The story starts out saying... in the time when kings go to war... David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army... So David, the king, didn't go... Lesson #1. Try not to be in the wrong place at the wrong time...
So this woman, Bathsheba, her husband is away at war. She is taking a bath and David sees her and likes what he sees. So far, she has no control over any of that. David sends for her, she purifies herself and goes with the men he has sent and he sleeps with her. Again, she has no control over this. He is the king. A woman at that time was less than a slave and had no rights whatsoever. He is not just a man. He is the king of the whole country. Now lets be a little real here, they say David was VERY easy on the eyes (eye candy they call it some places...) and I think David was a very appealing man in personality. He certainly had plently of women. Jonathan loved him. He had a heart after God's own heart. He was obviously a good man. So maybe this wasn't too hard to fall into. She was married though, so no matter what the case, it was wrong. He defiled himself. He defiled the woman. He brought sin between both of them and God. Wouldn't you just know the woman becomes pregnant. Now we don't know here if it was especially good and he kept going back or if God caused this to happen on the very first hit. So now, David needs to come up with another plan... Lesson #2. Don't make a bad situation worse.
So David, Mr. Slick, decides to call the husband back to sleep with the woman and deceive him into thinking it is the husband's child... Now let's look at all the ways that is horrific. 1. The child is the king's child and will never get any of the benefits due it. 2. The woman now has to be intimate with another man, yes, this one is her husband, but that is nasty either way to be jumping between men. 3. This man, if he really did sleep with the wife, would believe he has a child and it really is not his. 4. David, first you just had to have the woman, now you want to just throw her to the street. Obviously having no feelings whatsoever, ready to cast her off like an unwanted jacket for whoever would wear her next. (definitely annoyed with David right now)
The husband, being a man of INTEGRITY (where was David's integrity when needed???) does not even go home, feels too wrong because his soldier friends are out fighting so how would he be sleeping up under his beautiful wife... that he doesn't even know just got up off David... Ends up David sends the man to the front lines because he refused to sleep with the woman or even go home. Can we imagine how sick this woman must be feeling right about now? I'm am betting her feelings toward David are not so favorable right here. The man goes to the front lines and is killed. David then takes the woman back to the palace. Lesson #3. Two wrongs don't make a right.
Bathsheba goes to the palace, has a son to David. But God, (always fatal words) does not have a good feeling about all this. He struck the child with illness. David has asked forgiveness of the sin, this is the consequence to the sin. David acts like he is about to die, not eating and wailing in prayer, for 7 days, then the child dies. David then gets up. Lesson #4. There is always consequences to your sin.
So David then goes and comforts the wife, Bathsheba. Issues with this part. For SEVEN days you laid on the floor not caring that the wife is about to fall apart. Not only has she recently lost a husband, now she has lost a son too. ALL BECAUSE OF YOUR LUST AND SELFISHNESS.... He lays with her again (oh yeah, that is surely the right thing to do...) She gets pregnant again. Gives birth to Solomon. Wisest man ever born.Lesson #5. God is always good to us. His mercy endures forever.
Isn't God amazing the way He turns an ugly situation better? Thank God David repented. Thank God David married her and didn't just leave her to the wolves. Thank God He is willing to give her another son. This time a son of covenant and promise. God is good in spite of us....
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Mary Magdalene
This might be a controversial one...
Who really was Mary Magdalene?
Biblically... Per Luke 8:1-3 Mary was the woman that Jesus sent seven demons out of. She, along with some other women, financially supported the ministry of Jesus and the disciples. It is also stated in all four of gospels that Mary Magdalene was at the cross when Jesus was crucified. It is stated that she went to the tomb the next morning to anoint the body of Christ with oils and spices and He was gone. She is the first person He appeared to. She tried to hug Him and He told her that she couldn't touch His body because He had not yet ascended to the Father. He told her to go tell the disciples that He has risen. That is what we know from the bible that we read.
Here is where the controversy could start. This is a woman that was with Jesus and the disciples much of the time. If you look closely at the picture done of the Lord's supper, the person next to Jesus, with the red on, appears to be a woman. Of course this could be just the artist's interpretation. And from my personal viewpoint, that woman looks as though she could be pregnant. That is just my opinion. When the bible was being put together, religious leaders were very selective in what they put into our bible. Their reasons might have been pure. Part of the reason stated is so that people do not have doubt in their faith. Part of the reason may have been to lead people in the way they 'see'. There are many other ancient manuscripts that can be read and much of them agree with our bible.
Mary Magdalene wrote such a manuscript and some of it was burned so that you cannot determine what is really said. I have read what is in this manuscript, or what is left of it. Some of it is conversation between her and Jesus before He ascended. Basically in this writing all that is said that He told her was to go and teach the teachings that He had taught them. Teaching people about God and teaching that Jesus was the Messiah. Peter was angry with her and told her that Jesus would not have appeared first to a mere woman and that He would not have told her to go tell the good news because she was a woman. That right there doesn't sound all that far fetched to me.
Now there are also writings stating that Mary and Jesus were married. There is supposedly documentation of a daughter born and that Mary Magdalene and Jesus are the parents. There is no biblical basis for this story or this belief. There are churches that are said to have ancient documentation of these things. People sometimes have a hard time believing this story to be possible. Somehow they feel it would make Jesus sinful. I am not really understanding that idea. Why would Jesus being married and having a child with his wife make him sinful? I think it might be the catholics that are against this as they also feel that priests are to be celibate. (we can see where that is getting them...) I don't know if any of this is true or if it is folklore. I don't have a problem with Jesus loving a woman and marrying her. I don't have a problem with him having a child. I don't think any of those things make Him wrong or less pure. If anything, that would be a sign to me that God really does not desire for any of us to be alone. The thing that makes that story somewhat believable to me is that she was at the tomb to anoint him. It is written that in those days the only one that could have gone to the tomb would have been the next of kin. Which would be the wife. Or the mother. If she saw Jesus first, then what would have made them let her into the tomb?
The thing that bothers me is that He told her to go and tell the story. Some people feel that is a basis for women to being called into ministry/preaching. I have a problem with that. I am not telling you that I am right, only that scripture tells me that women are not to be in a position of authority. I believe there are women who are called to evangelize and to teach. I just don't hear the whole pastor thing. Again, I am not saying I am right. I am just saying this is what I read biblically. Women tend to make emotional decisions, myself included and that can sometimes cause problems if you are in a position of authority.
One thing is certain. Mary Magdalene was a servant of Jesus. She put her money where her heart was, into His ministry. There is nothing written anywhere that would lead you to believe that she was not a good woman, a Christian woman.
Who really was Mary Magdalene?
Biblically... Per Luke 8:1-3 Mary was the woman that Jesus sent seven demons out of. She, along with some other women, financially supported the ministry of Jesus and the disciples. It is also stated in all four of gospels that Mary Magdalene was at the cross when Jesus was crucified. It is stated that she went to the tomb the next morning to anoint the body of Christ with oils and spices and He was gone. She is the first person He appeared to. She tried to hug Him and He told her that she couldn't touch His body because He had not yet ascended to the Father. He told her to go tell the disciples that He has risen. That is what we know from the bible that we read.
Here is where the controversy could start. This is a woman that was with Jesus and the disciples much of the time. If you look closely at the picture done of the Lord's supper, the person next to Jesus, with the red on, appears to be a woman. Of course this could be just the artist's interpretation. And from my personal viewpoint, that woman looks as though she could be pregnant. That is just my opinion. When the bible was being put together, religious leaders were very selective in what they put into our bible. Their reasons might have been pure. Part of the reason stated is so that people do not have doubt in their faith. Part of the reason may have been to lead people in the way they 'see'. There are many other ancient manuscripts that can be read and much of them agree with our bible.
Mary Magdalene wrote such a manuscript and some of it was burned so that you cannot determine what is really said. I have read what is in this manuscript, or what is left of it. Some of it is conversation between her and Jesus before He ascended. Basically in this writing all that is said that He told her was to go and teach the teachings that He had taught them. Teaching people about God and teaching that Jesus was the Messiah. Peter was angry with her and told her that Jesus would not have appeared first to a mere woman and that He would not have told her to go tell the good news because she was a woman. That right there doesn't sound all that far fetched to me.
Now there are also writings stating that Mary and Jesus were married. There is supposedly documentation of a daughter born and that Mary Magdalene and Jesus are the parents. There is no biblical basis for this story or this belief. There are churches that are said to have ancient documentation of these things. People sometimes have a hard time believing this story to be possible. Somehow they feel it would make Jesus sinful. I am not really understanding that idea. Why would Jesus being married and having a child with his wife make him sinful? I think it might be the catholics that are against this as they also feel that priests are to be celibate. (we can see where that is getting them...) I don't know if any of this is true or if it is folklore. I don't have a problem with Jesus loving a woman and marrying her. I don't have a problem with him having a child. I don't think any of those things make Him wrong or less pure. If anything, that would be a sign to me that God really does not desire for any of us to be alone. The thing that makes that story somewhat believable to me is that she was at the tomb to anoint him. It is written that in those days the only one that could have gone to the tomb would have been the next of kin. Which would be the wife. Or the mother. If she saw Jesus first, then what would have made them let her into the tomb?
The thing that bothers me is that He told her to go and tell the story. Some people feel that is a basis for women to being called into ministry/preaching. I have a problem with that. I am not telling you that I am right, only that scripture tells me that women are not to be in a position of authority. I believe there are women who are called to evangelize and to teach. I just don't hear the whole pastor thing. Again, I am not saying I am right. I am just saying this is what I read biblically. Women tend to make emotional decisions, myself included and that can sometimes cause problems if you are in a position of authority.
One thing is certain. Mary Magdalene was a servant of Jesus. She put her money where her heart was, into His ministry. There is nothing written anywhere that would lead you to believe that she was not a good woman, a Christian woman.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Ahab
I have been struggling with writing this one because I really don't like this man... but here we go...
Ahab was a king of Israel when the nations were split. His capitol was in Samaria. He was already disrespectful of the ways of God, then to make matters worse, he marries an EVIL woman named Jezebel. Yea, we have all heard something of Jezebel, but are not quite sure about her. I may do her next. Men, you have got to be more careful of who you choose to allow yourself to be influenced by.
The first thing the bible says is that he worshipped baal and set up altars to him. First mistake, first commandment, thou shalt have no other god's before Me. Bad beginning already. Then he sets out and rebuilds the walls of Jericho at the cost of his first born son being sacrificed at the laying of the foundation and the youngest son at the setting up of the gates.
Despite his evil ways, God still tried to get Ahab to know that He was the true God. He wanted Ahab to turn from his evil ways and serve the living God. I am not sure if God was so interested in Ahab himself, or the Israelite people in general. He could have just been faithful to the people and so Ahab received some of the blessing of that.
God decided to attack Ben-Haddad who was king of Aram at the time. He was to be put to death. Ahab decided to make a covenant with him after God had given Ahab the victory of battle. He did not kill Ben-Haddad as he was supposed to. A prophet tells Ahab that because he disobeyed the word of God that it would be Ahab's life for Ben-Haddad's. Ahab's people for Ben-Haddad's people. On top of this, he killed a man named Naboth and took his vineyard. God sent Elijah to confront him about his sin. Elijah tells Ahab, "The very spot where the dogs lapped up Naboth's blood, they'll lap up your blood—that's right, your blood.And because you've bought into the business of evil, defying God. I will most certainly bring doom upon you, make mincemeat of your descendants, kill off every sorry male wretch who's even remotely connected with the name Ahab. And I'll bring down on you the same fate that fell on Jeroboam son of Nebat and Baasha son of Ahijah—you've made me that angry by making Israel sin." As for Jezebel, God said, "Dogs will fight over the flesh of Jezebel all over Jezreel. Anyone tainted by Ahab who dies in the city will be eaten by stray dogs; corpses in the country will be eaten by carrion crows." (pretty rough, right?)
So when Ahab hears this, he becomes quiet and repentant. He becomes submissive to God and in his graciousness, God chooses to spare the doom pending until after Ahab is dead. Ahab dies in a chariot while in battle against Aram. He had been shot with an arrow. The king was brought to Samaria and there they buried him. They washed down the chariot at the pool of Samaria where the town whores bathed, and the dogs lapped up the blood, just as God's word had said.
Isn't it amazing how faithful God is to His people, even when they are evil. Not that Ahab didn't have destruction, but he was one of the most wicked kings in the history of Israel yet God tried repeatedly to get him to turn and repent of his sin. When he does show some semblance of remorse God decides to honor it and not bring doom during his lifetime. What a merciful God we serve...
Ahab was a king of Israel when the nations were split. His capitol was in Samaria. He was already disrespectful of the ways of God, then to make matters worse, he marries an EVIL woman named Jezebel. Yea, we have all heard something of Jezebel, but are not quite sure about her. I may do her next. Men, you have got to be more careful of who you choose to allow yourself to be influenced by.
The first thing the bible says is that he worshipped baal and set up altars to him. First mistake, first commandment, thou shalt have no other god's before Me. Bad beginning already. Then he sets out and rebuilds the walls of Jericho at the cost of his first born son being sacrificed at the laying of the foundation and the youngest son at the setting up of the gates.
Despite his evil ways, God still tried to get Ahab to know that He was the true God. He wanted Ahab to turn from his evil ways and serve the living God. I am not sure if God was so interested in Ahab himself, or the Israelite people in general. He could have just been faithful to the people and so Ahab received some of the blessing of that.
God decided to attack Ben-Haddad who was king of Aram at the time. He was to be put to death. Ahab decided to make a covenant with him after God had given Ahab the victory of battle. He did not kill Ben-Haddad as he was supposed to. A prophet tells Ahab that because he disobeyed the word of God that it would be Ahab's life for Ben-Haddad's. Ahab's people for Ben-Haddad's people. On top of this, he killed a man named Naboth and took his vineyard. God sent Elijah to confront him about his sin. Elijah tells Ahab, "The very spot where the dogs lapped up Naboth's blood, they'll lap up your blood—that's right, your blood.And because you've bought into the business of evil, defying God. I will most certainly bring doom upon you, make mincemeat of your descendants, kill off every sorry male wretch who's even remotely connected with the name Ahab. And I'll bring down on you the same fate that fell on Jeroboam son of Nebat and Baasha son of Ahijah—you've made me that angry by making Israel sin." As for Jezebel, God said, "Dogs will fight over the flesh of Jezebel all over Jezreel. Anyone tainted by Ahab who dies in the city will be eaten by stray dogs; corpses in the country will be eaten by carrion crows." (pretty rough, right?)
So when Ahab hears this, he becomes quiet and repentant. He becomes submissive to God and in his graciousness, God chooses to spare the doom pending until after Ahab is dead. Ahab dies in a chariot while in battle against Aram. He had been shot with an arrow. The king was brought to Samaria and there they buried him. They washed down the chariot at the pool of Samaria where the town whores bathed, and the dogs lapped up the blood, just as God's word had said.
Isn't it amazing how faithful God is to His people, even when they are evil. Not that Ahab didn't have destruction, but he was one of the most wicked kings in the history of Israel yet God tried repeatedly to get him to turn and repent of his sin. When he does show some semblance of remorse God decides to honor it and not bring doom during his lifetime. What a merciful God we serve...
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