Seeds For Thinking

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: Daniel said, “God has numbered the days of your reign, and brought it to an end. You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. “Daniel 5:26,27, NIV

One of the great axioms that I have heard quoted often in relation to business and real estate is “Location, location, location!” Picking a spot that sits along a well-traveled road or river makes a big difference in the number of customers a business can attract, or the size to which a city can grow.
Throughout history, access to transportation made large cities possible. The Babylonian Empire was built along the Euphrates, one of the major water thoroughfares of the ancient world, and still an important river today. Babylon, counted as one of the wonders of the ancient world, straddled the Euphrates River, with canals linking various areas of the city. The city is described as having broad streets, intersecting at right angles, often crossing the canals by bridges. The main area of the city was full of temples, palaces, and government structures. Numerous businesses lined the quay, or dock, along the waterfront. Palaces, including the famous Hanging Gardens built by King Nebuchadnezzar, were located on Procession Street. One of the temples, called a ziggurat, was a large tower dedicated to the gods of Babylon. The ruins of this temple still exist in modern-day Iraq.
Like most cities of that time, Babylon was surrounded by walls for protection from invaders. Its rulers felt that the city was impregnable from attack. They had a stockpile of provisions sufficient to last many years, and could live in comfort confident that Babylon could not be taken. Babylon was the most important city in the world at that time. Twenty-three years after the death of King Nebuchadnezzar, Nabonidus and his son, Belshazzar, faced an attempt by the Mede and Persian armies to conquer Babylon. Safe and confident within their walls, they looked out in amazement as King Cyrus’ soldiers spent their time digging a deep trench around the city.
According to the Book of Daniel
(Ch. 5) King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them. Wanting to show off, he had the silver goblets taken from the Jewish temple brought out, and used them to praise “the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood and stone” - idols!
Suddenly, a mysterious hand wrote on the wall, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN.
God enabled Daniel to interpreted it thus: “God has numbered the days of your reign, and brought it to an end. You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”
Outside the city, the armies routed the mighty Euphrates into the ditch they had been digging, and walked into Babylon through the now empty river bed. The river that had brought them prosperity and greatness now brought their destruction.
October 27, 2002

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com

Scripture: Matthew wrote, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save people from their sins.” Mt. 1:21, NIV

What’s in a name? Shakespeare said, “ A rose by another name would smell as sweet.” For most of us, a name is merely a means of identification. Many know that there are other people who share at least the same first and last name. People in some countries, such as Indonesia, use only one name. In other cultures, the name identifies not only the person, but the personality.
For example, the person we know as Peter, the headstrong disciple of Jesus, was Simon bar Jonah - Simon son of Jonah. Jesus gave him the name ‘Stone’ or ‘Rock,’ which in Latin (petros) became ‘Peter.’
But let’s go back a few centuries to some names from the Old Testament. You’ve heard of Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego. And Daniel, of course. But what about Belteshazzar, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah? Same people! We don’t know Daniel by his Babylonian name, Belteshazzar. They were given new names by the chief official of king Nebuchadnezzar (now that’s a mouthful!) Daniel’s new name meant, “O Lady Protect the King” in Babylonian. The Lady mentioned was the wife of Marduk, the god of Babylon. Daniel means ‘God has judged.’
Shadrack means ‘I am very fearful (of a god)’ while ‘Hananiah’ means “Yaweh has been gracious.”
Mishael means “Who is what God is?” but Meshach means “I am of no account.”
Better at least to be called ‘Abednego’ the Servant of the Shining one.’ Better still to be called Azariah, “Yaweh has helped.”
The king in question was Nabu-kudurri-usur, or ‘Nebo, defend the boundary.’
Since Chaldean has gone out of style, King James dubbed him ‘Nebuchadrezzar.”
Consider ‘Nabul.’ He lived up to his name, ‘Foolish’ or ‘Churlish.’ He refused to help king David; his wife, Abigail, apologized for her husbands churlish conduct. When Nabul sobered up enough to understand what he had done, he was profoundly affected and died ten days later. Abigail later became one of David’s wives.
Saul means ‘asked of God.’ The first king of Israel got himself in big trouble by not obeying the Lord. The Saul of the New Testament changed to his Latin name of Paul.
Places, too, have names. How about Urusilimmu? Aren’t you glad ‘foundation of the god (Shalem)’ is called Jerusalem in English?
Now consider “Joshua“ which developed into Jeshua (sometimes Yeshua). Greek and Latin Iesous. The Greek “I” became “J” in English. Yaweh IS Salvation!
Yes!! “Jesus is Salvation.” By any other name - “Oh! How Sweet.
October 6, 2002

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: Joshua said, “Now fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness. . . But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:14-15 NIV

A few Sundays ago, I spoke about the story of Esther, a Jewish woman who became the Queen of Persia. We are studying the book of Daniel now for Thursday evening Bible study. Our Sunday Bible study concerns the time period that Judah was taken into captivity in Babylon, and later restored to their homeland by the King of Persia.
As with many ancient civilizations, their grand cities now lie in ruins. Under normal circumstances, you could visit those sites as a tourist, much as you might visit the Colosseum in Rome, or Capernaum in Israel. As an American Christian, you might not desire to travel there right now, though: the area of ancient Babylon is now Iraq; Persia is in the modern country of Iran.
Lebanon still exists, of course. As does the city of Damascus. Syria is another country that is not too friendly towards modern Israel, the Jews, and the USA. The tug and pull of history goes on, and Israel (the Jews) find themselves in the midst of things, just as they did 2,500 years ago. Whatever you feel about these people, you have to admit they have survived in spite of persecutions for thousands of years.
In the cases of both Esther and Daniel, their strong belief in God, and their courage to hold fast to their principles, made a difference in the survival of their people at times when they faced annihilation. They were not the only ones, of course, who made a difference at a critical period in the Jew’s long history. For each person who made the “books” there are thousands of others who were faithful, and passed on the legacy of God, teaching their children, and their children’s children. A community doesn’t exist without people holding something in common. Sociologists speak of “mores (pronounced more-rays) the fixed, morally binding customs of a particular group. One of the things many people decry today is the lack of moral attitudes, of habits and manners that are uplifting and supportive of other people. It takes a strong person to say “No!” when the world all about you seems to accept all and any fad or fetish. Drugs, sex, dishonest dealings - “It’s everywhere, so ‘just do it’ and enjoy.” NOT!
We have access to the same power that Daniel and Esther, Ezekiel and Jeremiah, Peter and Paul had: The LORD God Almighty! That power will anchor us to pass on these morally binding customs to our children, and our children’s children. And to each and every person we meet where we have an opportunity to witness by our stead-fastness in holding to principles that nothing in this world will compromise them.
September 22, 2002