Seeds For Thinking

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

Scripture: “And when they arose early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of the LORD.” (1 Samuel 5:4, NKJV)

In the way of a pun, I say that it sounds a little ‘fishy’ to me. Not the Biblical account of Dagon, an idol of the Philistines, but that people would worship an image that had the torso and head of a man and the tail of a fish. The image of a ‘merman,’ something that exists only in fantasy. Not even a mere man, but something worshiped as one having supernatural powers.
Dagon was the idol-god of the Philistines with temples at Beth-dagon in the tribe of Asher (Joshua 19.27), in Gaza (Judges 16.23, which tells how the temple is destroyed by Samson as his last act). The temple in Ashdod is mentioned in 1 Samuel 5.2–7. Dagon was apparently associated first with grain and vegetation, and later had the form of a fish from his navel down, (whence his name, Dagon), and from his navel up, the form of a man. 1.
1 Samuel, chapter 4, describes a great battle between the Hebrews (Israelites) and the Philistines. Even though the Hebrews brought the ark of the LORD from Shiloh, they were defeated; there was a great slaughter. The Philistines captured the ark of God, and the two sons of Eli, judge of Israel, Hophni and Phineas, were killed.
The Philistines brought the ark of God into the house of their idol, Dagon. But when they arose the next morning to check on their trophy of battle, they found the idol, Dagon, fallen on its face before the ark of the LORD. I can imagine the consternation they felt, seeing their idol, bowing down, as it were, before the ark of the LORD.
They set it upright again, but the next morning presented an even more startling sight - Dagon was not only prostrate before the ark, but its head and the palms of it hands were broken off on the threshold that supported the ark.
The men of Ashdod saw the impact the ark had on their idol, and apparently took the ark out of the house of Dagon. Now the city itself suffered great destruction, and The LORD struck the men of the city with a plague of tumors. They next took the ark to another of their cities, Ekron, and the hand of The LORD was heavy there, with great destruction of the city, and the men who did not die were stricken with tumors.
Yes, they finally got rid of the ark, sending it back to The LORD with a trespass offering. That is another story in its own right.
Idols of stone may not be in fashion today, as in the 1st millennium BC, but there are idols a-plenty among us. Wealth, power, privilege, and possessions often come before obedience to God. Like Dagon, they will fall, and The LORD will triumph over all!
October 24, 2010

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dagon

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

* Thieves
* Scripture: God spoke; Moses wrote, "Thou shalt not steal." Deuteronomy 5:17

Would you believe it?! He had the audacity to call me a thief. It was my tree, and my fruit. I planted it, I cared for it - so what right did he have to call me a thief? Actually, there was plenty of fruit for both of us. Well, maybe blue jays have a limited vocabulary. As far as that bird was concerned, though, it was his territory, and the Lord put the fruit on it for his benefit as well as mine.
Fair enough. Besides, "Thief" is only our approximation of a a bluejay's call. It might just mean "Hey, good buddy" in bird talk. Thinking about the word 'thief' did make me curious about thieves in the Bible, though.
It is obvious that thievery was not an acceptable practice at least as far back as the Exodus. "Thou shalt not steal!" You can not get more explicit than that, can you? Well, maybe. Let's take a look.
In a sense, all of the other commandments hinge on stealing. The First Commandment, of course, states that "You shall not have any other gods before Me." What does that have to do with theft? By worshipping idols, by having other gods (lower case 'g') you are taking the honor and worship that rightfully belongs only to God! Think about it!
Taking the name of God in vain, misusing that Good Name, corrupting it, robs God of the dignity and respect that His Good Name deserves.
The Lord God Himself rested on the seventh day. Are we so desperate that we will attempt to steal even time that the Lord has set aside? That time is intended to enrich our lives, so are we stealing from both God AND ourselves by taking away the worship and rest we are loosing? Not to mention that 'rest' from work for our son, daughter, male servant, female servant, ox, donkey, cattle or even the stranger "within our gates." They deserve that rest - so said the Lord Himself. Are you stealing from them?
We are to honor our parents. That topic is worthy of many a sermon and writing, yet we hear report after report of abuse of parents and senior citizens. Outright taking of possessions is obvious, but theft of honor and respect is doubly odious. This is the 'commandment with a promise': "that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you."
Adultery is an especially messy business. It involves breaking a pledge given in good trust, often leading to a life time of disillusionment and ill will for innocent victims who have lost one of the most precious gifts of God - the loving family unit. Much is written in the Laws concerning sexual relations: start with Leviticus Chapter 18 for more insight.
Surely coveting is not stealing. Well, by definition, to covet is to "wish for enviously, to feel inordinate desire for what belongs to another." At what point do wishes become actions? Inordinate desire (covetness) robs the heart of well-being, possibly leading to "evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false-witness, blasphemies." (Mt. 15:19)
Jesus also said, "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust after her (covet) has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Mt. 5:28, see Adultery)
Thieves are prominent in Paul's list of unrighteous practices: "nor thieves, nor coveteous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God." (See 1 Corinthians Chapter 6)
What hope, then, is there? The Holy Spirit walks along side us, to guide and enable our 'walk.'
We always have the option of repentance, even to the last moment (although that is risky) as evidenced by the thieves at the crucifixion of our Lord. One repented, and was forgiven at that very moment.
And finally, as in sports, the best offense is a good defense: Guard yourselves from the wiles of the devil by worship, prayer, and meditation.
July 2, 2006

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

* Gehenna
* Scripture: Jesus said, "Serpents, brood of vipers, how can you escape the condemnation of hell?” (Matthew, 23:33, NKJV)

There is a valley near the city of Jerusalem that has been known for centuries as the “Valley of the Son(s) of Hinnom,” (Joshua 15:16) and is still called Gai Ben Hinnom in Modern Hebrew. The name became associated with an abomination when King Ahaz burned incense there, and burned his children in the fire, following the customs of the nations who lived in Caanan prior to the Hebrew conquest. (2 Chronicles 28:3; 33:6)
The practice of child sacrifice was associated with the pagan god Molech and the fire pits were known as “Topheth” in Hebrew. Priests would bang on drums so that the father would not hear the groans of the child when he would be burned by the hands of the pagan image, Molech. It can well be understood why God became angry with the people participating in Tophet. He spoke through the prophet, Jeremiah, (19:6) “Therefore, behold days are coming, says the Lord, when this place will no longer be called Topheth, or the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter.” Look up other references in a good Bible dictionary, such as the passage in Isaiah 30:33, of fire kindled by the Lord.
King Josiah defiled Topheth (2 Kings 23:10) by turning the valley into a garbage dump for the city of Jerusalem; refuse included the bodies of executed criminals, and the carcasses of animals. The Son of Hinnom’s Valley became a place of perpetual fire, and a byword for a place of torment.
Gai Ben Hinnom became shortened to Gai-Hinnom in rabbinical texts, or Gehinnom. The Greek texts of the New Testament used the word “Gehenna,” often used as a synonym for Hell in modern translations.
Hades is a related word, meaning the underworld, or abode of the dead, similar to Hebrew Sheol, but not usually a place of punishment.
Hell is, according to many religious beliefs, a place or a state of painful suffering. The English word 'hell' comes from the Teutonic 'Hel', which originally meant "to cover" and later referred to the goddess of the Norse underworld, Helgardh.
Jesus used the word Gehenna, not hell, and his audience understood quite well that Gehenna meant a place of condemnation, where Jews had previously cast aside the worship of the true God to defile themselves by committing abominations. Human garbage, sinners, would be consumed and destroyed forever.
Think about it!
November 6, 2005

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

Scripture: The woodworker is measuring out the wood with his line, marking it out with his pencil: after smoothing it with his plane, and making circles on it with his instrument, he gives it the form and glory of a man, so that it may be placed in the house. (Isaiah 44:13, Bible In Basic English)

I have always enjoyed working with my hands - working with wood, metal, masonry, and even things electrical and electronic. Most of my projects are more utilitarian than artistic. They work, but I never seem to get around to the ‘pretty.’
Still, my experiences give me a greater appreciation for the work and works of others. A building embodies the skills of many different workers, and represents much labor in the construction. Someone sees the completed project in their mind’s eye, transforms the vision into plans and images, and guides the hands of those who add each block and beam.
I was thus intrigued when I read the 44th chapter of Isaiah, because it speaks of workmen - craftsmen in metal and wood. I was searching for information about those who crafted the houses and palaces, the city walls, furniture, utensils and farm equipment.
I could picture the carpenter measuring out the wood for a project, carving and cutting until the desired shape appeared.
Or, as in Isaiah 44:12, the metal worker (blacksmith) with hammer, tongs and forge, fashioning metal with the strength of his arms.
But what is this? Isaiah is not praising the skills and labors of these craftsmen. For the object of these artisans is an image, an idol! “He falls down before it and worships it, prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god.” (vs. 17)
Isaiah affirms that it profits a worker nothing who would mold an image or form a god. (vs. 10) A deceived heart cannot deliver his soul. (vs. 20)
Consider, O’ carpenter, the source of the materials for your idol, the cypress and the oak that you have taken from the trees of the forest, then hewn and shaped by your own hand. This is your god? To this you pray?
You use part of the wood to build a fire. You bake bread. You roast meat, enjoy the warmth, and are satisfied. And you use the other part of the same firewood to create your god? An abomination! You fall down before a block of wood!
“I am the first and last,” says the LORD of hosts, “Besides me there is no God! (vs. 6)
What a contrast - the creator and provider God compared to a block of wood or an image in metal. Consider these words: “ I am the LORD who makes all things, who stretches out the heavens all alone, who spreads abroad the earth by Myself; who frustrates the signs of the babblers, and drives diviners mad; who turns wise men backward, and makes their knowledge foolishment; who confirms the word of His servant, and performs the counsel of His messengers.” (Isaiah 44:24-26b, NKJV)
How sad when the people of God turn away from Him to idols, the work of men, made in the image of a man. They are just wood and metal, and unable to do anything.
How sad when people turn from the LORD to things, to ‘stuff,’ to pleasures. Rather, let us so live that we can say, “This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)