Find the Light

An Exhortation to Faithfulness by Eric Brown

2010-01-22T18:30:00.000-08:00

Every breaking of bread brings us nearer to the crises that will envelope this earth with Christs return and all people will be made to obey and honour God from the least to the greatest.

The terrible vision of Nebuchadnezzars image seen 2,500 years ago is being seen to be taking shape, and the earth-shaking effects of its consolidation in Europe are being felt throughout the political world. As we lift up our heads in excited anticipation of Christs return, we need to pause and reflect on our own personal position. We can all be thrilled by the signs of Christs impending appearance, but the mere fact of seeing the signs will be of no value to us when we come face to face with the Master. These signs of the times are valuable only to us as indications of the approach of Christs near return, which will be the setting up of the kingdom of Christ. Our duty is to see if we are acting in harmony with the principles upon which that kingdom will be established. There is no point in being excited just about the signs. Our excitement reaches beyond the signs to the thoughts of the coming age and the terrible judgements that will result in a perfected earth. Our excitement is not only for the signs of the times about us, but for the kingdom. We must consider how enthusiastic we are about our own walk in the truth.

The men and women who Christ will choose to assist him in his kingdom will be men of prayer, not in a mechanical sense but those who have taken the time to offer prayer to God. All others will be excluded from the kingdom in spite of their lip service about the signs they saw realising that he was near. Let us see that we are not in that class with those who will be dismissed with the words "I never knew you."

How important in these last days to remember the exhortation of Christ when he said not only to watch but also to pray always, for a prayerless man will not be acceptable to God.

Brethren are very unwise who neglect or treat lightly the meeting for breaking of bread, such conduct is suicidal. The institution is of Christ, it has been arranged as a restorative, a divine tonic for the jaded spiritual man after six days battling with an evil world. Who does not feel run down by the end of the week? As a result of the meetings on a Sunday we should feel refreshed and invigorated to start another week. One might say that without this weekly reminder of Christ many of us may have long since slipped away from the Truth.

Truly it is a merciful ordinance, and one for which we should be devoutly thankful. Let us not despise it. Let each one who attends to it, see to it that he does not undo the good which Christ intended this institution to yield. It is very easy to do this. Here are a few ways in which it can be done, we can come in late and chatter after the service has commenced. We can show ourselves inattentive to the ministrations of the presiding and exhorting brethren. This may be done by yawning, giggling, looking at the watch every few minutes and we can find fault after the meeting is ended with everything that has been done. We can send all with whom we come in contact home with their minds full of irritating, absorbing, and superfluous items best unknown.

On the other hand, if we would co-operate with Christ in making the meeting pleasurable and edifying, then let us shun these things, and show ourselves true worshippers, earnest, zealous, reverential, grateful loving anxious to the meeting to all a source of comfort and upbuilding. What pleasure such conduct as this must give to Christ, who though unseen, is by the Spirit our great Guest. God coerces no one in the matter of well doing. He makes known His will and requests compliance. He points out the wisdom of faithfulness and promises to make it possible for us to render it, and endure to the end so that we hear those words when we appear before the great judge Well done good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of the Lord.

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The Birth of a Nation in the Promises to Abraham By David Maynard

2010-01-22T01:11:00.000-08:00

The birth of the Nation of Israel began with the promises made to Abraham, and will see their complete fulfilment in the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth.

In Romans 4:11 Abraham is called the spiritual "father of all those who believe" "the father of us all" (v. 16) and his experiences are set forth as typical of those who would walk in faith towards the Kingdom of God (vs. 23-24). Paul taught that the Gospel was proclaimed to Abraham in the important promises that God made unto him:

In Galatians 3:8-9, we read; "And the scripture foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the Gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham." Abram was called out by God from Ur of the Chaldees at a time when the world had sunk back into spiritual darkness, and the worship of God had been forgotten. Genesis 12:1 declares: "Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee." He was to separate himself even from his kindred to obey God. Abram left Ur of the Chaldees, and moved to Haran (Genesis 11:31) about 800 miles northwest of Ur of the Chaldees, and north of the River Euphrates. The Voice of God again came to Abram, urging him to leave Haran, pass over the river Euphrates, and come into the land that God would reveal unto him.The first of the promises that God gave to Abram are found in Genesis 12:2-3 saying: "I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." These promises can be divided into four sections:

A National Promise: "I will make of thee a great nation..."
A Personal Promise: "I will bless thee, and make thy name great, and thou shalt be a blessing..."
A Family Promise: "I will bless them that bless thee..."
An International Promise: "In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."

None of these promises have had their complete fulfilment, for they will all be fulfilled in the setting up of the Kingdom of God on earth. Consider the personal promise made to Abraham. Is he blessed today? Is his name great? Is he a blessing in the earth? The answer is, No! Abraham is dead; his name is far from great in the opinion of mankind, most of whom know nothing of him.

The Family Promise, has relation to those who embrace the promises of Abraham, and who walk in his steps. They will become his associates in the Kingdom that Jesus shall set up on earth, and shall inherit eternal life.

The International Promise, points to the time when Christ's righteous rule will be set up over all the earth, and mankind shall rejoice in it. Then "the Kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ" who "shall reign for ever and ever" (Rev. 11:15). The Law shall go forth from Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem, bringing all nations in a state of unity and peace before God (Isaiah 2:2-4).

Genesis records a further development in the promises of God to Abram. Abram had prospered with Lot his nephew, their herds had increased and their herdsmen began to quarrel between themselves.They decided to separate, and Abram unselfishly offered Lot first choice of the land. Lot saw the well-watered plain of Jordan, with the prosperous cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and chose to go down to Sodom.

After Lot had departed with his herds, God made a further promise to Abram. He was told: "Look northward, southward, eastward and westward; for ALL THE LAND THAT THOU SEEST to thee will I give it, and to thy seed FOR EVER ... Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee" Genesis 13:14-17. This promise forms the basis of the personal hope of every true believer. Notice that Abram and his seed are promised the land FOREVER, and not merely for life. It is obvious that this promise has not been fulfilled, for otherwise Abram would be alive today. We as gentiles are also included in the promises to Abraham. Paul says in Gal 3:27-29 "As many of you as have been baptised into Christ have put on Christ" v.29 "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heir's according to the promise."

Christ is the seed referred to in Genesis 22:17-18, where the angel of the LORD spoke to Abraham, saying; "...and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because thou hast obeyed my voice" Christ is to return to this earth and subdue all nations, as 1 Cor 15:25 says that He is to "reign till all enemies are under his feet." Then, "the God of heaven shall set up a Kingdom that shall never be destroyed; the Kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." Dan 2:44.

At that time Abraham will be both blessed, and a blessing, and men will consider it an honour to be associated with him. As it was written in Zechariah 8:23; "Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you for we have heard that God is with you."

Thus, in Abraham and his seed, Jesus Christ, shall "all the nations of the earth be blessed." The "Lord shall be king over all the earth" and the fullness of the promises to Abraham will be seen in the Kingdom that Christ will have established in the earth.

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Christ was not Immaculate

2010-01-21T22:04:00.000-08:00

It is a mighty phenomenon to grasp that the Creator of all things, manifested himself in and through his son Jesus Christ. And yet Jesus was a distinct person, keeping the relationship of father and son, having to develop a character under trial, just like those he came to save.

Paul speaks of this, in a quite difficult verse to understand: 1 Timothy 3:16: "And without dispute great is the mystery of godliness. He who was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit,seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." Jesus Christ overcame without failure. We overcome through many failures.

Concerning Jesus Christ

Luke 1:35: "The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee and therefore that Holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." Matthew 1:16 - This chapter is the line/genealogy of Mary and you will notice that they take the line through Joseph as the line in that historical time was always taken through the father.

Christ's sonship to God was told openly while he was in the flesh:

Matthew 3:17: "This is my beloved son..."
John 1:34: "I saw and bear record that this is the Son of God"
Galations 4:4: "God sent forth his son, made of a woman"
Hebrews 2:17: "In all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren"
Isaiah 9:6: "...the government shall be on his shoulders, and he shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting [age] Father, the Prince of Peace."

Jesus was a unique man - as was Adam

It cannot be denied that there was a difference between Jesus and us (or regular men).

He was born of the Spirit
Angels celebrated his birth
A star guided wise men to his home
At 12 years of age he confounded Doctors of Law
He was called the arm of the Lord
He was without spot or blemish
He was filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon him.

God saw that no man in Adam's line was strong enough to save men from their grievous sinful nature so he had to create this unique man who felt all the temptations of other man, and yet was strong enough never to give in to them.We saw that he was without spot or blemish, so as he was born of Mary and had her temptations, it must been his character that was without blemish.

Did he then have an advantage?

Could he be a child of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit not be in him? See Luke 1:15 where even John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Let this fact be noted that the human brain brings no wisdom into this world. It is like a clean sheet of paper and wisdom is only acquired by experience and even then it does not always come.

John Thomas wrote in his book Eureka Vol 1, page 112 and 113: "Was the Holy Thing born a mere Son of Adam? Did the union of Spirit (God) and flesh (Mary) annihilate Spirit and leave only flesh? There was a connection between God and his son that other men never had. Of no other man could it be said." John 14:9-10 "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father" and John 10:30 "I and my Father are one."

In John 6:38 it says "I came down from above" and in John 8:23 it says "You are from beneath, I am from above."

How did his body of flesh come down from above?

It was the Holy Spirit in Jesus that came down from above. Remember the Father and the Holy Spirit are one, so what he does by the Holy Spirit he does by himself. So God dwelt in Jesus and spoke by him and worked by him. This lets us see that although Jesus is the Son and a separate person he is God revealed in the flesh.

Now we know the mind of Christ was strengthened by being born of the spirit. We need also note the imperfect body that he had inherited from his mother. This body of his was born under the sentence of death, even though he always kept it under subjection.Because the wages of sin is death, by this inherited law in his flesh (even though he had never given in to its impulses) he had to die. But he never sinned!? No, he never sinned and that is why he could not stay dead - he didn't deserve that. The Bible says that the grave could not hold him.

Meaning of sacrifice: To give up something valuable for the sake of something more worthy.

Jesus willingly sacrificed his life then for a more worthy prize for him and us.

For Him: A body to die no more, to be made higher than the angels, to rule over the whole earth and turn it into a paradise and thus glorifying his father.
For us: That if faithful we may gain life everlasting, be made an equal to the angels and glorify God in righteousness for ever.

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Amos Chapters 1 - 4

2010-01-21T20:56:00.000-08:00

The Book of Amos is usually dated as being written mid 8th Century BC. In chapter 1v1 we see that Amos preached "2 years before" an earthquake. Archeological findings unearthed at Hazor in northern Palestine show that an unusually strong earthquake occurred about 760 BC.

Amos was born in Judah but he prophesied in the neighbouring Kingdom of Israel. He preached in the time of King Jeroboam II. Tradition holds that Amos died a violent death at the hands of Jeroboam II, but no historical records have confirmed this claim. Israel was at its strongest during this period, but started its decline soon after. Jeroboam was succeeded by his son, who was murdered. Between here and the fall of the Kingdom, there were 6 Kings, only one of whom died safely in bed. Both Hosea and Amos preached against Jeroboam's Dynasty and predicted its fall. During Jeroboam II's reign, there was relative political, economic and military stability. However, in chapter 3v15 and 4v1 we see evidence of a widening gap between rich and poor.

Amos is the first book of the "Book of the Twelve" or Dodekapropheton. The Book of the Twelve contains the books from Hosea to Malachi, also known as the Minor Prophets. The writings cover the words of the prophets from before the exile and beyond. The collection was in existence by the 2nd century BC. The Dodekapropheton is thought to have been arranged chronologically. However, some feel that Joel was placed before Amos because of themes they share: Locusts, drought represented as fire, lamentation, the Day of the Lord etc. In addition, and are similar. Joel - "The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake." Amos - "The Lord will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither."

The prophets of Israel are concerned with ethics. Amos speaks out against social injustice and international terrorism. Israel is placed on the same footing as all of the other nations, despite being God's chosen people. This shows that He expects the same morality from everyone.

Amos was not just a prophet of doom; he also called the people to reform. When they failed and disaster became inescapable, he pointed to future restoration; which can be seen in 9v11-15. The plagues reported in chapter 4 are meant as chastisements that would lead to reparation. When the people failed to repent, they became destructive judgements. The final proof that repentance was unlikely to happen is seen in 7v10-13, where attempts are made to silence Amos.

The book is broken into 3 parts: 1. Superscription - 1v1, Motto - 1v2, Oracles against Nations - 1v3 - 2v16 2. An indictment of Israel, and visions of destruction. - 3-6 3. Vision of Salvation - 7-97v10-17 is a biographical passage, an event that happened in Amos' life, rather than merely a description of who he was. 4v13, 5v8-9, 9v5-6 are considered to be poems celebrating the power of Yahweh in creation and in history. They show that God has a claim on the whole world, not just Israel, as Creator, Owner and Judge.

The Exodus is also a major point of reference. It is referred to in 2v10, 3v1, 5v25 and 9v7. It highlights how Israel has turned their back on God despite all he has done for them.

Chapter 1v1 introduces Amos to us and sets the scene. Amos means "burden bearer" and his message of devastation and destruction would have been a mighty burden. Amos is from Tekoa, which is approximately 20 kilometres south of Jerusalem. As he was not from Jerusalem Amos had a clearer perspective on their wicked deeds. While the Israelites accepted their lifestyle as normal, the prophet recognized it as a perversion and an abomination to God.

Here we also learn of Amos' profession. In The King James Version he is described as being "among the herdsmen" others render it "shepherd." The Hebrew word is noqed, which indicates one who raises sheep and goats. In 2nd Kings 3v4 the King of Moab is described using the same word but it is translated as "sheepmaster" : "And Mesha King of Moab was a sheepmaster, and rendered unto the king of Israel an hundred thousand lambs, and an hundred thousand rams, with the wool." This could mean that Amos was quite well off, like the King of Moab, rather than a mere shepherd. In Amos 7v14 the word bowker is used which indicates large cattle. Amos may have farmed more than one kind of animal. Amos also tended fig trees, which we can see in the same verse, though some translations read "sycamore fruit."

Zechariah 14v5 makes reference to the earthquake mentioned here: "ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah."

We can tell from this verse that Amos had visions of the destruction to come; this is further confirmed by his being called a "seer" in 7v12. While "seer" and "prophet" are considered interchangeable in the early writings, it is most likely that he saw visions rather than spoke spontaneous prophecies. David, we see, was this kind of prophet, in 2nd Samuel 23v2 it reads: "The Spirit of the Lord spake by me and his word was in my tongue." Amos further explains in chapter 7 verses 14 and 15 how he came to be a prophet. He informs us in this biographical passage that he was not part of a prophet group, also known as "sons of prophets" (see 2nd Kings 2v3,5,7,15 and 2nd Kings 5v22). These groups often lived together, as seen in 2nd Kings 6v1 : "And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us." Indeed, Amos did not seek to be a prophet but God instead chose him. 7v15: "And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel." This is similar to how David was chosen to be a prophet of God; Psalm 78v70,71 - "He chose David also his servant and took him from the sheepfolds: From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people and Israel his inheritance."

Verse 2 as we have seen links to Joel 3v16. The Lord roars from Jerusalem because it is where his house, the temple was. It is his chosen city.

Verses 3 - Chapter 2v5 are the oracles against the nations. God is "roaring" from Jerusalem and the nations he condemns - Syria, Philistria, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab and Judah - surround his seat. The nations warnings are issued in an anti-clockwise direction. The judgments are only a couple of verses; Israel's punishment however spans a few chapters. The judgements have been likened to an eagle, circling its prey before diving in.

Before each nation's fate is revealed we read "for three transgressions...and for four." This is apparently a common method used in wisdom texts such as Job, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. Such phrasing suggests a continuing series; it is used more often of bad actions than good e.g. Proverbs 6v16-19, 30v21-23. It could mean literally seven sins, a series of sins or a very bad one - when someone is very happy they could be described as "thrice happy" this does not mean that they are happy three times it means they are very happy. Therefore, the repetition of the phrase is open to interpretation. It does nevertheless; point out that whatever they did it was very wicked.

Syria is first mentioned, Damascus being a Syrian city. Their crime appears to be that they drove studded threshing sledges over their victims. Denise Herr describes a threshing sledge as - "a wooden platform about a metre wide and two metres long. The underside is studded with sharp stones. A man would have stood on the sledge as domestic animals pulled it over piles of grain, the stones cutting the straw into shorter pieces and separating the grain from the chaff." This possibly occurred in the same battle mentioned in 2 Kings 10v32-34. The punishment of the Syrians is outlined in verses 4 and 5. Aven in verse 5 may mean wickedness and it is thought to be a place where the Syrians worshipped their idols. In the margin, you will see it is also called Bikath-Aven, which means "valley of vanity." The people of Syria are to be taken away as slaves. This was fulfilled and we can read about it in 2 Kings 16v9 - "For the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin." Rezin was the Syrian king at the time.

Philistia, the Land of the Philistines, is next; its punishments are laid out in verses 6-8. Four Philistine cities are mentioned: Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon and Ekron. The Philistines had taken people as prisoner and then sold them as slaves. Fire is to destroy their cities; the people of the cities are also to be utterly destroyed. The verse (8) reads - "I will slaughter the people of Ashdod and destroy the king of Ashkelon. Then I will turn to attack Ekron, and the few Philistines still left will be killed. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!" Ekron fell to Assyria during the reign of Sennacherib, some fifty years after Amos; while Gaza and Ashkelon were captured by Tiglath-Pileser III. Ashdod's fate, at the hand of Uzziah of Judah, is recorded in 2nd Chronicles 26v6 - "And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines."

Tyre had broken a Treaty that they had with Israel and sold entire Israelite villages into captivity. Their destruction happened in 586-573 BC when the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar attacked the mainland of Tyre, and in 333-332 BC when Alexander the Great conquered the island of Tyre.

In verses 11 and 12, we look at Edom. Edom is the nation descended from Esau; this is why they are referred to as pursuing their brother. The Edomites were holding onto the ancient grudge between the two nations founders. The hatred of Edom was first seen when Esau, as he swore to murder his brother Jacob - Gen. 27v41. It was later displayed when the Edomites refused Israel passage as they came out of Egypt - Num. 20v14-21. Obadiah's book also condemns the Edomites for their deeds. Edom was destroyed by the Assyrians around 736 BC, and had become a virtual desert by the fifth century B.C. Malachi 1v2-4 talks of the wasteland that Edom became and how it would never be restored: "I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness. Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the Lord of hosts, They shall build but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the Lord hath indignation for ever."

Next we move onto Ammon, their crime is a gruesome one. They cut open pregnant women. Due to the next line - "that they might enlarge their border" some say that the pregnant women are actually just hills. This seems like a weak crime though and it was first suggested by the Medieval Rabbi Kimchi. The Hebrew word for pregnant women is harim and the word for hills, harchib. However, if you look at 2nd Kings 8v12,15v16 we can see that this explanation, although nicer is more than likely false. Therefore, the crime is that, in their fervour for more land, they slaughtered without mercy. Also by destroying future generations it would ensure that in the future no on would return to reclaim the land. Nebuchadnezzar's army came and destroyed the kingdom of Ammon, although it still existed it was of little importance and by the time of the Romans had disappeared. Ammon, like the Moabites who we look at next were the descendants of Lot and his two daughters. This can be seen in Gen 19v37,38.

Now into chapter two we look at the Moabites. It seems here that their crime is desecration of the dead. One scholar I read however claims that the King of Edom was burned alive. Most scholars agree however that the King was already dead and it was the lack of respect shown him that caused their punishment. It seems that in ancient times it was believed that burning someone's bones into dust would prevent them from being able to be resurrected thereby wishing for him or her eternal death. It is also an insult to God because, in their eyes, their action took the choice of raising the person up from the dead out of the hand of God and placed it in their own; a transgression which denied God the ultimate right to impart eternal life or death. The bones being burnt to lime is interesting. Lime is calcium oxide, which was used to make whitewash, mortar, and plaster. To get lime you can either burn limestone or burn bones. One scholar's theory is that the Moabites not only burnt the bones of the dead king, they also used the lime they extracted to decorate their buildings. The Moabites are to die in fierce battle and their leaders with them. This was fulfilled at the same time as the prophecy against the children of Ammon by Nebuchadnezzar, five years after the destruction of Jerusalem.

Judah being one half of the original Israel that came out of Egypt was still under God's law. However, Amos says that they "have despised the law of the Lord, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked." The erring here is following idols, as their fathers before them did. After all God has done for them in the past, all he asked was that they obeyed his law and kept his commandments. The contempt shown towards his loving kindness is to be punished. Even God's own chosen city - Jerusalem was not going to escape. Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Judah and the temple, and the palaces of the king and his nobles in Jerusalem; were burnt with fire when it was taken by the Chaldean army, about two hundred years after this prophecy.

Chapter 2v6 Here begins the long condemnation of Israel. King Jeroboam had set up golden calves in Dan and Bethel. We can read this in 1st Kings 12v27-33 : "If this people go up to sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto...Rehhoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam...Whereupon he took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan. And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship...And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi. And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month...and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves which he had made...which he had devised in his own heart."

Where we read "they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes" this could mean that they would literally sell people as slaves for trivial debts or a small price; or as some think, the word shoe here should read "bribe." The word for shoe - n'lym some scholars say should be - n'lm. If this were the case, the line would read: "because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for the sake of a bribe." Put this way it hints towards corrupt judges and lawmakers, or even that people would give false testimonies for those that paid them.

Verse 7 - Where we read: "That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor" this could be interpreted as meaning the people were so greedy; they wanted even the dust from a poor person's head. Others render it: "They trample helpless people into the dust."

In regards to the maid mentioned in the latter half of the verse, the Israelites were probably just doing what they saw around them; rather than what they knew was right, for a Hittite law stated: "If father and son sleep with (the same) slave girl or harlot, there shall be no punishment." Because the preceding parts of the tirade against Israel is concerning the oppression of others, it seems more likely that the maid is a servant rather than a wife sleeping with both men. Some commentators think that the maid is a temple prostitute but there is practically no evidence for this. The Hebrew word is na'arah and is translated as damsels in Genesis 24v61 and 1 Sam 25v42 and maidens in Exodus 2v5 and Proverbs 9v3. In each of these verses, the maiden or damsel is a servant. Some people take the servant to mean a concubine bought by the father either for himself or his son. (See Exodus 21v8,9). Nevertheless, the punishment for sleeping with your father's wife or your son's wife is death for all parties as outlined in Leviticus 20v11,12. It can be assumed then that this law applies for any woman not just a wife.

Verse 8 highlights more wickedness. Here we see that people are laying clothes at the altars of their false gods. This was a Gentile custom where they would sleep in the temples in order to be given good dreams by their gods, which they would interpret in the morning. It is generally agreed that the clothes are ones that should have been returned to debtors. Exodus 22v26 outlines this custom: "If you take your neighbour's coat as a pledge of repayment, you must return it by nightfall." A discovery of an ostracon, or pottery, in 1960 on the Mediterranean coast and dated at around 639-609BC is an official letter of protest which shows a farm labourer petitioned his local government for the return of his cloak, confiscated probably for failure to repay a loan. The wine of the condemned could be wine bought with money stolen or, a more interesting theory is that it is the wine usually given to those condemned to die to cheer them up. It would seem that they would not even let a dying man have one last pleasure. They are drinking and worshipping in the temples of their false gods. In Proverbs 31v4-7 we read: "It is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more." The judgement of the people has been skewed, and not just by alcohol, though that would certainly play a part.

In verses 9-11 God points out what he has done for the Israelites in the past. The Amorites were a powerful nation, hence their description as being mighty trees. In addition, the Amorites and some of the other Canaanites were tall people as confirmed by some recent archaeological finds. When they were destroyed they were destroyed utterly, i.e. - roots and all. God drove out the Amorites and the other Canaanite nations so that the Israelites could have their own land. It is then pointed out that they have had prophets to guide them in the way they should live and to warn them of the things to come. Their advice went unheeded and we see in verse 12 that the people tried to silence the Nazarites an order of men dedicated to God. The vow of a Nazarite involved these three things, 1- abstinence from wine and strong drink, 2 - refraining from cutting the hair off the head during the whole period of the continuance of the vow, and 3 - the avoidance of contact with the dead. We can see that either through force or persuasion some Nazarites broke their vows.

In verse 13, it seems to be saying that God is being weighed down by their many sins; that his patience is wearing thin. It is almost as if he is saying their latest acts of disobedience are the straw that broke the camel's back.

Verses 14-16 cover the fear that will fill the hearts of the Israelites when God exacts his judgement. The soldiers will fail to flee, the horsemen will not be able to save themselves and the bowmen will be useless. Their courage will fail them because God, who has always been behind their victories, is against them now.

In chapter 3, we again find God reminding the Israelites of the Exodus. Verse 2, which ties together with Exodus 19v5 points out the special relationship between God and Israel. He explains that it is because of this special relationship that they must be punished severely for their disobedience. Luke 12v48 says: "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more."

Next follows a series of questions, in verses 3-6. If someone were to ask you these questions your answer would be "no." In verse 8 with the question: "The lion hath roared, who will not fear?" our answer suddenly changes to something like - only the very stupid. This is exactly the answer intended, and is designed to make the Israelites realise their error. Israel has heard the roaring lion i.e. the warnings of the prophets (as seen in verse 7) but were too stupid or stubborn to take heed.

Verse 3 can also be taken as a representation of God's relationship with Israel, which we looked at just before. Verse 6 indicates that nothing happens without it being God's will, which is also made mention of in Lamentations 2v8. Although this is God's will, He is not merciless; he would not just without warning send an army to wipe out his chosen people. They had had plenty of time to heed the warnings of the prophets. Amos says in verse 8 that he cannot keep from proclaiming the message.

In verse 9, the heathen nations surrounding Israel are invited to look upon its wicked deeds. They will hear of the sins of Israel and God's punishment to befall them. One commentary said that the nations were being called to sit in judgement of Israel's deeds but there is no need for that, God has already judged them and found them unworthy. The New Living Translation reads: "Announce this to the leaders of Philistia and Egypt: 'Take your seats now on the hills around Samaria, and witness the scandalous spectacle of all Israel's crimes. My people have forgotten what it means to do right,' says the Lord. 'Their fortresses are filled with wealth taken by theft and violence." Samaria was the capital of the Israelite kingdom.

From verse 11 to the end of the chapter, we read of how Israel will be invaded by a foreign power. This foreign power is Assyria, led by king Sargon II, and we can read about it in 2nd Kings 17. Verses 5 -7 reads: "Then the King of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years. In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria...For it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God...and had feared other gods." The children of Israel are to be too weak against this powerful army, Amos 3v11 tells us. It also implies that everything that they put their confidence in, their idols, fortresses and riches will be taken down by the Assyrians. Verse 12 seems to have two main interpretations; of which is correct, I am unsure. One is that all that will be left of the city will be some tattered furniture, and the evidence of their self-obsessed, materialistic, lives. Another is that, after everyone has been carried away into slavery, all that will remain are the sick and weak that live in their beds.

The biggest abomination to Yahweh, the altars to the false gods, were to be destroyed also. Jeroboam sealed the fate of his nation when he erected the golden calves. The horns of the altar are to be cut off and will fall to the ground. People would flee to the altars and hold onto the horns of them for refuge. We can see an instance of this happening with one of Yahweh's altars in 1st Kings 1v50,51 : "And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar. And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me to day that he will not slay his servant with the sword;" and again in 1st Kings 2v28 : "And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the Lord, and caught hold of the horns of the altar." The cutting off of the horns would show that their false gods could give them no refuge. The destruction of the idolatrous altars was also foretold by Hosea who said in chapter 8 verses 5 and 6: "Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency? For from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces."

The houses mentioned in verse 15 of chapter 3 appear to be the houses of the rich. However, it was not just the rich that would be punished, the poor would also, nevertheless it is the homes of the wealthy that are mentioned here. It would seem that rich families of the time had winter and summer homes. In Judges 3v20 we read of Eglon, the King of Moab, sitting in a "summer parlour." These lavish homes were to be destroyed along with the great houses and the houses of ivory. Archaeologists, in excavations in Samaria and Assyria, have found many ivory carvings that once decorated these houses.

Chapter 4 talks of the kine or "cows" of Bashan. These are not actual cows; rather it is a metaphorical term for the voluptuous rich women of Samaria; or as the New Living Translation so bluntly puts it the "fat cows of Samaria." It is prophesied that these rich women who live the good life at the expense of the poor and needy and lounge around drinking wine; will be taken away with hooks along with their posterity, or descendants. This was a practise of the Assyrians. Carvings depicting slaves being led away with hooks through their lips have been found in the Middle East. Isaiah also prophesied that this would happen and it can be found in 2nd Kings 19v28 and Isaiah 37v29. Not only were these people literally taken away with hooks; they are also taken out of their home, like a fish is taken out of water, also with a hook.

The next two verses are rather sarcastic, the people are told to keep on doing what they are doing, even to do it more. The New Living Translation says: "Go ahead and offer your sacrifices at Bethel and Gilgal. Keep on disobeying - your sins are mounting up! Offer sacrifices each morning and bring your tithes every three days! Present your bread made with yeast as an offering of thanksgiving. Then give your extra voluntary offering so you can brag about it everywhere! This is the kind of thing you Israelites love to do." This just highlights the futility of their actions. In thinking they are pleasing one god they are angering the only one that counts.

God tells them, in verses 6-11 of all the things he has done to them, as chastisements, in a hope that they would repent from their wickedness; but each plague concludes with "yet have ye not returned to unto me."Verses 6-8 speak of a famine due to lack of rain - the cleanness of teeth meaning there was no food to dirty them. God withholding the rain can be seen in 1st Kings 17v1 : "And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word" and 1st Kings 18v5. This did not change the hearts of the Israelites. Verse 9 speaks of mildew and palmerworm destroying the vegetation. Palmerworms damage fruit trees by feeding on their leaves; they are known to appear suddenly and in large numbers. Joel also mentions this insect plague in chapter 1v4. Mildew contaminates corn and various other vegetables and fruits. They cannot be eaten and must be destroyed. Blasting could mean a hot wind that withered the buds and shoots. In other translations it is rendered "blight" which refers to diseases which wither young plants. This did not turn the Israelites to repentance either. Verse 10 seems to be alluding to the plague recorded in Numbers 16v46-49 : "And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun. And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed. Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah." The plague is "after the manner of Egypt" as it is like the Passover where the firstborn Egyptians died. The stink of the camp is presumably the smell of the dead bodies. The word "camp" implies a military situation where soldiers had travelled away from their towns. However, during the time in the wilderness the Israelites would have been dwelling in camps rather than fixed cities. In battle, they had lost many young men and horses, which would have left the people vulnerable to attack. Still they did not turn back to God. In verse 11, we have the final plague. It appears that houses were destroyed with fire from heaven, as with Sodom and Gomorrah and that while some people died others were plucked out of the burning. This image of a firebrand is a good one it is something totally useless - except to continue burning - unless it is worked on to change it and cut away the "bad" and leave wood from which something can be made. The people spared from the fire were probably ones that God hoped would change and make themselves into good followers. But as we see, this did not make them repent.

The chapter concludes with Yahweh telling the people to "prepare to meet [their] God." Due to them having hundreds of years worth of warnings and chances God has no choice, the Israelites must face up to the one they have angered. The final verse is praise to the mighty Lord who has just finished speaking. It ties nicely with chapter 5 verse 8.

We have seen throughout the chapters how God's hand is in all things and how he has controlled both nature and history for the sake of Israel. He also controls armies and Israel does not get a second chance in the wake of the Assyrian army.

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Hezekiah and Sennacherib's Dead Army by Myrtle Brown

2010-01-12T20:58:00.000-08:00

The Assyrian army lead by Sennacerib was on a military campaign to conquer land and cities. They were working their way through the land from Assyria and were advancing on Jerusalem rapidly.

When Hezekiah tried to appease king of Assyria with gold and anything else he asked for, he said "take this but not Jerusalem." Well, Sennacherib took all the gold he could give him, even from off the temple, but nothing changed his mind (2 Chronicles 32:1) he camped with his army away from Jerusalem and planned the imminent war.

He wasn't the only one planning, Hezekiah prepared too, he finished an aqueduct which would draw the water from the Kidron river and into the city. This waterway was a tunnel underground through a rock hill called Ophel, they started at each end and managed to meet opposite one another in the centre. Being rock you can still walk through this today and it is quite long. Then Hezekiah strengthened the walls of Jerusalem, but he put his main trust in God to save the city.

Hezekiah called his captains of the army and told them "Don't be afraid or dismayed because of the king of Assyrians huge army. There are more with us than with them. With him there is a human army, but with us there is the God that made heaven and earth. He will be with us during our battle."

It wasn't too long until they saw the Assyrian army marching toward Jerusalem. They stopped in the valley of Kidron just outside the city walls. The Kidron river which usually flowed freely was dry, and the army was extremely dismayed to see nothing left but a little trickle. But looking up to the city they could see reservoirs inside the walls.

They asked for a parley with Jerusalem's officers. It was a real sling-off match from the Assyrians who were confident that they would soon destroy the city - mind you they had lately conquered many Judah's townships so their confidence was not displaced, it was demoralising for the inhabitants of Jerusalem to hear this for they were extremely scared already.

Hezekiah went directly to the temple to ask the Lord what he should do. Back came the very comforting words "Don't be afraid of his words, I will be with you" ...and much more than that for God had instructed the prophet Isaiah, who went to Hezekiah with a sign. Isaiah told Hezekiah that "You will eat all you grow this year, and year two the same, and in the third year you will sow and reap again." The prophet told Hezekiah that he would protect and defend his people and they shall take root downward and bear fruit upward. The Lord also said "in the future your people will be able to spread out from the city and sow and reap." He relayed also that the Assyrians would not come into the city nor shoot an arrow there. What a comforting message that was.

Then Sennacherib heard that the Egyptians were marching up to attach the Assyrians, which prompted him to take the army down to Egypt and fight them. Once that battle was won, they returned to their original mission which was to annihilate Jerusalem. The army once again camped around the city walls. The next day was to be the start of the onslaught. What a terrifying sight the city of tents would have been for the people of Jerusalem to look down on.
The night passed and in the morning scouts were sent out to report on progress, but they were soon back telling their captains and Hezekiah that "out there" was an army of dead men and horses. God had kept his word, no less than 183,000 men were no more, 2 Chronicles 32:21.
Sennecherib himself escaped death and he was able to go home, but several years later his two sons killed him. This event was so important in God's eyes that he recorded it in three places: Isaiah 36:2, 2 Kings 18:2, 2 Chronicles 2:32.

Now read Bryon's poem about this event - it was a poem that I learnt at school.

The Destruction of Sennacherib by Byron

The Assyrian came down like a wolf on the fold,
And his cohorts were gleaming in purple and gold;
And the sheen of the spears was like stars on the sea
When the blue wave rolls nightly on deep Galilee.

Like the leaves of the forest when summer is green
That host with their banners at sunset were seen;
Like the leaves of the forest when autumn hath blown
That host on the morrow lay withered and strown!

For the Angel of Death spread his wings on the blast,
And breathed on the face of the foe as he passed;
And the eyes of the sleepers waxed deadly and chill,
And their hearts but once heaved, and for ever grew still!

And there lay the steed with his nostril all wide,
But through it there rolled no the breath of his pride;
And the foam of his gasping lay white on the turf,
And cold as the spray of the rock-beating surf.

And there lay the rider, distorted and pale,
With the dew on his brow and the rust on his mail;
And the tents were all silent, the banners alone,
The lances unlifted, the trumpet unblown.

And the windows of Ashur are loud in their wail,
And the idols are broke in the temple of Baal;
And the might of the Gentile unsmote by the sword,
Hath melted like snow in the glance of the Lord!

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Our Preparation by Craig Simpson

2009-07-04T23:41:00.000-07:00

Jesus said: "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." (Rev. 16:15). These words are extremely applicable to us in this generation, who are living in this godless society, on the eve of Christ's return. Truly the evil and lack of morals of this generation can be compared to the days of Noah and of Lot.

And with the world so evil and so far from God, it is extremely important for us to be on our guard, to be keeping our garments unspotted for this evil world.

It has been rightly said that "all men are in large measure the creatures of their age." And so it follows that as the world gets further from God, and as the world's morals grow more and more lax, as a sense of pleasing oneself rather than pleasing God pervades, and as evil deeds and actions are no longer frowned upon by society, that we individually and collectively head the same way - in general as the world gets further form God so do we! We are products of our environment.

We as humans are so prone to sin; we are prone to falling away form God's standards but now more than ever before we have to be on our guard.

In Matthew 7:21-23 it says: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

These people were active in the Truth, they thought they were doing God's will, they were Christadelphians just like you and I, but yet it appears they'd never let the Truth transform their lives.

And its possible for us to be in the same situation. Its possible for us to attend gatherings such as this, to go to the meeting every Sunday, not because we feel obligated to go because of allegiance to Christ; but rather we go to see our friends, or our family.

Living life in the Truth can be a way of life, this is what we've done for years and so we continue doing it. We can read the Bible, not because we long to develop a spiritual mind, but rather because that's what we've done all our lives, because that's what our friends and family do. We can read for the sake of reading. To mark off on our calendar that we've done the readings; and so we can feel a sense of achievement.

There is a way however to avoid this complacent attitude, and it comes by understanding what God requires of us. It can come by self-examination.

Lets just spend a couple of moments thinking about what we are doing. One of the big things that we should realise is that whilst man sees the act - the act of reading, the act of going to the meetings. God sees the heart and the act.

Why do we attend these meetings - is it because of man or is it because of God? When we sin who do we think of and who are we afraid will catch us - man or God? If you look back at the past week what have you spent your time doing, pleasing yourself or other people, or pleasing God?

We can apply these types of questions to any part of our lives, when we gossip are we concentrating on and satisfying man or God? In our work places, in our education, when we are driving the car, when we're relaxing at home, who are we feeding, who are we giving glory to? Are our thoughts focussed on the return of Christ? Are our lives and the things we do limited by the requirements of God?

I want you to think about the five foolish virgins. They all recognised that Christ was coming. They were virgins indicating a certain amount of separation from the world, in other words they were Christadelphians.

They had neglected to replenish the oil in their lamps. They were resting upon what they'd done in the past; they'd lost sight of the Bible's true teaching and weren't letting the Word of God transform their lives.

You might say I'm not like them; I'm a good Christadelphian! I attend all the meetings - their attendance is not called in question. Doubtless they were still reading their Bibles daily - but far from letting God's Word transform their lives, they were coasting along thinking everything was okay, until Christ came and they realised their lamps had ceased from burning. That should act as a wake up call to us. Because over time life in the Truth can be come stale, "run of the mill" , "the same old thing." And we can continue to do the same old thing over and over again, but in large measure remain unchanged by our actions. These virgins only realised they'd run out of oil once Christ came - is your lamp still burning? Now is the time to make these preparations. Remember "all men are in large measure the creatures of their age."

As the world gets further form God, so do we. Even if we are doing all these things, remember, and strive more than ever before, to let the Word of God transform our lives. It really does require all we have. Our responsibility to ourselves is to prepare ourselves for Christ's return with the time we have remaining to us. Our preparation can be likened to that of Esther's.

You see the king Ahasuerus gave all the maids twelve months to prepare before they would be presented before him and he would choose himself a bride. The twelve months were divided in two separate sections: six months being purified with the oil of myrrh (which amongst other things can symbolise the Word of God); and six months being purified with sweet odours (symbolising prayer).

In symbol is presented to us what our lives and preparation to meet our King should be. Our preparation should consist of reading the Word of God, and prayer. In other words our preparation should consist of listening to what God has to say - God talking to us; and prayer - talking back to Him.

We do this by reading His Word; and we should read His Word more than ever before as we see Christ's appearing drawing near, and this world getting so far from God. But not only reading His Word, but putting it into practise in every aspect of our lives. And praying; praying to God always, when we get up, for breakfast, whilst going to work, for lunch, after work, for meals, for the readings, for the day - for everything! Asking God for guidance, for understanding, for wisdom, for the return of His Son. In this way we put God first and man last. We manifest God in our lives, giving glory to Him, which really is and should be our sole purpose in life. And if you think about it, that really should be what we are doing, and its not too much to ask when we consider what God has in store for those who love Him.

In Esther's day, once this preparation was completed, when every maid presented herself before the king, "whatsoever she desired was given her, to go with her unto the king." (Est. 2:13). She could take whatever she wanted, whether it was clothes, or jewels, or gold - whatever she wanted.

We also will take with us something when we go before our king, at the judgment seat of Christ - what will it be?

When you appear before the judgment seat of Christ what will you take? Will you take your house? Will you take your car? Will you take your job? Will take that holiday? - What will it be?

We can't literally take any of these things of course. But we can take them in our hearts. Because all any one of us will take before the judgment seat of Christ will be our minds and our hearts. And so the question arises, where is your treasure?

The only thing we will take is our character and the question is what kind of character will that be?

Really when you think about it, the only thing worth taking is part of Christ, part of the character of Christ - some little part, that when we appear before our King we will find favour in his eyes. That's all that's worth taking and now is the only time we've got to develop it.

We each have a responsibility to examine ourselves, to keep ourselves unspotted and separate from the world. To prepare ourselves for the return of Christ. This involves many things, but they can be summed up as listening to what God has to say, and talking back to Him. Reading His Word and doing the things contained therein, letting it transform our lives and praying to God.

Our lives should be wholly dedicated to the glory of God, to pleasing God and not man. Keeping our garments unspotted from the world. And so I leave you with a question, when you appear before the judgment seat of Christ, what will you take?

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The Ten Virgins by Chris Bowen

2009-07-04T23:33:00.000-07:00

The primary significance of this parable is to be found in Christ's words immediately preceding the following quotes "who then is a faithful and wise steward?" Matt 24:45 and in the parable of the virgins, he shows in that wisdom consists, and in the parable following the talents he shows the quality of faithfulness.'

The command that Jesus added to the parable of the virgins is "watch, therefore, for ye know neither the day or the hour when the son of man cometh," Matt 25.13.

Now if we look at Matt 25:6 "and at midnight," this midnight is not what we think it is, it is really the hours just before morning. If we look at Acts 20:7 it says: "and upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow, and continued his speech until midnight."

Everyone knows the rest of the story that Paul was preaching to them in the upper chamber and the young man was sitting on the window sill. The young man was overcome by sleep, and fell to his death. Paul saw this and embraced him to bring his life back. After the day had broken they departed.

Also we know that at the second coming of our Lord the sun and moon shall be in darkness and the earth will also be darkened like it was midnight. It is shown in Mark 13:24 "but in those days (that is the latter days) that the sun shall he darkened and the moon not give her light, then the son of man shall come upon the earth."

We know it is talking about the latter days because in Mark 13:4 Peter, James, John and Andrew asked Jesus about the latter days.

Now we will go back to Matt 25:6 where it says, "behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him." John the Baptist is the first to use the figure of the bridegroom in the New Testament. The occasion was when the disciples told him about the success of those who attended the teachings of Jesus. John knew that both his baptism and that of Jesus were of God. Because of this there was no room for jealousy, nor did John see any. On the other hand his relationship excluded it for he was a friend of the Bridegroom, we see this in John 3:29. The friend was the groomsman who sort the hand of the bride for the groom, and then arranged the marriage. When the marriage was taking place, and he heard the voice of the bridegroom welcoming the bride, his tasks, and his Joy was full. So John, the friend rejoiced to hear the people were seeking Jesus and being welcomed by him as the bridegroom welcomes the bride. Later John's disciples came to Jesus with the question "why do the disciples of John and the Pharisee's fast but not the disciples of Jesus." His reply was in the form of a parable: The Bridegroom.

In Luke 5: 33-34 it says "can ye make the children of the bride chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them but the day will come, when the bridegroom will be taken away, then shall they fast in those days." It is remarked that John, who lived in Judea, spoke as the friend of the bridegroom in John 3:29, Jesus who lived in Galilee spoke of the sons of the bride chamber. The former refers to the practice common in Judea, but followed in Galilee, the latter was a general term for all invited guests. There is perfect accuracy in the details of the records.

When Jesus referred to himself as the bridegroom he was first of all reminding the disciples of John, of their part in the parable. John had the joy of the groomsman. The disciples of Jesus had the freedom and joy of the friends and guests at the wedding. Because of the law, the marriage ceremony lasted a week and it was a time of mixed celebrations. The ordinances of the strict feast of the Day of Atonement were modified. Everything had to serve a purpose of bringing gladness to bride and bridegroom. In the same way the presence of Jesus was itself the occasion and reason for joy.

Jesus recognised that the joy would be short lived. He then gives the first public hint of the appointed end of his ministry when he said that the bridegroom would be taken away and from this his disciples would have a sense of loss and would fast.

We look at the customs in the land of Palestine, in the days of Jesus ministry for the atmosphere and the heart of the story. The very basis of the thought of Jesus goes back to the Old Testament teachings. Jeremiah uses the figure "turn, 0, backsliding children, for I am married unto you." God was the bridegroom to Israel. In Psalms 19:1-14 it tells of the heavens declaring Gods glory in which the sun is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber. When John applied the figure of the bridegroom to Jesus, Jesus also made use of it in reference to himself. There was implied a claim that Jesus was Israel's Messiah and that he was a manifestation of God and one to whom the true Israel was related as wife.

Now we go back to Matt 25:6 where is says "cry." This would have awoken them and it would have then shown who have been prepared and were ready to meet the Lord and who are poorly equipped and unready for the event. Verse 8 says; "give us your oil." The only answer possible is the one given, and that is that we should go to those who sell and buy for themselves in the market place which is the truth, namely the Bible. In Isaiah 55:1-3 it says; "come ye, buy and eat yea come, buy wine and milk without money and without price, incline your ear, and come unto me. Hear and your soul shall live." This is the prophet's explanation of how wine and milk of God converted can be changed. At the present time there is opportunity to buy, it will pass. The foolish therefore, find themselves not included in the bridal procession. When they want to come to the door it is closed. A demand for admission brings only the answer "I know you not." The form "Lord Lord" in verse 11 and Christ's answer "I know you not" links the parable with the similar saying of the sermon of the mount, in Matt 7:21-28. The protest "I never knew you" occurs both in this quotation from the Sermon on the Mount and the parable of the virgins. In both of these there was a failure to do. The verse which follows in Matt 7:24-27 continues the instruction that hearing and doing are both essential. "Watch, therefore" in verse 13, is the alert, not so much looking for the coming one, more the need to be ready when he calls, see Rev 3:2. Procrastination is the thief of opportunity as well as time. "Ye know not the day nor the hour of his coming" which applies to us today. The parable gives a picture of what will be attained when the Lord comes. Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened to the ten virgins.

To all who are related to divine things such a preview gives an urgency to command, to watch for the most important lesson "they that were ready went with him into the marriage."

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Moses by Bradley MacNamara

2009-07-04T23:25:00.000-07:00

Moses stands out as great. He was the deliverer, leader, lawgiver and prophet of Israel. The life of Moses is divided into three equal portions of forty years each.

1. His life in Egypt
2. Exile in Arabia
3. Government of Israel.

Moses birth was when the Egyptians were slaying all male children. His life was spared as God had a purpose for his life, his upbringing was unusual as he was adopted by the kings daughter and "educated in all the learning of the Egyptians."

Moses received his call as a prophet when an angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in a flame of fire in the midst of the bush that did not burn up. Through this Moses learnt that there was one God and of his mission to deliver his own people, then he returned home to Egypt to visit his brethren.

Moses had to confront Pharaoh one of the most powerful men on earth and convince him to let God's people go free into the wilderness and sacrifice to Yahweh. But Pharaoh was a hard man. Moses told Pharaoh ten times that Egypt would suffer terrible consequences if he didn't set free God's people. Each plague made Pharaoh's heart more hardened. This didn't make it easy for Moses so he prayed a lot to God through this time for guidance.

In the wilderness Moses become the great lawgiver through whom Israel's religion was revealed. Moses received the law from God. The law showed God's covenant with His newly delivered nation. These were known as the 10 commandments.

Here are some interesting types between Moses and Christ:The life of Moses foreshadowed the life of Christ. As Pharaoh slew the Hebrew children at the time Moses was born, so Herod did when Jesus was born. As Moses left Egypt so did the Lord Jesus. As Moses was mighty in word and deed so was the Lord. As Moses led the people from Egypt, baptised them in the Red Sea, gave them a law, formed them into God's people so the Lord calls his people to separate themselves from spiritual Egypt and devote themselves to his service.

At the close of Moses' career, Joshua who had already been named as Israel's leader was appointed as successor to Moses. In a song Moses expressed his praise to God recounting how God had delivered Israel and provided for them through the wilderness journey. Then with the pronouncement of a blessing upon each tribe, Moses departed for Mount Nebo where he was privileged to view the promised land before he died.

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The Bible - It's Origin and History by Lindsay Aitcheson

2009-06-30T02:31:00.000-07:00

John Chapter 2 by Rodney Bowen

2009-05-21T22:39:00.000-07:00

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A Word in Season by Andrew Brown

2009-05-21T22:35:00.000-07:00

The times and seasons are significant. Let us lift up our heads and read them for they speak of our redemption, which draweth nigh.

Meanwhile while we wait the times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, what manner of people ought we to be in our behaviour and attitude?

The Truth in our hands has a constant urgent message to watch and pray that we might be prepared. There is no room for complacency as the Apostle Paul states regarding the times and season for he says that that day will come as a thief in the night to all those who sleep, but not to the saints of light who watch and are sober. While God is longsuffering with the World we are sojourning in, we are afforded time or opportunity to grow in the Truth or put right what may be wrong for this is the Day of Atonement or Salvation to make it sure.

Time is to be redeemed for it is given that we might work out our salvation showing ourselves workmen that needeth not to be ashamed but rightly dividing the word of truth. The coming together each first day of the week, is a good opportunity for renewing our strength for the conflict in which we are all engaged. May we then use this occasion to edify ourselves by self-examination. One thing we do well to contemplate is that we are all equal in terms of what God has given each person.

We all have the same hope and therefore opportunity. Also we have all been given the same time whether we are rich or poor, Old or Young, Learned or Unlearned, time travels the same speed for all. How do each of us use this commodity? For an answer to this Question let us take the interval since our last breaking of bread, as we assemble each 1st day.

We have had a six-day battle. Six days of common experience to man in this evil state. Six days of mortal occupation mixed with care and watchfulness and endurance. Now these six days are gone never to return and we are this day looking back upon them to sit in judgment upon them.

How do they look? Each of us must make that survey for themselves.There will come a day when the whole of our life will be in the rear in the same way. When there will be a gathering of a great multitude when the question for consideration will be that the account will be closed and the review of our past is analysed for a decision. But at the present moment our review of the past is useful in helping us to change the position of the account if need be.

Have the past six days all been what we could wished them to be? It is impossible at present that our days can ever be entirely what we should desire just because of the nature of things. We all share human nature as Paul confessed in saying the things I would do I do not. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Forgiveness is available if we haven't engaged in wilful sin.

In the last six days did we walk in faith for whatsoever is not in faith is sin Paul said. Could our faith be stronger helping us in our conflict to overcome. For it is to him who overcomes are the promises made. How then are we to overcome? Apostle John gives us the answer. This is the victory that overcometh the World even our faith.

How is faith derived? Paul states, "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Therefore the most valuable advice that can be given to all those anxious about salvation is to give themselves to the reading of the Word. Jesus said the Words that I speak unto you they are Spirit and they are Life. Therefore as much as the Words of Jesus are in us the Spirit and the Life of the Truth is in us."

We cannot recall or alter the six days that are gone. They have taken their place in the record of our past on Jesus diary. But the six days to come are ours in a certain sense. What does wisdom say, redeem the time because the days are evil. Do not walk as fools but walk circumspectly.

The Apostle Paul lays down a doctrine of obedience. Doctrine means teaching, and Paul speaks to us in Titus saying, Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. Looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. If we remember these precepts and obey them, when our life is reviewed by Jesus we will be able to give an answer of a good conscience, having confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

From now on, then let Paul's Policy in life be Our Policy in Life. Which was to him and is to us, he says therefore in Philippians 3:14 "I press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." As a good soldier we march on in the conflict in which we are engaged. We have to be prepared for battle. The Apostle Paul lists the equipment needeth in our spiritual warfare to be successful in conquering and overcoming sin in its many forms.

Let us consider the spiritual armour that is necessary to fight a good fight of faith.The List is given in Ephesians 6:14-17. Stand therefore having your loins girt about with truth. Anything covering our loins covers our shame, thus nothing but the truth can cover our spiritual shame. As sinners we are in a state of shame before God. The Truth intelligently believed and heartily upheld covers our shame. Anything but the Truth is a fig leaf device and is not what God requires to be acceptable to him.

Breast Plate of righteousness.The Breastplate covers the heart. The heart of the Truth is righteousness, it is the centre permeating throughout all the parts.We must guard against unrighteousness.

Righteousness must be the basis of all things in the Truth, the centre or heart of the Truth.

Our Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of Peace. Our Feet move us in a certain direction, that direction must be towards the Kingdom, which is the Gospel message of peace.

Let us always be shod with the Gospel message that we might be constantly moving towards that great destiny revealed in the Gospels joyful sound.

Shield of Faith to shield away the fiery darts of the wicked. Our faith is to withstand all what may come our way. Our faith will shield away all what may injure us protecting our life in the Truth.

Helmet of Salvation is the reason or motive, which directs all our actions. So if we think always of our salvation our actions will follow accordingly.

Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. The Word is our Spiritual weapon even shaper than any two edged sword. But this weapon is of little use if we are unskilled in its use. The Apostle Paul tells us how to become skilful with God's Word in 2nd Timothy 2:5. He states "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of Truth."

The Apostle Paul concludes his list of armour by saying to be always; Praying and watching with all perseverance.Paul elsewhere states that no man that is engaged in this conflict against sin entangleth himself with the affairs of this life that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. Let us constantly be on our guard for our enemy never sleeps, sin is in all its manifestations.

Paul at the end declared I have fought a good fight. Jesus is styled the captain or commander of our salvation who fought the greatest fight. Let Paul's words of counsel ever serve to strengthen us each day. Ephesians 6:10-13.

Finally friends be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand.

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Faith by Alan Brown

2009-05-21T22:31:00.000-07:00

The prophet Amos spoke to Israel saying "Prepare to meet thy God O Israel." This message had to be constantly repeated throughout the history of Israel as it was by the prophets, then by Jesus who was sent by God as God's final appeal to his nation until Jesus returns. The same message applies to us as modern-day Israel. "Prepare to meet our God."

The Apostle John puts the same message this way, "Beloved now are we the sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is. Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure." 1 John 3:2.

We are no different to Israel. We need the prophet's message. We need the voice of Jesus to counsel us unto obedience and righteousness. It is how well we respond to their voice that dictates our spiritual condition. Paul stated that "all things that were written a foretime were written for our learning that we, through patience and comfort of the scripture, might have hope." Now it is how well our learning of scripture is that determines our patience, our comfort, and our hope in the truth. If we do not learn from what is written, then we will not learn patience, we will not receive comfort, and we will not be strong in the hope - all essential ingredients to enter the Kingdom.

Thus again the prophet said, "My people perish through lack of knowledge." Understanding the will of God is the first step. Then the right application of knowledge is wisdom therefore let wisdom be at our right hand, at the doors of our heart to lead us unto life. For if we love wisdom we hate darkness or death. But contrary, as Proverbs 8:36 says if we hate wisdom we love death. Again, "wisdom excelleth folly as far as light excelleth darkness." Ecclesiastes 2:13.

We know Israel's history makes sad reading as a nation. Their backsliding, their spiritual bankruptcy and consequently their suffering.

The Apostle Paul draws from their history powerful lessons, e.g. Hebrews 4:1-2 "Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the Gospel preached, as well as unto them but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." Here Paul is warning us that it is our faith that determines our success spiritually. He says the Gospel was preached to Israel yet they did not receive it with faith and they fell short of the promise. John says it is our faith that enables us to overcome the world. How strong is our faith? Israel's faith was weak. Our faith can become weak because we can allow many faith-robbing obstacles weaken our hold on eternal life. Hold fast, stand firm in the faith - is our responsibility.

Israel's mistake was chiefly becoming more involved with the heathen nations around them. Is the threat any less, for us living in a world, which "knows not God nor desires a knowledge of His ways?"

We are told to come out from among them and be separate, keeping ourselves unspotted from the world, being found blameless. Are we different from the world? Are we a friend of the world? We must examine ourselves constantly to walk worthy of our high calling. Let us do an assessment of our spiritual standing before God in the world in which we live, eg, if we were convicted as a Christian or follower of Jesus, would there be hard evidence to prove that in fact we live as we have been called in the truth, ie, to be separate, and to be spiritually minded? Would witnesses who would be called forward to testify about us say they could see no difference in us from others in this world? Or would they say that these people are different? They talk about spiritual things, they have spiritual goals, affections and values, and they don't live for the present but prepare for the future return of Jesus.

We profess to follow the truth. Are we honouring God among men? What message are we sending to others around us? We know God is our judge but as others see us is a general assessment of our spiritual condition. Let us remember the Laodicean ecclesia had become so engrossed in the world and its ambitions, thus becoming a friend of the world, that Jesus considered them spiritually bankrupt. Let us adopt the same attitude as Nehemiah when he was invited to leave God's work to participate in other matters outside the truth. He said, "I am doing a great work. I cannot come down. Why should I leave God's work and serve others?" This is a perfect answer to all our resisters and things that distract us in the truth. Nehemiah only succeeded because he put God first. God therefore helped him against all odds. He completed the wall in 52 days not 53 days or more. Nehemiah had resistance within and without. The nation of Israel was the ecclesia. Each member was in what could be a divine university, where their work was assessed by God as a fail or a pass. Nehemiah had many obstacles to endure but faithfully endured in God's work. It is written in chapter 3:5 of certain members "putting not their necks to the work." This is equivalent to armchair Christadelphians. We all have a part to play, a job to do in the body of Jesus. Our pounds must increase. Our lamps well oiled, our lights will shine. The oil is the word, daily pondered, like the oil in the tabernacle to supply the light stand. Our prayers are the incense ascending to God as a sweet smell daily.

In our calling we are serving God in the Holy Place, preparing to meet God in the Most Holy Place. The priests of old had special garments to wear. We have the equivalent garment being clothed with the truth as Paul describes our "loins girt about with truth." The truth believed and obeyed covers our shame as Jesus says in the sixth vial, "Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame." Revelation 16:15.

So at the eleventh hour, let us "give the more earnest heed to the things that we have heard lest at any time we should let them slip." Let us do as Paul in Titus wrote to all believers, be zealous of good works, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world, looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of Jesus Christ.

Again in Timothy, Paul speaks "Preach the word; be instant in season out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." "Endure afflictions, make full proof of thy ministry." "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called." "Endure unto the end." "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward." "Weeping may endure for the night but joy cometh in the morning." Hence a crown of righteousness will be laid up for us and we shall say "Lo this is our God, we have waited for Him. We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation." So let us now "Prepare to meet our God."

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Are We Allowed To Hate by Mrytle Brown

2009-02-10T00:05:00.000-08:00

In Psalm 139, David (who represented Jesus) said about the enemies of God "I hate them with a perfect hatred." And "I count them as my enemies." How can we hate and yet try to be perfect? We need to remember that our whole life under Gods law is a discipline.

Discipline is not popular; to the young it can seem to be full of very irksome restrictions, to some it can seem as though too much emphasis can be placed on small things. Yet it is more often these small things in life which make up the overall character. Each time we overcome a small thing, it makes the next triumph much easier.

We must hate all things opposed to God, just as Jesus hated the enemies of God with perfect hatred. He told them "Depart from me ye wicked men."

We too should have no company with men who deny God; we ought never to feel comfortable with them. Our lives take us among many people but we can be selective. It is possible of course to turn some enemies of God into friends, and we should try never to lose a chance, a chance word, or a good example could be just the thing.

One of the best rules in our lives is "In everything give thanks."

Can we at the end of each day thank God for all we have said or done? Could we for instance thank God that we have hurt someone's feelings? That we have wasted our employer's time? That we have turned out shoddy work? Deceived someone? Joined in rude talking or jokes with others? Of course we couldn't!

But if we had lived a day as if we were in the Lord's house, then we could thanks God for a day in which we had gained and given much happiness. How much better to thanks God for something than to constantly say "forgive me."

Perfect hatred is likely to involve us in some very searching self examination. We must remember first and foremost that we are "forgiven sinners" not righteous saints.

We have only to think of our natural tendencies that are with us all the time, idle words that are the result of indiscipline within us. They show our state of mind and when we are older we must not think that we have cleverly overcome our bad and frivolous habits, when all we have done is grown out of them. That is not overcoming.

Overcoming is what Jesus did when he resisted all temptation by the strength he had gained from always doing his father's will and praying often.

We too can gain strength through prayer, the very act of closing our eyes and speaking our inner most thoughts and asking for forgiveness is a divine arrangement for easing our hearts of the burden of sin. God arranged this long before the physiologists thought of it!

God wants us to speak to him through Jesus, but that does not relieve us of our responsibility. David wrote of God's love and care for those who trust in him, but he did not neglect to be very skilful in self defence. He did not expect God to protect him from the lion and the bear, which were ordinary hazards of his occupation as a Sheperd.

He knew it was of God that he killed Goliath, but he took his sling with him. We will never be perfect, but we can try. We must always have our weapons of the truths warfare ready, we can only do that by reading, praying, and more reading.

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The Hope of Israel by Myron Biernat

2009-01-28T22:52:00.000-08:00

The Mustard Seed by Myrtle Brown

2009-01-28T22:36:00.000-08:00

This seed was the least of all the seeds in the beginning, and the greatest of all the herbs at the end of its life! This is like the kingdom of God in every aspect. To an idolatrice people one old man was called from his wealthy home and given a promise of great things if he obeyed God. His neighbours must have wondered what he was up to and perhaps he had gone mad? He left all friends and all he knew, and set out with a tent, all his animals and servants to go to a land he did not know. But he was sure and as he lived among the Canaanites, quietly and confidently, that he would posses this land.

So the little mustard seed was sown in Abrahams mind, he has a real conviction that God's promises were true, and yet he lived a life of worrisome problems, full of trouble and strife until he died, never having got what was promised but to his dying day knowing that he would. Hebrews 11:8 says that he dies in faith knowing that all God said would come to pass.

Abraham now lived putting up and taking down tents where there was grass for his animals, trying to keep out of bother with the Canaanites, he worried a lot about his nephew Lot in cities he knew would not be good for him, trying to keep peace with Sarah and Hagar, getting quite old and yet having no children. He eventually lived in fear of the kings of Canaan. He has a troublesome life until he died, so he, like us, cannot enter the kingdom of God without trials.

Can you imagine the awesome surprise when Abraham rises from the grave and he sees how large his family has grown? There are now 1 in 500 people in the world a Jew, and yet he was 99 years old when he had his only son Isaac.

When first spoken about to a Gentile, the Kingdom of God was so small it was just a promise. But now, slowly as we read the scriptures and see how God treats Israel we see it growing and coming closer. We know, as Abraham, that we have to be committed to obeying his commands.

We now see the Kingdom of God, or the mustard tree, grown almost fully, and when Christ comes and rules with righteousness throughout the World, that Jews and Gentiles will be able to come under the promises given to Abraham.

They will be fulfilled with Christ and all nations will want to be with the Jew. All the birds of the field will be able to seek shade in her branches. A knowledge of the Kingdom of God is the way to know what was meant by the mustard seed.

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Titus 2: Christian Living by Rodney Bowen

2008-10-10T20:34:00.000-07:00

In chapter one Paul gives Titus instructions about how to organise and deal with false teachers in the Cretan ecclesias. In chapter two Paul gives Titus instructions in what to teach some of the various groups in the ecclesia. He covers older men, older women, younger women, younger men, and slaves. These five different groups would have included every Christian believer on Crete.

In chapter 1 the importance of believing and teaching 'sound' (or correct) doctrine is emphasised in contrast to following the false teachers (1:9-13). The false teachers false doctrine had affected their way of life. Paul says that these false teachers were living lives that were inconsistent with how true Christians should be living. In chapter 2 Paul emphasises the need to live good Christian lives (works) that stems from believing sound doctrine.

Believe false teaching = live in unchristian way
Believe sound teaching = live in Christian way

Similar instruction in other letters: (Ephesians 5:21-6:9; Colossians 3:18-4:1; 1 Corinthians 7:25-40)

Issues faced in Crete

Men: Lack of restraint in public behaviour, drinking, and sexual liaisons (1:12)
Women: The new Roman women with her freedoms and appetites (1 Timothy 2:9-15). Some of the consequences of this movement (somewhat akin to 'women's liberation') for females was that they had less interest in household management, they challenged the society norm of the male being the head of the household, and they played a more prominent role in parties and meals held at their homes. These changes had a direct impact on women's role in the Christian home and community.

Teaching for Older Men (2:2)

Sober: cephalous adj. "sober, temperate; lit. soberness in contrast to drunkenness" fig. it describes having complete clarity of mind and thus being able to make good judgments (1 Timothy 3:2,11).
Grave: semnos adj. "honorable, worthy of respect, serious" (Philippians 4:8; 1 Timothy 3:8,11) Generally denotes an observable bearing or demeanor that commands respect from other people. Older men are to act in a way that will lead to people respecting them.
Temperate: sophron adj. "sound-minded, self-controlled (moderate as to opinion or passion), sensible" (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8; 2:2,5). Older men are to have a measured restraint in all things.
Sound: hugiaino vb. "to be healthy, of sound health" fig. of soundness/healthiness in the faith (Luke 5:31; 1 Timothy 1:10; 6:3; 2 Timothy 1:13; 4:3; Titus 1:9, 13; 2:1,2; etc.: adj. used Titus 2:8). And what are they to be sound/healthy in?
Faith: pistis "total trust in God - faith, belief" - a healthy or faith that is alive (someone who really believes)
Charity: agape "self sacrificing love" - a healthy love or love that is alive (for fellow brethren)
Patience: hupomone "endurance, perseverance" - a healthy or living perseverance

"Together these terms form an overlapping network of virtues that describes a life of respectability free from overindulgence, dissipation [wastefulness], and foolishness."

[Towner, p.721, 2006]

"The latter years of life, especially for men, can be filled with regrets, a sense of uselessness or worthlessness, feelings of despair, self-absorption, or even a tendency to relax moral standards because of old age. However Paul desired for the older men what he desired for himself as he approached the end of life: to have fought the good fight, to have finished the race, to have kept the faith (2 Tim 4:7). "

[Lea and Griffin, Jr., 1992, p.298]

Teaching for Older Women (2:3-4)

As becometh holiness: hieroprepes "worthy of reverence" i.e. reverent in the way they live (only use).
Not false accusers: diabolos adj. "slanderers, false accusers, devils/satans!" (1 Timothy 3:11; 2 Timothy 3:3) Older women are not to speak lies, make false accusations, or spread malicious gossip around the ecclesia. You cant serve Satan and God. (1 Timothy 5:13)
Not given to much wine: lit. "not addicted to much wine." Presumably this was a problem in Crete. The older women were meant to have self-mastery over their appetites.
Teachers of good things: kalodidaskalos adj. "teaching that which is good" or "good teachers" (only use). Older women were to be good teachers, or teachers of good things. Paul doesn't mean that the older women are to teach in formal or public ecclesial situations. He taught against this in 1 Timothy 2:12 and 1 1 Corinthians 14:34-35. Rather, the older women should teach by giving advice and encouragement privately, in the things they say, and in the example they show. And this teaching should be aimed at the younger women in the ecclesia. Paul says that the older women are to be 'teachers of good things in order that (Grk. hina v.4) they are able to teach the younger women...' So it is the older women's responsibility to teach the younger women in the ecclesia how to live good Christian lives.

For the older women to teach the younger women all of the things in 2:4-5, they would have to also be doing those things - practicing what they preach. So while the older women have already been given some age specific instruction, it is also their responsibility to follow as well as teach all the things Paul goes on to tell the young women.

Teaching for Younger Women (2:4-5)
So what are the older women meant to teach the younger women, and how are the younger women meant to act?

Sober: sophronas vb. "to advise, instruct, calling to responsibility, or bring to their senses" (only use). "...That they may advise, bring to their senses, or instruct the young women to love their husbands, to love their children..." (v.4) The young women on Crete may have been influenced by the Roman women's liberation movement which had a detrimental influence on family life (1 Timothy 2:8-15) Towner (2006) says that this new Roman women's movement emphasised the freedom to pursue extramarital sexual liaisons and other liberties such as university education at the expense of the family. So marital fidelity as well as household management were threatened. It was tearing the family apart! And it's for this reason that Paul advises that the older women to 'bring the younger women to their senses' and goes on to emphasis the role of the younger women in the household.
Love their husbands: philandros adj. "loving her husband" (only use). From root philos adj. "to be friendly." So the sense is 'to be friendly [in a loving way] to her husband'.
Love their children: philoteknos adj. "loving her children" (only use). From root philos adj. "to be friendly." So the sense is 'to be friendly [in a loving way] to her children'. The fact that Paul had to mention these basic female responsibilities shows the extent of the problem on Crete. So the older women were to teach the younger to develop a loving affection for their family.
Discreet: sophron adj. "sound-minded, self-controlled (moderate as to opinion or passion), sensible" (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:8; 2:2,5. n.f. sophronsune used of women 1 Timothy 2:9,15 'sobriety'). Young women are to be self-controlled or exercise restraint and not go sleeping around with random men.
Chaste: hagnos adj. "holy, pure, undefiled" (2 Corinthians 11:2; Philippians 4:8; 1 Timothy 5:22; 1 Peter 3:2; etc.). Younger women are to remain pure or untouched sexually and morally. I guess it means that if they are married, younger women should be totally focused on their husband. See Peters instruction to wives of unbelieving husbands, and the link between 'hagnos' and not going to the extremes of current fashion (1 Peter 3:2).
Keepers at home: oikouros adj. "keeping the home, caring for the household affairs" (only use). The younger women are responsible for the household management. Now this is obviously the divine ideal, but its not the reality for the majority of the females in the ecclesia. For some people its impossible to get by without both the male and female bringing in money. So what do we do? Can we reinterpret Paul's instruction in a 21st century context and remain true to the principle he is teaching? Well I will leave this open for discussion, but perhaps I will just say that the principle Paul seems to be teaching is that women have the overall responsibility for holding the household together. And perhaps after in your groups you can think about how this principle can be upheld in our 21st century context.
Good: agathos adj. "good, kind." Even though managing the house might be boring and mundane, young women still have to try to be kind to their husband and children.
Obedient: hupotasso vb. mid. "to subject one's self, to obey, to yield to one's admonition or advice" (used similarly: Ephesians 5:21,22,24; Colossians 3:18; Titus 2:9; 3:1; 1 Peter 3:1,5,22; 5:5). Being in the middle voice (something you do to yourself), it implies that the wife is to show submission of their own free will. It's not something that a husband can extract in any way but by loving her.

This is about accepting the role that a woman has within the marriage relationship and making an honest attempt to fulfil the duties that come as a result. It doesn't mean that women are in any way inferior to males (Galations 3:28).

This is proved here when Paul says that younger women are to be subject to their own husbands (v.5). Not to all husbands or all men, but to their own husband. This shows that the subjection is within the marriage relationship.

If it's not about women being inferior to men, they why do young women have to be subject to their husbands? Because the marriage relationship actually represents the marriage between Christ and the ecclesia (Ephesians 5:21-24) Christ is our head or leader, and everyone in the ecclesia is subject to him. So by the young women being subject to their husbands, they represent the fact that both males and females are subject to Christ.

'That the word of God be not blasphemed/defamed'. The implication is that the breakdown of male and female roles, and the breakdown of the family reflected badly on the truth, and led to unbelievers blaspheming or defaming it.

So these are all the things the older women are meant to be teaching the younger women. As an older woman in the ecclesia this is your responsibility. And as a younger woman, it is your responsibility to listen to the older women, and try to follow the things Paul describes.

Teaching for Younger Men (2:6-8)

Sober minded: sophroneo vb. "to be of sound mind, i.e. self-controlled, sensible" (used: Mark 5:15; Romans 12:3; 2 Corinthians 5:13; 1 Peter 4:7). '...to be self-controlled in everything. Young men are to be self-controlled. It might be normal in our society for young men to indulge in many forms of unrestrained behavior, for example, in sleeping with many different girls, but that's not how young Christian men are to act. Young men are to show self-control. Verses 7-8: Titus, an example for young men
Pattern: tupos "an example or pattern" (1 Corinthians 10:6,11; Philippians 3:17; 1 Thessalonians 1:7; 2 Thessalonians 3:9; 1 Timothy 4:12; 1 Peter 5:3).
Good works: ergon "the act of work, deeds." Titus was to act in such a way that the young men could look at him and see how they should act. He's meant to be our role model.
In doctrine: didaskalia "instruction, teaching" (used in Titus: 1:9;2:1,7,10).
Uncorruptness: adiaphthoria lit. "not corrupt, i.e. pure." (only use). Show yourself to be above corruption in your teaching', in contrast to the false teachers in 1:11 whotaught things that were opposed to true Christian teaching, and who did it for the money. It is the responsibility of young men to teach true uncorrupted Christian teaching
Gravity: semnotes "seriousness, dignity, decency" (1 Timothy 2:2; 3:4). Young men are to teach the gospel with dignity, decency, and in a serious manner. The gospel message isn't something to flippant about. And so young men are to teach it in such a way that they don't bring discredit to it (v.8).
Sincerity: Is not in the original text
Sound speech: 'sound' hugies adj. "healthy, sound in body" (e.g. used: Matthew 12:13; vb. use in Titus 1:9,13; 2:1,2). Healthy, true, or living teaching. Our living hope. - 'speech' logos "word". Healthy or living words. Young men are to speak sound, healthy, or true teaching, so that those who oppose them may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about them.

As a young man it your responsibility to follow the example of Titus and try to live up to the teaching above, and in a similar way you will become an example to those around you.

So that is Paul's teaching for males and females in the ecclesia.

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Timely Topics Number 02

2008-08-28T20:29:00.000-07:00

In this issue we will consider one of the smallest nations on earth, yet one that is constantly in the news and also in God’s plan for the future of this world. This nation is Israel, a nation that is living proof of the existence of God.

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Timely Topics Number 01

2008-06-23T20:25:00.000-07:00

The few minutes it will take you to read this may reward you with a better understanding of the problems facing humans and the solutions offered to these problems by the Bible. While this article discusses some of the problems affecting humanity, it’s not designed to make you feel upset. On the contrary, this article intends to lay out some sound and proven reasons why you should feel happy about the future prospect of “peace on earth and goodwill toward all men.”

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Women's Headcoverings Part 02 by Craig Simpson

2008-05-23T11:28:00.000-07:00

In our previous article we laid the foundation for our study on headcoverings, by looking at the background to the Apostle Paul's inspired comment in 1st Corinthians Chapter 11. We saw that several principles were firmly laid down from the beginning of creation:

* That man and woman were to have dominion over God's creation acting on God's behalf;
* That the commandment not to eat of "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil" was given directly to Adam;
* That Adam was given authority from God over Eve, and that this authority (man over woman) was to be passed on to all of their offspring including us in our day, we made the comment that the ultimate responsibility (in Spiritual matters) for giving direction rests with man.

In this article we will build on our foundation and look a little more closely at the Apostle's inspired comment, concerning headcoverings for brothers. After setting our foundation we are now in a position to understand what the Apostle Paul is saying to the Corinthian brethren.

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Women's Headcoverings Part 01 by Craig Simpson

2008-05-09T01:47:00.000-07:00

In this series of articles we want to consider the subject of head coverings; it is a subject that has caused so much confusion throughout the years, and in a lot of people's minds, it is really an unsettled matter. This however, needn't be the case. If we look at this subject with a searching mind, we will see that the subject is very clear and has a reasonable explanation, which is provided in the pages of the Word of God.

Our objective in these articles is to approach the subject with a clear mind helping all of us to come to a firm conclusion once and for all, we will:

* firstly set the background to the Apostle Paul's inspired comment
* look at what Paul has to say in 1 Corinthians 11
* look at what early church history has to say on these matters
* consider objections which have been raised throughout the years
* and finally consider what we in the twenty first century should be doing in our worship to our Heavenly Father.

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Mary by Jason McBratney

2008-05-06T13:53:00.000-07:00

This article is based on the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church, in particular, the teachings concerning the worship and veneration of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ.

So what do we know about Mary from the New Testament record? Surprisingly, considering her important role in modern religion, there is not that much written about her personal history. She was a relative of Elizabeth, who was the wife of the priest Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah. Mary resided at Nazareth in Galilee, presumably with her parents, while betrothed to Joseph of the House of David (Luke 1:26). She, like Joseph, was also a descendant of King David. During their betrothal, which is the first stage of a Jewish marriage, the angel Gabriel announced to her that she was to be the mother of the promised Messiah by conceiving him through the Holy Spirit.

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15 New Audio Files Added

2008-01-10T17:20:00.000-08:00

Phillipians by Graham McBratney
Faith, Hope and Love by Graham McBratney
1st Timothy Chapter 1 by David Bowen
Hope by Ian Bowen
Love by Ian Bowen
Amos by Wayne Brown
The Yoke of Christ by Wayne Brown
Faith by Wayne Brown
A Vessel for the Future by Wayne Brown
Mans Restless Spirit by Ray Simpson
Holy Spirit Gifts by Lyndon Jackson
Forgiveness by Lindsay Aitchison
Marriage in the Lord by Philip Bowen
Answers in the Bible by Ray Simpson
Ephesians by Robin Jackson

Titles of Deity by Craig Simpson

2007-11-22T23:20:00.001-08:00

Everybody has a name. Our names are one of the main distinguishing features about us which make us an individual.
No individual would respond when called by a name which is not their own, and we all find a sense of comfort when strangers remember our names. If these basic statements are true of each one of us, how much more when we consider the Creator of the Universe.

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When Christ Became God by Rodney Bowen

2007-11-22T23:09:00.000-08:00

If there's one thing that Christians today are not short of, it's a church to go to. There are literally thousands of different churches or religious denominations open and available to today's Christians. Among all of these churches there is a wide spectrum of differing views and diverging practices that makes each church unique in its own right. However, there is one founding principle, a common thread that unites the majority of these various sections of Christianity, and that is their concept of God.

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Isaac Newton by Jeremy Bowen

2007-11-06T09:29:00.000-08:00

Isaac Newton was a remarkable man, one of the greatest scientists in modern times; he also had some amazing views on the Bible.

Background of Isaac Newton

*Born on 25 December 1642 in Wools-Thorpe, Lincolnshire, England.
*Died on 31 March 1727 in London England.

Isaac came from a family of farmers. His father died at the age of 36 from poor health before Isaac was born; and Isaac was named after his father.

The first school he went to was called Kings and was 7 miles away from home. School was of little interest to Isaac in his younger days. He was quiet and didn't stand out to be anything special and at first he wasn't liked by the other boys.

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