Archive for August, 2007

DEVOTION 3

August 31, 2007 · Filed under DEVOTIONAL MATERIALS

BEAST OF BURDEN

CREATED FOR SERVICE

 

 

Issachar is a strong ass, couching down between the sheepfolds: And he saw a resting-place that it was good and the land that it was pleasant; and he bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant under taskwork.

(Genesis 49:14, 15 ASV)

Before the demise of Israel-Jacob, he desired to speak to his children about what was to come (vr 1); not merely about their persons, but chiefly about their posterity.

An ass is an epithet of strength and robust, hence a creation of burden and service. It has the resilience with heavy burdens and consequently very assiduous with industry, fit for and inclined to manual labor, particularly the toil of husbandry.

Issachar couched or rested between two burdens, which are the burden of tillage and tribute. It was a tribe that took pains to serve, and in so doing they thrived, and was called upon for rents and taxes. The work of the servant attracts a stupendous reward and a meaningful recompense. No wonder his name Issachar connotes reward and recompense. With regards to his availing strength and vigor for service, the tribe were later referred to as “men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do,….and all their brethren were at their commandment” 1 Chron. 12:32.

The spirit of service births the spirit of wisdom and vision for effective leadership in ministry. They became commanders and leaders over the rest of the tribes. Let us observe his three-fold respect re his vision which catapulted him to the apogee:


1. He saw a resting-place that it was good. He had respect for his talent and potential. He was content with his opportunities and availabilities. He set his priorities right and understood his call and ministry. For Issachar, his resting place was his serving ability and he thereby found solace and consolation in living by it. Regardless the oddity annexing our callings and ministries, we must feel at home with them and rejoice in utilizing our talents for the expansion of the kingdom of God.

 

 

 

2. 2. He saw that the land was pleasant. He had respect for his place of work (land). Apparently, he held in high esteem the part and portion of the good land allotted him yielding not only pleasant prospects to charm the eye of the curious, but pleasant fruits to recompense his toils. Many are the pleasures of a country life and urban amenities but the will of God re our place of ministry is what we must look out for; we must walk by faith and not by sight. We must be abundantly sufficed with the resources we have at our location so that it can be balanced with the booties we will meet en route to our destination.

 

 

 

3. 3. He bowed his shoulders to bear and became a servant under taskwork. He had respect in notching up his rewards in lieu of his toils. He built monuments around the “joys” of the morning (future blessings) rather than the “weepings” of the night (present sufferings) Ps. 30:5b. Servanthood is the badge and identity of bona fide Sons of God. Friends, let us, with an eye of faith, behold the heavenly rest to be good, and that land of promise to be pleasant; and this will make our present burdens and services easy, and encourage us to bow our shoulder to bear them and become servants to them.

 

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DITTY QUESTION 3

August 31, 2007 · Filed under DITTYS

What is the significance of the destruction layer in an excavation mound?

To commence with my answer with regards to the significance, I will straight away explain the two main divisions of the question:

  • Destruction layer
  • Excavation mound

The destruction layer is the whole or a part of a relatively thin sheetlike expanse or region lying over or under another destroyed by fire or other natural calamities. This is invariably found underground and there is that suspicion that it is susceptible to heinous danger by fire under or above the earth crust. One of several parallel layers of material arranged one on top of another such as a layer of tissue or cells in a stratum or a layer of rocks.

Excavation mound on the other hand is an archaeological exploration consisting of some diversity of structures consisting of an artificial heap or bank usually located under the earth or stones.

The significance of the destruction layer in an excavation mound is as follows:

 

A wealth of information which surrounding the very site will be mustered. This opens the door to different insights and understanding in relation to what had hitherto transpired on that very area. Excavations mound vis-à-vis destruction layers at sundry times suggests that there are the presence of timbers within the destruction layer which in turn suggest the presence of a timber roof over the central area of a site or place.

 

These discoveries are aimed at investigating the occupational history of the lower terrace of the mound. Here, the relationship between the earth embankment and the settlements inside is established and proper meanings to the cause of this destruction would be unraveled.

 

Again, now and then, according to findings, within the destruction layers there are also large quantities of artifacts including worked and unworked bones, pottery concentrations, clusters of hammerstones and a whalebone axe. One of the most interesting objects attested by history was a parallelopiped bone dice (some also would be found in the midden) this was found in the destruction layer, but unlike all other findings from these layers, some are burnt and others are not burnt.

 

An in-depth study of the findspots of layers and mounds and other datable artifacts offered some better insights into the complicated stratigraphy. This also gives the leeway of understanding with regards to the period and time the destruction took place and those sites will be evidence of the time span of that site.

 

This provides a detailed understanding of the distribution of settlement across the mounds and together with the data from the geophysical survey; this provides the leeway for one to talk about the spatial organization of the settlement. Detailed spatial analysis of several house floors would be undertaken and provisional work on these floors already suggests our understanding of the activities undertaken within the site or house will be enhanced. A large quantity of artefactual and ecofactual material would be recovered from all the trenches and they can now begin to talk with confidence about the economy of that site in the main periods outlined re its aims and objectives.

RESOURCES:

Ballin Smith, B 1994 Howe. Four millennia of Orkney prehistory, excavations 1978-1982. Edinburgh: Soc Antiq Scot Monog 9.

Brannigan, K and Foster, P 1995 Barra: Archaeological Research on Ben Tangaval. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press.

Brennand, M, Parker Pearson M and Smith, H 1998 The Norse settlement and Pictish Cairn at Kilphedir, South Uist: Excavations in 1998. Unpublished manuscript, Dept of Archaeology and Prehistory, University of Sheffield.

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DEVOTIONAL MATERIAL 2

August 24, 2007 · Filed under DEVOTIONAL MATERIALS

A PROTECTIVE REWARDING SHIELD

 

 

 

PROTECTIVE REWARD

 

 

 

 

“After these things the word of Jehovah came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward” Gen. 15:1 (ASV)

 

A shield is a protective covering or structure which hides or conceals one from a peril or harm. Here God guarantees the safety of Abraham and pledges a greater scope and size of His favor to him. To be able to understand this verse, let’s observe the time God made this truce with Abram: After these things.

 

 

· After that illustrious act of munificent assistance which Abram expedited, in liberating his acquaintances and neighbors out of grief and anguish, neither for a charge nor a recompense. After this, God paid him this cordial visit. Comrades, we must understand the truth that those that demonstrate favor and goodwill to men shall find favor and enormous privileges from God.

 

· After that triumph which he had gained over four kings. God paid him a visit, to inform that He had earmarked surpassing blessings for him – A truthful discourse with Spiritual blessings is an outstanding means to deter us from being puffed up with passing enjoyments. The gifts of pedestrian providences are not equivalent to those of God’s covenant love.

 

The presence of a Shield threatens the presence of fear. God admonish him against being disquieted and perplexed. Fear not, Abram. I surmise Abram was overwhelmed with the idea that the four kings he had expelled would muster forces again, and fall upon him to his ruin: “No,” says God, “Fear not, I will protect and reward thee.” We must observe here that:

 

· The existence of great faith attracts the existence of many fears, 2 Cor. 7:5.

 

· God is very conscious of the fears of His children and knows their souls, Psalms 31:7.

· It is the will of God that his people should not kowtow to existing fears irrespective of the negative trend of events, Isaiah 41:10.

 

God announced to Abram that I am thy shield or, somewhat more definitely, I am a shield to thee, present with thee, and in reality caring for thee. God himself is a SHIELD, and will certainly be a Shield to His people to PROTECT them from all disparaging evils, a Shield geared up for His people and a Shield round about His people and apt to silence all their bewildering distressing fears.

 

Again, God announced to Abram that I am thy exceeding great reward, not only a Rewarder but a Reward. Abram willfully rebuffed the rewards of the king of Sodom and here we see God revving him up that he shall be no loser by it. We must cerebrate our minds on the premise that:

 

  • The rewards of willful obedience to God and self-denial are exceptionally stupendous, 1 Cor. 2:9.

 

  • Preferred and promised hilarity of holy people is God himself – elected from this world and promised into a better one which is in the offing. God is the portion of my inheritance and my cup, Psalm 16:5.

 

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DITTY QUESTION 2:

August 24, 2007 · Filed under DITTYS

EXPLAIN WHY GOD CONFUSED THE PEOPLE AT BABEL BY CHANGING THEIR LANGUAGES

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Gen 11:4 And they said, Come, let us build us a city, and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven, and let us make us a name; lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. (ASV)

“Lest we be scattered…” seems to surmise that they knew that God’s Will for them was to replenish the whole earth but they were recalcitrant to that will of God.
Here again, in unison and in one accord, they said, “Let us build a city and a tower.”
Let us build us a city – - which infer that they planned to have build a monument around a center of unity – headquarters
Let us make us a name – - overwhelming ambition
Tower – - religious symbol – - a focal point of the political and religious life of the people.

The tower exposed the arrogancy and rebellion of these people against God. This reveals the ambition and ultimate goal of building the tower. They wanted to reach heaven. Unfortunately, they were driven by ambitions that were later proved to be futile. They were inclined only with their NOW and oblivious about the MORROW- FUTURE. They were blinded by ambition. The greed and pride overtake them and they were blinded so much that they couldn’t see their lurking or impending doom. They were united for the cause. They were together. They thought they had a great leader (Nimrod). They invited the devastating mentality “let us conquer, let us build, and let us make a name.” The people cheered and adored an insane man, driven by disobedience, lust, greed and power.

Gen 11:8 So Jehovah scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off building the city. (ASV)

 

God originally said to man after the Flood, “Replenish the earth.” Man said
to each other, “We are not going to scatter and replenish. We are going to
get together and stay together and build a city and a tower so that we
will never be scattered.” CLEAR-CUT REVOLT AND REBELLION against God’s command.

 


This city was projected to be the rallying place for mankind. Nimrod desired
a world empire that was in direct opposition to God. Their obstinacy: now nothing will be withholden from them; and this is a reason why they must be crossed and thwarted in their design. God had tried, by his instruction and warnings, to bring deter them from this scheme, but to no avail; therefore he must take another course with them.

 

Gen 11:9 Therefore was the name of it called Babel; because Jehovah did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did Jehovah scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. (ASV)


The Tower of Babel was supposed to be the symbol of their unity and strength. Instead, it is forever a testimony to the foolishness of man, the pointless ambitions of man. The mercy of God was displayed by destroying the plans of these evil, foolish men to further preserve the future of mankind.

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DEVOTIONAL MATERIAL 1

August 17, 2007 · Filed under DEVOTIONAL MATERIALS

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Halak ‘eth ‘Elohiym

WALKING APACE WITH GOD

“And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him” Gen. 5:24. (AMERICAN STANDARD VERSION – ASV)

The thirst and the hunger to be au fait with the abstract or the ethereal is invariably hogwash and farfetched let alone walking apace with the same. God is Spirit and we cannot be au fait with Him in the natural or physical sense. Supernatural relates with the supernatural and corporal with corporal. To be instilled with the ability and capability to have amity with the supernatural banks on our ability to have the disposition that can attract the supernatural. This ability is ONLY notched up by emulating the character and spirit of the man (Enoch) who was incubated with the audacity to haw-lak’ with the Inscrutable and Transcendent God. In the Hebrew walked is haw-lak’ and it is being interpreted as to be conversant with, apace with, and being eased with someone. This means that Enoch was in the state-of-the-art with God hence being encased with the power to walk with Him.

Knowing God and walking with Jehovah is a tall order or an impossibility for an unregenerate entity, but for the Christian it is inevitably a possibility. Enoch was raptured or translated by God because he walked apace with Him. Walking with God is the ONLY door way to being like Christ. Jesus fulfilled what His Father pleases because He glorified the Father on the earth with His walk, teachings and death on the cross (John 17:3) and the Father in turn glorified Him through His resurrection. The wicked and profane are destitute of God’s presence, their lifestyle is antithetical and opposite to God: but the devout and committed Christian walk with God, which stipulates reunion to God, for two cannot walk together except they have agreed (Amos 3:3), and it comprises of all the fractions and cases of a godly, moral, and disciplined life.

To walk with God is to set God always before us. It is to live a life of close association with God both in His Words and providences. It is to make God’s word our craze and His glory our end and goal in all our actions. It is to make it our constant care and endeavor in every thing to please God, and nothing to offend him. It is to act in accordance with His will, to see eye to eye with his devises, and to be workers together with him. It is to be followers of him as dear children.

 

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DITTY QUESTION 1

August 17, 2007 · Filed under DITTYS

DESCRIBE THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST DURING THE THIRD MILLENIUM B.C.E

The 3rd millennium BCE spans the Early to Middle Bronze Age. It represents a period of time in which imperialism, or the desire to conquer, grew to prominence, in the city states of the Middle East, but also throughout Eurasia, with Indo-European expansion to Anatolia, Europe and Central Asia. The civilization of Ancient Egypt rises to a peak with the Old Kingdom. World population is estimated to have doubled in the course of the millennium, to some 30 million people. Prior to this century, there was an experience of an emergence of advanced, urbanized civilizations, new bronze metallurgy extending the productivity of agricultural work, and highly developed ways of communication in the form of writing. In the 3rd millennium BC, the growth of these riches, both intellectually and physically, became a source of contention on a political stage, and rulers sought the accumulation of more wealth and more power. Along with this came the first appearances of mega architecture, imperialism, organized absolutism and internal revolution.

The Religions of the Ancient Near East were mostly polytheistic, with some early examples of emerging Henotheism (Akhenaton, early Judaism). Especially the Luwian pantheon exerted a strong influence on the Ancient Greek religion, while the religion of Elam influenced the Zoroastrianism of the Achaemenid empire. In the Old Kingdom of Egypt, the idea of absolute ambition was further defined by conquerors. Military expeditions were sent throughout the kingdom to bring back thousands of slaves at a time. The Egyptian pyramids were constructed during this millennium and would remain the tallest and largest human constructions for thousands of years. Also in Egypt, pharaohs began to posture themselves as living Gods made of an essence different from that of other human beings. Even in Europe, which was still largely neolithic during the same period of time, the builders of megaliths were constructing giant monuments of their own. In the Near East and the Occident during the 3rd millennium BC, limits were being pushed by architects and rulers.

Towards the close of the millennium, Egypt became the stage of the first popular revolution recorded in history. After lengthy wars, the Sumerians recognized the benefits of unification into a stable form of national government and became a relatively peaceful, well-organized, complex technocratic state called the 3rd dynasty of Ur. This dynasty was later to become involved with a wave of nomadic invaders known as the Amorites, who were to play a major role in the region during the following centuries.

RESOURCES:

  1. Ancient African Civilizations to ca. 1500: Pharaonic Egypt to Ca. 800 BC, by Dr. Susan J. Herlin, 2003, p 27.
  2. The Fall of the Old Kingdom by Fekri Hassan
  3. Lamberg-Karlovsky, C. C. and Jeremy A. Sabloff (1979). Ancient Civilizations: The Near East and Mesoamerica. Benjamin/Cummings Publishing, p. 4.

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