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I'm in the process of answering that question here... join me!
It appears to be because every man did what was right in his own eyes.
Well, I'd say one of the easiest answers is that the Bible, in one way or the other, discusses all the worst things in life. How about sin? The rebellion against God...the worst thing humanity has ever done.
I think a big part of it is awareness. How many non Christian people go through life unaware of the sin that is destroying them? Pride, for example? It's all about self these days, self esteem, self actualization, self fulfillment, looking out for number one, the nuturing of our childrens self. It all leads to self idolatry, which can destroy a person from the inside out.
God, because He loves us, tells us of these horrible things, shows us how destructive they can be, to ourselves, to others and to our relationship with God.
That's my take on a lot of it, anyway. If you're talking about some of the more jaw dropping things that happened in the OT under Gods own commands, well, I'll have to get back to you!! Am sure that had a good and just purpose, just unsure what that may be at this point!!
Thanks for this Rach.
Yes you are so right, God doesn't shield us from the worst that our nature can produce but He provides ample warning and guidance as to how to avoid slavery to sin.
I am particularly interested in your identifying of 'the nurturing of our children's self' as a characteristic of modern society.
You may have put your finger on something I've noticed but not been able to articulate... can you expand on what you mean by this phrase?
Thankyou.
Well, I'd say one of the easiest answers is that the Bible, in one way or the other, discusses all the worst things in life. How about sin? The rebellion against God...the worst thing humanity has ever done.
I think a big part of it is awareness. How many non Christian people go through life unaware of the sin that is destroying them? Pride, for example? It's all about self these days, self esteem, self actualization, self fulfillment, looking out for number one, the nuturing of our childrens self. It all leads to self idolatry, which can destroy a person from the inside out.
God, because He loves us, tells us of these horrible things, shows us how destructive they can be, to ourselves, to others and to our relationship with God.
That's my take on a lot of it, anyway. If you're talking about some of the more jaw dropping things that happened in the OT under Gods own commands, well, I'll have to get back to you!! Am sure that had a good and just purpose, just unsure what that may be at this point!!
It's so important for our children to feel loved, feel valued, feel important, but we need them to realise this through the love and purpose of God. Schools today teach that kids must love themselves to get ahead. It's all about knowing how special they are and then funneling that into whatever they desire to do with their lives. I think the result of this is spoiled, selfish kids who think of others only once they themselves have been satisfied.
We all have a duty to care for ourselves, but why do we do this? Should we do it because we are the reigning king and Lord of our own lives, or because we are loved of and by God?
I just think it's warped to spend a kids whole childhood telling them that they are number one, and then wonder why they struggle to put others first. We wonder why the divorce rate is going up...it's because we can't have a successful marriage when we don't think of the other person...at all!
Anyway, I could proabably go on, but I hope you get the general idea! We are important through Jesus, not through our own stunning personalities!
The Bible is the Biography of Humanity, written by God, through the hand of humanity. The OT is a record of where we started out (in a perfect relationship with God), and how we got where we are (separated from God); God declaring Himself, once more; and humanities multitude of horrific responses to God's declaration. The NT is a record of God's perfect response to His own declaration - Jesus; His example for us - love; and His Holy Spirit who leads us on in our justification and sanctification, back to where we started from in perfect relationship with God
I AM; therefore, i love
Some will complain that the Bible is too graphic or brutal. I think that's one of its great assets. It shows just how depraved humans can be.
A pensive work from a time where men revealed all that is ugly in this dark world. This story is filled with awful acts of violence and divine justice (Judges 20:21). I cannot help but feel for the writer of Judges who painfully recorded all the barbarian and sinful acts that allow us to see our own personal failings and imperfections.
In some strange way this requires our gratitude.
As a side note, during your studies have you considered which of the Mosaic Laws were broken by Benjamin and that horrendous event of the Levites concubine? And what of Dan?
I was reading Deut 13:12,13,14,15,16 and wondered if these gathered peoples in Judges 20:3 were all thinking and fulfilling the legal requirements of Deut 13:14??? If so, these leaders were very diligent in upholding the Law don’t you think?
Also, was idolatry the source of this crime? It doesn’t appear to be Gibeahs sin, but still may qualify for some form of apostasy? Deut 23:17, 18 must have been taking place for this incident to occur. Maybe these practices had their roots Amorite customs (Judges 11:23)??
In my view of the church ages...
My Take on the Churches
The Pergamean church age was the one right after the time of the martyrs (Smyrnaen), in which there were 10 persecutions (Revelation 2:10) as so verified in the Foxes book of Martyrs. Pergomos means towers in the Greek probably because that is where they dwelt... In fortified structures.
"A sword age, a wind age, a wolf age. No longer is there mercy among men." - The Sybil's Prophecy
These barbaric times would last as long as the founder of the Pergamean church age, Constantine, city of Constantinople would stand. Very harsh times! Making the stories of the book of Judges look like fairy tales!
In my view of the church ages...
Some will complain that the Bible is too graphic or brutal. I think that's one of its great assets. It shows just how depraved humans can be.
Some will complain that the Bible is too graphic or brutal. I think that's one of its great assets. It shows just how depraved humans can be.
Some will complain that the Bible is too graphic or brutal. I think that's one of its great assets. It shows just how depraved humans can be.