05/24/08: Proverbs 8
When they talk about wisdom, are they talking specifically about coming to know God?
Ted: Yes, exactly, but more specifically, Jesus. Basically, anywhere that you see "wisdom" you could substitute the word "Jesus" (that is, the pre-incarnate manifestation of God). In the sense that wisdom sometimes is referred to as "she," it can be considered the Word of God, which also is what Jesus was/is. He also "was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began" (Proverbs 8:23), "was there when he [God the Father] set the heavens in place" (8:27), and "was the craftsman at his side" (8:30), meaning that Jesus was the co-Architect and Maker, along with the Father, of the universe and everything in it. Compare this with John 1:1-3: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."
Of course, even more than King Solomon, Jesus actually was/is the wisest "man" to ever live, because of course He is God. Naturally, every word He ever spoke (such as during His ministry on earth), and ever will speak (when He rules and reigns forever), was and is pure wisdom. Notice that "whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death" (Proverbs 8:36). The people, today, who seem to epitomize this the most are Muslims, who adamantly refute the idea that Jesus is the Son of God, and they hate and detest anybody who does. They also are the first to admit that they love death, since they feel compelled to die in the name and for the sake of Allah, the false God of folly (the opposite of wisdom).
Ted: Yes, exactly, but more specifically, Jesus. Basically, anywhere that you see "wisdom" you could substitute the word "Jesus" (that is, the pre-incarnate manifestation of God). In the sense that wisdom sometimes is referred to as "she," it can be considered the Word of God, which also is what Jesus was/is. He also "was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began" (Proverbs 8:23), "was there when he [God the Father] set the heavens in place" (8:27), and "was the craftsman at his side" (8:30), meaning that Jesus was the co-Architect and Maker, along with the Father, of the universe and everything in it. Compare this with John 1:1-3: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."
Of course, even more than King Solomon, Jesus actually was/is the wisest "man" to ever live, because of course He is God. Naturally, every word He ever spoke (such as during His ministry on earth), and ever will speak (when He rules and reigns forever), was and is pure wisdom. Notice that "whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death" (Proverbs 8:36). The people, today, who seem to epitomize this the most are Muslims, who adamantly refute the idea that Jesus is the Son of God, and they hate and detest anybody who does. They also are the first to admit that they love death, since they feel compelled to die in the name and for the sake of Allah, the false God of folly (the opposite of wisdom).
05/23/08: Proverbs 2
They often say "to live in the land" or be torn from it--what does that mean, really?
Ted: God had guaranteed the promised land to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (that is, to the Israelites, who were the descendants of all three). Therefore, one of the worst things that could happen to an Israelite would be to be cut off or torn from the land. It would be equivalent to being cursed by God.
We will read how, in the future (of Solomon's time), the Israelites worshipped other gods, thus committing spiritual adultery and unfaithfulness to the one true God. As such, the Israelites were taken into captivity by Syria, and Judah was taken into captivity by Babylon. Therefore, they were punished for not being upright and blameless by being cut off and torn from the land.
Ted: God had guaranteed the promised land to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (that is, to the Israelites, who were the descendants of all three). Therefore, one of the worst things that could happen to an Israelite would be to be cut off or torn from the land. It would be equivalent to being cursed by God.
We will read how, in the future (of Solomon's time), the Israelites worshipped other gods, thus committing spiritual adultery and unfaithfulness to the one true God. As such, the Israelites were taken into captivity by Syria, and Judah was taken into captivity by Babylon. Therefore, they were punished for not being upright and blameless by being cut off and torn from the land.
05/22/08: 1 Kings 2
When Adonijah asks for Abishag, why is that an offense?
Ted: Abishag had been chosen to be King David's companion, in his old age, to attend to all of his immediate needs, including keeping him warm at night. (His wife Bathsheba no longer did this, evidently because she was about as old as David was and probably required her own personal attendants to help her get by.) Abishag would have been able to tend quickly to minor emergencies that David might have had in the middle of the night, probably give him baths, feed him, and other things. For all intents and purposes, she was his concubine, but without the sex.
Now, remember that another son of David, Absalom (older half-brother of Adonijah), had lain with his father's concubines. This was an insolent sign of his domination of his father and was done as a demonstration and assertion that he was the new king (2 Samuel 16:20-22).
Likewise, Adonijah also had wanted to be king. He even was acting as king (1 Kings 1:9-11). However, due to intervention by Nathan and Bathsheba (1:11-27), King David named Solomon as king (1:32-35). Thus, after David died, Adonijah made one "last-ditch" effort to usurp Solomon's throne (besides majorly dishonoring his dead tather) by trying to take David's concubine, Abishag, to be his wife. Instead, Adonijah was struck down and died (1:25).
This would seem to be a good example of the importance of honoring one's parents, to which seems to be attached the provision of long life in the land (Exodus 20:12). On the contrary, Adonijah DIShonored his father, and soon thereafter he died.
Ted: Abishag had been chosen to be King David's companion, in his old age, to attend to all of his immediate needs, including keeping him warm at night. (His wife Bathsheba no longer did this, evidently because she was about as old as David was and probably required her own personal attendants to help her get by.) Abishag would have been able to tend quickly to minor emergencies that David might have had in the middle of the night, probably give him baths, feed him, and other things. For all intents and purposes, she was his concubine, but without the sex.
Now, remember that another son of David, Absalom (older half-brother of Adonijah), had lain with his father's concubines. This was an insolent sign of his domination of his father and was done as a demonstration and assertion that he was the new king (2 Samuel 16:20-22).
Likewise, Adonijah also had wanted to be king. He even was acting as king (1 Kings 1:9-11). However, due to intervention by Nathan and Bathsheba (1:11-27), King David named Solomon as king (1:32-35). Thus, after David died, Adonijah made one "last-ditch" effort to usurp Solomon's throne (besides majorly dishonoring his dead tather) by trying to take David's concubine, Abishag, to be his wife. Instead, Adonijah was struck down and died (1:25).
This would seem to be a good example of the importance of honoring one's parents, to which seems to be attached the provision of long life in the land (Exodus 20:12). On the contrary, Adonijah DIShonored his father, and soon thereafter he died.
05/22/08: 1 Kings 1
Bathsheba came to King David, told him that Adonijah had proclaimed himself king, and pointed out to David that he had promised her that Solomon would succeed him as king. Then David told her that, indeed, Solomon would be king. Bowing and kneeling before the king, Bathsheba said, "May my lord King David live forever!"
I believe that, in fact, King David will live forever, once he is resurrected at the end of the age. I also believe that he will be the king of Israel again, with Jesus reigning as King of the World. All of this is explained here:
http://www.tedmontgomery.com/bblovrvw/C_13b.html#David_the_king
I believe that, in fact, King David will live forever, once he is resurrected at the end of the age. I also believe that he will be the king of Israel again, with Jesus reigning as King of the World. All of this is explained here:
http://www.tedmontgomery.com/bblovrvw/C_13b.html#David_the_king
05/21/08: Psalm 136
Why do you think this psalm is composed so strangely?
Ted: I'm not sure. It is not clear at all who wrote it--probably not David. Anyway, any evaluation that I would have of it would be worthless. Probably the great Bible commentator C. H. Spurgeon's description of it would be worth reading, if you are interested:
http://www.biblebb.com/files/SPURGEON/TOD/chstp136.htm
Ted: I'm not sure. It is not clear at all who wrote it--probably not David. Anyway, any evaluation that I would have of it would be worthless. Probably the great Bible commentator C. H. Spurgeon's description of it would be worth reading, if you are interested:
http://www.biblebb.com/files/SPURGEON/TOD/chstp136.htm
05/16/08: Psalm 132
Messianic Prophecy: "The LORD swore an oath to David, a sure oath that he will not revoke: 'One of your own descendants I will place on your throne—if your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne for ever and ever'" (Psalm 132:11,12).
(Future) Fulfillment: "Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: 'To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!'" Jesus, the Lamb, was the descendant of David who will be placed on the throne of Israel, forever and ever.
(Future) Fulfillment: "Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: 'To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!'" Jesus, the Lamb, was the descendant of David who will be placed on the throne of Israel, forever and ever.
05/10/08: Psalm 118
Messianic Prophecy: "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone" (Psalm 118:22).
Fulfillment: "It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.' Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:10-13).
Messianic Prophecy: "O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you" (Psalm 118:25,26).
Fulfillment: "The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, 'Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!'" (John 12:12,13).
Fulfillment: "It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.' Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:10-13).
Messianic Prophecy: "O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you" (Psalm 118:25,26).
Fulfillment: "The next day the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, 'Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!'" (John 12:12,13).
05/07/08: Psalm 110
Messianic Prophecy: "The LORD says to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet'" (Psalm 110:1). That is, God the Father says to our Lord, Jesus (the Messiah), that He will sit at His right hand until all of His enemies have been conquered.
Fulfillment: "Jesus asked them, 'What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?' 'The son of David,' they replied. He said to them, 'How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him "Lord"? For he says, "The Lord said to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet'"'" (Matthew 22:41-44).
Fulfillment: "Jesus asked them, 'What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?' 'The son of David,' they replied. He said to them, 'How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him "Lord"? For he says, "The Lord said to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet'"'" (Matthew 22:41-44).
05/06/08: Psalm 109
Prophecy about Judas: "May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership" (Psalm 109:8).
Fulfillment: "(With the reward he got for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 'For,' said Peter, 'it is written in the book of Psalms, "May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it," and, "May another take his place of leadership." Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us....'" (Acts 1:18-21).
Fulfillment: "(With the reward he got for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 'For,' said Peter, 'it is written in the book of Psalms, "May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it," and, "May another take his place of leadership." Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us....'" (Acts 1:18-21).
05/05/08: Psalm 105
"Then Israel entered Egypt; Jacob lived as an alien in the land of Ham. The LORD made his people very fruitful; he made them too numerous for their foes, whose hearts he turned to hate his people, to conspire against his servants" (Psalm 105:23-25).
This shows that it was predestined, by God, for His chosen people, Israel, to be mistreated and abused by the Egyptians. This was so that He could deliver them (using Moses and Aaron) out of bondage and (eventually) into the promised land (105:42-44).
Likewise, I believe that all bad things that happen to us (the ones elected by God to be saved) are foreordained by God so that He can deliver us from hardships and suffering. And, like the ancient Israelites, we ultimately will be taken into our "promised land" when Jesus returns.
This shows that it was predestined, by God, for His chosen people, Israel, to be mistreated and abused by the Egyptians. This was so that He could deliver them (using Moses and Aaron) out of bondage and (eventually) into the promised land (105:42-44).
Likewise, I believe that all bad things that happen to us (the ones elected by God to be saved) are foreordained by God so that He can deliver us from hardships and suffering. And, like the ancient Israelites, we ultimately will be taken into our "promised land" when Jesus returns.
05/03/08: Psalm 102
"In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded" (Psalm 102:25,26).
This indicates that God created the heavens and the earth (that is, the universe). It also indicates that the heavens and the earth will perish. Like an old piece of clothing that wears out, this present creation will wear out and be discarded; that is, it will be destroyed by fire and will pass away at the time when all the unsaved are judged (2 Peter 3:7,10,12; Revelation 20:11). At that time, a new heavens and earth will be created, brand new (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1,5).
This indicates that God created the heavens and the earth (that is, the universe). It also indicates that the heavens and the earth will perish. Like an old piece of clothing that wears out, this present creation will wear out and be discarded; that is, it will be destroyed by fire and will pass away at the time when all the unsaved are judged (2 Peter 3:7,10,12; Revelation 20:11). At that time, a new heavens and earth will be created, brand new (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1,5).
05/03/08: Psalm 91
Messianic Prophecy: "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone" (Psalm 91:11,12).
Fulfillment: "Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 'If you are the Son of God,' he said, 'throw yourself down. For it is written: "He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone"'" (Matthew 3:5,6).
Fulfillment: "Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 'If you are the Son of God,' he said, 'throw yourself down. For it is written: "He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone"'" (Matthew 3:5,6).
05/02/08: Psalm 89
Messianic Prophecy: "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant, 'I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations.' ... He will call out to me, 'You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior.' I will also appoint him my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth. I will maintain my love to him forever, and my covenant with him will never fail" (Psalm 89:3,4,26-28).
Fulfillment: Jesus is in David's lineage or line of descendants (Matthew 1:1,6,16). After He returns back to earth, He will reign forever and ever (Revelation 11:15,17). Jesus was the only begotten Son of God the Father (John 3:16).
Fulfillment: Jesus is in David's lineage or line of descendants (Matthew 1:1,6,16). After He returns back to earth, He will reign forever and ever (Revelation 11:15,17). Jesus was the only begotten Son of God the Father (John 3:16).
05/01/08: Psalm 78
Messianic Prophecy: "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old" (Psalm 78:2).
Fulfillment: "Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world"" (Matthew 13:34,35).
Fulfillment: "Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world"" (Matthew 13:34,35).
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