Author: sweetpeacardco

An Interesting Question from 1 Sam 14:18

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I had a very interesting question this past week from a recent reading from 1 Samuel 14:18.

The question arose from someone noticing that this verse reads completely different depending upon the translation that one used (compare major English translations here). For instance, compare the New Living Translation with the English Standard Version:

The NLT reads:

Then Saul shouted to Ahijah, “Bring the ephod here!” For at that time Ahijah was wearing the ephod in front of the Israelites.

Whereas the ESV reads:

So Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God here.” For the ark of God went at that time with the people of Israel.

Why does one mentioned the Ephod and the other the Ark?

The reason appears to be a textual variant in the original manuscripts between the Masoretic Text on the one hand and the Septuagint on the other. The translations that follow the MT use “Ark,” whereas those that follow the SEPT use “Ephod.”   It is also evident that the majority of leading versions of older and current translations follow the MT of “bring the ark.” What is going on here?   If you examine Ex 25:22 and Num 7:89 along with Jud 20:27 you will find a similar occurrence where the LORD is enquired of before the Ark. And yet the Urim and Thummim (cf. Ex 28:30 for one instance) were also regularly used to inquire of the LORD. No one knows exactly how these worked but they were associated with the elaborate garment worn by the High Priest known as the Ephod.

I would suggest that as they wore the Ephod when inquiring before the Lord, and this was often done before the Ark, the two became synonymous in meaning. When the MT and SEPT appear to disagree really it is simply like two different accident reports of the same accident, both correct but each stressing one aspect.   As such the Contemporary English Version (a current thought for thought translation) captures the essence of what the verse is trying to say:   At that time, Ahijah was serving as priest for the army of Israel, and Saul told him, “Come over here! Let’s ask God what we should do.”

The Lord’s Sweetest Blessings,

Pastor Chris

See also Biblegateway.com if you are interested in comparing various English translations.

The Greatest Decision

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On February 20, 2016, Prime Minister David Cameron announced the referendum to decide whether we are to remain within the EU or not. He described the vote as one of the “greatest decisions of our lifetime.” It is a colossal decision. I have weighed the evidence, and of primary importance, tried to filter it through the lens of biblical values. I know how I intend to vote (yes, Canadian residents are permitted to vote!). I fundamentally disagree, however, with Mr. Cameron’s statement that this worldly decision—while important—is the greatest in our lifetime. That decision is who we profess Jesus to be! (Mt 15:16).

As we enter into this post-Christian era I am becoming increasingly a-political with the substance of my political creed simply being the Lord reigns (c.f. Prov 29:26). This whole debate got me thinking about the saying taken from John 17:14-18, “to be in the world but not of the world.” The Bible does not actually use those words but rather they are a summary of:

14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. [emphasis added].

 Working out the tension in Jesus’ command has been the subject of debate for faithful believers for centuries. In a nutshell allow me to attempt to provide the interpretive key necessary for solving the application of this tension. World (cosmos) refers to the world system ruled by Satan. The Christian is to remain in the physical world (play on words here) while not to be of the world because we have been made citizens of the Kingdom of God through faith in Jesus. This is a Kingdom with a different government, set of laws, values and vision than that of the world. Until Christ comes again we are aliens in a world in which we are not citizens, wherein we are called to live as ambassadors of Christ. May the Lord give us the wisdom and grace needed for this, while we earnestly pray “come Lord Jesus!”

The Lord’s Sweetest Blessings,

Pastor Chris

Concert Reflections

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IMG-20160415-WA0006On Friday night Rebekah and I had the privilege to go to a Stuart Townend concert at Kensington Baptist Church in Bristol for Rebekah’s birthday. Together with musicians like the Getty’s he has written many contemporary hymns and songs that have become classics such as In Christ Alone.

Recently in our readings we came across this passage of celebration, praise and worship:

6 As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments.7 And the women sang to one another… (1 Sam 18:6-7 ESV)

Music has played a central role in God’s people worshipping Him for ages. Ever since the creation of angels in heaven beings have been praising the LORD in song.

I am a firm believer that in every age of the Church believers have produced both great pieces and those that are best perhaps forgotten. The very best of our songs of praise from each era rise to the top and stand the test of time.

Often some of the best music in Christian history has been written during periods of revival (think of songs such as Amazing Grace written during the Evangelical Revival in Britain). About a half-century ago, there were few new songs being produced. Then about 30-40 years ago there began to be a surge of new songs (some good, some not so) that added to our repertoire. Sadly surge this coincided with the cultural movement known as post-modernism that emphasizes the subjective. This meant many songs were light on doctrine and while great sounding tended to focus on one’s experience in worship vs. conveying anything enduringly meaningful (and in the most extreme cases failing to overtly remember worship is not ultimately about us at all but the Lord).

There have been in recent years a number of Christian artists that have sought to have as their motto “doctrine+sound.” Such individuals and groups have sought to write songs that blend a robustness that had been lacking in such a way that the sounds also engaged and uplifted. Some names of mention would be the Getty’s, Sovereign Grace Ministries, and Stuart Townend to name a few.

At Friday night’s concert Stuart spoke of different types of songs that can help the church be edified that go far beyond the monotonous repetitions of some worship choruses.

He spoke about songs that:

  1. Teach doctrine and robustly present specific themes
  2. Tell Bible stories

Of songs that go beyond the category of praise to include:

  1. Lament
  2. Songs that help us worship outside the gathered church.

Below is a small sampling of some songs from this concert that capture some of these points:

May we continue to worship the Lord through music and with our lives and may the Lord continue to bless those musicians either professional or congregation who He uses to build up His Church.

The Lord’s Sweetest Blessings,

Pastor Chris

Who was Shamgar the Judge?

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Who was Shamgar the Judge?

As we read through Judges we came across a number of famous individuals with well-known stories such as Samson and Gideon. But right near the beginning of the book, which is overall descriptive of “the dark ages” of early Israelite history, we find this passing reference:

After him [Ehud] was Shamgar the son of Anath, who killed 600 of the Philistines with an oxgoad, and he also saved Israel. (Judges 3:31 ESV)

Who on earth was Shamgar? Why was he remembered? Why does he receive such sparse attention?

Let’s begin with what we know followed by what he might teach us.

Shamgar’s name in Hebrew likely means “sword.” He was the son of a man (or perhaps of a family group) named Anath meaning “answer” [i.e. an answer to prayer]. Taken together these provide a fitting name that links to his role, as a deliverer and judge (there are also possible overtones in his name to the Canaanite culture, which may indicate how Canaanized the Israelites had become).

He is remembered for killing 600 Philistines. The Philistines consisted of a nation along the Mediterranean coast who had arrived in Canaan about the same time as Israel and represented a continual military threat until they were subdued by King David. In an impressive feat Shamgar was enabled by the LORD to strike down 600 Philistines using only a primitive weapon known as an oxgoad.

oxgoad

An oxgoad, or simply a goad, is used with oxen as a prodding tool. Historic examples include those pointed with metal (or not) and also variants that had an additional point which curved backwards developed to maximize the drivers ability to poke the oxen.

Using only this everyday agricultural tool as a weapon, in one battle or perhaps as a tally of all of his encounters, he struck down 600 Philistines and thus provided a measure of deliverance for Israel (though the nature and extent of that deliverance is not presented).

The only other verse that adds information to this story comes in the song of Deborah who tells us that:

In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were abandoned, and travellers kept to the byways. (Judges 5:6 ESV)

Life as Israel had known it, a life of peace and prosperity under the rule of and faithfulness to the LORD, had ceased. In its place had come national insecurity and distress.

What then are we meant to take away from these two verses about Shamgar? There are several possibilities but let me elaborate on just one of them.[i] Shamgar obviously did something very great in Israel to the extent that he was remembered as he was. The modest account we are left with struck me as a great reminder that our motivation to serve the LORD should not be to receive a lengthy entry into the annals of the faith but rather to please the LORD, irregardless of whether such service is acknowledged publically or not.

Jesus said as much in Matthew 6:5-6 (ESV):

And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

And similarly a few verses on in Matthew 6:16-18 (ESV) He said again:

And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Believers such as these are truly “unknown, and yet well known…poor, yet making many rich (1 Cor 6:9).

The Lord uses many means, some secret and some public, to bring about his salvation. To some He affords the honour of their deeds being publically acknowledged, while to others He grants the even greater blessing of acts of service being known only to Him in secret.

The Lord’s Sweetest Blessings,

Pastor Chris

[i] Some others might include that Shamgar used what was available to him to serve the LORD and this was sufficient. It also demonstrates how the LORD in His providence uses ordinary people (a farmer like Shamgar) as means to bring about extraordinary works of salvation.

Mary Jones Walk Video

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Last Thursday to Saturday eight of us from the chapel visited Snowdonia to do the Mary Jones walk. 28 miles is a long way to walk in one day but our retreat was fulfilling nonetheless. We have put together a video so that you might share in our experience so far as it is possible. We pray our walk and the content of our study will encourage you to seek after the Lord with renewed dedication and hunger for His word.

Evidence for Easter

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The sum of your word is truth (Ps 119:160a)

It is a known fact that Christianity hangs or falls on whether the events of that first Easter were indeed true as Christians claim. When looking for evidence to build ourselves up in the faith or in seeking to share what the Bible says with sceptics (apologetics-defending the faith) it is helpful to examine the evidence for Easter.

Popular apologist Lee Strobel (author of the Case for… series, including the Case for Easter), helpfully gives us 4 bite sized snippets to encourage and to share:

the 4 E’s of Easter

  1. Execution
  2. Early Accounts
  3. Empty Tomb
  4. Eye Witnesses

 

Hanging on His Words

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Palm Sunday is now behind us and we have entered into Holy Week, the week where Christians remember the week of Jesus passion (or the events leading up to His death).

We were reminded of the Easter story by a storyteller who visited us last night to share Barabbas: An Easter Story and as I introduced us to the passage we will be studying this Easter at chapel, Isaiah 53. We also put up a giant cross at our local intersection to remind others that this coming week and holiday weekend are not merely about nicer weather coming (though we are grateful for that) nor simply a coming vacation but rather a time to remember and be affected by the work of Christ.

One that note I wanted to recommend a spiritual discipline that I will be taking up this week in addition to our chapel chronological Bible reading plan. Perhaps this will be something you might choose to join in on our do something similar in the week after Easter focusing on Resurrection passages.

Beginning yesterday with Luke 19:28-40 and the triumphal entry I began reading and meditating upon a passage from Luke’s Gospel that builds up to the cross. To get it all in I have roughly broken these chapters of Luke into a morning and evening reading plan.

Last night’s reading included Jesus cleansing the temple and I was struck by the fact that while the religious leaders’ annoyance of Jesus had grown to a breaking point, still they could do nothing for all the people were hanging on his words (Lk 19:48).

In whatever way you are able to buck the trend of not focusing on Christ this Easter, may we as His people be different from the world, and set the example, in whatever way we choose to observe it, by hanging upon all that Christ did that first Easter.

The Lord’s Sweetest Blessings,

Pastor Chris

Isaiah 53

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This Easter we are going to be studying Isaiah 53. Whether you are a Christian yet or not this chapter should change your life forever! Here is why. It is the best known Old Testament prophecy written about the coming Messiah. Though written hundreds of years before He ever lived, died or rose again, it predicts the life of Jesus and the events of Easter perfectly. What are the odds of that!
Speaking of odds did you know that the odds of …Odds
 Becoming an astronaut are 13,200,000 to 1
 Becoming a pro-athlete are 22,000 to 1
 Being injured by fireworks are 19,556 to 1
 Getting a hole in one are 5000 to 1
 Having twins are 90 to 1

But the odds that only eight of these prophecies from Isaiah 53 were fulfilled in Jesus are 100, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000 to one, or 1 in 1017! That is incredible! It would take the same number of two pound coins to cover the state of Texas. Now imagine walking out into the middle of the state and picking up the correct coin. What would be the odds?
Jesus said He did all He did to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah so we might come to acknowledge he was crushed for our transgressions for all we like sheep have gone astray.
That Jesus fulfils this prophecy against all odds attests to the Divine inspiration of the Bible and confirms that Jesus was who He said He was, the Son of God and Saviour of the world.
As we approach Easter may this divine precision cause us to marvel at God’s plan of salvation in Jesus Christ. May the believer marvel and the sceptic come to believe. The fulfilment of this prophecy against all odds makes up the undeniable case for Easter and a sure reason to celebrate.
Happy Easter!
Pastor Chris