5 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Continue reading SCRIPTURES OF THE DAY (MATTHEW 5:1-15)
The wilderness played an important role, affecting life in ancient Israel in several different ways. For instance, every year, at the beginning and end of summer, a hot, dry desert wind blows from the east. This wind, called sirocco, raises the temperature and can be quite destructive to vegetation. The wind was yearly reminder to Israel that the wilderness was within reach.
Continue reading THE WILDERNESS
The evaluation at times took a decidedly negative tone. Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, was the first to have his reign characterized in a more negative way due to the first that Judah “step up for themselves high places, sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree” (1 Kings 14:23). This was clearly a case of hyperbole; nevertheless a land that appeared full of what God had forbidden characterized Rehoboam’s rule as less than it needed to be.
Continue reading EVERYDAY LIFE IN BIBLE TIMES (SACRED STONES PT4)
KJV uses “ghost” in two senses, for the human life force and for God’s Holy Spirit. KJV never uses “ghost” for the disembodied spirits of the dead. All 11 OT references involves the phrases “give up the ghost” (e.g., Gen 25:8; 35:29), which means to cease breathing or simply to die. This phrase occurs eight times in the NT (Matt 27:50; Acts 5:5; 12:23). The predominant NT use is for the Holy Spirit.
Continue reading DEFINITION OF THE DAY (GHOST)
In times of trouble, Israel had a habit of turning to foreign nations for help and protection. Instead of relying on God, the nation would form alliances with world powers like Assyria or Egypt. The point of a “half-baked cake” was to
Continue reading WHAT’S THE MEANING OF HOSEA’S REFERENCE TO “HALF-BAKED CAKE”?