Lessons From 580 B.C. For The Second Millenium A.D. BNewton, September 3, 2003 at 7:57:00 PM BST
by Barry Newton Does it frustrate you when the word of God falls on deaf ears? Have you ever been exasperated that someone was refusing to obey God because that individual had embraced a false interpretation of history? None of this is new. Two divergent understandings which clashed about 580 B.C. provide us with a wonderful learning opportunity. How Some Within Judah Apparently Viewed Things: Throughout her history, Judah had experienced various periods of prosperity. During much of this time, an assortment of gods and goddess had been worshiped to varying degrees. The people associated their well-being at a particular moment with the gods that they were concurrently worshipping. Then about 630 B.C., Josiah grated against their beliefs by officially eliminating their gods so that only Yahweh would be worshipped. But after he died in battle, his son reinstated their various gods. The party came to a disastrous end in 597 B.C. as the Babylonians finally breached the walls of Jerusalem. Jerusalem's fall had been a horrific one. Due to the siege of the city a famine had ensued which had even led some parents to eat their children. To avoid further wrath from Babylon, some of the Jews had decided to flee to Egypt for safety. Longing to return to the security and well-being they had known years earlier, they pursued the various gods and goddesses whom they believed had provided that security. How God and His Prophets Saw Things: Throughout Judah's history, God had sent His prophets warning His people that punishment awaited them if they insisted on serving and relying upon other gods. In His mercy and kindness, God did not immediately bring disaster upon them but provided them with ample and repeated opportunities to repent. About 630 B.C., Josiah responded to the LORD and removed the idols from the land. Although Josiah might have reestablished the true worship of the one God, it seems as though many people did not take it to heart (Jer. 3:6-7,10). When Josiah died, his son reopened the flood gates to idolatry. God warned that severe repercussions would ensue if they persisted in rebellion. Finally the day of the LORD descended upon Jerusalem as the Babylonians crushed her. The glory of the city rose in smoke. The temple was destroyed. Judah had been destroyed. Since God was in control, He told the people to accept the yoke of the Babylonians and remain in the land because Nebuchadnezzar would not be permitted to further hurt them. Instead, they rebelled once again by running away to Egypt where they insisted upon worshiping false gods. The Clash: "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: 'You have seen all the calamity that I have brought on Jerusalem and on all the cities of Judah; and behold, this day they [are] a desolation, and no one dwells in them, because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke Me to anger, in that they went to burn incense to serve other gods whom they did not know, they nor you nor your fathers. ... why are you ... provoking me to anger with the works of your hands, burning sacrifices to other gods in Egypt?" (Jer. 44:2-3,7,8 NKJV). "[As for] the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we will not listen to you! But we will certainly do whatever has gone out of our own mouth, to burn incense to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her, as we have done, we and our fathers, our kings and our princes, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For [then] we had plenty of food, were well-off, and saw no trouble. But since we stopped burning incense to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been consumed by the sword and by famine" (Jer. 44:16-18 NKJV). Observations:
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Update on FMag Forthright Magazine continues, more dynamic than ever! We have groups created for FMag on Facebook and the Churches of Christ Network. Announcement blog is up and going on Preachers Files. Email lists about FMag and FPress are available both on Yahoo and GoogleGroups. And, to top it all off, we're twittering for both on Twitter.com. by randal @ 1/20/09, 11:55 AM How to Make Sure That Your Judgment Is Flawless by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This evening read John 5:24--47 How to Make Sure That Your Judgment Is Flawless Yes, it is popular to say that we are not supposed to judge, but the truth is we all make judgments about many things daily. Otherwise, we would never succeed in life. The real question is what is our guide for judging. Why can we not simply follow the example of our Master and Lord? He said, 30 "I can of Myself ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 5:08 AM Do You Ever Feel Like Just a Name? by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This morning read First Chronicles 1--3 Do You Ever Feel Like Just a Name? Think on the manner, in which the Book of First Chronicles begins, 1 Adam, Seth, Enosh (1 Chr. 1:1). In this way begins the longest genealogy in the Bible. The names continue to the end of the ninth chapter! Were these just names? Adam; who is he? You know there is more in the Bible than the mere mention of his name in ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 5:05 AM ...
by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This evening read John 5:1--23 Jesus healed a man. Praise God! However, Jesus healed him on the Sabbath. Uh oh. Some people were ready to kill Jesus for this perceived violation of the Sabbath Law. 16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath (Joh. 5:16). Jesus did a good thing. Yet, people criticized Him severely for it. And they were not people ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 5:03 AM They Were His Servants by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Second Kings 24 and 25 They Were His Servants As the writer of Second Kings explains whom the Lord sent against Judah, the writer said that this was 2 ...according to the word of the LORD which He had spoken by His servants the prophets (2 Kin. 24:2). Those great men we have honored for centuries were nothing more than servants of the Lord God. What does that make us? Do you do something ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 5:01 AM ...
by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This evening read John 4:30--54 The disciples went into a town to buy food while Jesus remained out of the town. There He engaged a woman in conversation. When the disciples returned, here is what happened, 31 In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, "Rabbi, eat." 32 But He said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know" (Joh. 4:31, 32). As you read the Gospel According to John, watch ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 4:59 AM Having a Tender Heart by Don Ruhl Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Second Kings 22 and 23 Having a Tender Heart When Josiah heard the word of God for the first time, he tore his clothes, knowing of the wrath that was upon Jerusalem for the idolatry of his forefathers. Therefore, he sent messengers to a prophetess to inquire of the Lord. He did have a message for Josiah. God said through the prophetess, 19 "...because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before ... more ... by diane amberg @ 5/18/05, 4:56 AM
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