Friday, April 24, 2020

Enthroned Between the Cherubim


We are going to begin today's post with a brief look at the Ark of the Covenant.
As a reminder, the Ark (as I'll refer to it in this context) was established when the Israelites were at Mt. Sinai, shortly after God delivered them from Egypt.  On its lid, there were likenesses of two cherubim (Exodus 25:17-22), forming what came to be called the Kapporeth, or "Mercy Seat". 1

The Israelites carried the Ark around with them as they wandered for 40 years, brought it with them across the Jordan and kept it with them until the Philistines captured it in battle, during the judgeship of Samuel and the priestly ministry of Eli (1 Samuel 4).  It is implied in 1 Samuel 4:10-18 that the capture caused Eli to have a heart attack, fall backward out of his chair, break his neck and die.

The Ark brought death and destruction on the Philistines; as a result, they only kept it around 7 months.  They took it to a town called Kiriath-Jearim (or Baale-judah), where it remained for 20 years.   This town, in the area known as Gibeah, was about 9 miles north of Jerusalem.

Once King David moved his governmental seat from Hebron, where he reigned for 7 years, to Jerusalem, he wanted the Ark of the Covenant brought there too.  David says in 1 Chronicles 13:3 that, all during the reign of Saul, no one "inquired of the LORD"; that is, the Ark was not consulted, revered, etc.

This brings us to the central text of today's post: 1 Chronicles 13:5-14 (although the story is also recorded in 2 Samuel 6:1-11.)  Please read one or the other, as I am not going to reproduce the text here.

Saul is an object lesson for Psalm 106:15, which says:

And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.
(KJV2000)
The people of Israel had coveted their neighbors' kings, and had begged God (during the leadership of Samuel, the last judge) to give them one. Previous to this, they had been led by a succession of judges.  The catalyst to the people's request, a "hitch in the giddyup" you might say, occurred when neither of Samuel's sons was fit to succeed him, as they lacked the moral capacity to do so.
In 1 Samuel 8, God tells Samuel to warn the people that having a king was a very bad idea.  In obedience, Samuel delivered God's message quite strongly.  God told Samuel the people were not rejecting him and his family, or even the concept of leadership-by-judge, but rather that they were rejecting Him, as they had done for years.  Yet, God allowed them their king.

Saul, the first king of Israel, was a spoiled brat.  Tall and handsome, he had probably been excused and indulged, regardless of his bad behavior, his entire life to that point.  It only stands to reason he would continue to operate in a similar way as king.  In 1 Chronicles 10:13, we read that Saul was rejected by the Lord because of his unfaithfulness to him and his disobedience ("because he did not keep the LORD's word".) Instead of inquiring of the Lord, he even consulted a spiritualist, a medium, for guidance.  "Leanness" indeed.

Apostasy has consequences, many times unforeseen. 

At the time King David wanted to retrieve the Ark, it was under the care of Abinadab.  Now, there are at several schools of thought about this character.  (The name "Abinadab" occurs 12 times in the Old Testament.)
1.  Some allege he was a Levite. But, nowhere in the Hebrew Bible is he designated as such. Furthermore, David's comments after the Uzzah incident do not make sense if this is true.
2.  Others believe he was King David's older brother. 3  David did have an older brother by the same name, but it is unlikely he was the same person as the man whose house was entrusted with the Ark.
3.  Still others contend this was the same Abinadab as the son of King Saul. 4   However, there is nothing in the scriptures to verify this, as nowhere are sons of this particular Abinadab listed.  He was killed, along with his father Saul, in battle.  He may not have had sons at all.
4.  Finally, some believe this Abinadab was none of the above, but an obscure Gibeonite. 5 The Ark had been kept undisputedly in the area called Gibeah.  Gibeonites were not by-blood Israelites, but had made a crafty deal with Joshua many years earlier, deceiving him into not destroying that people (Joshua 9).  Accordingly, they became the bond-servants of the Israelites, and it was to them the Ark was entrusted when the Philistines rejected it. I believe this to be the most likely explanation.

The Abinadab at the center of this story had a son named Eleazer, the first son consecrated to care for the Ark, when it came to the house of Abinadab, from the Philistines.  However, the Ark was with this family, or "house", for 20 years.  At the time David sought to retrieve it, Eleazar was not mentioned.  He could have died.  Regardless, the two young men mentioned as guiding the cart with the Ark, as it progressed down the hill, were "of the house of Abinadab" and kinsmen of Eleazar.

So, the first problem in this story is that we see men who were not Levitical priests caring for the Ark.  This had gone on for many years.  God had long ago ordained the "sons of Kohath" (Numbers 4:14) to be the custodians and caretakers of this holy article.  But, because apostasy had crept in, it was no longer so.  Saul had scant regard for the Ark, and David had some ignorance about its care, at this point.

Coming down the hill, the cart tipped and, to keep the Ark from falling, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady it.  God immediately struck him dead.  God's action seems rash, until you consider He had been extremely forbearing, because the Ark had not been properly "handled" for many years.  It had been allowed to reside in the house of non-Israelites, first the Philistines and later the Gibeonites. Scripture records Uzzah's death made David angry, but that it also caused him to "fear" (have appropriate awe and reverence for) the Lord. 

In fact, he was so freaked out, he directed the Ark be carried to the house of Obed-edom.  (There is a similar controversy about exactly who this man was also, but I figure you've had enough of that sort of thing.  So, I'm not going to go into it, lol.)  During the brief 3 months the Ark remained with Obed-edom, the Lord blessed him and his house.  After 3 months, David had the Ark brought to Jerusalem - - this time doing it God's way, along with great pomp, circumstance and celebration. 

Lesson learned.

Note 1 Chronicles 15:2 - -

Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before Him forever.”
(BSB)

And again the words of David, in  1 Chronicles 15:13 - - 

It was because you Levites were not with us the first time that the LORD our God burst forth in anger against us. For we did not consult Him about the proper order.”
(BSB)

What are the lessons we can learn from this story?  Why do you think God allowed its inclusion in two different books of the Bible?  Here are some that occur to me.  Feel free to add your own thoughts in the comments of this post.

1.  God is holy and expects His worshippers to respect His ways. Obedience, with reverence and awe.
2.  Satan has been tempting humans to question God's ways since he asked Eve in the Garden of Eden this question: "Did God really say that?"
3.  Our ways, are not God's ways, but our ways can seem oooohhhhh so appealing.
4.  There are always consequences when we ignore or conveniently make excuses to work around God's precepts.  They may not be immediately apparent, but consequences will eventually come.  And, sometimes consequences fall on those who were not the cause of the original apostasy.  David was the prime decision-maker in this story, although Uzzah ended up being the one whose life was taken.

Yes, God is Love (1 John 4:7) and Mercy.  But, he is also Light, and Holiness and Truth.  While His methods of dealing with people have varied over the centuries, His essential character has not changed.  He is changeless, immutable.  Our loving God is "the LORD who is enthroned between the cherubim"  (2 Samuel 6:2)

Sources:

http://www.agapebiblestudy.com/documents/The%20Ark%20of%20the%20Covenant.htm
https://globalchristiancenter.com/christian-living/lesser-known-bible-people/31309-the-house-of-abinadab-and-the-ark-of-god
3  https://www.bibleabookoftruth.com/KingDavidsFamily.pdf
4  https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Abinadab
5  https://www.biblestudytools.com/encyclopedias/isbe/abinadab.html

Thursday, April 16, 2020

From the Birds

4/2/20
House wrens are so called because they love to build their nests in eaves, porch overhangs and in other crevices of homes here in the South.  They are small, rather nondescript brown birds, with a long-ish beak.  Several live on our property.

Our house has a front porch, with a pot of ivy on a plant stand beside the front door.  The plant is very hardy; otherwise, I would have killed it by now.  Each year, a house wren burrows down into the planter to build a nest.  This year, she produced 4 eggs, pictured above.

The poor bird's nesting season has not been free from trouble.  All three of us quarantined "inmates" have enjoyed soaking up the sun on the front porch in the afternoons.  Although we have tried to be generous, we have frustrated mama bird, no doubt.  Yesterday, Hubs came inside saying she had "run him off".  When I asked how she did that, he replied that she "makes her presence known" and won't approach the nest while he is out there.

Remarkably, she has become a bit accustomed to us, allowing me to peer into the nest while she is roosting, as long as I don't get too close.  For days, I would go out and take a peek.  If she was on the nest, I would back away.  But, I got the photo one day while she was out. 
It seemed to take too long for the eggs to hatch.  I was worried we had disrupted the natural course of things so much that they would no longer be viable.  Then, there was the tornado warning the night of Easter Monday... I lamented, as Hubs re-arranged the patio furniture, that high winds might blow the planter off its perch and harm our little avian "family".  Hubs replied if that happened, we'd have much bigger problems than a nest of birds.

Still, I fretted.  Maybe they would hatch on Easter?  No.  The day after?  No.
Finally, on Tuesday after Easter, I peered in and saw four little birdie bodies, newly hatched.  Based on previous experience, in no time they will "fly the coop".

"His Eye is on the Sparrow"....

This well-known gospel song is a favorite of my cousin Robert's, who would often sing it in church when I was a child.  The song was inspired by Jesus' words in Matthew 10:29 and also 6:26.

Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.
Matthew 10:29 (NKJV)

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Matthew 6:26 (ESV)

I had already planned to blog on this topic today, because it is so relevant to the many anxieties we allow ourselves to stumble into during this Time of the 'Rona.
Then, this morning in my devotional reading, the text was Psalm 84.  Look at verses 3-4.
Isn't God good!

3Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she places her young near Your altars,
O LORD of Hosts, my King and my God.
4How blessed are those who dwell in Your house;
they are ever praising You.
Psalm 84:3-4 (BSB)

"...she places her young near Your altars..." 
I know this is poetic language, but wow!
She does her best and then trusts God.  Oh, may I do that, concerning my "young"!

Not all birds "make it".  The Berry College Eagles lost both their eggs this season.1
Yet, no matter what, God is in control.  Trust His plan and His timing.
As many of us are "dwelling in our houses" during these 'Rona Days, may we also seek to dwell in His house, and to ever be praising Him!

Source:

1.   berry.edu/eaglecam

Thursday, April 9, 2020

The Balaam Balak Backstory


I have resisted writing this post for 3 weeks.
Ever since the covid-19 quarantine began, I've been in a strange sort of paralysis, reverting to "survival mode".  It has been one of the oddest things I've ever walked through.

So, finally, Balaam?
What do you know about him?
The infamous donkey-beating incident, right?
That's the "Bible story" we hear in Sunday School: Balaam was not a nice man because he beat a donkey.  I was amazed at what I found, digging deeper.

The story takes place just before the Israelites had crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land.  On the "wilderness side" of the Jordan, God had just given them a huge military victory over Kings Og and Sihon, of the Amorites.  Word of these major wins spread to the land all the way to the Mediterranean coastline.  All peoples in the Levant became filled with dread and terror over the Israelites.  King Balak of Moab was one such king thus affected.

During this time period, the following territories east of the Jordan ran north to south, like pearls on a string:

  • Amorites (Og and Sihon) - - present-day Syria
  • Ammonites - not to be confused with the Amalekites (who were a Canaanite people west of the Jordan)
  • Moabites - where Ruth was from
  • Edomites - Esau's descendants
  • Midianites - - present-day Sinai Peninsula

Balaam was a non-Israelite prophet who lived in the city of Pethor, in Mesopotamia, north and east of these aforementioned territories - - over by the Euphrates River.  (This was the general area the Wise Men of nativity fame were from.)  Balaam apparently had some fame as a prophet, because the king of Moab knew about him.  So, the king of Moab, Balak, sent a delegation with riches to entice Balaam to come to Moab and curse the Israelites.

Now, here's the curious thing:  Balaam knew who Yahweh was, and he HEARD from him!  So, Balaam was not a false prophet, as far as receiving actual, genuine prophecies from God was concerned.  God chose to reveal Himself to him.
But, he was a wicked prophet1 (and not just because he beat the donkey).

To make a long story short(er), Balaam received permission from God to go with Balak's representatives, but it was one of those "I'll give you what you want, but you will regret it" types of scenarios.  To express His displeasure, God sent an angel to block the road Balaam and the ambassadors were traveling on.  The donkey could see the angel and, quite rightly, stopped, refusing to go on.  Balaam could not see the angel, and so beat the donkey in frustration.  Here we see the odd "talking donkey" of the Bible, because God allowed the donkey spoke to Balaam in an effort to save her life.
Well, Balaam went on to Moab and tried three times to please the king by cursing Israel, but God only sent blessings to be pronounced by this wicked prophet.
The highly displeased king sent Balaam home empty-handed (no riches).  Before he left, he graced the Moabite king with four more prophecies about Israel, all of them favorable, and one of them "famous".  Did you know Balaam spoke these words?!  (I didn't.)

I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near.
A star will come forth from Jacob,
and a scepter will arise from Israel.
Numbers 24:17

This is a Messianic prophecy, a prophecy about the coming of Jesus Christ.  Wow, God truly can use any human, and He uses whom He wishes to accomplish His purposes and bring Himself glory! (I find it curious that, like the natal "Wise Men of the East", Balaam studied astronomy....hmmmm...)

So, you probably think Balaam went home after blessing Israel 7 times, and that was that, right?  I mean, that's what it says in Numbers 24:25!  When you move ahead into the next chapter, you find the Israelites committing idolatry by marrying Moabite women and polluting their households with the Moabite idols.  This led to the infamous Peor incident, which reached epic proportions of grossness in Numbers 25.

Ahhhh, but between chapters 24 and 25 key information is left out, information explaining how the Israelites got to that point.

Look at Numbers 31:8.  Here it is recorded that the Israelites killed Balaam with the sword.  The logical question is, "Whoa...wait a minute, WHAT?!"  The last time Balaam was mentioned chronologically in Numbers he had passed along prophecies of blessings, seven of them, on Israel.
What happened?!

To get the answer we must look at the Talmud, an ancient rabbinical book of history and theology, as well as two other key verses of Holy Scripture.  Let's start with the Scripture.

This is the Lord Jesus speaking, in the Spirit, via John, to the Church at Pergamum:
But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.
Revelation 2:14 (BSB)

They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness.
2 Peter 2:15 (BSB)
From these two verses,
it's reasonable to conclude that, perhaps when he was with Balak on Mt. Peor (Numbers 23:28), looking out over the "wasteland" (wilderness of Jeshimon), Balaam hatched an idea to infiltrate the Israelites from within.  Make no mistake, Balaam desired God to deliver through him a curse on the Israelites, because he wanted "the wages of wickedness" from Balak.  When God did not "come through", wicked Balaam at some point advised Balak to entice the Israelites to marry the Moabite women of the area.  Over a course of years, this occurred, leading up to the utterly vile idolatry associated with the false god (ba'al) of Peor.

Here's where the history books like the Talmud become helpful.  In Hebrew, the root of the word Peor is p'r, which means "opening".  It can either allude to the one that speaks words or the one that expels waste.  The Talmud recounts that Ba'al of Peor was a false, demonic god that required public defecation as an act of worship.  It is said that in front of a huge statue of the demon "god" on Mt. Peor was the equivalent of a huge "poop pit", to facilitate this particular form of worship.2
I ... kid you not.  Perhaps Balaam, from Mt. Peor, was looking out over a "wasteland" in more than one sense of the word....

Let's back up and look more closely at those three places Balak took Balaam, to have him curse Israel.  All three were mountain peaks, and all three were sites of pagan worship.  At each site, Balaam ordered an altar be built and sacrifices offered to the One, True God, Yahweh, the God of Israel.  Each time, a sacrifice offered, but surrounded by pagan altars.  God is a jealous God, which means He does not share His glory with false gods, nor does He like syncretism, the toleration/mixture of true and false religion.  (Our home Bible study is currently studying this phenomenon in our study of the book of Hosea, although it is rampant throughout the Bible, actually.)

Now, given what you have learned about Ba'al of Pe'or, does God's wrath toward the Israelites seem misplaced?  Or, does it appear entirely justified?  You decide, but I know what I think.  What a repulsive form of idolatry!  No wonder God's anger burned hot!

And, no wonder the Israelites later killed Balaam when given the chance.

During this coronavirus confinement I've seen our household lose money, lots of it.  And, I've been confronted with my responses to those financial blows.  They were not always godly ones.  Balaam lost everything because he was seduced by "the wages of wickedness".  Money meant more to him than it should have.  That is a sobering lesson to me.

That being said, I pray for those who are not just losing money, but that are losing their entire livelihoods as a result of this national crisis.  Not to mention those who are losing their very lives!  Story after story on the news, on Twitter, on Facebook here locally...  Please join me in praying for them too, because our idols can't get us through this.  There's only one, true God, who can.

Sources:

1  https://www.gotquestions.org/Balaam-in-the-Bible.html
2   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heresy_of_Peor