Saturday, April 30, 2022
Friday, April 29, 2022
Psalm, chapter 10, comments
Psalm 10:1 ¶ Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble? 2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined. 3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth. 4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. 5 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them. 6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity. 7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity. 8 He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor. 9 He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net. 10 He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones. 11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.
Here David makes a lament that prophets in the Bible made and many
Christians even today might say. Where are you God? David, the man after God’s
own heart, had his moments of doubt and pain, feeling abandoned by God. I read
a suicide note once by someone I loved dearly that expressed that sentiment, as
the person declared they loved God but felt that He had abandoned them.
David’s cry speaks in verse 2 pleads for the intentions of the
evil to come back to bite them.
Psalm 7:16 His mischief shall return upon his own head,
and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.
Psalm 9:15 The heathen are
sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own
foot taken. 16 The LORD is known by the
judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands.
Higgaion. Selah.
Proverbs 5:22 His own
iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords
of his sins.
David, in verse 3, points out how the wicked are proud of their
wickedness and speak well of those like them, covetous and greedy, always
wanting what they don’t have. God detests this sort of people. See similar
thoughts in these verses.
Psalm 49:6 ¶ They that
trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
Psalm 94:4 How long shall
they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast
themselves?
In verses 4 and 5 David declares that the wicked will not seek
after God because of their pride and that God’s judgments and thoughts are
beyond them.
This confidence the wicked has, as David says in verse 6, leads
them to do wicked and evil things to those weaker than them. David laments the
state of the wicked referenced here in their malicious behavior.
Verse 11 is expressed more fully in Psalm 73, a psalm of Asaph.
Psalm 73:1 ¶ «A Psalm of
Asaph.» Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost
gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. 3
For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the
wicked. 4 For there are no bands in
their death: but their strength is firm. 5
They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like
other men. 6 Therefore pride compasseth
them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. 7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have
more than heart could wish. 8
They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they
speak loftily. 9 They set their mouth
against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. 10 Therefore his people return hither: and
waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. 11
And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most
High? 12 Behold, these are the ungodly,
who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. 13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and
washed my hands in innocency. 14 For all
the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
For this passage from a prophetic point of view let’s look ahead. First,
let’s look at Ahab and the matter of the vineyard he coveted.
IKings 21:1 ¶ And it came
to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which
was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2 And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me
thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto
my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem
good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money. 3 And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it
me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. 4 And Ahab came into his house heavy and
displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him:
for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he
laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.
5 ¶ But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said
unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread? 6 And he said unto her, Because I spake unto
Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or
else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he
answered, I will not give thee my vineyard. 7
And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of
Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee
the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite. 8
So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal, and
sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city,
dwelling with Naboth. 9 And she wrote in
the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people:
10 And set two men, sons of Belial,
before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and
the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die. 11 And the men of his city, even the elders and
the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto
them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them.
12 They proclaimed a fast, and set
Naboth on high among the people. 13 And
there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of
Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the
people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him
forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died. 14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is
stoned, and is dead. 15 And it came to
pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel
said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite,
which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead.
16 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard
that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth
the
Jezreelite, to take possession of it.
17 ¶ And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the
Tishbite, saying, 18 Arise, go down to
meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of
Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess it. 19 And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus
saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt
speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the
blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine. 20 And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me,
O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold
thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD.
Second, from Isaiah in a prophecy about how Babylon thought it was
invincible in a comparison with verse 6.
Isaiah 47: 5 Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O
daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called, The lady of
kingdoms. 6 I was wroth with my people,
I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst
shew them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke.7
¶ And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for
ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst
remember the latter end of it.
Then, look at the future when Christ returns to settle accounts.
1Thessalonians 5:1 ¶ But of
the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of
the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction
cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not
escape.
On a personal note in today’s world we can compare verse 3 in
particular to;
Romans 1:32 Who knowing the
judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not
only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
The wicked today on every level of society have no shame and like
to not only boast about their own wickedness as in, “I’m a playa,” or, “I’m a
party animal,” or certain perverse lifestyles or greed and exploitation but
also applaud others who are wicked like themselves.
Whether it be corrupt and wicked individuals on a personal basis
or corporate actors on the international stage there are many people who are
not only oppressors and users of others but applaud such things as taking care
of themselves and seeking their own interests. And they have no regard for God.
Psalm 10:12 ¶ Arise, O
LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble. 13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he
hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it. 14 Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest
mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth
himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless. 15 Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil
man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none. 16 The LORD is King for ever and ever:
the heathen are perished out of his land. 17
LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their
heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear: 18
To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may
no more oppress.
This is a very interesting passage, with David, a king, pleading
for God’s hand to protect the humble which from the context of this chapter and
passage refers to the poor and politically powerless. Verse 13 goes on to ask
why the wicked contemn God, with contemn meaning to treat or regard with
contempt. God will not, the wicked think, require, seek after, demand, to call
into account, all older and current meanings of require, the matter of
the sin the wicked commits.
Ecclesiastes3:15 That which
hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth
that which is past.
But in verse 14 David says that God does see it and does call
these things into account and He does help the poor and those without a
protector or benefactor, being fatherless means you are politically powerless. The
immanence of God, that He is everywhere and can see every single thing, not
being constrained by the laws of physics, is a fundamental Bible doctrine.
Proverbs 15:3 ¶ The eyes of
the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
Jeremiah 16:17 For mine
eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their
iniquity hid from mine eyes.
Jeremiah 23:24 Can any hide
himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I
fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.
Hebrews 4:13 Neither is
there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked
and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
An important point to note here is not that this is a guarantee
for every one who is poor and/or fatherless. David is saying that the poor do
trust in God and He does help the fatherless although we know from our
experience that this is not in every case. It is important to note that
seemingly absolute statements in the Bible fall into two categories: one,
without exception as in every single one, and two, without distinction, as in a
class of possibilities. God does help the weak. Pointing out an exception to
this statement does not make it invalid any more than you jumping off your roof
and not breaking your legs makes gravity invalid.
Who is this man of the earth that David is talking about? This man
of the earth as opposed to heaven is an oppressor. The natural man does not
know God. Kings, princes, leaders of all stripes can fall into this category if
they do not honor God above themselves.
1Corinthians 2:14 But the
natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are
foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually
discerned.
And notice the requirement for a Godly leader.
2Samuel 23:3 The God of
Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be
just, ruling in the fear of God.
Keep in mind that the heathen are those that opposed God the Creator
as they bask in pagan religions based on nature and devil worship. Perhaps
this, in 16, is David’s desire and if only Israel had obeyed at the first it
might have been so.
This passage has some interesting prophetic possibilities with regard
to the Beast of Revelation, whoever he will be. Verse 15 contrasts with;
Zechariah 11:17 Woe to the
idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon
his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be
utterly darkened.
The Beast will not regard God the Creator. From Daniel we see what
his worship might be centered on much like a theoretical physicist today. For
verse 13 compare;
Daniel 11:38 But in his
estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not
shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant
things.
For verse 16 consider then this verse regarding the New Jerusalem;
Revelation 21:27 And there
shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever
worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s
book of life.
Also, consider these regarding events on the earth itself.
2Thesslonians 2:8 And then
shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of
his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
Revelation 20:9 And they
went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints
about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and
devoured them.10 And the devil that
deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and
the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
The man of the earth in verse 18 has some interesting
prophetic possibilities. One consideration is that in modern terms earth
religions are also called nature worship where wind, fire, storms, and other
naturally occurring phenomenon are worshipped as well as the matriarchal
religious worship of goddesses like Ishtar, the goddess of prostitutes,
immigrants (some say), and of liberty, from Babylon to New York Harbor.
This also gives us an indication along with Daniel 11:38 of the religious
worship of the Beast, perhaps although ultimately, as many political leaders,
he is his own god. He also may be a homosexual or consider himself asexual like
an ascetic monk in that he cares not for women sexually.
Daniel 11:37 Neither shall
he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god:
for he shall magnify himself above all.
Personally, this passage, can mean many things for you and me. For
the Christian in a third world socialist or Muslim country it can be a plea for
God’s mercy and protection. For the working person in America it can be a
heartfelt cry for justice and protection against those who would manipulate and
control us under the guise, the lie that they are doing what is in our best
interest. Runaway inflation from government spending supposedly to help the
country. Heart issues and cancer from being forced to take a potentially
dangerous pseudo-vaccine into our bodies in order to work and travel. Attempts
to interfere with our rights and responsibilities as parents and our own rights
over our own bodies. All these things are tokens of oppression by a powerful
elite of wealthy men, many of whom made their wealth by stealing from us. This
passage is a powerful prayer.
Joshua, chapter 9, brief comments
Joshua 9:1 ¶ And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof; 2 That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.
These small city-states that had been used to depending on Egypt
for support now band together in spite of their likely hostilities with each
other to defend themselves against the invading horde of Israelites. Leagues
and confederacies, it has been written by commentators, form against Joshua and
his people. They will come from far and wide to join the fight.
Joshua 9:3 ¶ And when the
inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai, 4 They did work wilily, and went and made as if
they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine
bottles, old, and rent, and bound up; 5
And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them;
and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy. 6 And they went to Joshua unto the camp at
Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far
country: now therefore make ye a league with us. 7 And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites,
Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you? 8 And they said unto Joshua, We are thy
servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come
ye? 9 And they said unto him, From a
very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God:
for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt, 10 And all that he did to the two kings of the
Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og
king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth. 11 Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants
of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and
go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now
make ye a league with us. 12 This our
bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came
forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy: 13 And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were
new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become
old by reason of the very long journey. 14
And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the
mouth of the LORD.
The inhabitants of Gibeon are crafty and see the proverbial
writing on the wall. Understanding that these small city-states could hardly
muster enough soldiers to stand against an invasion of tens of thousands of
armed men and perhaps a couple million people, a vast horde invading the entire
area of Canaan, they propose a different tactic.
Joshua 9:15 ¶ And Joshua
made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the
princes of the congregation sware unto them. 16
And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a
league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that
they dwelt among them. 17 And the
children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now
their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim.
18 And the children of Israel smote them
not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD
God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes. 19 But all the princes said unto all the
congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore
we may not touch them. 20 This we will
do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the
oath which we sware unto them. 21 And
the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and
drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.
Here is an important principle of God’s standard of character and
justice. If you make a deal, even if you find that the other party has lied,
you are still bound by your oath. We can hardly accept this today and would
not. In older days with regard to a gentleman it has been said that it is not
the other person’s character but your own that you should be concerned with and
perhaps a little more active spying would have let Joshua and company know just
how close these cities of Canaan were. The Israelites are binding themselves to
the oath they made but are punishing the offenders for their mendacity. They
will be servants.
Joshua 9:22 ¶ And Joshua
called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us,
saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us? 23 Now therefore ye are cursed, and there
shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers
of water for the house of my God. 24 And
they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how
that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and
to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were
sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing. 25 And now, behold, we are in thine hand:
as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do. 26 And so did he unto them, and delivered them
out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not. 27 And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood
and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even
unto this day, in the place which he should choose.
Joshua says the fake diplomats from faraway are cursed but they
see it differently as people who through cunning saved their lives and the lives
of their families. They are satisfied with being servants to the Israelites.
This will put them under the protection of the conquering Israelites as will be
evident later.
Thursday, April 28, 2022
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Monday, April 25, 2022
Sunday, April 24, 2022
Saturday, April 23, 2022
Friday, April 22, 2022
Thursday, April 21, 2022
Wednesday, April 20, 2022
Tuesday, April 19, 2022
Matthew, chapter 2, comments
Matthew 2:1 ¶ Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. 7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
Notice the text says wise men, not the three wise men of
Christian mythology. The wise men of the east are linked to magicians,
sorcerers, astrologers, and the Chaldeans of Babylon.
Genesis 41:8 And it came to
pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for
all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them
his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.
Exodus 7:11 Then Pharaoh
also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they
also did in like manner with their enchantments.
Daniel 2:1 ¶ And in the
second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams,
wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him. 2 Then the king commanded to call the
magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to
shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
This brings up an important point that even the wise men of the
heathen will acknowledge Jesus. They too were looking for the Messiah to
appear.
James 2:19 Thou believest
that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Philippians 2:10 That at
the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in
earth, and things under the earth; 11
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father.
One interesting side note is that famous authorities of Christian
history like Augustine of Hippo and John Wycliffe, called the Morning Star of
the Reformation, regarded the pagan writings of Greek philosophers like Plato
and Aristotle as inspired by God when their writings confirmed Bible truths.
The capacity of pagan wise men to see something that God has revealed goes
along with the saying that even a broken clock is right twice a day.
Verse 2 refers to the King of the Jews. This title is used
again.
Matthew 27:11 And Jesus
stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the
King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.
Matthew 27:29 And when they
had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his
right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail,
King of the Jews!
Matthew 27:37 And set up
over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
But this kingship was a reference to His spiritual authority and
to Christ’s future reign for a thousand years as you can see He resisted being
declared a political king during His time in human flesh.
John 6:15 When Jesus
therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a
king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
Everything in God’s plan of reconciling mankind to Himself had a
time and a place. And much to their dismay over the next 2,000 years the Jews
rejected His kingship for that of a human ruler.
John 19:15 But they cried
out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I
crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.
Matthew 27:25 Then answered
all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
But He will return to assume His rightful place as King over all
the earth.
Revelation 11:15 And the
seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The
kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ;
and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a
child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his
shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God,
The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon
the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it
with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the
LORD of hosts will perform this.
Here, the reference to the King of the Jews was a threat to Herod.
Verse 2 refers to his star in the east. See my comments on
the immediate context of Numbers 24:17-19 and the prophetic relevance of it.
“Numbers 24:17 I shall see
him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out
of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners
of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. 18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also
shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly. 19 Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have
dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.
Balaam now
lays out a prophecy of King David to come.
2Samuel 8:2 And he smote
Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with
two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive.
And so the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts.
What means all
the children of Sheth? Sheth is the exact same word in Hebrew for Seth,
Adam and Eve’s son. Perhaps this was a variant spelling that the King James
translators found in the rabbinical writings where this Sheth was referred to
as everything from a local king of Moab to a city in Moab to be destroyed.
However, I think it more likely shows this to be a prophecy also of Christ,
whatever else it means. Note the Star with the uppercase ‘S’. Notice a common theme of the following verses.
Genesis 49:10 The sceptre
shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh
come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
Psalm 45:6 ¶ Thy throne, O
God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.
Luke 1:78 Through the
tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
2Peter 1:19 ¶ We have also
a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a
light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise
in your hearts:
Revelation 22:16 I Jesus
have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the
root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
I believe
that all the children of Sheth represents the children of Seth, all the
children of mankind who will oppose Christ at the end. Of course, this requires
some conjecture and supposition although it does seem likely to be a veiled
reference to the Messiah whether Balaam understood it or not.”
But would this be the only reference these eastern, pagan
astrologers and magicians would have? The Parthian empire, also called the Arsacid
empire, ruled the area of Persia and present day Iran from the mid-200s BC to
the mid-200s AD. The Parthians would have practiced a hodge-podge of
polytheistic faiths and would have been well-versed in prophecy and historical
events. When I attended the University of Georgia Hal Lindsey presented his Late,
Great Planet Earth tour discussing his interpretation of end-times prophecy
and, believe me, a lot of heathens attended out of curiosity if not morbid
fascination and uncertainty.
Astrologers and historians have been trying to pinpoint
which star the wise men would have followed, first seen in the east, but
leading them. This was not a typical star that we know of today. The star led
them to Christ is one they saw in the east. This star was unique and they knew
that it was unusual in the heavens representing this prophecy.
First, there is an error of disregarding what the Bible
says about a phenomenon and trying to make things up as you go along. Then
there is the reading modern words and definitions back into the Bible. As an
example, the “great fish” of Jonah, the
“whale” of Matthew 12:40 was a specially prepared fish, as whale was not used
for the order of Cetacea until after this Bible was translated. It is foolish
to try to find a species of whale that can swallow a man to justify your faith
when this fish was unique specially prepared by God.
Jonah 1:17 Now the LORD had
prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the
fish three days and three nights.
So, this star
should be understood in the context of the translators in English and the
original authors and translators of manuscripts in the original languages. A
star in 1611 or AD100 could refer to the morning and evening star, the
brightest object, Venus, a planet, or
even a comet or a star like we only speak of today, similar in aspects to our
sun, and we will see that this star moves. This star is there to reveal
something in prophecy to these wise men, something they had been foretold of.
To repeat
something important here, these pagan wise men want to worship Him, this King
of the Jews. This is politically terrifying to Herod, a puppet of Roman
domination. This underscores the political fear the Jewish authorities and the
Gentile had of Jesus being declared a king by the mob. This prophecy, fulfilled
in the future but mocked by Pontius Pilate in his act of having a sign placed
on the cross, will be a constant thread in the gospels.
Luke 23:38 And a superscription also was written over
him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
3 When Herod the king had
heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests
and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be
born.
This stirred up all of
Jerusalem and the contingent with these traveling wise men could have been very
great and there would be no way to keep the city from hearing of these things.
Perhaps this event was included in the memories of Simeon and the prophetess
Anna in Luke, chapter 2.
The chief priests and the scribes make known to Herod the prophecy
concerning this in the Old Testament.
Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem
Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee
shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth
have been from of old, from everlasting.
In verses 7 & 8 we see Herod lie and tell the wise men to
inform him of the whereabouts of the child, so that he may worship him when we
know he wants this infant king of the Jews dead. Christ is a threat to
established authority here as He will be later.
John 11:48 If we let him
thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take
away both our place and nation.
Matthew 2:9 ¶ When they had
heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east,
went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 And when they were come into the
house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and
worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they
presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And being warned of God in a dream that they
should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country
another way.
This star is moving. This is not the astronomical event we think
of today when we hear the word, a star. Here is that special thing, not too
unlike what we already know, but specially prepared by God for a unique
purpose. So, stop looking for this star in the heavens today. You’ll be frustrated
or repeat something that simply isn’t in keeping with the text and you will be
ridiculed as will faith in Christ.
By the time the magicians have arrived, the wise men find a young
child, not an infant. Judging by what Herod does next Jesus could have been two
or under, anywhere in that range. These pagan magicians worship Christ, the
subject of prophecy of which they were aware.
Gold, frankincense, and myrrh represent, according to the ancient
Christian commentator, Origen, in his Contra Celsum, stand for different
things about Christ. Christ’s future kingship for gold.
2Samuel 12:30 And he took
their king’s crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold
with the precious stones: and it was set on David’s head. And he brought forth
the spoil of the city in great abundance.
Again, according to Origen, frankincense was representative, as
incense, of Christ’s divinity. As an example of its use;
Leviticus 2:1 And when any
will offer a meat offering unto the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour;
and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon:
Again according to Origen, the myrrh, as an embalming oil
signified Christ’s death.
John 19:39 And there came
also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a
mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. 40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound
it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.
Matthew 2:13 ¶ And when
they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a
dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into
Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young
child to destroy him. 14 When he arose,
he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
15 And was there until the death of
Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet,
saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
It is interesting how Egypt became not only a place of nurture and
safety for the ancient Hebrews but will also be a place now, under Roman
authority, for safety for the Messiah as a child.
Remember in the last chapter that the angel of the Lord appeared
to and spoke to Joseph.
Matthew 1:20 But while he
thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a
dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy
wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
Verse 15 is a reference Old Testament passages that refer to
Israel as a people. So, the initial context of those verses was Israel and the
prophetic context looked forward to the Messiah.
Exodus 4:22 And thou shalt
say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:
Hosea 11:1 ¶ When Israel
was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
Matthew 2:16 ¶ Then Herod,
when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent
forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts
thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had
diligently enquired of the wise men. 17
Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
18 In Rama was there a voice heard,
lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her
children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
Herod, realizing the wise men had ignored his instructions to come
back and tell him where the king of the Jews as an infant lay, causes the death
of children two years old and younger in Bethlehem and its surrounds. The Holy
Spirit tells us that this is one prophetic meaning of;
Jeremiah 31:15 Thus saith
the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel
weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they
were not.
…which in the Old Testament context is about God gathering a
dispersed Israel back to His land but used by God for this. Be careful though
if you try to do what the Holy Spirit does with His own work when you try to
pull a verse out of context to mean something it was not originally intended to
mean. YOU didn’t write it.
Matthew 2:19 ¶ But when
Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in
Egypt, 20 Saying, Arise, and take the
young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead
which sought the young child’s life. 21
And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the
land of Israel. 22 But when he heard
that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was
afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he
turned aside into the parts of Galilee: 23
And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be
fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.
God appears in the form of an angel, which I’ve described
previously is an appearance of someone or some thing that is somewhere else but
appears to someone chosen by God to see it.
Verse 23 is an odd verse. According to older commentators Isaiah
11:1, which says;
Isaiah 11:1 ¶ And there
shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of
his roots:
…has branch coming from a Hebrew word transliterated into
English as Netzer, which can also be a cryptic reference to Nazareth as the
town’s root word come from Netzer. This is a bit of an obscure interpretation,
though, as it is not clearly evident from the text. The prophets that spoke of
this did not write books of the Bible that the Holy Spirit chose to include in
the canon of Scripture. There are other books and verses which mention sayings
that are found only in the reference such as the book of Jasher in Joshua 10:13
and 2Samuel 1:18.