limtaglongtree

Ditty 8

8. Discuss the relationships of the prophets of Ancient Israel with the throne (government), the temple (religion), and the people (society).

            The prophets are the mouthpiece of God. They are the Spokesperson that God utilizes in His delivery of His plan, message, and his will to the people of Israel. They are means of relaying the message of God.

            In Hebrew, the word traditionally translated as prophet is נְבִיא (navi), which likely means “proclaimer”. This forms the second of the three letters of TaNaKh, derived from Torah, Navim, Ketuvim. The meaning of navi is perhaps described in Deuteronomy 18:18, where God said, “I will put my words in his mouth and he will speak to them all that I command him.” Thus, the navi was thought to be the “mouth” of God. The root nun-bet-alef (“navi”) is based on the two-letter root nun-bet which denotes hollowness or openness; to receive transcendental wisdom, one must make oneself “open”. Cf. Rashbam’s comment to Genesis 20:7. (Wikipedia)

            In the monarchy period, the government officials have a distinct role from the seer or the prophets. The king would reign as the administrator to the people where his ruling is on governing the people. The role of the man of God or seer or Prophet is that they be the mouthpiece of the Lord’s revelation to the King like the acts of Samuel, Eli, and Elijah.

            In the spiritual aspect, the prophets are the ones who give direction on the people’s spiritual condition such as Jonah who was sent to Nineveh to call the people for repentance.

            On the people, Amos was a Judean prophet who was ministering in the northern Kingdom as what Kaiser said; “vigorously denouncing the luxurious living of the upper classes that they were getting rich by exploiting the poor that leads to political and economic crashes.

            We can say that prophets in the ancient near east have a major role in transforming the lives of the people in social, spiritual, political, and personal aspect. God’s revelations are relayed by the prophets for the holistic welfare of the people.

Dev 8

2 kings 20: 1-21

V3. Remember now, o Lord, I beseech You, how I have walked before You in truth and with a whole heart and have done what is good in your sight. And Hezikiah wept bitterly.

V5. Return and say to Hezikiah the leader of my people thus says the Lord, the God of your father David, I have heard your prayers, I have seen your tears; behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord.

                The drama in a man’s life has led him to feel all the turmoil that has turn him to be bitter in pained agony. Bitterness has a pain to bear. The anguish cry of redemption longing to free and escape the reality of unfair life is an urgent prayer.

                How we wish that every fight in life we could just walk out in the ringside with triumph and victory.

                There was a boxer who trained himself hard. He would get up early at 3:00 to go for a 20 km run. He would step to the gym on time. Punch in and out is the language in the gym. Mr. Trainer would push him to go for extended rounds just to go for agility and speed. Every day is a training day, a preparation for the big event.  The day came when the boxer would step into the ring with confidence and pride after all those rigid and hard core trainings. The bell rang! Round 1! His opponent made his right step and followed by a speed uppercut to the chin. Blag!! He fell off. K.O.! The product of hard training has fall into an instant defeat.

                Hezekiah did what is right in the sight of the Lord. But he is not immune to be exempted not to be mortally ill. But despite of this sorrowful event, He beseeches the Lord. He prayed that the Lord would restore him back with petition accompanying bitterness, a symptom that he still desperate of the Lord’s restoration of his “health”.

                With prayer we could come in confidence on the Grace of God in whatever situation we are in.

Ditty 7

7. Choose a king from the North. Summarize his reign and the evaluation of it. What could have he done different in order to have a positive evaluation from God?

            King Omri succeeded his throne after his rival mate Tibni who ruled for 7 days died and this made Omri the official King ruling from 885-874 BC.  Omri ruled for three years and his dynasty has lasted for three generations. During his time of reign, Omri bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents. Also, Omri had a political alliance to the Phoenicians where during this time it was a mutual benefit for both of them in economic progress comparing to Judah who has been isolated. Israel has built trade routes to larger consumers further south and east, and from supplying Phoenicia with grain and olive. But still he did evil in the eyes of the Lord and done more overly than Jeroboam, Provoking the Lord God of Israel with their idols.

            Omri have performed well because he is a diplomatic politician that has lead Israel in a good economic status.  Omri could have not provoked the anger of God by letting this Phoenician influence them to worship Baal and the practice molech sacrifices. This act of Omri was a disastrous to the spiritual health of the Israelites. This has influenced his son Ahab to do more than what he has done that Ahab did more than all who were before him.  Evaluating his good diplomatic character has led Israel to good economic status BUT Omri should have not compromised his spiritual dignity. He could maintain good business with the Phoenicians BUT have a resistant Spirit to the influence of the Phoenician. He MUST NOT HAS allowed the infiltration of the influence of the Phoenician King in their business. We can see that Omri was seduced by the good economic offer of the Phoenician King and also their gods that probably the Phoenicians are expert influencers of Baal worship which is included in their Diplomatic alliances.

Source: History of Israel by Kaiser

                Bible (1 kings)

Dev 7

Ahaziah’s Messenger meet Elijah

2 kings 1

1:3b is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of ekron?

We live in an era where technology can fill the gap of sickness and good health. Technology breakthrough in the medical field has push away some of the diseases that has killed a lot of people like for example is the bypass operation, one common procedure is to perform heart surgery and sew in a new piece of blood vessel to bridge over (bypass) the blockage (Howstuffworks.com). Acquired physical sickness, disease, and injury can ruin the daily life of a person to live it as normal if possible like Ahaziah who was injured. He is the typical diseased person who wants to enjoy life far from malfunctions. He called his messenger to summoned Baal-Zebub. In a world where everything seems to be in our hands to manipulate things as they are has seduced us not to rely on the power of God. I am not against technology for technology has enhanced my life as better than before in terms of convenience but I can say that I will miss the reliance on God that it seems that technology has become our gods in making us look “healthy” but I believe that these are humbling situations that has pushed us to recognize God as He is. A shift in loyalty is a terrible sin against God for God is a jealous God. The ruling of God is not dependent on situations that we seem to know that God is obligated to sustain our “good” welfare in life. This is a struggle to understand God. This is a struggle to understand God’s intention in our life, for who can know the mind of God? For seasons would come and they will walk in their own course that we cannot rewind them or just wish that they have not happen, wishing that they had not take their path as an athlete has taken its race.

O God give me direction as I follow your course.

Ditty 6

6. Read Dr. Isbell’s article “History and Writing.” According to him, what is the biblical text disclosing? What is the relationship of the Bible with History?

            According to the article written by Dr. Isbell on “History and Writing”, the biblical Text is disclosing the author’s agenda. This author’s schema will address the issues of the time it was written. Dr. Isbell wants to address the debate of the modern era about the historicity of the bible that is perceived by our minds if this literary device can be considered as a genuine proof of History records and can satisfy our own dispositions. The fact that this literary device was preserved and freely used by this modern era that investigates truth with their own paradigm which explores truth considering the conclusions that they will screen from the ‘bible’ that is not ‘sufficient’ to address their so-called curiosity. In the examples of Isbell in 1&2 kings where the writer does not survey all the acts of the king, considering the statement: “are they not written in the book of the _____?” this will give us a clear cut that the writer has its own agenda in this narrative ‘historical’ device.

            The relationship of the Bible and History is directly related. The bible is a literary device that has kept records of the past which is considered as Historical. We cannot just overlook the bible as plain literature because the format itself is Historical Narrative that can be a basis for tracing elements that we need in connecting the events of this modern era. Due to continual search of the past, we will find it very essential in verifying facts and records. The bible lacking some of the trace elements cannot be disregarded. As Isbell says that the biblical narrative is not the kind of Historical evidence we would use to prove OR disprove such things. We can say that thru the span of the timeline, the Bible has recorded the acts of the people in that certain time that will give as clear informative of how did events are rolled in its own masterpiece as  part of History.

Source: ‘History’ and ‘Writing’

            Bible

Dogs are Loyal Friends

If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the hearts of this people would turn from the Lord, even to Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam King of Judah. So the king consulted, and made two calves , and he said to them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem; behold the God’s of Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt.

1 kings 12:27-28

Idols are one of the best manipulator of people. The northern tribes have been deceived of these two calves that Rehoboam have created due to a stupid consultation. Rehoboam has done a dim-witted decision just to win the hearts of the people. Rehaboam is a leader who would do anything to win the hearts of the people even if this would lead them to stray from God. The desire to control everything within my hands is seducing. Working in a church where there time that is very difficult to rally them to do a task and if the church cannot perceived this task it leads to discouragement and we the leaders are tempted to programs that would manipulate the lives of the church. This is a true reality. These programs would become idols that would manipulate their lives and would turn into routines and eventually idols. Idols can disguise seemingly like a redeemer of the people (god, who brought you out of Egypt). It is easy to proclaim the acts of God as Rehoboam did by claiming that these calves have brought them up to Egypt and just like the written document of the word of God that is divinely inspired it is used for personal agenda to manipulate people in the desire we planned which is good if we use it on the right application but seemingly sometimes it is being abused to render our personal agendas. The ignorance of the people are taken advantage, their innocent minds are deceived.

Rehoboam is a leader that does not fear God. He exemplified a leader that wants to take the loyalty of the people away from God. Rehoboam loves control. The control within our hands would tempt us to do things that would fulfill our greediness. Leading people is a Job to rally them on God not within our personal agendas.

Ditty 5:

Is David the first king of Israel why or why not?

                David is the first king of Israel. He is man after God’s own heart. He ruled over both Judah and Israel. In his time he united the kingdom making Jerusalem as the capital due to its neutral ground.  The monarchy form of governance was established, uniting all the tribes of Israel and comparing to the anointed King Saul where tribal system of governance is still in progress. The fact that the lineage of King Saul’s kingship has gone weaker and weaker thru Ishboshet crowned by Abner, which the situation in this time was chaos in every tribe; in this case the transferring of Kingship of king Saul has ceased concluding that the Kingship of Paul was a special favor to the people’s request of having a king but not on God’s timeframe, it is a permissive will.

                The rule of David was supported by all family tribes. He ruled in Hebron for 7 years and transferred to Jerusalem for 33 years. Jerusalem was made the new center for Government. David also began to organize the whole nation. David made alliances with the Phoenician so that he could obtain building supplies for a new palace. During this time of ruling, he has extended his rule to the Nile River and East to the Tigris-Euphrates valley signifying that his kingdom became powerful and strong. The Philistines were subdued. In the south, he has conquered the territory of Edomites, Moabites, Amelikites. To the north bound, he conquered the Ammonites and the Arameas. God has utilized and maximized David in the conquering of the Land. By faith in 1 Samuel 5:12, David realized that the Lord had established him as the King of Israel, and that He had exalted his Kingdom for the sake of His people Israel. we can see that God’s blessing and favor was upon David.

Dev5

And David realized that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.

2 Samuel 5:12

The sun rose from the east and settles at the west in its due time. Ants gather their food on certain time period that they will soon celebrate their effort of Hard labor of transporting food. Migratory Birds launches their wings to soar the heavens just to find a secured place to settle and finding a place will fulfill their longing for a secured place.

After a long time of waiting for his rightful Heir, David has come to sense that he was the now the king of Israel but we can see in here that the plan that God wants for David is not merely a favor for David but it is a task of How God will use King David over King Saul to be the ruler of the Monarchial Kingdom. It is more of Human favor that a God granting a request wish but God Request for David to rule in the political and Spiritual Kingdom. In the later Part of the Book, David has united the tribes and has drive out external threats to the kingdom. God’s intention is to Him be glorified so that People will recognized him even with our own desires and dreams in life. David was successful in uniting the tribes of Israel and united in worshipping God. People sometimes view God as a God who just grants wishes. But just like David, we are called to be steward on the things that are entrusted upon us and the first thing to do is sense it that God has positioned us, whatever circumstance we must acknowledge the promptings of God that we may also be utilize and in return we Glorify Him.

Ditty 4

4. Is the book of Samuel pro-monarchy or anti-monarchy? Why/ Why not?

                The book of Samuel is a pro-monarchy book. God has an agenda to the Israelites that He will produce a king from the Israelite that he will establish a kingdom that will be utilize as a political and religious center. But not as the king of the other nations has. The people demanded a king which is not on the timeframe of God. it was a because of their envy they ask for a king, just because the other nations are having a king which is a denial to the covenant of God, but on the later part of the book it, a king was set-up, he was David although imperfect but true representation of the ideal of the covenant king.

                Kingship was God’s will for His people. In 1 Samuel 12 is the resolution for this tension when Samuel inaugurates Saul as Israel’s first king in the context of covenant renewal ceremony by which Israel renews its allegiance to the Lord. We can see that Kingship was not wrong for Israel; God desired for Israel to have a king. But kingship of the type Israel desired (”like the other nations”) and for the reasons she wanted a king (to give a sense of national security and lead her to victory in battle) involved a denial of the Lord as her ultimate sovereign. Samuel defined the role of the king in Israel and presented Saul to the people in a ceremony in which they renewed their allegiance to the Lord. The monarchy in Israel was first established in a form that was compatible with the covenant. The king in Israel, as every other citizen of the nation, was to be subject to the law of the Lord and to the word of the prophet. From this perspective, the author depicts the reign of Saul as failing to correspond to the covenantal requirements, while the reign of David, although imperfect, reflected the covenantal ideal.

Source: Bible

                Illumina Encyclopedia

But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be without guilt”.

                1 Samuel 26:9

                We are surrounded by different voices that sound good at our ear and if our hearts verifies them there is a good chance that we will confirm to this voice. Music has taken its frequency anywhere. It has its own rhythm and style from R&B to Bosa Nova, Reggae to Rock, HipHop to Classics to Gospel and to the sound of folk music. Music will define the Generation. It gives them identity. This music has its own agenda covering from every generation from the message of the radical punk to the traditional life of country and folk music to the good beat of R&B to drug addiction, political, emotional lovesong, songs that reminds of the past which is sentimental to some, the convicting message of the rising contemporary Christian songs where Jesus is alive in the preference of the youth of the nation, yet some are just made of sounds of meditation that no lyrics can fill the message of the classical music, and some that are yet to be named.

                David hears the audible message of God. His devoted and responsive heart has made him to hear what God wanted to say. He could just take the advice of Abisha to eliminate King Saul but David is a man who recognizes God’s anointing despite of the plan of King Saul to kill him.  Life is filled with advantages that we can have everything within our hand but God’s authority is still speaks that He should always be on the lead. God has anointed King Saul and this is a favor to the request of the Israelites asking for a king because of their envy to the other nations having a king. David recognizes God’s anointing to Saul is a favor unto them despite of God’s change of plan of abandoning King Saul through his Spirit.

                May I listen sensitively to his promptings that I will set aside my own personal selfish agenda.

                God bless us all!