson in compassion. He uses a plant to comfort Jonah in his angry grief.

God concludes that lesson in a succinct summary.

The Lord said, “You are troubled about the plant for which you did not labor and did not grow. It came up in a night and perished in a night. Should I not, therefore, be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people, who do not know their right hand from their left, and also many animals?”

Jonah 4:10–11 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

It was this last interaction recorded between God and Jonah. The very last phrase is a second witness to that what I thought was my fancy imagination.

Somehow animals are involved in perpetrating evil.

Some commentators think that herds would be destroyed as collateral damage. That is why they are mentioned. I don’t think that is why.

Suffice it to say, cattle… Especially bulls were venerated in the pagan cults. The motif is clear in the Bible, even when Aaron says “these be your gods” for the Israelites. Baal is depicted as a mating bull.

Much of these ancient cults (religious systems) used practices that would upset or modern sensibilities. These cult practices involved sex with animals as well as burning their own children.

It’s easy for a skeptic to reject the Bible on a sophomoric surface level not understanding the contexts in which it is written.

I get this is a bit controversial. But I think that the ideas included in Jonah’s text demonstrate clearly that God is just.

Why a Kinsman?

On By TimIn Atonement, Daily Walk, Genesis 01, Jesus, Love, Matthew 23, ReconciliationLeave a comment

I was asked a question today.

“If GOD is all-loving then why can’t he just forgive Satan?”

Now that is a deep question! That requires lots of heavy study. I am going to try to sum it up succinctly, but will not show all of its points, nor develop them fully.

Let’s start at the beginning.

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Genesis 1:26–27 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This might be easily passed over, but humanity bears the image of God. Built into the creation of humanity is a “kinsman” relation to God Himself. The only creatures mentioned as being created in the image of God are humans.

With that foundation of humanity, we must then understand who or what ha shatan is. Jesus personifies the idea. And from Old Testament Scriptures we can understand a few things about the person involved. (By person I don’t limit the term to human persons.)

From those Old Testament Scriptures we infer his name and his office. He was the best of the best of creation.

At the first advent of Jesus, He taught a principle:

He who is greatest among you shall be your servant. For he who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Matthew 23:11–12 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

If we understand the implications of what Jesus taught, then this adversary—the epitome of creation— would have to serve creatures made of dirt. Instead he rebelled wanting the creatures to serve him. Using the idea of a serpent to take dominion of this world from the humans because humans were to have dominion over even serpents… Required a kinsman Redeemer to restore humanity to God’s order.

That’s the basis, and requires lots of digging into the Bible.

That said, let’s look at some of the things God said.

“Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched-out arm and with great judgments.

Exodus 6:6 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This is just one of many places where God put Himself in the place of Redeemer. Because humans are image-bearers of God, there is a kinsman relationship.

There is also another principle that was taught in the covenant given to Israel. It is summed up for us here:

For when Moses had taught every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book and all the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded you to keep.” Likewise he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of worship with blood. And according to the law almost everything must be cleansed with blood; without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Hebrews 9:19–22 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Now… Blood is required. Not any blood, but that of a Kinsman. That’s Jesus. God Himself taking humanity on Himself that He could shed His blood for His kin—image-bearers.

We know that humans can be redeemed. And by extension human dominion can be redeemed.

But… Spirits do not have blood. Angels do not have a kinsman to redeem.

The way I think of it, as humans were necessary to quash the rebellion.

Judge, Executioner and Mediator?

On By TimIn 1 Chronicles 21, Daily Walk, Death, Encouragement, Jesus, Salvation, Spiritual Warfare, WisdomLeave a comment

So the Lord sent a plague throughout Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell. And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, but as he prepared to destroy it, the Lord looked and relented from the calamity. And He said to the angel bringing the destruction, “It is enough. Remove your hand.” The angel of the Lord was then standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

1 Chronicles 21:14–15 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

For David to have made a census of fighting men for Israel, a plague came upon them. It was sent by God.

It wasn’t the only thing sent by God to Israel. There was an angel with a specific task. It was to destroy Jerusalem, the seat of power in Israel. God stayed the hand of that Angel, relenting on destroying Jerusalem.

I think there is a myriad of reasons why God would stay His hand. That would be a task for you to dig out. There is something else of importance for our attention. It is the identity of the Angel.

This was a Theophany. That is the scholarly name given for an Old Testament appearance of God.

David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven with his sword drawn in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. So David and the elders, covered in sackcloth, fell on their faces.

1 Chronicles 21:16 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

I think we can clearly see the Identity of this Angel. It is the same person we call Jesus Christ. This verse provides some clear hints. First, the Angel stands as a Mediator between heaven and earth. Second, then Angel has a sword. David and those with them worshipped before this Angel.

We can know that Jesus will indeed judge those who have sinned. It’s pictured right here. Jesus will carry out judgment on God’s people.

Then we see something else unfold.

David said to God, “Was it not I who gave the command to number the people? I am the one who has sinned and surely done evil. But these sheep, what have they done? O Lord my God, I pray, let Your hand be against me and my father’s house, but do not let Your people be plagued.”

1 Chronicles 21:17 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

David steps up. He wants the penalty of his own sin to fall on himself.

There is a principle we ought to remember from this encounter. Our sins don’t only affect us, they have a real and detrimental effect on others. Even to the point of others losing their lives as part of the judgment as part of the corruption sin is.

David repented of his own sin. He sought remission of it as God stated His own hand of imminent judgment.

This is something for us to remember. That sin brings swift death. Yet there is mercy. It’s that patient longsuffering that comes from the mercies of God that stays His hand. I would be wrong to not tell you why.

That stay is for you. It’s for you to seek remission of your sins just as David did for his own. David saw the condemnation looming. He knew the penalty was near-at-hand. It’s this same Jesus Who will judge sin that offers a Way out.

Truly, truly I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has eternal life and shall not come into condemnation, but has passed from death into life.

John 5:24 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

There is that exchange, it can only happen in the presence of Jesus. You believe His Word and the Father that sent Him, and you’re moved from condemnation (judgment) and the death it brings into life.

God is right now staying His hand of judgment. Will you be like David and believe you can have remission of sins?

The alternative is death.

He is Just

On By TimIn Daily Walk, Jesus, Justification, Love, Righteousness, Romans 03, Salvation, Sanctification, The Cross1 Comment

This righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all and upon all who believe, for there is no distinction. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith, in His blood, for a demonstration of His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins previously committed, to prove His righteousness at this present time so that He might be just and be the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.

Romans 3:22–26 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

I am certain all of us are familiar with this passage. In a bit of insomniac tossing and turning last night, I had a half-hearted discussion with God and He brought this to my mind.

It was after a challenging evening where past lies were dredged up and that the one doing it reported those as my legacy. Of course, the other person was a bit short on facts. Nevertheless, those old scars can hurt.

The person who brought the stuff up is rather lonely, abusive, and very embittered. That one is certainly not a believer, but an avowed atheist. The bitterness has cost lots of people time, aggravation, and real money. Some have had to endure abusive (really demonic) behavior.

I would ask God why someone like that gets to breathe His air for so long.

He gently reminded me of how longsuffering He is with me. He also gently asked why He ought not be as longsuffering with that person. And as He always does, there was that verse gently impressed into my mind… He might be Just and justifier.

You see, when we stand before God to give account, us believers have already been judged for our sins, those list of ordinances against us are nailed to the cross.

But there are those unbelievers and God-haters who will stand before Him at the Great White Throne. Those will be gently reminded of all they’ve done to rail against God. Why will be painstakingly obvious to all who watch, will be the longsuffering of God.

It’s a simple fact that His mercies are new, and He suffers long that makes Him just.

How often do we seek immediate justice for wrongs done to us?

Seriously, really give that some long consideration. Swift justice is indeed just. Yet something else comes to mind.

He has told you, O man, what is good—and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:8 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

There is so much talk around about justice. It is hard to find where the Bible instructs is to seek justice. I don’t think it does because God does. We are told to do justice, in other words, to act justly. It is our behavior we ought to control. And by the example given to us by Paul about God.

He says in another place that mercy triumphs over judgment. It is this mercy for all of us, that is supposed to gently lead us to repentance.

Think about that the next time someone disrespects you for something, I don’t care why it is or if it is for the ten-thousandth time. Your God suffers long for you, why would He not suffer just as long for your adversaries?

How do You Deal?

On By TimIn 2 Samuel 16, PersecutionLeave a comment

So David and his men continued on the road, and Shimei went along on the hillside beside them, cursing, throwing stones, and flinging dust at them as he went. The king and all of the people who were with him arrived at their destination exhausted, but he refreshed himself there.

2 Samuel 16:13–14 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

David is a great example of lots of things. Sometimes it’s how not to do things. Others, it’s how to do them. That is the case here.

David is in exile because his son Absalom seeks his life. I couldn’t imagine what it is like to be hunted down by someone who is your own son.

But it was before this moment that David and his servants were blessed with refreshment on their journey. It was also there they met Shimei. Shimei was of the house of Saul and cursed David. In reality, he wanted to kill David.

I neglected to post the entire passage for a purpose. I want you to discover that is there. Especially in how David extends mercy to one who would kill him.

Here, we find Shimei traveling with David. He is pitching a fit, making a show and even hurling stones at David. David doesn’t let it hinder his journey.

It’s like that for us. How many have someone that curses and harangues us?

How many of us let it bother us?

David is the proper attitude. He puts up with it because maybe Shimei is called by God to curse David. Yet, David rests all of his hopes in God despite his own guilt. If what Shimei is doing is from God, how could David escape?

Perhaps God might show kindness amid cursing. Regardless, we see David’s steadfast trust in God. It’s easier to live life trusting in God. That’s exactly why David could defeat Goliath. He trusted not in his own strength, and even though he made deliberate sins, those never derailed David’s belief and trust. He continued living despite the troubles, whether of his own doing or not.

Even in the middle of cursing blessing might come. Don’t let it stymie your progress. Be like David. Trust God. Seek God. And continue to live in that mercy giving mercy in turn, even if you have to put up with shenanigans.

Why Stay in Exile?

On By TimIn 2 Samuel 14, Daily Walk, Encouragement, Eternal Security, SinLeave a comment

We will surely die and are like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not take away a life; He devises plans so that His banished ones will not be cast out from Him.

2 Samuel 14:14 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

This is from a woman speaking to King David. The context is an account of David bringing back his son Absalom for blood-guilt over the killing of his brother. This is a sin that demanded an avenger of blood, that is the death of Absalom.

This account is a typification of the penalty of sin… All sin… Even the little lies we use. Sin brings death.

The woman succinctly speaks the truth to David. The corruption that Adam brought to humanity is death. We all die. Death cannot be undone; its water spilled on the ground and cannot be gathered up again.

Yet, she is also speaking of the mercy of God. In that, though the justice needed for sin is death, and justice delayed is not just. God is indeed merciful. Remember in the garden, He said in the day you do it you shall die. Yet this woman knows the mercy available to all, God does not take a life.

She goes on to say He devises plans. This is a veiled inference to Jesus and the mercy He worked at the cross. The Bible says Jesus tasted death for every man. His banished ones… Those with a blood-guilt upon them waiting for the avenger of blood are free to go. That’s you and I with our sin… We are not yet cast out from Him.

If we were cast out, we would have no hope at all.

Yet we’re not. We’re still alive. We can still be reconciled. While we draw breath, we can still approach God to seek remission of sins.

In the account, David doesn’t permit Absalom in his presence. Eventually, Absalom does insist and enter the presence to be reconciled.

The latter is more a representation of the exile we place on ourselves. When we sin, our sin keeps us separated from God. As it was for Abalsom, it is like we are in exile.

Don’t ever be tricked into thinking your own sin is so bad or shameful that you cannot go to God about it. Jesus died for each of us to make that way clear.

You can fix it now.

They Have not Known my Ways

On By TimIn Psalm 095, Second ChanceLeave a comment

For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.

Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, and as in the day of Massah in the wilderness, when your fathers tested Me and tried Me, though they had seen My deeds. For forty years I loathed that generation and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways.”

Therefore I swore in My wrath, “They shall not enter into My rest.”

Psalm 95:7–11 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

I think of these things. I ponder over this idea as it is written in the book of Hebrews. It almost follows this word-for-word. Yet, these are written in the praises Israelis sang to God.

The writer of Hebrews is clear. (I will leave you to find that. I’ve written of it on the past.) He says the Israelites of that generation could not enter His rest because of unbelief.

Of that idea… Some will sometimes use that to teach that the Israelites who didn’t enter somehow lost their salvation. That isn’t so. The indictment against them is clear. “They have not known my ways.” They didn’t believe.

They saw all of what He did for them, but they didn’t know Him. They were afraid of Him. They missed the tender compassion of leading, protecting, and providing for them. That is clearly seen at their reaction when the Lord’s voice thundered from Mt. Sinai (Hebrew 13 summarizes that.) At that time He spoke the law. I am certain as one hears the law has spoken, the immediate reaction to “you shall not” is to apply that personally.

As a result, they were looking at themselves in the mirror of the law. They would see their inadequacies. That would make anyone afraid. Yet God still wanted them to approach Him.

Had they looked to God instead of themselves, trusting that He indeed wanted to meet and commune with them, they could have eventually entered the Promised Land.

See, those Ten Commandments weren’t for us. Well not in the way you’ve probably come to know. They aren’t to be used to measure yourself against and see how good you are. We all fail at it. We couldn’t live up to that standard.

These and the other laws and ordinances were there as a pattern, as all of the Law is… A teacher intended to lead Israel to Jesus. He fulfilled all of those commands. He never appeared before the priest at the temple to give a sin offering.

I am now wondering, did the priests know?

Did they talk among themselves about that?

It’s interesting, yet I ramble.

Every single command in the law has a purpose, to point people to Jesus. That they would easily recognize something very different about Him when He came.

It’s the same for us. We innately know we don’t measure up to the standard. God gives. It is near impossible for any of us to approach Him through the good we do.

But the law points to The Way. It is the other mount of approach… Zion. The one with great company. The one with the new city of God.

He wants you there. He wants you to know His ways. That He forgives iniquity. Today if you hear His voice, don’t cower, don’t run away. Don’t garden your heart. And don’t depend on someone else to approach God on your behalf. Only you can do it for your own salvation.

Introduction to the Idea of a Stronghold

On By TimIn Daily Walk, Freedom, Judges 06, Spiritual WarfareLeave a comment

That night the Lord said to him, “Take a bull from your father’s herd and a second bull seven years old. Tear down your father’s Baal altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. Then build an altar to the Lord your God on top of this stronghold in an orderly way. Take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering with the wood of the Asherah pole that you will cut down.”

Judges 6:25–26 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

It’s important to know that the God we serve is the Most High God. There are no other gods who can equal Him let alone exceed Him.

When God described the Baal altar and the Asherah pole, he used the word stronghold. That is not because the god(s) worshipped there had any real powers to do anything… The stronghold was in the minds of those who worshipped the god(s) using that place.

God does not need the blood of bulls to triumph over the stronghold. He is going to use it as a manifold typing.

For some background, in the ancient pagan ways, Baal was sometimes worshipped as the king of gods. In this instance, he would hold the title of “El.” To the Canaanites, El was not the God of Israel, yet was considered most high. Asherah is the consort of El. Baal is revered as the universal fertility god and is known as a storm god that brings rain. (Think brings fertility to the fields.) Other things to know… Baal is sometimes symbolized by a bull as he allegedly sired a bull. The Asherah pole is a large carved wooden pole that is worshipped as the goddess. She too would be a goddess of fertility, while also being the goddess of sexual lust. The Asherah pole would lend itself to a phallic representation. Sex would be a part of the worship at this place.

With the ideas represented here, the word stronghold is applicable. And this is the first usage of the word in the Bible.

Also, necessary to understand is that Baal would fight Mot. Mot is the God of death. If Baal were victorious a seven-year cycle of fertility would ensue giving good crops and increased livestock.

Maybe you start to see all the symbology here, and how God was going to show Himself victorious over this usurper who is called the king of gods. The fertility symbols would be dashed, an altar built to the Most High, and a bull of seven years-of-age sacrificed on it over the wood of that god’s emblem of vitality and fertility. Anything that god could do was dashed to nothing.

So Gideon took ten men from among his slaves and did as the Lord had told him, but because he was too afraid of the rest of his father’s household and the men of the city to do it by day, he did it at night.

Judges 6:27 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

It was no simple thing Gideon was asked to do. There was real danger here.

When the men of the city got up early in the morning, the altar of Baal was torn down, the Asherah pole beside it was cut down, and the second bull had been offered on the new altar that had been built.

Judges 6:28–30 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

They said to each other, “Who has done this?”

When they had inquired and asked, they responded, “Gideon son of Joash has done this.”

Then the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son so that he may die, for he tore down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.”

You see how the altar and pole were a stronghold not just for Gideon’s father, but the rest of the city as well. Even though these things were labeled as Gideon’s father’s. The stronghold held sway in the hearts of all in the city. It served as a refuge for them… Just as the Hebrew word conveys.

Joash then said to all who stood against him, “Would you plead for Baal? Would you save him? Whoever fights for him will be killed by morning. If Baal is a god, let him fight for himself, for someone has torn down his altar.” Therefore on that day he called him Jerub-Baal, saying, “Let Baal fight him, for he tore down the altar of Baal.”

Judges 6:31–32 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

God knew exactly how to break that stronghold by using the very things those people revered to destroy what they worshipped.

It is a good thing to know that when we teach about the meanings of certain symbols or even pagan rituals, is that God triumphs over them all. Just like the symbols of these gods were put under the blood of their god so to say, by the work of our God. It is a picture of the strongholds in our lives; how they are put under the blood of our God by our God. They are gone. They really have no power over a believer.

Christian, there is nothing the enemy has you over on, save whatever you give to him. Sometimes we must smash those strongholds in our lives and others, so we and they can clearly see the truth, just a Joash saw.

It is not work that is easy to do, and not without real risk. But the benefits give glory to God as people are woke from their enthrallment to such vanities.

Peter Exhorts Elders

On By TimIn 1 Peter 05, ExhortationLeave a comment

I exhort the elders who are among you, as one who is also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ as well as a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

1 Peter 5:1 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

Peter writes an encouragement to the elders… Not as someone who is above them in any way. He does it this way so as to not usurp Jesus Christ as Lord. Peter identifies himself as a witness of what happened to Jesus. He also tells the elder that he like them, and is looking forward to eternity with Jesus.

Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, take care of them, not by constraint, but willingly, not for dishonest gain, but eagerly.

1 Peter 5:2 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

It is the elder who shepherds. A shepherd doesn’t just guide his sheep. He is with them always. He tends to their needs and pastures them for feeding. He even smells like his sheep. The sheep know the voice of the shepherd. These are all things to keep in mind when seeing the word shepherd.

The elder ought to also serve not because he is forced to do so. Nor should it be a burden. Such a person enters into the service willingly. He doesn’t do it for the accolades. Nor does he use his position for selfish gain.

Do not lord over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock.

1 Peter 5:3 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The idea of being an elder is to be an example. This is for all leaders in the church. Elders don’t bark orders and expect the sheep to blindly comply. As a shepherd guides sheep, barking orders and expecting compliance won’t work.

Too many want to lead and be the one who orders charges to do the bidding. It doesn’t work that way in God’s economy. We are all fellow partakers, and an elder is an intimate part of the flock he tends. He must lead by example.

And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of glory that will not fade away.

1 Peter 5:4 — Modern English Version (Thinline Edition.; Lake Mary, FL: Passio, 2014)

The Chief Shepherd is Jesus Christ. He is coming back. When He does, what you’ve worked for is yours. It’s yours forever.

Those things that you sow in the kingdom of God don’t fade away. They don’t disappear and they cannot be taken away from you.

The elder ultimately serves because he wants to do it. Selfless service is costly in the real world we live in now. Yet we are promised it is handsomely rewarded in the next.