Revelation

Today's questions:

What are the 7 spirits of God?

Comments:
Bizarre image of lamb slain---makes clear the cost of Christ's purchase.  John "weeps and weeps" that no one can open the scroll.  Do I have that kind of godly sorrow?

So much corruption in the churches--nothing new under the sun.  Our churches struggle and this should not be a surprise to me as it was here in Revelation so long ago.  It's obviously a continuing problem.

Strong image of the poverty of wealth.

Reoccurring images--lampstands, door---that there is a door in Heaven---intriguing.  Christ calls himself a door in the gospels, but there is an actual door.

One who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars, similar to the description in Rev_1:4. Here Christ said He holds them, speaking of the Holy Spirit in relation to Himself (Isa_11:2-5; cf. Rev_5:6). As in Rev_1:20 the seven stars, representing the pastors of the churches, were also in His hands (cf. Rev_2:1).

"Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown."  Revelation 3:11

 The thought is not simply that of coming soon but coming suddenly or quickly (cf. Rev_1:1; Rev_2:16).-BKC

"You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead." -Revelation 3:1

16:5, 6   At this point, the angel of the waters defends the justice of God's judgments. Men are only receiving the just recompense of their own sinful deeds. They had shed blood in abundance; now they are rewarded with blood to drink instead of water. It is their just due. -BBC

Blood for blood---the punishment fits the crime.

16:13, 14   John sees three frog-like spirits issuing from the mouth of the dragon, ... the beast and ... the false prophet, Satan's counterfeit trinity. These are demonic spirits, performing miracles to deceive the world's rulers, and to lure them to a climactic battle on the great day of God Almighty. -BBC

Counterfeit trinity....

8:1   Chapter 18 consists primarily of a funeral song, celebrating the fall of Babylon. As mentioned, this refers to the harlot church which is not only a vast religious system but perhaps the greatest commercial establishment in the world. It apparently controls the world market. -BBC

1 John 5

"For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith." 1 John 5:4

Next we learn the secret of victory over the world. The world system is a monstrous scheme of temptation, always trying to drag us away from God and from what is eternal, and seeking to occupy us with what is temporary and sensual. People of the world are completely taken up with the things of time and sense. They have become the victims of passing things.

Only the man who is born of God really overcomes the world, because by faith he is able to rise above the perishing things of this world and to see things in their true, eternal perspective. Thus the one who really overcomes the world is not the great scientist or philosopher or psychologist, but the simple believer who realizes that the things which are seen are temporary and that the things which are not seen are eternal. A sight of the glory of God in the face of Jesus dims the glory of this world. -BBC

Fear

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
We love because he first loved us.  1 John 4:18-19


"The words fear has to do with punishment are literally, “fear has punishment.” Fear carries with it a kind of torment that is its own punishment.-BKC

Proverbs 29

Pro 29:17  Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.

"29:19  This verse seems to describe the obstinate, intractable attitude of many a servant. Oral orders are not always enough. They may understand the master's instructions but they don't always carry them out. They just remain silent and sullen. Jesus said, "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?" (Luk_6:46).-BBC

Pro 29:25  The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe. 

Pro 29:26  Many seek the face of a ruler, but it is from the LORD that a man gets justice. 

Proverbs 26

Proverbs 26:28

A lying tongue hates its victims, a flattering mouth works ruin.

Proverbs 25

"God delights in concealing things; scientists delight in discovering things." Proverbs 25:1

What I remember:

A trustworthy friend is like a drink of cool water during a hot harvest.
A person who cannot control their temper is like a broken down city without walls.
The right words at the right time are like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
If your enemy is hungry feed him, thirsty, give him something to drink---like heaping coals on his head (quoted in Romans by Paul)
A soft answer breaketh the bones.
Kings do not reveal all that they know.

*********************************  The rest:

As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable.  Proverbs 25:3
Remove dross from silver, remove corruption from authority and kingship will be God honoring
Do not put yourself forward or assume the best seat, but let someone else acknowledge you and put you in the honorable position.

Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart is like someone who takes off a coat on a cold day or vinegar on baking soda.  Proverbs 25:20

Quotations

“God’s love for poor sinners is very wonderful, but God’s
patience with ill-natured saints is a deeper mystery.”
- Henry Drumond

“A human being’s strongest instinct is to self-preservation; grace’s highest call is to self-sacrifice.”  - Paul Frost

Haggai

2nd shortest book in OT
simple & direct
4 postexilic messages

In this period the progress in rebuilding was slow, no doubt because of the laborious task of cleaning up 60 years of rubble and the cessation of work during the numerous festivals of the seventh month.-bkc

“The truth is that few prophets have succeeded in packing into such brief compass so much spiritual common sense as Haggai did” (Frank E. Gaebelein, Four Minor Prophets: Obadiah, Jonah, Habakkuk, and Haggai, p. 199).

Interesting link that comments on depression of the people with regard to the book of Haggai. The author suggests that we should keep our "servant status" in mind when ministering to depressed people.

http://www.foundationsforfreedom.net/References/OT/Prophets/Haggai/Haggai00_Depression.html

"These cycles demonstrate how our responses to God so strongly influence our inner lives. The strong message that has been circulating in the Western world for these last decades has convinced many that spiritual things are immaterial to our daily lives. People are taught to go through these cycles without realizing the connection they have with their relationship with God. Indeed, the number of clinical cases of depression are a testimony of a world without God's gracious help. May we seek God's intervening hand in our daily lives."-Bucknell

"'Obedience always require prioritization of God' wishes and often requires the subduing of our own preferences. The scripture describes this process as 'repentance.'"-Bucknell



"The greatest difficult in obeying besides outright not want to is the fear of not being able to carry out the certain required task or change in life. Christians tend to use these 'impossibilities' as excuses. They must be very careful not to allow their discouragement carry over to doubt. Instead they should have the biblical attitude that if God calls anyone to do a certain job, then He will provide all that he will need to do it. This is true of evangelism, giving a testimony, teaching a Sunday School class, overcoming a particular sin, etc." -Bucknell

To the degree that we and others obey, He brings His Spirit upon His people to accomplish His work.-Bucknell

But what if I don't feel like I can do it?

Never go by ones feelings. We are exhorted to obey not to see whether we feel like doing it or not. The success or failure of what He has called us to is up to the Lord. Our job is simply to obey. Many early missionaries died in the field in the first five years of their work there. We might think it failure but God chalked it up as success. We might have to run counter to our feelings. This is fine. Some people think this is not right because it is going against ones true self. Any thought, action or feeling that goes counter to God's will must be rejected and finally subjected to His will. This is what being a Christian is all about. God frees us to serve Him rather than our old man and its desires.

KEY VERSE:

"Work, for I am with you, declares the LORD of hosts" -Haggai 2:4

"My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not." -Haggai 2:5

"The third prophecy was given on the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. The people were told to ask the priests two questions: (1) If . . . holy meat carried in the fold of a garment should touch other foods, would those other foods become holy? The priests correctly answered . . . "No." (2) If one who has become unclean through touching a dead body should touch these foods, would they become unclean? The priests correctly answered "Yes."

In other words the following was understood: "He that is holy imparts no holiness to anything else, but he that is defiled communicates defilement." Or, to put it another way, "Work and worship do not sanctify sin, but sin contaminates work and worship." This was a reminder to the people that their offerings to God were polluted and that they themselves were unclean as long as the temple was in ruins." BBC

What to make of this? In many regards it sounds like an unfair system---holiness does not transfer, but uncleanness does!

History of Haggai:





I must say, I got a lot more out of Haggai the second time digging in---it's good to look at the history again, be encouraged to focus on key people and events. Haggai---a small pithy book that is going somewhere....no frills, no elaborate visions, but he does lay the deal out.hh

Jewish Timeline

My pitiful but real effort to get the dates and big picture right:

1400 BC Joshua conquers Canann, 12 tribes, tribal state, period of Judges

1000BC Jewish monarchy begins with Saul

960 BC Solomon completed the first temple

Jewish Nation split into North (Israel) and South (Judah)

722 BC Israel conquered by Assyria--modern day Iranh (Tiglath-Pileser III) 8th century, 10 lost tribes

586 BC Babylon destroyed the first temple, Judah falls to Babylon (modern day Iraq)

539 BC Babylon falls to Persia, Cyrus II

538 BC Decree to rebuild the temple and allow Jews to return

70 year period. Babylonian Exile & Captivity. (586-516 BC) Ezra & Nehemiah reflect the in-between two temple periods, under Persian rule, they were allowed more independence.

515-516 BC Completion and dedication of the 2nd temple as a result of decree by Darius. (Ezra 6:15)

458 BC Ezra travels to Jerusalem with decree from Artaxerxes, Ezra 7:7-9

331 BC Alexander the Great conquers Persia

165 BC Antichus IV tries to force Jews to become Greek--Macabeean kindgom 100 years

63 BC Rome takes control of Jerusalem

70 AD Titus (Roman emperor) destroyed 2nd temple, diaspora begins

Zechariah

Zechariah and Haggai were contemporaries. Zechariah is more symbolic and abstract (kind of like John of the New Testament). Haggai was concerned with practical matters---particularly the neglect of the temple.

John Trapp wrote, “Haggai lays down the mind of God to the people more plainly in direct and downright terms; Zechariah flies a higher pitch, abounding with types and visions; and is therefore worthily reckoned among the abstrusest and profoundest penmen of Holy Scripture . . . We pass from dark prophecies to that which is much more dark.” Here's the Introductory commentary from the BKC:

In an often-quoted statement, George L. Robinson has called the Book of Zechariah “the most messianic, the most truly apocalyptic and eschatological of all the writings of the Old Testament” (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1956, 5:3136). The messianic emphasis of Zechariah accounts for its frequent citation by New Testament authors. Nestle and Aland list 41 New Testament citations or allusions to Zechariah’s book (Eberhard Nestle and Kurt Aland, eds., Novum Testamentum Graece. New York: American Bible Society, 1950, pp. 670-1).

From the ESV Study Bible:

"Nearly 20 years after their return from the Babylonian exile in the time of Cyrus (538 b.c.), discouragement dogged God's people, replacing their earlier enthusiasm. The foundation of the temple had been laid shortly after the initial return, in 536 b.c., but powerful opposition had prevented any further progress on rebuilding the temple. Though Persian foreign policy accorded a significant role to local traditions—unlike the previous overlords, the Babylonians (prior to 538 b.c.)—life was still hard in the province of Judah (often referred to as “Yehud” in this period). Taxes were high, especially as the Persian king, Darius Hystaspes, prepared for a campaign against Egypt. There was little evidence of the kind of transformation of the state of things that the earlier prophets had anticipated, whether externally in a restoration of Jewish sovereignty, or internally in a moral reformation of the people. In particular, the city of Jerusalem was still only partially rebuilt and was on the sidelines of world significance. Under the circumstances, it was easy for the people to conclude that theirs was a “day of small things” (4:10) in which God was absent from his people. In such a context, faithful obedience was viewed by many as useless: pragmatically, it made more sense to pursue the best life possible in spite of the present difficulties.

Zechariah addressed such discouragement by reminding his hearers that, though hidden, God's envoys were watching everything, and that when the time was right, he would act to reorder the universe (1:8–11). Their forefathers had discovered God's faithfulness to judge his people if they failed to heed the words of the prophets (1:4–6). If the people would heed the words of the prophets and turn to the Lord, they would discover him turning to them. He would trouble the nations who were enjoying rest and grant rest to his troubled people, making Jerusalem once again the center of the world, a place of universal pilgrimage (1:14–17). The temple that was being rebuilt and the priesthood that would serve in it were signs of the Lord's commitment to his people, a commitment that would be demonstrated by the ultimate removal of all their sin from the land (3:8–10). This would happen when the promised Davidic king, the Branch, arrived (3:8). The result would be peace, harmony, and prosperity for all the inhabitants of the land, as the Lord once more dwelt in their midst."

Zechariah was a Levite born in Babylon. He prophesied to Judah and Jerusalem. He was the grandson of Iddo the priest, and a Levite. He was a contemporary of Haggai, and of Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the high priest. He returned from Babylon to Jerusalem with about 50,000 Jewish exiles and was probably significantly younger than Haggai. (all of this paraphrased from the BKC introduction). 

One night, 8 Visions 

1. horses

2. horns

3. measuring line

4. Joshua with filthy garments before angel, Satan accusing, stone with seven eyes before Joshua, branch...

5. lampstand, bowl, 2 olive trees

6. flying scroll

7. women in basket, women carrying basket

8. 4 chariots with horses (black, red, white, dappled) mountains of bronze

KEY VERSE: Zec 4:6 Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.

Two witnesses, lampstand, and olive trees are alluded to in Revelation 11:3:


From the Jewish Cervera Bible, Spain, around 1299.

"And I will give power to My two witnesses, and they will be clothed in burlap and will prophesy during those 1,260 days." Revelation 11:3

"The description of the two witnesses as olive trees and lampstands has an Old Testament background (Zec_4:2-14). The two witnesses in this passage were Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the governor. Their connection to the lampstands was that they were empowered by the Holy Spirit, symbolized by the olive oil. In a similar way the two witnesses of Rev_11:1-19 will be empowered by the Holy Spirit." -BKC

©2008-2012 *zealousshadow

http://zealousshadow.deviantart.com/art/Vision-Zechariah-5-5-9-91933686 

Interesting vision with the two women with wind in their wings carrying "sin" in the basket. I think this is the only female angel reference I'm aware of---worth looking into.

BKC alludes to the idea that these women are demonic in nature, that the image has to do with evil returning to Babylon.

Zec 7:13 "As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear," says the LORD of hosts,

"They made their hearts diamond-hard lest they should hear the law and the words that the LORD of hosts had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of hosts."

Zechariah 7:12

(2) The population will increase in a setting of peace (4-5)

Two signs of blessing - old age and young age. These are the indefensible and the first to go. So if they are wandering around then that is a sign of peace. When God dwells among them, there will be truth and justice and it will be safe enough for old women and young children to go out. --bible.org

It's worthwhile to think about this....God will save the common folk first.

7 "I, GOD, will begin by restoring the common households of Judah so that the glory of David's family and the leaders in Jerusalem won't overshadow the ordinary people in Judah. 

Understanding the Exiles & History of Jewish Kingship

Haggai---contemporary of Zechariah, post Babylon exile...started rebuilding homes and community but not temple. Haggai pleaded to rebuild?

"Haggai’s precise date therefore is August 29, 520 B.C." (Bible.org)

Contemporary of Persian king Darius Hystaspes (522-486 B.C.)

"Thus all the ministry of Haggai and the first two oracles of Zechariah fall between the sixth and eleventh months of Darius’s second year." Bible.org

"The strict attention to matters of chronology exhibited by Haggai and Zechariah is characteristic of the annalistic style of history writing employed in Neo-Babylonian and Persian times. The famous “Babylonian Chronicles” with its insistence on documenting every royal achievement to the month and day is a case in point." -Bible.org

Meanwhile, Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562), who had conquered and destroyed Jerusalem and deported its leading citizens in July of 586 B.C., had passed from the scene to be followed by Amel-Marduk (562-560), Neriglissar (560-556), and Labashi-Marduk (556). Nabonidus (556-539), whose north Mesopotamian roots and devotion to the moon god Sin were to alienate him from his Babylonian subjects, then took over. Preoccupied as he was by his cult and by foreign travel and trade, Nabonidus left the responsibility of government largely in the hands of his son Belshazzar. It was the latter, as the Bible clearly intimates (Dan. 5:1-31), who fell to Cyrus when Babylon finally capitulated to the Persians on October 12, 539 B.C .

Beginning in 555, the year Cyrus defeated his Median grandfather, he had incorporated Media, Lydia, and Babylonia into his rapidly expanding Persian empire. At last only the city of Babylon itself remained. Its surrender to Cyrus was a foregone conclusion since, according to the so-called “Verse Account of Nabonidus” and other texts,10 Nabonidus had so offended Marduk, chief deity of Babylon, by his impious devotion to Sin that Marduk had determined to turn his estate over to a “shepherd” who would better tend it. That shepherd, of course, was Cyrus.

The biblical version of the rise of Cyrus is quite different, for it is Yahweh, not Marduk, who raised him up (Isa. 44:24—45:7) and who called him to deliver His captive people from Babylonian bondage. That Cyrus was indeed called to do so is clear from the famous Cylinder of Cyrus.11 That it was Yahweh who provided the impulse is attested to in the Old Testament by both the Chronicler (2 Chron. 36:22-23) and Ezra (Ezra 1:1-4).

In 538 B.C. Cyrus issued his decree that the Jews and all other captive peoples could return to their respective homelands. He had begun to organize his vast domain into a system of satrapies further subdivided into provinces,12 and the satrapy of special relevance to the Jewish community was known as Babili eber nari (“Babylon beyond the river”), a huge jurisdiction between the Euphrates River and the Mediterranean Sea.13 Within that satrapy were entities such as Galilee, Samaria, Ashdod, Ammon, and especially Yehud (or Judah).14 Each of these was under a governor who reported directly to the satrap, or administrator of the district of eber nari.

The picture is not entirely clear, but it seems that Yehud, though weak and impoverished compared to its provincial neighbors such as Samaria, was independent of them and not a subdivision. Thus the various Jewish governors could carry their case directly to the satrap in times of difficulty. The first of these governors was Sheshbazzar, leader of the first return from Babylon to Jerusalem (Ezra 1:5-11; 5:14). It is likely that he is the same as Shenazzar, a son of Jehoiachin, the last surviving king of Judah (1 Chron. 3:18).15 He held his position evidently for only a brief time, for already in the second year after Cyrus’s decree (536 B.C.) Zerubbabel appears as the governor (Ezra 3:2, 8; cf. Hag. 1:1).

The relationship of Zerubbabel to Sheshbazzar and to the Davidic dynasty is somewhat obscure.16 He is usually described as the “son of Shealtiel” (Ezra 3:2, 8; Neh. 12:1; Hag. 1:1, 12, 14; 2:2, 23; Matt. 1:12), but in the Chronicler’s genealogy he is the son of Pedaiah (1 Chron. 3:19). Both Shealtiel and Pedaiah were sons of Jehoiachin—along with Shenazzar (= Sheshbazzar?)—so either Zerubbabel was the levirate son of Pedaiah on behalf of Shealtiel17 or (more likely) Shealtiel had died before he could become governor, his younger brother Sheshbazzar taking that role instead.18 Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel and nephew of Sheshbazzar, then succeed Sheshbazzar upon his death. Pedaiah possibly served as foster father for Zerubbabel until he reached his maturity.

Sara Japhet argues that Sheshbazzar was the first governor of Judah but denies that he was related to Zerubbabel or, indeed, to the royal family at all.19 F. C. Fensham says that it is not acceptable to identify Sheshbazzar with the Shenazzar of 1 Chron. 3:18 and that his identification as “prince” (ayc]N`j^ hannas) in Ezra 1:8 proves nothing more than that he was a person raised to a position of authority.20 This is the view also of Joseph Blenkinsopp who admits that Sheshbazzar’s title would be unassailable evidence of his Davidic lineage were it possible to connect Sheshbazzar with Shenazzar. With most modern scholars he concludes that nothing can be known of Sheshbazzar’s identity.21

What is important is that Zerubbabel was a grandson of Jehoiachin and therefore the legitimate heir of the Davidic throne. His appointment as governor allowed his Judean royal descent to coincide with his Persian political appointment. How long he served in that capacity cannot be determined, but he was still governor by 520 B.C. The recent discovery of bullae and seals bearing the names of Judean governors suggests that Zerubbabel may be dated to c. 510, Elnathan c. 510-490, Yeho ‘ezer c. 490-470, and Ahzai c. 447-445.22 Nehemiah, of course, commenced his governorship then and continued on to 433 B.C.

Little is known of the period between the decree of Cyrus (538 B.C.) and the ministry of Haggai and Zechariah (520 B.C.). Evidently Cyrus had laid down a firm political and social foundation, and until his death in 530 B.C. the Persian empire, including Yehud, enjoyed tranquillity and prosperity. Ezra provides the information that in the seventh month of the first year back (537 B.C.) the people, under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua the priest, built an altar on the temple ruins and celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles (Ezra 3:1-7). In the second month of the next year (536) the foundations of the new temple were laid (Ezra 3:8-10). After this the record is virtually silent except for the statement that the adversaries of the Jews began a campaign of harassment, seeking to prevent reconstruction of the house of the Lord. This continued throughout the reign of Cyrus and Cambyses (530-522) into that time of Darius (522-486).

Cambyses, son of Cyrus, was noted particularly for his conquest of Egypt and its absorption into the Persian hegemony. Cambyses also left a negative legacy of mismanagement that left the Empire in a near shambles. His mysterious death was followed by an attempted usurpation of the Persian throne by Gaumata, an official who claimed to be a brother of Cambyses hitherto thought to be dead. Before Gaumata could seize control he was assassinated by Darius Hystaspes and some collaborators, and Darius placed himself in power on September 29, 522.23

The chaotic reign of Cambyses without doubt contributed to the ability of the Jews’ enemies to interdict their work and otherwise make life miserable for them. The succession of Darius changed all that, however, for after he put down various rebellions attendant to his rise to power, he implemented far-ranging and effective political and fiscal policies that brought stability throughout his realm. Within two years all was at peace, except for Egypt. Darius therefore made plans to invade that intractable satrapy and bring it into line, an action that took place in 519-518 B.C. 24

Meanwhile, Judah’s foes, including even Tattenai, governor of the entire eber nari province, hoped to capitalize on Darius’s newness to office by sending a letter warning him about Jewish rebellion (Ezra 5:6-17). Darius immediately made a search of the archives of Cyrus at Ecbatana and verified that the Jewish claims that reconstruction of the temple and city was authorized by Cyrus himself were true. Without further ado the work was resumed and completed by 515 B.C. (6:15). The anticipated march of Darius through Palestine on his way to Egypt in 519 may have done as much as anything to encourage the Jews and frustrate the evil intentions of their neighbors.

This, then, is the setting of the ministries of Haggai and Zechariah. First appearing in the biblical record in 520 B.C., two years after Darius’s accession, they took advantage of the Pax Persiaca to urge their compatriots on to the noble task of Temple building (Hag. 1:2; cf. Ezra 5:1-2). Joyce Baldwin is correct in asserting (contrary to many scholars) that Haggai’s exhortation to build was not a sign of rebellion against a Persian government in disarray, for he was already many months too late for that; rather, he was taking advantage of the peace that ensued after Darius was established.25 From a political standpoint the prospects were never more bright and, said the prophets, never were times more propitious to reestablish the theocratic community so that Yahweh’s ancient covenant promises to His people could find fulfillment.

The biblical texts, though scanty, make it quite clear that the restoration community was small and demoralized. Ezra reckons the number of returnees under Sheshbazzar (or Zerubbabel) to have been 42,360 in addition to 7,337 slaves and 200 singers (Ezra 2:64-65). The number of indigenous Jews is unknown but could not have numbered more than that. John Bright argues that the total population of Judah in 522 B.C. could not have exceeded 20,000, but his estimate is based on a denial that the list of returnees in Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7 refers to the return under Sheshbazzar and Zerubbabel, a denial that is without foundation.26 That it is an account of early return (between 538 and 522) is put beyond dispute by H. G. M. Williamson.27 Some rebuilding must have been undertaken in the Judean towns and villages since their destruction at Babylonian hands, but Jerusalem remained mostly in ruins (Ezra 5:3, 9).

The repopulation of the land, at least outside Jerusalem, gave rise to the rebuilding of houses and storage buildings and to the clearing and cultivation of the farmlands. In fact, it was the rapidity and conviction with which this was done that caused Haggai to lament that, by comparison, the house of the Lord was neglected. His burden then was that this inequity be redressed and that the people do all they could in spite of their still rather limited resources to erect a house of the Lord that could provide a suitable expression of His presence among them. Until this was done the restoration would remain incomplete and the gracious promises of the Lord unfulfilled." -Bible.org

Psalm 144

So many images in here worth pondering--

I like the nod to vocational usefulness here---feel like intellectual abilities are vastly overrated and physical skills/craftsmanship vastly under-valued:

"If we have strength we are not much the better unless we have skill also. Untrained force is often an injury to the man who possesses it, and it even becomes a danger to those who are round about him; and therefore the Psalmist blesses the Lord as much for teaching as for strength. Let us also bless Jehovah if he has in anything made us efficient. The tuition mentioned was very practical, it was not so much of the brain as of the hands and fingers; for these were the members most needful for conflict. Men with little scholastic education should be grateful for deftness and skill in their handicrafts. To a fighting man the education of the hands is of far more value than mere book-learning could ever be; he who has to use a sling or a bow needs suitable training, quite as much as a scientific man or a classical professor. Men are too apt to fancy that an artisan's efficiency is to be ascribed to himself; but this is a popular fallacy. A clergyman may be supposed to be taught of God, but people do not allow this to be true of weavers or workers in brass; yet these callings are specially mentioned in the Bible as having been taught to holy women and earnest men when the tabernacle was set up at the first. All wisdom and skill are from the Lord, and for them he deserves to be gratefully extolled. This teaching extends to the smallest members of our frame: the Lord teaches fingers as well as hands; indeed, it sometimes happens that if the finger is not well trained the whole hand is incapable." -Spurgeon


More Spurgeon:

This verse is full of personality; it is mercy shown to David himself which is the subject of grateful song. It has also a presentness about it; for Jehovah is now his strength, and is still teaching him; we ought to make a point of presenting praise while yet the blessing is on the wing. The verse is also pre-eminently practical, and full of the actual life of every day; for David's days were spent in camps and conflicts. Some of us who are grievously tormented with rheumatism might cry, “Blessed be the Lord, my Comforter, who teacheth my knees to bear in patience, and my feet to endure in resignation”; others who are on the look out to help young converts might say, “Blessed be God who teaches my eyes to see wounded souls, and my lips to cheer them”; but David has his own peculiar help from God, and praises him accordingly. This tends to make the harmony of heaven perfect when all the singers take their parts; if we all followed the same score, the music would not be so full and rich.

Psalm 140

"O LORD, my Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle." -Psalm 140:7

What a gorgeous and comforting image---that He covers our heads in the day of battle.  Our protection is from Him.

Most of this psalm is a curse of sorts upon the wicked--that the psalmist would be delivered and preserved from them.

God's Purposes for Our Lives...

"When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John,  but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him." Luke 7:29-30

I read this with the children this week and have been thinking about it....it's not about what they did or didn't do...it points out that the attitude of their hearts was key.  The common people declared God just, the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves.   Powerful.

What does it mean to reject God's purpose for our lives?  Worth pondering.

Mark 15--Crucifixition

"Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the Council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus." -Mark 15:43

Interesting wording here...that Joseph "took courage."  I imagine it required a lot of courage and humility to be in a position of honor publicly, yet be willing to step out and honor Christ when he was most forsaken by men.

Psalm 138:6

"For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar." -Psalm 138:6

Humility of spirit brings us closer to Him.  Self-sufficiency separates us.

"The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me."  -Psalm 138:8

Such a comforting promise---His hand is in His purposes for my life.

"The assurance we have that whatever good work God has begun in and for his people he will perform it (Psa_138:8): The Lord will perfect that which concerns me, 1. That which is most needful for me; and he knows best what is so. We are careful and cumbered about many things that do not concern us, but he knows what are the things that really are of consequence to us (Mat_6:32) and he will order them for the best." -Matthew Henry

Psalm 137

This sketch is from an actual discovery in the ruins of ancient Assyria, and shows Jewish prisoners being led away through a thick forest in the mountains.



Silver coin with lyre and Hebrew inscription issued by Simon Bar Kochba, leader of the second Jewish revolt (132-135 CE) against the Roman occupation of Palestine under Emperor Hadrian. Dated 134 CE, H:2,5 cm

Mark 13--Temple Info

Jewish Temple

Reconstruction of Jerusalem and the Temple of Heroid, James Tissot (1836-1902)

"The Jerusalem temple (not fully completed until ca. a.d. 64) was built by the Herodian dynasty to win Jewish favor and to create a lasting Herodian monument. It was considered an architectural wonder of the ancient world. It was built with large white stones, polished and generously decorated with gold (Josephus The Antiquities of the Jews 15. 11. 3-7). It covered about 1/6 of the land area of old Jerusalem. To the Jews nothing was as magnificent and formidable as their temple." -BKC

"The temple was constructed of white marble, and the blocks were of a prodigious size. Josephus says that these stones were, some of them, 50 feet long, 24 feet broad, and 16 feet in thickness."  -Barnes

"The spring-stones of the arches of the bridge which spanned the valley of Tyropoeon (the cheese-makers), and connected the ancient city of David with the royal porch of the temple, measured twenty-four feet in length by six in thickness. Yet these were by no means the largest in the masonry of the temple. Both at the southeastern and southwestern angles stones have been found measuring from twenty to forty feet long, and weighing above one hundred tons" (Edersheim, “Temple”).-vws

"How little Christ values external pomp, where there is not real purity; “Seest thou these great buildings” (saith Christ), “and admirest thou them? I tell thee, the time is at hand when there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down,” Mar_13:2.  -Henry

Remains of Robinson's Arch

"Historically, the first fulfillment of Daniel’s prophetic use of the expression (Dan_11:31-32) was the desecration of the temple in 167 b.c. by the Syrian ruler Antiochus Epiphanes. He erected an altar to the pagan Greek god Zeus over the altar of burnt offering and sacrificed a pig on it (cf. apocryphal 1 Maccabees 1:41-64; 6:7; and Josephus The Antiquities of the Jews 12. 5. 4)." -BKC

*****************

End Times 

Ark of the Covenant

*Note---no ark of the covenant, In Jerusalem, in the millennial temple, God's throne will be.

"The ark of the covenant, which was lost after Babylon destroyed Judah in 586 b.c., would not be missed, and another ark would not be made. In place of the ark will be The Throne of the Lord, a title by which the city of Jerusalem will be known."-BKC

"It is significant that Ezekiel (cf. Eze_43:7) also pictured the millennial temple as a place where God’s throne will be. Evidently Christ will rule from the temple during the millennial period. God’s rule from Jerusalem will extend over all nations who will go to Jerusalem to worship Him (cf. Zec_14:16-19)." -BKC

Proposed Reconstruction of Robinson's Arch in Jerusalem

Israel & Judah Unified

*Note--Israel & Judah will be reunited. 

"In addition to spiritual renewal Judah and Israel will also experience physical restoration. The house of Judah and the house of Israel will reunite as a nation (cf. Jer_31:31-33; Eze_37:15-28). They will return from their captivity to the land God had promised to their forefathers as an inheritance. Israel and Judah divided as a nation in 931 b.c., and have never reunited as a nation under God. The fulfillment of this promise awaits the return of Christ." -BKC

Forgiveness & Prayer

I am intrigued by the relationship between forgiveness of others and our own forgiveness by the Father. In the last few weeks of Bible Study, I have come across whisps of this in various forms:

"And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." -Mark 11:25

"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." -Matthew 6:14-15

"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you." -Matthew 7:1-2

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Matthew 5:7 (NIV)

Clearly, there is a connection between our judgment and compassion toward others and the Lord's judgement and compassion toward us. Honestly, that's scary. I know there are pieces of my heart where I still need to forgive others.

Forgiveness is a tricky thing. Like "love," I suspect that it is more than an emotional feeling. I struggle with how to forgive people who are not sorry or repentant.

Here's a "psychological" perspective on likelyhood of forgiveness. In the flesh, I'd say it's fairly accurate:



However, I suspect we are called to be less "clinical" in our approach....our "predictor" should be that God forgave us and that as recipients of that grace, we should extend it to others.

The Wikipedia entry on forgiveness is fascinating as it details the perspective of forgiveness from various faith perspectives: Judiasm, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam. There are commonalities between them and also strong differences.

" If we nurse a harsh, vindictive attitude toward others, we cannot expect God to hear and answer us. We must forgive if we are to be forgiven. This does not refer to the judicial forgiveness of sins at the time of conversion; that is strictly a matter of grace through faith. This refers to God's parental dealings with His children. An unforgiving spirit in a believer breaks fellowship with the Father in heaven and hinders the flow of blessing." -bbc

Proverbs 24

Wisdom, Understanding, & Knowledge

 "By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established.  By knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches."  Proverbs 24:3

What a lovely analogy.  I'm not sure that I fully grasp it entirely, even now, but in my mind, there is an image of a beautiful, comfortable, stimulating home furnished with treasures.  However, these are not worldly treasures but spiritual ones.

I'm curious to tease out the difference between "wisdom"  "knowledge" and "understanding."  Is he trying to get at some deeper nuance here or just stating that when we take time to be discerning and thoughtful that our lives will be rich indeed?

wisdom

chokmâh
khok-maw'
From H2449; wisdom (in a good sense): - skillful, wisdom, wisely, wit.

understanding

tâbûn  tebûnâh  tôbûnâh

taw-boon', teb-oo-naw', to-boo-naw'

The second and third forms being feminine; from H995; intelligence; by implication an argument; by extension caprice: - discretion, reason, skilfulness, understanding, wisdom.

knowledge

da‛ath

dah'-ath

From H3045; knowledge: - cunning, [ig-] norantly, know(-ledge), [un-] awares (wittingly).

Those that manage their affairs with wisdom and equity, that are diligent in the use of lawful means for increasing what they have that spare from luxury and spend in charity, are in a fair way to have their shops, their warehouses, their chambers, filled with all precious and pleasant riches - precious because got by honest labour, and the substance of a diligent man is precious - pleasant because enjoyed with holy cheerfulness. -mh

On "house building" from Proverbs 14:1

 "Fleischer says: “to build the house is figuratively equivalent to, to regulate well the affairs of a house, and to keep them in a good condition; the contrary, to tear down the house, is the same contrast as the Arab. 'amârat âlbyt and kharab albyt. Thus e.g., in Burckhardt's Sprüchw. 217, harrt ṣabrt bythâ 'amârat, a good woman (ein braves Weib) has patience (with her husband), and thereby she builds up her house (at the same time an example of the use of the preterite in like general sentences for individualizing); also No. 430 of the same work: 'amârat âlbyt wla kharâbt, it is becoming to build the house, not to destroy it; cf. in the Thousand and One Nights, where a woman who had compelled her husband to separate from her says: âna âlty 'amalt hadhâ barwḥy wâkhrnt byty bnfsy. Burckhardt there makes the remark: 'amârat âlbyt denotes the family placed in good circumstances - father, mother, and children all living together happily and peacefully.” This conditional relation of the wife to the house expresses itself in her being named as house-wife (cf. Hausehre [= honour of a house] used by Luther, Psa_68:13), to which the Talmudic דְּבֵיתִי (= uxor mea) answers; the wife is noted for this, and hence is called עיקר הבית, the root and foundation of the house; vid., Buxtorf's Lex. col. 301. In truth, the oneness of the house is more dependent on the mother than on the father. A wise mother can, if her husband be dead or neglectful of his duty, always keep the house together; but if the house-wife has neither understanding nor good-will for her calling, then the best will of the house-father cannot hinder the dissolution of the house, prudence and patience only conceal and mitigate the process of dissolution - folly, viz., of the house-wife, always becomes more and more, according to the degree in which this is a caricature of her calling, the ruin of the house." -K & Dh

Proverbs 23

Proverbs 23:1-3

Gluttony, interestingly, translates the Hebrew nep̱eš, which has a variety of meanings including physical life (Pro_13:3, Pro_13:8), oneself (Pro_19:8; Pro_21:23), one’s appetite (Pro_16:26) or craving (Pro_10:3), and the seat of those cravings (Pro_21:10 is lit., “the wicked soul craves”). From that stems the idea of gluttony in Pro_23:2.  BKC

"My son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad." Proverbs 23:13

I definitely feel this way about our children--if they choose wisely, it makes me happy and content.

Mark 7, the Evil Within

From BKC---I find this list of sinful behavior food for thought--especially interesting to have the Greek words thrown in there too:

"The catalog of evil Jesus gave has a strong Old Testament flavor and consists of 12 items. First, there are six plural nouns (in Gr.) depicting wicked acts viewed individually: sexual immorality (porneiai, “illicit sexual activities of various kinds”); theft (klopai); murder (phonoi); adultery (moicheiai, illicit sexual relations by a married person); greed (pleonexiai, “covetings”), insatiable cravings for what belongs to another; malice (ponēriai, “wickednesses”), the many ways evil thoughts express themselves.
Second, there are six singular nouns depicting evil dispositions: deceit (dolos), cunning maneuvers designed to ensnare someone for one’s personal advantage; lewdness (aselgeia; cf. Rom_13:13; Gal_5:19; Eph_4:19; 2Pe_2:2, 2Pe_2:7), unrestrained and unconcealed immoral behavior; envy (opthalmos  ponēros, lit., “an evil eye,” a Heb. expression for stinginess; cf. Pro_23:6), a begrudging, jealous attitude toward the possessions of others; slander (blasphēmia), injurious or defaming speech against God or man; arrogance (hyperēphania, used only here in the NT), boastfully exalting oneself above others who are viewed with scornful contempt; and folly (aphrosynē), moral and spiritual insensitivity."

We blow over such passages quickly as we are off to the next chapter we need to read.  We have a tendency to assume in our hearts:  "I've got this, God."  But which one of us does not need to stop and consider the list.  These insidious things creep into our hearts and minds so readily:

6 plural nouns:  sexual immorality (porneiai")---imagine the word "porn" comes from this

Mar 7:21  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts...

What thoughts are evil?  What does he mean by this?

My emphasis below:


"One of the great lessons in this passage is that we must constantly test all teaching and all tradition by the Word of God, obeying what is of God and rejecting what is of men. At first a man may teach and preach a clear, scriptural message, gaining acceptance among Bible-believing people. Having gained this acceptance, he begins to add some human teaching. His devoted followers who have come to feel that he can do no wrong follow him blindly, even if his message blunts the sharp edge of the Word or waters down its clear meaning.

It was thus that the scribes and Pharisees had gained authority as teachers of the Word. But they were now nullifying the intent of the Word. The Lord Jesus had to warn the people that it is the Word that accredits men, not men who accredit the Word. The great touchstone must always be, “What does the Word say?” -Believer's Bible Commentary

Mark 6

"But in the next breath they were cutting him down: "He's just a carpenter--Mary's boy. We've known him since he was a kid. We know his brothers, James, Justus, Jude, and Simon, and his sisters. Who does he think he is?" They tripped over what little they knew about him and fell, sprawling. And they never got any further." Mark 6 The Message

Ah, the fickle nature of people. This reminds me of so many folks I've peripherally touched base with about Jesus---there is an arrogance that they know all about him, yet they do not know him at all.

[Herod Antipas is another half-hearted listener....intrigued enough to want to speak with him, even though it perplexed him, but not enough commitment to commit himself to Christ. The cost was clearly too high for Herod, and he eventually caved to the whims of a girl:

"... for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly." -Mark 6:20

The "Herods" always confuse me---apparently "Herod's temple" in our CC timeline is the expansion project of the 2nd temple headed up by Herod the Great. Herod Antipas was one of his sons, set over Gailee. It sounds like there may have been mental illlness in the family--in the father and in the children as the other son was deemed incompetent and the father was characterized as a "madman." From the Biblical accounts, Herod Antipas seems to struggle with Jesus and his relationships:

Herod (Hebrew: הוֹרְדוֹס‎, Hordos, Greek: Ἡρῴδης, Hērōdēs), also known as Herod the Great (born 73 or 74 BCE, died 1 BCE in Jericho[1]), was a Roman client king of Judea.[2][3][4] His epithet of "the Great" is widely disputed as he is described as "a madman who murdered his own family and a great many rabbis."[5][6][7] He is also known for his colossal building projects in Jerusalem and elsewhere, including his expansion of the Second Temple in Jerusalem (sometimes referred to as Herod's Temple) and the construction of the port at Caesarea Maritima. Important details of his biography are gleaned from the works of the 1st century CE Roman-Jewish historian Josephus Flavius.

The Romans made Herod's son Herod Archelaus ethnarch of Judea, Samaria, and Idumea (biblical Edom) from 4 BCE to 6 CE, referred to as the tetrarchy of Judea. Archelaus was judged incompetent by the Roman emperor Augustus who then combined Samaria, Judea proper and Idumea into Iudaea province[8] under rule of a prefect until 41. Herod's other son Herod Antipas was tetrarch of Galilee from 4 BCE – 39 CE. -Wikipedia

"There was no limitation on His power, but His purpose was to perform miracles in the presence of faith. Only a few here had faith to come to Him for healing." -BKC

"And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them." -Mark 6:5

"And they cast out many devils and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them." Mark 6:13

It's hard to come to the bottom of the issue of demons/devils. How to understand exactly what they are and are not? Not to overly fear them, but not to underly estimate them is tricky.

Strong's commentary on Neuter of a derivative of a daemonic being; by extension a deity: - devil, god."

Jairus's Daughter

A thought from Barnes:

"Something should be given her to eat - “He had raised her by extraordinary power, but he willed that she should be sustained by ordinary means.” He also in this gave full evidence that she was really restored to life and health. The changes were great, sudden, and certain. There could be no illusion. So, when the Saviour had risen, he gave evidence of his own resurrection by eating with his disciples, Joh_21:1-13."

Jesus was such a mix of hard/soft, spiritual/practical, a fascinating blend of qualities.  I love the way he thinks to feed her, physically sustain her here.  It definitely speak to the thought that his concern was not wholly just her spirit but her body as well.

The Woman with the Issue of Blood (Mark 5)

Worthwhile distinction made by JFB's commentary here:

"Yes, the multitude “thronged and pressed Him” - they jostled against Him, but all involuntarily; they were merely carried along; but one, one only - “a certain person - TOUCHED HIM,” with the conscious, voluntary, dependent touch of faith, reaching forth its hand expressly to have contact with Him. This and this only Jesus acknowledges and seeks out. Even so, as Augustine long ago said, multitudes still come similarly close to Christ in the means of grace, but all to no purpose, being only sucked into the crowd. The voluntary, living contact of faith is that electric conductor which alone draws virtue out of Him."  -JFB

This is one of the greatest mysteries of our faith---how some hear the Word, touch his hem, and yet come away unchanged, while others hearts are stirred.

Mark 5

Edward Knippers, Jesus & the Demonaic

Very rough trail of thoughts about hashing through Mark 5, the account of the demon possessed man where Christ frees him from "legion," and the demons seek refuge in the herd of pigs.



I've thought about the evil presence behind a mob--the group drive toward evil. It makes sense to me that there could be this type of multiple person evil within a person. Mobs strike me as harbors of evil. Courson also thinks there is a connection or lesson in the self-destructive choice of the demons to run the pigs over a cliff and connects this to the spirit of despair associated with suicide.


"Such behavior shows that demon possession is not mere sickness or insanity but a desperate satanic attempt to distort and destroy God’s image in man" (cf. TDNT, s.v. “daimōn,” 2:18-19). -BKC on the demonic man in the caves
All BKC:

"The command to the demon (Mar_5:6-10)

The brief statement of Jesus’ encounter with the demoniac (Mar_5:2) is now related in more detail. Three things indicate that the demon possessing the man was fully aware of Jesus’ divine origin and superior power: he knelt before Him (in homage, not worship); he used Jesus’ divine name in an attempt to gain control over Him (cf. Mar_1:24); and he brazenly appealed to Jesus not to punish him. The words, Most High God, were used in the Old Testament, often by Gentiles, to refer to the superiority of the true God of Israel over all man-made gods (cf. Gen_14:18-24; Num_24:16; Isa_14:14; Dan_3:26; Dan_4:2; cf. comments on Mar_1:23-24).The plea, Swear to God, was used in exorcisms and should be rendered, “I implore you by (I appeal to) God.” The demon did not want Jesus to torture him by sending him to his final punishment then (cf. Mar_1:24; Mat_8:29; Luk_8:31)."

Interesting that the commentaries seem to suggest that the man was not interested in being healed, but in manipulating Christ. Or is this the demons speaking and not the man? The demons want to be left alone. They intuitively recognize Christ on some level, recognized He was the son of God.

5:6-13 When the demoniac saw Jesus, he first acted respectfully, then complained bitterly. “How true and terrible a picture is this—a man bowed in adoration, petition and faith, and yet hating, defiant and fearing; a double personality, longing for liberty and yet clinging to passion” (Scripture Union Notes). -BBC

Reminds me of our discussion in group yesterday and the materials we are reading---God requires a response, and a genuine one, not one just stemming from self-interest or self-preservation.

“Countless multitudes still wish Christ far from them for fear His fellowship may occasion some social or financial or personal loss. Seeking to save their possessions, they lose their souls” (Selected).-BBC

I forgot that the demon-possessed man wished to accompany Jesus.

"A legion is a Roman military term used to denote a unit of six thousand soldiers, so it is possible that there were thousands of demons within this man." -Courson The message traslates "legion" as a "rioting mob."

Darby: "Now, when Jesus departs, he who had personally experienced the mighty effects of His love would have liked to be with Him; but he was to go home and bear testimony to those around him of all that Jesus had done. He was to serve in the absence of Jesus. In all these narratives we see the work and the devotedness of the Servant, but at the same time the divine power of Jesus manifested in this service."

Me too...I can relate to this man. Having found Jesus, who wants to serve apart from Him? Yet this is our calling...serving apart from His physical presence---yet He has not abandoned us---we have His spirit and are not orphans. And He is coming back when we will be by his side forever.

Matthew Henry's take on this:

" Christ would not suffer him to go with him, lest it should savour of ostentation, and to let him know that he could both protect and instruct him at a distance. And besides, he had other work for him to do; he must go home to his friends, and tell them what great things the Lord had done for him, the Lord Jesus had done; that Christ might be honoured, and his neighbours and friends might be edified, and invited to believe in Christ. He must take particular notice rather of Christ's pity than of his power, for that is it which especially he glories in; he must tell them what compassion the Lord had had on him in his misery."

Book of Proverbs 21

"Clean living before God and justice with our neighbors mean far more to GOD than religious performance." -Proverbs 21:3

"Nothing clever, nothing conceived, nothing contrived, can get the better of GOD." -Proverbs 21:30

Mark 4 Re: Parables

Briggs and I were discussing parables the other day.  Did God seek to veil the truth from some through these?  Did their own hardness of heart prevent them from seeing, believing, and being saved?  It's a complicated issue.   From Bible Knowledge Commentary on this:

"They were like the Israelites in Isaiah’s day (Isa_6:9-10). Isaiah said that this spiritual blindness and deafness that comes to people is God’s judgment. He particularly referred to Israel as a nation (cf. Mar_6:9, “this people”) for rejecting God’s revelation, especially as expressed in Jesus. They would see or hear the imagery of a parable but they would not understand its spiritual meaning. Otherwise (mēpote, “lest perhaps”) they might turn to God (repent) and be forgiven by Him.
Jesus’ audiences were not denied the opportunity to believe in Him. But after they persistently closed their minds to His message (cf. Mar_1:15), they were excluded from further understanding of it by His use of parables. Yet even the parables, which veiled the truth, were meant to provoke thought, enlighten, and ultimately reveal it (cf. Mar_12:12). They uniquely preserved people’s freedom to believe, while demonstrating that such a decision is effected by God’s enabling (cf. Mar_4:11)." -BKC

Dual nature of the Kingdom:

"Thus the parable displayed God’s kingdom as both present but veiled and future but openly glorious (cf. Mar_1:14-15)." -BKC

"In this parable Jesus pointed out the self-evident fact that a lamp, a lighted wick in a shallow clay bowl full of oil, was not meant to be lit and then hidden under a measuring bowl (as was done at bedtime) or a bed (lit., “dining couch”). Rather, it was to be placed on its stand where it would give light. Then Jesus explained (gar, for) whatever was hidden or concealed (during the night) was meant to be brought out into the open (for use in the day). This story from everyday life conveyed a spiritual truth for anyone willing to learn from it." -BKC

Mar 4:33  With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. 

Mar 4:34  He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything. 

Mark 1

From BKC:


The opening verse (a verbless phrase) stands as the book’s title and theme. The word gospel (euangeliou, “good news”) does not refer to Mark’s book, known as “the Gospel of Mark.” Instead it refers to the good news about Jesus Christ.

Those acquainted with the Old Testament knew the importance of the word “gospel” (cf. Isa_40:9; Isa_41:27; Isa_52:7; Isa_61:1-3). “News” meant that something significant had happened. When Mark used the word, it had

Using hyperbole (cf. also Mar_1:32-33, Mar_1:37), Mark showed the great impact John made on all areas of Judea and Jerusalem. The people went out and were baptized by John in the Jordan River (cf. Mar_1:9) as they confessed their sins to God. The imperfect tense of the Greek verbs portrays in motion-picture fashion the continual procession of people who kept going out to hear John’s preaching and to be baptized by him.


John emphasized the importance of the Coming One and showed his own humility (cf. Joh_3:27-30) by declaring that he was not worthy to stoop down (words recorded only by Mark) and untie the thongs (leather straps) used to fasten His sandals. Even a Hebrew slave was not required to do this menial task for his master!

"The opening words are literally, “And he was proclaiming as a herald, saying…” (cf. Mar_1:4). " BKC

The dove imagery probably symbolized the Spirit’s creative activity (cf. Gen_1:2). In Old Testament times the Spirit came on certain people to empower them for service (e.g., Exo_31:3; Jdg_3:10; Jdg_11:29; 1Sa_19:20, 1Sa_19:23).-BKC

The word “sent” is from a strong verb (ekballō) meaning “drive out, expel, send away.” Mark used it to denote the expulsion of demons (Mar_1:34, Mar_1:39; Mar_3:15,  -BKC

The thought is that of strong moral compulsion by which the Spirit led Jesus to take the offensive against temptation and evil instead of avoiding them. The desert (erēmos cf. Mar_1:4) region, dry uninhabited places, was viewed traditionally as the haunt of evil powers. -BKC

Again, a clear distinction is maintained between physical sickness and demon possession (cf. Mar_6:13). -BKC

The required response to which Jesus summoned His hearers was a double command: Repent and believe the good news! Repentance and faith (belief) are bound together in one piece (not temporally successive acts). To “repent” (metanoē cf. Mar_1:4) is to turn away from an existing object of trust (e.g., oneself). To “believe” (pisteuō, here pisteuete en, the only NT appearance of this combination) is to commit oneself wholeheartedly to an object of faith. Thus to believe in the good news meant to believe in Jesus Himself as the Messiah, the Son of God. -BKC

Floating Verses Without a Home

In the midst of the years make known, make thyself known, for now verily thou art a God that hidest thyself (Isa_45:15),

God's Design for Leadership in the Church

A very basic place to collect scriptures related to church leadership that I hope to get back to someday:

Acts 13:1   A church had been formed in Antioch, as we learned in chapter 11. Instead of having one man designated as the minister or pastor, this assembly had a plurality of gifts. Specifically, there were at least five prophets and teachers.  -BBC

Habakkuk

Historically, Habakkuk is a mysterious figure, little to nothing is known of him. Scholars are iffy about his home town, profession, parents, or tribe. To help flesh the background of Habakkuk out, here is an excerpt from Bible.org:

"Because the book of Habbakuk consists of five oracles about the Chaldeans (Babylonians), and the Chaldean rise to power is dated circa 612 BCE, it is assumed he was active about that time, making him an early contemporary of Jeremiah and Zephaniah. Jewish sources, however, do not group him with those two prophets, who are often placed together, so it is possible that he was slightly earlier than they.

Because the final chapter of his book is a song, it is sometimes assumed that he was a member of the tribe of Levi, which served as musicians in Solomon's Temple."

"The name "Chaldeans" derives from the ruling class that lived in southern Mesopotamia and took leadership in the Neo-Babylonian Empire. The last and greatest dynasty to rule Babylon was of Chaldean origin. Thus "Chaldean" was almost a synonym for "Babylonian." -Thomas Constable

Looking at a composite of perspectives, the book probably dates from between 608-587 BC. It may be a compilation from several periods of his prophetic career.

Judah, Southern Kingdom, Jehoiakim

fearful, Babylon looked, Egypt & Assyria

different, prophets, dialogued

"In the interim, while history is still awaiting its conclusion (and Habakkuk was not told when the end would come, apparently for him prefigured by Babylon's destruction), the righteous ones are to live by faith. The faith prescribed—or 'faithfulness,' as many have argued that 'emunah should be translated—is still called for as a basic response to the unanswered questions in today's universe; and it is this, a theology for life both then and now, that stands as Habakkuk's most basic contribution."--Expositor's Bible Commentary

"If Zephaniah stressed humility and poverty of spirit as prerequisites for entering into the benefits of the company of the believing, Habakkuk demanded faith as the most indispensable prerequisite. But these are all part of the same picture.

"Whereas Zephaniah stressed Judah's idolatry and religious syncretism, Habakkuk was alarmed by the increase of lawlessness, injustice, wickedness, and rebellion." -Kaiser "Toward an Old Testament Theology"

Looking at the style of the text, below is an excerpt from Bible. org

"The style of the book has been praised by many scholars,suggesting that its author was a man of great literary talent. The entire book follows the structure of a chiasmus in which parallelism of thought is used to bracket sections of the text."

A chiasmus is also known as an inverse parallelism.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms by Chris Baldick provides a more extensive description: 

chiasmus [ky-AZ-mus] (plural -mi), a figure of speech by which the order of the terms in the first of two parallel clauses is reversed in the second. This may involve a repetition of the same words ("Pleasure's a sin, and sometimes sin's a pleasure" —Byron) or just a reversed parallel between two corresponding pairs of ideas … . The figure is especially common in 18th century English poetry, but is also found in prose of all periods. It is named after the Greek letterchi (x), indicating a "criss-cross" arrangement of terms. Adjective:chiastic.


While not directly related to Hababkkuk, I found these examples of "chaismi" enlightening:


A reversed order of the grammar in two or more clauses in a sentence will yield a chiasmus.


Consider the example of a parallel sentence:


Inverting into chiasmus:


Other examples:
”He knowingly led and we blindly followed”

(A B A B)

(Subject, adverb, verb, conjunction (cross), subject, adverb, verb.)
"He knowingly led and we followed blindly"

(A B B A)

(Subject, adverb, verb, conjunction (cross), subject, verb, adverb.)
"By day the frolic, and the dance by night". Samuel Johnson The Vanity of Human Wishes.

(prepositional phrases and gerunds in reverse order)
"His time a moment, and a point his space." Alexander Pope Essay on Man, Epistle I.

(possessive phrases with nouns; also note that this is an example of chiasmus of inverted meaning "time and space", "moment and point")
"Swift as an arrow flying, fleeing like a hare afraid" --Wikipedia


Here's a helpful further reference:
http://www.drmardy.com/chiasmus/definition.shtml

Ah....I wish that someone had schooled in the structure of language early in life, that I would have years to play with these linguistic tools and work them into my style. But, better to learn them at 43 than never at all...
It will be interesting to see if this structure can be maintained in translation---will I notice chiasmi while reading Habakkuk, or are they lost in translation?

According to Bible.org, Habakkuk is the only prophet to question the wisdom of God. I'm not
sure that I buy that however, what about Jonah?

"Habakkuk is unique among the prophets in that he openly questions the wisdom of God (1:3a, 1:13b). In the first part of the second chapter, the Prophet sees the injustice among his people and asks why God does not take action: "1:2 Yahweh, how long will I cry, and you will not hear? I cry out to you 'Violence!' and will you not save?" - (World English Bible).

Whether he's the only prophet wrestling with these issues or there are others, I find comfort in his struggle. His transparency is appealing to the modern man who is continually pummeled by his culture with doubts about the goodness and the very existence of God. Ours is an impersonal age, dominated by science and self-reliance. Perhaps even the thought of questioning God is becoming dated?

This skepticism toward the actions of God is the dominate theme of Habakkuk. In this regard, the book reminds me of Job. Unfortunately, the world is full of instances where the wicked are allowed to prosper in this present age. It's a modern, timeless question. It hits us where we live.


Structure & Verses


Above all else, Habakkuk is a dialogue between God and the prophet. I find the tension in it interesting, it reminds me of Job in this regard. Who wouldn't like to question God about a few things? And even though we know the questioning is ludicrous in one regard, we can't resist in another. I particularly like the diagram above, despite the neon color scheme, because it captures the tension of the interchange.

The second diagram below fleshes the particulars of the conversation out more thoroughly. It's useful as a quick snapshot of the themes and highlights of this book:

In Acts 13:41, Paul references Habakkuk:

"Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told." -Habakkuk 1:5

Clearly, Paul did not share our modern tendency to regard the prophets as obscure. He sees immediate parallels between God's work then and his work Paul's era. Speaking to the church at Antioch, he draws a parallel between God's unusual work of bringing the Israelites to justice through the oppression of the Chaldeans and God's plans for the early Church or His larger plan to extend salvation to the Gentiles and provide forgiveness through the sacrifice of His Son, the Christ.

Toward the end of chapter 1, he sets up a poignant image of man under a merciless God. His simile is that God is like a fishmen and that men are "like crawling things that have no ruler." (Habakkuk 1: 14) The contrast brings to mind the modern despair we struggle with under Darwinian theory. If our universe is impersonal, and we are merely an impressive interchange between elements, a chemical reaction of sorts, then we are like these crawling things. If that theory is true, no amount of amazement or elaboration on the beauty or intricacy of our design will mute the fact that we have no larger master or purpose.

However, Habakkuk is no atheist. Instead, his imagery is not of an absent master, nor of an indifferent one, but of a God that seemingly delights in his "catch" of men:

"He brings all of them up with a hook; he drags them out with his net; he gathers them in his dragnet; so he rejoices and is glad." -Habakkuk 1:15

Following the image, this image of God is no kind "fisher of men" for higher purposes, but an earthy, hedonistic God who enjoys prosperity and plenty:

"Therefore he sacrifices to his net and makes offerings to his dragnet; for by them he lives in luxury, and his food is rich. Is he then to keep on emptying his net and mercilessly killing nations forever?" -Habakkuk 1:16-17

In some ways, this portrait is easier to dismiss, in other ways, not. Our world is violent. It is full of injustice. If one does hold to the belief that God exists, how does one reconcile the nature and intent of Him with the reality of our broken world?

I believe they are reconcilable, if we pull back and look at the picture with more humility and perspective, allowing that God is God and His plans are broader and more complex than our own. The modern perspective, in my opinion, vastly underestimates the mind and character of God when they allow Him into the picture at all. And there is a hubris about their own wisdom in looking at things which is a bit ironic: they count themselves intellectually infallible in many ways, yet conclude we are all accidental and animalistic at best. Do they sense no disconnect? How can you know everything, even sizing up the issue of God in the universe, assuming to know His mind and make? The modern intellect makes some huge intellectual jumps and assumptions that they would rather not acknowledge. The perspective requires a heady view of one's own self-worth and intellect, requiring a naivete and faith of its own. Admittedly, there are many things that I live in uncertainty about--questions I'm patiently waiting for answers upon, and bits of Him that I do not begin to understand. However, one of my unresolved issues has never been my own inability to grasp it all, or my own sinful nature. Both are clear and indisputable.

I admire Habakkuk's pluck and candor:

"I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint." -Habakkuk 2:1

At least he's trusting God enough to ask the questions at the right place. At least he expects an answer.

God's reply gives us glimpses into His plans and character over history. After telling Habakkuk to write the vision, "make it plain on tablets," He alludes to the broader time frame of His plan:

"For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." -Habakkuk 2:3

We are an impatient people. We want eternal answers today. We want immediate relief from what ails us. God is not squeezed by time. His canvas is an eternal one. It's as if we are butterflies who live for two weeks trying to understand all four seasons and beyond.

We want to wrap up the story in our lifetime, in our zenith. But the story is one of many generations, it requires patience. It goes beyond our small lifespan on earth, reaching people, cultures, and times that we cannot begin to understand fully.

The Lord's answer also touches back to the arrogance of man's own assessment of things, contrasting that with a faith-filled one:

"Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith." -Habakkuk 2:4

He also points out that this human "amassing" of material things--whether it be nations or individuals doing the collecting--is vain and short sighted. Even the greatest of rulers, rule for a brief season in the sight of God. Alexander the Great was cut down in his youth, Pharoahs bones are strewn throughout the desert while their pyramids remain as monuments to their weakness.

In contrast, we are instructed by Christ to store up things where rust and moths cannot take them away:

"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal." -Matthew 6:20

Everything on earth is really up for grabs--it's just a matter of time, and time is on God's side.

While we may fool ourselves amassing things, He also warns that deeds will find us out. Sadly, driven by our own need for safety and security, we make bad choices, we do not choose His best. In time, even the things themselves will testify:

"Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house, to set his nest on high, to be safe from the reach of harm! You have devised shame for your house by cutting off many peoples; you have forfeited your life. For the stone will cry out from the wall, and the beam from the woodwork respond. "Woe to him who builds a town with blood and founds a city on iniquity!"-Habakkuk 2:9-11

Clearly, to God why and how we do what we do is as significant, if not more than, as the actions themselves.

Isn't it wonderful to think of the ease that will be when the earth is full of His knowledge, when it is ubiquitous and indisputable?

"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea." -Habakkuk 2:14

There will be no peace until we are all on the same page in this regard, but once He goes forth, there will be no room for dispute, argument, war. In the glory of His presence, what else is there to say?

"But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him." -Habakkuk 2:20

Chapter 3 definitely leaves one with a sense of the changing of the guard or passage. Thematically and intellectually, we seem to start all over again from the beginning--the war, the enemy, the violence around us. The God of this chapter is definitely a war God, pounding around the earth like the giant from Jack's beanstalk or one of the Greek Gods who comes down and goes back up again. Honestly, it's hard for me to relate to this imagery, though that's a weakness in my understanding and ability to grasp all facets of Him I'm sure.

Out of the carnage, the Lord's mercy shines forth like a prized gem:

"In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known;in wrath remember mercy." -Habakkuk 3:2

However, Habakkuk does eventually seem to land back upon some of his earlier themes--the need to wait, the need to hold fast to faith amid the present circumstances of our lives that press upon us, the unfruitful and bleak moments that threaten our long-range vision:

"Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us. Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places."-Habakkuk 3:16-19

God makes all the difference. He enables us. He overarches our lives with divine purpose. He casts our lives in the broader seas of eternity. He provides sure footing even in our precarious todays. Selah for sure.