Have you ever watched a history documentary on TV and wondered how that historical period lines up with the Bible? For example, according to The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, Tutankhamun (a.k.a. King Tut) reigned from 1336-1327 B.C. What was happening in Israel during that time?
I recently finished teaching an Old Testament Survey course at my church. Throughout the semester I drilled four dates into the students that they needed to remember. These are the dates I use as mental pegs to hang all of the events of OT history. By rememebering these four dates, you can place almost any story in the Old Testament within a hundred years or so of when it occurred. Here they are:
Abraham: 2000 B.C.
Exodus: 1446 B.C.
David: 1000 B.C.
Exile: 586 B.C.
Abaham actually lived from approximately 2166-1991 B.C., but 2000 is a nice round number. David actually reigned from 1011-971 B.C., but 1000 B.C. is easier to remember. The other 2 dates are more precise. For the date of the Exodus, I hold to what scholars call an "early date": 1446 B.C. And for the Exile, the most significant event was the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C.
So out of all the dates in the Old Testament, these are the four that you should commit to memory. As I said above, using these four dates you can get in the ballpark of almost any event in the Old Testament. Some examples ...
- Joseph going to Egypt: since he was the great-grandson of Abraham (2000 B.C.) it must have been around 1900 B.C.
- Joshua conquering Jericho: since this was during the Conquest, it was about 40 years after the Exodus (1446 B.C.) so it was around 1400 B.C.
- Gideon fighting the Midianites: this was during the period of the Judges, so sometime between 1446 and 1000 B.C. ... maybe around 1200 or 1100 B.C.
- David & Goliath: that's an easy one ... a few decades before 1000 B.C. when David was king.
-Ahab & Elijah: sometime between David (1000 B.C.) and the Exile (586 B.C.) ... More precisely Ahab reigned in the ninth century, from about 875 to 850 B.C.
- Jeremiah's writings: another easy one ... since he wrote during the fall of Jerusalem, it must have been around 586 B.C.
- Ezra & Nehemiah: they lived after the Exile had ended. The year 586 B.C. was around the beginnig of the Exile, so you know their stories happen after 500 B.C.
So what Old Testament dates do I really need to remember? 2000 (Abraham), 1446 (Exodus), 1000 (David), and 586 (Exile). If you can remember those, you hold the keys to dating everything else.
Returning to our original question, what was happening in Israel during the reign of King Tut in 1336-1327 B.C.? ... You tell me.
;-)
Postscript:
For you overachievers, you can add one more helpful date to this list: 722 B.C. This is the date of the destruction of Samaria and the exile of the northern kingdom of Israel. (The date 586 B.C. refers to the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of the southern kingdom of Judah.) The date 722 B.C. helps split up the dense history of the monarchy period: if the event involves the northern kingdom, then you know it happened sometime between David (1000 B.C.) and the end of the northern kingdom (722 B.C.)
Monday, April 30, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
The Land of Israel ... Why there?
Did you ever stop to think about why God chose to place His people in the Land of Israel (i.e. Canaan; Palestine; The Promised Land; "Judea, Samaria, & Galilee;" etc., etc.) Why there? What's so special about that section of real estate?
There are at least two reasons. The location and characteristics of the Land of Israel fostered faith and reliance on a Higher Being while at the same time positioned the nation that lived there to have a disproportionate amount of influence in the ancient world.
A Land of Privileged Position
The Land of Israel holds a unique place in the geography of the world. It is the only place in the world that serves as a land bridge for three continents. Namely, it connects Africa with Asia and Europe. To the west of Israel is the Mediterranean Sea and to the east is the Arabian Desert. So if you wanted to walk from Egypt to anywhere in Asia or Europe, there was a bottleneck you had to pass through called the Land of Israel ... unless you somehow figured out how to walk underwater without drowning or walk across a blazing desert without dying of thirst.
So although the size of the land of Israel is about the size of New Jersey, the importance of that land in the ancient world cannot be measured. It was constantly coveted and fought over by the powers in Africa, Asia, and Europe (for example: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome). The following website illustrates in a 90 second video how many times it has changed hands over the last 4,000 years: http://www.mapsofwar.com/images/EMPIRE17.swf
From this we can see that God strategically placed His people on the most important land bridge of the ancient world, so that they could be a witness to the world. The Israelites could be missionaries just by stepping out of their front door. The nations of the world were passing by their doorstep every day, and gave them ample opportunities to share with them the truth about their Creator. They were to be a "kingdom of priests" (Exod. 19:6) ... in other words, a nation that served as a link and mediator between God and all the other nations.
Looking to the New Testament period, it is no accident that God chose this to be the place where His Own Son would be born, would conduct His public ministry, would die on the cross, and would rise from the grave. God the Father placed His Son in the center of the civilized world of the 1st century A.D.
A Land that Fostered Faith
Secondly, the land of Israel itself was a land that fostered faith. This can be seen in a couple of different ways.
For one, the inhabitants of this land were dependant on rain to produce food. Deuteronomy 11:10-12 states:
For the land that you are entering to take possession of it is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and irrigated it, like a garden of vegetables. But the land that you are going over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water by the rain from heaven, a land that the Lord your God cares for. The eyes of the Lord your God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. (ESV)
Moses is pointing out to the people that the land of Canaan doesn't have a nice big river running through it (like Egypt does) that serves as a reliable and convenient source of water for their crops. Instead, the Promised Land was entirely dependant on rain. No rain ... no food. And who controls the rain? God, of course! A lack of rain in a given year was a faith-building experience. It was a reminder to the Israelites that they were dependant on God, and it should have driven them to their hands and knees, pleading for the help of their Creator.
Another way that the land fostered faith was its location on this all-important land bridge that we already mentioned. With the modern inventions of ocean liners and aircraft, the importance of this land in the world's economy has diminished, along with its military importance. But placing ourselves back in the biblical period reveals a deadly truth: The inhabitants of this land were inevitably the targets of more powerful nations who wanted control over the world's most important land bridge. The Land of Israel was the ancient world's equivalent of the Suez Canal or Panama Canal today. It was the only practical means of getting from one continent to another. And whoever controlled that land bridge, controlled much of the world's trade.
So the people who lived in Palestine were in a vulnerable position. They were constantly threatened by famine and by enemies. They would have been keenly aware of their dependence on a Divine Power to provide them with rain and for protection from powerful nations who wanted control over their land.
Unfortunately, the Israelites all too often chose to place their faith in false gods instead of in the true God. God placed them in a location where they could be a light to the nations, but they turned away from Him and God brought judgment on them because of it. (See Ezekiel 5:5-8.)
What about you? Where has God placed you? Wherever you are, you have at least some level of influence on the people around you. Are you using that as an opportunity to share the Good News? And wherever you are, God is going to bring some trials your way that will stretch your faith. Will you use those opportunities to grow closer to the God who loves you, or will you turn to your own strength or other things to get through it?
God places His people exactly where He wants them, when He wants them, so that they can do His work and grow closer to Him. And He has tremendous blessings for those who choose to follow Him in faith.
There are at least two reasons. The location and characteristics of the Land of Israel fostered faith and reliance on a Higher Being while at the same time positioned the nation that lived there to have a disproportionate amount of influence in the ancient world.
A Land of Privileged Position
The Land of Israel holds a unique place in the geography of the world. It is the only place in the world that serves as a land bridge for three continents. Namely, it connects Africa with Asia and Europe. To the west of Israel is the Mediterranean Sea and to the east is the Arabian Desert. So if you wanted to walk from Egypt to anywhere in Asia or Europe, there was a bottleneck you had to pass through called the Land of Israel ... unless you somehow figured out how to walk underwater without drowning or walk across a blazing desert without dying of thirst.
So although the size of the land of Israel is about the size of New Jersey, the importance of that land in the ancient world cannot be measured. It was constantly coveted and fought over by the powers in Africa, Asia, and Europe (for example: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome). The following website illustrates in a 90 second video how many times it has changed hands over the last 4,000 years: http://www.mapsofwar.com/images/EMPIRE17.swf
From this we can see that God strategically placed His people on the most important land bridge of the ancient world, so that they could be a witness to the world. The Israelites could be missionaries just by stepping out of their front door. The nations of the world were passing by their doorstep every day, and gave them ample opportunities to share with them the truth about their Creator. They were to be a "kingdom of priests" (Exod. 19:6) ... in other words, a nation that served as a link and mediator between God and all the other nations.
Looking to the New Testament period, it is no accident that God chose this to be the place where His Own Son would be born, would conduct His public ministry, would die on the cross, and would rise from the grave. God the Father placed His Son in the center of the civilized world of the 1st century A.D.
A Land that Fostered Faith
Secondly, the land of Israel itself was a land that fostered faith. This can be seen in a couple of different ways.
For one, the inhabitants of this land were dependant on rain to produce food. Deuteronomy 11:10-12 states:
For the land that you are entering to take possession of it is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and irrigated it, like a garden of vegetables. But the land that you are going over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water by the rain from heaven, a land that the Lord your God cares for. The eyes of the Lord your God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. (ESV)
Moses is pointing out to the people that the land of Canaan doesn't have a nice big river running through it (like Egypt does) that serves as a reliable and convenient source of water for their crops. Instead, the Promised Land was entirely dependant on rain. No rain ... no food. And who controls the rain? God, of course! A lack of rain in a given year was a faith-building experience. It was a reminder to the Israelites that they were dependant on God, and it should have driven them to their hands and knees, pleading for the help of their Creator.
Another way that the land fostered faith was its location on this all-important land bridge that we already mentioned. With the modern inventions of ocean liners and aircraft, the importance of this land in the world's economy has diminished, along with its military importance. But placing ourselves back in the biblical period reveals a deadly truth: The inhabitants of this land were inevitably the targets of more powerful nations who wanted control over the world's most important land bridge. The Land of Israel was the ancient world's equivalent of the Suez Canal or Panama Canal today. It was the only practical means of getting from one continent to another. And whoever controlled that land bridge, controlled much of the world's trade.
So the people who lived in Palestine were in a vulnerable position. They were constantly threatened by famine and by enemies. They would have been keenly aware of their dependence on a Divine Power to provide them with rain and for protection from powerful nations who wanted control over their land.
Unfortunately, the Israelites all too often chose to place their faith in false gods instead of in the true God. God placed them in a location where they could be a light to the nations, but they turned away from Him and God brought judgment on them because of it. (See Ezekiel 5:5-8.)
What about you? Where has God placed you? Wherever you are, you have at least some level of influence on the people around you. Are you using that as an opportunity to share the Good News? And wherever you are, God is going to bring some trials your way that will stretch your faith. Will you use those opportunities to grow closer to the God who loves you, or will you turn to your own strength or other things to get through it?
God places His people exactly where He wants them, when He wants them, so that they can do His work and grow closer to Him. And He has tremendous blessings for those who choose to follow Him in faith.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Biblical Geography: Drawing the Map
Random question for you ... Could you draw a geographic map of the Holy Land and describe its various parts?
Actually, let me step back for a minute. I'm getting ahead of myself. I love biblical geography, so everyone does, right? Hmm ... not so much, I imagine.
I guess the first question is: Why would you want to draw a geographic map of the Holy Land? But really it is quite a handy skill. If you have a general idea of the layout of a country, it gives you insight into its history.
For example, think back to your U.S. History courses in school. Think of how the expansive Great Plains, the steep Rocky Mountains, and the lush West Coast with its gold deposits played important roles in history. Without them, there would have been no pioneers, no trans-continental railroad, no Little House on the Prairie, and no California Gold Rush. American history would have been very different. The same is true with biblical history. Things happened the way they did in part because of the simple physics presented by the lay of the land.
So let me ask you again: Could you draw a rough geographic map of the Holy Land and describe its various parts? If you could, you could understand your Bible better. Read on, and I'll show you how ...
Place a blank sheet of paper on your desk, and place your right hand in the middle of it. Starting on the left side of your index finger, start drawing a line down. Go around the tip of your thumb and continue down. When you get toward the bottom of your hand, instead of bending in to meet your wrist, draw out toward the edge of the paper instead. Congratulations! You just drew the coastline of Israel. Your page should look something like this:
Leave your hand on the page, and to the right of your pinkie draw a moderately sized, upright oval. Then draw a large, upright oval next to your arm, just below your wrist. Then move your hand out of the way and draw a squiggly line from the top oval to the bottom one. You have just drawn the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River, and the Dead Sea. (Okay, okay ... so your drawing won't be published in the next major Bible atlas, but we're just going for a rough map here.)
So far, so good. Here's where it gets interesting. The Jordan Valley gets a lot of press, and rightly so. It divides the Holy Land from north to south. But just as important is the Jordan Valley's cousin, the Jezreel Valley. This valley (with a little bit of help from the small but significant Harod Valley) divides the Holy Land from ... you guessed it ... east to west. In general, the hills and valleys to the north of it move in a different direction than the hills and valleys to the south of it. It's as if the the Jezreel Valley pierces the Land of Israel like an arrow, wrecking havoc on its geography. I use that analogy deliberately because the Jezreel Valley is shaped like an arrowhead, which brings us back to our map ...
If the arrowhead you're about to draw was on a clock, it would be pointing at the 10. The tip should be aimed at the bump that your thumb made, and the bottom of the arrowhead should almost reach the squiggly line (if I may be so bold as to call the noble Jordan River a "squiggly line"). The arrowhead should be moderately sized and should look something like this when you're done:
Next we need to fill in the map with the major geological sections of the land. In the lower half of the map, between the coastline and the Jordan River and Dead Sea, draw 4 vertical lines leaving a little extra space between the second and third lines. Then draw another vertical line to the right of the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River, and the Dead Sea . Now your map should look like this:
Next, draw a figure 8 tipped on its side below the vertical lines like this:
(For all you science and math buffs, you can call it an "infinity symbol" if you like.)
Finally, in the top section of the map, draw four horizontal lines above your arrow. And finish the the map off with a large box above that:
So now that we have our sections, let's give them some names:
-- In the bottom half, the vertical sections going from left to right are "Coastal Plain," "Shephelah" (I know, funny word; we'll talk about it more later), "Hill Country," "Wilderness," "Jordan Valley," and "Transjordan."
-- The figure 8 at the bottom is the "Negev" (another funny word we'll come back to).
-- The arrow is the "Jezreel Valley." (Technically the shaft of the arrowhead is the aforementioned, small but significant Harod Valley, but let's keep things simple.)
-- In the upper half, the horizontal lines are "Lower Galilee" and the big box is "Upper Galilee."
Congratulations! With some practice and a little memorization, you will be on your way to being a "resident expert" on biblical geography. In future posts, we'll dig deeper into these regions and sharpen your skills (and consequently your understanding of the Bible) even more.
Actually, let me step back for a minute. I'm getting ahead of myself. I love biblical geography, so everyone does, right? Hmm ... not so much, I imagine.
I guess the first question is: Why would you want to draw a geographic map of the Holy Land? But really it is quite a handy skill. If you have a general idea of the layout of a country, it gives you insight into its history.
For example, think back to your U.S. History courses in school. Think of how the expansive Great Plains, the steep Rocky Mountains, and the lush West Coast with its gold deposits played important roles in history. Without them, there would have been no pioneers, no trans-continental railroad, no Little House on the Prairie, and no California Gold Rush. American history would have been very different. The same is true with biblical history. Things happened the way they did in part because of the simple physics presented by the lay of the land.
So let me ask you again: Could you draw a rough geographic map of the Holy Land and describe its various parts? If you could, you could understand your Bible better. Read on, and I'll show you how ...
Place a blank sheet of paper on your desk, and place your right hand in the middle of it. Starting on the left side of your index finger, start drawing a line down. Go around the tip of your thumb and continue down. When you get toward the bottom of your hand, instead of bending in to meet your wrist, draw out toward the edge of the paper instead. Congratulations! You just drew the coastline of Israel. Your page should look something like this:
Leave your hand on the page, and to the right of your pinkie draw a moderately sized, upright oval. Then draw a large, upright oval next to your arm, just below your wrist. Then move your hand out of the way and draw a squiggly line from the top oval to the bottom one. You have just drawn the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River, and the Dead Sea. (Okay, okay ... so your drawing won't be published in the next major Bible atlas, but we're just going for a rough map here.)
So far, so good. Here's where it gets interesting. The Jordan Valley gets a lot of press, and rightly so. It divides the Holy Land from north to south. But just as important is the Jordan Valley's cousin, the Jezreel Valley. This valley (with a little bit of help from the small but significant Harod Valley) divides the Holy Land from ... you guessed it ... east to west. In general, the hills and valleys to the north of it move in a different direction than the hills and valleys to the south of it. It's as if the the Jezreel Valley pierces the Land of Israel like an arrow, wrecking havoc on its geography. I use that analogy deliberately because the Jezreel Valley is shaped like an arrowhead, which brings us back to our map ...
If the arrowhead you're about to draw was on a clock, it would be pointing at the 10. The tip should be aimed at the bump that your thumb made, and the bottom of the arrowhead should almost reach the squiggly line (if I may be so bold as to call the noble Jordan River a "squiggly line"). The arrowhead should be moderately sized and should look something like this when you're done:
Next we need to fill in the map with the major geological sections of the land. In the lower half of the map, between the coastline and the Jordan River and Dead Sea, draw 4 vertical lines leaving a little extra space between the second and third lines. Then draw another vertical line to the right of the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River, and the Dead Sea . Now your map should look like this:
Next, draw a figure 8 tipped on its side below the vertical lines like this:
(For all you science and math buffs, you can call it an "infinity symbol" if you like.)
Finally, in the top section of the map, draw four horizontal lines above your arrow. And finish the the map off with a large box above that:
So now that we have our sections, let's give them some names:
-- In the bottom half, the vertical sections going from left to right are "Coastal Plain," "Shephelah" (I know, funny word; we'll talk about it more later), "Hill Country," "Wilderness," "Jordan Valley," and "Transjordan."
-- The figure 8 at the bottom is the "Negev" (another funny word we'll come back to).
-- The arrow is the "Jezreel Valley." (Technically the shaft of the arrowhead is the aforementioned, small but significant Harod Valley, but let's keep things simple.)
-- In the upper half, the horizontal lines are "Lower Galilee" and the big box is "Upper Galilee."
Congratulations! With some practice and a little memorization, you will be on your way to being a "resident expert" on biblical geography. In future posts, we'll dig deeper into these regions and sharpen your skills (and consequently your understanding of the Bible) even more.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
New Series Introduction: Biblical Geography
What do you picture in your head when you read the Bible? Do you imagine the ancient Israelites living in a dry and dusty land or in lush greenery? Are they in the middle of a sandy desert or are there trees and grass around them? Do you picture them living in an environment that is something similar to the one you live in or something different?
If you've ever visited the land of Israel, then you know that it is very difficult to summarize what the land is like. Is it mountainous or flat? Well, it's some of both. Is it dry or humid? Again, it's some of both. Is it green and luscious or dry and dusty? Well, it depends on what time of the year you visit and where in the country you travel.
The land of Israel is a land of diverse climates and terrains. Yohanan Aharoni, one of the great historical geographers of the last century, referred to it as "The Land of Many Contrasts." (Yohanan Aharoni, The Land of the Bible: A Historical Geography, revised and enlarged, translated and edited by A. F. Rainey [Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1979], 21.)
There you will find pleasant coastlands that are fit for the most relaxing vacations ...
... and harsh deserts that are treacherous and deadly.
You will find mountainous terrain with commanding views ...
and deep valleys which hem you in on almost every side.
Each region of the country has its strengths and weaknesses, and each one played a part in how the ancient people lived out their lives.
In this series, we will explore the various terrains found in the land of Israel. The aim of the study is to enhance your reading of the Bible by providing background information and pictures that will shed light on why certain events occurred the way they did. Just like any other nation, the ancient Israelites were shaped (in part) by the land in which they lived.
(Photos courtesy of BiblePlaces.com)
If you've ever visited the land of Israel, then you know that it is very difficult to summarize what the land is like. Is it mountainous or flat? Well, it's some of both. Is it dry or humid? Again, it's some of both. Is it green and luscious or dry and dusty? Well, it depends on what time of the year you visit and where in the country you travel.
The land of Israel is a land of diverse climates and terrains. Yohanan Aharoni, one of the great historical geographers of the last century, referred to it as "The Land of Many Contrasts." (Yohanan Aharoni, The Land of the Bible: A Historical Geography, revised and enlarged, translated and edited by A. F. Rainey [Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1979], 21.)
There you will find pleasant coastlands that are fit for the most relaxing vacations ...
... and harsh deserts that are treacherous and deadly.
You will find mountainous terrain with commanding views ...
and deep valleys which hem you in on almost every side.
Each region of the country has its strengths and weaknesses, and each one played a part in how the ancient people lived out their lives.
In this series, we will explore the various terrains found in the land of Israel. The aim of the study is to enhance your reading of the Bible by providing background information and pictures that will shed light on why certain events occurred the way they did. Just like any other nation, the ancient Israelites were shaped (in part) by the land in which they lived.
(Photos courtesy of BiblePlaces.com)
Sunday, July 11, 2010
The End of a Thing is Better Than Its Beginning
Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
Ecclesiastes 7:8 (ESV)
Ecclesiastes 7:8 (ESV)
Although I knew this verse to be true because it is the word of God, I used to be puzzled by it because it didn't feel true. I would read this verse and think of fun evenings with friends and how it was always disappointing when they came to an end. It was such a let down to have to say good-bye after spending hours talking, laughing, and playing together. How could the end of such things be better than the beginning?
However, having recently finished graduate school, I think I understand this verse a little better now. I don't think it's talking about such fleeting pleasures, but is referring to the large projects of life. That is why the second half of the verse talks about the "patient in spirit." It is referring to those things in life that require patience.
Why is the end of such a thing better than its beginning? A thoughtful reflection on this truth reveals some answers.
First of all, the end of such things brings rest and satisfaction. The beginning of a degree program is filled with anticipation and excitement of all the things that will be learned and accomplished, but the end of a degree program brings immense satisfaction of a work completed and an honor earned after years of labor. This is true with many of life's projects, whether it be building a building, planting and cultivating a garden, training for a marathon, or raising a child. When the project is complete, all the effort pays off and the laborer can sit and rest (for at least a short while).
Secondly, the end of a project brings honor, as was touched on above. Jesus mentions this indirectly in one of His parables:
Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, "This man began to build and was not able to finish." (Luke 14:27-30, ESV)
Conversely, a man who is able to finish building a tower, or bearing his cross for the sake of Christ, or completing a degree, etc., will gain respect. The end of a thing is better than the beginning because by completing it you reveal your character. By finishing, you demonstrate perseverance, endurance, patience and diligence, which are universally respected virtues.
Thirdly, the end of a thing is better than its beginning because the end produces something useful and lasting. Although much of our work in this life will not endure forever, a completed work produces something that is helpful and that will benefit others at least temporarily. Looking back at Jesus' parable, the foundation of a tower is useless unless the tower is completed. The whole point of a tower is to make something tall from which you can keep watch over your property. The height provides you with the advantage of seeing an enemy or an unwanted animal approaching. If only the foundation has been laid, the structure is useless. There is no advantage gained from the effort. You would have been better off focusing your energy and resources elsewhere. But when the work is complete, your energy and resources result in something that has lasting benefit to you and your family. Again, this truth applies to many of life's projects: a vegetable garden produces no food if you prepare the soil but never plant the seeds, a quilt brings no warmth if you never cut the squares and sew them together, and "there is nothing more useless than an incomplete doctorate," as someone once told me.
As I come to the end of a major project, I am encouraged that the completion of such a project (with all of the satisfaction, rest, honor, and lasting work that it has produced) is an echo of what it will be like when we reach the end of our Christian life. Graduate school takes an immense amount of time, effort, and resources. There are times when you feel like you are not progressing at all, and times when you experience set backs and discouragement. It takes perseverance, and requires that you stay on the narrow path. All of these things have parallels with the Christian life. Following Christ is not easy. But just as a day of graduation finally arrives for those students who persevere, a day comes for each persevering saint when they leave their toils behind, are ushered into the presence of God, and finally enjoy eternal rest. That day is coming for every true follower of Christ. The diploma I have sitting at home is a reminder of that reality.
We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. ... Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52, 58 (ESV)
1 Corinthians 15:51-52, 58 (ESV)
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Father's Day 2010
"Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from Him."
Psalm 127:3 (NIV)
children a reward from Him."
Psalm 127:3 (NIV)
I am truly blessed to be a husband and the father of three children. My family brings me such joy. They minister to me on a practical level and a spiritual level.
On a practical level, my wife and children bring a smile to my face every day. It is a delight to wake up to them in the morning and to come home to them at the end of the day. They are ready to greet me with a warm hug, a kiss, and a smile. My wife is eager to talk with me and my kids are always ready for me to read a book to them or to admire at the puzzle they made earlier that day. Our home is a place of sweet fellowship. I cherish this because I occasionally envision what life would be like without them, and I'm always saddened by what I see: an empty house, a lonely existence, and a melancholy attitude. So I'm thankful that I instead get to spend my days caring for and enjoying my family. Although it is tiring at times, I know that it is a blessed path.
On a spiritual level, I know that God is blessing me because I have living, breathing evidence of that every day. Verses such as Psalm 127:3 (quoted above) tell me that children are a heritage and reward from Him. And verses such as Proverb 18:22 ("He who finds a wife, finds a good thing and obtains favor form the LORD") are indisputable proof that God has blessed me. So although I struggle at times questioning if God loves me or if He is upset at me for some reason, I can always look at my family and know that He has blessed me immensely. My wife and children are tangible proof in my life that God loves me. And really, all of the ways that they minister to me on a practical level (that I mentioned above) ultimately come from the God who gave them to me.
We serve a good God who loves us so much. He not only sent His Son to die in our place on the cross to take care of our greatest need. He also blesses us on a practical, everyday level through our spouse and our children. He is a God who loves us in big ways and in small ways: blessing us with every spiritual blessing in Christ, and at the same time blessing us with a simple smile from our youngest child.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Jonathan
Last Wednesday, a Christian friend of mine named Jonathan died suddenly of a cardiac arrest. He was 31 and had a sweet wife and 3 beautiful children. He was worthy of the name Jonathan.
The Jonathan of the Bible, you will remember, was the faithful friend of David. This may not sound too impressive on the surface ... I mean, who wouldn't want to be a friend of David, one of the great heroes of the Bible? But the fact is that, at the time, Jonathan was the son of Saul and was the crown prince of Israel. He was next in line for the throne! By the time David came onto the scene, God had already rejected Saul as being king and the prophet Samuel had anointed David with oil, marking him as the new ruler (1 Sam 16). In other words, David was Jonathan's competition! The only thing that stood between him and the throne was this guy named David. Saul even pointed that out to him once. Saul said, "as long as the son of Jesse [i.e., David] lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established" (1 Sam 20:31, ESV). So looking at it from an earthly perspective, Jonathan should have been David's enemy ... not his faithful friend!
So why did Jonathan choose to be friends with David? We're not told exactly why at first. After David's defeat of Goliath, the Bible simply states that "the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul" (1 Sam 18:1, ESV). He even "made a covenant [a binding commitment] with David, because he loved him as his own soul" (1 Sam 18:3, ESV). So there seems to have been an immediate affection between the two. Jonathan recognized David as someone that he wanted to know deeply, to fight alongside, and to walk through life with. And he made a binding commitment to be his friend.
Later, when Jonathan's father despised David and desired to kill him (1 Sam 19), this commitment was tested. But Jonathan was a man of his word, and a man who loved God. In the midst of this trial, he protected David (1 Sam 20) and the Bible tells us "he loved him as he loved his own soul" (1 Sam 20:17, ESV). Months or years later, while Saul still was pursuing David, Jonathan visited him "and strengthened his hand in God. And he said to him, 'Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you'" (1 Sam 23:16b-17a, ESV). That last sentence is significant. "You shall be king ... and I shall be next to you." The crown prince of Israel loved his friend so much that he was willing to forsake his place on the throne and settle for being David's right-hand man. He loved God so much and loved David so much, he was willing to renounce the throne, submit to God's will, and submit to David as a loyal subject.
So when I say that my friend Jonathan was worthy of his name, THAT is what I mean. The Jonathan of the Bible (the man that my friend was named after) was a man who loved God, who walked humbly with God, and who submitted his life to God ... no matter what the personal cost. And he was a man who was a true friend, who was fiercely faithful, who was always willing to serve others, and who (I am confident) would have made the ultimate sacrifice of love if God had asked him to: "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13, NIV). My friend Jonathan would have laid down his life for me if things had come to that. If he could push me out of danger even though it meant being in danger himself, he would have. I know that because practiced that principle every day ... he laid down his life serving his wife, his children, his friends, his church, and so many more.
There were other similarities as well: The Jonathan of the Bible probably was very tall since his father was a head taller than everyone else (1 Sam. 10:23), and my friend Jonathan was over a head taller than me and towered over many others. The Jonathan of the Bible was a brave warrior who led men into battle, and my friend Jonathan was a brave, spirtiual warrior: the week before he died, he shared the gospel with someone, and he was planning on spending his 10 year anniversary with his wife this year by going with her on a mission trip to another country. From everything the Bible tells us about David's friend, I'm sure he was a "man's man," and my friend Jonathan always made you straighten up (both physically and spiritually) by his mere presence. His handshake could break some bones if you weren't careful. But the similarities between the two that stick out most to me are their love for the Lord and their faithfulness as a friend.
Perhaps their most tragic similarity was that they were both struck down in the prime of life. The Jonathan of the Bible died in battle with his father, and never lived to see even one day of David's 40 year reign. When David heard the news, he wrote a lament for Saul and Jonathan. Towards the end of that poem, he wrote some lines that I'm sure my Jonathan's friends echoed today at his funeral:
"I grieve for you, Jonathan my borther;
you were very dear to me.
Your love for me was wonderful ..."
(2 Sam 1:26a)
The good news in all this is that today, in heaven, David and his friend Jonathan are enjoying Paradise together ... and one day, when the Lord calls me home, I will walk the streets of gold with my friend Jonathan, reminiscing about old times. ... Because the overarching story of all of this is that God is good, his mercy endures forever, and "all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Rom. 10:13). Jesus once said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though He may die, he will live" (John 11:25). When Jesus died on the cross, He paid the penalty for David's sin, for David's friend Jonathan's sin, for my friend's sin, for my sin ... and for yours. My friend is in heaven today because he trusted in God's promise that "if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Rom. 10:9).
God offers this forgiveness and this gift of eternal life to anyone who will turn from their sins, will trust that Jesus paid the penalty for their sin on the cross, and will follow Him as their Lord and Master. Have you responded to this gracious offer? Do you know where you will go if you died suddenly tomorrow?
The Jonathan of the Bible, you will remember, was the faithful friend of David. This may not sound too impressive on the surface ... I mean, who wouldn't want to be a friend of David, one of the great heroes of the Bible? But the fact is that, at the time, Jonathan was the son of Saul and was the crown prince of Israel. He was next in line for the throne! By the time David came onto the scene, God had already rejected Saul as being king and the prophet Samuel had anointed David with oil, marking him as the new ruler (1 Sam 16). In other words, David was Jonathan's competition! The only thing that stood between him and the throne was this guy named David. Saul even pointed that out to him once. Saul said, "as long as the son of Jesse [i.e., David] lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established" (1 Sam 20:31, ESV). So looking at it from an earthly perspective, Jonathan should have been David's enemy ... not his faithful friend!
So why did Jonathan choose to be friends with David? We're not told exactly why at first. After David's defeat of Goliath, the Bible simply states that "the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul" (1 Sam 18:1, ESV). He even "made a covenant [a binding commitment] with David, because he loved him as his own soul" (1 Sam 18:3, ESV). So there seems to have been an immediate affection between the two. Jonathan recognized David as someone that he wanted to know deeply, to fight alongside, and to walk through life with. And he made a binding commitment to be his friend.
Later, when Jonathan's father despised David and desired to kill him (1 Sam 19), this commitment was tested. But Jonathan was a man of his word, and a man who loved God. In the midst of this trial, he protected David (1 Sam 20) and the Bible tells us "he loved him as he loved his own soul" (1 Sam 20:17, ESV). Months or years later, while Saul still was pursuing David, Jonathan visited him "and strengthened his hand in God. And he said to him, 'Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you'" (1 Sam 23:16b-17a, ESV). That last sentence is significant. "You shall be king ... and I shall be next to you." The crown prince of Israel loved his friend so much that he was willing to forsake his place on the throne and settle for being David's right-hand man. He loved God so much and loved David so much, he was willing to renounce the throne, submit to God's will, and submit to David as a loyal subject.
So when I say that my friend Jonathan was worthy of his name, THAT is what I mean. The Jonathan of the Bible (the man that my friend was named after) was a man who loved God, who walked humbly with God, and who submitted his life to God ... no matter what the personal cost. And he was a man who was a true friend, who was fiercely faithful, who was always willing to serve others, and who (I am confident) would have made the ultimate sacrifice of love if God had asked him to: "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13, NIV). My friend Jonathan would have laid down his life for me if things had come to that. If he could push me out of danger even though it meant being in danger himself, he would have. I know that because practiced that principle every day ... he laid down his life serving his wife, his children, his friends, his church, and so many more.
There were other similarities as well: The Jonathan of the Bible probably was very tall since his father was a head taller than everyone else (1 Sam. 10:23), and my friend Jonathan was over a head taller than me and towered over many others. The Jonathan of the Bible was a brave warrior who led men into battle, and my friend Jonathan was a brave, spirtiual warrior: the week before he died, he shared the gospel with someone, and he was planning on spending his 10 year anniversary with his wife this year by going with her on a mission trip to another country. From everything the Bible tells us about David's friend, I'm sure he was a "man's man," and my friend Jonathan always made you straighten up (both physically and spiritually) by his mere presence. His handshake could break some bones if you weren't careful. But the similarities between the two that stick out most to me are their love for the Lord and their faithfulness as a friend.
Perhaps their most tragic similarity was that they were both struck down in the prime of life. The Jonathan of the Bible died in battle with his father, and never lived to see even one day of David's 40 year reign. When David heard the news, he wrote a lament for Saul and Jonathan. Towards the end of that poem, he wrote some lines that I'm sure my Jonathan's friends echoed today at his funeral:
"I grieve for you, Jonathan my borther;
you were very dear to me.
Your love for me was wonderful ..."
(2 Sam 1:26a)
The good news in all this is that today, in heaven, David and his friend Jonathan are enjoying Paradise together ... and one day, when the Lord calls me home, I will walk the streets of gold with my friend Jonathan, reminiscing about old times. ... Because the overarching story of all of this is that God is good, his mercy endures forever, and "all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Rom. 10:13). Jesus once said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though He may die, he will live" (John 11:25). When Jesus died on the cross, He paid the penalty for David's sin, for David's friend Jonathan's sin, for my friend's sin, for my sin ... and for yours. My friend is in heaven today because he trusted in God's promise that "if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Rom. 10:9).
God offers this forgiveness and this gift of eternal life to anyone who will turn from their sins, will trust that Jesus paid the penalty for their sin on the cross, and will follow Him as their Lord and Master. Have you responded to this gracious offer? Do you know where you will go if you died suddenly tomorrow?
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