A New Voice of Freedom

Podcast 88 Ecclesiastes, “Pt 3, Ch 3”There is a philosophical edge to Ecclesiastes which suggests that King Solomon, with all of his power, glory, and empire building, took time out from his responsibilities as King and pondered the meaning of life. He was introspective. Verses 1-8 of Ecclesiastes 3 became a popular song, modified by Pete Deeger in the late 1950s but popularized by The Byrds in 1965. That merely reaffirms its relevance for all time. In all appearances Ecclesiastes was written in the latter part of King Solomon’s life for he is looking back, pondering what really matters and what doesn’t. Surely Solomon’s life was one of the richest of all men. It is made even more poignant by the historical fact that he is the last king of a united Israel. After Solomon’s death the tribes split into the northern ten tribes who choose their own King, Jeroboam I, and the two southern tribes who follow Rehoboam, Solomon’s Son. Rather than expand their territory, they fight each other. Sadly, their leaders become their worst enemies by leading them into idol worship; the temple is destroyed twice, and all tribes become scattered throughout the earth, not before giving us the Holy Bible and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Their history is our history. There is a spiritual kinship that has dominated the world stage for millennia. As with so many millions of Christians and Jews, I begin every day studying the words of the ancient prophets. They shape my life, my thinking, and my philosophy as if they were still alive.Let’s first examine perhaps the most oft quoted words of Solomon.Ecclesiastes 3:1-9To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?If you can read that without thinking ‘turn turn turn’ then you are not a child of the sixties as I am. There is something about the simple phrase, “To everything there is a season.” In my happy childhood, I knew the season of plums, peaches, pears, black walnuts, hickory nuts, strawberries, black berries, dewberries, maypops, watermelons, and muscadines. I spent hours sitting in ‘muscadine trees’ in early fall eating muscadines. In black walnut season, my hands were always stained black from tearing open the outer shell to crack the harder shell and harvest the delicious nut. Happy is the person who understands the meaning of season.   

Podcast 87 Ecclesiastes, “Pt 2”Every great writer finds his voice. If he does not find his voice, he shall never be a great writer. King Solomon found his voice. Who but Solomon could have written Ecclesiastes. The word Ecclesiastes comes from the Greek meaning “one who addresses an assembly” or “preacher,” hence the title of the Book. He is reflecting upon his life.Ecclesiastes 2:1-3I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life. Notice the choices: mirth, pleasure, laughter, wine. Eventually they don’t satisfy. They all come to the same meaningless end. Solomon, however, also acquainted “his heart with wisdom.” As we know that was a special gift from God.He uses terms such as ‘vanity,’ ‘folly,’ and ‘vexation of spirit.’ It isn’t that laughter is bad. It is that seeking pleasure “all the days of their life” is empty, unfulfilling. The same with giving himself to wine. In time seeking things of the body rather than the mind or spirit turns to folly. Spending one’s life in seeking pleasure is vanity. It is fleeting. It has no staying power. But Solomon was given a gift above all other men. He was given wisdom. The following is recorded in 1 Kings.1 Kings 3:9-12Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.Ecclesiastes was clearly written in the latter part of his life for he is looking back over his life.  He has accumulated great wealth.Ecclesiastes 2:4-10I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me: I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.But even that turned to vanity.Ecclesiastes 2:11Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.It is an ironic use of the word’ profit’ since he is perhaps the wealthiest man in the world. Ecclesiastes is a cautionary tale. King Solomon is giving us a warning. He is asking us to decide what really matters in life. Are we chasing chimeras? 

Podcast 86 Ecclesiastes, “Pt 1”King Solomon, son of David, the last king of a united Israel, is known for his wisdom. Also famous for building King Soloman’s temple, he is the author of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Songs of Solomon. Thank you for joining Linda and me as we discuss Ecclesiastes, an incredibly rich book from the mind and heart of one of the Lord’s anointed Kings who helped shaped the world.Ecclesiastes 1:1The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.Ecclesiastes is written as if King Solomon is an old man looking back on his life, perhaps with some regret for his life has been far from perfect. Solomon inherited an empire built largely by his father, the warrior king David, who also collected the materials for the temple. Tragedy followed the first king, Saul, then David, and then Solomon, fulfilling the prophesy of Samuel that a curse would be on Israel if they selected kings over judges. 1 Samuel 8:11-18And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the Lord will not hear you in that day.That is exactly what happened, particularly under King Solomon. In fact, the twelve tribes split after the Death of King Solomon because Rehoboam (about 931 BC), Solomon’s son who replaced his father, would not reduce the taxes. The ten northern tribes, consisting of Reuben, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Ephraim & Manasseh, followed Jeroboam 1, and the southern tribes followed Rehoboam. The southern tribes consisted of Judah and Benjamin and the greater part of the tribe of Levi who exercised the priesthood. Samaria became the capital of the northern tribes, also referred to as Ephraim or Israel. Jerusalem remained the capital of the southern tribes, also referred to as Judah. The tribes became enemies and often tried to destroy each other. That split led to their total downfall. First the Northern tribes became scattered and lost to the world after being conquered by the Assyrians; next the southern tribes became scattered throughout the world after being captured by the Romans. The nation of Israel was lost.  Fortunately, we have many of the words of both David, the Psalmist, and Solomon, the Preacher. Some of King Solomon’s most famous lines are,  Ecclesiastes 1:2Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.Think about King Solomon, perhaps the richest man on earth, summing up his life in such a simple word as ‘vanity.’ He captures the concept of vanity so beautifully.Ecclesiastes 1:3-4What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.Of all the doctrines of King Solomon, perhaps none is greater than his observation above, “The earth abideth forever.” He anticipates John the Revelator by a thousand years. 

 Podcast 85 Story if Elisha, “Pt 11” Miracles, by their nature, are strange things, for they often appear to deny nature or probability or common sense. Furthermore, often miracles, no matter how spectacular they appear, can often be explained away by ordinary things. For example, everyone witnessed that the Syrian army left in a great hurry, but not everyone attributed it to the Lord. They undoubtedly came up with their own comfortable explanation. 2 Kings 7:18-20And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria: And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the Lord should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof. And so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died.If you recall, previously Elisha told the messenger that the price of food would drop but that the messenger would not be able to eat. The prophecy was fulfilled because the messenger was trampled by starving people rushing to get the food.One of the last recorded acts of Elisha is rather peculiar. Here is the background.2 Kings 8:7-8And Elisha came to Damascus; and Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come hither. And the king said unto Hazael, Take a present in thine hand, and go, meet the man of God, and inquire of the Lord by him, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?Hazael, apparently a high ranking official, does as the King Ben-hadad commanded.2 Kings 8:9So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels’ burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Thy son Ben-hadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?Elisha’s answer is very peculiar.2 Kings 8:10And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him, Thou mayest certainly recover: howbeit the Lord hath shewed me that he shall surely die.What appears to be a lie, isn’t. The king does not die from his illness. He survives his illness but dies from assassination. Elisha merely predicted the future. He begins to weep, not for the king but for Israel.2 Kings 8:11-12And he settled his countenance steadfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept. And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child.The next scene positively appears to be the inspiration for the Story of Shakespeare’s MacBeth. Elisha prophesies that Hazael shall become king 2 Kings 8:13And Hazael said, But what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The Lord hath shewed me that thou shalt be king over Syria.Hazael first delivers his message to the king and then smoothers Ben-hadad, king of Syria.2 Kings 8:14-15So he departed from Elisha, and came to his master; who said to him, What said Elisha to thee? And he answered, He told me that thou shouldest surely recover. And it came to pass on the morrow, that he took a thick cloth, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died: and Hazael reigned in his stead.Elijah is remembered more for his departure than for the miracles he performed which were spectacular.  He was taken up into heaven in a chariot of fire. 

Podcast 84 Story if Elisha, “Pt 10” Modern readers are often shocked when reading ancient texts. For one thing they are shocked at how little human life is regarded. For another they are shocked at the brutality.  and for another they are shocked at the extremes people are willing to go to survive. Some Old Testament stories reveal that extremism. The following miracle of Elisha is peculiar from start to finish.2 Kings 6:34-35And it came to pass after this, that Ben-hadad king of Syria gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria. And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass’s head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove’s dung for five pieces of silver.The approximate year of the above is 852 BC -841 BC. Samaria is the capital of Israel or Ephraim. The siege of the Syrians is causing the famine. The costs quoted above are astronomical. Eighty pieces of silver is $600 or more, meaning most were starving. The food listed could hardly be more undesirable which adds to the seriousness of the famine.But nothing could be more heartbreaking than the following story. It is simply unimaginable. 2 Kings 6:26-29And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king. And he said, If the Lord do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress? And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son tomorrow. So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son.The king is not shocked by the infanticide and cannibalism of the heartless mothers, nor does his anger turn against the true enemy, Syria. Neither does he turn toward the Lord for the things that are happening to his own country are because his wickedness. Rather than repent, wearing sackcloth and ashes before God and seeking the Lord’s prophet for help, Jehoram, King of Israel, immediately wants to murder Elisha, the one Man of God who could save him. That shows his own depravity. 2 Kings 6:30-31And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh. Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.The prophet Elisha, like his mentor Elijah, is unmoved by the King’s threats.2 Kings 6:32-33But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him; and the king sent a man from before him: but ere the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away mine head? look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door: is not the sound of his master’s feet behind him? And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down unto him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of the Lord; what should I wait for the Lord any longer?Notice that Elisha refers to Jehoram as the “son of a murder.” Jehoram’s father was Ahab, an idol worshiper and mass murderer for he murdered the prophets. His wife, and mother of Jehoram, was Jezebel, a Phoenician Princess and Idol worshiper. Both came to an early and violent death. Jezebel was thrown out of a window, her body eaten by dogs.Elisha’s answer to the messenger contains both the promise of a miracle and the forecast of the messenger’s own death.

Podcast 83 Story if Elisha, “Pt 9”The prophet Elijah, who had the courage of a lion, was perhaps more flamboyant and dramatic than his protégé Elisha, but the miracles of Elisha, which often parallelled the miracles of his mentor Elijah, outnumbered the miracles of Elijah. Among Elisha’s miracles, which also paralleled some of the miracles of Jesus, are the following.·      He saw Elijah being taken to heaven in a chariot of fire.·      The mantle of Elijah fell upon Elisha giving him a double portion.·      He multiplied the widow’s oil.·      He raised the Shumammite’s son from the dead.·      He healed the poison stew·      He fed 100 men from a few loaves of bread and ears of corn.But one miracle of Elisha appears to stand out, perhaps because its message is so astonishing. The following line is frequently quoted for that miracle gives courage to the faithful who sometimes seem overwhelmed by the trials of life. 2 Kings 6:16And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.A peculiar set of circumstances brings about the miracle. Syria was coming against Israel to battle.  History doesn’t record exact numbers of each army, but the following scripture certainly puts it is perspective.1 Kings 20:26-27And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Ben-hadad numbered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel. And the children of Israel were numbered, and were all present, and went against them: and the children of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country.The miracle is recorded in some detail in 2 Kings 6.2 Kings 6: 8-10Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp. And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down. And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.A prophet certainly comes in handy during time of war. It really irritated the king of Syria that his subterfuge was discovered. Not understanding prophecy, he thinks he has been betrayed by his own men. 2 Kings 6:11Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?A servant of the King knows about the prophet Elisha.2 Kings 6:12And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.The ignorant king commits the folly of thinking that he can simply kill Elisha. 2 Kings 6:13-14And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.Such a large army to kill one man. The rest of the story is of such a nature that once read it cannot be forgotten. 2 Kings 6:15-16And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.And there, of course, we have those strange words. Elisha and his servant are merely two unarmed men, yet a host of the king’s army has come to kill him. 

Podcast 82 Story if Elisha, “Pt 8”First, we learn something about the group called the Sons of the Prophets.2 Kings 6: 1-3And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us. Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye. And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go.Though they may be given prophecies, they are students of the prophets. They recognized Elisha as the chosen prophet of God as they recognized Elijah as the chosen prophet of God.They are devotees. It is more like a seminary. Undoubtedly they preach the words of the true prophets because Elisha willingly moves to a better location so that they can be with him. As we have learned from Isaiah, Elijah, and Elisha, prophets are called only by inspiration, revelation, and authority of God. They do not go to school to learn the prophetic trade. We know however, that they may receive revelation. Consider, for example, the following.  Before Elijah is miraculously taken up into heaven, the Sons of the Prophets say to Elisha.2 Kings 2:3And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.The Sons of the Prophets, though they received a revelation, subordinated themselves to Elisha who has especially been appointed by Elijah to follow in his footsteps. But as you recall, even then, it is dependent entirely upon Elisha’s faith. Elisha agrees to change locations so there will be room for the Sons of the Prophets. He accompanies them.2 Kings 6:4So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood.Elisha is noted for the many miracles he performed. One of the oddest, perhaps, is the story of the iron axe head.2 Kings 6:5-7But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed. And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim. Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.Did the miracle violate the laws of nature? As I write this, four astronauts just returned to earth after circling the moon. In circling the moon, they travelled into space farther than any other humans. Was that a miracle, for it had never been done before? Did they violate the laws of nature? To me it was a miracle, but no! They did not violate the laws of nature such as the law of gravity. The scientists who engineered the journey understood the laws of nature. They understood the dynamics of higher laws. Gravity is as secure as it has ever been, yet it seems to have been defied a with the axe head. The difference between a scientific experiment such as circling the moon and a miracle such as levitating the head of an iron axe is simply this. We understand the laws organized by the men and women of Nasa. We do not understand the laws organized by God to make the head of the axe float. But what is the greater miracle, circling the moon? or making an ax head float? Many perhaps would say, ‘circling the moon.’ Miracles may be defined as unexplained phenomena whose laws are unknown to man but not to God.God, the creator of the universe, works by law. He never violates law or he would cease to be God. 

Podcast 81, Story if Elisha, “Pt 7”In the previous podcast we discussed the Story of the miracle of the healing of Naaman, the Captain of the Syrian army. In this podcast we complete that story.We learn another great lesson from the healing of Naaman. Consistent with other miracles, something is required of the person receiving the miracle. There is a law irrevocable with God that faith must precede the miracle. Without faith there can be no miracles performed. Remember the following incident in the life of the Savior himself. Matthew 13:53-58And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence. And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.Naaman appears at Elisha’s door, but Elisha doesn’t see the Captain of the Kings army himself. As a test of his faith, he sends a messenger. In context, we must remember the high station of Naaman. He is used to commanding respect. It must have been hard for him to be slighted. He didn’t expect to see a messenger. He expected to meet a prophet. Furthermore, he is very annoyed at the impertinent message.2 Kings 5:9-11So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.Now notice the logic of Naaman who does not know the ways of the true God.2 Kings 5:12Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.The Israelites were a conquered people, partially brought about by Naaman’s own skills as a Captain. You can see why Elisah did not go himself. Why he sent a messenger. Before being healed. Naaman had to be humbled. He was proud. He had no respect for Israel, for Israel’s prophet, or Israel’s God. He was used to giving commands not taking them, especially from the enemy. Elisha is so much like his mentor Elijah. Naaman’s own servants come to his rescue. They speak with much greater wisdom than the proud Captain displayed. 2 Kings 5:13And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?Namaan is calmed from his rage. One cannot help but think that the spirit of the Lord was with his servants, for with their voice came peace. One is reminded of the proverb, ‘A soft word turneth away wrath.’ Because of his humility and obedience to a prophet’s voice, Naaman is healed.2 Kings 5:14Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.More than being healed from leprosy happened to the humbled captain that day. He is converted to the God of Israel. What became of that we will never know, but he was a man of great authority under the king.

Podcast 80, Story if Elisha, “Pt 6”To study Elijah and Elisha is to study miracles. Their lives are defined by miracles. Remember Elisha asked for a double portion when requesting the mantle of Elijah. It may appear ironically significant that of the recorded miracles, Elisha performs twice as many as Elijah. Some Biblical scholars interpret that to mean his double portion. But one thing that is commendable in both prophets is that neither sought personal gain from their miracles. They were devoted, sincere, and true prophets of God who put their lives at risk and who lived very ascetic lives, sacrificing their comfort and security rather than seeking wealth and power.Perhaps nothing destroys religious devotion more than priestcraft. In fact, it could be said that nothing could put people in slavery faster than priestcraft. AI gave me the following definition of priestcraft: “Religion used as a tool of personal power rather than humble service to God and others.” In related terms it gave, ‘religious corruption,’ clerical abuse of power,’ spiritual exploitation,’ and false shepherding.’ I continue with the definition, “Manipulating doctrine or ritual to maintain influence over the people; claiming special spiritual authority (e.g., exclusive access to God, revelation, or forgiveness) for personal advantage; exploiting fear, superstition, or ignorance to secure obedience or material gain.”In the following miracle, Elisha condemns priestcraft which was practiced by Gehazi, his own faithful servant, through using Elisha’s miracle of healing for personal gain. It is the famous story of Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, who contracted leprosy.  2 Kings 5:1Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.The Syrians, also called Aram, the people known as Arameans, were enemies to Israel. A young Israelite girl was taken captive in one of the raids. She becomes a servant to Naaman’s wife. She tells her mistress about Elisha the prophet who can perform miracles. 2 Kings 5:2-3And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman’s wife. And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.Naaman was informed of Elisha. The king of Syria himself commanded Naaman go and the king promised to send a letter to the king of Israel. With that letter he sends a fortune of gold and raiment.2 Kings 5:4-5And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel. And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.We can see the value and regard the king of Syria held for Naaman, the captain of his army. And in a strange way we see the faith the king of Syria, declared enemy to the Israelites, held for the God of Israel. The Syrians were polytheistic, worshiping many gods. The chief god of Syria was Rimmon. Idols have specific qualities and powers. That partly answers why there are so many. Think, for example of the Greek gods. India, whose primary god is Braman has thousands of gods. While in India, Linda and I regularly visited KGF. Nearby was a field of idols called the Kotilingeshwara Temple, a huge temple complex dedicated to Shiva. It has thousands of small stone idols called lingas, symbols of Shiva. One colossal bull, which dominates the Kotilingeshwara Temple, is several stories high. 

Podcast 79, Story if Elisha, “Pt 5”It is no coincidence that the miracles of God’s true prophets parallel those miracles that will be performed by Christ when he comes to the earth. They are meant to be interpreted that way for it is by the power of Christ that they are performed. It was a common belief among the Jews that miracles could only come from God.John 3:2The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.Christ was often referred to as Rabbi, which merely meant great teacher. It was not originally an ordained priesthood office until after the diaspora. Elisha, like his mentor Elijah, is defined by his many miracles.2 Kings 4:38-41And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets. And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew them not. So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof. But he said, Then bring meal. And he cast it into the pot; and he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat. And there was no harm in the pot.Faith always comes before the miracle. In the above story, the pot is filled with poison which would bring death. Think of the faith it took for the sons of the prophets to trust in the word of Elisha. Think of the faith required of Elisha that the poison would be ameliorated by the meal. How many times did Christ say, “Thy faith hath made the whole.” The apostles didn’t ask Christ to increase their miracles. They asked Christ to strengthen their faith.Luke 17:5And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.In a heartwarming story, the Savior tests the faith of the Woman of Canaan, a gentile who had extraordinary faith in Christ.Matthew 15:22-27And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.To some perhaps the Savior’s language seems harsh, but he is testing her faith and teaching his apostles a lesson. When Christ leaves he sends the Apostles to teach the gospel among the gentiles. The woman of Canaan’s answer is priceless and for her faith she receives exactly what she asked for.Matthew 15:28Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.Can anyone doubt that she became one of the first gentile Christians? 

Podcast 78, Story if Elisha, “Pt 4”The miracles performed by Elisha continue. Again, let’s consider the circumstances of the next miracle.2 Kings 4:8-11And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither. And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there.The term ‘greatness’ could refer to wealth or standing in the community. Certainly, she had great faith in God and in his prophets. She modified her home so that Elisha could abide there when he passed through. This touched Elisha greatly. 2 Kings 4:12-13And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him. And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people.Elisha is not satisfied with her answer, so he asked his servant.2 Kings 4:14-15And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old. And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door.The Shunammite woman did not ask for a miracle. She required nothing of Elisha, but from the goodness of her heart she offered him food, a bed, and shelter to aid him in his travels. Because of that act, Elisha gave her the greatest desire of her heart, which she was too astonished to believe.2 Kings 4:16-17And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid. And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.The act of the Shunammite woman is an object lesson to us all. Acts of kindness, without any expectation of reward, may often bring unexpected rewards. But, of course, it goes beyond that. We are all promised eternal rewards in heaven. All acts are before God all the time, and no act of kindness, as with the fall of the sparrow, goes unnoticed with the Lord. One can only imagine the thrill and joy the once childless woman felt only to have her joy shattered by the boy’s untimely death.2 Kings 4:18-20And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers. And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother. And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.One can only imagine the horror the mother felt to miraculously be given a son only to have him taken from her. Of course, we cannot overlook the allusion to the miraculous birth of Christ and the grief of his mother Mary. We are meant to see the analogy. The comparison does not end with the boy’s death. 

Podcast 77, Story if Elisha, “Pt 3”One quickly sees a parallel between the miracles of Elijah and the miracles of Elisha.2 Kings 4:1Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.These were very harsh times that the widow lost not only her husband but was now about to lose her sons to a bondsman. We soon discover that Elisha’s faith is as strong as was the faith of Elijah, his mentor.2 Kings 4: 2-6And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil. Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out. And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.We are reminded of the miracle of Elijah and the widow, but our hearts also turn to the first miracle of Jesus.John 2:1-11And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.A firkin equals 8 or 9 gallons. The total amount would have been over 100 gallons of wine. We immediately think of the perfect faith of Jesus, but we must also consider the tremendous faith of his mother in her son. One wonders what else she has witnessed in her son as he grew to manhood. Just so we must also consider the faith of the mother and wife who approached Elisha. One verity that is never broken is that faith always precedes the miracle. In both cases the women first had to act; that is they had to follow the instructions of the Prophet Elisha and Jesus. It is noteworthy that with every miracle there appears first an act of faith, but that act is always within the power of the one asking for the miracle. The message is clear. Often God asks of us small and simple things yet from those small and simple things great miracles occur. One wonders how many of us miss out on miracles because we fail to observe the small and simple things? 

Podcast 76, Story if Elisha, “Pt 2”About 852–850 BC all twelve tribes united against Moab. Moab, the father of the Moabites, was the son of Lot, nephew to Abraham. 2 Kings 3:1-3Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years. And he wrought evil in the sight of the Lord; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made. Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.Jeroboam 1 was of the tribe of Ephraim. He became the first king of the Northern Tribes which split from the Southern Tribes over exorbitant taxes. Jeroboam became an idol worshiper. Jehoram, the seventh king in succession of Jeroboam 1 follows in the steps of his forefathers and also becomes an idol worshiper. Jehoshaphat is king of Judah at the same time that Jehoram was king of Ephraim or Israel. The Northern Tribes and the Southern Tribes have a history of being enemies. Here Jehoram and Jehoshaphat form an alliance against Mesha king of Moab. All three groups are related by Blood through Abraham’s family. Lot’s father, of course, was Abraham’s brother. At this time the Moabites were a tributary to Israel.2 Kings 3:4-5And Mesha king of Moab was a sheepmaster, and rendered unto the king of Israel an hundred thousand lambs, and an hundred thousand rams, with the wool. But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.That is when Israel and Judah form an alliance. They join with the king of Edom, of the lineage of Esau, twin brother of Jacob. 2 Kings 3:6-8And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and numbered all Israel. And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up: I am as thou art, my people as thy people, and my horses as thy horses. And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom.Immediately they are in trouble, there was no water, and they would perish in the desert.2 Kings 3:9-10So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days’ journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them. And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the Lord hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!Unlike Jehoram, Jehoshaphat was not an idol worshiper. He believed in Jehovah, and he seeks a solution through the newly appointed prophet Elisha. It was always the practice of righteous kings to seek counsel from the Lord’s prophets during times of trouble. 2 Kings 3:11-12But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord, that we may inquire of the Lord by him? And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah. And Jehoshaphat said, The word of the Lord is with him. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.One of the clear messages of the Old Testament to Israel and to all Christians is to seek answers through the Lord’s chosen prophets. Traditionally Americans from the birth of the Nation sought answers in the Holy Bible. The Bible became a central part of government, of schools, of the court system. Those who claim that we are not a Christian nation overlook the role God played in the framing of this nation and in the faith of those who founded this nation. The message of the Bible is if we turn our backs on the prophets of the Holy Bible, and if we turn our backs on Christ, the Lord will turn his back on use. 

Podcast 75, Story if Elisha, “Pt 1” We are introduced to Elisha in 1 Kings when he is called by Elijah.1 Kings 19:19-21So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee? And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.The mantle of Elijah is symbolic of what is to come. Elijah is at the end of his first mission on earth. He is passing his mantel to Elisha. It is a symbol not only to Elisha but to all the House of Israel that they are to consider Elisha as the successor to Elijah. It is a witness that only God can call prophets, but that he does his work through prophets. No greater tragedy can occur in Christendom than to turn away from God’s true prophets. Their primary mission on earth is to bring us to Christ. We are to study the words of the prophets for they lead us to Christ.The second time the mantle falls upon Elisha is far more dramatic.2 Kings 2: 8-13And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;As a witness to the sons of the prophets that Elisha truly has the mantle of Elijah, he performs the same miracle as Elijah by parting the waters of the Jordan River. 2 Kings 2:14-15And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over. And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.As with Elijah, Elisha performs many miracles. In fact, he doubles the number of miracles of Elijah suggesting to some that it is a witness that a double portion of Elijah’s spirit really did fall upon Elisha. Elisha, recognized now as the successor to Elijah, is called upon to perform miracles. 2 Kings 2:19And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren.

Podcast 74, Story of Elijah, “Pt 8”Regardless of where Elijah is there is spectacle. No other prophet is more dramatic than Elijah. He comes in like a whirlwind and leaves in a whirlwind. He controls every situation, making kings bow to his power. The best known story of Elijah is being taken up in a chariot of fire, not tasting death. The story is recorded in 2 Kings 2.2 Kings 2And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.Elisha, another extraordinary prophet, is Elijah’s companion and protégé. Elijah, who knows that his mission as prophet to Israel is at an end has hand selected Elisha to take his place. He appears to be testing Elisha to see if he is qualified.  2 Kings 2:2And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Beth-el. And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Beth-el.The distance to Beth-el is about twenty miles, but it is a very hard journey on foot. Jerico is -800 ft below sea level. Bethel is about 3000 ft above sea level. The terrain is a dry desert, rocky winding trails, high temperatures and scarce water. Elisha passes the first test. He is willing to take the difficult journey with his master. They are observed by ‘the sons of the prophets.’ The “sons of the prophets” who remain nameless, do not refer to actual children of the prophets. It appears to be more like a school of the prophets. They look to Elijah and Elisha as tutors. They appear to always be in large groups who apparently give their lives to studying the prophets.They are not all genuine, however. We read in Micah.Micah 3:9-12Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity. They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon us. Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.Othe other hand, many are genuine, and have revelations from God. They appear to be more like students of scripture or observers of the Lord’s anointed.2 Kings 2:3And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.Again, Elijah tests Elisha.2 Kings 2:4And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho. We meet more of the sons of the prophets.2 Kings 2:5And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.The sons of the prophets recognize the relationship between Elijah and Elisha, and they also recognize that Elijah is the chosen prophet and Elisha is his protégé. Remember Elijah and Elisha were just in Gilgal, which is near the Jordan River, only 2 miles from Jericho. Now Elijah is retracing his steps. Elisha must think it odd; nonetheless, he does not question his master nor will he leave his master.

Elijah prophesied the gruesome deaths of Ahab and Jezebel. Now Ahaziah, the son of Ahab and Jezebel, because of his wickedness suffers a similar fate. Following the idolatrous reign of Ahab, Ahaziah, c. 853-852 BC reigned only 2 years.  2 Kings 1:1-2Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab. And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease.Both Ahab and Jezebel worshiped Baal. The capitol of the northern tribes was Samaria. The capitol of the southern tribes was Jerusalem. Ahab reigned in Samaria for 22 years, c. 874-853 BC. In a spectacular scene, before the eyes of all Israel and Ahab, Elijah destroyed the altar of Baal and he had 450 priests of Baal killed, but that did not end idol worship. Ahaziah followed in his father’s footsteps or probably his mother’s. Just as with Ahab, the Lord sent Elijah to warn Ahaziah.  High drama always appears to follow anything done by Elijah. When the Lord calls, Elijah, who spent most of his time in hiding from the king, regardless of the danger, always immediately responds.2 Kings 1:3-4But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron? Now therefore thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.Elijah intercepts the messengers of Ahab. Elijah delivers the message to the men who were sent to inquire of Baalzebub. They return to the king.2 Kings 1:5And when the messengers turned back unto him, he said unto them, Why are ye now turned back? They deliver the awful message to king Ahaziah.2 Kings 1:6And they said unto him, There came a man up to meet us, and said unto us, Go, turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that thou sendest to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron? therefore thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.We get a curious physical description of the rugged Elijah.2 Kings 1:7-8And he said unto them, What manner of man was he which came up to meet you, and told you these words? And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.In his arrogance and pride the inexperienced king Ahaziah defies God and his prophet Elijah. Rather than send an ambassador humbly inviting Elijah to his throne, he sends fifty armed soldiers to arrest Elijah and bring him by force. It was foolish. Surely Ahaziah was old enough to remember what happened on Mount Carmel when the Lord sent fire down to consume the burnt offering and what happened afterward to the priests of Baal. Perhaps, being the son of the king, he was even there to observe it for he knew Elijah. He would also have had firsthand evidence of the horrible deaths of his father and mother, but, being a protected king, he had learned nothing of the power of God. Also observe the arrogance of the soldiers.2 Kings 1:9Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down.The upstart king, through his army, ordered Elijah to report to the throne where undoubtedly Elijah would have been killed. The poor soldiers learned a harsh lesson.

Podcast 72, Story if Elijah, “Pt 6”Elijah remains a thorn in the side of Ahab and Jezebel. Whenever Elijah appears to Ahab it is to prophecy drought, death, or humiliation for Ahab. Ahab refers to Elijah as his enemy. The strangest thing about Ahab, as wicked as he is, is how he manages to escape the wrath of God. One problem is that Ahab is under the powerful influence of his wife Jezebel, the Phoenician Princess and idol worshiper. The Phoenicians introduced Baal worship to the northern tribes of Israel, and Jezebel was a religious fanatic. His marriage to Jezebel was a political alliance. Her wickedness is even greater than Ahab. She had many prophets of God murdered. Ahab has many wives as we learn from 1 Kings 20, but only Jezebel pulls the strings.  In this chapter we learn just how cold blooded Jezebel is.1 Kings 21:1-4And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money. And Naboth said to Ahab, The Lord forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.Ahab is sulking, but apparently it doesn’t enter into his mind to do mischief to the innocent Naboth. Ahab, being an Israelite, fully understood Naboth’s reluctance to give up his inheritance. In those days land was generational. They did not, with the change of jobs move from city to city or state to state. They were identified by their relationship to the land of their inheritance. Jezebel came from a maritime culture where trading was a way of life. With Jezebel, however, who came from a royal family, if a desired item could not be taken by trade, it could be taken by force. She was unscrupulous. Murder was merely a means to an end.When she learned that Elijah had killed the prophets of Baal, she immediately retaliated.1 Kings 19:1-2And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.She treated Naboth in the same fashion. Naboth’s only offence was that he wanted to keep his inheritance for his children. Jezebel talks to her husband.1 Kings 21:5-7But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread? And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard. And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.Was Ahab complicit? Certainly, by his silence. He knew what Jezebel was capable of. For example, before Jezebel, he tried to have Elijah killed.  When we first meet Elijah we find him in hiding from the king. It didn’t bother Ahab that Jezebel wanted to kill Elijah. We may assume that he simply didn’t inquire into her methods of getting the vineyard from Naboth. 

Podcast 71, Story of Elijah, “Pt 5”For King Ahab and his Phoenician wife, Jezebel who worships Baal, Elijah has become the number one force to be reckoned with. Elijah, under the power of God, has just put an end to the three-year drought; however, rather than repenting and acknowledging the hand of the Lord, Ahab supports his wife Jezebel who desires to kill Elijah for killing the 450 priests of Baal.   1 Kings 19:1-2And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.Elijah has no choice but to go back into hiding. Elijah had just spent the last three years out of the country hiding from the murderous Ahab. 1 Kings 19:3-4And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.There is a nobility in Elijah’s character that is inspiring. He stood alone against Ahab, king of Israel. He stood alone against the 450 priests of Baal. He stood alone against Israel who had fallen into idol worship. For his courage he spends most of his time in hiding, yet when the Lord calls him, like Daniel, he will walk into the lion’s den. That is what is unique about Elijah. He has the same fears as any man, but in the service of his God, he is fearless. His life itself is a parable, a model of faith, courage, and endurance. Miracles of an extraordinary nature follow Elijah.1 Kings 19:5-8And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.The miracle above is just one of many. So far, under the power of God, he has caused a drought; has been fed by ravens; has miraculously provided food for the widow, her son, and himself; has raised the widow’s son from the dead; has brought fire down from heaven; has ended the drought; and now he has been nourished by only two meals for forty days and nights, and his mission is just beginning, the miracles continue, and he is destined to return to earth in the latter days just before the Second Coming of the Savior to restore all things. Now in Mount Horeb, the Lord again speaks to Elijah. 1 Kings 19:9-10And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.The Lord is pleased with Elijah’s answer and gives him another commandment. The Lord now teaches Elijah, and in turn Elijah teaches us, the mission of the Holy Ghost and his role in revelation. 

Elijah is no longer playing the crowd. He is now in deadly earnest. Though he is clearly speaking to everyone (to King Ahab, to the Canaanite Baal worshipers, to the 450 priests of Baal, to the ten northern tribes of Israel), he is also speaking as a prophet to the world and to all the tribes of Israel, declaring that only Jehovah is the true God. He is reestablishing God’s authority. How exciting it is to listen to the prayer of a prophet.1 Kings 18:36-37And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.In a moment, Elijah has turned the tide of a fallen people. In a moment he conquered a nation who had fallen away for their true God. And in a moment he established the high position of the only true God. The Lord does not disappoint.1 Kings 18:38-39Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.The battle of the Gods is over. But Elijah is a warrior. He did not pack his bags and go home. He not only wanted to restore his people to the worship of the true God, he also wanted to destroy idol worship among Israel. To do that he had to show the complete annihilation of the enemy which he did in a most spectacular way. 1 Kings 18:40And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.Remember there were actually 850 prophets, not just the 450 priests of Baal. We may assume that Elijah had them all killed. Following the drama, Elijah did what he was sent to do in the first place. He was sent by the Lord to announce to the king that the drought was over. One may ask the question, “Why didn’t Elijah announced the good news immediately? Why did he carry out the elaborate drama? If he had would it have had the same effect on the king and on Israel? The answer is certainly not. Everyone had to be taught that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was the one and only true and living God. An idol is merely a mute hunk of stone or wood or metal and nothing more. An idol is nothing. An idol is not a living thing. They are worshiping a false God who can do nothing for them, not even bring rain. Elijah proved it to them. Only now does Elijah tell the king that it going to rain. 1 Kings 18:41And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.Mute Baal, the pagan idol of rain, was defeated and his priests killed. Even Ahab had to recognize that Jehovah was the true God of the House of Israel

For pure drama, Elijah is the prophet to read. A true prophet has a complex mission. First his mission is to people who fall under his domain. For example, Elijah is from the Northern Kingdom. The evil king Ahab is king of the ten northern tribes. The capitol is Samaria. Relatively speaking, in a short time, they will disappear from history and become known as The Ten Lost Tribes.The ten tribes are his immediate audience. Second, however, a true prophet speaks to all those who are under the sound of his voice. His words would reach the southern tribes which include the House of Judah, the House of Benjamin, and the rest of the House of Levi who are separated from the other priests of the north. But finally, a true prophet speaks to all the children of God regardless of where they live or when they live, for a true prophet speaks for the Lord and the Lord speaks truth; therefore, Elijah is for all time, present and future. In fact, we have learned that before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, Elijah will come again to earth and turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers. Christians today, thousands of years later, love Elijah, but anyone and any religion who reads the words of Elijah can benefit. Truth does not have boundaries in time or space.Elijah understood how to communicate, not just to a poor widow but to a king, and not just to a king but to the entire house of Israel. Like Moses, Elijah is larger than life. For three years Ahab has sought Elijah’s life, yet Elijah waltzes into his throne, not as a victim but as a victor. He doesn’t wait for the king to tell him what to do. He tells the king what to do thus leading him into a trap. What better way to get their attention than gathering all the priests of Baal and slaughtering them in front of all the House of Israel. Now his audience isn’t primarily the king, his audience is the Ten Tribes of Israel who have forsaken their covenants with God and began worshiping Baal. They are in a terrible drought caused by their own wickedness. However, instead of repenting and turning to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, they turn to the pagan god of rain, Baal. Elijah managed to bring about a showdown between Jehovah and Baal. It is High Noon, brilliantly orchestrated by Elijah. 1 Kings 18:22Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.This is high drama at its best. We can see the level of faith that Elijah has reached. He has already been tried by fire. But Elijah is a showman. He builds on the drama in a spectacular way, much like a gladiatorial battle in a giant arena with King Ahab and all Israel watching. Elijah literally sets up a Battle of the Gods: The Lord God Jehovah vs the Canaanite idol Baal and his thousands of worshipers. To increase the drama, we have the worshipers of Baal on one side, and we have the fearless Elijah standing alone on the other side. Elijah lays down the gauntlet.1 Kings 18:23-24Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.

About three years earlier the Lord sent Elijah to King Ahab to inform him that there was going to be a drought in the land. Now he sends the prophet Elijah back to King Ahab to tell him the drought is going to be lifted. One can only imagine the courage it must have taken Elijah to return to Samaria and face the king who is very wicked. Samaria is the capitol of the Northern Tribes.And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth. And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.[1]On his way to meet the King, Elijah meets Obadiah, a very righteous man and governor to the king. And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly: For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.) And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts. So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself. And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah?[2]Elijah asks Obadiah to inform the king that he has come to see him. Obadiah’s response is very revealing for it informs us just how much King Ahab hates Elijah and desires his death.And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here. And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me? As the Lord thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not. And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here. And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the Lord shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the Lord from my youth. Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the Lord, how I hid an hundred men of the Lord’s prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water? And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me. And Elijah said, As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day.[3]Elijah, above all the other prophets, has already established quite a reputation. Obadiah trusts the word of Elijah. Ahab’s response to Elijah reveals a lot about Ahab’s character, for he blames the famine on Elijah rather than on his own sins. So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah. And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?[4]The fearless Elijah has no problem setting King Ahab straight.And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim.[5][1] 1 Kings 18:1-2[2] 1 Kings 18:3-7[3] 1 Kings 18:8-15[4] 1 Kings 18:16-17[5] 1 Kings 18:18[6] Malachi 3:7-12

Most people, perhaps remember Elijah for colorful and peculiar events that mark his life. Some of the memorable highlights are—·      During a famine he is fed by ravens.·      He raises a boy from the dead.·      He calls down fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice, and he destroys the 450 priests of Baal.·      He is taken up into heaven in a fiery chariot without tasting death.·      He will return to the earth just prior to the Second Coming of the Messiah to restore all things.Drama follows Elijah his entire life. I shall begin the story of Elijah with 1 Kings 17. It begins with a miracle.And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.[1]Elijah is in the Northern Kingdom during the reign of Ahab, about 150 years before the fall of Samaria and the destruction of the Ten Tribes. The approximate years of Elijah are 874-853 BC. Considering the power of King Ahab and his erratic and evil nature, we get some idea of the indominable character of Elijah. He was fearless and a man of enormous faith. In the following we are introduced to the second of many miracles. And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. So he went and did according unto the word of the Lord: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.[2]There is a weak attempt to discredit the story of the ravens by claiming it was a cult of men called ravens for it is a difficult story to believe; however, because the miracle pales to the fact that he raises the widow’s son to life, it seems more logical to simply take the Holy Bible literally. We are soon introduced to the third miracle which has become a symbol of faith, not only on the part of Elijah but also of a widow who gives her last morsel to a prophet. Elijah must leave the brook Cherith because the water ceases to flow.And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.[3]Notice Elijah’s humility. He becomes a victim of the very famine he caused at the command of the Lord. Why didn’t he strike the rocks like Moses and cause water to begin flowing again? Why wasn’t he exempt from the wrath of God? But he doesn’t question God’s judgment. He puts his own safety in the hands of God.And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.[4]But its isn’t Elijah’s faith that catches our attention. It is the faith of the widow. She was prepared by the Lord to receive the prophet Elijah. That is why she so readily agreed to give him a drink of her precious water and a cake of her last meal. She trusted God. [1] 1 Kings 17:1[2] 1 Kings 17:2-6[3] 1 Kings 17:7[4] 1 Kings 17:8-10

 Podcast 66, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Malachi, Ch 4 BIn studying the words of the prophets relating to the Millennium, we learn that a new heaven and a new earth shall be created.Isaiah 65:17For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.Jerusalem shall be restored to its former glory. There shall be no tears of sorrow.Isaiah 65:18-19But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.Earlier Isaiah said, speaking of the Millennium, “Sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” In addition, life shall be lengthened.Isaiah 65:20There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.People shall be safe. There shall be no crime.Isaiah 65:21-23And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them.The Lord will always be near.Isaiah 65:24And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.There shall be no fear, no violence, no predators.Isaiah 65:25The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord.The Millennium will be a taste of Paradise, but it will have an end.Revelation 20:7-8And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.Malachi adds another sign to the many prophecies of the Second Coming. It is a prophecy that is much talked about, but little understood.Malachi 4:4-5Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:Elijah was a remarkable prophet, but he is most noted for the remarkable way he was taken to heaven.2 Kings 2:8-11And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.Elijah, like Enoch, was taken to heaven without having to taste of death. We see Elijah again on the Mount of Transfiguration.

Podcast 65, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Malachi, Ch 4 AThe birth of Christ was announced to only a few, and Christ lived his life in relative obscurity in a small corner of the world, but in his brief life he accomplished more than all mankind have accomplished over thousands of years. He saved the world and brought about the resurrection of the dead. He gave meaning to lifeFollowing his death, his devoted disciples, who themselves became martyrs, spread the good news around the world. Two events punctuate the life of Christ: The first event is his birth, life, and death which could be referred to as his First Coming. The second event is his return in the latter days which is often referred to as his Second Coming. His first event was announced quietly by angels to lonely shepherds. The second event, however, shall be announced by wars and upheavals and earthquakes and vast destruction. Following his First Coming, the Disciples were killed, Jerusalem was destroyed, and the Jews were scattered to the four corners of the earth. Following his Second Coming, the earth shall be cleansed by fire and then comes the Millenium where he shall reign on the earth for a thousand years of peace. Immediately prior to his death, Christ prophesied his own return.Matthew 24:30And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.He will not be alone.Matthew 25:31When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory.At his Second Coming there shall be a resurrection of the just who shall also join him.1 Thessalonians 4:16–17For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.For the wicked, however, it shall not be so pleasant.2 Thessalonians 1:7–8The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God…”It will be a kind of judgment.Revelation 22:12And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.Immediately prior to the Second Coming of Christ will be great tribulation, referred to as “the abomination of desolation.”Matthew 24:3-14And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Podcast 64, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Malachi, Ch 3”One cannot find any book that is more fitting than the Book of Malachi to end the prophets of the Old Testament. Malachi is divided into four chapters, but it is one long beautiful poem written in the vein of Isaiah of the Old Testament and John the Revelator of the New Testament. As with most of the Old Testament and New Testament prophets, Christ is the center of the Book of Malachi.The Book of Malachi follows the familiar chiastic format: A (Chapter 1), B (Chapter 2), B (Chapter 3), A (Chapter 4). True to form the greatest emphasis falls upon B, with the climax  falling upon Chapter 3. That puts Christ in the spotlight. Consider for example the last two verses of Chapter 2 and the first three verses of Chapter Three. Malachi 2:16-17For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the Lord of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. Ye have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?Malachi 3:1-3Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.Does the Lord, through the prophet Malachi, sufficiently answer the question, “Where is the God of judgment?” If that appears insufficient, then read the next two verses of Malachi 3.Malachi 3:4-5Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years. And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts.Malachi is speaking of the Second Coming of Christ. At that day the House of Israel will be refined but not entirely destroyed.Malachi 3:6For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.Remember in Malachi Chapter 1 we learned who the ‘sons of Jacob’ are. They are not just the direct bloodline of Abraham. They include all, Jews and gentiles, who offer a pure offering unto Christ.Malachi 1:11For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts.The Lord invites the Jews to return unto him.Malachi 3:7Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?Speaking Biblically, we think of an ordinance as a prescribed practice. To Christians an Ordinance may refer to the Lord’s Supper or baptism. The Jews refer to temple ordinances and the Passover. Malachi refers to the law of tithing and other offerings as ordinances.  

Podcast 63, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Malachi, Ch 2”Malachi Chapter 2 is an extension of Chapter 1. In Chapter 1 the Lord condemns Israel for not obeying the law of sacrifice. They used imperfect animals. In Chapter 2, the Lord condemns the Priests for leading the children of Israel astray; he condemns Judah for leaving the “wife of their youth.” He is comparing their infidelity to their wives with their infidelity to Christ. In the Holy Scriptures Christ is often referred to as the bridegroom and the church as the bride. Matthew 9:15“And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.”Revelation 19:7–9“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”In Malachi, Chapter 2, Malachi, speaking for the Lord, directs his word to the Priests.Malachi 1:1And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.Speaking through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord condemns false leaders.Isaiah 3:12“O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.”Isaiah 9:16“For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.”Isaiah 56:10–11“His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant…Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand.”Through Malachi, the Lord curses the Priests if they don’t repent.Malachi 2:2-3If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it.We know that they don’t repent for Malachi (about 450-430 BC) is the last prophet before John the Baptist, 400 years later. When Christ is born, the Jews are in advanced stages of apostasy. It brings to mind the words of Isaiah:Isaiah 24:5 “The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.”The tribe of Levi was given the charge of priestly duties, but the priests in Malachi’s day have abandoned the laws the Lord gave the Levites.Malachi 2:4-6And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the Lord of hosts. My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.The Lord further condemns the priests for abandoning their duty.Malachi 2:7For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.Rather than teach the law, they have corrupted the law.Malachi 2:8But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.For that reason, a curse has already come upon them.

Podcast 62, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Malachi, Ch 1”The opening statement of Malachi is curious.Malachi 1:1The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.Why is it a burden? It is a burden because the children of Israel have fallen away from their covenants. Malachi, the last prophet of the Old Testament, like other prophets, must call them to repentance. They don’t listen. The Ten Lost Tribes have long since been dispersed. The only ones left are the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. The Tribe of Benjamin has been absorbed into the Tribe of Judah and has lost its identity. From this point on the term “Jews” referring to members of the tribe of Judah, replace the House of Israel. The Jews will not have another prophet for 400 years. That prophet, after an extended apostasy, will be John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ. And then of course will come the greatest prophet the world has ever known or will ever know, who, as prophesied, comes through the tribe of Judah which comprises the seed of David, even Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer of the World. The word of Malachi must have been very shocking to the Jews for he predicts the downfall of Judah and for the first time in Jewish history, the prophesy is made that the Blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be transferred to the gentiles.The Book of Malachi, which is centered on Christ, is about changing the ordinances and breaking the everlasting covenant spoken of by Isaiah. The House of Israel has broken their covenants with the Lord.Malachi uses the format of question & answer, a format dominant in Malachi and not uncommon in the Holy Scriptures. First Malachi declares that the Lord loved Israel.Malachi 1:2I have loved you, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the Lord: yet I loved Jacob,It was only through a miracle from God that Rebecca, Isaac’s wife, had children. It was a greater miracle that she had twins.Malachi reminds the Jews that Esau, the eldest son of Jacob who had the covenant by birthright, lost the covenant by frivolously bartering it away for a bowl of pottage. Genesis 25:21-26And Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.By birthright, of course, the primary inheritance should go to the elder, which was Esau. Isaac loved Esau, a rugged hunter, and Rebecca loved Jacob. 

Podcast 61, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Jonah, Ch 4 b”Isn’t the true story of the Book of Jonah that God is creator of all things, that God created the twelve tribes of Israel, that God created the Assyrians, and that God created all the children of the earth, and that he loves them all; Furthermore, that God is no respecter of persons.  Consider the following scripture.Deuteronomy 10:17For the LORD your God is God of gods… a great God… which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward.2 Chronicles 19:7…for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.Job 34:19How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor…Acts 10:34Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.Romans 2:11For there is no respect of persons with God.So there would be food, God also created all plants and their fruit.Genesis 1:29-3129 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.The story of Jonah is the story of all mankind. Jonah was an elitist. Being of the chosen race, he undoubtedly felt superior to the Assyrians and to all others who were not of the seed of Abraham. We are all somewhat narrow in our vision. It is the common lot of all mankind to feel superior over someone: educated vs uneducated, rich vs poor, famous vs the ordinary, powerful vs the weak, people of authority vs the workers. People will find something to elevate themselves above others. Appeal to authority is one of the most dangerous fallacies among many other fallacies of reasoning. No matter how silly or illogical or even nonsensical the criteria, People will always find something to elevate themselves above others. That is the natural man vs the spiritual man.  In the Book of Jonah, God tries to expand our perspective. In his sight we are all equal. We are all children of God, and God is no respecter of persons.That same lesson had to be taught to the early Christian church. After the Lord’s resurrection and ascension into heaven, Peter, the chief apostle, received the following vision.Acts 10:9-169  On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.Peter did not readily understand the vision for it was a foreign concept. As with Jonah, rather than teaching him through words, the Lord taught Peter by example.

Podcast 60, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Jonah, Ch 4”Notice how the parallel introductions tie the four chapters of the Book of Jonah together.Chapter 1:1Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,Chapter 2:1Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish’s belly,Chapter 3:1And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying,Chapter 4:1-2But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.As you can see, Chapter 1 is parallel to Chapter 3 & Chapter 2 is parallel to Chapter 4. Being only four chapters long, that provides the framework: ABAB. The one primary character, or foil, in each chapter is Jonah. Nineveh has 120,000 people, yet Jonah requires more attention than them all. The question isn’t. ‘Why is the Lord patient with the people of Nineveh?’ The question is, ‘Why is the Lord so patient with Jonah?’ An even more important question perhaps is, ‘How much like Jonah are we?’ Are we sometimes contrary with the Lord when he tells us to do something that we do not want to do? The Lord tells Jonah to go to Nineveh. Jonah immediately hops on a ship and goes in the opposite direction. By extraordinarily strange means, the Lord is patient with Job and turns his course around. Can we relate to that? Jonah’s response may at first seem rather strange.Jonah 4:3Therefore now, O Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.Does that sound familiar? Have you ever said, “I’d rather die than endure this or that.” The Lord seldom does things our way. One would naturally think that a prophet of God would be pleased that the people repented. Jonah fully understands the purpose of prophetic warnings. As the Holy Bible teaches, when there are prophets in the land, the Lord always sends them to warn the wicked of impending disaster. The entire purpose of the Lord is to get them to repent to avert the dangers. Why did Jonah want the people of Nineveh to be destroyed? Why does Jonah want the Lord to take away his life? Why does he think it is better for him to die? We know of the tension between the Assyrians and the tribes of Israel, but at this point the Assyrians are not a huge threat. They are still struggling for an identity, and 120,000 citizens make Nineveh, the capitol of Assyria, seven times larger than Jerusalem, which is the capitol of the southern tribes, and four times larger than Samaria, which is the capital of the northern tribes.    The Lord is patient with Jonah. Jonah 4:4Then said the Lord, Doest thou well to be angry?By converting Nineveh, it strangely extends the life of the Ten Northern Tribes of Israel. After all, it is the Assyrians who later conquer the Northern tribes and cause them to become lost to the world. Of course, destroying Nineveh would also prevent the Assyrians from later conquering the Ten Northern tribes. This is a very complicated situation, though, at this time, neither the Assyrians nor the Israelites know what is at stake. The Lord uses the prophet Jonah to warn the Assyrians that if they don’t repent, they shall be destroyed. The Lord later uses the prophet Isaiah to warn the Israelites that if they don’t repent, they shall be destroyed. It eventually turns out that they are all either exiled or destroyed. The Assyrians play a large role in the destruction and exile of the Northern Tribes, and the Babylonians play a large role in the destruction and exile of the Southern Tribes. The Babylonians also destroy the Assyrians in 612 BC, nearly 200 years later  

The Lord is patient with Jonah. He gives Jonah a second chance. Let’s compare the beginning of Chapter 1 with the beginning of Chapter 3 for they are parallel.Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.The information is in the differences. In the first chapter the Lord commands Jonah to go into Nineveh and cry against it because they are so wicked.”  In the third chapter the Lord commands Jonah to go into Nineveh and “preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.”  Jonah disobeys the Lord the first time.But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LordJonah obeys the Lord the second time.So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days’ journey. He prophesies of the destruction of Ninevah. In Chapter 4 we are given the number of citizens of Nineveh as 120,000, but we don’t know the standard of measurement. Was that the total number of every man, woman, and child? Probably not. For comparison, at that time Jerusalem had only from 8,000 to 15,000 inhabitants and Samaria, the capital of the Northern Tribes, had only from 20,000 to 30,000. We only have the text to go by, and the text is very terse. On the one hand, we can read between lines and assume that Jonah gave the full message of the Lord. The full message of the Lord is that if the people repent they will be spared. But if we go by the text alone, Jonah didn’t give them a way out. He prophesied that they were going to be destroyed, and apparently Jonah believed that they would be destroyed. Either he didn’t anticipate their repentance, or he discounted their repentance and did not consider any alternative. At any rate, as we shall see in the next chapter, Jonah got really upset when they weren’t destroyed.And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.Jonah’s reputation as a prophet is at stake. In fact, in Chapter 4 we learn that Jonah gets a front row seat to watch the destruction. So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city.[6]The people of Nineveh do a suprising thing. They repent.

Chapter 2 of Jonah is also prophetic of Christ for it contains a beautiful description of death and the resurrection. In Chapter 1 of Jonah, we learn that Jonah was in the belly of the whale for three days.Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.[1]On the third day Jonah came out of the whale’s belly. Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish’s belly,[2]In Matthew we Learn that Christ’s body lies in the tomb for three days.And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.[3]There is much speculation about where Christ spent his time during the three days that his body lay in the tomb. Christ’s spirit did not remain in the tomb. We are actually told by Peter where Christ spent his time. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.[4]Is it really strange that Christ did not sit idle in the tomb? Nor did he descend into hell as some have speculated. In fact, during that three day period Christ went to paradise. Remember Christ’s answer to the thief on the cross?And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.[5]The word Paradise is used in two different contexts. The one above refers to the world of the spirits of the dead. While Christ’s body lies in the tomb, his spirit preaches to those in paradise. His promise to the thief was that Christ would see his spirit in paradise. The thief qualified himself because on the cross he pleaded with the Lord, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” The second thief did not go to paradise because he mocked the Lord. That suggests that the spirit world, or the world where spirits go when we die is a very large place. There are righteous spirits and there are unrighteous spirits. Christ only appeared to the righteous spirits.The other reference to paradise is made by Paul.I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.[6]That was a description of heaven. That was not the paradise that the thief was invited to. We know that because Christ himself did not ascend into heaven where his Father was until after the resurrection. Remember his words to Mary.

The Twelve Tribes split about 930 BC. Jonah, a prophet of the Northern Kingdom, lived about 760 BC.  I shall compare Job to another prophet about 1400 BC named Balaam. The two are somewhat similar because Jonah was commanded to go to Ninevah and refused. Balaam was commanded not to go with the princes of Moab but he went anyway. Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.[1]And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee? And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out. And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.[2]Both Balaam and Jonah are symbolic witnesses of Jesus Christ. (Testimony of Balaam)I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.[3](Reference to Christ’s burial and resurrection. Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.[4]Both prophets have extraordinary experiences. Jonah, after three days in the whale’s belly, is vomited up on land. And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.[5]Jonah is saved by a whale; Balaam is saved by a talking Ass.21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.22 And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.23 And the ass saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.24 But the angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.25 And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.26 And the angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.27 And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.28 And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.30 And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.31 Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

I have introduced the five forms of parallelism that distinguish the Book of Job which is written in ancient Hebraic poetic form: Chiastic Parallelism, Antithetical Parallelism, Synonymous Parallelism, Synthetic Parallelism and Step Parallelism. I have also added a fifth: Climactic Parallelism. As illustrated, the parallelism exists distinctly within the chapters, most written in chiastic form. However, the entire Book of Job is a single poem as I shall partly illustrate below. Chapters 1&2 are incomplete without Chapter 42. They exist in antithetical parallelism.Job 41:1There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.Job 42:1Then Job answered the Lord, and said,The first is the Lord speaking to Satan about the goodness of Job. The second is Job directly speaking to the Lord.The rest of the chapter 42 is divided into three parts. In Part One, Job sees the Lord. In Part Two, the three friends of Job are chastised and repent. In Part Three everything is restored to Job two-fold.The crowning chapter of Job must be Chapter 42, the final chapter, for in it Job sees Jesus Christ, the Lord. Everything that happened to Job was in preparation for this moment. The story of Job is an epic journey of one man, who through his trials reaches sanctification insomuch that he sees Christ. Even in the beginning Job was righteous before God. In Job Chapter 1 We read:Job 1: 8And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?By the time we get to the end of the Book of Job, Job has passed all the trials of his faith that came upon him. He never turned against God. Because of Job’s patience, he was throughout the trial teachable. We focus on the suffering of Job, but the story is really about Christ and his atonement. The Book of Job is the story of one man’s journey on the road to sanctification. Job travels The Celestial Way. Chapter 42, the end of the Book of Job, testifies to that. For example, following his trials, Christ appears to Job. Job 42:2-6I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.True to chiastic form, compare Job’s statement above in Chapter 42 with a similar statement in Chapter 2.“Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes” “And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.”By reading those together we see a causal relationship. In Chapter 2, Job is trying to find relief from his suffering by scraping his skin with a potsherd while sitting in in the ashes. In Chapter 42, he seeks the Lord for forgiveness in dust and ashes. It shows the spiritual growth of Job. This is particularly poignant because Job was never guilty of serious sins, yet he humbles himself before the Lord and begs forgiveness. Human nature must be considered here. Job could have gone the other way. He could have taken the stand that God was unfair and turned against God, yet Job didn’t. He allowed his suffering to draw him closer to God. 

Chapters 40 & 41 of Job are parallel, one is an extension of the other. Chapter 40 introduces the Behemoth. Chapter 41 introduces the Leviathan, both legendary creatures known for their strength. The Behemoth is a land creature. The Leviathan is a Sea Creature. They are symbolic of the power of God on Land and in the Sea. Remember that the Lord is speaking, not in a still small voice, but out of the whirlwind which is also a great symbol of natural power. In Chapter 40, the Lord asks Job if he has power over the Behemoth. In Chapter 41, the Lord asks Job if he has power over the Leviathan. In Chapter 40 the Lord asks Job Job 40:9Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?It is, of course, a rhetorical question. Then the Lord describes the Behemoth.Job 40:15-19Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox. Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly. He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together. His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron. He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him.The above is a symbol of natural laws. We cannot control the laws of Nature, but God can. It was God who organized the laws of nature. The Behemoth is both a real animal and a symbol of God’s power on land. Can we control hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, landslides, etc.? The Leviathan is a creature of the sea. Chapter 41, parallel to Chapter 40, is divided into three parts. Out of the whirlwind, the Lord asks Job a series of questions.1 Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?2 Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?3 Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee?4 Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever?5 Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?6 Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants?7 Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?8 Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.9 Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him?10 None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?As with the Behemoth, the Leviathan is also untamable. In part two, the Lord continues with his questions? The key phrase is, “whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.”11 Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.12 I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.13 Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle?14 Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.When the Lord said, “I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion,” he also meant, I will reveal his parts, his power, and his comely strength. No one can prevail against God for his power is almighty whether on land or on sea. In Part three the Lord describes Leviathan. His armor is impenetrable.15 His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.16 One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.17 They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.

Job Chapter 40 is divided into three sections. In Section 1, God addresses Job, asking him a question. Job 40:1-2Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said, Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.The Lord establishes his almighty power. This is in parallel to the introduction of Chapter 38.Job 38:1-7Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?One distinct purpose of the Holy Bible is to teach and testify of the divinity of Christ. He is always at center stage. It is Christ who created the world. It is Christ who gave Moses the Ten Commandments. Jehovah of the Old Testament is Jesus Christ of the New Testament. Some Biblical scholars have identified over 250 names and titles and nearly 700 references to Christ in the Bible. It is summed up in the superlative phrase—"The Great I Am.” One cannot overlook the fact that the primary character of Job is not Job himself. It is Jesus Christ. Job represents the suffering of man. In that he has become our model and our teacher; however, even in the worst kind of suffering, we cannot equal the suffering of Christ. Christ suffered above all that humanity collectively has suffered. Christ suffered in the wilderness. Christ suffered in Gethsemane. Christ suffered during the trial. And Christ suffered on the Cross. He alone overcame all suffering, all trials, and all temptations without ever giving in to temptation. That is what qualified him to open the book, to become our Savior and our Redeemer, and to atone for our sins. At first it appears that the Lord is harsh on Job. After all Job has already suffered more than most of us suffer in a lifetime. He endured it remarkable well. However, far from being harsh, the Lord is teaching us through the story of Job that regardless of what we suffer, regardless of what trials we endure, we cannot equal Christ. We are still unworthy. We cannot through our suffering atone for our own sins. Only through the blood of the lamb and faith in Jesus Christ can we be saved. If we don’t understand that, then we do not understand the mission of the Savior. We don’t understand the atonement. We don’t understand mercy and grace. We don’t understand justice. We don’t understand God.Job illustrates his humility before God by his inspiring answer. Job 40:3-5Then Job answered the Lord, and said, Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.The Lord is testing Job, and he passes the test. Notice, in the Lord’s answer to Job, the repetition of the command, “Gird up thy loins now like a man.” The Lord is not putting Job down. The Lord is lifting Job up to a higher plane than he has ever been. The sanctification of Job is the greater story. Job is being purified through his trials, and the Lord is commanding him to “Gird up thy loins now like a man.” There is a great word that captures the moment: “excelsior.” It means ‘higher’ or ‘ever upward.’ Job, in his despair, is asked to not give in to his grief but to strive harder, to transcend the natural man, and to seek for excellence. The Lord is telling Job that he must endure his trials and become sanctified. 

Podcast 53, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Job, Ch 39”Chapter 39 of Job is an extension of Chapter 38; therefore, there is no salutation. The Lord lists the following animals: wild goats, wild ass, unicorn, peacocks, ostrich, horse, hawk, and eagle. The unicorn is not the mythical white horse of medieval texts, but scholars speculate it was based on a real creature, a massive wild ox that was untamable.  You can see a kind of movement. For example, the wild goats, wild ass, and unicorn are very much creatures of nature, particularly the wilderness, suggesting that they are untamable. The peacock is known for its extraordinary beauty but serves no real practical function. The horse, however, is the first practical animal. It is a symbol of war, a symbol of mobility, a symbol of civilization that freed mankind to travel long distances. Of the list, it is the first tamable beast that has served mankind for ages. The next creatures—the hawk and the eagle are known for their predatorial instincts, their high altitudes, their majesty, and their breaking from the gravity of the earth. Tennyson captured the majesty and independence of the eagle brilliantly in a few lines.The Eagle by Alfred Lord TennysonHe clasps the crag with crooked hands; Close to the sun in lonely lands, Ring'd with the azure world, he stands.The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls; He watches from his mountain walls, And like a thunderbolt he falls.Using the chronological order in Job, let’s divide Chapter 39 into eight stanzas and discuss each image in turn. Keep in mind that things may also be seen as types. The animals tied to earth may symbolize temporal law and its inconceivable power, and the animals tied to the heavens may symbolize spiritual law and its inconceivable power. God is governor of all laws. Nothing is equal to the power of God. When we consider all the images collectively, including Job Chapter 38, we get a sense of the incomprehensible nature of God.Job 39:1-4 Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve? Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth? They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows. Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them.Everything is governed by law. Even in the wildness of nature, there is perfect order. Patterns emerge giving predictability to that which seems wild, untamed, and uncertain. Everything is known to God but not to man.Job 39:5-8Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass? Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings. He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver. The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.Notice the juxtaposition of the words “house” and “wilderness.” When we think of a house, we perhaps think of our owe home, where everything for our convenience is confined into a single structure with dedicated rooms for different functions: bedroom, kitchen, family room, garage, laundry room, etc. The house of the wild ass is the entire wilderness or range of mountains which suggests thousands or hundreds of thousands of untamed acres; yet it is his home, his sanctuary. The ass roams the entire range of mountains searching for food. It is the scale that is important. There is order everywhere. Job 39:9-12Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib? Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee? Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him? 

Podcast 52, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Job, Ch 38”In the other chapters of Job, we hear the voices of Bildad, Eliphaz, Zophar, and Elihu. In Chapter 38, in verse 1, we hear the voice of the Lord.Job 38:1Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,Following the salutation, Chapter 38 is divided into 5 parts. We find the same pattern in other chapters of Job. It is a Chiasm with the following format: A1, B1, A2, B2. Surprisingly A3 is added following the same parallelism as A1 & A2.A3 is added for emphasis. The three sections of A are identified by the clause beginning with “Who.” It is a question of identity. The questions are rhetorical and the answers become self-evident.  The two sections of B are identifiable by the clause beginning with “Hast” and “Canst.” Again the questions are rhetorical.Chapter 38 of Job establishes the power of God and the divine nature of man. The first question the Lord asks Job is magnificent. Job 38:2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? It appears that not only Bildad, Eliphaz, Zophar, Elihu, but also Job are implicated as a later chapter appears to confirm. In Chapter 40 Job is chastised somewhat by the Lord, and in the final chapter the three friends are called to repentance. The Lord neither condemns Elihu nor praises him. He becomes a ‘persona non grata.’ He is simply excluded. The Lord accomplishes two things. One, he affirms the righteousness of Job, that is to say the tragedies were not punishment. They were a trial, but the trial is not over as the later chapter shows. Job is tested to the limit by the Lord, and he passes the test. It appears to me that the greatest message of Job is found in chapters 38-42, not coincidentally that falls at the end of the book which generally gets the greatest emphasis. Two, God affirms his own power over the earth. God is in charge, not man. The Lord follows with a slight condemnation of Job for he must remind Job who he really is. It is as if Job in his sorrow had forgotten his birthright.First consider A1Job 28:2-11Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?We learn here some of the greatest doctrines of Christianity. First we learn that Christ is the creator. Next we learn that we are all children of God, that all mankind existed before the earth was created. We learn that we were the morning stars who sang together. We were all angels, We were all the sons [and daughters] of God who shouted for joy. We learn that we were anxious and excited to come to the earth and gain a mortal body. This establishes not only who God is but also who we are. No wonder the Lord said to Job, “Gird up now thy loins like a man.” That was not a condemnation. That was intended to not only lift Job’s spirit, but also to remind us all of who we really are. The Apostle Peter affirms that when he said, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature.” 

Podcast 51, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Job,” Ch 37Chapter 37 contains Elihu’s final words. It is also an optimistic chapter, not condemning Job, but praising God. Elihu is not perfect, and in my personal opinion, Elihu is not a prophet. He is a good man, a biblical scholar, a pious man who loves God, but he is young and passionate and overbearing. He is speaking to his elders without showing proper respect; however. Bildad, Eliphaz, and Zophar are harshly condemned by the Lord and are called to repentance. Elihu is not. Likely he is not condemned because his doctrine is sound, his faith in God strong, his heart honest. Nonetheless he is overbearing and should have shown compassion, though at times he defended Job against Job’s three friends, he consistently takes a harsh stand against Job, and he appears to be quick to anger.  Only Bildad, Eliphaz, and Zophar are considered friends of Job. Elihu appears to be a stranger. The structure of Chapter 37 is much like the others. It is a simple chiasm. A1 or Part One Is introduced with the following phrase, “Hear attentively the noise of his voice.” A2, or part two, is introduced with the phrase, “Hearken unto this, O Job.” Part One is in praise of God. Part Two is directed to Job, asking if he fully understands God. A1 comprises verses 1-13. A2 comprises verses 14-24.A1 Job 37:1-2At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place. Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.The pronouns shift from first person, “my heart,” to third person, “his place,” “his voice,” and “his mouth.” Yet it is still Elihu speaking. One can only assume that “my” refers to Elihu and “his” refers to the voice of God which caused his heart to tremble and be moved out of its place. Elihu loves the Lord. In Part One Elihu applauds the Majesty of God. Part One is identified by phrases such as “He directeth,” “he thundereth,” “He saith,” “He wearieth,” “He scattereth,” and “He causeth.” First Elihu speaks of the powerful voice of the Lord.A1 Job 37:3-5 He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth. After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard. God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend. The emphasis falls on the many voices of God: “voice roareth,” “thundereth with the voice of his excellency,” “thundereth marvellously.” Just as Jehovah has many names, he also has many voices. Notice the contrast of God’s voice of thunder with the still small voice spoken of by Elijah. 1 Kings 19:11-13And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?Sometimes, however, because people harden their hearts and close their ears, the Lord uses stronger language.Revelation 10:1-3And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

Podcast 50, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Job, Ch 36”As with the other chapters, Chapter 36 uses the chiastic format: A1,A2—B1,B2. A1 Verse 1 is characteristically the salutation that introduces the speaker. Job 36:1Elihu also proceeded, and said,Elihu, a devout person, praises God. First he politely requests the other men to listen to his words. He testifies that he speaks the truth. However, as with Bildad, Eliphaz, and Zophar, Elihu is directly addressing Job.A1 Job 36:2-4 Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God’s behalf. I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee. In his youth, Elihu is very bold. Remember when he first introduced himself, he appeared deferential and humble, but even then his true colors showed through. He clearly saw himself as superior to his elders.Job 32:4-10Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he. When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled. And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion. I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom. But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment. Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion.There is a distinct lack of humility in Elihu, but the others in formal argument treat him respectfully as an equal. One is unsure, however, whether Elihu is speaking of God or of himself when he said, “he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.” Elihu also said, “I have yet to speak on God’s behalf.” Claiming to speak for God is a pretty bold statement. Frankly I put my trust in Job. However, the youthful Elihu is devout and he praises God. After ascribing “righteousness to my Maker,” Elihu lists other characteristics of God.A1 Job 36:5-7Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom. He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.We may accept everything Elihu said of God. He is mighty in strength and wisdom; he is no respecter of persons; he does not preserve the wicked, but he gives right to the poor; he watches over the righteous; he exalts the righteous. But there is a barb in Elihu’s voice. The next is aimed at Job,A1 Job 36:8-10And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.It is very clear that Elihu thinks that Job is bound in fetters and holden in cords of affliction, He is convinced that God is punishing Job for his transgressions, that he is opening the ears of Job to discipline, and that Job’s punishment is warning to return from iniquity.A2 continues Elihu’s praise of GodA2: Job 36:26-31Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out. For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly. Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle? Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea. For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance. 

Podcast 49, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Job, Ch 35”Chapter 34 follows the same chiastic pattern as the others. It has two major parts:  Part one is divided into A1 (verses 2-3) & A2 (verses 14-16). Part two is divided into B1 (verses 4-7) & B2 (verses 8-13).  The primary theme of the parable is found in the last verse of B2 where we expect it to be, “Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.” Verse 1 is the usual salutation.Elihu spake moreover, and said,In Part One Elihu accuses Job of vanity. It is found, not unexpectedly in the last verse of A2. “Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.” The theme is repeated in B2.Let’s first examine A1 of Part OneA1 Job 35:2-3 Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God’s? For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?No where did Job say that his righteousness is more than God’s. What Job actually said was:Job 29:14I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.Elihu gives this great, insightful advice, but he misses the mark. Job is far ahead of his adversaries. Their arguments are inferior to Job because Job speaks the truth always, and he is genuinely an incredibly wise man. Every word of Job is evidence of his wisdom and understanding of the atonement.A2 of Part One completes the thought.A2 Job 35:14-16Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him. But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity: Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.Elihu speaks the truth when he says that judgement is before God and that we should trust in him. However, he speaks falsely when he said that Job opened his mouth in vain and that he multiplied words without knowledge. Nothing in Job supports that statement. The key to understanding Chapter 35 is found in the Middle, in B1 & B2, with the greatest emphasis in B2. Let’s first examine B1. As an introduction in A1, Elihu askes Job a question: “Thinkest thou this to be right, that though saidst, My righteousness is more than God’s?”  But rather than wait for Job to answer, in B1 Elihu answers that question himself.B1 Job 35:4-7I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee. Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou. If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him? If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand?One is reminded of Isaiah’s seminal words.Isaiah 55:8-9For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.Doctrinally Elihu is correct; however, he misplaces his anger. Notice the following accusations against innocent Job.B2 Job 35:8-13 Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man. By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty. But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night; Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven? There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men. Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.

Podcast 48, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Job, Ch 34”Chapter 34 begins with the familiar refrain.Job 34:1Furthermore Elihu answered and said,From that point on, Elihu uses the following refrain to divide his chapter into stanzas or paragraphs..1.     Hear my words (verses 2-9)2.     Therefore hearken unto me (verses 10-15)3.     Hear this: hearken to the voice of my words ((verses 16-33)4.     And let a wise man hearken unto me. (verses 34-37)In English jargon those would be topic sentences that introduce paragraphs supporting a single thesis. In English format, the thesis would either be placed at the beginning, which is most common, or at the end for climactic purposes. From previous chapters of Job, we may surmise that Chapter 34 is a chiasm, following the model A1, B1—B2, A2. I shall analyze the parable by combining A1 & A2 and B1 & B2.  B2 will contain the most important part of the parable. In other words that is where we shall find the theme.  It is important to know that the Book of Job is very formal, tightly linked together through parallelism. It is one great argument among Job, Bildad, Eliphaz, Zophar, and Elihu, each respecting the others’ point of view. Notice that no one ever interrupts the other. That is a model that our own government could learn from.  Another thing we learn is that there is a kernel of truth in every argument. Ironically, from what we know of Job’s character, the premises of Bildad, Eliphaz, Zophar, and Elihu are wrong. They have misjudged Job enormously and unfairly; however, we must consider where they are coming from.  They are bringing in their biases from outside. Bildad, Eliphaz, and Zophar believe in a God, but they do not believe in Jehovah or Christ. Elihu, on the other hand, appears to believe in a redeemer who ransomed us from our sins. That sets Elihu apart. However, all four had condemned Job in their hearts before then even arrived. All four came to chastise and teach Job, not out of hate, we may assume, but out of love.  Chapter 34 contains some great Christian advice from Elihu, even more than the other three combined. The problem is that Job is innocent, even of the charges of Elihu. In other words, Elihu’s advice is great, but it is misplaced. But the audience of the Book of Job is not Job himself. They lived thousands of years ago. We are the audience. We must determine if the condemnation of Elihu applies to us. The purpose of the Book of Job is to ask us to access our own standing with God. As with all true scripture and all great literature, it speaks to every generation for it goes deeper than cultural or religious biases.A1 Job 34:2-9Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat. Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good. For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment. Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression. What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water? Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men. For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.One must love the image, “For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.” Elihu asks us to choose judgment, to know for ourselves what is good. Who can deny such good advice? However, Elihu mispresents Job. God didn’t take away Job’s judgment. It was the citizens who once respected Job’s every word who quit listening to him. When Job was wealthy and prosperous, above all men, they listened to him. Now that he sat in ashes they scorned him. The following statement by Elihu is true: “For Job hath said, I am righteous and God hath taken

Podcast 47, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Job, Ch 33”In verse one, as with other chapters, a narrator is established. It is Elihu, the youngest of the group, and he is directing his comments directly to Job. This is like a play enacted on stage. They are the actors. We are the audience. Though the arguments get very direct and personal, there is a very formal nature and politeness in the group.  When one speaks, regardless of how controversial or strong the accusation, the others remain silent until he is finished. To understand better how much the restraint matters, as you listen to or read Elihu’s argument against Job, ask yourself, ‘If I were Job, would I remain silent or would I interrupt him at every false point?’  The natural man would object at every point, but that is not the case in any of the arguments. The episodes occurred thousands of years ago. We are observers, sitting on the outside. Even we are tempted to come to Job’s defense, but we are asked not to. We are asked to hear out the argument until it is Job’s turn to speak. The structure of the parable is chiastic, following the format A1,B1,C1—C2,B2,A2. I shall present it in the order of A1-A2, B1-B2, etc.A1 Job 33:1-12Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words. Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth. My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly. The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up. Behold, I am according to thy wish in God’s stead: I also am formed out of the clay. Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee. Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying, I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me. Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy, He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths. Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.The above, of course, is Elihu’s formal opening. Notice that the dominating pattern begins with “Behold.” It means to look or to listen or to consider or to ponder. Elihu is very confident. It appears five times, drawing attention to five concepts Elihu wants Job to consider. Elihu declares his own righteousness, “My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.” Very bold statements. Elihu asserts that he is a child of God, also formed out of clay. Elihu is a step above Bildad, Eliphaz, and Zophar.  They do not believe in the redeeming love of Christ.  Elihu believes in Jehovah. He belongs to the family of Abraham. Furthermore, he claims that he is a prophet. He said, “I am according to thy wish in God’s stead.” In other words, he is speaking for God. One must question his authority. He comes down very hard on Job. He reminds Job of his claims that ‘he is clean from transgression,’ that ‘he is innocent before God,’ that here is no iniquity in him.’ Elihu declares, “In this thou art not just.” We get a clearer view of Elihu’s intent from the conclusion found in A2.A2: Job 33:31-33Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak. If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee. If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.Elihu, though he is the youngest of the group, thinks that wisdom lies within himself. He is asking Job to hold his peace and let him speak while he condemns him. 

Podcast 46, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Job, Ch 32”In Chapter 32 we are introduced to a new character, Elihu. He is younger than Job and his three friends. Apparently Elihu has been present from the beginning but because of his youth, he remained silent. However, his outburst demonstrates almost uncontrolled passion for he is angry with Job for proclaiming his own righteousness, and he is angry at Bildad, Eliphaz, and Zophar for keeping silent. The first verse in Chapter 32 is unique. Many of the other chapters began with identifying the speaker For example, Chapter 29 begins, “Moreover Job continued his parable, and said.” Chapter 25 begins, “Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said.” Chapter 22 begins: “Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said.” And Chapter 20 begins: “Then answered Zophar the Naamanthite, and said.”  You may easily discern the pattern. They are very formal. Contrast that with the beginning of Chapter 32:Job 32:1So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.Job has finally silenced his friends. That enrages the youthful Elihu. He is angry at Job and his three friends. The introductory section is dominated by the phrase, “kindled the wrath.”Job 32:2-5 Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God. Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he. When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled.Four times the kindling of his wrath is mentioned is as many verses. Repetition often gives emphasis. He is angry at Job because he appeared to justify himself, and to Elihu one can only be justified by God. He is angry at Job’s three friends because they remain silent. Now, and it is no coincidence the narrative falls right back into the old pattern. Compare the following introduction with those mentioned above. Job 32:6And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion. Order is restored to the Narrative and Elihu, following the pattern of the others presents his well-organized argument. With the use of step parallelism, repetition of words or phrases, Elihu divides his argument into four phases. The introductory phase is “I said” with one variation, “I will speak.” I shall use the above pattern in discussing Elihu’s argument.Job 32:7-9I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom. But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.We may assume Elihu is genuinely respectful for he has sat through the entire argument silently until the three friends remained silent when Elihu thought they should have spoken. Elihu appears to be a pious and dedicated religious thinker albeit less dignified than Job and even the other three friends. He introduces a very important doctrine, “There is a spirit in man.” That is a fundamental Christian principle. In the creation story, the “breath of life” refers to God placing Adam’s spirit into his body. Furthermore, Elihu declares, “The Almighty giveth them understanding.” Circumstances show that Elihu is correct in chastising Bildad, Eliphaz, and Zophar for they are consistently disingenuous in their accusations against Job which are false. But Elihu’s anger is misplaced even against the other three friends. 

Podcast 45, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Job, Ch 31”The structure of Chapter 31 is very interesting. It is a simple chiasm divided into only two parts. A1 & A2. In A1 Job asks seven questions: A1 Job 31:1-41.     I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?2.     For what portion of God is there from above? 3.     And what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?4.     Is not destruction to the wicked? 5.     [Is not] a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?6.     Doth not he see my ways? 7.     And count all my steps?In question one, Job declares his moral innocence. His “covenant with his eyes” was that he would not lust after women. He would not look upon sin with tolerance. He would keep his covenant of marriage and his covenant with God.In question two, Job asks how much of his suffering is from God. In question three, he effectively repeats question two: How much of his inheritance was from the Almighty from on high. Question 4 is the key question, “Is not destruction to the wicked?” Remember that Bildad, Eliphaz, and Zophar accuse Job of wickedness, claiming that is why he is being punished. Job is asking what portion of that punishment is from God for his sins. Question 5 echoes question 4, “Is not a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?” Job knows he is not wicked, that he is not being punished by God for in Questions 6 & 7 Job asked, “Does not God see my ways? Does not God count all my steps?”A2 is a fascinating answer. Job poses 15 hypothetical situations, using “If…Then” format. The hypothetical statements are addressed to God. In other words, he is asking God to “see his ways” and “count all of his steps.” In doing so, God will find his innocence. Of course, Job already knows of his innocence, and he knows that God knows of his innocence. This is for the benefit of the three wicked friends who are falsely accusing him of things he is not guilty of.  Job dramatically invites God to punish him for each of the sins mentioned if he is indeed guilty, which he is not. The list of sins is so long and so comprehensive, that we get a very good idea of the righteousness of Job and how strictly he obeys all the commandments of God. Let’s discuss each hypothetical sin in the order they are presented. Job 31:5-6 If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.Job has been guilty neither of vanity nor of deceit. He is asking God to weigh him in the balance so that God will know his integrity. Only an innocent person could be so bold with God.Job 31:7-8If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands; Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.The list of sins is very interesting. For Job, it is a book of virtues for he is not guilty of any of the sins. For the wicked, it is a book of vices like the seven deadly sins. Job walks the straight and narrow path. Job has an understanding heart. He does not follow his eyes. He follows his heart. Remember earlier the words of Job, “And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.’ He has clean hands and a pure heart. If he doesn’t have those things he invites the Lord to curse him, to let him sow but another eat. He even invites the Lord to take his family. That is true confidence.

Podcast 44, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Job, Ch 30”In Chapter 30, we see the social order breaking down. We need to consider Job’s social condition before tragedy struck. As we learned earlier, even princes remained silent when Job spoke. Job, with all of his wealth, looked after the poor. Job gave counsel to the highest dignitaries. Now as we see in Part 1 A, even the rabble hold him in derision.Job 30:1-8But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock. Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished? For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste. Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their meat. They were driven forth from among men, (they cried after them as after a thief;) To dwell in the clifts of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks. Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were gathered together. They were children of fools, yea, children of base men: they were viler than the earth.In Part 1 A above, Job recounts how the children of base men, who were viler than the earth, have persecuted Job, apparently unchecked by society. In Part 1 B we see the effect they have upon Job. Job 30:9-15 And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword. They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face. Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before me. Upon my right hand rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction. They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, they have no helper. They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me. Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloud.It suggests a complete breakdown of law and order. They would not have dared do that when Job was a man of high esteem and great wealth and authority. For one thing it shows how fragile the legal system is and how quickly chaos takes over. The overall format of Job Chapter 30 is chiastic: A1,B1—B2,A2. A2 is antithetical to A1. The people who now torment Job were the very people Job supported when he had money.A2 Job 30:25-31Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor? When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness. My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction prevented me. I went mourning without the sun: I stood up, and I cried in the congregation. I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls. My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat. My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep.Before his economical and social collapse, Job helped the poor. Now Job is in the same economic class as the poorest of the poor. Notice the comparison between the poor in A1 and Job in A2.A1: “for want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste…To dwell in clifts…in caves of the earth, and in rocks.A2 I went mourning without the sun. I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls. My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat.

Podcast 43, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Job, Ch 29”Job is speaking. Verse 1 is of the usual salutation identifying the speaker.Job 1:1Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,The rest of the parable is divided into four parts, following the chiastic pattern of A1, B1—B2, A2. Customarily the emphasis falls on B2 which lists Job’s charity, proving that he was a righteous man who did not neglect the poor or beggar as Bildad, Eliphaz, and Zophar claimed. In A1 Job laments the past when he was at the height of his glory, his wealth, his power, and his happiness.A1 Job 29:2-7 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me; When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness; As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle; When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me; When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil; When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street! Job establishes his righteousness: “God preserved me,” his candle shined upon my head,” “by his light I walked, the Almighty was with me.” In true chiastic fashion, the end of the parable shows a parallel connection to the beginning, The end completes the theme of the beginning. In A1, Job laments the loss of the past. In A2, Job relives the past.A2 Job 29:18-25 Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand. My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch. My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand. Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel. After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them. And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down. I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.In B1, Job establishes his standing in the community. B1 Job 29:8-10The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up. The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth. The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.That demonstrates the profound respect the people, including the great leaders, had for Job. It also condemns the community for turning their backs on Job, as symbolized by Bildad, Eliphaz, and Jophar, simply because a series of tragedies deprived him of his wealth and power. The circumstances have changed for Job, but Job is the same man of integrity and wisdom and righteousness that he always was. Because of the parallel structure, the main emphasis of the parable is found in B2.B2 Job 29:11-17When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me: Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out. And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.

Podcast 42, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Job, Ch 28”Job 28 is very straight forward. It is organized into two parts, each antithetical to the other. Part 1 addresses the laws of nature. Part 2 addresses the laws of God. The two parts are analogical—that is to say that each is an analogical contrast to the other. Job 28 answers two questions: Question 1: Where do you search for gold and silver. Question 2: Where do you search for wisdom? Job 28 answers those two questions.  First, as Job does, let’s address the obvious: Where do you search for gold and silver? Job 28:1-6Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it. Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone. He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death. The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men. As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire. The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold.In searching for silver, gold, iron, brass, sapphires and other precious metals or precious stones, we consult science. They all follow natural laws. However, if we search for wisdom and understanding, we must take another path. Job 28:7-8 There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture’s eye hath not seen:  The lion’s whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it. Job 28 is dedicated to answering that question. Why did Job begin with silver and gold? Clearly it is because we treasure those things above all else. Today the price of gold is approaching $5000 an ounce. The price of silver is over a $100 an ounce. The other metals and stones listed are costly but of lesser value. That is what I mean by analogical contrast. In Proverbs we read.Proverbs 8:11For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.Perhaps the greatest verse that proclaims the importance of gaining wisdom is about the Savior himself. Luke 2:52And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.We know that Jesus didn’t increase in silver and gold or other like precious things.Matthew 8:20And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.Job emphasizes that wisdom is not as easy to find as silver and gold.Job 28:9-12He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots. He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing. He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light. But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? Clearly man is looking in the wrong place. One cannot find wisdom and understading by imitating miners who are looking for silver, gold, precious stones, and other precious metals. One cannot find wisdom and understandung by searching the land of the living or the depths of the sea. It cannot be bought. It can’t be valued. No precious metals can equal it. 

Podcast 41, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Job, Ch 27”Job continues his answer to Bildad.Job 27:1Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,Chapter 27 is divided into four distinct parts. It is a chiasm with the following structure: A1,B1,C1,D1—D2,C2,B2,A2.That means that the emphasis falls in the middle upon D2 which is the primary theme of Chater 27. In D2 Job asks, “Why then are ye thus altogether vain?” That recalls the words of King Solomon.Ecclesiastes 1:1-4 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.The theme of Vanity in Ecclesiastes 1 and Job 27 is the same: Everything earthly is temporal. Everything heavenly is spiritual. When Job said “The earth will last forever,” he does not refer to mortal earth. He refers to the New Jerusalem spoken of by John the Revelator.Revelation 21:1-7And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.All earthly things will pass away. They have no lasting value. In Peter’s words2 Peter 3:10-13But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.Let’s work our way through Job 27, following the chiastic pattern. A1 Job 27:2As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul;In A1 Job validates the existence of God. “As God liveth.” Job is vexed because he knows that he is righteous, yet God allowed Satan to take everything away from him. “Taken away my judgment” does not mean that Job lost his ability to judge. He lost the confidence of the people who, when he was rich, looked upon him as a wise judge. In Job 29 we read, “When I prepared my seat in the street.” That was a seat of importance where people came to him for counsel.  Job adds, “The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up. The princes reframed talking, and laid their hands on their mouth. The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. 

Podcast 40, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Job, Ch 26”Of course, chapters 25 & 26 need to be read together. Chapter 26 is Job’s answer to Bildad in Chapter 25. As is common in Job, the first verse introduces the speaker. Chapter 25 introduces Bildad as the speaker. Job 25:1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,Chapter 26 introduces Job as the speaker. Job 36:1 But Job answered and said, Obviously it is an ongoing dialogue. The rest of the text of Chapter 26 should be read as a whole. It is governed by chiastic parallelism. Verse 2 is in antithetical parallelism to Verse 14. Job is speaking.Job 26:2How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength?Job 26:14Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?Notice that the contrast is between the weakness of Job and the Almighty power of God. Years later this is echoed by Isaiah.Isaiah 55:6-9Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.In effect Job is agreeing with certain parts of Bildad’s argument. For example, Bildad said, Job 25:2-3Dominion and fear are with him, he maketh peace in his high places. Is there any number of his armies? and upon whom doth not his light arise?6 RONHowever, Job challenges Bildad’s conclusions, for while describing the almighty power of God, Bildad denies the Son, and denies his power to cleanse us from our sins. In the following Bildad is speaking.Job 25:4-6How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman? Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight. How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?In Chapter 26, Job challenges Bildad’s opinion. He uses the parallel format A1 B1—B2 A2. Again B1 & B2 share an antithetical relationship. B1, for example, emphasizes the weaknesses of man, B2 emphasizes the power of God. Let’s look first at B1. The verses are tied together by step parallelism, that is to say they have the same rhetorical pattern. Each verse is formed as a question. Job 26:2-4How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength? How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is? To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?It is Job who is without power. It is Job whose arm ‘hath no strength. It is Job who has no wisdom. Job is Everyman. He symbolizes all mankind who suffer. When Job asks Bildad, “To whom hast thou uttered words? And whose spirit came from thee? He is accusing Bildad of two things: (1) Bildad doesn’t know who he is talking to. He has no comprehension of who Job truly is and why he is suffering or why he believes in a redeemer. (2) He accuses Bildad of being possessed or perhaps better, governed by Satan, and doesn’t know it.  In fact, Job answers his own question.Job 26:5-6Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof. Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.That is quite a condemnation of Bildad. Now Let’s examine B2. Remember the chapter is following the chiastic order. That means that B2, the most important part of the chapter, carries the theme. 

Podcast 39, Stories of the Bible, “The Book of Job, Ch 25”In Chapter 25, the shortest chapter in Job, only six verses, Bildad curses man, calling him a worm. It may seem odd, but Chapter 25 of Job goes to the heart of the gospel of Jesus Christ: The answer to two of the greatest questions of the universe is at stake. Question One: What is Man? Question Two: What is the Son of Man. How we answer those questions determine our own future as well as the future of all mankind. We are defined by how we answer those questions. The Holy Bible is dedicated to answering those two questions. Who are we and what is our relationship with God? Who is Christ and what is his relationship to us? That question separates the sheep from the goats. It separates those whose names are written in the Book of Life and whose names are not written in the Book of Life. The Holy Bible is dedicated to defining Christ. In the Old Testament God reveals to Moses that he is the Great I Am. ‘I Am’ can precede every title of Christ in the Bible. For Christ revealed to John the Revelator, “I am the faithful witness.’ ‘I am the first begotten of the dead.’ ‘I am the prince of the kings of the earth.’ In fact, the Book of Revelation probably has more titles of Christ than any other book in the Holy Bible. Bildad is definitely aligned with the goats. Job 25:1-6 “Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said, Dominion and fear are with him, he maketh peace in his high places. Is there any number of his armies and upon whom doth not his light arise? How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman? Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight. How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?”Bildad calls the Son of Man a worm! To contrast what Bildad has to say about man and the Son of Man, let’s turn to Psalm 8 by King David. The two passages of scripture beg to be compared because both deal with man and the son of man. Man represents the posterity of Adam and Eve. Son of Man represents Christ. Bildad does not believe in Christ. The Psalmist David does. Contrast the points of view of Bildad above with David.Psalm 8:3-9When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!If Bildad is a goat, David is a sheep. It is very possible that David had Bildad in mind when he wrote the beautiful scripture above. It is very common in the Holy Bible for one writer to play off another writer, or one prophet another prophet. It is helpful to keep in mind that that God wrote the scriptures through his prophets. Time to God is unlike time to us. He sees the end from the beginning and all scriptures are one great whole. I propose that in the pure form there are no contradictions in scripture. All contradictions are manmade through various translations or even biases. Scriptures may be restated to fit man’s philosophy.