How did Christmas become the predominant holiday in the U.S.?
1) Spiritual - A strong spiritual desire by Protestant Christians to celebrate the birth of Christ in their churches. Pressured their churches to offer Christmas services.
2) Greater emphasis on family due to emergence of the middle class – Thanks to the Industrial Revolution, Americans became more and more wealthy. Consequently, wives and children did not have to work in the factories to meet needs. They stayed home. Consequently, the home and not the factory became the center of American life. The growing middle class was more family-centric. Parents paid more attention to their children/took joy in their children. Christmas became the holiday for children. Christmas with its many traditions (feasts, exchanging of gifts, decorations) had a strong appeal to the middle class because they promoted family. Two works of literature played an important role in the appeal of Christmas by the middle class – a) A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens with its theme of Christmas being a time when people should be helping out/giving to the less fortunate (poor, sick, orphans, etc.). Having heard Dickens read A Christmas Carol at a local playhouse, an American factory owner informed his wife that he would be closing the factory on Christmas Day from now on. b) “A Visit from Saint Nicholas” or as it is more popularly known “Twas the Night Before Christmas” (For more see “Origin of Santa Claus” below.)
3) Commercialism – As Christmas grew in popularity among the middle class, commercial businesses discovered a spike in spending during the Christmas season. Businesses quickly viewed Christmas as a money maker. Commercial businesses promoted the Christmas season in order to make a profit. Incorporated Christmas traditions (Christmas tree, Santa Claus) into their advertising and created new ones (Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer) in order to encourage people to buy their merchandise.
After 1700 years, Christmas still has a multiple personality disorder nature to it – part pious/part profit; part religious/part secular; part Christian/part commercial. Because of its multiple personality disorder, many people, Christians and non-Christians, question the legitimacy of Christmas. Is it about celebrating the birth of the Christ child? Is it an excuse to party? Is it about family? Is it about making a profit? Is Christmas a creation of men designed to advance a religion? Christians also have problems with other aspects of Christmas such as the pagan traditions and the whole Santa Claus thing that seemingly undermine the true reason for celebrating Christmas.
As Christians, how are we to perceive Christmas? As it was intended by the early Church leaders, to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The fact that the date they set for Jesus’ birth was the same as a popular pagan celebration should not detract from that. Their intentions were good and Biblical. Read I Corinthians 9:19-23. I don’t think the Apostle Paul would have a problem with the decision made by the early Church leaders. In order to win the pagans to Christ, the Church allowed them to keep their winter solstice celebration except now it honored Christ and not Saturn or Odin. The fact that the revelry often got out of control speaks more to the more weakness of humanity than the holiday itself. The same is true today. Do not perceive the commercialism of Christmas today as a failure of the holiday but more as a moral weakness of humanity. In other words, don’t blame Christmas for its multiple personality disorder; blame human nature. I for one enjoy Christmas. I enjoy everything about Christmas - the traditions, the decorations, the lights, the gifts, the music, Santa Claus, Rudolph, etc. For me, they do not detract from the true reason for celebrating Christmas - the birth of Jesus. They add to the joy
Origin of the Christmas tree
According to legend, the Christmas tree tradition began in the 1500’s with the father of the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther. While walking through the forest on Christmas Eve, Luther was so moved by the beauty of the starlit fir trees that he brought one indoors and decorated it with candles to remind his children of God’s creation. The Christmas tree did not gain world wide popularity until the 1840’s. In 1841 Prince Albert of Germany gave his wife, Queen Victoria of England, a gift of a Christmas tree. This was reputedly the first Christmas tree in England. In 1848, a London newspaper published an engraving of the British royal family standing in front of a decorated Christmas tree. Afterwards, the custom spread quickly in Britain, U.S., and Canada.
Origin of the Nativity
The Nativity is a dramatization of the biblical story of Jesus’ birth, a practice begun by Saint Francis of Assisi in the 1220’s A.D. in Gretchio, Italy. He used figurines, candles, hay, and live animals. Quickly grew in popularity. Most Europeans were illiterate. They could not read the story of Christ’s birth. The Nativity scene enabled them to see and learn the story.
Origin of Santa Claus
The story of Saint Nicholas has many variations. The most popular is the following. St. Nicholas was a bishop in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) in the early 300’s A.D. A widowed man had three daughters but could not afford a proper dowry for them. This meant that they would remain unmarried and probably, in absence of any other possible employment would have to become prostitutes. Hearing of the poor man's plight, Nicholas decided to help him but being too modest to help the man in public, (or to save the man the humiliation of accepting charity), he went to his house under the cover of night and threw three purses (one for each daughter) filled with gold coins through the window opening into the man's house. In another version, Nicholas learns of the poor man's plight and drops the bags of gold down the chimney instead; a variant holds that the daughter had washed her stockings that evening and hung them over the embers to dry, and that the bag of gold fell into the stocking. In honor of St. Nicholas, the Church set December 6 has St. Nicholas’ Day. Overtime, it became a day when parents gave gifts to their children. The children were told the gifts came from St. Nicholas. Good children awoke to gifts from St. Nicholas. Bad children received nothing. The legend of St. Nicholas travelled to Holland where he became known as Sinterklaas. Good children received gifts in their shoes on St. Nicholas Day. When many people from Holland immigrated to New England in the 1600’s and 1700’s, they brought the legend of Sinterklaas with them. In 1823, a newspaper published a poem called “A Visit from Saint Nicholas”, or as it is better known today, “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” written by an anonymous author. The poem set the mold for the Santa Claus we know today. In this poem Santa is established as a heavyset man pulled in a sleigh by eight reindeer (who are named for the first time.) He comes down the chimney, brings gifts to children, and puts the gifts in stockings. The poem was a huge success and was quickly printed in newspapers throughout the country. The story appealed to the middle class’ emphasis on family and taking joy in children. Children began looking out their windows on Christmas Eve to see Santa Claus and his reindeer. The author turned out to be an Episcopal minister named Clement C. Moore who based it on a story he told to his daughter on Christmas Eve. Moore’s wife was of Dutch descent and was familiar with the Sinterklaas legend. Santa Claus's modern image was further defined by Thomas Nast, an American cartoonist of the 19th century. In 1863, a picture of Santa illustrated by Nast appeared in Harper's Weekly, one of the nation’s leading newspapers.
Origin of Hannukah
Commencing on the 25th day of the Hebrew month Kislev, Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem after its desecration by the Syrians. In 168 BC, members of the Jewish family Maccabee led a revolt against the Greek Syrians due to the policies of Syrian King Antiochus IV which were aimed at nullifying the Jewish faith. Part of this strategem included changing the Beit HaMikdash - the Holy Temple in Jerusalem - to a Greek temple complete with idolatry. Led by Judah Maccabee, the Jews won victory over the Syrians in 165 BC and reclaimed their temple.After cleansing the temple and preparing for its rededication, it was found there was not enough oil to light the N'er Tamid, an oil lamp present in Jewish houses of worship which represents eternal light. Once lit, the lamp should never be extinguished.
A search of the temple produced a small vial of undefiled oil -- enough for only one day. Miraculously, the Temple lights burned for eight days until a new supply of oil was brought. In remembrance of this miracle, one candle of the Menorah - an eight branched candelabra - is lit each of the eight days of Hanukkah. Hanukkah, which means dedication, is a Hebrew word when translated is commonly spelled Hanukah, Chanukah, and Hannukah due to different translations and customs.The tradition of receiving gifts on each of the eight days of Hanukkah is relatively new and due in part to the celebration's proximity to the Christmas season.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
ORIGIN OF CHRISTMAS Pt. 1
The origin of Christmas and the many traditions associated with it are murky at best. No one knows when Christmas was first celebrated/acknowledged. Much of this has to do with the fact that early Christians (prior to 300 A.D.), never thought much about celebrating the birth of Christ. The only holiday (holy day) they recognized was Easter – Jesus’ death and resurrection. Overtime there was gathering interest among early Christian leaders to discover when exactly Jesus was born. Call it a curiosity factor. The problem was the Scriptures offered little to no guidance on what time of year Jesus was born. Efforts were made by Christian leaders to pin down a date. One early Church calendar gave March 28 as the date of Jesus’ birth. But nothing ever stuck until around the mid-300’s AD. In an early Church writing, a reference is made to the Feast of the Nativity (a precursor to Christmas) celebrated on December 25. By the Middle Ages (1050 AD), the Feast of the Nativity became known as Christ’s Mass, or Christmas.
Why December 25? This time of year was greatly venerated/held in high regard throughout pre-Christian Europe from highly civilized Rome, Italy, north to barbarian/uneducated Germany. It was the time of the winter solstice. In the days leading up to the solstice, the days grey shorter. In the minds of Europeans, darkness was conquering the light. After the winter solstice, the days grew longer. Light overcame the darkness. The light proved to be unconquerable. The peoples of Europe held festivals to celebrate the victor of light over darkness. In Rome, the festival was called Saturnalia after the god Saturn (agricultural god). This festival lasted for seven days and included the winter solstice, which usually occurred around December 25. During Saturnalia the Romans feasted, postponed all business and warfare, exchanged gifts, and temporarily freed their slaves. For a short period of time, there was a reversal of roles – the slave became the master and the master the slave. The festival was marked by gluttony, drinking, and carousing. It was more Mardi Gras than Christmas. In northern Europe, the Germanic peoples also celebrated the winter solstice. They held great feasts and drank a lot of alcohol in honor of their gods. It was a time of great joy and merrymaking in the midst of the harshness of winter.
As Christianity spread across Europe, people continued to celebrate the winter solstice even after they became Christians. The festivals with their feasting and drinking and all the negatives that came with them continued. The Church had a difficult time outlawing the pagan festivals surrounding the winter solstice. They were far too popular and too engrained among the people (rich and poor, royals and peasants.) To ban the winter solstice celebrations outright would have been very bad public relations for the Church. Therefore, rather than ban the celebration of light over darkness the Church Christianized it. How? By declaring, sometime in the mid-300’s A.D., December 25 to be the date when Light conquered Darkness through the birth of Jesus birth. Scriptural justification – Book of John chapter 1. Before Jesus’ birth Darkness ruled the world. With His birth, Light came into the world and conquered the Darkness. Thereafter, the people could continue to celebrate and make merry during the winter solstice but they did so to celebrate the birth of Jesus rather than to honor pagan gods (Saturn, Odin, etc.) and hopefully, from the Church’s perspective, in a more restrained manner.
In the process, the Church Christianized many of the traditions associated with the pagan celebrations of the winter solstice.
1) Evergreens (trees, holly, mistletoe) – venerated by Romans and the Germanic peoples of northern Europe. Some, such as the Druids, worshipped the evergreen. The evergreen did not die with the onset of winter. It continued to live and remain green despite the harshness of the conditions. It was thought to have magical properties. The Romans hung holly wreaths on their doors as symbols of victory and peace. They exchange holly as gifts. The Germanic people would bring evergreens into their home for good luck and to ward off evil spirits. How evergreens were Christianized – a) Holly – Christians associated holly wreaths with the Jesus’ crown of thorns. The red berries similar to drops of blood. b) The Christmas tree – Decorated evergreen trees were a common part of the winter solstice celebration in the Germanic lands. Following the Germans’ conversion to Christianity, they decorated the evergreen with apples to symbolize the Garden of Eden.
2) Exchanging of gifts - inspired by a) God giving humanity Jesus, His only Son (John 3:16) b) the three wise men who gave gifts to Jesus.
3) Feasts – to celebrate birth of Jesus
Essentially, Christmas was created by the Church in order to give Christian meaning to existing pagan rituals. They were not stolen as much as they were modified so that Christianity would be more accepted by pagans and to encourage Christians to celebrate the winter solstice with more self-control. Unfortunately, the former (converting pagans) proved to be more successful than the latter. Up until the 1800’s, Christmas was celebrated more like Mardi Gras than a sacred day with gluttony, drunkenness, pranks, and carousing. Christmas had a schizophrenic nature – part pious/part revelry; part religious/part raucous; part Christian/part pagan.
Consequently, many European Christians had a very negative opinion of Christmas. Example - After the Puritans (an extreme conservative Christian group) took power in England around 1650, the first thing they did was to ban Christmas. This was not popular among the people and was a major reason why the Puritans lost power. This same religious group were founders of our country and they brought their detest for Christmas with them. Many Protestant churches in the U.S. (Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian) did not offer Christmas services. They ignored Christmas. The Protestant Churches did not regard Christmas as a sacred day. Christmas did not become a popular holiday in the United States until the mid-nineteenth century. Christmas did not become a federal holiday until 1870.
Why December 25? This time of year was greatly venerated/held in high regard throughout pre-Christian Europe from highly civilized Rome, Italy, north to barbarian/uneducated Germany. It was the time of the winter solstice. In the days leading up to the solstice, the days grey shorter. In the minds of Europeans, darkness was conquering the light. After the winter solstice, the days grew longer. Light overcame the darkness. The light proved to be unconquerable. The peoples of Europe held festivals to celebrate the victor of light over darkness. In Rome, the festival was called Saturnalia after the god Saturn (agricultural god). This festival lasted for seven days and included the winter solstice, which usually occurred around December 25. During Saturnalia the Romans feasted, postponed all business and warfare, exchanged gifts, and temporarily freed their slaves. For a short period of time, there was a reversal of roles – the slave became the master and the master the slave. The festival was marked by gluttony, drinking, and carousing. It was more Mardi Gras than Christmas. In northern Europe, the Germanic peoples also celebrated the winter solstice. They held great feasts and drank a lot of alcohol in honor of their gods. It was a time of great joy and merrymaking in the midst of the harshness of winter.
As Christianity spread across Europe, people continued to celebrate the winter solstice even after they became Christians. The festivals with their feasting and drinking and all the negatives that came with them continued. The Church had a difficult time outlawing the pagan festivals surrounding the winter solstice. They were far too popular and too engrained among the people (rich and poor, royals and peasants.) To ban the winter solstice celebrations outright would have been very bad public relations for the Church. Therefore, rather than ban the celebration of light over darkness the Church Christianized it. How? By declaring, sometime in the mid-300’s A.D., December 25 to be the date when Light conquered Darkness through the birth of Jesus birth. Scriptural justification – Book of John chapter 1. Before Jesus’ birth Darkness ruled the world. With His birth, Light came into the world and conquered the Darkness. Thereafter, the people could continue to celebrate and make merry during the winter solstice but they did so to celebrate the birth of Jesus rather than to honor pagan gods (Saturn, Odin, etc.) and hopefully, from the Church’s perspective, in a more restrained manner.
In the process, the Church Christianized many of the traditions associated with the pagan celebrations of the winter solstice.
1) Evergreens (trees, holly, mistletoe) – venerated by Romans and the Germanic peoples of northern Europe. Some, such as the Druids, worshipped the evergreen. The evergreen did not die with the onset of winter. It continued to live and remain green despite the harshness of the conditions. It was thought to have magical properties. The Romans hung holly wreaths on their doors as symbols of victory and peace. They exchange holly as gifts. The Germanic people would bring evergreens into their home for good luck and to ward off evil spirits. How evergreens were Christianized – a) Holly – Christians associated holly wreaths with the Jesus’ crown of thorns. The red berries similar to drops of blood. b) The Christmas tree – Decorated evergreen trees were a common part of the winter solstice celebration in the Germanic lands. Following the Germans’ conversion to Christianity, they decorated the evergreen with apples to symbolize the Garden of Eden.
2) Exchanging of gifts - inspired by a) God giving humanity Jesus, His only Son (John 3:16) b) the three wise men who gave gifts to Jesus.
3) Feasts – to celebrate birth of Jesus
Essentially, Christmas was created by the Church in order to give Christian meaning to existing pagan rituals. They were not stolen as much as they were modified so that Christianity would be more accepted by pagans and to encourage Christians to celebrate the winter solstice with more self-control. Unfortunately, the former (converting pagans) proved to be more successful than the latter. Up until the 1800’s, Christmas was celebrated more like Mardi Gras than a sacred day with gluttony, drunkenness, pranks, and carousing. Christmas had a schizophrenic nature – part pious/part revelry; part religious/part raucous; part Christian/part pagan.
Consequently, many European Christians had a very negative opinion of Christmas. Example - After the Puritans (an extreme conservative Christian group) took power in England around 1650, the first thing they did was to ban Christmas. This was not popular among the people and was a major reason why the Puritans lost power. This same religious group were founders of our country and they brought their detest for Christmas with them. Many Protestant churches in the U.S. (Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian) did not offer Christmas services. They ignored Christmas. The Protestant Churches did not regard Christmas as a sacred day. Christmas did not become a popular holiday in the United States until the mid-nineteenth century. Christmas did not become a federal holiday until 1870.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Prelude to Christmas - the birth of John the Baptist
The events surrounding the birth of John the Baptist. A prelude to the Christmas story so to speak. Scripture readings - Malachi 4:5-6; Luke 1:5-25, 57-80.
Read Malachi 4:5-6
1) Who did God say he would send in the last days? Elijah. What would be his task? Read vs. 6
Read Luke 1:6-25
2) Characterize in your own words Zechariah and Elizabeth? A godly, righteous couple.
3) What was the one shortcoming of their marriage? They had no children. At this point in their lives, they were too old to have children. Zechariah and Elizabeth were the Abraham and Sarah of their day. Despite their advanced age, they continued to pray that
God will bless them with a child. See verse 13. Zechariah probably praying for a child at the moment he was burning incense in the temple.
4) How was that viewed in Jewish culture? It was a negative. See vs. 25. Barren couples were perceived as being cursed by God. They were denied children because they had sinned.
5) List what all the angel told Zechariah said about his future child, particularly his tasks.
a) a joy and delight to Zechariah and Elizabeth
b) many will rejoice because of his birth
c) he will be great in the sight of the Lord
d) He is never to drink alcohol. Why? Symbol of consecration (being set apart) to do God’s work. Example – Nazirites/Recabites
e) He will be filled with the Holy Spirit from birth. John would be anointed by God from birth to be a prophet. He will do God’s work/proclaim God’s Word.
f) John will bring back to God many of the people of Israel.
g) John will have the spirit and power of Elijah. If Israel had a top ten list for prophets, number one without a doubt would be Elijah. Elijah stood up to the king of the Northern Kingdom (Samaria/Israel) and condemned him for his sins and leading the Northern Kingdom into sin. Elijah prophesied that it would not rain for three and a half years and it didn’t. Elijah took on hundreds of prophets of Baal in a contest to determine which god was the true God – Baal or God. Elijah was the prophet who called down fire from heaven to win the contest. Elijah was the prophet who prayed that rain would return and it did. Elijah was the prophet who did not know death. God took him up in a chariot of fire. The Jews regarded Elijah with great reverence. The angel informed Zechariah that his boy would be like this great prophet for what purpose? The angel quotes Malachi 4:5-6 - to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous so that they may be prepared for the coming of the Lord – Jesus Christ. For more on Elijah read I Kings chapter 17 – II Kings chapter 2.
Review list.
6) How did Zechariah respond to the news? Disbelief. How did the angel respond to Zechariah's response? Punished Zechariah for his lack of faith by denying him the ability to speak until John is born.
7) Read verses, 23-24. What happened? Elizabeth became pregnant.
8) Why did God select Zechariah and Elizabeth to be the parents of this special child? Read verse 6-7. They would raise the child in the knowledge and righteousness of God. He would be in an atmosphere of godliness in the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Also the fact that they were an older couple with no child may have played a factor. God wanted to bless their faithfulness. Finally, Elizabeth’s relation to Mary, the soon to be mother of Jesus was a factor. As we’ll see in next week’s lesson the first person Mary goes to after she receives the news from the angel that she will bear God’s Son is Elizabeth. The only person who can relate to Mary’s experience is Elizabeth.
9) Read verse 59. What were Zechariah and Elizabeth’s relatives and friends wanting to do? Name the child Zechariah. What was Elizabeth’s response? No. His name will be John!
10) When they asked Zechariah what was his response? He wrote on a tablet “His name is John!” What happened after he wrote his response? Zechariah could speak. He proceeded to give praise to God.
11) Read verse 66. What did Zechariah and Elizabeth’s friends, family, and neighbors recognize about the child John? The Lord's hand was with him.
In verses 67-75, Zechariah filled with the Holy Spirit prophesies the imminent coming of the Messiah and how he would bring salvation to Israel.
12) Read verses 76-79. What did Zechariah have to say about his son? He would prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah by proclaiming salvation through forgiveness of sins. John’s role was to be the Opening Act for the Main Event. He was to lay the foundation that Jesus would build upon. John was to get the people focused on the coming of Jesus.
Read Malachi 4:5-6
1) Who did God say he would send in the last days? Elijah. What would be his task? Read vs. 6
Read Luke 1:6-25
2) Characterize in your own words Zechariah and Elizabeth? A godly, righteous couple.
3) What was the one shortcoming of their marriage? They had no children. At this point in their lives, they were too old to have children. Zechariah and Elizabeth were the Abraham and Sarah of their day. Despite their advanced age, they continued to pray that
God will bless them with a child. See verse 13. Zechariah probably praying for a child at the moment he was burning incense in the temple.
4) How was that viewed in Jewish culture? It was a negative. See vs. 25. Barren couples were perceived as being cursed by God. They were denied children because they had sinned.
5) List what all the angel told Zechariah said about his future child, particularly his tasks.
a) a joy and delight to Zechariah and Elizabeth
b) many will rejoice because of his birth
c) he will be great in the sight of the Lord
d) He is never to drink alcohol. Why? Symbol of consecration (being set apart) to do God’s work. Example – Nazirites/Recabites
e) He will be filled with the Holy Spirit from birth. John would be anointed by God from birth to be a prophet. He will do God’s work/proclaim God’s Word.
f) John will bring back to God many of the people of Israel.
g) John will have the spirit and power of Elijah. If Israel had a top ten list for prophets, number one without a doubt would be Elijah. Elijah stood up to the king of the Northern Kingdom (Samaria/Israel) and condemned him for his sins and leading the Northern Kingdom into sin. Elijah prophesied that it would not rain for three and a half years and it didn’t. Elijah took on hundreds of prophets of Baal in a contest to determine which god was the true God – Baal or God. Elijah was the prophet who called down fire from heaven to win the contest. Elijah was the prophet who prayed that rain would return and it did. Elijah was the prophet who did not know death. God took him up in a chariot of fire. The Jews regarded Elijah with great reverence. The angel informed Zechariah that his boy would be like this great prophet for what purpose? The angel quotes Malachi 4:5-6 - to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous so that they may be prepared for the coming of the Lord – Jesus Christ. For more on Elijah read I Kings chapter 17 – II Kings chapter 2.
Review list.
6) How did Zechariah respond to the news? Disbelief. How did the angel respond to Zechariah's response? Punished Zechariah for his lack of faith by denying him the ability to speak until John is born.
7) Read verses, 23-24. What happened? Elizabeth became pregnant.
8) Why did God select Zechariah and Elizabeth to be the parents of this special child? Read verse 6-7. They would raise the child in the knowledge and righteousness of God. He would be in an atmosphere of godliness in the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Also the fact that they were an older couple with no child may have played a factor. God wanted to bless their faithfulness. Finally, Elizabeth’s relation to Mary, the soon to be mother of Jesus was a factor. As we’ll see in next week’s lesson the first person Mary goes to after she receives the news from the angel that she will bear God’s Son is Elizabeth. The only person who can relate to Mary’s experience is Elizabeth.
9) Read verse 59. What were Zechariah and Elizabeth’s relatives and friends wanting to do? Name the child Zechariah. What was Elizabeth’s response? No. His name will be John!
10) When they asked Zechariah what was his response? He wrote on a tablet “His name is John!” What happened after he wrote his response? Zechariah could speak. He proceeded to give praise to God.
11) Read verse 66. What did Zechariah and Elizabeth’s friends, family, and neighbors recognize about the child John? The Lord's hand was with him.
In verses 67-75, Zechariah filled with the Holy Spirit prophesies the imminent coming of the Messiah and how he would bring salvation to Israel.
12) Read verses 76-79. What did Zechariah have to say about his son? He would prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah by proclaiming salvation through forgiveness of sins. John’s role was to be the Opening Act for the Main Event. He was to lay the foundation that Jesus would build upon. John was to get the people focused on the coming of Jesus.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Thanksgiving: the Forgotten Holiday
1) Has Thanksgiving become a forgotten holiday? If so, what are some reasons why?
a) It’s between two of the biggest “holidays” of the year – Halloween and Christmas. Halloween is the second-most commercially successful holiday behind Christmas. In a recent online survey Halloween is a family favorite ranking second only to Christmas. Radio stations start playing 24 hour Christmas music the day after Halloween. Christmas shopping season traditionally began the day after Thanksgiving. Now, some big stores are pushing for it to begin the day after Halloween. On the weekend before Veteran’s Day, Santa Claus was in Southpark mall taking pictures with children.
b) Many people consider it a “blah” holiday. Not a whole lot of fanfare or rituals associated with Thanksgiving - no memorable songs (God Rest Ye Merry Pilgrims or Hark the Herald Turkeys Sing); no presents to open on Thanksgiving Day; no giant turkey visiting homes leaving candy and turkey eggs; no Thanksgiving merchandise; no fireworks; no frills associated with Thanksgiving that get people excited about celebrating the holiday unless you like to eat a lot of turkey and watch parades (who is normally at the end of the parade- Santa Clause!) and football games.
c) Gratitude problem – The only thing a person really has to do on Thanksgiving is say “thank you” to God. That’s how the holiday started. In my opinion, there are three true “holy days” (that is what holiday means – holy day) on the calendar. Christmas – celebrate Christ’s birth; Easter – celebrate Christ’s resurrection from the dead; Thanksgiving – a special day to thank God for all He has done for you and our nation during the past year. Thanksgiving has its origins in the early days of our nation. The pilgrims set aside a day to thank God for seeing them through a very harsh period of time – famine, disease, death of loved ones. They wanted to thank God for their new friends, the Indians, who showed them how to survive in this new world. They did not take their survival/God’s blessings for granted. I question whether that spirit of Thanksgiving still exists today. I wonder if we are more like the nine men we’ll be talking about in today’s lesson.
Background –
Samaritans – The Assyrian empire conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel also called Samaria. The Assyrians scattered thousands of people from the North Kingdom throughout their empire. Forcibly removed them from their homes and exiled them to strange lands hundreds of miles away. The Assyrians then forced other people groups in their empire to settle in the Northern Kingdom. People of different races and religions. Overtime, the remaining Israelites intermarried with these other people groups. Their descendants would become known in Jesus’ day as Samaritans. The Samaritans were greatly looked down upon by their relatives to the south the Jews. The Jews held a strong racial and religious prejudice against the Samaritans. The Jews perceived Samaritans as “half-breeds”. They were genetically and religiously impure/unclean. A Jew did not step foot on Samaritan soil for fear they would become “unclean”. They would walk miles around Samaritan territory to get to where they were going. A Jew did not associate or socialize with a Samaritan. The Jews and Samaritans had a similar relationship as whites and blacks in the United Stated during the days of segregation.
Leprosy – a generic name given to a skin disorder that was common in Biblical days. Leprosy produced sores and eruptions on the skin. The skin turned a snow white color. Left untreated, leprosy can be progressive, causing permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes. A person with leprosy can feel no pain in the area affected because the nerves are dead. A person who contracted leprosy was immediately ostracized from the community for fear of spreading diseases, not just leprosy. Consequently, there was a strong social stigma associated with being a leper. The only people lepers could socialize with were other lepers. These “leper colonies” as they were known would go around the countryside begging for food and money.
Read Luke 17:11-19
1) Where was Jesus travelling? Along the border between Samaria and Galilee.
2) Who did Jesus come across during this journey? Ten lepers
3) What did they want Jesus to do? Show mercy towards them by healing them of their leprosy.
4) What did Jesus tell them to do? Go show themselves to the priest. According to scripture (Leviticus 14), a person with leprosy had to be examined by a priest to determine if he is cleansed or not.
5) As the ten were going to see the priest, what happened? They were healed. The leprosy was gone. Their skin was a normal color. They could actual feel again.
6) What did one of the ten do after he realized he was healed? He went back to see Jesus praising God the whole way. For what purpose? To give thanks to Jesus for healing him.
7) In the last sentence of verse 16, what does Luke point out about this former leper? He is a Samaritan. Why does Luke say this? To explain what Jesus says about this former leper in verse 18.
8) How would you describe Jesus’ response to the actions of the former leper? Amazement perhaps. Why does Jesus exhibit this response? By pointing out that this man who came back to thank Jesus for healing him was a foreigner/a Samaritan, what was Jesus implying about the nationality of the other nine? They were probably Jews. People of Jesus’ race. Yet His own people failed to return to thank Him for healing them.
9) Why was the Samaritan so grateful to Jesus for healing him? Put yourself in his shoes for a moment. Feel the physical and emotional suffering this man endured. You are a leper. Your skin is basically rotting off your bones. You have open sores. You can’t feel anything. There is an awful stench coming from your body. You are ostracized from your family, friends, and normal community. You can’t touch your wife and children. Even if you could, you could not feel them. When you do come into contact with healthy people, you have to shout “Unclean! Unclean!” so that they know not to come near you. When they do recognize you as a leper they run away in fear from you. The only people you can socialize with are other lepers. But, you are not just a leper. You are a Samaritan leper. If the other nine lepers you associated with were Jews, how did they treat you? Not well. They probably stole whatever alms you received or shared with you the last morsel of moldy bread. In effect, you are an outcast among outcasts. But that all changed on the day Jesus healed you. You are healthy once more. You will no longer be treated as a pariah. You can go home to your family. Moreover, it was a Jew who showed compassion for you … a Jew who healed you. That has to make some impression on you. Out of the Samaritan’s joy, poured praises of thanksgiving for the one who changed his life. In return, Jesus, a Jew, commended him, a Samaritan, for his faith. Wow!
10) Why did the other nine not return to Jesus? We don’t really know. In my opinion, the nine were so ecstatic over what happened to them that they simply forgot to thank the One who made it possible. Before we throw rocks at them for being so ungrateful, how many people today … how many of us are guilty of doing the same?
11) In today’s culture with whom does our nation identify most when it comes to celebrating Thanksgiving - expressing thanks to God – the one Samaritan or the nine ex-lepers? You can deduce my conclusion from the title of this lesson and what I shared at the beginning of this lesson. This Thanksgiving be like the Samaritan and not the nine. Do not take God’s blessing for granted.
President Abraham Lincoln's November 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation
The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.
In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.
Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well as the iron and coal as of our precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the imposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the divine purpose, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity, and union.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this 3d day of October, A. D. 1863, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.
a) It’s between two of the biggest “holidays” of the year – Halloween and Christmas. Halloween is the second-most commercially successful holiday behind Christmas. In a recent online survey Halloween is a family favorite ranking second only to Christmas. Radio stations start playing 24 hour Christmas music the day after Halloween. Christmas shopping season traditionally began the day after Thanksgiving. Now, some big stores are pushing for it to begin the day after Halloween. On the weekend before Veteran’s Day, Santa Claus was in Southpark mall taking pictures with children.
b) Many people consider it a “blah” holiday. Not a whole lot of fanfare or rituals associated with Thanksgiving - no memorable songs (God Rest Ye Merry Pilgrims or Hark the Herald Turkeys Sing); no presents to open on Thanksgiving Day; no giant turkey visiting homes leaving candy and turkey eggs; no Thanksgiving merchandise; no fireworks; no frills associated with Thanksgiving that get people excited about celebrating the holiday unless you like to eat a lot of turkey and watch parades (who is normally at the end of the parade- Santa Clause!) and football games.
c) Gratitude problem – The only thing a person really has to do on Thanksgiving is say “thank you” to God. That’s how the holiday started. In my opinion, there are three true “holy days” (that is what holiday means – holy day) on the calendar. Christmas – celebrate Christ’s birth; Easter – celebrate Christ’s resurrection from the dead; Thanksgiving – a special day to thank God for all He has done for you and our nation during the past year. Thanksgiving has its origins in the early days of our nation. The pilgrims set aside a day to thank God for seeing them through a very harsh period of time – famine, disease, death of loved ones. They wanted to thank God for their new friends, the Indians, who showed them how to survive in this new world. They did not take their survival/God’s blessings for granted. I question whether that spirit of Thanksgiving still exists today. I wonder if we are more like the nine men we’ll be talking about in today’s lesson.
Background –
Samaritans – The Assyrian empire conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel also called Samaria. The Assyrians scattered thousands of people from the North Kingdom throughout their empire. Forcibly removed them from their homes and exiled them to strange lands hundreds of miles away. The Assyrians then forced other people groups in their empire to settle in the Northern Kingdom. People of different races and religions. Overtime, the remaining Israelites intermarried with these other people groups. Their descendants would become known in Jesus’ day as Samaritans. The Samaritans were greatly looked down upon by their relatives to the south the Jews. The Jews held a strong racial and religious prejudice against the Samaritans. The Jews perceived Samaritans as “half-breeds”. They were genetically and religiously impure/unclean. A Jew did not step foot on Samaritan soil for fear they would become “unclean”. They would walk miles around Samaritan territory to get to where they were going. A Jew did not associate or socialize with a Samaritan. The Jews and Samaritans had a similar relationship as whites and blacks in the United Stated during the days of segregation.
Leprosy – a generic name given to a skin disorder that was common in Biblical days. Leprosy produced sores and eruptions on the skin. The skin turned a snow white color. Left untreated, leprosy can be progressive, causing permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes. A person with leprosy can feel no pain in the area affected because the nerves are dead. A person who contracted leprosy was immediately ostracized from the community for fear of spreading diseases, not just leprosy. Consequently, there was a strong social stigma associated with being a leper. The only people lepers could socialize with were other lepers. These “leper colonies” as they were known would go around the countryside begging for food and money.
Read Luke 17:11-19
1) Where was Jesus travelling? Along the border between Samaria and Galilee.
2) Who did Jesus come across during this journey? Ten lepers
3) What did they want Jesus to do? Show mercy towards them by healing them of their leprosy.
4) What did Jesus tell them to do? Go show themselves to the priest. According to scripture (Leviticus 14), a person with leprosy had to be examined by a priest to determine if he is cleansed or not.
5) As the ten were going to see the priest, what happened? They were healed. The leprosy was gone. Their skin was a normal color. They could actual feel again.
6) What did one of the ten do after he realized he was healed? He went back to see Jesus praising God the whole way. For what purpose? To give thanks to Jesus for healing him.
7) In the last sentence of verse 16, what does Luke point out about this former leper? He is a Samaritan. Why does Luke say this? To explain what Jesus says about this former leper in verse 18.
8) How would you describe Jesus’ response to the actions of the former leper? Amazement perhaps. Why does Jesus exhibit this response? By pointing out that this man who came back to thank Jesus for healing him was a foreigner/a Samaritan, what was Jesus implying about the nationality of the other nine? They were probably Jews. People of Jesus’ race. Yet His own people failed to return to thank Him for healing them.
9) Why was the Samaritan so grateful to Jesus for healing him? Put yourself in his shoes for a moment. Feel the physical and emotional suffering this man endured. You are a leper. Your skin is basically rotting off your bones. You have open sores. You can’t feel anything. There is an awful stench coming from your body. You are ostracized from your family, friends, and normal community. You can’t touch your wife and children. Even if you could, you could not feel them. When you do come into contact with healthy people, you have to shout “Unclean! Unclean!” so that they know not to come near you. When they do recognize you as a leper they run away in fear from you. The only people you can socialize with are other lepers. But, you are not just a leper. You are a Samaritan leper. If the other nine lepers you associated with were Jews, how did they treat you? Not well. They probably stole whatever alms you received or shared with you the last morsel of moldy bread. In effect, you are an outcast among outcasts. But that all changed on the day Jesus healed you. You are healthy once more. You will no longer be treated as a pariah. You can go home to your family. Moreover, it was a Jew who showed compassion for you … a Jew who healed you. That has to make some impression on you. Out of the Samaritan’s joy, poured praises of thanksgiving for the one who changed his life. In return, Jesus, a Jew, commended him, a Samaritan, for his faith. Wow!
10) Why did the other nine not return to Jesus? We don’t really know. In my opinion, the nine were so ecstatic over what happened to them that they simply forgot to thank the One who made it possible. Before we throw rocks at them for being so ungrateful, how many people today … how many of us are guilty of doing the same?
11) In today’s culture with whom does our nation identify most when it comes to celebrating Thanksgiving - expressing thanks to God – the one Samaritan or the nine ex-lepers? You can deduce my conclusion from the title of this lesson and what I shared at the beginning of this lesson. This Thanksgiving be like the Samaritan and not the nine. Do not take God’s blessing for granted.
President Abraham Lincoln's November 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation
The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.
In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.
Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well as the iron and coal as of our precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the imposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the divine purpose, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity, and union.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this 3d day of October, A. D. 1863, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.
Friday, November 21, 2008
The Prophetic Books (continued)
How did prophets proclaim God’s message? Usually verbally. But sometimes God had prophets do things, sometimes strange things, to illustrate His message. For example, God had Jeremiah to put a yoke around his neck and stand before the king to illustrate how Israel would be made subject to the rule of Babylon. God told Hosea to marry a prostitute who constantly left Hosea to return to her profession. Each time she left, God told Hosea to get her back. Ultimately, she remained with Hosea. Hosea’s marriage illustrated God’s relationship with Israel. God’s love for His people was so strong that no matter how many times they “cheated” on Him, He was determined to bring them back to Him.
To whom did prophets proclaim God’s message? Primarily to the people of Israel living in the Northern Kingdom and Southern Kingdom. But God through His prophets addressed other nations: Assyria, Babylonian empire, Egypt, Cush (present day Ethiopia), Edom, cities of Tyre and Sidon in present day Lebanon, etc.
How did the people receive God’s message from the prophets? At times, people were receptive to God’s message and messengers, but more often than not the people commonly rejected God’s message and messengers.
Hebrews 11: 32-38
And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
Jeremiah is probably the greatest example of a prophet who experienced constant rejection by the people to whom he prophesied. For 40 years, he delivered God’s message to the people and for 40 years the people rejected God’s message and Jeremiah. He was regularly harassed and ridiculed. He experienced ostracism from his family and friends. He was imprisoned in a well.
Why were the prophets and their messages commonly rejected by the people who heard them? The messages they spoke were harsh, condemning. Their words were always negative. They exposed to the light of day people’s sins. They were constantly telling people they were bad. The prophets were constantly telling people bad things will happen to them if they do not reject their evil ways. In simple words, the prophets said things/demanded things the people did not want to hear/do. They did not want to give up their gods, their wealth, and their pleasure. Consequently, the people’s reaction to the prophets was what we read in Hebrews 11. Also, they were viewed by people as being a little weird/crazy.
Hosea 9:7-8
The days of punishment are coming, the days of reckoning are at hand. Let Israel know this. Because your sins are so many and your hostility so great, the prophet is considered a fool, the inspired man a maniac. The prophet, along with my God, is the watchman over Ephraim, yet snares await him on all his paths, and hostility in the house of his God.
To whom did prophets proclaim God’s message? Primarily to the people of Israel living in the Northern Kingdom and Southern Kingdom. But God through His prophets addressed other nations: Assyria, Babylonian empire, Egypt, Cush (present day Ethiopia), Edom, cities of Tyre and Sidon in present day Lebanon, etc.
How did the people receive God’s message from the prophets? At times, people were receptive to God’s message and messengers, but more often than not the people commonly rejected God’s message and messengers.
Hebrews 11: 32-38
And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
Jeremiah is probably the greatest example of a prophet who experienced constant rejection by the people to whom he prophesied. For 40 years, he delivered God’s message to the people and for 40 years the people rejected God’s message and Jeremiah. He was regularly harassed and ridiculed. He experienced ostracism from his family and friends. He was imprisoned in a well.
Why were the prophets and their messages commonly rejected by the people who heard them? The messages they spoke were harsh, condemning. Their words were always negative. They exposed to the light of day people’s sins. They were constantly telling people they were bad. The prophets were constantly telling people bad things will happen to them if they do not reject their evil ways. In simple words, the prophets said things/demanded things the people did not want to hear/do. They did not want to give up their gods, their wealth, and their pleasure. Consequently, the people’s reaction to the prophets was what we read in Hebrews 11. Also, they were viewed by people as being a little weird/crazy.
Hosea 9:7-8
The days of punishment are coming, the days of reckoning are at hand. Let Israel know this. Because your sins are so many and your hostility so great, the prophet is considered a fool, the inspired man a maniac. The prophet, along with my God, is the watchman over Ephraim, yet snares await him on all his paths, and hostility in the house of his God.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
The Prophetic books (continued)
Messianic – Scattered throughout the Prophetic Books are messages that foretold the birth, life, death, resurrection, and eternal reign of God’s Anointed One – Jesus Christ.
Micah 5:2
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.
Isaiah 53:1-12
Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
End Times – Messages that foretold the end of this age and the coming of a new age of eternal peace and happiness. The enemies of God’s people would be judged and punished. Evil would be vanquished forever. Ex. Daniel, Ezekiel, Joel
Daniel 12:1-4
At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge."
Micah 5:2
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.
Isaiah 53:1-12
Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
End Times – Messages that foretold the end of this age and the coming of a new age of eternal peace and happiness. The enemies of God’s people would be judged and punished. Evil would be vanquished forever. Ex. Daniel, Ezekiel, Joel
Daniel 12:1-4
At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge."
Thursday, November 6, 2008
The Prophetic Books (continued)
2. Foretelling future events. When people hear the word “prophet,” the first thing that comes to mind is someone who foretells the future. Prophecy is often associated with prediction. Most people believe all a prophet did was inform people of something that would happen in the future. That is not the case. Prophets spoke of future events only occasionally. The majority of their messages were forthtelling - declarations from God (see above) – not foretelling. The future events being foretold took place within hours (ex. Daniel chapter 5), days, or years after the message was proclaimed. There are some future events that have yet to happen. Foretelling future events had four themes for the people they were addressed to.
Punishment - When speaking God’s words of judgment, the prophets would sometimes inform the people how God would carry out his wrath, usually conquest by a foreign power.
Habakkuk 1:5-7, 12
Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwelling places not their own. They are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves and promote their own honor …. O LORD, you have appointed them (Babylonians) to execute judgment; O Rock, you have ordained them (Babylonians) to punish
Restoration – God would spare from His wrath a remnant with whom He would re-establish a relationship.
Jeremiah 29:10-14
This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
Homework assignment. Read Jeremiah 32:26-44. Identify examples of punishment and restoration in Jeremiah’s message to the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
Punishment - When speaking God’s words of judgment, the prophets would sometimes inform the people how God would carry out his wrath, usually conquest by a foreign power.
Habakkuk 1:5-7, 12
Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwelling places not their own. They are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves and promote their own honor …. O LORD, you have appointed them (Babylonians) to execute judgment; O Rock, you have ordained them (Babylonians) to punish
Restoration – God would spare from His wrath a remnant with whom He would re-establish a relationship.
Jeremiah 29:10-14
This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
Homework assignment. Read Jeremiah 32:26-44. Identify examples of punishment and restoration in Jeremiah’s message to the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
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