The Ark of the Covenant has returned! Part 1

The Sacred Scriptures write of a time in the history of Israel when the Ark of the Covenant had been returned to them from an adjacent country named Philistia. The Philistines had captured the Ark of the Covenant belonging to Israel in a battle named "the Battle of Aphek."
 The Philistines were a nation of people that some historians thought had early beginnings  shortly after The Flood in the days of Noah (Genesis 10:14). Both the Jewish patriarchs Abraham and Isaac had interactions with the Philistines. ( Genesis 21:33-34).
 Yet it was during the period of history when the Israelites were leaving their time of slavery in Egypt and beginning their journey to The Promised Land that God made this announcement: "I will give to you the land of milk and honey." This promise of the land of milk and honey included...the land of the Philistines. Certainly war loomed in the horizon for the nation of Israel and the conquest of the Philistines......

 The country of Philistia was southwest of Israel,  who were now established in The Promised Land. The Philistines lived by the sea and later was the home of Goliath, from the city of Gath. David, the prized King of Israel had killed Goliath with a sling shot while still a young boy and instilled confidence to bring Israel a great victory in the now famous story of "The Battle of Goliath."
  Earlier in Israeli history, the great leader Joshua had led them to numerous victories in establishing Israel in the Promised Land, now reminds his people at a very late age that the land of the Philistines were still yet to be conquered and was necessary to do so if they were to have peace throughout this land of "milk and honey."
 The Philistines and the Jewish nation of Israel were bitter rivals from the start. During the time Israel had elected to have judges throughout the land prior to having kings, the Philistines would capture various sects of Israel's population, normally along the borders of Israel and Philistia, and make them their slaves. 
 The Sacred Scriptures write of 7 battles between Israel and the Philistines including: 1) the Battle of Shephlesh (II Chronicles 26) 2) the Battle of Aphek (I Samuel 4) 3) the Battle of Eben-Ezez ( I Samuel 7) 4) the Battles of Michmash ( I Samuel 14) 5) the Battle of David and Goliath ( I Samuel 17 6) the Battle of Mount Gilboa ( I Samuel 7) and 7) the defeat of the Philistines by King Hezekiah of Israel ( II Kings 18).

 The battle I would like to focus on is the Battle of Aphek. Yet first I would like to give a description of what a Philistine meant to an Israelite. The nation of Israel would identify the word Philistine to a an uncircumcised, brutish, and unrefined people. This was not entirely the case when it came to the Philistines, yet Israel thought of them as such.
 The Philistines were a coastal people often referred to as "sea people". The Philistine nation had found a home in this area largely due to a vast migration over time from inner areas of the land due to famines and crop devastation throughout the Promised Land.
 The Philistines had gained confidence as a nation because they had carved out an area for themselves by the sea with victories over the great and long time dominant nation of Egypt. Over the centuries, Egypt had weakened as a culture, mostly due to internal conflicts and could no longer stand up against a nation like the Philistines.
 Contrary to being an unrefined people, the Philistines had moved on from the Bronze Age and had entered the Iron Age. This was a vital move as many of their rivals were still using weaponry from the Bronze Age. This allowed the armies of the Philistines to have a well marked superiority.

 The Philistine culture has left artifacts that also make it clear they may have not been so unrefined. The Philistines findings have found they had well managed breweries and wineries including beer mugs and wine "craters", large bowls to used to drink wine.
 As to their religion, the chief deity among the Philistines was the god "Dagog", the god of fish and grain. Temples had been constructed in the land of the Philistines in honor of their god Dagog and the worship included singing and instrumental music along with various forms of arts and entertainment.

 So, on to the battle of Aphek, a time when the Philistines had...the Ark of the Covenant.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, My Heart Belongs to You....

Jerusalem, a city of renown throughout human history, dating back to the 1700's BCE and possibly mentioned early in the Sacred Scripture, in the book of Genesis 14:18. Many scholars think Salem mentioned here might have actually been...Jerusalem!
 Jerusalem, coveted by both Arab and Jew alike,  embraced in both the Muslim and Christian community, and known by all.
Jerusalem, destroyed twice, besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, and captured and recaptured 44 times throughout its history...

 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, my heart belongs to you..."

 Jesus wept for Jerusalem. Tears are an element of human emotion that has the power to touch the very heart of a person.... the tears of a small child, a wife who has lost her husband, or the grieving of a young mother over the loss of a child, there are little if any words that can comfort in times such as these.
 Yet Jesus is a man full of inspired power, of strength, of authority, and He spoke from a heart filled with deep convictions. When we read those words "Jesus wept" it has the connotation of depth in His weeping that led to deep cries erupting from His very heart. 
 Jesus wept for the people of Jerusalem, perhaps for the suffering and sorrow they were about to face in only a few decades...70 CE.
  Jesus weeping for Jerusalem reminds me of Rachel, the granddaughter-n-law of the Christian patriarch Abraham who is identified as the mother of Israel or the mother of Jerusalem. In the book of Genesis 35 it reads how Rachel died while giving birth to her son Benjamin. She had requested for him to be named Benoni meaning son of my sorrows, yet her husband Jacob thought it best to name him Benjamin, son of my right hand.

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, my heart belongs to you..."

 Rachel is found again in the book of Jeremiah when the Old Testament prophet sees Rachel crying because of the suffering of her people in Jerusalem. Jerusalem had been besieged by the Babylonians and were now being carted of to slavery to Babylon.
 And once again Rachel is recorded in the New Testament in the gospel of Saint Matthew 2 as she is lamenting over the murder of the innocents, babies killed in Ramah.
  As you read the gospel of John, here then enters Jesus, He too has joined alongside Rachel and is found weeping for people of Jerusalem.
 John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the bible. It is of grammatical simplicity yet filled with a complexity and depth that is still pondered today.
 John himself had written he didn't have enough time to write of all the events concerning Jesus, yet John does identify for his readers...a weeping Jesus. Why is that? I think John is conveying the importance of Jesus being totally human, He wasn't a divine God playing the character of a human, He was totally human.
 What makes this a little bewildering is when we read in the gospel of Luke 7: 12-15 Jesus had met a funeral procession and tells a grieving mother not to weep. Then we read in Mark 5:38-42 when a ruler's daughter had died, Jesus scolded those who were weeping.
 Yet, here we find in John 11:35 those two words: "Jesus wept."

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, my heart belongs to you..."

 Some bible scholars indicate Jesus was grieving the death of Lazarus, while others think He was sympathetic to Mary the brother of Lazarus and was identifying with her heartfelt pain. Still there are those who think Jesus was saddened by Martha's reaction, she herself believing in Resurrection power but thinking it would not happen at a moment like this.
 Yet earlier in John 11 Jesus was read to be glad of Lazarus death, because it would open the door for others to deepen their faith, like Mary who might be comforted in seeing for herself the raising of the dead, in this case her own brother. And perhaps Martha might be comforted to know Jesus cares for each one of us and will do for anyone regardless if they have always done everything exactly correct in the teachings of Jesus.
 So we read of various accounts of Jesus displaying various inner emotional conflicts: glad, troubled, and weeping.
 One thing that becomes visibly apparent through these various scenarios, Jesus came not only to heal our deep sorrows, He physically and emotionally identified in our griefs as well.
 I think for myself this is where I get a little glimpse of this potent verse "Jesus wept." He is very much aware of our daily turmoils and griefs we face in life and can completely identify with those heartfelt emotions that we display from time to time.
 In the case of the people of Jerusalem, He knew that in a few short decades they would experience a tremendous tragedy with the destruction of the Temple and parts of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 CCE. 
 Yet I also think Jesus somehow got a reminder as Lazarus did come out of the graveside that day, He too was about to face a heartfelt gruesome death filled with sorrow, grief, and the very power of death. Yet this only fueled His desire to do so, because of His great love for His people.

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, my heart belongs to you..." 
  

By the Grace of God go I....

As I take time to consider my sixty-second birthday which is fast approaching, I look at my life and am humbled by the mere fact God has allowed me to live this long. I have cherished memories and not so cherished memories, yet when I think of so many around me that do not make it to the age of sixty two, it is a safe and honest statement to say "I am a blessed man."

 The phrase "By the grace of God go I" is a statement historians are not totally sure of its origin. The most common origin is it dates back to a sixteenth century Proverb accredited to a man named John Bradford.  He was a Protestant minister ( Church of England) who during the reign of King Edward VI was ordained a priest by Bishop Nicholas Ridley to serve the church as a roving chaplain. In 1553 Mary Tudor , alias "Bloody Mary", took the throne as the Queen of England and persecuted any associated with the Protestant faith enforcing strong Catholic reform throughout the land. Within the first year of her reign she had many Protestant ministers thrown in prison and put to death. Among those in prison included John Bradford, Bishop Nicholas Ridley, Archbishop Thomas Cramner, and church leader Hugh Lativer, all four being placed in the Tower of London. All four of these men were sentenced to death and became early Protestant church martyrs. 
 John Bradford was burned at the stake on the morning of July fifteenth or thirtieth, the records are not clear. He was scheduled to be burned at four a.m. yet because of the large crowds was delayed one hour. Some historical records indicate Bradford actually said " There but for the Grace of God, goes John Bradford", yet again the records are not totally clear.
 On that early morning John Bradford was burned at the stake, he was tied with another man named John Leaf and Bradford was to have said to Leaf in a most sanguine fashion " We shall have a merry supper with the Lord this night."

 I am at a stage of my life where I feel so grateful for His Grace that has been given me. I have had the honor and privilege of having a wonderful family, valuable friends, and a very blessed lifestyle. The phrase "By the Grace of God go I" is often used when times of misfortune occur, but I can affirm His Grace has stood tall in my life in the good times and the bad. I have experienced misfortune, pain, and regret through various periods  and I have found joy and peace in other times of life. At the same time I still have new dreams to follow, passions to satisfy, and a purpose to go on. Yet, I find a special comfort making time to remember how good His Grace has been to me.

Here is a Gleaning from First Corinthians Fifteen, verse ten:

 "By the Grace of God I am what I am. I am not any better than anyone because of this Amazing Grace given me, nor am I closer to Him than others because of His Grace. I have never considered myself a particular chosen one, nor have I become what I am because of any great charitable work I have achieved or because I have an extraordinary faith.  Many including myself would not consider me a great holy man, rather, there is one reason and one reason alone I have come to be what I am...it is simply this, His Grace that He has given me.
 This Grace has not been given me in vain, but within all my human limits and imperfections, He has given me the opportunity and the honor to bless others. I have given my utmost to follow Him and to be a real light in a very dark world. Although it has taken much practice to yield to His Commands, it is only His Grace that has brought fruition to my meager attempts to please Him."

So, my statement for this sixty-second birthday is really wrapped up in this one thought: "By the Grace of God go I...."

Prayers for Perfection, Prayers to Thrive, or Prayers of Praise

Western culture Christians today are exposed to numerous types of agenda that promote better personal growth, prosperity, and formulas that lead to perfection...like becoming the "perfect Christian". It works well in the United States because of our personal freedoms that allow us to pursue the American dream. It is a match made in Heaven...or is it?

 We are born to thrive, a statement that I have heard often in recent years and like so many things in life I have encountered, there is certainly truth to what this phrase is communicating. Yet I have also discovered there can be traps in this phrase as well. It appears we as Americans can get so wrapped up in the pursuance of goals we will sacrifice virtues along the way, like integrity, acknowledging and understanding another's view, rationale that tells us if we logically execute Plan A, B, or C, then specific results will happen and we impress ourselves with such perfection.
 Yet, in the midst of all these various elements on succeeding in life, people are still not happy, often depressed, and hurt others...whether it be premeditated or by accident.  Allow me to take a look at three areas: Perfection Prayers, Thriving Prayers, and Prayers of Praise.

                                                        Perfection Prayers

 " I looked between the bars of a cage, and there it was...Perfection."

 I have often marveled at the success of various ancient cultures, how they were able to advance their civilizations, the obstacles they overcome, and the inventiveness of its various people.
 I equally forget about those things called obstacles, some causing defeat and failures, yet the ancients continued forward. There were famines and plagues, wars birthed from greed, bribes, and acts of selfishness that in some circumstances completely annihilated  an entire culture of people. We then rationalize the reasons for this lack of success and advancement is they failed to believe in the God we believe in, they failed to perform the right Godly principles, or they did not execute properly God's perfect plan so they might truly experience perfect lives.
 Hmmm? So, are we different, or are we similar to mankind of the past?

 Winston Churchill, the great prime minister of Great Britain during WW ll once wrote: " The Maxim, Nobody prevails but perfection. It is spelled p-a-r-a-l-y-s-i-s."
 The problem with perfection prayers they are dependent on the merits of ourselves...and that can be a killer. It gives an appearance of being infallible, yet man has always been fallible, it's simply a part of mankind's make-up. That is why the Cross is hard for some, mankind is taken out of the equation in reference to getting to Heaven, mankind cannot get there on its own merits. Infallible...are religions infallible? Listen to the cries of the Crusades. Are doctors infallible? Listen to the cries of patients that didn't make it? Are we infallible? Look at the expectations when they are no longer valid.  

 Perfection is a mirage that doesn't exist. Perfection can rob you of contentment in life, self-worth, and self-esteem. Perfection if not kept in check becomes nothing more than a analytical self measurement, and feeds on the creativity within yourself and will look for ways to corrupt the hopes of others. 
 Perfection keeps one from discovering who they really are and what unique gifts God has given to them. If the truth be told, the storms of life can serve to be beneficial to the heart of man. It causes their lives to pursue a different course, heals those imperfections within, and allows a person to pursue their purpose in life with passion, without the fear of failure or when one deviates from a plan. In my humble opinion, God replaces the selfish demands we put upon ourselves and directs us another way...it is called trust, and the cool thing, we can fail at times...and still have a confidence of putting our trust in Him.

 Sometimes I find it almost comical at times how God messes up our ideas of perfection. It is like we have worked hard on a performance of a play, the curtains are being raised, when suddenly the main character in the opening scene...has to go to the restroom. Although at that moment is a real sense of panic, I now look back at those times in my life...and smile.

                                                 Thriving Prayers

 "We were meant to thrive", the very lyrics of a popular Christian song we hear in America today. And, yes, I do think there is truth to that phrase. The question for me is not whether we are meant to thrive, rather it is the motive on why I am so attracted to embrace this thought of thriving.
 Recently I have read various reports of those being murdered because they adhere to the Christian faith. People are thrown in prison and starved or beaten to death, others are beheaded, and still others are shot unless they recant their personal recognition that Jesus died for them and lives in their hearts and lives. That doesn't sound like real thriving to me. Besides, couldn't they have just faked it, recant their beliefs in word only knowing in their hearts they really do believe in Him? 

 My trusted friend over time, the Oxford dictionary describes this verb thriving as: " to develop well, demanding all of our physical strength, our efforts, and energies. It is capable of exercising a force like one who shakes their head denying an allegation with vigor."
 The word thriving is an old middle English word that denotes one who is growing and having an increase, getting hold of the purpose of a particular event or situation one might find themselves in.

   Honestly, God seems to write of alternative ways for us to thrive, particularly in reference to the motives behind our desires to pray. In Psalms 39:12 it reads: " Here my prayer O Lord, listen to my cry for help." Then, in Isaiah 44: 8-9 it reads: "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts higher than your thoughts." Prayer brings us to the point where our thoughts are aligned with His thoughts which in turn satisfies our cry for help.
 The Scriptures indicate prayer to be an act of humility, not engulfed in haughtiness or selfish actions. Prayer allows us to incorporate a humility in ourselves that goes beyond our own scenarios in life and leads us to having the experience of having a grateful heart and a genuine concern for others.
 Prayer is not like a magical sequence of words when said enough times will change a situation or a person. Prayer does not constitute demands upon God to where if He doesn't honor a certain request we will withdraw from His friendship, nor does prayer guarantee us against suffering in its many forms.

  One form of power in prayer is the realization our prayers are not always about us, it is about others. That is why men and women are beaten, starved, or beheaded for refusing to recant of knowing Him. They make their stand to demonstrate the power of prayer, the willingness to thrive under the most adverse circumstances and offer the sacrifice of their very lives in the honor of knowing Him and giving praise for doing so. They not only do this for Him, they do this to encourage us to follow this train of thought...prayer strengthens others and offers hope, causing us to thrive, even at the point of death.

                                                       Prayers of Praise

This is a hard thing at times to understand, yet proves out to be the most rewarding type of prayer. A prayer of praise is described in the Sacred Scriptures as a sacrifice. Sacrifice in the Oxford dictionary describes sacrifice as a "slaughter in ancient times, offering animals in an act of remorse for sin." For us today the sacrifice of praise means to consider our prayers of gratefulness more important than our own values and situations we may be facing. The word sacrifice is from the Latin word sacer meaning holy. It is a holy thing to do when we offer praise, and it is the right thing to do. Praising Him takes away are striving to be perfect and helps us to focus on how we are to thrive in this life.
 Here are a couple of Gleanings that have proved helpful to me:

                                                    Psalm 34:7
"When we make the time to honor the Lord with an offering of praise, not based on any circumstances we might find ourselves in, His very angel stands guard over us. When we take the chance to trust Him, we find a rest knowing God always comes through."
{Note: David wrote this while Saul was trying to kill him. He found comfort when he recognized his dependence was to simply trust and praise Him.}

                                                    Nehemiah 8:10
" Look, this is not the time to get sad or down on yourself. Your ideas of perfection and the failure to do so only leads to being depressed and to wallow in grief. This  day you live belongs to Him, and He wants to share it with you. You have confessed your sin, now is the time to celebrate! Your life is not dependent on well you perform, your life is built on trusting Him. Go home, prepare a feast with rich foods and sweet drink, share your meal with those who may not have anything to prepare. This is the secret to your happiness and well being. Get a hold of this: the joy of the Lord is your lifelong strength!"
{Note: Nehemiah had been sent as a leader of the Jewish nation after the Jews had been released from the exile, serving in Babylon for nearly seventy years. Now, the Jewish people had returned to their homeland and were in a great project, the rebuilding of Jerusalem. The first thing God wanted to rebuild there...was their hearts toward Him.}