Yes, God decides to prosper some nations (Old Testament Israel most dramatically) at the expense of neighboring nations (three are mentioned in this psalm). As land is limited, when God gives land to Israel, it must come at someone’s expense. In this case, Canaanite fiefdoms “lose.” in that sense, some nations are put down.
Continue reading DOES GOD “PUT DOWN” CERTAIN NATIONS?
A biblical analogy to gun control is recorded in 1 Sam 13:19-22. The Philistines, who held a monopoly on the manufacture of iron implements, refused to allow the Israelites access to swords or spears. In spite of the Philistine attempt at armament control, the Israelites were able to defeat both the Philistines (1 Sam 14) and Amalakites (1 Sam 15) in battle.
Continue reading DEFINITION OF THE DAY (GUN CONTROL)
God’s intention since the creation of the world is that one day a week should be set aside for rest and worship. The person who works seven days a week is cheating himself or herself out of this opportunity and frustrating the worthy goals to which his or her work is directed. For most Christians, Sunday is observed as that day of rest.
Continue reading SHOULD PEOPLE WORK ON SUNDAY?
Deuteronomy shares many affinities with literature from the ancient Near East. The most evident is tis relationship to the various collections of legal sayings that have been recovered. These collections have come from as early as 2000 BC and before – eg., Sumerian Laws of Ur-Nammu (2064-2046 BC), the Laws Eshnunna (c 1850 BC), and the Code of Hammurapi king of Babylon (1792-1750 BC). The OT contains both similarities with and difference from these collections in subcategories of types of laws, such as case law, apodictic law, laws, involving curses, motive clauses, etc.
Continue reading DECREES AND LAWS