II Samuel 23
Sweet Psalmist of Israel: David verse 1
Now these be the last words of David
David the son of Jesse
said
And the man who was raised up on high
the anointed of the God of Jacob
the sweet psalmist of Israel
said
Spirit of the LORD speaks through David verse 2- 4
The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me
and HIS word was in my tongue
The God of Israel said – the Rock of Israel
spoke to me
He that rules over men must be just ruling in the fear of God
and he shall be as the light of the morning
when the sun rises even a morning without clouds
as the tender grass springing out of the earth
by clear shining after rain
Everlasting covenant made with David verse 5- 7
Although my house be not so with God
you HE has made with me an everlasting covenant
ordered in all things – and sure
for this is all my salvation – and all my desire
although HE make it not grow
But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away
BECAUSE they cannot be taken with hands
but the man that shall touch them must be fenced with
iron and the staff of a spear
And they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place
David’s top three warrior: Adino the Eznite verse 8
These be the names of the mighty men whom David had
the Tachmonite that sat in the seat – chief among the captains
the same was Adino the Eznite
he lifted up his spear against eight hundred
whom he slew at one time
David’s top three warrior: Eleazar verse 9- 10
And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite
one of the three mighty men with David
When they defied the Philistines that were there gathered
together to battle – and the men of Israel were gone away
he arose – and smote the Philistines until his
hand was weary
and his hand clave to the sword
And the LORD wrought a great victory that day
and the people returned after him – only to spoil
David’s top three warrior: Shammah verse 11- 12
And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite
and the Philistines were gathered together into a troop
where was a piece of ground full of lentils
and the people fled from the Philistines
BUT he stood in the midst of the ground – and defended it
and slew the Philistines
and the LORD wrought a great victory
David in cave of Adullam verse 13- 14
And three of the thirty chief went down
and came to David in the harvest time
to the cave of Adullam
and the troop of the Philistines pitched
in the valley of Rephaim
And David was then in an hold
and the garrison of the Philistines
was then in Bethlehem
David wanted water from well in Bethlehem verse 15- 17
And David longed
and said
Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the
well of Bethlehem which is by the gate
And the three mighty men brake through the
host of the Philistines
And drew water out of the well of Bethlehem
that was by the gate
and took it – and brought it to David
NEVERTHELESS he would not drink thereof
but poured it out to the LORD
And he
said
Be it far from me – O LORD
that I should do this is not this
the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives?
therefore he would not drink it
These things did these three mighty men
David’s chief of second three warrior: Abishai verse 18- 19
And Abishai – the brother of Joab – the son of Zeruiah
was chief among three
and he lifted up his spear against three hundred
and slew them
and had the name among three
Was he not most honorable of three?
therefore he was their captain
howbeit he attained not to the first three
David’s second three warrior: Benaiah verse 20- 23
And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada
the son of a valiant man – of Kabzeel
who had done many acts
He slew two lion-like men of Moab
He went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit
in time of snow – and he slew an Egyptian
a goodly man
and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand
but he went down to him with a staff
and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand
and slew him with his own spear
These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada
and had the name among three mighty men
he was more honorable than the thirty
but he attained not to the first three
And David set him over his guard
Other members of David’s top thirty verse 24- 39
Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty
Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem
Shammah the Harodite – Elika the Harodite
Helez the Paltite – Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite
Abiezer the Anethothite – Mebunnai the Hushathite
Zalmon the Ahohite – Maharai the Netophathite
Heleb the son of Baanah a Netophathite
Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin
Benaiah the Pirathonite – Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash
Abi-albon the Arbathite – Azmaveth the Barhumite
Eliahba the Shaalbonite – of the sons of Jashen
Jonathan Shammah the Hararite
Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite
Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai – the son of the Maachathite
Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite – Hezrai the Carmelite
Paarai the Arbite – Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah
Bani the Gadite
Zelek the Ammonite
Nahari the Beerothite
armor-bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah
Ira an Ithrite – Gareb an Ithrite – Uriah the Hittite
Thirty seven in all
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, and HIS word was in my tongue.
(4405 “word” [millah] means speech, utterance, statement, talking, by-word, or discourse)
DEVOTION: We find that all three persons of the Godhead are active throughout the Bible. Starting in Genesis were they communicated by saying “let us…” and they create man in their image. He was made up of body, soul and spirit.
David states that the Holy Spirit was speaking through him regarding the future coming of Jesus Christ. HE was going to be a descendant of David. The authors of the Bible were moved by the Holy Spirit to give us an inerrant word from God.
David was a prophet, priest and king. He was of the tribe of Judah. When he was speaking through the ministry of the Holy Spirit he communicated that the Rock of Israel was coming in the future. He told of an everlasting covenant the LORD had made with his family.
The Holy Spirit is using him as an instrument to tell the children of Israel the future of the nation. The LORD has a plan and is working HIS plan for the children of Israel. The LORD is not going to deny HIS relationship with Israel. HE is going to communicate truth through the nation. Truth is going to come through Jesus Christ to the world. The Rock of Israel!
We sing the song “Jesus is the Rock of my salvation.” HE is solid in his defense of us. HE is our advocate. HIS utterance should be on our tongues at all times. David spoke for the LORD and the LORD spoke through him. HE wants to speak through us today but not by giving us more of the Word of God but by our speaking the Word of God that was given to us. The Bible concluded with the book of Revelation. There are no additions or subtractions to the Bible. Genesis through Revelation contains all we need to know about the LORD.
Those who are stating that they have “new” revelations from the LORD are not speaking for the LORD like David was here but are speaking from another source that is not of God.
Many are following a counterfeit gospel that doesn’t come from the Bible but from the works of man. Many cults are found that claim to be followers of Jesus Christ both within the church and outside the church. The warnings are many regarding wolves in sheep clothing.
Is God’s word on your tongue as you receive it from the Word of God, the Bible? It is your only source of truth regarding doctrinal truth. Watch out for new revelation from people who say God spoke to them.
CHALLENGE: Know who you are listening to as to whether they are following the Word of God or adding to it on their own.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, He that rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. (6662 “just” [tsaddiyq] means lawful, righteous, or right)
DEVOTION: David is making his final statements regarding his rule and his men. This chapter has a long list of men who served with David in battle. All those men were important. One of the men was an armor-bearer.
Here we have servants of servants being mentioned with honor. David started the chapter by acknowledging the LORD. He called HIM the God of Israel. He called him the Rock of Israel. In the New Testament we find that Christ is called the Rock. He called HIM the LORD. He acknowledged the filling of the Holy Spirit. He called the Holy Spirit God. He knew that there was a standard that the LORD wanted in a king.
One of the characteristics of a king should be that he was righteous. He should ask the LORD for the right things to do under his rule. This would require receiving discernment from the LORD. Most men don’t have this ability. Most men try to rule on their own. Each time David did this it caused a problem. Each time David consulted the LORD he made wise decisions.
A second characteristic that a ruler should have is to fear the LORD. The fear of the LORD was the beginning of wisdom. The fear of the LORD would keep a king away from sin. Whenever David didn’t consult the LORD, we find him not following the standard the LORD had for him. He had to confess his sin.
When we are put in a position of leadership, we need to be righteous in our actions. This requires us to seek discernment from the LORD. This requires prayer and fasting. Living a righteous life is difficult because our old nature fights against the LORD.
We need to seek the LORD’S guidance regarding our leadership abilities. David found men who were faithful to him. We need to find men who are willing to follow our lead.
CHALLENGE: If we have wisdom from above, the men should follow willingly. The result should be victory on a regular basis.
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: 5 Although my house be not so with God; yet HE has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow. (8104 “sure” [shamar] means to be reliable so as to be depended upon, watch over, guard, protect, watch, protect, or be careful about.)
DEVOTION: David was confident in the promises of God. He knew that God protected him from all his enemies. God protected him from his fellow Israelites. God helped him when it came time to fight with those in Israel. God kept him from going to battle with the Philistines against the Israelites. God watched David’s every move.
David was a sinner who had a everlasting covenant given to him by the LORD. The LORD knew of all that happened and was going to happen in David’s life and yet HE made a promise of a relationship with him and his future family. HE promised that Jesus Christ would come through the line of David and reign over the world in the future.
God didn’t let anything happen to David that would hinder the success and safety of HIS keeping HIS promise to the family. Nothing happens in our life outside of what God allows to help us grow in our knowledge of HIM and our service to HIM.
Every detail in David’s life was planned before the foundation of the world. God didn’t cause David to sin but HE knew it was going to happen and HE knew that David would confess his sin. HE knew that HE could restore David to a place of honor again because he kept short accounts with God. Sometimes he needed to be confronted but on other occasions he just came to the LORD with his confession and his acknowledgement of his need for the help of the LORD.
We will study the book of Psalms in the future and see the ups and downs of the life of David. God used him for HIS glory. HE will use us for HIS glory if we realize that we are going to have times of sin in our life and times of blessing. HE knows that we will never be perfect or sinless while we are here on this earth. HE wants us to realize this as well and understand that HE still loves us because of our relationship with Jesus Christ. It is not just a prayer it is a daily closeness to Jesus that HE wants in our life.
CHALLENGE: Remember “every detail” is known by the LORD and HE can still love us.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 10 He arose, and smote the Philistines until his had was weary, and his hand clave to the sword, and the LORD wrought a great victory that day: and the people returned after him only to spoil. (8668 “victory” [tashuw’ah] means deliverance, salvation, help, a means of preserving from harm or unpleasantness, rescue, or safety)
DEVOTION: We find a list of soldiers in the army of Israel under the leadership of David that were honored for their service to their country for being faithful soldiers. Here we have the occasion of Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahonite, he was one of the three mighty men of David’s army. He fought against the Philistines until his hand was stuck to his sword because of all the fighting. He was really tired after the battle but he stuck with his sword against the Philistines. He didn’t give up because he was outnumbered. He didn’t run away. He continued to fight until there was a victory. It was not only a victory but a great victory.
It is because he fought so hard that they were able to take all the spoils of war back home with them. The people who were around the area could take spoils of war home with themselves as well.
We are soldiers in the LORD’S army and we have battles to fight that might take a long time or a short time but the battle can be intense and we need to be prepared to stay the course. We should not be warriors who give up too soon. The battle might be a long one at times but the blessings in the end are worth it.
God wants us to be warriors of the cross. We are to stay true to the Word of God no matter what society or even those in the church are saying about the Bible. Some don’t want us to warn people that there is a literal hell waiting for those who reject Jesus Christ. They want the message to be simple. They want there to be no standard of living for those who claim Christ.
We need to continue to study the Word of God to know what the LORD wants us to do during our battles against our enemy the devil. We are also battling with the world, the flesh and him regularly.
CHALLENGE: Don’t let any of these areas wear you down.
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:15 And David longed, and said, Oh, that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate! (183 “longed” [‘avah] means to feel or have a desire for, want strongly, crave for, lust after (of bodily appetites), or to burn with desire)
DEVOTION: David was in a battle with the Philistines. He had a strong desire to have some water from the well in Bethlehem. He told his desire to his men. They went out and risked their lives to get him the water that he wanted.
Too often we have bodily desires that might cause others even their lives if they were to get them for someone they cared about greatly. These men thought highly of David their king and would do anything for him. It was good to have friends like that in his life.
It is good for us to have friends in our lives that would do almost anything for us. However, it would be tragic if we desired something that could cause a friend to be hurt if he or she got it for us.
This was the case in this instance. He wanted something for himself that could have caused some of his faithful soldiers to be killed. He made his request known and they had a choice to make. They could please the king at the cost of their lives or they could ignore his request.
We have to watch what we ask for because the LORD might allow us to get it and then we would not be happy even once we received it. Here we have David pouring out the water to the LORD. This was a good thing to do because he was honoring the LORD
Today we have to watch what we desire. We should make sure that we pray and ask the LORD if the desire is good. Especially if it is going to affect other people’s lives. Most of the time our desires might not cost anyone their life but it could cause them to help us receive things the LORD really doesn’t want us to have at that time.
The Bible tells us to wait on the LORD. This is a command to help us realize that God gives us good things in HIS timing and not always in our timing.
CHALLENGE: Wait on the LORD and allow HIM to give us the desires of our heart in HIS timing not ours!
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
David poured out water to the LORD verse 16
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God – Elohim (Creator) verse 1, 3, 5
God of Jacob verse 1
LORD (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 2, 10, 12, 16,
17
LORD wrought a great victory verse 12
God of Israel verse 3
Rock of Israel verse 3
LORD wrought a great victory verse 10, 12
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Rock of Israel verse 3
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Spirit of the LORD verse 2
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Philistines verse 9- 14
Egyptian verse 21
Zelek the Ammonite verse 37
Uriah the Hittite verse 39
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Sons of Belial verse 6
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Anointed verse 1
Just verse 3
Fear of God verse 3
Covenant verse 5
Salvation verse 5
Desire verse 5
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
David – son of Jesse verse 1- 17
Last words of David
Raised up on high
Anointed
Sweet psalmist of Israel
Ruler must be just
Ruling in the fear of God
Everlasting covenant
Poured out drink from
Bethlehem well to LORD
List of mighty men given
Israel verse 1
List of mighty men of David verse 8- 39
Adino the Eznit – slew 800 men at one time
Eleazar – son of Dodo the Ahohite
One of three mighty men
Shammah – son of Agee the Hararite
Abishai – brother of Joab
Benaiah the son of Jehoiada
Kabzeel
Asahel the brother of Joab
Elhanan – sone of Dodo of Bethlehem
Shammah the Harodite
Elika the Harodite
Helez the Paltite
Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite
Abiezer the Anethothite
Mebunnai the Hushthite
Zalmon the Ahohite
Maharai the Netophathite
Heleb the son of Baanah – a Netophathite
Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibieah
of the children of Benjamin
Benaiah the Pirathonite
Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash
Abi-albon the Arbathite
Azmaveth the Barhumite
Eliahba the Shaalbonite – of the sons of Jashen
Jonathan
Shammah the Hararite
Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite
Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai
The son of the Maachathile
Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite
Hezrai the Carmelite
Paarai the Arbite
Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah
Bani the Gaidite
Zelek the Ammonite
Nahari the Beerothite
Armourbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah
Ira an Ithrite
Gareb an Ithrite
Uriah the Hittite
Men of Israel verse 9
Cave of Adullam verse 13
Bethlehem verse 14- 16
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Everlasting covenant verse 5
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QUOTES regarding passage
But in addition to all these other appellations, David was a prophet (cf. Acts 2:30). Thus David has now been portrayed throughout the books of Samuel as king, priest, and prophet. In these roles David foreshadows the work of his greatest descendant, Jesus Christ. Throughout the New Testament Jesus is likewise depicted as a king (John 18:37; 19:21), priest (Heb 3:1; 4:14–5:10; 7:21–8:6), and prophet (Luke 1:76; 4:24; 13:33; 24:19; Acts 3:22). (Bergen, R. D. (1996). 1, 2 Samuel (Vol. 7, p. 465). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
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millâ occurs thirty-four times in Job, once in II Sam, twice in Ps, once in Prov, and twenty-four times in Daniel. There seems to be no discernible difference in usage between millâ and dābār through millâ might relate more to word as expression and dābār as meaning.
In the first three verses of II Sam 23 four words for speech occur including millâ (v. 2), “his word was in my tongue.” In Prov 23:9 “the wisdom of thy words,” millâ is parallel with dābār (v. 8). For the revelation of God (Ps 19) among the terms used is millâ (v. 4), “words to the end of the world.” The Psalmist in 139:4 says God’s knowledge extends to every word on the Psalmist’s tongue. (Kalland, E. S. (1999). 1201 מָלַל. (R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer Jr., & B. K. Waltke, Eds.)Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. Chicago: Moody Press.)
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His consciousness of being God’s instrument is clear from the second stanza (vv. 2–4), in which he acknowledged that God had spoken to him (v. 3) and through him (v. 2) to the nation, enabling him to rule righteously in the reverential fear of God. A king who rules as an agent of God is, he said, like the brilliance of the sun on a cloudless morning and like a clear day after rain. (Merrill, E. H. (1985). 2 Samuel. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 479). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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A defining characteristic of pagan societies is the sacrificing of the well-being of children on the altar of adult happiness and self-fulfillment. Our own pagan society is no different. In a single-minded pursuit of sexual pleasure, career, or lifestyle, we tell ourselves that “the kids will be fine,” even though they’re clearly not.
Throughout history, across cultures and time periods, Christians bringing the Gospel to pagan cultures found themselves defending and protecting abandoned and abused children as well.
For example, 19th century India was not a welcoming place for girls. Considered inferior to men, women were not allowed to be educated or to work for a living. Child marriage was a fairly common practice. Though the practice of sati (burning widows on their husband’s funeral pyres) had been abolished, the fate of widows in that culture was harsh. Considered to be cursed, they would often be subjected to terrible abuse at the hands of their husband’s family.
Pandita Ramabai’s family was different. Pandita’s father, a member of the priestly caste known as Brahmins, encouraged her to learn how to read the Hindu scriptures. Not only did she learn, but her skills and mastery of the text also earned her acclaim. Her study also fed her growing doubts about the truth of Hinduism.
After she was married, Pandita found a copy of the Gospel of Luke in her husband’s library. Drawn to Christianity, she invited a missionary to their home to explain the Gospel to her and her husband. Not long after this, her husband passed away.
Shortly thereafter, a child-widow came to her door looking for charity. Pandita took her in as if she were her own daughter. Moved by the young widow’s situation, Pandita started an organization called Arya Mahila Samaj to educate girls and to advocate for the abolition of child-marriage.
It was when she traveled to England that Pandita Ramabai formally converted to Christianity. Returning to India, she set up a school for girls and widows in what’s now called Mumbai. At first, to avoid offending Hindus, she agreed not to promote Christianity and followed the rules of the Brahmin caste. Even these concessions weren’t enough. Within a year the school was under attack, and her local financial support dried up. So, she moved the school to Pune, about 90 miles away. In 1897, after a famine and plague struck the area around Pune, Pandita Ramabai established a second school 30 miles away from there.
Among the subjects taught to the girls in her school was literature (for moral instruction), physiology (to teach them about their bodies), and industrial arts such as printing, carpentry, tailoring, masonry, wood-cutting, weaving, needlework, farming, and gardening.
At first, Pandita had only two assistants. So, she developed a system to help take care of and educate the girls, first teaching the older girls, who would then take care of and help teach the younger ones. In this way, they managed to care for the growing number of girls who made their way to the school and take care of. By 1900, 2,000 girls were living there.
In 1919, three years before her death, the British king awarded Pandita Ramabai the Kaiser-i-Hind award, the highest honor that an Indian could receive during the colonial period.
Pandita’s example is one of many that we must take seriously today. To live in a pagan society is to encounter victims of bad ideas. Often, especially in our culture, these victims are children.
Whenever a Christian or a church decides that to speak up on controversial cultural issues is to “get too political,” they leave these victims without protection and are out of step with Christian history. Whenever a Christian or a church claims that they avoid these issues because “it distracts from the Gospel,” they are embracing an anemic, truncated Gospel. Christians today can join those who’ve gone before us, proclaiming the Gospel and caring for children.
One way to do this is by signing the Promise to America’s Children, pledging to protect the minds, bodies, and the most important relationships of children in our society. And learn all the ways children are being victimized and how the Church can help, by reading Them Before Us: Why We Need a Global Children’s Rights Movement, a vital new book by Katy Faust. Them Before Us is the featured resource from the Colson Center this month. (BreakPoint)
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Jesus tells the parable of the fig tree and signs of His second coming.
INSIGHT
Matthew 24 and 25 offer some of the most comforting — and terrifying — verses in the Bible. They detail some of the judgments to fall on mankind at the end of history. Yet God will not be caught by surprise. He is able to protect His spiritual children.
If someone comes along and says, “I am Christ,” we do not have to be confused. We know he is a false teacher, for Jesus will come in the twinkling of an eye — there will be no time for such statements. The God of power is also the God of the future, and we can rest in His sovereign care as we trust in Him. (Quiet Walk)
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The Transfiguration
“And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.” (Matthew 17:1-2)
This remarkable transfiguration of Christ was shown to the three disciples so that they could actually “see [Him] coming in his kingdom” (Matthew 16:28), as He will do someday when He returns to Earth “in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30). This would ever afterward be an unforgettable experience that would strengthen the disciples for their critical future ministry.
James would become the first martyr, but his brother, John, would survive to bear the testimony far and wide for almost 70 more years. “And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father” (John 1:14). Peter also wrote of the amazing event: “For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount” (2 Peter 1:17-18).
It is therefore very significant that the word “transfigured” (Greek metamorphoo) is also applied to Christian believers in 2 Corinthians 3:18: “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed [read ‘transfigured’] into the same image from glory to glory.” That is, as we behold the glory of Christ in the mirror of the Scriptures, we ourselves are spiritually being metamorphosed into His own image. The marvelous transformation will be completed when He does come again and “change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body” (Philippians 3:21). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Got Your Nose
| I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. Exodus 12:12 “Why are the statues’ noses broken?” That’s the number one question visitors ask Edward Bleiberg, curator of Egyptian art at the Brooklyn Museum. Bleiberg can’t blame it on normal wear and tear; even two-dimensional painted figures are missing noses. He surmises that such destruction must have been intentional. Enemies meant to kill Egypt’s gods. It’s as if they were playing a game of “got your nose” with them. Invading armies broke off the noses of these idols so they couldn’t breathe. Really? That’s all it took? With gods like these, Pharaoh should have known he was in trouble. Yes, he had an army and the allegiance of a whole nation. The Hebrews were weary slaves led by a timid fugitive named Moses. But Israel had the living God, and Pharaoh’s gods were pretenders. Ten plagues later, their imaginary lives were snuffed out. Israel celebrated their victory with the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when they ate bread without yeast for a week (Exodus 12:17; 13:7–9). Yeast symbolizes sin, and God wanted His people to remember their rescued lives belong entirely to Him. Our Father says to idols, “Got your nose,” and to His children, “Got your life.” Serve the God who gives you breath, and rest in His loving arms. ” By Mike Wittmer (Our Daily Bread) |