Mark, chapter 8, verses 10 to 21, part 4, musings on Cain

 

Remember, the sons of God who came to live in the flesh bore children through the daughters of men which offspring were giants; violent and powerful.

Genesis 6:2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose…..4 ¶ There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. 5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually….

Their appearance, their representatives or angels (Isaiah 63:9) as angels are not a separate created thing but appearances of God (Judges 2:1), men (Daniel 9:21 with Luke 1:26 and Revelation 21:17), churches (Revelation 2:1), children (Matthew 18:10), suffer for their leaving their original position;

Jude 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

Remember what Jesus called the religious elite of His day;

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

If this is so, then Cain’s blood ran through our veins, and by extension, Satan’s blood, through Noah’s sons. Some traditions say that Noah’s wife, the mother of the three men who overspread the entire earth; Shem, Ham, and Japheth, was Naamah, Tubalcain’s sister, a descendant of Cain.

If that is so, then the blood of Cain entered our veins through the wife of Noah as he was perfect in his generations. There was something wrong with Shem’s, Ham’s, and Japheth’s blood. There is something wrong with our blood. God did something about that spiritually and physically.

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

1Corinthians 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Hebrews 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

1Peter 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

Seems like blood is sort of important, doesn’t it? Christ Himself has generated a people for Himself by His blood. The prophecy in Psalms 22 which Christ pointed to by quoting its first verse from the cross states that clearly;

Psalm 22:30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.

Although the Jews had plenty of evidence to look at Christ refused to give them a sign. The Hebrews were born as a people by signs and wonders but Christ refused them. Remember from before, He knew they didn’t believe but were merely seeking a way to accuse Him of something wrong by their standards.

You don’t need a sign. You need the gift of faith to believe. When was the last time you prayed for, not only health, healing, sustenance, success, and lots of stuff? When was the last time you prayed for faith?

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Jesus is going to leave these people and preach an important little sermon about leaven.

Proverbs 22:2 comments; rich and poor

 

Proverbs 22:2 ¶ The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.

Both John Gill and Matthew Henry, writing in the 18th century, make the following point on this verse. Gill was also known for exploring what the older Jewish texts commented on Old Testament verses and was knowledgeable in Arabic and Syriac. Although that knowledge isn’t necessary to understand any verses in the Bible translated into English it is still interesting. Both of them say that the poor and the rich need each other. Gill points out that the rich need the poor to do work and the poor need the rich to create employment. None is independent of the other. Henry goes on to say that the poor man is poor so that he may fully depend on the Lord for his sustenance while the rich man is rich so that he may be thankful to God and give generously to the poor.

In America today we have diverse opinions about both rich and poor, many of which don’t recognize the dependence they have on each other. In our system it is assumed that the poor don’t want to be poor and should not be satisfied with any level of income or status and always want more than what they have in spite of. It is assumed that everyone wants to be rich and that if they aren’t rich or don’t seek to be it is because of a moral deficiency such as laziness and sloth. And yet, even our poor have far more wealth than their ancestors did so rich and poor as meanings are relative terms to each other within the same system.

Regardless of the conflict in the greater society, which society is not Christian although there still may be some Christian principles adhered to, the rich and the poor have obligations to each other and to God, the maker of them both. Contrary to what the Ayn Rand idolaters insist, the rich do have a moral obligation to help the poor. Contrary to what the Karl Marx idolaters insist, the poor do have an obligation to seek employment and if employment is not available, then to create their own work. Government should facilitate both and not stand in the way of either, which, sadly, it often does, with burdening restrictions and taxes on new business starters and regulations that hamper being able to offer employment to others. But those are political issues that must be worked out in the political arena.

I have pointed out verses before where the church is told that those who will not work should not be given help.

 

2Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

And yet, God despises those rich who exploit and manipulate the poor.

James 5:1 ¶ Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. 3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. 4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. 5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. 6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.

Still, slothful and lazy people who will not do anything for themselves, God also despises.

Proverbs 19:24 A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

And yet, the rich Christian is permitted to have money for a reason; to earn it honestly and to act charitably with it.

Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

But, even so, the rich man’s money, under a just system, is his property and he must do voluntarily with it what God has called him to do, not being forced. Notice here the results of a labor dispute.

Matthew 20:11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? 14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

And in spite of that, there were emergency conditions presented in the Bible, where, in order to keep people from starving a government took complete control of the economy of a nation.

Genesis 47:20 And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh’s. 21 And as for the people, he removed them to cities from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end thereof. 22 Only the land of the priests bought he not; for the priests had a portion assigned them of Pharaoh, and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them: wherefore they sold not their lands. 23 Then Joseph said unto the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land. 24 And it shall come to pass in the increase, that ye shall give the fifth part unto Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for them of your households, and for food for your little ones. 25 And they said, Thou hast saved our lives: let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants. 26 And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth part; except the land of the priests only, which became not Pharaoh’s.

The only Biblical response to rich and poor is that for the Christian, God is the owner of everything. Under God’s economic system, if you will, God owns all money and property.

Psalm 50:10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. 11 I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. 12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.

In our Declaration of Independence from Great Britain, it was stated by the committee headed by Thomas Jefferson, that “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The last phrase, “pursuit of Happiness”, was not an uncommon thought in that century in earlier European writings. This particular phrase was distilled down from what George Mason had written in the Virginia Declaration of Rights’ draft, that among the rights that men had were “the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.”

So, as the Declaration of Independence and even the Constitution of the United States itself have shown themselves to be political statements, they are equally economic statements, as there is no freedom without economic freedom as many industrious but frustrated people in third world countries in South America, Africa, and Asia will tell you. A country with no guarantee of a right to private property will not achieve much of a standard of living for its people.

God brings both poor and rich together and each has responsibilities before God to each other. The Lord is the maker of them all. They should not be enemies but work together for the common good. Sadly, our nation has little justification for being called a Christian nation with the class conflicts that go against this Proverb and the government interference, including monopolies permitted, regulations pursued on the behalf of established and powerful corporations to dampen competition, excessive and wastefully spent taxes, and over regulation keeping small businesses from starting. I wonder how many would be entrepreneurs would leap out in a venture if it wasn’t for the fact that our system has tied in getting health insurance at a reasonable cost to being employed by someone else full time or the fact that a small business has to hire several people just to keep ahead of regulations and requirements from government. It has been said that a government strong enough to give you everything you want is also strong enough to take away everything you have.

On top of this you have cold blooded, wealthy corporations and investment bankers seeking political power from the government to plunder the people, stealing from our savings after using successful public relations campaigns to make us think our money is safe in their hands or that they are a benefit to mankind while they pollute and destroy the environment and poison their own workers in poorer lands. Sweetheart deals are made for those who pump dollars into politicians’ coffers creating tariffs, subsidies, and price supports that seem to benefit foreign governments and international corporations more than the people to whom they sell their products and the workers who they cheat. And yet, these same interests have fooled common, ordinary people into speaking out for their right to do this under some twisted notion of liberty and freedom from government control.

But, anyone who reads the Bible knows that a nation can’t be Christian. Only a person can be a Christian, and we, in the body of Christ are called within our church bodies for the rich to take care of the poor, for the poor who are able to be willing to work hard, and for all to work together to glorify God. Each person’s genuine needs that they can’t meet should be met. The early Jewish Christians in Jerusalem even went so far as to hold their possessions in common and although that is not our doctrine for today it does manifest God’s intent for His church with regard to taking care of each other.

Acts 2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

In our doctrine for today, the rules that apply to us, we are to meet the needs of those who can’t take care of themselves in our churches and don’t have families to help but those who can work must and those who have believing family should go to them first as explained in 1 Timothy 5 and in verses from Ephesians and 2 Thessalonians above. Finally, let it be said that rich and poor come together at the foot of the Cross, for the Lord is maker and Saviour of them all.

Mark 8: 10-21 comments, part 3; Adam and Eve

 

And remember Manna, that unknown substance that fed the Jews in the wilderness? Well, consider this;

Psalm 74:14 Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.

There are so many deep things in this Book of God that we can never know the entire story here in this life.

A generation refers to our polluted bloodline. Death came into the world that we know by sin.

Let’s take a look at an unbelieving evolutionary scientist’s scholarly statement;

“Death did not appear simultaneously with life. This is one of the most important and profound statements of all biology. At the very least it deserves repetition: Death is not inextricably intertwined with the definition of life.” William R. Clark, Sex and the Origins of Death (New York: Oxford University Press, 1998), 54.

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

In our natural state our bloodline is polluted. Starting with the proscriptions against eating blood before, during, and after the Law given to Moses;

Genesis 9:4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.

Leviticus 17:12 Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood.

Acts 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

Let’s move on to the fact that Satan used Eve as a sort of shill in his rebellion against God by giving Adam the opportunity to go against the one thing God had forbidden him to do.

He beguiled her through subtlety;

2Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

She added to God’s command which we are forbidden to do repeatedly (Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:6; and Revelation 22:18);

Genesis 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

God had said merely not to eat of it;

Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

She became part of Satan’s scam but Adam knew full well what was happening;

1Timothy 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

And he was right there with her when this happened, when Eve fell for the three things that God warns about again in 1 John 2:16, and he willingly disobeyed while she was deceived as the previous verse says;

Genesis 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Eve sexually knew her husband, Adam, after the Fall and declared that her firstborn was from the Lord;

Genesis 4:1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.

Is it possible that Cain and Abel were twins? There is no mention of a conception between Cain and Abel;

Genesis 4:1 ¶ And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. 2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

But was Cain truly from God?

1John 3:12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

There is a condition where fraternal twins can have different fathers called Heteropaternal Superfecundation. I’m not saying I know anything controversial, just throwing this out for thought.

Proverbs 22:1 comments; a good name

 

Proverbs 22:1 ¶ A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

It’s also one of the hardest things to get back once you’ve lost it. The opinion that others have about our character is of the utmost importance to a Christian. Let the world’s hatred of us be for the right reasons. Peter, in his first letter, called a General Epistle, spoke to Jewish believers in Christ scattered throughout Asia.

1 Peter 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

God here is saying that a good reputation is more important than wealth. Certainly, the world doesn’t see things that way. To the world, you’ve got money, who cares how you got it or what other people think of you? Having a lot of money tends to take the edge off of people’s negative opinions anyway.

A man or woman who is known for honesty in all their dealings, not being greedy, being faithful to their spouse, moderate in their appetites, meticulous about acquiring debt and paying it back, kind in their speech, and inoffensive in their behavior, who respects other people’s persons, time, and property will have a reputation as being someone who is trustworthy and a good citizen to most. To the lower sorts of human life he’ll just be considered a first rate sap, but we don’t expect much out of people who have that attitude.

In every walk of life there is a distinction between what constitutes a good character and a good name and what doesn’t. I can remember when people bragged about never in their lives having written a bad check. I know criminals who used to brag about never having snitched anyone out even to get a better deal from the law themselves. I know one person who spent a considerable amount of time in prison simply because they would not “rat”.

Another side of having a good reputation is that it not only allows people to look at you in a good light but it helps you. If you do right you’ll have a good credit rating, low debt to income ratio, and you won’t have a criminal record. You’ll avoid bankruptcy. Of course, we often don’t have a good reputation because we did things we wanted to do without regard to whether or not it was something that glorified God.

 

Herein lies one of my great weaknesses. In frustration, anger, or disappointment I’m liable to shoot off my mouth, not thinking first whether or not what I am saying glorifies God. Your speech is an important part of your reputation and character, two things which are inextricably linked.

1Corinthians 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

What you are known for and what your reputation is among others both within the church and without, is important. Notice this qualification for a Bishop of a church, a Pastor.

 

1 Timothy 3:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Remember, that it is pointed out that there is no law (nor can there be) against the fruit of the Spirit named in Galatians 5:22, 23.

So, when people revile you and despise you, let it be because you are a Christian and that you proclaim Christ and glorify Him in all you do. Don’t let it be because you are untrustworthy, lazy, and dishonest; bigoted, meanspirited, paranoid, and filled with hate and fear.

And finally, it is more important to God that you have a good reputation, a good name, than wealth or fame. It should be more important to you, as well.

Mark 8:10-21 comments, part 2; no sign shall be given

 

12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

Sorry, just had to go off on a tangent here. It’s too interesting to pass by.

In another place Jesus promises the Jews only the sign of the prophet Jonah;

Matthew 12:38 ¶ Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

By this statement we can understand that Jonah did die and was brought back to life in this passage;

Jonah 2:1 ¶ Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly, 2 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice. 3 For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me. 4 Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. 5 The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head. 6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God. 7 When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple. 8 They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. 9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.

As an interesting aside, notice how the great fish, a unique one of a kind fish for those people running off to try to prove that this or that sea creature can or has swallowed a man whole, was prepared by God for Jonah and is a type of Hell, as you read the passage in Jonah again. The fish is also a type of something else, though, or someone else, rather.

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.

Jesus calls this great fish, a whale. Modernists, steeped in modern taxonomic expressions will scream, “A whale is not a fish! Ha, a mistake!” But man’s taxonomic classifications are just that, man’s. Notice the creatures around God’s throne in Revelation 4 are classified in categories; domestic, wild, flying, man-like (primates?). God mentions whales in Genesis 1:21 as the first creatures coming out of the water where He started life.

Genesis 1:21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

In Job 7:12, in Job’s lament, it is implied that God would set a guard over a whale as if you select all the verses that contain “watch” you see that it is an alert guard over something or at a certain time. (Genesis 31:49; Exodus 14:24; Judges 7:19, etc. etc.)

Job 7:12 Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?

Pharaoh is likened to a whale in Ezekiel 32:2

Ezekiel 32:2 Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say unto him, Thou art like a young lion of the nations, and thou art as a whale in the seas: and thou camest forth with thy rivers, and troubledst the waters with thy feet, and fouledst their rivers.

I am going to put forward that, rather than being a specific reference to a specific taxonomic classification, a whale represents a large sea creature; what we would call a large fish, which is God’s obvious classification by comparing verses between Matthew and Jonah, in that case a specially modified fish, or the Leviathan of Psalm 104:26 as in BIG.

Which then, links these large creatures to the reptilian Lucifer or Satan, which are titles rather than personal names.

Isaiah 27:1 In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.

This verse links the serpent of Genesis 3 with the dragon of Revelation 12, which is the Devil.

Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Satan is likened to a dragon, which is the word we used for giant reptiles before the word dinosaur was invented. You can see the description in Job 41 as the word Leviathan in the first verse links the whale, Satan, the dragon, and the Devil in one as typified by a giant reptile.

Keeping in mind that the Philistine god, Dagon, is part man and part fish, imported from the Assyrian and Babylonian pantheon of gods (Judges 16:23; 1 Samuel 5:2). Perhaps he is also referenced in Revelation 13:1, linking him to Satan as well.

Proverbs 21:30-31 comments; nothing can stand against God

 

Proverbs 21:30 ¶ There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD. 31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

First, there is nothing in human wisdom or pretended understanding that can prevail against God. Our schools teach that mankind descended by evolution from apelike creatures and then all the way back to single celled organisms that somehow came into existence by chance. And yet, it is estimated that 90% of the earth’s people believe in some concept of God as a creator of all things. Human beings will argue about the nature of God, or what He expects or should expect from us, or what His standard of righteousness is but they pretty much universally believe in some form of God the Creator.

Psalm 19:1 «To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.» The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

We have spent trillions of dollars trying to overcome and overthrow what God has said in His word, to extend our lives and cheat death. But, at some point, unless the Lord returns for us, we will all physically die, just as He has said.

Ecclesiastes 8:8 There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war;...........

And;

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

On and on, mankind does his best to change the declarations of God into mere quaint sayings written by ancient men in an old book but again and again God trumps “science falsely so called”. At one time scientists said that the earth was carried on the back of a turtle or something like that but God said,

Job 26:7 He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.

A few, not very many but a few, of those esteemed men of wisdom long ago thought the earth was flat but God said,

 

Isaiah 40:22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth....

 

And even today those who would oppose God find themselves in a quandary. Inevitably what God says is true and what they temporarily believe is false. I can list dozens of statements men have made against God that God has simply beaten down.

In each of our lives we have, at one time or the other, chosen to deny God’s truth and suffered for it. When we were young we thought that we were exempt from the consequences that God had laid out for sin and look at us now. Our bodies and minds suffer those consequences. Our families suffer those consequences. We thought, not me, that won’t happen to me. But, no wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel can prosper against the Lord.

When we got older we still went against God. We cling to our possessions, our perceived social status, our entertainments, our careers, our health, and our families placing all of them ahead of our worship of God and God can take any of them any time He wants us to start looking up.

A dozen or more times a day we make decisions that if one were to examine them carefully to see if they revealed trust and faith in Christ they would find none. And yet, we claim to be Christians and followers of Christ.

Everything you do against God or against His words in this Book will be like a water buffalo running into a thick, brick wall over and over. Or better yet, like a puff of smoke threatening to overcome a mountain. You who stand against God; you may have been a powerful athlete in high school but you are going to be a sick, old man barely able to stand up on his own one day, if you live. You may have been the prettiest girl you ever saw but one day you will be bent over needing someone to lean on. You may have had a great job, a fine intellect, and loads of money but one day your flesh will be lying in a casket, awaiting burial and there will be absolutely nothing that your job, intellect, or cash will be able to do to stop that from happening.

No doctor, no philosopher, and no man of letters has anything to offer you that will permit you to stand against God. In the end, if you reject salvation by and through the Lord Jesus Christ, you will descend into a sinner’s Hell able only to shout “AMEN!!!!!!” as you know you deserve to be let go to that natural fate of all mankind without Christ.

Our weapons of war, the horse and chariot, armor and sword of long ago or the automatic rifles and hand grenades, fighter jets and nuclear weapons of today will be useless, a pathetic joke against God. You may be the greatest warrior of all time but only God can keep you alive in the day of battle. Without God’s hand of protection and safety on them, the bravest and the best go down into death, bodies broken and torn, just as the most cowardly and the worst.

We live by insurance actuarial tables and medical doctors and safety features; low fat diets, prescription medications, seat and shoulder belts, ground fault switches, airbags, parachutes, safety harnesses, helmets and chest protectors but none of it means a thing if the Lord doesn’t protect you.

So, there are two things you will always fail against, and that miserably and even suddenly and without remedy. One is God’s counsel, His doctrine. Two is looking to anything for protection and safety other than God.

Don’t get me wrong. It is wise to eat right, to exercise, to wear your seatbelts, to put on a helmet, and to practice safety just as it is to avail yourself of the latest technology and science to keep you alive and healthy. No one has said that it is Godly to be reckless, foolhardy, and stupid. The point of this Proverb is just to remember, you can’t stand against God and you are a fool if you think anything on this earth will keep you alive in that day.

Proverbs 21:29 comments; a wicked man

 

Proverbs 21:29 ¶ A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.

A wicked person will not be reproved or corrected and will stay on his path of self-destruction.

Isaiah 57:17 ¶ For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.

You can’t get a wicked person to even read or listen to the Bible, much less submit to it. He or she is too proud and haughty to unite with a church body to worship and there is nothing you can say that will get them to change their mind. A wicked person worships Self so intensely and faithfully that it is inconceivable that he or she submit to God.

Proverbs 11:5 ¶ The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

Proverbs 28:14 ¶ Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

Proverbs 29:1 ¶ He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

The wicked man is a fool. That person will not listen to God or to correction from someone who loves them.

Proverbs 15:5 A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

Proverbs 17:10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

The wicked man will not hear it. He is a fool. But the upright, by virtue of his having Christ’s Spirit inside of him, directs his way trusting that God will keep him on the right path. The application of this verse for the Christian is that “he directeth his way” as the upright man’s way being directed by God.

Psalm 119:105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

 

The upright man is willing to allow God’s word, His scriptures, to correct him through daily reading and good, powerful preaching.

2Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Now, many women find it easier, due to their nature, to not harden their face against God. But many men find it difficult, also because of their Self worshipping nature, to not harden their face against God. Men want to be in control and even when all reality shows them that their control over their lives is an illusion they will cling to the stubborn and foolish mantra, it’s my life, I’ll do what I want. The wicked man hardens his face against Christ and will not be corrected or changed. The upright Christian is willing to let God direct his way. He knows;

 

Jeremiah 10:23 O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

Mark 8:10-21 comments, part 1; seeking of him a sign from heaven

 

Mark 8:10 ¶  And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha. 11  And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him. 12  And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation. 13  And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side. 14  Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf. 15  And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. 16  And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread. 17  And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? 18  Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? 19  When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve. 20  And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven. 21  And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?

 

10 ¶ And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha. 11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.

“Straightway” means immediately. The Bible uses parallel phrasing to define words. For instance here are two parallel verses that help define straightway; Matthew 4:20, 22.

Matthew 4:20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

Matthew 4:22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

The Bible also uses word markers to define words. In this situation if you take the word you are unfamiliar with, “straightway”, and look at the words which surround it; “And they-----left”, and then look for the word those words surround in nearby verses you can determine the meaning.

This is done again in the paragraph of Matthew 14:22-33. Simply see that the word used after “straightway” on two occasions within the paragraph is the name “Jesus”. In verse 31 you have the same word progression only with “immediately” in “straightway’s” place.

By using this method in the paragraph of Mark 1:29-39 we can see the definition of “forthwith” and “anon” as well.

As far as Dalmanutha is concerned, in the parallel passage in Matthew 15, they took the ship to the coasts (borders) of Magdala. So Dalmanutha must be a village or location on the edge of Magdala.

The Pharisees just had gotten a sign but now they want to get Him to say something or do something to get Him to do wrong by their rules. The “tempting him” here is clearly tempting for the purpose of trying to get Him to make a mistake in their minds. This difference in tempting or testing someone is a very important concept in the Bible.

“Tempt” means to prove or ensure something works as promised or is true. It is a test.

Psalm 95:9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.

Some people who don’t like to think or don’t want to dig into God’s word will view the next two verses as a Bible contradiction;

Genesis 22:1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

However, in the verse in James as well as Jesus’ experience with Satan in Matthew and Luke, chapters 4, it is Satan who tempts or tests man with evil, hopefully expecting to see him fall. God never tempts or tests one of His own with evil or malice. He never wants you to fall. That is not His purpose. That is always Satan’s purpose.

The Pharisees were tempting Jesus in the hope and expectation that He would commit some blasphemy by which they could justify their condemnation of Him. They were doing the work of Satan. One application for these verses might be that if you test or tempt someone with the express purpose and expectation of seeing them fall or do wrong then you are doing the work of Satan.

As an example of the contrast remember how Paul tells Christians in Romans. Chapter 14, not to flaunt their liberty in Christ in front of a weaker brother or sister. We not only don’t want to see someone fall as the world enjoys doing, the proof of which is on every day in the news or in the tabloids, but we don’t even want to put any of our brothers or sisters to the test if there is that danger. Unless, of course, you are keen on doing the work of Satan.

Psalm 96 comments; Praise God!

 

Psalm 96:1 ¶  O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth. 2  Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day. 3  Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. 4  For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods. 5  For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens. 6  Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 7  Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength. 8  Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts. 9  O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.

 

We are called to praise God and to witness for Him, to be a testimony about Him, to the whole world. We should be praising God in word and song.

 

God’s redeemed shall sing a new song.

 

Revelation 5:9  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.He is above all worshipped entities and, in fact, is the only one who actually anything as the gods of the heathen are mere idols, figments of their own heart’s imaginations.

 

God possesses traits of honor, majesty, and strength and beauty. He is worthy of the glory due His name, who He is, and all the earth should fear Him. As the Messiah to come, Saviour of the world, He is more than worthy of glory and honor.

 

Now compare this passage in 1Chronicles 16 which suggests this is a Psalm of David.

 

1Chronicles 16:7 ¶  Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the LORD into the hand of Asaph and his brethren. 8  Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. 9  Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works. 10  Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. 11  Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. 12  Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth; 13  O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones. 14  He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth. 15  Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations; 16  Even of the covenant which he made with Abraham, and of his oath unto Isaac; 17  And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant, 18  Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance; 19  When ye were but few, even a few, and strangers in it. 20  And when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people; 21  He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes, 22  Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm. 23  Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation.

24  Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations. 25  For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods. 26  For all the gods of the people are idols: but the LORD made the heavens. 27  Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place. 28  Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength. 29  Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his

name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. 30  Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved. 31  Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth. 32  Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein. 33  Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because he cometh to judge the earth. 34  O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. 35  And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise. 36  Blessed be the LORD God of Israel for ever and ever. And all the people said, Amen, and praised the LORD.

 

God is greater than all that are considered gods by the heathen.

 

1Corinthians 8:4 ¶  As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. 5  For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 6  But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

 

For God is the Creator of all things.

 

Hebrews 1:10  And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: 11  They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; 12  And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

 

All people of the world are called to give God praise and to fear him. As Christians we are to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice.

 

Romans 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

 

Revelation 15:3  And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 4  Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

Malachi 1:11  For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.

 

Psalm 96:10 ¶  Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously. 11  Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. 12  Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice 13  Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.

 

The heathen are the unsaved, those not in the flock of God. We can see the millennial reign of Christ and God’s reign throughout eternity here as the world that He establishes shall not be moved and He shall judge righteously. Once the earth is recreated it shall be forever.

 

Isaiah 65:17  For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

 

2Peter 3:13  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

 

The heavens and the earth shall rejoice as a consequence of this. The symbolism here is that the land itself, physical manifestations like the sea and living things like trees shall rejoice at Christ’s coming to judge the whole earth.

 

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.

 

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.

 

How do Jews of today not see that in Isaiah 9:6-7 the child will be called the everlasting Father? Who can this be but God Himself.

 

Praise God for His amazing plans for the future.

 

 

Mark 8:1-9 comments; compassion on the multitude

 

Mark 8:1 ¶  In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, 2  I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat: 3  And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far. 4  And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness? 5  And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven. 6  And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people. 7  And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them. 8  So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets. 9  And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.

This is how our flesh is. I can remember how God, one day, delivered me from something that should have happened to me and then a few months later I was fretting about another seemingly impossible situation that I had created and was doubting that God would help me. The Hebrews who came through the Red Sea also forgot His miracle when faced with something else unpleasant.

Psalm 78:17 And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness. 18 And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust. 19 Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?

Here, He publicly has fed people again. This wasn’t secret.

Acts 26:26 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.

The five thousand in Mark 6 are representative of God feeding Israel in that 12 baskets of fragments are taken up signifying the 12 tribes. Here, the feeding of four thousand represents His gift to all men as He feeds them with 7 baskets remaining, seven being the number of God’s perfection and completion. God has fed us with His words and we are fools to disregard them and to not feed on them every single day.

God’s words are likened to food throughout the Bible. Notice these examples in Job;

Job 12:11 Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?

Job 34:3 For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.

And here from Proverbs;

Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

And Psalms;

Psalm 119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

And in Amos;

Amos 8:11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:

Why would the words of the Lord be like food? Well we are born again by the word (small w for words) of God;

1Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

So, you see, you are saved, not because of something you feel but because of what the word of God says, whether you feel close to God today or not. You were not saved by your own will.

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

God’s words are more important than our food.

Job 23:12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

For it is by His word that we are sanctified over time, made useful to Him, and set apart for His purpose.

John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Any Christian who has been spiritually fed by God’s words knows what I mean. Those Christians who don’t regard God’s words as having any power other than as some sort of inspirational self-improvement or self-help guide don’t know what I mean. Those Christians who regard the Bible as God’s principal manner of speaking to their heart know what I mean. Those Christians who regard the Bible as just another ancient book to be dissected and judged like Plato’s “Republic”, Livy’s “History of Rome”, or a Shakespeare play won’t know what I mean. Those Christians who treasure, use, and believe the Authorized Version of the Bible will know I am talking about. Those Christians who use a Bible version dependent upon Alexandrian manuscripts and modernist scholarly musings won’t have a clue as to what I’m talking about.