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The
Reflections Newsletter
Monday, February 22, 2010
**In This Issue**
- The Book of
Judges
- What Does the Bible Say About...?
Welcome to the
Reflections Newsletter from Reflect His Glory. RHG is a co-ministry
with Creation Science Ministries. Feel free to send this to your relatives
and friends.
The Book of Judges
There is a book of the Bible that
has been judged by some public libraries to be unsuitable for children.
Because of this these public libraries
have attempted to ban
it from their shelves. Gratefully they
have not succeeded. Strangely enough,
the book in question is
the Book of Judges.
It
contains some graphic material that is so explicit as to shock many of its
readers.
However,
while it does have some graphic material, it also shows us some of the most
colorful and mysterious characters in the entire Bible.
Believe
it or not, there are few stories anywhere that can compete
for color and intrigue.
You will
cringe as you read how Ehud goes to visit the king in his summer palace and
slides his dagger between the king's fifth and sixth ribs so that the flesh
closes around it and the knife cannot be withdrawn.
You
will flinch
when Jael drives the tent stake through the skull of Sisera and pins him to the
ground.
You will make a face in disbelief
alongside Gideon as God introduces deep military cutbacks, reducing Israel's
army from 32,000 to 300, and then sends this infinitely outnumbered tiny army
into battle! Your heart will drop to its
depths
with mine when Jephthah's daughter comes out to meet him on his return from
battle, and he remembers his
impulsive vow to sacrifice the first person he meets to God, and then fulfills
that dreadful vow.
Oh
my!! How could he have done that?
You will
triumph with Samson as he wreaks havoc among the Philistines, but wonder at his
recklessness in allowing the Philistine temptress to worm from him the secret of
his strength. You will also undoubtedly
turn with disgust
from the story of the Benjamite perversion that marks perhaps the blackest
chapter in Israel's history.
Fans of historical romance, military history, soap operas, conspiracy theories,
spy novels, swashbuckling adventure, or political intrigue will find it all
right there in the Book of Judges! But from a broader and deeper perspective,
Judges is essentially the story
of a deteriorating nation. It
serves as a sober warning against deterioration in our own nation, and in our
own personal lives, as well as the rest of the world.
During this period in history Israel had no King. As
a result, everyone did what
was right in their own eyes. There was
neglect and mocking of the Word of God. Because of this
neglect and mocking, Israel was in bondage to their
various enemies. The people of Israel
would fall into sin and idol worship; this would result in oppression by, and
bondage to, their enemies. They would
ultimately appeal to God for help; He would raise up a deliverer; and, soon
after their deliverance, they would again fall back into false worship, and
cycle would repeat itself, over and over again.
The world today is living in a period similar to the Book of Judges.
People are "doing what is right in their
own eyes."
Valued
possessions and personal position has replaced the rule of God's law in our
land.
The
Word of God is neglected, even in many of the churches.
His Word is the subject of scorn and
ridicule by pseudo-scholars and critics like the Jesus Seminar.
As
a result, we too are in bondage rather than enjoying the liberty available in
Christ.
The Book of Judges, spanning the time between the conquest of the Canaan and the
establishment of the monarchy, is a colorful, instructive, and prophetically
relevant book to study carefully.
It should be read by all, and be
included in Bible studies everywhere.
What Does the Bible Say About...?
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In this section of the
Reflections Newsletter we answer questions that have been asked.
If you have a question that you would like ask, and do not mind having
it printed in the newsletter, (your name will not be mentioned), feel free to
send your question in an email to me at
biblequestions@reflecthisglory.org. Of course, you may call me
anytime by phone at 801.302 -1111.
The question for this issue is, "What
is the meaning of Jesus' phrase, "...the kingdom of heaven suffers
violence," found in Matthew 11:12?" |
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The context
of this verse is of Jesus' remarks extolling the
virtues of John the Baptist, who announced the
arrival of the Kingdom of Jesus. In the midst
of His comments, Christ Jesus says:
And from the days of John
the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers
violence, and the violent take it by force.
Matthew 11:12 KJV ER
The Jewish people in the days of Jesus were looking for a
kingdom, but not the kind about which John the Baptist was prophesying, or that
was fulfilled by Jesus at that time. They were searching for a leader who
would overthrow the occupying Roman forces in order to reestablish Israel as an
independent nation, which would return the scepter to Judah prophesied by Jacob
in Genesis 49:10. Thus, the religious leaders rejected the movement of
Christ Jesus and His followers. "...the violent take it by force"
indicates their attempts to appropriate Christ Jesus' Kingdom for their own
purposes. Meanwhile, both Jesus and John the Baptist, as well as most of
Jesus' disciples, suffered violence as a result.
Jesus stated that this condition existed "...from the
days of John the Baptist until now...,"
at the time that He spoke. But
as we know, it has continued to prevail up to the present time. Corrupt
individuals have endeavored to commandeer the true Church and fashion it into
something to suit their own purposes. Persecution and violence have been
widespread throughout Church history. However, the Church has prevailed,
and will continue to do so until Christ Jesus returns at the Rapture to take us
home. Then, after His Second Coming, He will usher in the fullness of His
Kingdom during the Millennium.
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**MEMORY VERSE OF THE
MONTH**
And Jabez
called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that You would
bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that Your hand might be with me, and
that You would keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God
granted him that which he had requested.
1 Chronicles 4:10
KJV ER
We solicit your prayers and support of this ministry. God Bless.
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