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.
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.
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
Matthew 17:4-8 shakes up the world of the prophets and the disciples. In this version of the story the two prophets do not get a briefing about Christ’s atoning sacrifice and I am loathe to try and harmonize the evangelists’ intentions. Luke alone (9:31) seems to have inquired about the conversation between the three and learned that the two prophets had been talking about (most certainly the meaning of) Christ’s death.
Who appeared in glory, and spoke of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
The narrative freezes any attempt to honour the prophets, even these two towering figures. It also denies the equality of Christ and the prophets.
Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if you will, let us make here three tabernacles; one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. While he yet spoke, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear all of you him.
Two things bring on the reverence due. The disciples are wrong about the prophets and wrong about Christ. They go from being excited about the prophets’ association with the Rabbi to sheer terror and to the stark reality that Yeshua is all there is.
And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.
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”.
Judges 6:12
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 6:13
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)
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.
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.
There are lower blows than “can’t make your son a baron”. My mother, is a proud progenitor of ancient kingdoms, to which none of the imperial serial rapist mothers can compare. On the day when the Speaker of the House announces the decision to draft articles of impeachment Jay Sekulo (on Christian radio) and Guiliani (in Ukraine), are out sowing seeds to make the American people cease their march to a more mature republic (union). Africans are not waiting for potus45 to apologize because an apology from an avowed megalomaniac is worth nothing. I love Haiti, her sisters and their mother.
We can read the text of the Bible in the original languages and know precisely what the authors intent, thank you very much, unlike many politicians and preachers who are respectively interpreting recent English documents (like the United States Constitution) with obvious difficulties and ancient ones with their heads up the rear end of a businessman gone rogue.
Irreligious people have rights too. Soundbytes by experts in theology, nothing or constitutional law are equally destructive and dangerous. We like complete sentences where a yes or no is not indicated. Lawyers in the service of a man who wants to be “king for 4 years” are likely to be just as corrupt and unapologetic.
If you ever get the impression that the centre of attention is often at risk of being pushed offscreen by a willing and free minded audience you are not alone. Sometimes we see this phenomenon and call it “face that hates its nose”, or “prophet without honour at home”. This is happening with regularity as Christians get exposed to other faiths with comparative practices and beliefs. The star of the show is Yeshua the Nazarene and avoiding mention of him has become an eyesore and gaping hole in reality.
If the lifestyles and interests of the human family were perfect noone would ever have to grow or change. That means we can strike a host of cultural and religious traditions that refuse to give up the dross and adopt the gold from the list of noble priorities.
God intervenes for the benefit of the lost and he chooses the younger not the elder, the alien not the inside. He chooses the despised places like Galilee.
In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglath–pileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abel–beth–maachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.
2 Kings 15:29
We are therefore challenged to look soberly at the rejected people and places if we wish to find God’s priorities. Light is appreciated by darkness. The dark places bring light into sharp focus.
Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
Isaiah 9:1-2
The early life of Christ, from infancy to 30 years old, is shaped by his residence in Galilee. The peer pressure to reject Him is strong as it was when he was here in the flesh.
We can replace “Yeshua” with “Yahweh” with confidence because both are Shepherd, Light, Saviour, God, and King. What do we do when we have to bring the Shepherd, Saviour and Light into sharp focus in order to appreciate the One who sent (gave) him? We can deny Christ the highest name, the right hand seat in glory, and the distinction of being the only way to God and peace. The result is catastrophic. Nothing works without the Nazarene.
490 years is a lot of time to encourage, exhort, or coerce ones family to do the right thing. Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Greece and France have had millennia to get their act together. What happens if they don’t? What has happened when they did not? America and British decline, evident in the 21st century are minuscule compared to the atrocities of kings of Israel and Judah.
God does not give time or extensions of time and walk them back. When John the Baptist aand Yeshua announced “kingdom at hand” they were in lock step with the divine timetable. They both knew what time it was. They were the tic and toc of God’s alarm clock.
And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Mark 1:15
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 4:17
It does not and should not surprise and literate or intelligent person that capitalism is dead, religious ritual is dead, the ethnic state is dead. If anyone wants to pretend that criminal enterprises did not define Levitical systems at the time of John’s announcement cement, let them.
All of them, priests, prophets, kings, scribes, and patriarchs, took to themselves honours and privileges that belonged only to God. Hence they can all be rightly called thieves and robbers.
The capitals of Israel and Judah are the smoking guns of their incurable wounds.
For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? is it not Samaria? and what are the high places of Judah? are they not Jerusalem?
Micah 1:5
In the gate – the very place where justice and judgement should prevail a stink prevails.
For her wound is incurable; for it is come unto Judah; he is come unto the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem.
Micah 1:9
They will call the truth a lie and ensure that their national treasures – Senate and Sanhedrin – become rubbish heaps and landfills. The axe is at the root the tree.
