Investigating the Bible: Picturing a humble nation on the Fourth
By DAVID CARLSON PASTOR
There’s a fable of an elephant and a flea who walked together across an old wooden bridge. When they reached the other side, the flea said to the elephant, “Boy, did we shake that thing!” Human tendency is toward pride, neglecting the contributions of others. One powerful king of Israel humbly recognized his need for God and lived by that truth.
Solomon was the beloved son of King David. At his father’s death and the start of his reign, he prayed, “‘Give your servant … an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?’ It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, ‘Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word.’” (I Kings 3:9-12, English Standard Version used throughout). Solomon later built a temple for the worship of God. After its dedication, the Lord came to Solomon in the night and made this promise: “…[I]f my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (II Chronicles 7:14) God gave Israel four requirements.
(1) Be humble. “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to humble.” (James 4:6).
Oregonian Peggy Lutz is a 102-year-old veteran of World War II, a teacher, writer, and a senior leader still active in her community. She also has a humble sense of humor. When interviewed on April 12th, 2024 in this newspaper, she said she had asked God why she has lived so long. His answer, she said: “I have more lessons to teach you, and you are a slow learner.”
(2) Pray. At the end of his acceptance speech as the Presidential nominee of the
Republican party in 1980, Ronald Reagan did something unique in modern politics. He said, “I’ll confess that I’ve been a little afraid to suggest what I’m going to suggest – I’m more afraid not to – that we begin our crusade joined together in a moment of silent prayer.” He then bowed his head with the delegates.
(3) Seek God’s face. Sociologists say the face doesn’t lie. Their research has found that facial expressions accurately represent basic emotions, such as anger, fear, and happiness. This is true for the faces of humans across the world, regardless of different cultures and countries. Seeking God’s face is studying the Bible to know Him accurately. It also requires action. King David explained: “He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully, … he will receive blessing from the Lord…. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob.” (Psalm 24:4-6).
(4) Turn from wicked ways. Wickedness in Solomon’s day began by turning away from trust in God to trust in an idol, such as Baal. When Moses was slow in coming down from his mountaintop meeting with God, the Israelites panicked and had their priest Aaron make a golden calf. Then Aaron assembled the people and said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” (Exodus 32:4).
Contemporary idols are usually not images or statues. Instead, they are the things or persons receiving most of our time and trust. All American coins and paper currency have the statement, “In God We Trust.” As we celebrate our nation’s birth this month, many in the church today hope and pray that America will trust in God and follow the guidance of this Old Testament verse.
David Carlson Pastor (yes, that is his last name, not his profession) is a Polk County, resident and graduate of Bethel Theological Seminary in Minnesota (M.Div., M.Th.)
Comments
fiddler
Part I
This column writer talks today about pride, yet his writing is full of ego and pride. He sets himself up as the only expert, as though everyone in Yamhill County can't read, watch the news, or converse with other intelligent people. He is not an expert.
For instance, he says that King Solomon prayed for guidance, to rid the kingdom of evil. At the same time, daughters were sold into slavery - as what? I'll leave that to your imaginations.
He preaches week after week from the OT. How about Ezekiel Chapter 23: "
Our republic was founded on - not the Constitution (which the South used to protect property, including slaves, wives and children), but the Declaration of Independence (which said all men are created equal, over which the South seceded).
fiddler
Part II
Now the writer wants us all to be Christians and teach school children from the Bible, pray in public and in our public schools. Check out Ezekiel, Chapter 23. Don't thin kids'll find it? Hah!
Here's a taste (abridged for needless detail):
1 aThe word of the LORD came to me:
2 Son of man, there were two women,
3 Even as young girls, they were prostitutes, serving as prostitutes in Egypt. There the Egyptians fondled their breasts and caressed their virgin nipples.c
5 e Oholah became a prostitute while married to me and lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians: warriors
6 dressed in purple, governors and officers, .
7 She gave herself as a prostitute to them, to all the Assyrian elite; with all those for whom she lusted, she also defiled herself with their idols.
8 She did not abandon the prostitution she had begun with the Egyptians, who had lain with her when she was young, fondling her virgin breasts and pouring out their lust upon her.f
9 Therefore I handed her over to her lovers, to the Assyrians for whom she lusted.
11 Although her sister Oholibah saw all this, her lust was more depraved than her sister’s; she outdid her in prostitution.h
12 She too lusted after the Assyrians,
14 She went further in her prostitution: She saw male figures drawn on the wall,
16 As soon as she set eyes on them she lusted for them,
17 The Babylonians came to her, to her love couch; they defiled her with their impurities.
19 But she increased her prostitution, recalling the days of her youth when she had served as a prostitute in the land of Egypt.
20 She lusted for the lechers of Egypt, whose members are like those of donkeys, whose thrusts are like those of stallions.
And so on and so forth.
This is Christian teaching, from the Bible. Your kids will learn this!
fiddler
BTW, the South quoted the Curse of Ham and the descendants Canaan, and extended the Curse to all Africans (to suit their twisted truth).
However, the Curse does not include females, yet the South held female slaves and freely traded them for profit.
Will this columnist want women and children sold into prostitution? It's in the Bible!
fiddler
Oh, yeah ... in case ya'll are wondering ... PS: the Ezekiel quote is from the USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops). It's a long one article!
Mr. Rogel
Response to fiddler:
Prostitution exists today, and it existed back then.
If you continue to study the Bible using proper hermeneutics, you will find what it teaches on prostitution (and such like). You are more than welcome to post your findings.
Lulu
Mr. Rogel--how considerate of you to entertain further comment on matters of religion.
1 Timothy 2:11-12 (KJV) "Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the men, but to be in silence."
Notice how this behavior is endorsed by Timothy, the man, not God. Women in this country now control most of the money. And $$$ speaketh mightily; it doth not meekly cower nor beg permission.
By the way, why is there an organization called Job's Daughters and not the equivalent Lot's Daughters?
fiddler
I've never met a Christian.
Right wing nuts want the 10 commandments in classrooms. I say put the beatitudes on the walls.
Right wing nuts want prayers in the classrooms. I say allow prayers from all religions in the classrooms, on the athletic fields, and in any other public places; verbally and in print.
Read 'Project 2025' -- that's the right wing nut plan for this country if Trump is elected.
it lays out how this country will be turned into a christian one. I dare you ... go head now, read the damn thing. that's where christianity is taking us. be prepared though, if you're a decent human being; 'project 2025' is not for the faint-hearted.
this country is on a demonic path with the REAL republican platform, 'Project 2025', not the one they pretend to offer, the one recently released, and by making this country a christian one.
christianity is roman fiction. compare Jesus' deeds and events to Moses'. compare Jesus' words to Titus'. it's baloney.
someone likely did live who did miracles, but his name wasn't Jesus. the b.s. that's in the Bible is junk fiction. why else would he be left out of the multi-volume history of the jews. because he didn't exist. the two passages in the history are frauds.
Project 2025. read it before you vote republican
fiddler
the beatitudes aren't even christian. it's borrowed from hundreds of years prior to Jesus.
the Bible is junk fiction, created by a roman starting in 75 ce.
fiddler
all roads lead to Rome
Josephus, who wrote the history of the jews, was in Rome the same time as Paul, yet he doesn't mention Paul. how could he not know Paul, who was KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE LAND!!!!!!!
christianity is the most successful brain-washing history has EVER known.