Matthew 14:17-21 - "We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered.
"Bring them here to me," he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
I wonder at what point during the distribution the disciples or any of the people realized what was happening. The story is told matter-of-factly. There's no big fanfare or hubbub mentioned to indicate when that might have been.
I remember seeing one Hollywood director's idea of how this happened. There were large baskets (probably several bushels each) with a fish or some bread deep down inside each one. As food was taken out, more replaced it (unseen) until the baskets were soon overflowing with food.
Possible. I'm not creative enough to imagine another method.
I wonder how much each person had to eat before being "satisfied." Did Jesus give the food extra "filling power"?
I wonder what was done with the 12 basketfuls. Perhaps it was given to some of the poorer folk in the crowd.
I wonder who counted the ~5000 men.
10/09/2007
10/08/2007
Siblings
Matthew 13:55-56 - "Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren't all his sisters with us?"
Assuming that these brothers and sisters were children of Mary and Joseph and not more distant relatives (since I think these terms can be ambiguous at times in the original -- but I may be wrong), I wonder what it was like growing up with Jesus as a sibling, a real brother, a physical, visible member of the family. I've heard comedians joke about this -- usually implying that it would be tough to be his sibling. If something was wrong, it was never, ever Jesus' fault -- really! He probably got blamed for wrong doing though -- just look at his adult life! You were never quite as good as him at anything.
But I wonder if it really would have been all that bad living with the perfect brother. He never treated you badly. He never got you into trouble by his own bad behavior. He loved you at all times. He helped you whenever possible. He was really your best friend, if you wanted him to be.
Hm, sounds like the Jesus I have as my brother today.
Assuming that these brothers and sisters were children of Mary and Joseph and not more distant relatives (since I think these terms can be ambiguous at times in the original -- but I may be wrong), I wonder what it was like growing up with Jesus as a sibling, a real brother, a physical, visible member of the family. I've heard comedians joke about this -- usually implying that it would be tough to be his sibling. If something was wrong, it was never, ever Jesus' fault -- really! He probably got blamed for wrong doing though -- just look at his adult life! You were never quite as good as him at anything.
But I wonder if it really would have been all that bad living with the perfect brother. He never treated you badly. He never got you into trouble by his own bad behavior. He loved you at all times. He helped you whenever possible. He was really your best friend, if you wanted him to be.
Hm, sounds like the Jesus I have as my brother today.
10/07/2007
The carpenter's son
Matthew 13:55 - "Isn't this the carpenter's son?"
I wonder if Joseph was the only carpenter in Nazareth. If so, no competition -- a monopoly. Nice...as long as he did good work.
I wonder if Joseph was the only carpenter in Nazareth. If so, no competition -- a monopoly. Nice...as long as he did good work.
10/05/2007
Where ya been?
Matthew 12:38 - Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you."
I wonder if these Pharisees and teachers of the law were new to the area. Had they never seen Jesus before? Was their timing (earlier) just bad? How could they not have seen one of his miracles if they were amongst that group who always seemed to be hanging around?
Or were they going to ask for some particular kind of miracle? Was it some sign that they thought would prove something about Jesus one way or the other?
I wonder if any of them understood the sign of Jonah that Jesus did give them.
I wonder if these Pharisees and teachers of the law were new to the area. Had they never seen Jesus before? Was their timing (earlier) just bad? How could they not have seen one of his miracles if they were amongst that group who always seemed to be hanging around?
Or were they going to ask for some particular kind of miracle? Was it some sign that they thought would prove something about Jesus one way or the other?
I wonder if any of them understood the sign of Jonah that Jesus did give them.
10/04/2007
Dead vs Asleep
Matthew 9:23-25 - When Jesus entered the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd, he said, "Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep." But they laughed at him. After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.
We often use Jesus' words here (and elsewhere -- see Lazarus' death) to compare death to falling asleep -- only to wake up the next time either in heaven or in hell. But I wonder if that was really what Jesus had in mind here. He said, "The girl is not dead...." And yet it seems he brought her back to life. I'm not questioning his power to bring someone back to life. (See Lazarus again where he plainly said he was dead.) I'm wondering whether or not the soul of this girl had gone to heaven or hell yet. Was it somewhere else? I'm not advocating Limbo or Purgatory either. "The girl is not dead...." Was her soul still in her body, but her bodily functions had ceased? Was she in some kind of extreme hibernation? Again, Jesus can and did raise people from the dead, but I'm not sure this example can be used to prove it.
We often use Jesus' words here (and elsewhere -- see Lazarus' death) to compare death to falling asleep -- only to wake up the next time either in heaven or in hell. But I wonder if that was really what Jesus had in mind here. He said, "The girl is not dead...." And yet it seems he brought her back to life. I'm not questioning his power to bring someone back to life. (See Lazarus again where he plainly said he was dead.) I'm wondering whether or not the soul of this girl had gone to heaven or hell yet. Was it somewhere else? I'm not advocating Limbo or Purgatory either. "The girl is not dead...." Was her soul still in her body, but her bodily functions had ceased? Was she in some kind of extreme hibernation? Again, Jesus can and did raise people from the dead, but I'm not sure this example can be used to prove it.
10/03/2007
Pharisees abounding
Matthew 9:10-11 - While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"
There often seem to be Pharisees around ready to criticize Jesus and his followers. It probably wasn't always the same bunch of Pharisees, but I wonder...Didn't they have day jobs to go to? How could they spend so much time following Jesus?
There often seem to be Pharisees around ready to criticize Jesus and his followers. It probably wasn't always the same bunch of Pharisees, but I wonder...Didn't they have day jobs to go to? How could they spend so much time following Jesus?
10/02/2007
Peter's mother-in-law
Matthew 8:14-15 - When Jesus came into Peter's house, he saw Peter's mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.
I wonder why Peter hadn't (apparently) mentioned to Jesus that his mother-in-law was sick.
I wonder why Peter hadn't (apparently) mentioned to Jesus that his mother-in-law was sick.
- Didn't he know?
- Didn't he like her?
- Did he think Jesus' healing powers were only meant for others?
- Did he "get it" that Jesus hadn't come mainly to heal people's bodies?
- Didn't he think the illness was severe enough to pray; that is, ask Jesus about?
- Was he just too busy, and it slipped his mind?
- Was he just about to mention it, but Jesus beat him to it?
10/01/2007
Don't tell anyone
Matthew 8:1-4 - When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, "See that you don't tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."
Very often Jesus told those on the receiving end of a miracle, "Don't tell anyone." (Jesus didn't want to be known primarily as a miracle worker but as the promised Savior and Redeemer of everyone.) I wonder how many actually did what he told them to; that is, didn't do what he told them not to do.
It had to be tough to keep something so good to yourself. How could you not tell your family, neighbors, and coworkers? If you had been healed of an awful disease like this man, they'd notice something different about you. If you had a demon removed, they'd notice a drastic change in your behavior.
Faith in Jesus as your Savior and Redeemer is a miracle too -- something only God can accomplish. If you've been the recipient of that miracle, do you find it hard to keep it to yourself? Do your coworkers, neighbors, and family members notice anything different about you, a difference in your behavior, compared to those who haven't yet experienced the miracle of faith?
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, "See that you don't tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."
Very often Jesus told those on the receiving end of a miracle, "Don't tell anyone." (Jesus didn't want to be known primarily as a miracle worker but as the promised Savior and Redeemer of everyone.) I wonder how many actually did what he told them to; that is, didn't do what he told them not to do.
It had to be tough to keep something so good to yourself. How could you not tell your family, neighbors, and coworkers? If you had been healed of an awful disease like this man, they'd notice something different about you. If you had a demon removed, they'd notice a drastic change in your behavior.
Faith in Jesus as your Savior and Redeemer is a miracle too -- something only God can accomplish. If you've been the recipient of that miracle, do you find it hard to keep it to yourself? Do your coworkers, neighbors, and family members notice anything different about you, a difference in your behavior, compared to those who haven't yet experienced the miracle of faith?
9/27/2007
The Father who sees all
Matthew 6:1-18 - "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.'
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
On the face of it, this section of Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount" is about giving, asking, and giving up (food). All good things if done according to Jesus' guidelines. But I wonder if Jesus was trying to sneak in another point here that's just as important. Did you notice the phrase he used 3 times? "Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
It's not for the reward in and of itself that we do these things -- giving to the needy, praying, fasting. That's like the icing on the cake. Actually I wonder most about that phrase in the middle -- "who sees what is done in secret." I imagine Jesus saying that each time in a tone of voice that would allow the words "mind you" to fit nicely at the end of the phrase. Maybe even holding his pointer finger in the air too, drawing special attention to it, noting that it's a two-sided coin. It's good that the Father sees the good you do in secret, but the implication is that he can see the bad too. So don't do it!
"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.'
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
On the face of it, this section of Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount" is about giving, asking, and giving up (food). All good things if done according to Jesus' guidelines. But I wonder if Jesus was trying to sneak in another point here that's just as important. Did you notice the phrase he used 3 times? "Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
It's not for the reward in and of itself that we do these things -- giving to the needy, praying, fasting. That's like the icing on the cake. Actually I wonder most about that phrase in the middle -- "who sees what is done in secret." I imagine Jesus saying that each time in a tone of voice that would allow the words "mind you" to fit nicely at the end of the phrase. Maybe even holding his pointer finger in the air too, drawing special attention to it, noting that it's a two-sided coin. It's good that the Father sees the good you do in secret, but the implication is that he can see the bad too. So don't do it!
9/25/2007
Satan tempts Jesus
Matthew 4:1-11 - Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written:
" 'He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"
Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
First, I think it's important to note (and this often is glossed over or completely overlooked) that Satan tempted Jesus for 40 days -- not just 3 times on the 40th day. (Mark and Luke make this fact clearer.)
I wonder if Satan really thought Jesus would give in to any of his temptations. Maybe he thought he could wear him down by trying over and over again for 40 days. Who knows how many times he tried! Perhaps hundreds or thousands of times.
Not much different than some of the temptations we experience over and over again, is it?
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written:
" 'He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"
Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
First, I think it's important to note (and this often is glossed over or completely overlooked) that Satan tempted Jesus for 40 days -- not just 3 times on the 40th day. (Mark and Luke make this fact clearer.)
I wonder if Satan really thought Jesus would give in to any of his temptations. Maybe he thought he could wear him down by trying over and over again for 40 days. Who knows how many times he tried! Perhaps hundreds or thousands of times.
Not much different than some of the temptations we experience over and over again, is it?
9/24/2007
Locusts and honey
Matthew 3:4 - John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
How many locusts are there in one serving? What I'm getting at is this: How many locusts did John have to eat to survive out there? Were the locusts plentiful or scarce? Were they hard to catch? How much honey was available? Was it easy to find? Was there any competition with the local wildlife?
I wonder how long John maintained this diet? Was this his only food in the wilderness or just the unusual items that people mentioned first and most often when John's name came up in the conversation?
How many locusts are there in one serving? What I'm getting at is this: How many locusts did John have to eat to survive out there? Were the locusts plentiful or scarce? Were they hard to catch? How much honey was available? Was it easy to find? Was there any competition with the local wildlife?
I wonder how long John maintained this diet? Was this his only food in the wilderness or just the unusual items that people mentioned first and most often when John's name came up in the conversation?
9/23/2007
Another route
Matthew 2:12 - And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
I wonder how many Magi there were in this party that visited Jesus. There may very well have been just three. Maybe only two. Maybe 24. The exact number doesn't matter, but what I really wonder about relative to this verse is this -- How many of them dreamed the warning dream? Did God give them all the same dream (easily done) and allow them all to remember it (not always easy for you to do, right?)?
Whether it was just one, several, or all of the Magi who were warned, they obviously put more stock in the dream than in the command of Herod. I wonder if they knew the dream was from God. That is, did God tell them so in the dream itself? Or did they just know from experience that a dream like this was not one to dismiss lightly without acting upon it? Or did they already know God well enough to understand that he controlled their dream?
I don't know if this is applying too much meaning to the one word "country", but it sounds like they were all from the same one -- contrary to some traditional stories about these Magi. I wonder which country that was. Perhaps Babylon, where Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were once wise men.
I wonder how many Magi there were in this party that visited Jesus. There may very well have been just three. Maybe only two. Maybe 24. The exact number doesn't matter, but what I really wonder about relative to this verse is this -- How many of them dreamed the warning dream? Did God give them all the same dream (easily done) and allow them all to remember it (not always easy for you to do, right?)?
Whether it was just one, several, or all of the Magi who were warned, they obviously put more stock in the dream than in the command of Herod. I wonder if they knew the dream was from God. That is, did God tell them so in the dream itself? Or did they just know from experience that a dream like this was not one to dismiss lightly without acting upon it? Or did they already know God well enough to understand that he controlled their dream?
I don't know if this is applying too much meaning to the one word "country", but it sounds like they were all from the same one -- contrary to some traditional stories about these Magi. I wonder which country that was. Perhaps Babylon, where Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were once wise men.
9/22/2007
Christmas presents
Matthew 2:11 - On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.
I wonder why the Magi decided they should bring gifts to Jesus. The items they brought were expensive. I wonder how much of a security force traveled with them.
They seem to have understood that Jesus was more than an earthly king. Sure, some kings claimed to be gods and forced you to worship them and sacrifice to them, but this was a child whom they voluntarily worshiped and gave gifts to.
I wonder what Mary and Joseph thought of all this. True, they already knew Jesus was special, but foreigners tracking them down, bowing down in worship, and leaving expensive treasures? They hadn't publicized this to anyone yet really -- much less to guys like these from far away. Remember, no cell phones or TV yet.
I wonder what they did with the treasures. Probably sold at least some of it for the trip to Egypt. Or maybe used it as needed along the way.
I wonder why the Magi decided they should bring gifts to Jesus. The items they brought were expensive. I wonder how much of a security force traveled with them.
They seem to have understood that Jesus was more than an earthly king. Sure, some kings claimed to be gods and forced you to worship them and sacrifice to them, but this was a child whom they voluntarily worshiped and gave gifts to.
I wonder what Mary and Joseph thought of all this. True, they already knew Jesus was special, but foreigners tracking them down, bowing down in worship, and leaving expensive treasures? They hadn't publicized this to anyone yet really -- much less to guys like these from far away. Remember, no cell phones or TV yet.
I wonder what they did with the treasures. Probably sold at least some of it for the trip to Egypt. Or maybe used it as needed along the way.
9/21/2007
The star
Matthew 2:9 - After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.
Bethlehem is not that far from Jerusalem. It's just a few miles south. It wouldn't have taken the Magi days to get there. More likely just a few hours. So I wonder if they left Herod and set out after sunset. How else would they have been able to see the guiding star?
I wonder how specific the star was. That is, did it show them the very house where Jesus was? Does "the place" mean "the house"? Or did they only get led to the city and had to ask around once there? Even just leading them to a new city a few miles down the road would have been pretty special.
I wonder if anyone else noticed the star. Surely it was visible to everyone. Even after the Magi mentioned it to Herod and company, did no one else take an interest in it? I suppose it wasn't the first time nor the last when some important item or event was out in the open for all to see, but only those wise enough to realize what it was took any notice of it.
Bethlehem is not that far from Jerusalem. It's just a few miles south. It wouldn't have taken the Magi days to get there. More likely just a few hours. So I wonder if they left Herod and set out after sunset. How else would they have been able to see the guiding star?
I wonder how specific the star was. That is, did it show them the very house where Jesus was? Does "the place" mean "the house"? Or did they only get led to the city and had to ask around once there? Even just leading them to a new city a few miles down the road would have been pretty special.
I wonder if anyone else noticed the star. Surely it was visible to everyone. Even after the Magi mentioned it to Herod and company, did no one else take an interest in it? I suppose it wasn't the first time nor the last when some important item or event was out in the open for all to see, but only those wise enough to realize what it was took any notice of it.
8/29/2007
Nineveh: Take two
Jonah 2:10-3:5 - And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.
Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: "Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you."
Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city—a visit required three days. On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned." The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
I wonder where the beach was that Jonah was spit up on. Was it far from Joppa where he had started? Was it right back in Joppa that he landed? I wonder if anyone saw him come out of the fish.
I wonder if the Ninevites had heard about Jonah before he got there. Had he told his story to others who spread the news? Did that maybe help in the spreading of his real message? Not that a word from God isn't powerful enough in and of itself, but they certainly seemed ready and willing to listen to Jonah. He didn't even have to go through the whole city himself. His first hearers did a lot of secondary evangelizing for him.
Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: "Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you."
Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city—a visit required three days. On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned." The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
I wonder where the beach was that Jonah was spit up on. Was it far from Joppa where he had started? Was it right back in Joppa that he landed? I wonder if anyone saw him come out of the fish.
I wonder if the Ninevites had heard about Jonah before he got there. Had he told his story to others who spread the news? Did that maybe help in the spreading of his real message? Not that a word from God isn't powerful enough in and of itself, but they certainly seemed ready and willing to listen to Jonah. He didn't even have to go through the whole city himself. His first hearers did a lot of secondary evangelizing for him.
8/28/2007
Tarshish or bust
Jonah 1:1-3 - The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me."
But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD.
Why Tarshish? It seems to be in the opposite direction from where he was supposed to go, but why go somewhere that required sailing? I think I remember reading a generalization once that said something to the effect that Jews don't like being on the sea.
Did Jonah have friends in Tarshish? Or was that a distant place where he knew he didn't have any friends? Was it the farthest place from where he was that he'd ever heard of? For that matter, how had he heard of this distant place? Why was there even a ship going there? For trade, probably. Trading what? Was Tarshish the most ungodly place Jonah knew of?
If you were going to run away from God today, where would you go?
Did Jonah really think he could leave God behind?
But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD.
Why Tarshish? It seems to be in the opposite direction from where he was supposed to go, but why go somewhere that required sailing? I think I remember reading a generalization once that said something to the effect that Jews don't like being on the sea.
Did Jonah have friends in Tarshish? Or was that a distant place where he knew he didn't have any friends? Was it the farthest place from where he was that he'd ever heard of? For that matter, how had he heard of this distant place? Why was there even a ship going there? For trade, probably. Trading what? Was Tarshish the most ungodly place Jonah knew of?
If you were going to run away from God today, where would you go?
Did Jonah really think he could leave God behind?
8/26/2007
8/21/2007
Shepherd and prophet
Amos 1:1 - The words of Amos, one of the shepherds of Tekoa—what he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel.
I wonder if Amos was surprised that he was given a prophetic vision. Assuming he wrote this introduction, he makes himself sound like just one of the guys -- just an ordinary shepherd from a little place up the road called Tekoa.
Makes you wonder what surprising things God might use you for someday, doesn't it?
I wonder if Amos was surprised that he was given a prophetic vision. Assuming he wrote this introduction, he makes himself sound like just one of the guys -- just an ordinary shepherd from a little place up the road called Tekoa.
Makes you wonder what surprising things God might use you for someday, doesn't it?
8/14/2007
The suffering land
Hosea 4:1-3 - Hear the word of the LORD, you Israelites,
because the LORD has a charge to bring
against you who live in the land:
"There is no faithfulness, no love,
no acknowledgment of God in the land.
There is only cursing, lying and murder,
stealing and adultery;
they break all bounds,
and bloodshed follows bloodshed.
Because of this the land mourns,
and all who live in it waste away;
the beasts of the field and the birds of the air
and the fish of the sea are dying.
I may have officially wondered about something like this before, but I think it's worth mentioning more than once.
I wonder how many of today's "natural" problems -- droughts, famines, storms, "global warming"(?), etc. -- could be connected to the ungodliness of the people living in the land.
because the LORD has a charge to bring
against you who live in the land:
"There is no faithfulness, no love,
no acknowledgment of God in the land.
There is only cursing, lying and murder,
stealing and adultery;
they break all bounds,
and bloodshed follows bloodshed.
Because of this the land mourns,
and all who live in it waste away;
the beasts of the field and the birds of the air
and the fish of the sea are dying.
I may have officially wondered about something like this before, but I think it's worth mentioning more than once.
I wonder how many of today's "natural" problems -- droughts, famines, storms, "global warming"(?), etc. -- could be connected to the ungodliness of the people living in the land.
What cost?
Hosea 3:2-3 - So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and about a homer and a lethek of barley. Then I told her, "You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will live with you."
Gomer was still Hosea's wife. Why did he have to pay for her? Had she gone (back) into prostitution? Had her pimp come to reclaim her? Was she expensive? Had Hosea paid for her the first time too?
It sounds like Hosea didn't expect Gomer to stick around till death did them part. Oi! What must day to day life have been like for the two of them?
Gomer was still Hosea's wife. Why did he have to pay for her? Had she gone (back) into prostitution? Had her pimp come to reclaim her? Was she expensive? Had Hosea paid for her the first time too?
It sounds like Hosea didn't expect Gomer to stick around till death did them part. Oi! What must day to day life have been like for the two of them?
8/12/2007
The sacred raisin-cakes
Hosea 3:1 - The LORD said to me, "Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin-cakes."
I wonder who first decided to make raisin-cakes a sacred object. [Insert your favorite Monty Python sketch here and substitute raisin-cakes for the main topic.] Or...
Shekaniah: Rules, rules, rules. What's next...holy raisin-cakes?
[silence]
Shekaniah: No, I was kidding. Kid-ding!
I'm curious. Could you please tell me what brought you to this page by mentioning it in a comment? I won't publish the comment, if you ask me not to.
I wonder who first decided to make raisin-cakes a sacred object. [Insert your favorite Monty Python sketch here and substitute raisin-cakes for the main topic.] Or...
Shekaniah: Rules, rules, rules. What's next...holy raisin-cakes?
[silence]
Shekaniah: No, I was kidding. Kid-ding!
I'm curious. Could you please tell me what brought you to this page by mentioning it in a comment? I won't publish the comment, if you ask me not to.
Unusual commands
Hosea 1:2-9 - When the LORD began to speak through Hosea, the LORD said to him, "Go, take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the LORD." So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.
Then the LORD said to Hosea, "Call him Jezreel, because I will soon punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. In that day I will break Israel's bow in the Valley of Jezreel."
Gomer conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the LORD said to Hosea, "Call her Lo-Ruhamah, for I will no longer show love to the house of Israel, that I should at all forgive them. Yet I will show love to the house of Judah; and I will save them—not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but by the LORD their God."
After she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, Gomer had another son. Then the LORD said, "Call him Lo-Ammi, for you are not my people, and I am not your God.
I wonder what the relatives thought. It probably depended on whether they were godly folk or not. Or would it? I could see even the ungodly (today, non-Christians) being "nice people" who would object to Hosea's marrying Gomer. And they all probably wondered at first how Hosea came up with the strange names. I wonder if their attitudes changed after he explained where he got all these ideas from.
Then the LORD said to Hosea, "Call him Jezreel, because I will soon punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. In that day I will break Israel's bow in the Valley of Jezreel."
Gomer conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the LORD said to Hosea, "Call her Lo-Ruhamah, for I will no longer show love to the house of Israel, that I should at all forgive them. Yet I will show love to the house of Judah; and I will save them—not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but by the LORD their God."
After she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, Gomer had another son. Then the LORD said, "Call him Lo-Ammi, for you are not my people, and I am not your God.
I wonder what the relatives thought. It probably depended on whether they were godly folk or not. Or would it? I could see even the ungodly (today, non-Christians) being "nice people" who would object to Hosea's marrying Gomer. And they all probably wondered at first how Hosea came up with the strange names. I wonder if their attitudes changed after he explained where he got all these ideas from.
8/08/2007
Who is wise?
Daniel 12:10 - None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.
I understand some parts of Daniel's vision. Does that make me a little bit wise?
I understand some parts of Daniel's vision. Does that make me a little bit wise?
8/07/2007
A deep sleep
Daniel 10:9 - Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.
I think there are several instances in the Bible similar to this where humans fall asleep during a time when you'd think they'd want to be wide awake -- like during the chase or the fight scene of a sci-fi flick -- so as not to miss anything important. I wonder if that's the body's natural reaction to something as intense as this. Or maybe God actively brought about the sleep to protect the sleeper physically and/or emotionally and/or some other way-ally.
I think there are several instances in the Bible similar to this where humans fall asleep during a time when you'd think they'd want to be wide awake -- like during the chase or the fight scene of a sci-fi flick -- so as not to miss anything important. I wonder if that's the body's natural reaction to something as intense as this. Or maybe God actively brought about the sleep to protect the sleeper physically and/or emotionally and/or some other way-ally.
8/06/2007
At the Tigris
Daniel 10:4-8 - On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold around his waist. His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.
I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless.
If only Daniel saw the frightening vision, what made his companions so terrified that they ran away? Daniel had seen visions of this magnitude (or greater?) before. What made this one so scary?
I wonder how Daniel knew his face "turned deathly pale."
I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless.
If only Daniel saw the frightening vision, what made his companions so terrified that they ran away? Daniel had seen visions of this magnitude (or greater?) before. What made this one so scary?
I wonder how Daniel knew his face "turned deathly pale."
8/05/2007
Understand the vision
Daniel 9:20-27 - While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the LORD my God for his holy hill - while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. He instructed me and said to me, "Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Therefore, consider the message and understand the vision:
"Seventy 'sevens' are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy.
"Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens,' and sixty-two 'sevens.' It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. After the sixty-two 'sevens,' the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him."
I wonder if Daniel really did understand all he was told. It seems cryptic to us, but maybe he "got it." After all, Gabriel said that's why he was delivering the message in the first place -- to give Daniel "insight and understanding."
I wonder if "in swift flight" means Gabriel was literally flying or if it simply means he was running at top speed. If Daniel got to see him flying through the air...what a sight!
"Seventy 'sevens' are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy.
"Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens,' and sixty-two 'sevens.' It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. After the sixty-two 'sevens,' the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him."
I wonder if Daniel really did understand all he was told. It seems cryptic to us, but maybe he "got it." After all, Gabriel said that's why he was delivering the message in the first place -- to give Daniel "insight and understanding."
I wonder if "in swift flight" means Gabriel was literally flying or if it simply means he was running at top speed. If Daniel got to see him flying through the air...what a sight!
8/01/2007
Angels and lions
Daniel 6:21-22 - Daniel answered, "O king, live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, O king."
I wonder if Daniel actually got to see the angels protecting him, keeping the lions at bay, or if he simply surmised that that is how God saved him from begin killed by them.
I wonder if Daniel actually got to see the angels protecting him, keeping the lions at bay, or if he simply surmised that that is how God saved him from begin killed by them.
7/31/2007
Surprise attack?
Daniel 5:30-31 - That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two.
I confess that I don't know the historical record of this time and place very well, but wouldn't a king normally have some knowledge - an inkling, even - that an enemy army was about to invade and overthrow him? How do you (seemingly) matter-of-factly walk into the center of the kingdom, assassinate the leader, and take over the joint? Maybe it's just the way it's told here with the lack of details. Or maybe it tells us more about what kind of king Belshazzar was.
I confess that I don't know the historical record of this time and place very well, but wouldn't a king normally have some knowledge - an inkling, even - that an enemy army was about to invade and overthrow him? How do you (seemingly) matter-of-factly walk into the center of the kingdom, assassinate the leader, and take over the joint? Maybe it's just the way it's told here with the lack of details. Or maybe it tells us more about what kind of king Belshazzar was.
The hand, writing on the wall
Daniel 5:1-16 - King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them. While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines might drink from them. So they brought in the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines drank from them. As they drank the wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone.
Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his knees knocked together and his legs gave way.
The king called out for the enchanters, astrologers and diviners to be brought and said to these wise men of Babylon, "Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom."
Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant. So King Belshazzar became even more terrified and his face grew more pale. His nobles were baffled.
The queen, hearing the voices of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet hall. "O king, live forever!" she said. "Don't be alarmed! Don't look so pale! There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. King Nebuchadnezzar your father—your father the king, I say—appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners. This man Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means."
So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king said to him, "Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah? I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom. The wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this writing and tell me what it means, but they could not explain it. Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems. If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom."
I wonder how many people realize that the phrase, "the handwriting on the wall," comes from this account of Belshazzar and Daniel.
Why wasn't Daniel brought in with the first batch of enchanters, astrologers, and diviners? Daniel was their chief. How is it that Belshazzar didn't even know who he was? Apparently they had never met in person. Seems strange that the king wouldn't take time to get acquainted with his head wise man (and possibly still "ruler over the entire province of Babylon"). Does that tell us something about what kind of a king Belshazzar was?
Third highest? Belshazzar was first. Was the queen (possibly, queen mother) second? Wasn't Daniel almost third already -- being ruler over Babylon?
Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote. His face turned pale and he was so frightened that his knees knocked together and his legs gave way.
The king called out for the enchanters, astrologers and diviners to be brought and said to these wise men of Babylon, "Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom."
Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant. So King Belshazzar became even more terrified and his face grew more pale. His nobles were baffled.
The queen, hearing the voices of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet hall. "O king, live forever!" she said. "Don't be alarmed! Don't look so pale! There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. King Nebuchadnezzar your father—your father the king, I say—appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners. This man Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means."
So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king said to him, "Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah? I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom. The wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this writing and tell me what it means, but they could not explain it. Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems. If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom."
I wonder how many people realize that the phrase, "the handwriting on the wall," comes from this account of Belshazzar and Daniel.
Why wasn't Daniel brought in with the first batch of enchanters, astrologers, and diviners? Daniel was their chief. How is it that Belshazzar didn't even know who he was? Apparently they had never met in person. Seems strange that the king wouldn't take time to get acquainted with his head wise man (and possibly still "ruler over the entire province of Babylon"). Does that tell us something about what kind of a king Belshazzar was?
Third highest? Belshazzar was first. Was the queen (possibly, queen mother) second? Wasn't Daniel almost third already -- being ruler over Babylon?
7/29/2007
Who's running the show?
Daniel 4:33 - Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.
I wonder who ran the empire while Nebuchadnezzar was away. No mention is made, but I wonder if whoever was temporarily in charge put up a fuss about relinquishing authority when Nebuchadnezzar returned.
Did anyone keep tabs on him while he was gone?
"Oh, he's not so good today. Tried to fly by jumping off a pile of rocks. Low pile. Maybe if it was higher...."
"Bogus. Wasn't too bad last time I saw him...just munching on a bit of grass and picking the fleas off himself."
"Pssh! That's nothing! My neighbor was doing the same thing last week."
I wonder who ran the empire while Nebuchadnezzar was away. No mention is made, but I wonder if whoever was temporarily in charge put up a fuss about relinquishing authority when Nebuchadnezzar returned.
Did anyone keep tabs on him while he was gone?
"Oh, he's not so good today. Tried to fly by jumping off a pile of rocks. Low pile. Maybe if it was higher...."
"Bogus. Wasn't too bad last time I saw him...just munching on a bit of grass and picking the fleas off himself."
"Pssh! That's nothing! My neighbor was doing the same thing last week."
7/28/2007
Hot, hot, hot
Daniel 3:19-20 - Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.
Why stop at 7 times? Did they have any idea how to make it 7 times hotter? Had anyone ever asked for the temperature to be increased (by any amount) before? Did they make any attempt at measuring the temperature before throwing the men in?
Was this a common method of execution? Or was it unique to this special occasion? Interesting that, from the start, the threat of death was considered necessary to encourage everyone to worship the image of gold.
What was the furnace normally used for? Glass making? Smelting? Refining (the gold used for the image)? Was it part of a larger building or a standalone?
Why stop at 7 times? Did they have any idea how to make it 7 times hotter? Had anyone ever asked for the temperature to be increased (by any amount) before? Did they make any attempt at measuring the temperature before throwing the men in?
Was this a common method of execution? Or was it unique to this special occasion? Interesting that, from the start, the threat of death was considered necessary to encourage everyone to worship the image of gold.
What was the furnace normally used for? Glass making? Smelting? Refining (the gold used for the image)? Was it part of a larger building or a standalone?
7/27/2007
Can't we all just get along?
Daniel 3:13-18 - Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?"
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
Even though furious at being disobeyed, I can still imagine Nebuchadnezzar calmly saying, "C'mon, guys, you're some of the best I've got around here. Won't you do this for me just this once so I can let you off the hook?"
I wonder if he realized he was making himself a god -- greater than all gods -- when he asked, "Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?" If his hand was more powerful than any (other) god, that makes him top dog (er, god). Yeah, he probably knew what he was saying.
The young men's reply is one of my favorites in the whole Bible. Not to question the accuracy of the text, but I doubt they all recited the reply in unison. I hear it going something like this...
Shadrach, stepping forward: O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.
Meshach, stepping up next to Shadrach: Yeah, but even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.
Abednego, nodding almost constantly till now, joins his friends: What they said!
One final nod in unison from all three.
Okay, too cliche, but I hope that's how it really happened.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
Even though furious at being disobeyed, I can still imagine Nebuchadnezzar calmly saying, "C'mon, guys, you're some of the best I've got around here. Won't you do this for me just this once so I can let you off the hook?"
I wonder if he realized he was making himself a god -- greater than all gods -- when he asked, "Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?" If his hand was more powerful than any (other) god, that makes him top dog (er, god). Yeah, he probably knew what he was saying.
The young men's reply is one of my favorites in the whole Bible. Not to question the accuracy of the text, but I doubt they all recited the reply in unison. I hear it going something like this...
Shadrach, stepping forward: O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.
Meshach, stepping up next to Shadrach: Yeah, but even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.
Abednego, nodding almost constantly till now, joins his friends: What they said!
One final nod in unison from all three.
Okay, too cliche, but I hope that's how it really happened.
Ain't gonna do it
Daniel 3:1-12 - King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.
Then the herald loudly proclaimed, "This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace."
Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever! You have issued a decree, O king, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up."
The obvious question here is: Where was Daniel? He was the "ruler over the entire province of Babylon" and so should have been included in the invitation given to the "satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all other provincial officials." I wonder if he simply(?) refused the invitation and if the refusal was accepted by Nebuchadnezzar. Perhaps he was held in such high esteem that he could get away with rebuffing the king.
That would also help explain why the astrologers who complained about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn't have anything to say about Daniel. If he was already out of the picture with the approval of the king, they would have realized it was pointless to mention his name later.
Then the herald loudly proclaimed, "This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace."
Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever! You have issued a decree, O king, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up."
The obvious question here is: Where was Daniel? He was the "ruler over the entire province of Babylon" and so should have been included in the invitation given to the "satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all other provincial officials." I wonder if he simply(?) refused the invitation and if the refusal was accepted by Nebuchadnezzar. Perhaps he was held in such high esteem that he could get away with rebuffing the king.
That would also help explain why the astrologers who complained about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn't have anything to say about Daniel. If he was already out of the picture with the approval of the king, they would have realized it was pointless to mention his name later.
7/25/2007
An image of gold
Daniel 3:1 - King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.
It was 90 feet high and 9 feet wide, or so. That is, about 10 stories tall and the width of a smallish room across. I wonder what it was an image of. I think we sometimes assume it was a likeness of Nebuchadnezzar himself -- perhaps a bust of him or a smaller statue on top of a pillar. And that could make sense, considering that kings sometimes thought of themselves as gods worthy of worship. Was Nebuchadnezzar thinking of literally putting his dream into practice? But it doesn't say that's what the image was. You'd think it would say so if it were something as basic as that.
So what was it? Something too complex to warrant description? Something too simple to warrant description? It does say image, which conjures up a picture of something -- a face, a body, even a scenic view, as opposed to just a plain pillar or obelisk (like the Washington Monument).
The there's also the question of how they got it to stay standing. Did it also go 10 stories underground? Were there guy-wires holding it in place like those around a TV, radio, or cell phone tower? Was it 9 feet square from bottom to top? Did it narrow (to a point) as it went up? From a distance it might easily have looked like a big, shiny pencil sticking out of the ground.
It was 90 feet high and 9 feet wide, or so. That is, about 10 stories tall and the width of a smallish room across. I wonder what it was an image of. I think we sometimes assume it was a likeness of Nebuchadnezzar himself -- perhaps a bust of him or a smaller statue on top of a pillar. And that could make sense, considering that kings sometimes thought of themselves as gods worthy of worship. Was Nebuchadnezzar thinking of literally putting his dream into practice? But it doesn't say that's what the image was. You'd think it would say so if it were something as basic as that.
So what was it? Something too complex to warrant description? Something too simple to warrant description? It does say image, which conjures up a picture of something -- a face, a body, even a scenic view, as opposed to just a plain pillar or obelisk (like the Washington Monument).
The there's also the question of how they got it to stay standing. Did it also go 10 stories underground? Were there guy-wires holding it in place like those around a TV, radio, or cell phone tower? Was it 9 feet square from bottom to top? Did it narrow (to a point) as it went up? From a distance it might easily have looked like a big, shiny pencil sticking out of the ground.
7/24/2007
Daniel promoted
Daniel 2:47-49 - The king said to Daniel, "Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery."
Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. Moreover, at Daniel's request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.
I wonder if Nebuchadnezzar had forgotten his dream or if he had just refused to tell it as a test of his wise men. In any case, he seems to have recognized Daniel's retelling of the dream as the same one that he had had a few nights before.
I wonder what kinds of gifts the king gave Daniel.
I wonder if Daniel still went through the rest of his training on schedule over the next one to two years. He probably still had a lot to learn if he was going to complete his duties satisfactorily.
Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. Moreover, at Daniel's request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.
I wonder if Nebuchadnezzar had forgotten his dream or if he had just refused to tell it as a test of his wise men. In any case, he seems to have recognized Daniel's retelling of the dream as the same one that he had had a few nights before.
I wonder what kinds of gifts the king gave Daniel.
I wonder if Daniel still went through the rest of his training on schedule over the next one to two years. He probably still had a lot to learn if he was going to complete his duties satisfactorily.
7/23/2007
I had a dream
Daniel 2:1-15 - In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep. So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed. When they came in and stood before the king, he said to them, "I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means."
Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, "O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it."
The king replied to the astrologers, "This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble. But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and interpret it for me."
Once more they replied, "Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it."
Then the king answered, "I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me the dream, there is just one penalty for you. You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me."
The astrologers answered the king, "There is not a man on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among men."
This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.
When Arioch, the commander of the king's guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. He asked the king's officer, "Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?" Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel.
I wonder why the astrologers replied in Aramaic. Could Nebuchadnezzar understand Aramaic? If not, were the astrologers trying to show off their knowledge of languages before the king? Or was that the only language they knew? Assuming an interpreter was used, was this the only pair of languages -- Aramaic and whatever Nebuchadnezzar was speaking -- that the interpreter(s) at hand could understand and translate?
I wonder why Daniel and his 3 friends were not summoned with the others. Perhaps it was because they were still only sophomore "wise men." This was only the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign (over Israel, at least). The trainees were to be schooled for 3 years and then enter the king's service. Still, the king knew how good these men were. So why didn't he think to call them? Was he just testing the others? And yet they were included in the count when it came time to destroy all the wise men. It doesn't seem very fair of Nebuchadnezzar.
Notice how young Daniel reacts to the news of the decree. Instead of ranting or whining about how unfair it was, he used wisdom and tact. Word to those who would be wise.
Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, "O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it."
The king replied to the astrologers, "This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble. But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and interpret it for me."
Once more they replied, "Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it."
Then the king answered, "I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me the dream, there is just one penalty for you. You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me."
The astrologers answered the king, "There is not a man on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among men."
This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.
When Arioch, the commander of the king's guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. He asked the king's officer, "Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?" Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel.
I wonder why the astrologers replied in Aramaic. Could Nebuchadnezzar understand Aramaic? If not, were the astrologers trying to show off their knowledge of languages before the king? Or was that the only language they knew? Assuming an interpreter was used, was this the only pair of languages -- Aramaic and whatever Nebuchadnezzar was speaking -- that the interpreter(s) at hand could understand and translate?
I wonder why Daniel and his 3 friends were not summoned with the others. Perhaps it was because they were still only sophomore "wise men." This was only the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign (over Israel, at least). The trainees were to be schooled for 3 years and then enter the king's service. Still, the king knew how good these men were. So why didn't he think to call them? Was he just testing the others? And yet they were included in the count when it came time to destroy all the wise men. It doesn't seem very fair of Nebuchadnezzar.
Notice how young Daniel reacts to the news of the decree. Instead of ranting or whining about how unfair it was, he used wisdom and tact. Word to those who would be wise.
7/22/2007
Veggie tale
Daniel 1:8-15 - But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you."
Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.
I wonder why Danial suggested a vegetarian diet. The Israelites were permitted to eat many meats under God's laws -- just not those that were categorized as unclean. We think of pork in particular, but there were some others too. Maybe there was something Daniel had found out about the king's meat that made him decide it would be defiling himself to eat any of it. Maybe it had been sacrificed to an idol or used in some other religious ceremony.
I have always found it interesting that those in charge of Daniel and the other trainees could see a difference in the looks and health of these young men after just 10 days on their respective diets. I wonder if the king himself ever heard about the menu change that was later made for all the trainees.
Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.
I wonder why Danial suggested a vegetarian diet. The Israelites were permitted to eat many meats under God's laws -- just not those that were categorized as unclean. We think of pork in particular, but there were some others too. Maybe there was something Daniel had found out about the king's meat that made him decide it would be defiling himself to eat any of it. Maybe it had been sacrificed to an idol or used in some other religious ceremony.
I have always found it interesting that those in charge of Daniel and the other trainees could see a difference in the looks and health of these young men after just 10 days on their respective diets. I wonder if the king himself ever heard about the menu change that was later made for all the trainees.
7/21/2007
Qualified to serve
Daniel 1:3-4 - Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility - young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king's palace.
I wonder how many men fit this job description. How many young, upper class, smart, quick-learning, hunks do you know?
Now further restrict that list to humble Christians. Pretty short list, eh? That's the "A" list that Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were on.
I wonder why we almost always use Daniel's Hebrew name, but we refer to his 3 friends by the new (Babylonian?) names given to them by the chief official who was first in charge of them during their captivity. I wonder if the official gave all his trainees new names.
I wonder how many men fit this job description. How many young, upper class, smart, quick-learning, hunks do you know?
Now further restrict that list to humble Christians. Pretty short list, eh? That's the "A" list that Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were on.
I wonder why we almost always use Daniel's Hebrew name, but we refer to his 3 friends by the new (Babylonian?) names given to them by the chief official who was first in charge of them during their captivity. I wonder if the official gave all his trainees new names.
7/14/2007
Two sticks in one
Ezekiel 37:15-28 - The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, take a stick of wood and write on it, 'Belonging to Judah and the Israelites associated with him.' Then take another stick of wood, and write on it, 'Ephraim's stick, belonging to Joseph and all the house of Israel associated with him.' Join them together into one stick so that they will become one in your hand.
"When your countrymen ask you, 'Won't you tell us what you mean by this?' say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am going to take the stick of Joseph—which is in Ephraim's hand—and of the Israelite tribes associated with him, and join it to Judah's stick, making them a single stick of wood, and they will become one in my hand.' Hold before their eyes the sticks you have written on and say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms. They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.
" 'My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees. They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children's children will live there forever, and David my servant will be their prince forever. I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. Then the nations will know that I the LORD make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.' "
I wonder how many people actually asked Ezekiel what the meaning of the sticks was.
I wonder what the sticks looked like. Were they long and flat like cricket bats? Were they short and round, just fallen from a tree? What did Ezekiel use to write on them?
With prophecies like these, I don't wonder that some (many?) Israelis expected to someday live in a great and powerful kingdom again -- like that of David and Solomon. No wonder people asked Jesus if he would restore the kingdom. But I believe that both these prophecies and Jesus own words pointed to a heavenly kingdom. Jesus himself is really the "David" mentioned here in Ezekiel's prophecy. He's the only "servant" and "prince" who could rule "forever."
"When your countrymen ask you, 'Won't you tell us what you mean by this?' say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am going to take the stick of Joseph—which is in Ephraim's hand—and of the Israelite tribes associated with him, and join it to Judah's stick, making them a single stick of wood, and they will become one in my hand.' Hold before their eyes the sticks you have written on and say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms. They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.
" 'My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees. They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children's children will live there forever, and David my servant will be their prince forever. I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. Then the nations will know that I the LORD make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.' "
I wonder how many people actually asked Ezekiel what the meaning of the sticks was.
I wonder what the sticks looked like. Were they long and flat like cricket bats? Were they short and round, just fallen from a tree? What did Ezekiel use to write on them?
With prophecies like these, I don't wonder that some (many?) Israelis expected to someday live in a great and powerful kingdom again -- like that of David and Solomon. No wonder people asked Jesus if he would restore the kingdom. But I believe that both these prophecies and Jesus own words pointed to a heavenly kingdom. Jesus himself is really the "David" mentioned here in Ezekiel's prophecy. He's the only "servant" and "prince" who could rule "forever."
7/08/2007
Egypt as pay
Ezekiel 29:17-20 - In the 27th year, in the first month on the first day, the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon drove his army in a hard campaign against Tyre; every head was rubbed bare and every shoulder made raw. Yet he and his army got no reward from the campaign he led against Tyre. Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am going to give Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will carry off its wealth. He will loot and plunder the land as pay for his army. I have given him Egypt as a reward for his efforts because he and his army did it for me, declares the Sovereign LORD."
I wonder why Nebuchadnezzar got no plunder from Tyre. Maybe it was because his army so completely destroyed it that there was nothing worthwhile left to take! After all, God had said that no one would ever find Tyre again. (See previous blog post.)
Notice how Nebuchadnezzar was being used as God's tool to carry out judgment on Egypt. That's quite a reward for doing what God wanted -- the wealth of a whole country. Consider what wealth can be yours if you do what God says too. Your reward will be great in heaven, yes, but (not that this is the motivation for obedience) it could be great here on earth too.
I wonder why Nebuchadnezzar got no plunder from Tyre. Maybe it was because his army so completely destroyed it that there was nothing worthwhile left to take! After all, God had said that no one would ever find Tyre again. (See previous blog post.)
Notice how Nebuchadnezzar was being used as God's tool to carry out judgment on Egypt. That's quite a reward for doing what God wanted -- the wealth of a whole country. Consider what wealth can be yours if you do what God says too. Your reward will be great in heaven, yes, but (not that this is the motivation for obedience) it could be great here on earth too.
Merchandise from Tyre
Ezekiel 26:19-27:23 - This is what the Sovereign LORD says: When I make you a desolate city, like cities no longer inhabited, and when I bring the ocean depths over you and its vast waters cover you, then I will bring you down with those who go down to the pit, to the people of long ago. I will make you dwell in the earth below, as in ancient ruins, with those who go down to the pit, and you will not return or take your place in the land of the living. I will bring you to a horrible end and you will be no more. You will be sought, but you will never again be found, declares the Sovereign LORD.
The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, take up a lament concerning Tyre. Say to Tyre, situated at the gateway to the sea, merchant of peoples on many coasts, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
You say, O Tyre,
"I am perfect in beauty."
Your domain was on the high seas;
your builders brought your beauty to perfection.
They made all your timbers
of pine trees from Senir;
they took a cedar from Lebanon
to make a mast for you.
Of oaks from Bashan
they made your oars;
of cypress wood from the coasts of Cyprus
they made your deck, inlaid with ivory.
Fine embroidered linen from Egypt was your sail
and served as your banner;
your awnings were of blue and purple
from the coasts of Elishah.
Men of Sidon and Arvad were your oarsmen;
your skilled men, O Tyre, were aboard as your seamen.
Veteran craftsmen of Gebal were on board
as shipwrights to caulk your seams.
All the ships of the sea and their sailors
came alongside to trade for your wares.
Men of Persia, Lydia and Put
served as soldiers in your army.
They hung their shields and helmets on your walls,
bringing you splendor.
Men of Arvad and Helech
manned your walls on every side;
men of Gammad
were in your towers.
They hung their shields around your walls;
they brought your beauty to perfection.
Tarshish did business with you because of your great wealth of goods; they exchanged silver, iron, tin and lead for your merchandise.
Greece, Tubal and Meshech traded with you; they exchanged slaves and articles of bronze for your wares.
Men of Beth Togarmah exchanged work horses, war horses and mules for your merchandise.
The men of Rhodes traded with you, and many coastlands were your customers; they paid you with ivory tusks and ebony.
Aram did business with you because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise, purple fabric, embroidered work, fine linen, coral and rubies for your merchandise.
Judah and Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat from Minnith and confections, honey, oil and balm for your wares.
Damascus, because of your many products and great wealth of goods, did business with you in wine from Helbon and wool from Zahar.
Danites and Greeks from Uzal bought your merchandise; they exchanged wrought iron, cassia and calamus for your wares.
Dedan traded in saddle blankets with you.
Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your customers; they did business with you in lambs, rams and goats.
The merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded with you; for your merchandise they exchanged the finest of all kinds of spices and precious stones, and gold.
Haran, Canneh and Eden and merchants of Sheba, Asshur and Kilmad traded with you.' "
I wonder what it was that everyone wanted from Tyre. Since Tyre "will never again be found," we may never know the full scope of their wares. Perhaps the ships themselves were purchased in some cases, but it says there were "many products."
I wonder how many (if any) people have tried (unsuccessfully?) to find the ruins of Tyre.
The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, take up a lament concerning Tyre. Say to Tyre, situated at the gateway to the sea, merchant of peoples on many coasts, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
You say, O Tyre,
"I am perfect in beauty."
Your domain was on the high seas;
your builders brought your beauty to perfection.
They made all your timbers
of pine trees from Senir;
they took a cedar from Lebanon
to make a mast for you.
Of oaks from Bashan
they made your oars;
of cypress wood from the coasts of Cyprus
they made your deck, inlaid with ivory.
Fine embroidered linen from Egypt was your sail
and served as your banner;
your awnings were of blue and purple
from the coasts of Elishah.
Men of Sidon and Arvad were your oarsmen;
your skilled men, O Tyre, were aboard as your seamen.
Veteran craftsmen of Gebal were on board
as shipwrights to caulk your seams.
All the ships of the sea and their sailors
came alongside to trade for your wares.
Men of Persia, Lydia and Put
served as soldiers in your army.
They hung their shields and helmets on your walls,
bringing you splendor.
Men of Arvad and Helech
manned your walls on every side;
men of Gammad
were in your towers.
They hung their shields around your walls;
they brought your beauty to perfection.
Tarshish did business with you because of your great wealth of goods; they exchanged silver, iron, tin and lead for your merchandise.
Greece, Tubal and Meshech traded with you; they exchanged slaves and articles of bronze for your wares.
Men of Beth Togarmah exchanged work horses, war horses and mules for your merchandise.
The men of Rhodes traded with you, and many coastlands were your customers; they paid you with ivory tusks and ebony.
Aram did business with you because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise, purple fabric, embroidered work, fine linen, coral and rubies for your merchandise.
Judah and Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat from Minnith and confections, honey, oil and balm for your wares.
Damascus, because of your many products and great wealth of goods, did business with you in wine from Helbon and wool from Zahar.
Danites and Greeks from Uzal bought your merchandise; they exchanged wrought iron, cassia and calamus for your wares.
Dedan traded in saddle blankets with you.
Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your customers; they did business with you in lambs, rams and goats.
The merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded with you; for your merchandise they exchanged the finest of all kinds of spices and precious stones, and gold.
Haran, Canneh and Eden and merchants of Sheba, Asshur and Kilmad traded with you.' "
I wonder what it was that everyone wanted from Tyre. Since Tyre "will never again be found," we may never know the full scope of their wares. Perhaps the ships themselves were purchased in some cases, but it says there were "many products."
I wonder how many (if any) people have tried (unsuccessfully?) to find the ruins of Tyre.
7/04/2007
The delight of his eyes
Ezekiel 24:15-18 - The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, with one blow I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes. Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears. Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban fastened and your sandals on your feet; do not cover the lower part of your face or eat the customary food of mourners ."
So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.
I wonder if he told her ahead of time. I hope not. I think.
So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.
I wonder if he told her ahead of time. I hope not. I think.
6/28/2007
Just a nice parable
Ezekiel 20:49 - Then I said, "Ah, Sovereign LORD! They are saying of me, 'Isn't he just telling parables?' "
I wonder who it was that was spreading such gossip about Ezekiel. Did the elders believe this too? Perhaps some did. I wonder how may people actually got to hear Ezekiel prophesy firsthand. How many even cared to? It's difficult to imagine what spreading this news in those days would have been like. Remember, there were no radios, TVs, movies, telephones (cell or otherwise), and no Internet. It was almost entirely word of mouth, plus some writings. I wonder if his writings got passed around much.
I wonder who it was that was spreading such gossip about Ezekiel. Did the elders believe this too? Perhaps some did. I wonder how may people actually got to hear Ezekiel prophesy firsthand. How many even cared to? It's difficult to imagine what spreading this news in those days would have been like. Remember, there were no radios, TVs, movies, telephones (cell or otherwise), and no Internet. It was almost entirely word of mouth, plus some writings. I wonder if his writings got passed around much.
6/27/2007
A lament is a lament is a lament
Ezekiel 19:14 - This is a lament and is to be used as a lament.
Was there a problem with people using laments for other purposes? Why else would you specifically state what a writing (poetry, in this case) is to be used for? Sometimes things can be used for purposes other than the creator's intended one. A book can be used as a doorstop. But what else would you use a lament for? It's very nature is sad. How could it be used successfully any other way?
Was there a problem with people using laments for other purposes? Why else would you specifically state what a writing (poetry, in this case) is to be used for? Sometimes things can be used for purposes other than the creator's intended one. A book can be used as a doorstop. But what else would you use a lament for? It's very nature is sad. How could it be used successfully any other way?
6/19/2007
How to go into exile
Ezekiel 12:3-7 - "Therefore, son of man, pack your belongings for exile and in the daytime, as they watch, set out and go from where you are to another place. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. During the daytime, while they watch, bring out your belongings packed for exile. Then in the evening, while they are watching, go out like those who go into exile. While they watch, dig through the wall and take your belongings out through it. Put them on your shoulder as they are watching and carry them out at dusk. Cover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have made you a sign to the house of Israel."
So I did as I was commanded. During the day I brought out my things packed for exile. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands. I took my belongings out at dusk, carrying them on my shoulders while they watched.
Having never gone into exile myself, I wonder what you pack before doing so and how you behave in order to appear to others that you are going into exile, even though you are doing so voluntarily and solo. I mean, unless they asked him, how did anyone know Ezekiel was pretending to go into exile?
I also wonder how much use a city wall really is that can be dug through with your bare hands. I wonder if anyone made Ezekiel fix the hole later.
So I did as I was commanded. During the day I brought out my things packed for exile. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands. I took my belongings out at dusk, carrying them on my shoulders while they watched.
Having never gone into exile myself, I wonder what you pack before doing so and how you behave in order to appear to others that you are going into exile, even though you are doing so voluntarily and solo. I mean, unless they asked him, how did anyone know Ezekiel was pretending to go into exile?
I also wonder how much use a city wall really is that can be dug through with your bare hands. I wonder if anyone made Ezekiel fix the hole later.
6/16/2007
Between heaven and earth
Ezekiel 8:1-3 - In the sixth year, in the sixth month on the fifth day, while I was sitting in my house and the elders of Judah were sitting before me, the hand of the Sovereign LORD came upon me there. I looked, and I saw a figure like that of a man. From what appeared to be his waist down he was like fire, and from there up his appearance was as bright as glowing metal. He stretched out what looked like a hand and took me by the hair of my head. The Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and in visions of God he took me to Jerusalem, to the entrance to the north gate of the inner court, where the idol that provokes to jealousy stood.
I wonder what the elders thought when they saw Ezekiel levitate. Or did he maybe (seem to) disappear from their vantage point? It's hard to say with descriptions like this partly because they're so hard to describe to someone who hasn't experienced the same thing.
What does it really mean to be taken somewhere else in "visions of God"? Was his body moved there too? Or are visions by definition only spiritual?
At the beginning of chapter 11, this story (vision) seems to continue. But now Ezekiel is taken to the temple apparently body and all -- yet he is still only seeing a vision based on the last verse of the chapter: "Then the vision I had seen went up from me...."
Where was Ezekiel at that point? By the temple? In his house? No, it doesn't matter. It's just something I wonder about.
I wonder what the elders thought when they saw Ezekiel levitate. Or did he maybe (seem to) disappear from their vantage point? It's hard to say with descriptions like this partly because they're so hard to describe to someone who hasn't experienced the same thing.
What does it really mean to be taken somewhere else in "visions of God"? Was his body moved there too? Or are visions by definition only spiritual?
At the beginning of chapter 11, this story (vision) seems to continue. But now Ezekiel is taken to the temple apparently body and all -- yet he is still only seeing a vision based on the last verse of the chapter: "Then the vision I had seen went up from me...."
Where was Ezekiel at that point? By the temple? In his house? No, it doesn't matter. It's just something I wonder about.
6/14/2007
Hair everywhere
Ezekiel 5:1-4 - "Now, son of man, take a sharp sword and use it as a barber's razor to shave your head and your beard. Then take a set of scales and divide up the hair. When the days of your siege come to an end, burn a third of the hair with fire inside the city. Take a third and strike it with the sword all around the city. And scatter a third to the wind. For I will pursue them with drawn sword. But take a few strands of hair and tuck them away in the folds of your garment. Again, take a few of these and throw them into the fire and burn them up. A fire will spread from there to the whole house of Israel."
I wonder how many people stopped what they were doing to watch Ezekiel shave, burn, chop, scatter, and tuck away his hair.
I wonder how many got the message.
I wonder how many people stopped what they were doing to watch Ezekiel shave, burn, chop, scatter, and tuck away his hair.
I wonder how many got the message.
6/13/2007
Side to side
Ezekiel 4:4-6 - "Then lie on your left side and put the sin of the house of Israel upon yourself. You are to bear their sin for the number of days you lie on your side. I have assigned you the same number of days as the years of their sin. So for 390 days you will bear the sin of the house of Israel.
"After you have finished this, lie down again, this time on your right side, and bear the sin of the house of Judah. I have assigned you 40 days, a day for each year."
This is well over a year, folks! 390 + 40 = 430 and 430 - 365 = 65 About 14 months!
I wonder if Ezekiel spent the whole day (apart from providing for his physical needs) lying there on his side. If he did, I wonder who provided his food. Did his relatives help him out? His friends? Or were they too embarrassed to be seen with this lunatic -- much less to be helping him out? Was Ezekiel independently wealthy? Did he have 14 months of food in store?
Did he have any shelter from the elements?
I don't wonder if anyone made fun of him.
"After you have finished this, lie down again, this time on your right side, and bear the sin of the house of Judah. I have assigned you 40 days, a day for each year."
This is well over a year, folks! 390 + 40 = 430 and 430 - 365 = 65 About 14 months!
I wonder if Ezekiel spent the whole day (apart from providing for his physical needs) lying there on his side. If he did, I wonder who provided his food. Did his relatives help him out? His friends? Or were they too embarrassed to be seen with this lunatic -- much less to be helping him out? Was Ezekiel independently wealthy? Did he have 14 months of food in store?
Did he have any shelter from the elements?
I don't wonder if anyone made fun of him.
6/11/2007
Difficult languages
Ezekiel 3:5-6 - You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and difficult language, but to the house of Israel - not to many peoples of obscure speech and difficult language, whose words you cannot understand.
I wonder which language(s) God considered difficult to learn and understand compared to the Hebrew that Ezekiel spoke.
I wonder which language(s) God considered difficult to learn and understand compared to the Hebrew that Ezekiel spoke.
6/10/2007
Glowing metal
Ezekiel 1:4-5 - The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures.
I wonder where Ezekiel had previously seen glowing metal. Most likely in the shop of a blacksmith -- or whatever such a craftsman of that type was known as. You don't normally try to make a comparison between something you are currently witnessing and something you've never seen before. So this is why I think it's fair to assume Ezekiel actually had seen glowing metal before.
I wonder where Ezekiel had previously seen glowing metal. Most likely in the shop of a blacksmith -- or whatever such a craftsman of that type was known as. You don't normally try to make a comparison between something you are currently witnessing and something you've never seen before. So this is why I think it's fair to assume Ezekiel actually had seen glowing metal before.
6/03/2007
Throwing away the scroll
Jeremiah 51:60-63 - Jeremiah had written on a scroll about all the disasters that would come upon Babylon—all that had been recorded concerning Babylon. He said to Seraiah, "When you get to Babylon, see that you read all these words aloud. Then say, 'O LORD, you have said you will destroy this place, so that neither man nor animal will live in it; it will be desolate forever.' When you finish reading this scroll, tie a stone to it and throw it into the Euphrates...."
I wonder how many copies of the prophecy against Babylon were made. There must have been at least two. There was the one that Seraiah was to throw into the Euphrates -- presumably lost forever. And there was the one that has been passed down through the ages here in the book of Jeremiah. Or did the one that was thrown into the river survive? Did it ever actually get thrown away?
I wonder how many copies of the prophecy against Babylon were made. There must have been at least two. There was the one that Seraiah was to throw into the Euphrates -- presumably lost forever. And there was the one that has been passed down through the ages here in the book of Jeremiah. Or did the one that was thrown into the river survive? Did it ever actually get thrown away?
5/27/2007
The cistern
Jeremiah 38:1-13 - Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jehucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malkijah heard what Jeremiah was telling all the people when he said, "This is what the LORD says: 'Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague, but whoever goes over to the Babylonians will live. He will escape with his life; he will live.' And this is what the LORD says: 'This city will certainly be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon, who will capture it.' "
Then the officials said to the king, "This man should be put to death. He is discouraging the soldiers who are left in this city, as well as all the people, by the things he is saying to them. This man is not seeking the good of these people but their ruin."
"He is in your hands," King Zedekiah answered. "The king can do nothing to oppose you."
So they took Jeremiah and put him into the cistern of Malkijah, the king's son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah by ropes into the cistern; it had no water in it, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud.
But Ebed-Melech, a Cushite, an official in the royal palace, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern. While the king was sitting in the Benjamin Gate, Ebed-Melech went out of the palace and said to him, "My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all they have done to Jeremiah the prophet. They have thrown him into a cistern, where he will starve to death when there is no longer any bread in the city."
Then the king commanded Ebed-Melech the Cushite, "Take thirty men from here with you and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies."
So Ebed-Melech took the men with him and went to a room under the treasury in the palace. He took some old rags and worn-out clothes from there and let them down with ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern. Ebed-Melech the Cushite said to Jeremiah, "Put these old rags and worn-out clothes under your arms to pad the ropes." Jeremiah did so, and they pulled him up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern. And Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.
I wonder why Jeremiah's enemies didn't just kill him outright. Why did they go through the trouble of putting him into the cistern. He could still shout his prophecies from there if he wanted to.
I wonder why King Zedekiah waffled so much regarding the fate of Jeremiah. One minute he gives Jeremiah over to his enemies and the next he allows him to be rescued.
I wonder if Ebed-Melech was a personal friend of Jeremiah. I wonder how many friends Jeremiah had amongst the palace officials.
Then the officials said to the king, "This man should be put to death. He is discouraging the soldiers who are left in this city, as well as all the people, by the things he is saying to them. This man is not seeking the good of these people but their ruin."
"He is in your hands," King Zedekiah answered. "The king can do nothing to oppose you."
So they took Jeremiah and put him into the cistern of Malkijah, the king's son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah by ropes into the cistern; it had no water in it, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud.
But Ebed-Melech, a Cushite, an official in the royal palace, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern. While the king was sitting in the Benjamin Gate, Ebed-Melech went out of the palace and said to him, "My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all they have done to Jeremiah the prophet. They have thrown him into a cistern, where he will starve to death when there is no longer any bread in the city."
Then the king commanded Ebed-Melech the Cushite, "Take thirty men from here with you and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies."
So Ebed-Melech took the men with him and went to a room under the treasury in the palace. He took some old rags and worn-out clothes from there and let them down with ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern. Ebed-Melech the Cushite said to Jeremiah, "Put these old rags and worn-out clothes under your arms to pad the ropes." Jeremiah did so, and they pulled him up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern. And Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.
I wonder why Jeremiah's enemies didn't just kill him outright. Why did they go through the trouble of putting him into the cistern. He could still shout his prophecies from there if he wanted to.
I wonder why King Zedekiah waffled so much regarding the fate of Jeremiah. One minute he gives Jeremiah over to his enemies and the next he allows him to be rescued.
I wonder if Ebed-Melech was a personal friend of Jeremiah. I wonder how many friends Jeremiah had amongst the palace officials.
5/26/2007
Irijah
Jeremiah 37:11-15 - After the Babylonian army had withdrawn from Jerusalem because of Pharaoh's army, Jeremiah started to leave the city to go to the territory of Benjamin to get his share of the property among the people there. But when he reached the Benjamin Gate, the captain of the guard, whose name was Irijah son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah, arrested him and said, "You are deserting to the Babylonians!"
"That's not true!" Jeremiah said. "I am not deserting to the Babylonians." But Irijah would not listen to him; instead, he arrested Jeremiah and brought him to the officials. They were angry with Jeremiah and had him beaten and imprisoned in the house of Jonathan the secretary, which they had made into a prison.
I wonder how Irijah knew; that is, recognized Jeremiah. Maybe he didn't have to know him by sight. Maybe he had to ask everyone leaving the city who they were and what their business was.
I wonder why Irijah decided to pick on Jeremiah. Did he accuse any others of desertion? Was it just because Jeremiah was a prophet of God that Irijah arrested him? Did Jeremiah accidentally do something to arouse Irijah's suspicions? If not (and he probably didn't), what did Irijah have to gain by falsely accusing him? Had he worked out some deal with Jeremiah's enemies?
"That's not true!" Jeremiah said. "I am not deserting to the Babylonians." But Irijah would not listen to him; instead, he arrested Jeremiah and brought him to the officials. They were angry with Jeremiah and had him beaten and imprisoned in the house of Jonathan the secretary, which they had made into a prison.
I wonder how Irijah knew; that is, recognized Jeremiah. Maybe he didn't have to know him by sight. Maybe he had to ask everyone leaving the city who they were and what their business was.
I wonder why Irijah decided to pick on Jeremiah. Did he accuse any others of desertion? Was it just because Jeremiah was a prophet of God that Irijah arrested him? Did Jeremiah accidentally do something to arouse Irijah's suspicions? If not (and he probably didn't), what did Irijah have to gain by falsely accusing him? Had he worked out some deal with Jeremiah's enemies?
5/24/2007
The Recabites
Jeremiah 35:6-10 - But they replied, "We do not drink wine, because our forefather Jonadab son of Recab gave us this command: 'Neither you nor your descendants must ever drink wine. Also you must never build houses, sow seed or plant vineyards; you must never have any of these things, but must always live in tents. Then you will live a long time in the land where you are nomads.' We have obeyed everything our forefather Jonadab son of Recab commanded us. Neither we nor our wives nor our sons and daughters have ever drunk wine or built houses to live in or had vineyards, fields or crops. We have lived in tents and have fully obeyed everything our forefather Jonadab commanded us.
I wonder if people thought the Recabites were a little strange. They didn't do some very common things that pretty much everyone else did.
No drinking
No houses
No farming
Nothing wrong with any of that, but wouldn't you think someone like that was a little strange even today? They don't drink alcohol. They don't owna home. Maybe they move from Motel 8 to Motel 8 because their jobs keep them constantly on the move.
Any one of those traits by itself -- or even two -- isn't so strange, but try to find someone with all three. And whole families for generations besides!
I wonder if any of the Recabites ever wanted to live a more "normal" life.
I'm curious. Could you please tell me what brought you to this page by mentioning it in a comment? I won't publish the comment, if you ask me not to.
I wonder if people thought the Recabites were a little strange. They didn't do some very common things that pretty much everyone else did.
No drinking
No houses
No farming
Nothing wrong with any of that, but wouldn't you think someone like that was a little strange even today? They don't drink alcohol. They don't owna home. Maybe they move from Motel 8 to Motel 8 because their jobs keep them constantly on the move.
Any one of those traits by itself -- or even two -- isn't so strange, but try to find someone with all three. And whole families for generations besides!
I wonder if any of the Recabites ever wanted to live a more "normal" life.
I'm curious. Could you please tell me what brought you to this page by mentioning it in a comment? I won't publish the comment, if you ask me not to.
5/20/2007
Jeremiah wakes up
Jeremiah 31:26 - At this I awoke and looked around. My sleep had been pleasant to me.
I wonder how long it took Jeremiah (or almost any Bible write, for that matter) to write his book. That is, on how many different occasions did he have a message to write, and how long were the periods in between writings? Sometimes clues are given as when a historic event or a king's reign is mentioned. But in this case, Jeremiah just says that he woke up from a pleasant sleep in which the Lord had been speaking to him. When did that revelation start? Was it just a few sentences earlier (verse 23)? Was it a whole chapter? The whole book to this point?
I wonder how long it took Jeremiah (or almost any Bible write, for that matter) to write his book. That is, on how many different occasions did he have a message to write, and how long were the periods in between writings? Sometimes clues are given as when a historic event or a king's reign is mentioned. But in this case, Jeremiah just says that he woke up from a pleasant sleep in which the Lord had been speaking to him. When did that revelation start? Was it just a few sentences earlier (verse 23)? Was it a whole chapter? The whole book to this point?
5/19/2007
Seventy years later
Jeremiah 29:10-14 - This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."
I wonder (but not very much) if there were some exiles who, upon hearing these words, said, "Yeah, right!" All but the very young would probably die in Babylon, so they knew the words of this promise were for the next generations. Even some of the young ones would be in their "retirement" years by the time they would return. Yet their must have been a few such people, because we know that later, when they did return, some wept when the foundations of the new Temple were laid as they remembered what the previous Temple had looked like.
I wonder how often those who did believe the promise told their descendants about it.
I wonder (but not very much) if there were some exiles who, upon hearing these words, said, "Yeah, right!" All but the very young would probably die in Babylon, so they knew the words of this promise were for the next generations. Even some of the young ones would be in their "retirement" years by the time they would return. Yet their must have been a few such people, because we know that later, when they did return, some wept when the foundations of the new Temple were laid as they remembered what the previous Temple had looked like.
I wonder how often those who did believe the promise told their descendants about it.
5/17/2007
Sending the letter to the exiles
Jeremiah 29:3 - He entrusted the letter to Elasah son of Shaphan and to Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon.
I wonder why King Zedekiah sent Elasah and Gemariah to Babylon. I doubt it had anything to do with Jeremiah's letter. I wonder if Jeremiah had to "sneak" it to them. Apparently he trusted them. I wonder if they were perhaps even good friends.
I wonder why King Zedekiah sent Elasah and Gemariah to Babylon. I doubt it had anything to do with Jeremiah's letter. I wonder if Jeremiah had to "sneak" it to them. Apparently he trusted them. I wonder if they were perhaps even good friends.
5/15/2007
Letter to the exiles
Jeremiah 29:1 - This is the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.
The words of chapter 29:4-23 are only a copy of the letter Jeremiah wrote to the exiles. The actual letter itself went to Babylon with Elasah and Gemariah. So there were at least 2 copies of it. I wonder if there were ever any more. It was sent to all the exiles as if everyone was supposed to read it or at least hear it read to them. I wonder if they all did get to hear it word for word. The elders and priests probably did, but I wonder about the rest of the people.
The words of chapter 29:4-23 are only a copy of the letter Jeremiah wrote to the exiles. The actual letter itself went to Babylon with Elasah and Gemariah. So there were at least 2 copies of it. I wonder if there were ever any more. It was sent to all the exiles as if everyone was supposed to read it or at least hear it read to them. I wonder if they all did get to hear it word for word. The elders and priests probably did, but I wonder about the rest of the people.
5/13/2007
Pashhur ben Immer
Jeremiah 20:1-6 - When the priest Pashhur son of Immer, the chief officer in the temple of the LORD, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things, he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin at the LORD's temple. The next day, when Pashhur released him from the stocks, Jeremiah said to him, "The LORD's name for you is not Pashhur, but Magor-Missabib. For this is what the LORD says: 'I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends; with your own eyes you will see them fall by the sword of their enemies. I will hand all Judah over to the king of Babylon, who will carry them away to Babylon or put them to the sword. I will hand over to their enemies all the wealth of this city—all its products, all its valuables and all the treasures of the kings of Judah. They will take it away as plunder and carry it off to Babylon. And you, Pashhur, and all who live in your house will go into exile to Babylon. There you will die and be buried, you and all your friends to whom you have prophesied lies.' "
I wonder if Pashhur put any stock in Jeremiah's warnings. Sure, he hated Jeremiah and what he was prophesying, but that doesn't automatically mean he didn't believe any of it. After all, I think by this time Israel knew about Babylon and the threat it posed.
I wonder if Pashhur put any stock in Jeremiah's warnings. Sure, he hated Jeremiah and what he was prophesying, but that doesn't automatically mean he didn't believe any of it. After all, I think by this time Israel knew about Babylon and the threat it posed.
5/10/2007
Buying a jar
Jeremiah 19:1-2 - This is what the LORD says: "Go and buy a clay jar from a potter. Take along some of the elders of the people and of the priests and go out to the Valley of Ben Hinnom, near the entrance of the Potsherd Gate.
I'm surprised Jeremiah could convince anyone to go with him out to the Valley. I wonder what these elders were thinking.
Elder to self: "Gah! This time he's carrying a jar."
Elder to Jeremiah: "Jeremiah, what's in the jar?"
"Nothing."
"What are you bringing it along for?"
"You'll see."
"Where are we going?"
"Ben Hinnom."
"Ben Hinnom! What for?"
"You'll see."
Elder to elder: "I told you this was gonna be weird."
"Weird? I think it's almost laughable. I mean, look at him. Here's this wacko taking a brand new, empty jar outside for who knows what and.... Ya know what? Twenty shekels says he breaks it over his own head."
"Twenty-five says he fills it with mud first."
"You're on." [low chuckles]
Third elder to first two: "You know what's really sad? We took the time to follow him out here to watch him do it."
"Hm, point taken. Then again, didn't have anything better to do back at the Temple anyways."
I'm surprised Jeremiah could convince anyone to go with him out to the Valley. I wonder what these elders were thinking.
Elder to self: "Gah! This time he's carrying a jar."
Elder to Jeremiah: "Jeremiah, what's in the jar?"
"Nothing."
"What are you bringing it along for?"
"You'll see."
"Where are we going?"
"Ben Hinnom."
"Ben Hinnom! What for?"
"You'll see."
Elder to elder: "I told you this was gonna be weird."
"Weird? I think it's almost laughable. I mean, look at him. Here's this wacko taking a brand new, empty jar outside for who knows what and.... Ya know what? Twenty shekels says he breaks it over his own head."
"Twenty-five says he fills it with mud first."
"You're on." [low chuckles]
Third elder to first two: "You know what's really sad? We took the time to follow him out here to watch him do it."
"Hm, point taken. Then again, didn't have anything better to do back at the Temple anyways."
5/09/2007
Shouting at the gates
Jeremiah 17:19-27 - This is what the LORD said to me: "Go and stand at the gate of the people, through which the kings of Judah go in and out; stand also at all the other gates of Jerusalem. Say to them, 'Hear the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah and all people of Judah and everyone living in Jerusalem who come through these gates. This is what the LORD says: Be careful not to carry a load on the Sabbath day or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem. Do not bring a load out of your houses or do any work on the Sabbath, but keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your forefathers. Yet they did not listen or pay attention; they were stiff-necked and would not listen or respond to discipline. But if you are careful to obey me, declares the LORD, and bring no load through the gates of this city on the Sabbath, but keep the Sabbath day holy by not doing any work on it, then kings who sit on David's throne will come through the gates of this city with their officials. They and their officials will come riding in chariots and on horses, accompanied by the men of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, and this city will be inhabited forever. People will come from the towns of Judah and the villages around Jerusalem, from the territory of Benjamin and the western foothills, from the hill country and the Negev, bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices, grain offerings, incense and thank offerings to the house of the LORD. But if you do not obey me to keep the Sabbath day holy by not carrying any load as you come through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle an unquenchable fire in the gates of Jerusalem that will consume her fortresses.' "
It must have been business as usual every Saturday -- the Sabbath. Why else would Jeremiah have to repeat these words not just at one but at every city gate -- and there were many -- of Jerusalem. I can imagine that this was one of the first commandments that went by the wayside after idolatry set in. It was all about the almighty shekel. I imagine that at first just a few less religious businessmen kept their shops open on the Sabbath. Then when outside traders heard about them -- which probably took all of 2 or 3 days -- they came in through the gates to make a killing on Saturday too. It wouldn't have been long -- maybe a few months to a couple of years -- before nearly everyone was doing it just to keep up with the competition, stay in the black, or even gain that slight edge on the guy across town.
"Hey, Hassan, did you hear Shekaniah's date shop is open on Sabbath now?"
"Yeah, and so is Josh's leather goods. I'm gonna check it out this weekend. I hear he's got some sweet deals on belts. Mine's about shot. What about you? You busy this Sabbath?"
"Not too. Me and Martha were maybe gonna take the kids down to the river to pray for a while, but then I might play around with the scales a bit myself...see if it would make sense to keep the mill open on weekends too."
"Not you too, Abe! I never thought I'd hear something like that come from your lips!"
"Yeah, well...we got to move these kittels and ephods. We got to move these colorful fleeeeece."
I wonder if Jeremiah could even be heard above the din that there must have been at each gate.
When was the last time you had something more important to do on Sunday morning than to worship God for just 1 hour? You've got the whole rest of the day to go shopping. After all, almost every store is open 8 days a week.
It must have been business as usual every Saturday -- the Sabbath. Why else would Jeremiah have to repeat these words not just at one but at every city gate -- and there were many -- of Jerusalem. I can imagine that this was one of the first commandments that went by the wayside after idolatry set in. It was all about the almighty shekel. I imagine that at first just a few less religious businessmen kept their shops open on the Sabbath. Then when outside traders heard about them -- which probably took all of 2 or 3 days -- they came in through the gates to make a killing on Saturday too. It wouldn't have been long -- maybe a few months to a couple of years -- before nearly everyone was doing it just to keep up with the competition, stay in the black, or even gain that slight edge on the guy across town.
"Hey, Hassan, did you hear Shekaniah's date shop is open on Sabbath now?"
"Yeah, and so is Josh's leather goods. I'm gonna check it out this weekend. I hear he's got some sweet deals on belts. Mine's about shot. What about you? You busy this Sabbath?"
"Not too. Me and Martha were maybe gonna take the kids down to the river to pray for a while, but then I might play around with the scales a bit myself...see if it would make sense to keep the mill open on weekends too."
"Not you too, Abe! I never thought I'd hear something like that come from your lips!"
"Yeah, well...we got to move these kittels and ephods. We got to move these colorful fleeeeece."
I wonder if Jeremiah could even be heard above the din that there must have been at each gate.
When was the last time you had something more important to do on Sunday morning than to worship God for just 1 hour? You've got the whole rest of the day to go shopping. After all, almost every store is open 8 days a week.
5/04/2007
Signs
Jeremiah 10:1-2 - Hear what the LORD says to you, O house of Israel. This is what the LORD says:
"Do not learn the ways of the nations
or be terrified by signs in the sky,
though the nations are terrified by them.
I wonder what signs in the sky terrified the people. Consider the various phenomena that could be called signs:
"Do not learn the ways of the nations
or be terrified by signs in the sky,
though the nations are terrified by them.
I wonder what signs in the sky terrified the people. Consider the various phenomena that could be called signs:
- clouds
- storms
- thunder
- lightning
- eclipses
- comets
- moon phases
- auroras
- meteors
- planets
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