Lessons from 580 B.C. for the Second Millenium A.D./The Common Denominator
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Straight to the Cross
COLUMN: Hands-on Faith
Lessons from 580 B.C. for the Second Millenium A.D.
by Barry Newton
Does it frustrate you when the word of God falls
on deaf ears? Have you ever been exasperated that
someone was refusing to obey God because that
individual had embraced a false interpretation of
history? None of this is new. Two divergent
understandings which clashed about 580 B.C.
provide us with a wonderful learning opportunity.
How Some Within Judah Apparently Viewed Things:
Throughout her history, Judah had experienced
various periods of prosperity. During much of this
time, an assortment of gods and goddess had been
worshiped to varying degrees. The people
associated their well-being at a particular moment
with the gods that they were concurrently
worshipping.
Then about 630 B.C., Josiah grated against their
beliefs by officially eliminating their gods so
that only Yahweh would be worshipped. But after he
died in battle, his son reinstated their various
gods.
The party came to a disastrous end in 597 B.C. as
the Babylonians finally breached the walls of
Jerusalem. Jerusalem's fall had been a horrific
one. Due to the siege of the city a famine had
ensued which had even led some parents to eat
their children.
To avoid further wrath from Babylon, some of the
Jews had decided to flee to Egypt for safety.
Longing to return to the security and well-being
they had known years earlier, they pursued the
various gods and goddesses whom they believed had
provided that security.
How God and His Prophets Saw Things:
Throughout Judah's history, God had sent His
prophets warning His people that punishment
awaited them if they insisted on serving and
relying upon other gods. In His mercy and
kindness, God did not immediately bring disaster
upon them but provided them with ample and
repeated opportunities to repent.
About 630 B.C., Josiah responded to the LORD and
removed the idols from the land. Although Josiah
might have reestablished the true worship of the
one God, it seems as though many people did not
take it to heart (Jer. 3:6-7,10). When Josiah
died, his son reopen the flood gates to idolatry.
God warned that severe repercussions would ensue
if they persisted in rebellion. Finally the day of
the LORD descended upon Jerusalem as the
Babylonians crushed her. The glory of the city
rose in smoke. The temple was destroyed. Judah had
been destroyed.
Since God was in control, He told the people to
accept the yoke of the Babylonians and remain in
the land because Nebuchadnezzar would not be
permitted to further hurt them. Instead, they
rebelled once again by running away to Egypt where
they insisted upon worshiping false gods.
The Clash:
"Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel:
'You have seen all the calamity that I have
brought on Jerusalem and on all the cities of
Judah; and behold, this day they [are] a
desolation, and no one dwells in them, because of
their wickedness which they have committed to
provoke Me to anger, in that they went to burn
incense to serve other gods whom they did not
know, they nor you nor your fathers. ... why are
you ... provoking me to anger with the works of
your hands, burning sacrifices to other gods in
Egypt?" (Jer. 44:2-3,7,8 NKJV).
"[As for] the word that you have spoken to us in
the name of the LORD, we will not listen to you!
But we will certainly do whatever has gone out of
our own mouth, to burn incense to the queen of
heaven and pour out drink offerings to her, as we
have done, we and our fathers, our kings and our
princes, in the cities of Judah and in the streets
of Jerusalem. For [then] we had plenty of food,
were well-off, and saw no trouble. But since we
stopped burning incense to the queen of heaven and
pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked
everything and have been consumed by the sword and
by famine" (Jer. 44:16-18 NKJV).
Observations:
* This article will probably not be read by those
who need it most.
* Just because things are going well for someone
does not provide any proof that he or she is right
with God (Luke 12:16-21; 16:19-25).
* It is not uncommon for people to fail to
recognize the true source of their blessings (Hos.
2:8; Deut. 8:7-18; Matt. 6:30-33).
* A person's belief about what takes care of him
or her can lead that individual to love and serve
the object of those beliefs (Jer. 44:16-18; Hos.
2:5).
* A person's interpretation can powerfully shape
how decisions are made in the present (Matt. 12:22-
28; Jer. 44:18).
* If someone's beliefs or values are false, the
truth might be dismissed as nonsense (Gen. 19:14;
Luke 16:14, 31; 2 Cor. 4:3-4).
* Because of the foregoing observations, a
tremendous need exists for people to embrace the
message of scripture allowing it to shape what
they believe and how they interpret this world.
COLUMN: Thankful
The Common Denominator
by A. A. Neale
"The rich and the poor have this in common, The
LORD is the maker of them all" (Prov. 22:2, NKJV).
We all belong in the same class. The blue bloods
just don't exist. The rich and famous have nothing
on anybody else.
Somebody once said that the great leveler is the
truth that we all have to sit on the toilet.
Somebody else thought it was that we all must die
one day.
Solomon says it's because the Lord made us all.
Add to that that Jesus Christ died for all, and
you have a double blade to level the human playing
field.
Peel back the hoopla, and find a human being. Wash
off the makeup, and see plain folk. President and
peon, we're all alike.
Since the Lord is maker of us all, we are
creatures of need, dependent on his care. I cannot
look at another human being without seeing my
equal - equally in need of God's presence and
blessing.
That the Lord is maker of us all endows us with
both dignity and humility. We understand our
privileged place in the divine scheme of things,
as well as our lowliness before the divine
Magnificence.
With one voice, then, we may praise his name; with
one mind, we may seek his will; with one heart, we
may live together in his Kingdom.
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