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Common Traps and Pitfalls in Bible Interpretation, 5 of 5
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Category Archives: God’s Rule
Common Traps and Pitfalls in Bible Interpretation, 4 of 5
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Common Traps and Pitfalls in Bible Interpretation, 3 of 5
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Common Traps and Pitfalls in Bible Interpretation, 2 of 5
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Prophecy Practice: Micah and the Christ, Part 3 of 12
But to get to Mic 5:2, and to see how we should have understood from that the Christ was to be born in Bethlehem, first we need to get our bearings in the book of Micah the prophet. First of course would be to see what the prophet says of himself.
“The word of Yahweh that came to Micah the Morashtite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.”
Mic 1:1
So here we see the grand subject matter of the prophet. Jothham’s reign started around 750 BC and Hezekiah’s reign ended around 686 BC, so we can see the range of years in which included Micah prophesying. You can read of those kings in the books of Kings and Chronicles, and so get some historical background on conditions in those days. This would make Micah and Isaiah contemporaries of each other, and some of the verses in Isaiah chapter two and Micah four overlap each other, but we do not know how this happened.
These were turbulent times in Israel and Judah.
Crime and idolatry and unfaithfulness to the Lord were rampant in those days, and neither most of the rulers or the people were close to really repenting.
The first three chapters of Micah prophesy the destruction of both the Northern kingdom of Israel and the Southern kingdom of Judah, because of their bloodshed and idolatry and other sins.
In Mich 1:2-4 talks about the coming day of the Lord, when Yahweh will come out of His place and bring an end to this world. Some brush this aside as poetry which is irrelevant to us, but they SHOULD NOT! Almost always, the immediate things of history are related to the ultimate end of all things. Mic says that this things will happen because of their sins, Mic 1:5; and talks as if these things are pertinent to them, and to us. Indeed they are, for “they” and “we” will all be there on that final day when
“28 … for the hour comes, in which all that are in the tombs will hear his voice, 29 and will come out; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.”
Jn 5:28-29
These are common patterns in prophecy we should recognize: the present things are related to the coming ultimate things. Sometimes the present things seem very distant from the future things, so such things mystify some, but they shouldn’t
So Micah says Samaria, the capital of Israel will be (future) made a ruin, Mich 1:6-8. That happened during Micah’s day in 722 BC with the Assyrian conquest. Then he says that the same will happen to Judah, Mic 1:9. That didn’t happen until 586 BC, another 136 years later, well after Micah’s time. That was not nearby in human terms, but very close by in historical terms, and almost nothing in the grand time scale of Scripture.
Indeed, all of their things and our things are related to that final end which is coming.
Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901
Prophecy Practice: Micah and the Christ, Part 1 of 12
This is practice in reading and understanding prophecy, starting with fulfilled prophecy, and trying to see what we can see from there. In this case we are starting with Matthew chapter two.
An able and handsome young prince
turns sour.
You’ve heard the stories of a handsome prince charming of this or that times. One whom all sought the favor off, both men and women, and who was capable and brave and mighty in combat. In many respects that describes the subject of this post. We know him as Herod the Great. He was of Idumaean descent, an Edomite, a descendant of Esau. His father was ruler under the Romans, and he made Herod military prefect for Galilee. Herod proved himself time after time as an aggressive, resourceful, and victorious military commander. The Caesars trusted him to look after their interest. He was crafty, unscrupulous, and able in politics also, and so at the young age of 33 the Roman Senate made him King of Judea. It would seem he had everything going for him, but also in the wild political scene of those times, he also had many enemies. Then parts of his own family started plotting against each other and, yes, even against Herod. Herod started viciously putting down any plots against himself. He put out spies all over. On rumor he would put plotters to death, and even put to death three of his own sons. For those executions he need the permission of Caesar. The Greek speaking Caesar of the Roman Empire gave him permission, but commented he would rather be Herod’s hus (his hog) than his huios (his son). The last of these episodes was just before Herod’s horrible death from cancer on April 1, 4 BC.
The continual plots in the end almost made Heron insane with suspicion.
Then some religious wise men came to Jerusalem
They are called magos, which could indicate an astrologer or an occult magician (compare Elymas in Acts 13:8). Clearly they they had been studying the stars, and evidently they did know from the stars that the king of the Jews had been born, and that He was God! So they appeared at Herod’s court, saying,
“Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.”
Mtt 2:2
Uh Oh! Many must have thought, including Herod. Someone must have a child they want to put up as the Christ and the rightful king of the Jews, and this is the beginning of their plot.
“When Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.”
Mtt 2:3
They gathered together all of the experts on Scripture to see what it said about where the Christ would be born, and they quoted to Herod from the Prophet Micah (Mic 5:2).
“”You Bethlehem, land of Judah,
Are in no way least among the princes of Judah:
For out of you shall come forth a governor,
Who shall shepherd my people, Israel.’”
Mtt 2:6
How did they know that. Should we have spotted that also?
Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901
Prophecy Practice: David, Jesus and the Righteous in Psalm 69, Part 9 of 9
Psalm 69 is explicit about those who reject the Messiah of the Jews.
“27 Charge them with crime upon crime.
Don’t let them come into your righteousness.
28 Let them be blotted out of the book of life,
And not be written with the righteous.”
Psa 69:27-28
That means eternal death of course, if you are not in the Lamb’s book of life. That is of course is echoed in Scripture after Scripture, of both the Old and the New Testaments. Of the Christ it says,
“Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
For his wrath will soon be kindled.
Blessed are all those who take refuge in him.”
Psa 2:12
And we also, Christians, are counted as sheep for the slaughter,
Rom 8:36
Jesus promises us,
“… If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will keep yours also.”
Jn 15:2-
So this psalm is very relevant to the Christian and his struggles, Christian Age long!
Though in pain, the psalmist praises God, Psa 69:29-30.
The humble will see this and be glad!
This sacrifice He makes will be exceedingly pleasing to the Lord. It does indicate that God will in the end save Him from all of this unfaithfulness and treachery.
“31 It will please Yahweh better than an ox,
Or a bull that has horns and hoofs.
32 The humble have seen it, and are glad.
You who seek after God, let your heart live.
33 For Yahweh hears the needy,
And doesn’t despise his captive people.”
Psa 69:31-33
Ah! At last it specifically make an application that is wider than David and Jesus. “His captive people.” Are you among the humble who hear?
Lastly this psalm indicates that even the Jews
will finally recover from this rejection
“For God will save Zion, and build the cities of Judah.
They shall settle there, and own it. “
Psa 69:35
One could argue that “Zion” applies to Zion above in Psa 48:2, and Gal 4:24-26, and Heb 12:22. But God building “the cities of Judah,” seems clearly to speak of Judah of this earth! Likewise Zechariah, after the first return from captivity pictures says,
“… “‘Jerusalem will be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of men and cattle in it.”
Zech 2:4
But that has never happened … YET! And that is NOT Jerusalem above, because it has walls, Rev 21:1-2, 12-15. And Jesus says not one jot or a tittle of prophecy will fail until ALL of it has been fulfilled, Mt 5:18. So there remains a rebuilding by God of Jerusalem in Judah.
And who among the Jews will share this blessing?
“The children also of his servants shall inherit it.
Those who love his name shall dwell therein.” Psa 69:36
Of course these last verses are yet to happen. It is not that Jesus will at last relent and have a worldly kingdom. Rather that in a later time of distress, the Jews will repent, and will become a strong Chistian nation, Deut 4:30, Deut 30:6, Rom 11:11-12.
Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901
Prophecy Practice: David, Jesus and the Righteous in Psalm 69, Part 5
Those in trouble in Psalm 69 are evidently near death, and are earnestly pleading for the Lord to deliver them from trouble. It seems as if they feel like they are not being heard
And they call on the Lord’s lovingkindness,
“Answer me, Yahweh, for your loving kindness is good.
According to the multitude of your tender mercies, turn to me.”
Psa 69:16.
The Lord does have great lovingkindness,
““Yahweh! Yahweh, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth, 7 keeping loving kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and disobedience and sin; and that will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the children’s children, on the third and on the fourth generation.””
Ex 34:6-8.
Ah! that is clearly so. Even so they plead for him to not hide His face from them.
“Don’t hide your face from your servant,
For I am in distress.
Answer me speedily!”
Psa 69:17.
Does God ever hide his face from His servants? Yes in fact, sometimes He does. So it says in Proverbs,
“Yahweh is far from the wicked,
But he hears the prayer of the righteous.”
Prov 15:29
God says of physical Israel of the Old Testament,
“He said, I will hide my face from them,
I will see what their end shall be:
For they are a very perverse generation,
Children in whom is no faithfulness.”
Deut 32:20
In Isaiah chapter 1 it one gives specific reason.
“When you spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you;
Yes, when you make many prayers, I will not hear.
Your hands are full of blood.”
Isa 1:15
So the men in Psalm 69 realize that God may hide His face from us. Look carefully! If you play games with God, He may hide from you when you need Him!! They plead with God,
“Draw near to my soul, and redeem it.
Ransom me because of my enemies.”
Psa 69:18
No doubt David at times felt abandoned
by God at times
He knew the reason when his first child by Bathsheba was dying, and his prayers went unanswered in 2Samuel 12. Likewise in Absalom’s revolt. Still, excepting some of David’s psalms about the Christ, his heart was over all very trustful in the Lord despite horrendous setbacks in 1Samueal. Perhaps this fits Jesus better. The psalmist goes on to say,
“Don’t hide your face from your servant,
For I am in distress.
Answer me speedily!”
Psa 69:17
So it does seem to say he feels like God is hiding His face from him.
Jesus felt that God had hidden His face from Him,
“About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, limaa sabachthani?” That is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”” Mtt 27:46.
Now you may argue that it only felt that way, but maybe He did for a while, so that Jesus could bear the penalty for our sins.
Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901
Common Pitfalls in Interpretation, Part 15
Confusion from not WANTING to believe it!
The kingdom of the saints will last forever
Scripture does say that the kingdom of the saints will last forever. That is not really an idea to contest, unless you have a very distorted view of the Bible or of prophecy. When God was promising a kingdom to David’s Son Jesus the Christ, it was said that,
“Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before you: your throne shall be established forever.”
2Sam 7:16
We are now translated into this kingdom, past tense.
“who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love;”
Col 1:13
Heb 1:5 quotes 2 Samuel 7 as being about Jesus! Further, Hebrews says that we are Jesus “house.”
“but Christ is faithful as a Son over his house; whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the glorying of our hope firm to the end.”
Heb 3:6
And Revelation talks of Jesus already being on His throne.
“He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father on his throne.”
Rev 3:21
And that throne is forever, per Daniel 2 and many, many verses.
But the beast “conquers” the kingdom?
Huh? What? It is amazing the number of verses which we gloss over and fail to get the messages we desperately need.
There is someone called the “beast” in Revelation 13, and the “man of lawlessness,” in 2Thessalonians 2, and the foolish shepherd, or the idol shepherd in Zechariah 11, and it does indicate that for a while, it does look like, he has had the final victory over the saints, the house of God, the kingdom of God. The entire world will worship this man.
“that they all might be judged who didn’t believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
2Thes 2:12
It says the same thing in Rev 13:4-5. Further it says,
“It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him.”
Rev 13:7
No it couldn’t be, I have heard it argued. NO ONE can overcome the church, so they said, and they rejected the clear meaning of Revelation 13.
Of course ultimately, the church will NOT be overcome.
The beast thinks he has won, but it is only for a short 3-1/2 years. Then at the last the faithful saints are delivered and the beast is thrown alive into hell, Revelation 19. Still the Savior says,
“… Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
Lk 18:8
In other words, even our Lord questions whether there will be any faithful at the end.
Our incomplete understanding of Scripture sometimes prevents us
from seeing God’s warning to us.
We should always remember that Scripture is NOT a pick and choose buffet, but that it is all true. The challenge is to see how all the parts fit together.
Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901
Common Pitfalls in Interpretation, Part 12
Trying to make the Word justify what we already
believe or are doing.
Let’s face it. Sometimes we may have an agenda. Even the most sophisticated of students may do this at times, including preachers and politicians, and world renown scholars. As human beings we often seem to be a self justifying breed. We may have already taken a stand, a perhaps ill advised one, that we never should have made. Now we want to justify that stand, and even deny the truth if that is “necessary” to uphold “our” word.
Adam did this in the Garden of Eden.
They were living in a garden. The Hebrew word in Genesis is gan. It seems to imply an enclosed place. The Greek equivalent is paradeisos, a paradise is a transliteration in English, a word for a garden or a park. They were very innocent, our first ancestors. They were naked but did not realize it. Further the constant temperatures in the garden were such that the absence of clothing was not noticed. God Himself had “planted” it, Gen 2:8. It was watered, like the whole earth in those early and plentiful days, by a mist arising from the ground (Gen 2:6), and also by a river which then split into four rivers, the best known to us Westerners being the Euphrates river (Gen 2:14). So all of this occurred in what is now northwestern Iraq or eastern Turkey. Food seemingly was there for the taking, and although man did have to tend it (Gen 2:15), man’s work was not cursed as it is now. Entropy. A perfect set up.
Some think that all knowledge is good.
They think it is shameful to destroy any knowledge, but knowing somethings can just be a snare to us, to cause us to do what is wrong. And so came the fall, when first the woman and then the man ate of the forbidden fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. You know the story. And so it has been.
When God questioned Adam,
he tried even to shift the blame back to God!
“The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.””
Gen 3:12
How very much like us as humans.
Remember that admitting the truth will NEVER commit
your grandparents, for instance, to hell.
You do not have that power, nor do I. We need to take hold of the truth no matter what, and leave judgment to God. The Solution is to be ready to believe WHATEVER is said, and hold to it, and further,
being willing to admit WHATEVER
proves to be wrong.
Just go ahead and admit it, and accept the consequences, and beg the Lord for mercy. There is no sin that is unforgivable, other than bad mouthing the Holy Spirit of God (Lk 12:10). Make your life one of continual learning, repenting, picking yourself up again, forgetting what is behind (Phil 3:13-14), and always trekking on.
As men, we cannot avoid being wrong at times, but we can avoid staying there.
Scriptures are from the World English Bible (WEB), a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901