C H R I S T M A S

Wishing one and all who name the name of Christ 

to blessed truth represented by the letters in the word "Christmas"...

C
H
R
I
S
T
M
A
S 
!

as shown explained in the picture above.

Nativity fables and lies!

Nativity fables and lies!

  Above is a typical picture depicting the nativity scene, the wise men of the east presenting their precious gifts to, and worshiping, the newborn babe - in a stable, with the bleating sheep and mooing cows.

The shepherds met the newborn King in the manger, who was there only for the few necessary days.

Luke 2:
8 ¶ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger."

Note "is born this day... let us now go... found the babe lying in a manger." The shepherds made haste and found the newborn BABE lying in a manger!

ON THE OTHER HAND, the wise men met the YOUNG CHILD King Jesus in the house of Mary and Joseph much later, when they eventually found him. When these wise men were making their way to Jerusalem to meet, and worship the King of the Jews, Jesus was NO LONGER in the manger! He was already in Joseph and Mary's HOME. Quite a long time had elapsed before they found the King of the Jews, and presented unto Him their precious gifts, and worship.

Read Matthew 2:1-11.
Verse 11 reads:
"And when they were come into THE HOUSE, they saw the YOUNG CHILD with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh."

Note "the house... the young child.."

As usual, lots of sentimentalism and fables are attached to this pagan thing that the world has introduced into so many churches, and hearts, including those who rave and rant, "we are people of the Boooooook." That is a popular and religious shibboleth - something the present generation is addicted to.

And they will continue believing lies and fables no matter how clear their Book informs them. They and the world love the sight of a helpless babe in a manger. They hate the sight of Him who is exalted King at the right hand of the Majesty on high!

"We are people of the Booooook... Sola Scriptura" - they rave on. The devils believe the claims!

p/s  Celebrate Christmas if you must, but please don't associate it with Christ or His religion! To do so is to misrepresent Christ, thus grievous and injurious to Christ. Just be honest and say, "I love a festival of pagan origin." That way, you MAY be commended for your honesty.

Yesterday, and today, and for ever

Some exchanges on "yesterday..."

Wed. Nov. 26, 2014
THE TRUTH IS ---
Heb. 13:8 = “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.’
That simply, briefly means – He has never changed one iota in quality and quantity, being the precise same whether in the body or out, as the Word, then also as the Son, as our Redeemer, as our Advocate,  as our Intercessor, from the womb to the tomb and all in between, such as location, in the manger, country villages,  cities, valleys, hills, mountains, water, or dry land, whether alone or in the Jew’s synagogues, also even according to contract, legal, vital in or out of you, and no matter, as eternally He is in you, but timely you may vary gospelly in learning and understanding. So, whether in the body in Heaven or Spiritually simultaneously in you. Finally, He on Earth, from the cradle to the grave, age 12 or 30, as a man, but eternally He is God manifested in the flesh.
Elder Ulanoe

Sing F Lau
I turned on the computer and your post is right on top!!! What providence!

Elder Ulanoe, do you agree that 'yesterday' has a beginning? That "yesterday" is entirely different from "eternal"?  One question: is the Word exactly the same as the Son?
   
Ulanoe
YESTERDAY means all PAST, even back through even before Gen. 1:1 into Eternity Past. Kindly,
   
Sing
Then you are completely wrong! There was a time when there was no Jesus. Jesus had a beginning - in the womb of a virgin woman by the supernatural power of God!!!

If yesterday extends all the way back beyond the beginning of time, then words have lost its meaning!

Ulanoe
Even before being manifested IN THE FLESH He was still the Son of God. Enough
 
Sing
Before being manifest IN THE FLESH there was the eternal Word. The Son is the eternal Word manifest in the flesh. Plain?

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."
The Word and the Son are NOT the same.
The Word is the one-natured divine Being.
The Son is the dual natured divine-human Being.
If you insist that they are the same, then we read different Bibles!
   
Ricky
Each person in the trinity has always been.
   
Sing
The second Person of the triune God has always been the Word. At one particular point in time, the eternal Word was made flesh, and the Son of God was begotten, begotten by the mysterious power of God, in the womb of a virgin.

Heb. 13:8 “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.’
It is basic, "yesterday" has a beginning in time. The Word has no beginning; the Word is eternal, un-begotten! The begotten, Son Jesus Christ, has a beginning!
   
Pjoh
There are three that bear record in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Spirit. The Father is the Father of the Word, which necessarily implies that the Word is the Son of the Father.
  
 Dannie
"Yesterday, today, and forever" is a literary tool to teach the immutability of Jesus Christ. This approach appeals to human mind and understanding, thus we may consider it an anthropomorphism.

What can precisely express the "past" but yesterday.
What can precisely express the "present" but today.
What can precisely express the "future" but forever.

We cannot take yesterday in its strictest and literal sense else we'd be forced to believe that Jesus existed only the other day.
He is immutable in the past, present, and future.
   
Bernardoe
The Word of God is also called the "Son" in this Scripture in the OT, many hundreds of years before His incarnation in the flesh:
 "Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?" Proverbs 30:4
The Word and the Son have always been the same Person--eternally.
   
Sing
Brother Bernardoe, I fear you are wrong with that passage.

Proverbs 30 is an appendix to Solomon’s proverbs. Agur, a wise man, taught Ithiel and Ucal (Pr 30:1). His lessons are inspired wisdom, for they are called “the prophecy” (Pr 30:1; 31:1). He introduced his lessons by first confessing his great natural ignorance (Pr 30:2-3), then by proving man’s inability to find out God and wisdom (Pr 30:4), and finally by defining the absolute necessity and sufficiency of Scripture (Pr 30:5-6).

The seven rhetorical questions in this proverb prove no man can find out God or wisdom by human effort. The answer to each question is an obvious negative. No man has gone to heaven, or come back, or conquered the elements to learn the ways and wisdom of God. Agur forced Ithiel and Ucal to admit by force of reason there was no man. They could not name any man who had done such a thing, and they could not name his son.

Don't grasp at straw! And please don't use the passage in Daniel.
   
Pjoh
The Father is eternally the Father of whom?
Is He:
A.) the Father of the Father
B.) the Father of the Word
C.) the Father of the Spirit
   
Sing
I read of someone as the everlasting Father... most certain not the one you imagine!
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

An eternal Father is as fictional as the eternal Son. An eternal father is a fiction generated from another fiction - eternal son! Fictions are self generating!
The eternal Word is the truth, and the eternal Word was made flesh is also the truth. The Son is the eternal Word made flesh is also the truth.
   
Pjoh
What strange and inconsistent reasoning! The Word was eternally the Word, but the Father was not eternally the Father!
   
Sing
The term "father" is a relational term, conditioned upon the begetting of the son. What's so strange? Isn't that common sense?

Dan @ "What can precisely express the "past" but yesterday."
"Past" is in the realm of time. Yesterday denotes a RECENT past. The man Christ Jesus, the begotten Son of God was on recent origin when the epistle to the Hebrews was written. The Word was made flesh not too long ago!

Dan @ "We cannot take yesterday in its strictest and literal sense else we'd be forced to believe that Jesus existed only the other day."
"Yesterday" is in the realm of time. How far back in time can your "yesterday" go? "Yesterday" denotes a RECENT past, and states a precise and exact truth of the matter. "Yesterday" would be a completely erroneous term to denote something eternal, before time!!!

Dan @ "He is immutable in the past, present, and future."
Yes, Jesus, the begotten Son of God is immutable. He changes not... ever since (in the realm of time) the eternal Word was MADE flesh by the immediate and divine power. You and I can rejoice in this wonderful truth... The man Christ Jesus, the begotten Son of God, is IMMUTABLE. Amen

Bernardoe
Brother Sing, may your fears about my position become a vacuum and vanish into thin air.

In these verses in Proverbs 30, Solomon is saying that no one can know the secrets of God but God Himself and His Eternal Son; Whose Son is the only Person (Heb. 1:3) Who would ever descend from heaven and will ascend back into heaven. Solomon himself humbly confessed he was, like every other human, ignorant of the secrets of God as to how God could perform these treats mentioned in verse four. Nontheless, the Eternal Son of God would become Man himself and would be the only Man that would or could know these secrets of God. God would give His Unique Son and in that giving, the Man child would be born of a woman. He was the Son of God before He was given and He was still the Son when He became incarnate in the flesh--the "Child is born." He was the Son before He was born of woman. "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6. "(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) Ephesians 4:9-10. The Eternal Son Who descended is the SAME Eternal Son Who ascended 3-1/2 years after He descended. God has revealed in His inspired word Who His Eternal Son is. HE IS CALLED THE WORD OF GOD, THE SON OF GOD (even in OT Daniel 3:5), THE MAN, THE CHRIST (The Son anointed), THE JEHOVAH, JESUS THE LORD, THE ALMIGHTY GOD, THE EVERLASTING FATHER, WONDERFUL, COUNSELLER, THE PRINCE OF PEACE, THE BRANCH, THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE, THE FAITHFUL AND TRUE, THE LORD OUR GOD, THE LAMB OF GOD, THE LORD GOD OMNIPOTENT, THE KING OF Kings and LORD OF Lords, and of course JESUS, and perhaps others. The WORD of God is the Eternal SON of God.

Proverbs 30:4--
1. Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? -- This was the prophecy of Solomon (Agur was a fanciful name for Solomon--the wise man) of the Eternal Son of God Who would (and did) fulfil that prophecy by descending from heaven by assumption of human nature. The Eternal Son took upon Him human flesh so to fulfill His Father's will and purpose in redemption and sanctification. John 3:13 "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. (KJV)" This is the fulfillment of that prophecy: This is the Eternal Son that came down from heaven: -- Meaning the Son Himself, by assumption of the human nature into union with His Divine Person, i.e., of His Heavenly Deity.

2. Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? -- No man whatsoever has this wisdom or power, No not even Solomon; No one ever, except Almighty God and His Eternal Son Who made the wind and controls it to even obey His will. "He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries." Psalms 135:7

3. Who hath bound the waters in a garment? -- No person ever has this secret of God, nor this power and wisdom, to bind up the waters, except the Almighty God and His Almighty Son. "He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them" (Job 26:8). "Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst" (Isaiah 50:2).

4. Who hath established all the ends of the earth? -- No man has ever possessed this wisdom and power, except for the Almighty God and His Almighty Son, Who eventually was made Man in the flesh.

5. What is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell? -- It is no mere man with any name that can or ever has done any of these things. This prophecy of Soloman's is pointing us only to the Almighty God, and to His Almighty Eternal Son who has the same nature, power, perfections, and all the characteristics as does His Father God. The Eternal Son is a distinct Person from the Father, co-essential and co-existent with the Father and co-equal with Him in every essence. Thus, the Man Christ Jesus, while in His human flesh, could, with all His eternal wisdom say, "All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him" (Matthew 11:27). In Moses' prophecy of God's Eternal Son to be made in the flesh by the woman, this Eternal Son was spoken of, in the masculin gender, as being the Son of the Father by the Personal Masculin pronoun "His" in Genesis 3:15: "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." (KJV)--"HIS HEEL". Only He Who has been eternally in heaven could descend and then ascend back to where He, The Eternal Son of God, was eternally with His Father, knowing all the secrets of God and Eternity itself--is NONE OTHER than the Eternal Son of God. This is His name. He was the Son of God when His Father sent Him to be made in the likeness of men. And HE still IS and will be ETERNALLY so, without beginning or ending. This is the TRUTH in which we rejoice.

Sing F Lau
"Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?" Proverbs 30:4.

The RHETORICAL nature of the questions is simple and plain enough. How can one miss it!!!

If the answers are as you have suggested, then the challenge "if thou canst tell" become meaningless! Why waste the challenge when the answers are SO OBVIOUS?

Which man has ascended up into heaven? NONE.
If you insist otherwise, then give us his name, and his son's name.
The rhetorical nature of the questions is so obvious!
In any case, the rhetorical questions are in the present perfect tense, and no man has done any of those... vindicating the author's assertion that no man can find out God or wisdom by his own effort.

Genevan Calvin on John 3:16

"Both points are distinctly stated to us:
namely, that faith in Christ brings life to all,
and that Christ brought life,
because the Heavenly Father loves the human race,
and wishes that they should not perish." John Calvin.

Here is some friendly exchanges among brethren of this popular passage of Scriptures.


A brother wrote:
In John 3:16 we read, "For God so loved the world." Some would say that is the "World of the elect," but the word is larger than that. There are many other verses that can be produced that seem to indicate that God's affection goes beyond just the elect. I believe that Scripture teaches that God has an affection for all His creatures, and with the exception of the fallen angels, blesses them.

------------

Brother Brainy,
The love spoken of in John 3:16 is that particular and peculiar love that is intimately and distinctly connected with the sending forth of Jesus Christ, whose work and death alone secured the free gift of eternal life for each of God's elect, and it is that eternal life alone that enables one to believe the gospel (the good news) of what God has done in Jesus Christ to save them.

'Whoever believes HAS/POSSESSES eternal life' is a statement declaring a fact, not a statement making a conditional offer.

To see the love spoken of in John 3:16 outside this context (all stated there in the verse itself) is to shift the focus.

There is a redemptive love of God for His elect alone.
There is a general love/benevolence/care of God for His creatures. You are right, there are many other verses that can be produced that seem to indicate that God's general benevolence extends to His creatures. But His redemptive love is restricted unto the elect alone - He has made up His mind of that matter from before the foundation of the world.

God's redemptive love embraces the non-Jews too, i.e. the world. God has His elect throughout the world, not just among the Jews. That was the message the Jews needed to hear.
"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb."

just a little sandy thought,
sing
----

Hi Sing,
Just a quick note from work. I realize that ole John Calvin doesn't quite carry the same weight with us Baptists as with the Presbies, but here are some of his comments on John 3:16 for conversation's sake....

16. For God so loved the world. Christ opens up the first cause, and, as it were, the source of our salvation, and he does so, that no doubt may remain; for our minds cannot find calm repose, until we arrive at the unmerited love of God. As the whole matter of our salvation must not be sought any where else than in Christ, so we must see whence Christ came to us, and why he was offered to be our Savior. Both points are distinctly stated to us: namely, that faith in Christ brings life to all, and that Christ brought life, because the Heavenly Father loves the human race, and wishes that they should not perish. And this order ought to be carefully observed; for such is the wicked ambition which belongs to our nature, that when the question relates to the origin of our salvation, we quickly form diabolical imaginations about our own merits. Accordingly, we imagine that God is reconciled to us, because he has reckoned us worthy that he should look upon us. But Scripture everywhere extols his pure and unmingled mercy, which sets aside all merits.

----------------------

Brother Brainy,
Keep talking. I am just talking too... grainy as sand in the south sea. So, no smooth clay around.

Well said. That Genevan condemns himself about how, in his very own words, "we quickly form diabolical imaginations about our own merits." O that diabolical imagination, "NAMELY that faith in Christ brings life to all [who believe].”

O that irrational and nonsensical fable that a lifeless person can have faith in Jesus Christ in order that his faith may bring him life! O that breed of Calvinists... with the wicked ambition that belongs to their nature. [Listen, I am only using the words the Genevan himself have used!]

The Genevan said, "... namely that faith in Christ brings life to all..." So in his mind it is faith in Christ is the instrumental CAUSE/MEANS of bringing life to all."

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

The text states so plainly, WHOEVER believes in him... HAVE everlasting life.

Both the Calvinists and Arminians say, "believing BRINGS everlasting life."
These say, believing is IN ORDER to have everlasting life.

I, a Chinese lad, say, "believing evidences the everlasting life already given by God’s free grace."
I say, "one believes BECAUSE he has/possesses everlasting life.

I am not a baptized presbyterian.

mumbling in the south seas,
sing
----

Brethren,
I was surprised by Calvin's commentary on John 3:16.

What do you think of it?


sing

----

Brother Sing,
 I agree with your assessment. Calvin says “faith in Christ brings life to all”. I do not know what he was thinking, but it sounds to me like he is speaking of faith as being instrumental. Who’s faith? I’m not sure, but it sounds like he is speaking of his (their) own. I believe that the Bible clearly teaches that the only instrument that “brings life to all” is the Holy Spirit, which is taught in the first part of this same chapter.

I am not sure why men claim that it is their faith that saves them, but I have many reformed friends that make this claim. Of course, when they do, they usually will add the extra instrument of Gospel preaching too.  -DS

-------------

Dear Brother Sing,
Your commentary seems much better than Calvin's to me. I would rather he had written, "Life in Jesus Christ brings faith to all who are given that life." -- LM

Asking questions is an art

In Socratic teaching we focus on 

giving students questions, not answers.

As a tactic and approach, 

Socratic questioning is a highly disciplined process.

Learn from leading questions! 

An Elder "inquired"
Jesus is in a physical, resurrected body now.
- Does he need a physical place to dwell? Doesn't the heaven in which we will dwell already exist? If we are going to where Jesus is, then why does there need to be a new earth and new heaven at the end?

A fellow Elder responded
You said: Jesus is in a physical, resurrected body now. Does he need a physical place to dwell?
My thoughts: I wouldn't say it is a need or necessity, but it is a possibility. Like Elijah and Enoch, I'm sure they are able to exist in paradise in bodily form. But my thoughts on this are not built on reasoning but on the specific texts of 2 Peter 3 and the language contained therein.

You said: Doesn't the heaven in which we will dwell already exist?
My thoughts: Where God dwells, paradise, certainly exists.

You said: If we are going to where Jesus is, then why does there need to be a new earth and new heaven at the end?
My thoughts: I would not consider it a thing of necessity, but more of God's determining purpose. We could really ask why concerning all of God's redemptive acts. How then is it new? It could just be new to us in way of experience. Existing in glorified bodies in the very presence of God would certainly be new to us. I personally lean towards it being a completely new existence as well as experience. I liken this principle to that of hell and the lake of fire. Hell seems to be the temporary place of punishment for the non-elect. After the resurrection and general judgement the non-elect, death, the devil, the devil's angels, and hell will all be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14, Matthew 25:41). Like brother Invincible, I am not completely opposed to the idea that the elect will just be floating in the clouds, I just lean toward a different direction on this one because the language in certain portions of scripture say to much to be referring to something else.

It seems that the problem may arise in our minds because both Peter and Paul are using the finite to describe the infinite. This would be like be trying to describe airplanes, computers, tanks, etc. to people in the dark ages. I would have to use phenomenological language to describe what I saw and there would be some amount of a language gap. Likewise, there are certain incommunicable attributes of eternity that we cannot fully understand until we personally experience them. I am very thankful to know that whether my interpretation of 2 Peter 3 is correct or wrong, I will enjoy eternity no less because of those errors. And that is truly pleasing.
========

 My observation
 As far as I can trace from all the exchanges on this particular thread "New heavens and new earth", that's the only response to the questions posed.
I have a gut feeling that despite the sincere attempt in responding to the questions, the Elder not only has failed (or has avoided) to answer the questions but has also entirely missed the obvious implication wisely intended by the inquirer!

Jesus is in a physical, resurrected body now. Does he need a physical place to dwell? Doesn't the heaven in which we will dwell already exist? If we are going to where Jesus is, then why does there need to be a new earth and new heaven at the end? 

Do you see the implication of those questions on our understanding of the term "the new heavens and new earth"? Let me assist, if I may, to make it a wee bit plainer.

The man Christ Jesus (a), in His resurrected and glorified state, is now in heaven, and at the very right hand of God (b). Where the man Christ Jesus now is, is exactly the same place where all His redeemed people shall be when they are similarly resurrected and glorified.(c,d).

(a) 1Tim 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
(b) 1Pet 3:22Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
(c) John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
(d) 1Th 5:9-10 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

With the plain truth stated above, let's answer the questions, and state the OBVIOUS point intended by those questions. I always insist that when questions are asked, people must actually answer the questions. But there is always a way to answer and yet avoiding the question at the same time.

Let me attempt to actually answer the questions.

Q. Does he need a physical place to dwell?
A. Where the glorified man Christ Jesus presently dwell is NOT a physical place. Therefore, the resurrected man Christ Jesus DOES NOT need a physical place to dwell.

Q. Doesn't the heaven in which we will dwell already exist?
A. The heaven in which we shall dwell and live together with Christ after the resurrection to glory is the heaven where Christ Jesus presently dwells. Therefore the heaven in which we shall dwell already exist.

Q. If we are going to where Jesus is, then why does there need to be a new earth and new heaven at the end?
A. We the redeemed are going to be with Jesus, where He now is. The heaven where the man Christ Jesus now is is already perfectly suited for the gloried man Christ Jesus. The same place is therefore perfectly suited for His glorified saints after their glorification at resurrection. Therefore, there is NO NEED of a new heaven and new earth at the end of the world.

I suspect that is the CONCLUSION those questions were intended by the astute inquirer for a student to draw and conclude. If that is the right conclusion, then how does that conclusion AFFECT our view and understanding on the meaning of the "new heavens and a new earth" (or its slight variations) used in the Scriptures?

How are we to understand them? May the Author of the Scriptures give each student of God's word grace to gird up the loin of his mind to understand, and know the truth.

I hope I have truly answered the questions. My true attempt DOES NOT mean the answers are necessarily correct. It does mean that I have honestly attempted to answer the questions.

I do hate it when my questions are avoided with platitudes and shibboleths! (I didn't ask the above questions). I fear that often shrewd folks avoid answering questions because they know that answering them will expose the inherent contradictions or inadequacy or fallacy in the views they believe and defend.

What do you think?

The Last Days and the Scoffers in 2Pet 3

There shall come in the last days scoffers

The Last Days and the Scoffers in 2Pet 3

Here is the Scriptures, 2Pet 3:1-7
3:1 ¶ This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
3 ¶ Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

=================

Some thoughts on these few verses.

Introduction

Remember this firmly in your mind: Apostle Peter was writing to the Jewish believers in around 66AD, to stir up their pure mind, urgently bringing to their remembrance the words of the holy prophets and the commandments of the Lord's apostles about one specific matter... the promised coming of the Lord. What is that?

Is that the coming of the Lord in judgment upon Israel in 70AD, as prophesied by the holy prophets, and solemnly reiterated by the Lord Jesus Christ (Mt 24-25), and faithfully taught by the apostles of the Lord? Or is that the coming of the Lord in consummation of the work of redemption at the end of the gospel age?

Which coming is Apostle Peter alerting the Jewish believers he was writing to? The latter is a very popular notion among the Gentile churchmen, embraced and defended by able theologians and students of God's word. I choose to differ. Let the reader judge for himself.

I. Apostle Peter's sense of urgency (v1-2)

He is determined to stir up the pure minds of the Jewish believers, to make them mindful of the words spoken by the holy prophets, and the commandments of Christ's apostles on the specific subject which shall be scoffed at in the last days.
- Apostle Peter wrote the second epistle circa AD 66.
- What is that subject? It is the promised coming of the Lord.

II. The scoffers in the last days (v3-4)

a. "knowing this first" - conveys a sense of importance, and urgency of the matter at hand.
- The matter dealt with was urgent because of its imminency, and will affect the recipients of the letter personally when it happens.
- The matter is not about something still far off into the future.

b. "in the last days" - what is the context of "the last days"?
- Many insist it is the last days of the gospel age/present world, i.e. Peter, presumably under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, was warning the Jewish believers of something still very far away in the future.
- Others understand it as the last days of the ancient theocratic kingdom of Israel, prophesied by the holy prophets, and repeatedly taught by the Lord Jesus Christ.

c. "there shall come... scoffers"
- Scoffers shall most certainly arise, and soon because the last days are drawing nigh quickly. Be vigilant, and don't be taken in by their scoffing. Therefore the great need for Peter to warn them.
- Who were they? They were unbelieving Jews among God's children, i.e. they walk in their own lust, insisting on believing on their own ideas instead of the words of the holy prophets and the commandments of the Lord's apostles on the subject.
- What were they scoffing at? They were scoffing at "the promised coming of the Lord."

d. "Where is the promised coming of the Lord?"
- The derisive and contemptuous question implies a few things:
i. they were well informed of the prophecy by the holy prophets, and by the Lord Himself, and faithfully taught by the apostles of the Lord too;
ii. the solemn and repeated warnings of the Lord Jesus as well as the faithful teaching of His Apostles about the imminent coming has stirred up and heightened the expectation; iii. long periods of time have passed and nothing has happened. Thus the derision and scorn expressed in the question.

The holy prophets prophesied hundreds of years ago, and Jesus Christ has prophesied nearly 40 years ago. But where is the prophesied coming of the Lord in judgment against Israel? Their conclusion - there will be no such coming of the Lord.
- Later the Apostle Peter corrected them that their reckoning of time and the Lord's reckoning of time are on an entirely different timescale! Therefore, just because long periods of time have passed, it does not mean that the prophecy has failed. The word of God remains immutable, and the prophecy will surely come to pass at its appointed time.)

e. The scoffers themselves reason like this:
- "for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." Therefore, it will continue and remain the same...
- What do they mean? Who are the fathers referred to? The fathers of what, and to who? What is the creation spoken of? How are the two related... the fathers and the creation?
- I suggest the fathers refers to the patriarchs of the ancient nation of Israel, and the creation refers to the birth of the theocratic nation of Israel. The Jewish scoffers don't call the non-Jews in such term! The scoffers are saying in effect, "See, ever since the beginning of the creation of theocratic Israel, ALL THINGS concerning our ancient nation has remained, and continued unto this day! It has remained for many hundreds of years!
- Therefore, it will continue and remain the same with our beloved ancient nation of Israel. The promised coming of the Lord to execute judgment upon, and to end Israel is just a hogwash!
- Thus, "WHERE is the promised coming of the Lord?" "No such nonsense," they insist.

f. "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise", rebuts the insinuation implied in the question "where is the promised coming?" The Lord is not slack. He will come when the time is fulfilled.
- Any impression of delay or non-fulfillment was in reality, the Lord's longsuffering towards His people among the Jews, including those impudent scoffers. The Lord is not willing that any of His people should perish in the fiery judgment that was coming upon Israel but that all should repent of their unbelief on the prophesied destruction, and to take heed of the warning to flee. Not to do so would get them slaughtered and roasted by the Roman army executing the Lord's judgment.
- The Lord is not willing that any of His redeemed should perish in such shameful horrendous destruction stated in terms of cosmic and cataclysmic catastrophe, "in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."
- It took some of God's children among the Jews, who were born, and grew up in the very bosom of the ancient theocratic Israel, a long time to come to receive the truth. Too many Gentiles are completely oblivious of this unique fact, and their great implications.

III. Apostle Peter exposing the scoffers' wilful ignorance (v5-10)

a. Apostle Peter countered that such scoffing is possible only because the scoffers are willingly ignorant, i.e. bury their heads in the mud, refuse to acknowledge the plain facts recorded in their own Scriptures, for the scoffers were unbelieving Jews. The scoffers are willingly ignorant of the historical facts from Scriptures.
- What are they willfully ignorantly of? The immutability of the word of God.
- By the word of God, the promised coming will be fulfilled. The word of God is immutable!

b. Apostle Peter raised two separate but related matters to demonstrate that exact truth.
- By the word of God, "the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water" Gen 1:9. Therefore doubt not the word of God concerning the promised coming.
- By the word of God, "the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished." By the same word of God the world that then was, was destroyed by the universal flood, just as He had warned, and promised through Noah. "And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die." Gen 6:17.

- The old wicked unbelieving world of Noah perished completely. Noah was brought safely through that universal judgment by believing in the word of God. He was delivered from the old world and brought into a new world (STILL HERE ON EARTH!!!).
- The flood that destroyed Noah's world was prophesied a long time before it came to pass. And it came to pass despite all the scoffing during the long years when Noah was building the ark. The word of God to Noah was fulfilled, after many years had passed, and despite so much scoffing.
- What made the scoffers of the last days think that the ancient "everlasting" theocratic Israel will stand one day longer than that which the immutable word of the omnipotent God has determined?
- There were scoffers in Noah's day too! No one had even heard of rain up till then. The idea of a flood is just too preposterous, insisted the scoffers then. Israel is an "everlasting" kingdom - it has lasted for millenniums, went through all sorts of extreme circumstances and remained. God Himself has preserved it.
- So, His promised coming to judge and obliterate Israel is just a hodgepodge nonsense, scoffed the scoffers.

c. "the heavens and the earth, which are now" - what are they?
- It is very popular to understand Peter as referring to the physical world that they were then living in. A few understand that Peter was referring to the religious world of the ancient theocratic kingdom of Israel, which has been kept and preserved by the word of God's power for thousands of years but was fast drawing to its end in the purpose of God.
- Where did Apostle Peter get the "terminology" from? He got it from one of the holy prophets, Isaiah. Isaiah 65 and 66 speak of the judgment and abolition of Israel (the old heavens and old earth), and the "creation" of the new heavens and new earth. The great truth of the "old" being replaced by the "new" is the chief subject of another epistle addressed especially to the Jewish believers, i.e. the epistle to the Hebrews.

d. "by the same word are kept in store"
- The ancient theocratic nation of Israel has been kept and preserved by the same word of God through thousands of years despite all forces to destroy it. It was everlasting only because it was kept by the same word of God. No human forces could end the nation of Israel. Nations came and went BUT Israel and all it represents have been kept by the SAME word of God. It will last, and has lasted until then.
- But its end and abolition have been determined by God. It has been prophesied by the holy prophets, and repeated by Christ Jesus, as well as taught by the Lord's apostles.
- Their appointed end was fast drawing nigh. The day of the Lord's wrath is at hand. The last days of the theocratic were at hand, and scoffers shall arise.

e. "reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."
- That is the same as the coming day of the Lord spoken of. The great judgment upon Israel is described in cataclysmic and catastrophic language by Jesus himself. Read Mt 24. The same catastrophic language was used by prophet Isaiah, Isa 65.
- "Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom.... Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not... And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name:" Isa 65:7,12,15.
- It was in such context that we read this declaration, "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind." Isa 65:17.

f. The parallel of the judgments in the flood and in the 70AD
- A parallel between the judgment of the old world of Noah and the judgment of the old theocratic world of the Jews is noted by Peter. There were scoffers at both, but the word of God will most certainly come to pass. In both, the world was ridden off the unbelieving wicked through the destruction of the old, and the making of the new world. Noah continued to dwell on in the NEW world on the same planet earth! The believing Jews after the catastrophic destruction in 70AD entered into a new world on the same planet earth without the wickedness represented by the geriatric theocratic Israel.

- Note the words of the Lord Jesus Christ confirming the same: "Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." Mt 24:34-37

- "But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; SO SHALL ALSO the coming of the Son of man be." Mt 24:38-39

The Lord Jesus Christ was PLAINLY speaking of the destruction of Israel. All those things came to pass in that generation... yes, in 70AD. The old "heaven and earth" of the Jews were obliterated, and bringing in the new! To the unbelieving, the prophesied judgment shall strike them like a thief in the night. They will be taken by surprise, just as in the days of Noah!

The Wisdom of Abigail

A Chinese bride in traditional bridal gown

The Wisdom of Abigail

“Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.”

I Samuel 25:3

Introduction:

1.      The Bible strictly and plainly teaches wives to submit to their husbands (Gen 3:16; I Cor 11:9; Eph 5:22-24).

2.      But it limits that submission short of “amazement,” which is mental stupefication, bewilderment, perplexity, and consternation to the extent that a woman is confused about obeying God or her husband (I Pet 3:1-6).

3.      As with all authority, when there is a conflict, we ought to obey God rather than men (Acts 4:19; 5:29).

4.      Abigail provides a splendid example and illustration of this principle – she disobeys her husband to do right.

5.      Every girl and woman should learn how to live a holy life and not let fear of father or husband dismay her.

6.      Every girl and woman should learn how to approach an angry father or husband to obtain his full approval.

7.      Abigail did both, perfectly! She disobeyed her husband, changed David’s enflamed mind, and won his heart!

8.      Here is one of the most precious dramas in one chapter found in the Bible. Hollywood can eat their heart out.

9.      Here is one of the most eloquent speeches ever delivered, as she turns a passionate man from his intentions.

10.  Every girl and woman should aspire to have the combination of wisdom and understanding and looks as she.

11.  There is more wisdom in the Word of God than all the books and manuals of man combined and squared!

12.  There is a love story and marital advice in this drama, which excels any romance novel or marital counselor.

The SETTING  (1-3)

25:1
- David went to the wilderness in south Judah after Samuel’s funeral, for prudent mistrust of Saul.

25:2
- Maon and Carmel are places in south Judah near Paran (Joshua 15:55; I Sam 23:24; I Sam 26:1).
- There was a very rich man, with 3000 sheep, 1000 goats, and a substantial estate, in Maon.
- It was the time of shearing sheep, which is the annual event bringing in the revenue for the year.
- It was a time of great celebration, for it was the one great payday for the year (II Sam 13:23-28)!

25:3
- The rich man’s name was Nabal, which means fool; and he deserved the name for his character.
- He was churlish, which is “intentionally boorish or rude in behavior; hard, harsh, ‘brutal’, surly, ungracious. It includes “sordid, niggardly, stingy, grudging.” See Isaiah 32:5,7 about a churl.
- He was an evil man, as his actions and the testimony of his wife show; he was a son of Belial.
- Belial is a word personifying evil and often used for the devil; he was like a son of the devil.
- He was properly of Judah, having descended from the noble house of Caleb. What a disgrace!
- His wife was Abigail, who was a woman of good understanding – wise, who was also beautiful.
- Not all marriages are made in heaven! Abigail was sacrificed, likely for money, to an evil pig.
- She obeyed him, as God requires: the worse the husband, the greater the blessing (I Pet 2:18-20)!

The REQUEST  (4-9)

25:4    
- David, hiding in the wilderness to maintain his security, is informed that Nabal is shearing sheep. 
- Nabal should be feeling prosperous and have much food in the field for celebrating with his men.

25:5     
- David sent messengers to greet Nabal in his own name, which was well known (I Samuel 18:30).
- David was the hero who killed Goliath; he was not an unknown vagabond looking for a handout.

25:6    
- They were to greet Nabal and make reference to his comfortable and secure life in prosperity.

- David sent his blessings of peace on him personally, on his family, and to all that Nabal owned.

25:7    
- David openly admits his knowledge of the sheep shearing; he deals in a straightforward manner.

He then informs and/or reminds Nabal of the honest care he had shown his shepherds and sheep.

25:8     
- Having been totally honest, David knows the men of Nabal will be able to confirm his integrity.         

- He reminds Nabal he is having his most lucrative day of the year, and he asks for some supplies.

- He calls his men the servants of Nabal for their past service, and he reverences him as his father.

25:9     
-  The ten young men David sent did exactly as he requested, then they waited for Nabal’s answer.

The INSULT  (10-13)

25:10   
-  Nabal, perversely, odiously, and evilly insulted the name of David and his father with ridicule.

- He called David a servant, though anointed king; and he charged him with rebellion against Saul.

- These are “fighting words,” as natural men and the world think. And David for once does also.

25:11  
- Nabal ridiculed taking food from his workers and giving it to bums he had no knowledge of.

25:12   
-The young men brought Nabal’s insulting response to David, a man of war and anointed king.

25:13   
- David responded as royalty should and would in such cases, and takes his tough men with him.

- These were some of the hardest and toughest men in Israel, whom he controlled (I Sam 22:1-2).

- Consider the wonderful character of David in controlling and leading such a group of men.

- Hopefully we do not need to hear the Hebrew word for “stuff” to assist our understanding!

The CHOICE  (14-20)

25:14   
- One of Nabal’s servants told Abigail how rudely Nabal had treated the messengers from David.

25:15  
- The young man told Abigail the good and honest treatment they had received from David’s men.

25:16   
- The young man further described the security and protection they felt and received from the men.

25:17   
- He then exhorted Abigail to do something, for he was sure there would be revenge for the insult.

- He witnessed the content and spirit of Nabal’s insults; he was sure David would seek revenge.

- He confessed he did not go to Nabal to confirm David, because of Nabal’s obnoxious character.

- A son of Belial is a man so wicked he is called a son of the devil, or Belial, as evil personified.

25:18   
- Abigail packs a nice lunch for a large group of men and has it put on asses to carry it to David.

- She reacts quickly. She is of “good understanding” (25:3); she didn’t have to think long about it.

- In dealing with an angry person, speed is of the essence (Ps 119:60; Prov 6:1-6; Matt 5:23-26).

- Strife can easily grow with time, as bitterness tends to grow and spread (Heb 12:15; II Tim 2:17).

- Gifts do work to soften the anger of an adversary for most offences (Pr 17:8; 18:16; 19:6; 21:14).

- Practical and utilitarian gifts are not good for love and romance! Get creative past parched corn!

25:19   
- She told her servants to take off with the present for David, as she intended to follow behind.

- It was customary, and very wise, to send a gift in advance to turn away anger (Pr 18:16; 21:14).

- Jacob used this method to great success in preparing the heart of Esau for him (Gen 32:13-21).

-  Note and remember the last sentence of this verse, for here is our illustration of I Peter 3:6.

- Nabal was wrong, and his error was going to cost his life and those of others. She was right!

- She did not tell her husband, for she was going against his thoughts, actions, and authority.

- Had she told him, he would have stopped her. She saved her family, Nabal, and David from evil.

25:20   
- By the providence of God, she was able to meet David before he could recognize and avoid her.

- In your dealings with strained relationships, including spouses, trust God for the circumstances.

The PETITION  (21-31)

25:21  
- David, true to his passionate nature, was very angry for the rudeness he received for kindness.

- Such rash anger was not characteristic of the sweet psalmist of Israel, but there were exigencies.

- Though anointed king of Israel, he was not so yet; therefore, his angry plot is excessive and sin.

-  If he had carried out his intentions, he would have been guilty of murder and self-revenge.

- In order to understand the man she was confronting, please grasp the full anger of David (25:13).

- David was a man of war, a stranger to Abigail, and furious, with justifiable wrath against Nabal.

25:22  
- The narrator, God the Holy Spirit, wants us to grasp the full import of David’s raging passion.

- He swears in the name of the LORD against Nabal, which shows the seriousness of his rage.

- A sinful oath is no more binding on a man than the sin; repentance includes the sin and the oath.
- His oath says, “If I leave a single man of this place alive, let God spare the lives of my enemies.”

- He intends in great rage to make Nabal and his house an example to those who would insult him.

- Those that piss against the wall are men, a figure of speech for that day, as women cannot do it.

25:23  
- When Abigail sees David, she enters into the most forceful and eloquent appeal ever recorded!

- She quickly gets down physically all the way to the ground in bowing reverence to honor David.

- Remember, this woman was beautiful, very intelligent, and very rich. Yet she knew to get down!

-  Much marital strife and bitterness could be saved, if wives would get down off their high horse!
- There was no regard for dignity or gracefulness to make an impression. There was total humility!

25:24  
- She took full responsibility for the transgression and accepted any consequences he might give.

- Calling herself a handmaid (servant) twice, she begs that the condemned might speak to him.

- She begins addressing him as lord, though he is neither her king nor her husband, but a soldier.

- When dealing with a strained relationship, call the matter what it is – sin. Don’t whitewash it.

- Use gentle words; beg, plead, pray, beseech; he is not your partner or brother to rebuke boldly.

-  Ask for permission to speak rather than presuming on it, which shows humility and reverence.

25:25   
- Again she calls him lord, while begging him to ignore her husband, whom she relates to Belial!

- She took her husband’s name and expounded it as meaning folly, which she ascribed to him!

-  When dealing with an offended party, ridicule your error and show your contempt of yourself.

-  She professed that things would have been different, if she had encountered the messengers.

25:26   
- She swore in the name of the LORD that it was by His providence that she had met him first.

-  She detailed two sins the LORD kept him from – murder (Ex 20:13) and revenge (Lev 19:18).

- She continued to call him lord and raised him in a subordinate position to God in her oath.

- She used God’s providence to turn his wrath from insignificant Nabal to all his real enemies.

25:27
- At this point in her petition, Abigail identified the much food as her personal gift to David, which he could give to the men with him in lieu of their original request to Nabal.

- Observe that she continued to address him reverently with “my lord” over and over again.

25:28   
- Abigail took up her guilt again and begged for David to forgive his lowly handmaid her trespass!

-  In settling personal conflicts, after confessing your faults, ask for forgiveness to shift the burden.

- She reminded him of the certain blessing of God upon him and his house to minimize the insult.

- She praised him nobly for fighting the Lord’s battles, and she praised him for his virtuous soul!

25:29   
- She then turned his attention to his real enemy – Saul – who had tried to take his life, not Nabal!

- With glorious eloquence, she described David as bound tightly by love from the LORD his God!

- And she condemned David’s enemies as being hurled away by the same LORD, as out of a sling.

25:30  
- She reminded David that God would certainly bless him, as He had promised, and Israel knew.

- Again, calling David her lord, she reminded him that God would make him the ruler over Israel.

25:31   
- Abigail, bringing a conclusion, beseeched her lord to consider the preservation of his innocence.

- She had already praised the LORD for keeping David from sinning, now she considered his soul.

- Unnecessary murder and personal revenge would have grieved and offended David’s pure heart.

- Get the final words! “When the LORD makes my lord a glorious king, please remember me.”

- There is no way any man but the most wicked would stay his course and not fall in love with her.

The RESPONSE  (32-35)

25:32  
- David praised the LORD for sending such a wise, helpful, (and beautiful) messenger to stop him!

- Stop, reader! Remember and consider this passionate man was in a rage just minutes before this!

25:33   
- David praised her and her advice for keeping him from sinning in murder and personal revenge.

- A man as great as David, and very angry to boot, quickly accepted both Abigail and her advice.

- These are the guaranteed results of approaching offended authority with the wisdom of Abigail.

25:34   
- He praised Abigail that her quick response had saved her and her household from certain harm.

- Again, for the value of the lesson, we are reminded how angry David was when met by Abigail.

25:35  
- David took the present she had brought, which he needed, and gave it to the men with him.

- He told Abigail she could go to her house in peace and safety, for he would not do her any harm.

-  He told Abigail she had convinced him of his foolish rage, and he had accepted her as well.

- Wise women approaching their husbands in the same reverent spirit will also be accepted!

The JUDGMENT  (36-38)

25:36  
- When Abigail returned home, she found Nabal seriously drunk and carousing like a rich king.

-  He could not spare any food for God’s anointed man, but he could eat and drink like a glutton!

- She still did not tell him anything of her “trip to town,” for she would wait until he was sober.

25:37   
-  In the morning, when he was sober, Abigail told him all she had done the day before with David.

- His heart died within him – though living, he was dead – he lost all hope of peace and prosperity.

- He became inconsolable in fear, grief, envy, and worry. He was senseless to life around him.

- How close had he come to a quick death? His few sheepshearers could not match David’s men!

- How could he be sure that David would not yet come? For men do not reverse passion so easily!

- How could he be sure that David would not come for Abigail? Now David knew his best asset!

- How could he be at peace knowing his wife had shown her superiority before his whole house!

- How could he have peace knowing that upon his demise his wife and estate would be David’s!

25:38  
- Ten days later the LORD did intervene supernaturally and kill Nabal, to leave Abigail a widow!

- Wisdom leaves vengeance to the LORD. He will repay! He does not take as long as some think.

The PROPOSAL  (39-40)

25:39
- David praised the LORD at the report, for he understood that God had taken vengeance Himself!
- David rejoiced at the judgment of his enemy, knowing it was divine judgment and for plain sin.

- Not wasting any time after a fantastic first date, David corresponded with Abigail for marriage!

25:40 
- David sent his servants back to Carmel to tell Abigail that he would marry her and comfort her.

- While times were different than our liberated generation, Abigail had already encouraged him.

The ACCEPTANCE  (41-42)

25:41   
- Consider the continued humility and meekness of this wonderful woman as she gladly accepted!

- Speaking to merely David’s servants, Abigail offered to settle for washing their feet as a servant.

- David did not even come personally, but she treated his servants as she would have treated him.

- Abigail is an intelligent, beautiful, rich widow! But she shows not one degree of haughtiness!

- This woman showed more humility and reverence than women today can even imagine!

25:42    
- She did not waste any time. David had called. She took her five servants and went to meet him!

- She didn’t seek extensive courting or dating; she became his wife; praise the wisdom of Abigail!

- She had a rich estate with a large household; he was hiding in the wilderness; she went anyway!

The CONCLUSION  (43-44)

25:43   
- David added to his stable of wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel. He was now a polygamous man.

25:44   
- David’s first wife, Michael, was given by her father, Saul, to another man, in David’s absence.


Some Lesson

1. Wives should obey their husbands, for this is the ordinance of God; but it is limited short of sin (I Peter 3:6).

2. Disobeying a husband is a serious matter, but it should be done when God’s clear commandments are at stake.

3. A man is blessed to have a wife who can remind of his duties to God with the humble reverence of Abigail.

4. Confronting an angry, bitter, or sinning man is a difficult and perplexing matter, but Abigail did it perfectly.

5. Restoring and maximizing a marriage should be a regular goal of godly wives, and Abigail shows it perfectly.

6. If a wife were to apply the humility, reverence, and wisdom of Abigail, she would have a perfect marriage.

7. The vile sins of pride, selfishness, and stubbornness guarantee the perpetual loss and pain of most women.

8. No matter what your marital situation, put your trust in the Lord and do things His way for great blessing.

9. The methods of Abigail appear extreme, bizarre, and dangerous in our perverse generation, but God endorses.

10. For a woman to have a totally adoring and devoted husband, she needs to win his heart as Abigail shows.

11. The spirit and actions of Abigail should pervade the thoughts, words, and conduct of every wife every day.

12. When she fails or senses the marriage slipping, a wife should determine where she erred and start over.

13. Abigail’s conduct won the day and saved her household, but the spirit is God’s plan for wives every day.

Source: http://www.letgodbetrue.com