The world has lurched into dead ends, plunged over sheer cliffs, armed itself with suicidal attitudes,  and most recently vowed to return to ancient conventions as if nothing has been learned.  The prince of dreamers consorts with despots,  mass murderers, and oligarchs, while claiming  to have the utmost respect for those who fought ad died for democratic ideals  and some how that is supposed to be good for everyone.

I will not agree to murderous community rules from any source. Being tough on crime has been a tool of bad players, mostly Caucasian men. The most convenient way to deceive people about the next wave of human social development is to appeal to laws, good or bad, and hope that enough common ground can be found.

Select terms that define barbarian can be applied to 99.9% of today’s experts in many fields and prophets. I once heard that “bar bar” was the sound of non-Greek language, and it makes sense that educators today do nothing more than “bar bar” mindlessly reciting what they have learned from their parents.

The Lamb and the beast in bed?

No official alliance is necessary between the civic and religious powers. We can hardly deny the cooperation that is necessary. It is however a certainty that legal frameworks have only served corruption and oppression. Sinai was a failure. Everyone except two individuals died without seeing the promised land, and easy believism unravels as soon as our expectations turn to the human heart and the excellent virtues such as compassion and brotherly love. There has always been an alliance between church and state. The deliberate separation of church and state by the framers  of the constitution of the United States is a wise hedge against tyranny.

Good night, noble savage

But now, look at the rush to bring values to public policy, a red herring if there ever was one. What Christian principle can anyone bring to a beast? What Judaic instruction can fix the problems of the human heart? I think that when public flogging, stoning, and a policy of lies top the agenda we will be very sorry we bought this pig in a poke. It is like being impressed with “10 commandments are better than 9”. No barbarity is more effective than giving voice to racist and nationalist ideologies when the times call for attention to the human family without discrimination. Our Jewish friends have been on both sides of this fence. We should learn from their experience.

Whether the definition of the tree’s action (or inaction) in Psalm 1 means incidental or persistent action that tree in Psalm 1 does not seem to be any of Adam’s kids. Whose leaves do not wither? Who does not get surprised by a leafy and fruitless tree?

The flowers of the life are all important and their meaning escapes us or gets jumbled.

The portion of Deuteronomy that might serve as a summary of Moses’ achievements appears to be chapter 34’s 8 to 12.

• 1. HIS DEATH. And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.

• 2. HIS SUCCESSOR. And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.

• 3. HIS UNIQUENESS in Intimacy. And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,

• 4. HIS UNIQUE Wonders in Egypt. In all the signs and the wonders, which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land,

• 5. HIS mighty hand and terror in Israel’s sight. And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses showed in the sight of all Israel.

The perspective of the succeeding generation quickly demolishes these landmarks. Joshua took Jericho without “firing a shot”. Joshua saved a prostitute from among those destined to be dispossessed and fulfils the promise of land to Abraham’s descendants.

The longer view of history brings Moses face to face with gold medallists like Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah and John the Baptist.

1. Daniel contributes a timetable of the global agenda and Jew-Gentile interactive
2. Isaiah exposes the barriers to the global mission and the certainty of the inclusion of Gentiles
3. Jeremiah shows that land possession does not bring rest and witnesses the emptying of the land of Hebrew people
4. John marks the end of prophetic authority

Favourite David

The second king of Israel carved out a place for himself by his obsession to build a house for Yahweh and by his pursuit of mercy and justice for the people in his care. Even though there was a tent with elaborate service routines David wanted to see more. No one seems to have noticed that the presence of God in fiery pillar and cloud disappeared from the record. The great manifestation of presence at the inaugural becomes irrelevant at the promise to make David a house. Moses may have foreseen that all followers of the superior prophet would prophesy (Num. 11:29) and definitely needed to be seen as getting brought up to speed (along with Elijah) on the one true atoning sacrifice

One of the problems we have in modern Bible study and practice is the tendency to bring God down from his seat and put humans or some other creatures up in this place. We see, in this narrative, that Gideon was able to see the difference between the angel of the Lord and the Lord and addressed himself properly in this conversation with the angel.
The King James tips us off with a truly handy usage. It uses “LORD” for the divine name and “Lord” or “lord” for the common title or address. The latter is equivalent to “sir”.

And the angel of the LORD (YAHWEH) appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD (YAHWEH) is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

Judges 6:12

Judges 6:13
Then Gideon said, “Pardon me, sir, but if the LORD is with us, why are we having so many troubles? We heard that he did wonderful things for our ancestors. They tell us that the LORD took them out of Egypt. But now it seems the LORD has left us and is letting the Midianites defeat us.” (Easy to Read Version)

Judges 6:13

Bearing in mind the human (even Christian) tendency to worship or pay homage to undeserving entities this narrative ought to firm up our resistance to idolatry.

And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See you do it not: I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Revelation of John 19:10

Load up your ship without balance in mind and you will sink. John and Yeshua mark a turning point in divine revelation and intervention in addition to announcing that time was right (up and fulfilled). The ship that concerns us began its journey in the Book of Acts and its listing became obvious as wolves began loading the ship with idolatrous and useless objects: chiefly the beliefs and practices of the Jewish people. In the 21st century the ship’s listing can be felt everywhere.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15

Very often there is no dividing. It is all the same to one group: the ostriches. They want to stone people and keep barriers in place between people. They see no difference between the kingdom of God and the law and prophets.

Interpretation for balance

The reason for dividing is not the anti-Jewish agenda that many Christians espouse and love to deny. The reason for dividing is to put things in their rightful place. It is balance enough for Christ to be sole boss of God’s words and deeds. It is idolatrous and ostrich-like to even try to make all things in the Bible equal, and it is definitely abominable to put Yeshua as subordinate to anyone.

A ship can list only so far before the captain calls “abandon ship”. Correct a list early, my friends, otherwise the ship will not reach port.