I’ll Be a Democrat in Heaven

By | May 16, 2009
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I’m having a grand old time reading through Chronicles “for the first time.”  One of the major themes is that the people should obey the law of Moses.  And another theme running throughout the book is that when the people obey, they rejoice.  But I didn’t see this one coming:

2 Chronicles 24:9-10 (ESV) “And proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem to bring in for the Lord the tax that Moses the servant of God laid on Israel in the wilderness. 10 And all the princes and all the people rejoiced and brought their tax and dropped it into the chest until they had finished.”

I don’t remember why, but yesterday I was actually wondering if we would pay taxes in heaven. I concluded “no.”  Now I will revise my conclusion: if we pay taxes in heaven, we will do so joyfully (that is, with true joy; I mean, we ‘ll really be happy about it). 

This makes sense when we recognize that our attitude toward taxes is often due to our attitude about who gets the tax and how they use it. 

But imagine this: imagine living under a perfectly wise ruler, who knows all of the kingdom’s needs, uses the resources with 100% efficiency, and has already proven in the most astonishing way that he would give up that which is dearest to him for your joy.  How much of your income would you be willing to pay in taxes to that ruler?  And how would you feel about it?

Messianic Jews Attacked in Rehovot

By | May 15, 2009
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On Wednesday of this week, according to a source not friendly to believers, ynetnews:

Messianic Jews took to the streets of the central city of Rehovot on Wednesday and handed out pamphlets of the New Testament in an attempt to convince passersby to convert.

Ultra-Orthodox residents were outraged by the site and began beating the missionaries. Secular passersby also joined in the action, and eyewitnesses said screams and curses could be heard.

The ultra-Orthodox grabbed the pamphlets from the Messianic Jews, tore them to pieces and threw them in a nearby garbage bin.

One passerby told Ynet, "I think this is a kind of manipulation that is applied mostly on new immigrants. The State also prohibits missionary activity. These are Jewish missionary acts that target Jews.

"What shocked me was the violence in the area, and that the passersby did not act to stop it. Their activity in our area has continued to increase recently – they seem to have made the area a target for themselves."

JPost Article on Messianic Jews

By | May 14, 2009
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This article in the Jerusalem Post features a number of former neighbors at Yad HaShmonah, talking about their faith. 

Like most religious Zionists, Aryeh Bar-David sees the hand of God in the establishment of the Jewish state and the Jewish people’s repeated victories against its enemies. Yom Ha’atzmaut has religious meaning as a tangible sign that God is fulfilling his biblical promises to the Jewish people. "God’s intervention in the course of history is so clear that, for me, it is absurd that people think we are just another secular democratic country," said Bar-David, who met me on Remembrance Day outside the Old City’s Damascus Gate.

"This," said Bar-David, gesturing toward the outer wall of the Old City, "is the manifestation of God’s prophecies as stated in Ezekiel, Jeremiah and other places in the Bible," referring to the victory in the Six Day War which gave Israel control of east Jerusalem, including the Old City.

Also similar to many religious Zionists, Bar-David, a veteran of four wars, is convinced that his religious faith helped him cope with life-and-death situations in combat. Under Ariel Sharon, he took part in some of the bloodiest battles for control of the Suez Canal during the Yom Kippur War. As platoon sergeant, Bar-David was forced to take over command when the platoon commander was killed in an ambush. "No matter how dangerous things got, I never feared anything. In a way I had a longing to be in heaven, closer to God. So I was not ever scared by the prospect of dying."

But, unlike most Jewish religious Zionists – who see the establishment of the state as a precursor to the yet-to be-revealed messiah – Bar-David has a radically different eschatology. That’s because Bar-David is a Messianic Jew.

"Days are coming when the Jewish people will be forced to realize that Yeshua is the only solution to all our troubles," said Bar-David, using the Hebrew name for Jesus.

The article continues here.

Language Learning

By | May 11, 2009
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Today was the first class of Theological German.  The teacher showed this video to demonstrate the importance of learning language well.  The scene shows an officer briefing a new Coast Guard cadet on his first day at work.

Deep Breath

By | May 8, 2009
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The most common response to this blog, I suspect, is a shaking of the head and an astonished comment that while it’s not impossible to be so ignorant, it’s hard to believe that one could be so old and with the opportunities that I have had and still be so behind.  The wisest thing for me would be to shut down this blog and desist from further demonstrating this sad reality.  But we ‘ve already established that I am not wise.  So on we press.

I am in the midst of that blessed, but brief, interval that occurs immediately after one finishes a large task and feels that the weight of the world has been lifted.  Soon enough I ‘ll realize everything that I failed to complete when the “large task” took over all waking hours and again be plunged into the abyss of hopeless “behindedness.”  But for the moment, all responsible living is cast off.

Yesterday I drove over to my professor’s apartment and turned in my last paper of the semester.  My major accomplishments this semester seem rather wimpy:

  • A 30-page paper on the identity and significance of Armageddon, largely written in 7 days.  Anything but a masterpiece, but it has photos.
  • A book review of John Walton, Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament
  • A book review of Richard Hess, Israelite Religions

In addition to that, I attempted to answer some of the most difficult interpretive questions for Hebrews, James, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John, Jude, and Revelation.  I read a lot of ancient texts by lost Sumerians, Egyptians, Ugaritans, and Assyrians.  And I’m still married and my kids don’t hate or ignore me. 

I learned a lot, but it wasn’t always what the teacher wanted me to learn.

April was the worst computer month of my life.  The solution to getting rid of whatever I was infected with was pretty easy for the guy who knew what he was doing; I just had to wait three weeks in line.  My backup computer decided that this was the right time of its short life to quit working.  I lost more than the $25 memory chip replacement, but thankfully, no data.

I spent my day today as a volunteer of “Watch D.O.G.S.” (Dads of Great Students) at our kids ‘ elementary school.  I played (educational) math games with students, watched some of the workings of the school, talked to various teachers, carried a walkie-talkie, and ate lunch with my children.  They have a great school with a first-rate principal and teachers who care.

On Monday I start a course in Reading Theological German.  In 11 class sessions over 29 days, I will master the subject.  More cynically minded might suppose that this is just an academic hoop intended to impress others that I’m in a credible academic program.  I won’t tell you which category I’m in.

I have a contract to write a chapter on 1-2 Chronicles for an OT survey textbook, due on June 30.  One of these days I’m going to start by reading the book; I’ve heard it’s good.  I may afflict you with an observation or two along the way.

I would love to write an article on Khirbet Qeiyafa.  I had a lot of ideas for that about 5 months ago, but I haven’t thought about it since.

My real dream for the summer is to finish the American Colony and Eric Matson Collection of photos.  Yes, I fully expected to finish that last summer.  A consulting job got in the way and I’ve made only minor progress since school started.  I am very, very pleased with the collection, even though I know too few people will really appreciate it.

Tonight I am going to watch a movie.  Yes, a Jane Austen one.  Tomorrow I’m going to go and vote against all of the bond measures.  Sunday I will teach on 1 Samuel 29.  I think now I ‘ll call my parents and inform them that their assumption that I am dead is false.

I think I exceeded the 140-character limit.

The Power of the Word

By | May 6, 2009
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The Gospel of John records a curious little note during the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

John 18:4-7 (ESV) Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Jesus speaks and the soldiers, the officers of the chief priests, and the Pharisees fell down when Jesus spoke.

I’ve been studying about “Armageddon” lately and I’ve noticed a curious detail concerning the final war of men against God: Jesus arrives and the battle is over (Rev 19:11-21).

Jesus does have a weapon: “From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations” (Rev 19:15).

The question is, is there a real metallic sword protruding from Jesus’s mouth, or is this a metaphor for the power of his breath/word? 

I’m not sure, but either way, I don’t want to mess with Jesus.  I’m pretty sure that the next time they come to capture and kill him, Jesus’s enemies won’t stand back up after he speaks.

The Great Supper of God

By | May 3, 2009
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Are you excited about the future “great supper of God”?  Is your appetite growing for this glorious future meal?  I hope not.

Revelation 19:17-18 (ESV) Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.”

No, what you ‘re looking forward to is the “marriage feast of the Lamb.” 

Revelation 19:6-9 (ESV) Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

Big difference.

By the way, I think the marriage supper lasts for about a thousand years or so.  Get hungry.

Isaiah 25:6 (ESV) On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.

Good times.

Proverbs NOT found in the Bible

By | May 1, 2009
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“The man who does not sacrifice to his god can make the god run after him like a dog.” (Dialogue of Pessimism)

“Who is wealthy? Who is rich? For whom shall I reserve my intimacy?” (Mesopotamian proverb)

“When you have seen for yourself the profit of reverencing god, You will praise god and bless the king.” (Mesopotamian proverb)

“Do the wish of the one present, Slander the one not present.” (Mesopotamian proverb)

“Do not open your heart to your wife; what you have said to her goes into the street.” (Egyptian proverb)

“Let your wife see your wealth, do not trust her with it.” (Egyptian proverb)

All of these are taken from John H. Walton, Ancient Near Eastern Thought and the Old Testament, page 309, note 51.  The footnote is made in the context of the statement that most proverbs in the Ancient Near East would fit well within the Bible and vice versa.  These are some exceptions.

April 28

By | April 28, 2009
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Is Pornography the New Tobacco?  This is not short, but it’s quite interesting.  I read elsewhere a few days ago that pornography is the number one cause of divorce among Christian couples today.

This guy really knows how to ride a bike!

You might be interested in a new song that is the winner of the Sovereign Grace contest for young songwriters.

Tomorrow I turn in two book reviews, write one exam, and start working in earnest on my paper on Armageddon.  I have seven days to create a masterpiece.