The Ten Commandments: Are they still relevant?- Part 12a

This series has been examining some Christian tenets that assert that those saved under the New Testament period have and were exempted from following the Laws of God. But is that truly so?

There is a passage in the book of Colossians that needs to be covered before going any further and it is Colossians 2:19-23. In this passage, these verses are used as a sort of proof-text to show incontrovertible proof, if you will, that they as Christians are exempt from God’s Laws. How do they do this? They conveniently skip over the words that keenly contradict their assertions. There are three verses that they usually uphold and these are

Colossians 2:16, 20-21
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;)

So let us look now at the entire passage

Colossians 2:16-23

16. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

17. Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

This writer finds it incredibly interesting to note that the Apostle Paul in his writings has announced that the “holydays, new moon and Sabbath days” are “a shadow of things to come…But the body is of Christ.” So how are these things ended when Paul says that they are a shadow of things to come? It’s a real brain teaser, isn’t it?

18. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

Apparently, in Paul’s day and even still today, there are many varied doctrines, or “winds of doctrines” that float about the church of the Lord Jesus Christ beckoning Christians to stray from the true and right paths of Scriptural Truths. Angelology was popular in Paul’s day, so let us take a look about us in today’s society shall we? There are plenty of merchandisers who sell statues, pictures, necklaces, earrings, headbands, clothing, bumper stickers of angels and anything else that may be perceived as “spiritual.”

There were two sides of the early church. There were those that had come from Judaism and then there were those that had come into the church from paganism. On the side of the Jews, they of course had the Ten Commandments given to them from Mt. Sinai, even the voice of God as He gave them to Moses. In short simple terms, the Mosaic Law was started and built up as Moses sat on the judgment seat, judging the Jews that had legal arguments with one another. This is why Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, finally told Moses to assign others to do the lesser judging and that Moses should only take the difficult cases before God.

19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;

22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

It was and still is the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Head of the church and through Him we have freedom. Yes, to keep the Laws of God, namely the Ten Commandments, then those that He communicates to us through His Holy Spirit into our spirits. But let us look at verses 20-22 shall we? This reference to ordinances is not the Ten Commandments, nor even the Mosaic Laws, but rather to those unwritten and traditional laws that the Jewish leaders constructed. In fact there were 613 extra laws and ordinances that had been built up as a wall around the Commandments of God; for the purpose of keeping people from actually breaking God’s laws.

Sadly, today there are very few “Bereans” in the church and all too many Christians only surface read when they are studying the Scriptures, rather than asking the Holy Spirit to teach and to guide them in their studies. So let us look at verses 20-23: because most people that have been indoctrinated to believe that they are exempt from the commandments of God have been so indoctrinated to “hear” this portion of Scripture in this manner, even as this writer was taught at one time:

“If you are dead in Christ from the rudiments of the world and as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances [God's Ten Commandments], (Touch not; taste not; handle not; [Jewish food laws] which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men [Mosaic Law].”

Once you have been indoctrinated into a particular view of Scripture [right or wrong], you will forever view the Word of God with those particular lenses attached to your glasses of understanding. If the indoctrination was wrong, it truly takes the Lord Jesus Christ to set you free in your spirit of understanding. As in Paul’s day, the Jews and the pagans both had unwritten rules and regulations, i.e. for example, “the correct way to enter into a temple or The Temple.” Since I was raised Roman Catholic, there is a correct way to enter into a church. One enters into the church and comes into a foyer, whereupon there are usually a row of double doors that lead into the sanctuary proper. Upon entering the door of your choice there are marble lavers that are affixed to the walls between each set of double doors. The proper etiquette before going any further is to dip your index finger into the water and to make the sign of the cross, touching your forehead, your chest and then your left and right shoulders. To enter without doing this is totally gauche and totally improper behavior and is probably a sign that the person entering in has not been indoctrinated into the proper etiquette of the church. These are the commandments and doctrines of men.

23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.?

This is why the Lord Jesus said in

Matthew 11:29-30
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

The Lord Jesus was not referring to his Father’s Ten Commandments, but to those man-made laws and rules that had come from people. These are the burdensome laws that the Lord Jesus was offering to people; that if they came to Him, He would give them the easy Commandments from His Father.

Now let us look at

Colossians 2:8

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

The following is a rough translation from the Greek Scriptures

Beware lest any one making you victims of fraud through philosophy [man's wisdom] and empty deceitfulness after man’s way of teaching the Scriptures, after the principles of the world [or age] and not after Christ [letting the Holy Spirit lead].

In verse 20, the same word is used as in verse 8, which connects these two verses and it was translated as “rudiments” or ‘first principles’ and in both verses it was aligned with “the world or age” therefore, “the popular teachings of the world or this age.” As in Truth, look back at

Colossians 2:2-3

That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

These verses with “the full assurance of understanding” and that God and Christ have hidden within them “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Now let’s go to

Colossians 2:19

And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is administering the “nourishment” and “knitting together” the people who make up His Body and the “increase” is the increase of the correct doctrines that have been taught by Jesus Christ.  This is the “manna” or the Bread from Heaven that feeds His sheep.

When the Lord Jesus Christ is teaching His people, He is either personally teaching, or He instructs His Holy Spirit to administer the correct doctrines to His church or He leads seasoned and steadfast Teachers of the Word of God to correctly administer the Truth to His people. This is why James said in

James 3:1

My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

“Masters” can also be translated as “Teachers.” Those who take upon themselves the title of Teacher, but have not truly been called by the Lord Jesus Christ and subsequently teach false doctrines either through tainted glasses of their own false indoctrination or they (as wolves in sheep’s clothing) deliberately practice “text-proofing” and “eisegesis” after the teachings of mankind, rather than with “exegesis” from the Lord Jesus Christ; these shall receive the “greater condemnation.”  So now that this writer has cleared up another passage that has been used to substantiate that we do not have to obey God’s Commandments…

Therefore, Amen and Amen. Stay tuned for Part 12b

 

I wish to thank all of the brothers and sisters who prayed for my healing and interceded for me before the throne of the Lord Jesus Christ when I was hospitalized over the Memorial Day weekend. God Bless you.

I’m Tired

 

 

When this writer was a teenager in the 1970′s, Dave Loggins came out with a song that touched my heart, even as it still does today.  Perhaps because it is ‘heart music’, you know…the music that touches your heart when you are young…and consequentially, you remember it your entire life.  What song?  It was called, “Please come to Boston.”  Part of the lyrics were:

Please come to Boston for the Springtime

I’m stayin’ here with some friends and they got lots of room

You can sell your paintings on the sidewalk

By a cafe where I hope to be workin’ soon

Please come to Boston

She said – “No- would you come home to me?

So why did this song come up in my memory at a time when tragedy struck in Boston during the Marathon?  Perhaps because it was an image of a simpler time…when we as Americans didn’t have to worry about bombs exploding at our national events or even during normal everyday things like walking on a sidewalk or sitting at a cafe drinking a brisk cup of tea.  At any rate, the following is a poem I wrote because of what happened in Boston.

I’M TIRED

I’m tired

of hearing screams and cries

seeing people distraught

and running into fear

from fields of war like

Georgetown…New Town…

Kent State…Columbine…

Virginia Tech…and Boston

I’m tired

of seeing

teddy bears and bouquets

candlelight vigils

for those we’ve lost

tragedy striking

at such high cost

I’m tired

of seeing America

ripped into shreds

by people who dread

to keep the peace

our Second Amendment

rights being shot to hell

our minute-men

didn’t hesitate to

shoot to kill

the Revolutionary war

set us free

what indeed are we waiting for

I’m tired

Since I am a strong Second Amendment advocate, perhaps indeed Americans need to pass “Carry and conceal” laws in each and every one of our States as well as not hesitating to use force to take down the morons who want to destroy the United States of America.  Let the Stars and Stripes fly forever free.

Ivan Parker: Southern Gospel artist

Ivan Parker was in concert at the Hargrove Chapel at Lincoln Christian University on March 23, 2012 and the audience loved every minute of his performance, giving him at least five standing ovations.  Ivan Parker sang such favorites as:

• Proud to be an American
• Midnight Cry
• Alright

His opening act was the Ball Brothers, whose concert this writer already reviewed.  Ivan Parker was down-home and during intermission made available to his fans the opportunity to have concert goods autographed.  He also made available a t-shirt that was patriotic in nature which went well with the song, “Proud to be an American.”  His fans eagerly filled the lobby and gladly waited in lines to buy his latest CD’s as well as the t-shirt, waiting for the shirt to be autographed as well.

Ivan Parker’s testimony is this: he says he was “saved at age 9 in his daddy’s church in Sanford, when an evangelist preached a fiery sermon on the rapture of the church and heaven. “I remember that night well,” he said. “I was sitting on the back row with all my friends. When the invitation was given, I couldn’t get to the altar fast enough. My mom and dad had always told me that whenever it came to salvation, I couldn’t get to heaven on their experience – I had to have my own” according to
http://www.ivanparker.com/bio.html

Ivan just recently has allowed his son, Josh Parker to begin touring with him since he just recently graduated from Cumberland University with a degree in music.  He performed a guitar solo of the song, “Shout to the World” and the audience sang along with great pleasure and favored him with a standing ovation as well.

For the remainder of the month of March, Ivan Parker will be singing in Missouri, Tennessee, Georgia and Mississippi.  If interested in finding possible tour dates in your area, you can go to
http://www.ivanparker.com/tour.html
 and then go to his concert.  All said and done, the evening was a delightsome treat and well worth attending.

The Ball Brothers: Praising Jesus with Southern Gospel music

This writer didn’t know what to expect as I prepared to drive to my Alma Mater, Lincoln Christian Seminary in Lincoln, Illinois to see a concert by the Ball Brothers last night, March 24, 2013.  The Ball Brothers are a uniquely different Southern Gospel quartet whose style is different from most other Gospel quartets.

The Ball Brothers came on stage and they wowed the audience from the first note of their first song.  They are a younger quartet whose music is geared to all ages from the fans who range from Grandmothers to teenagers.  They sang a wide medley of traditional Southern Gospel hits such as:

• Beulah Land
• There is Hope
• It’s all about the Cross
• Not Anymore
• You Love me anyway

The Quartet consists of Andrew and Daniel Ball; Cody McVey, Andy Tharp and Chad McCloskey.  They have been singing since 2006 and they tour the world.  What is remarkable is that they are local boys who have made it big; they grew up in Mt. Pulaski, Illinois which is a small town in Logan County in the middle of the state.  Although they have since moved to Chicamauga, Georgia, yet they continue to remember their roots and still play at Mt. Pulaski events such as “Christmas on Vinegar Hill,” which is an annual event that hosts many arts and crafts vendors in a city-wide festival.

Their newest recording is “Strength” in 2012.  Some other facts that are interesting are:

• Won the 2011 Singing News “Horizon Group of the Year”
• Appeared on the popular Gaither Homecoming video series.
• Performed on the Main stage of the National Quartet Convention.
• Shared the stage with some of the biggest names in Gospel and Country music including: The Gaither Vocal Band, The Oak Ridge Boys, Ernie Haase and Signature Sound, the Martins, Legacy Five, and many more.  Travel more than 150 dates per year across the World (according to their website.)

If interested in knowing their scheduled tour dates, you can go to their website at:  www.theballbrothers.com

They also have a YouTube series called: “Rollin’ with the Ball Brothers,” which gives their fans an opportunity to see what they are like ‘behind the scenes,’ which is something most fans don’t often get to see.  Their musical style blends the old with the new in a fantastic four-part harmony with silken voices that are well worth the price of the ticket for an enjoyable evening at a Ball Brothers concert.

 

Connecting with Christian women in fellowship

As a Christian it is critical to be in fellowship with other Christians, since being in fellowship gives one a sense of participation in the wider body of Christ.  While local churches do provide fellowship and Bible studies, whether in large or in smaller cell groups; sometimes an individual if they are between churches and trying to find a new place to connect, groups like Stonecroft offer to fill that void.  Even after you have connected into your local church, participating in other Bible studies and fellowship groups helps to round out one’s Christian experience.

Stonecroft Ministries is for Christian women and they help women connect with other Christian women through:

• Connect with women
•          Through meaningful relationships
• Connecting with your comumunity
•           Through small groups and large events
• Connecting with God.
•            Faith rooted in Biblical truth

Stonecroft Ministries is an international Christian organization that helps women strengthen their friendships, family and faith.  Stonecroft Ministries has been helping Christian women for 75 years and has 25,000 volunteers leading local groups.  They are currently in all 50 states in America and are located in over 60 countries.

If interested in finding a group near you, you can contact their main headquarters located in Kansas City, Missouri.

Stonecroft Home Office Phone: 1.800.525.8627 FAX: 1.816.765.2522 E-mail: connections@stonecroft.org

Street Address: 10121 Grandview Rd. Kansas City, MO 64137

The local group that this writer connects with offers monthly luncheons at a reasonable price plus Bible studies and prayer groups.  Usually, at the luncheons, they have a guest speaker who serves up contemporary information on such timely topics as home organization, musical instrumentation, Christian testimonies and a number of other relevant topics each month that can give interesting information that is sure to strike a chord with most people.  The best thing of course is fellowshipping with other Christian women.

The Ten Commandments: Are they still relevant? – Part 11

In Part 10 of this series, we were studying on who a Christian should truly fear, namely the One True God who holds all power and might in His mighty hands.  Also, how the 18th and 19th century Christians failed to know or appreciate these modern dogmas that have developed mainly in the latter part of the 20th century.  This fact alone should cause immediate alarm and concern in every Christian who hears these false doctrines!  So why has there not been a hue and cry concerning these things?

Quite frankly, the bulk of the Christian church has been steadily lulled to sleep by the “enemies of the Cross of Christ!”  Let’s look at the Scriptures where this particular phrase occurs:

Philippians 3:17-21

Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.  (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:  Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)  For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

So who are these enemies of the Cross of Christ?  They look, talk, dress and act like Christians, but they are preoccupied with things of the flesh. They lead younger Christians off the path of righteousness.  Then, there are the preachers who are afraid of preaching hard messages, either because they are burdened with a carnal board of directors or they have a few people in the congregation who shoulder most of the church expenses and so the preacher is fearful of offending them.  Overall, they are only serving themselves.

But let’s read what Paul said, “For our conversation (or our lifestyle) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”  Paul’s focus and those who followed him was completely on the Lord Jesus and serving Him.  Remember that Christ gave up all to come down to earth and He had to learn obedience to the Father while He was living in the flesh.  He set his face like flint and literally laid down His life.  The Lord Jesus had to deal with those who were hindering others from entering into the Kingdom of God.

Luke 11:52

Woe unto you lawyers!  For ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

So let’s examine the rest of Chapter 3 and see what Paul had to say:  in v2, Paul tells the Philippian church to beware of “dogs, evil workers and the concision.”  In the Jewish psyche, dogs were the epitome of the lowest class of animals, right next to pigs; therefore, this is why they labeled the Roman soldiers with this epithet as well as labeling all Gentiles as such.  Then Paul lists evil workers as the next set of people that the church should beware of, and of course this includes anyone who is willing to work evil towards others.

Finally, Paul lists those people that belonged to the concision.  These were the Judaizers.  What and who were they?  These were devout Jews who were or had been converted to Christianity but still believed that (please pay attention) the keeping of the Laws of God via the flesh only’ was still a vital and necessary component to make one righteous before God.  They believed that the only true conversion to Christianity was by proselytizing them to Judaism first and then after they had learned Judaism in all of its intricacies, THEN they could get born again and become Christians.  After all, is this not the way that they had become Christians?  Of course it was, so this must be the right way for everyone.

Philippians 3:3ff

For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

God the Father always desired for His people Israel to realize that the true circumcision was to happen in the heart of mankind, not just the flesh.  But God has a true sense of humor, doesn’t He?  Man couldn’t physically see his heart, so God chose a portion of his flesh that most men would see every day.

Paul continues in v4-8 by acknowledging that he had been a Jew of the sect of the Pharisees, keeping the law with a rigor to match none else…he said he had been a “Hebrew of the Hebrews, as touching the law, a Pharisee.”  But he had counted all things (his former life) loss, so that he might win Christ.

In v9 Paul acknowledges that he wants to “be found in HIM,” as opposed to “having his own righteousness, which is of the law.”  Paul desired to have “that (righteousness) which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”

We will continue in Part 12.

 

 

Does God Exist?

There are many unbelievers or atheists that will say the existence of creation does not prove that there is a Holy God. But can they prove that there is no God? What the debate comes down to is that each of us has our very own freedom of will. We were given a choice to make: either we will succumb to our worldly surroundings and believe the empty intellectualism that the world offers; or we will look at the world around us, i.e. the Creation and we will acknowledge that indeed….a Higher Being….literally, God Almighty or an Almighty Creator has done these things. Psalm 50 encapsulates the entire argument:

Psalm 50

The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.

Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah. Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God. I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me. I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.

Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? Seeing thou hatest instruction, and casteth my words behind thee. When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers. Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit. Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother’s son. These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.

Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.

Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.

God has made all these wonders, to leave if you will, His Divine footprints across His Creation. It is clear that no human hand could ever attempt to even imitate His Glory, i.e. “ex-nihilo” which means “to create from nothing.” This of course leads to the perfect segue-way to this next verse:

Psalm 14

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

The handiwork of God proclaims that indeed He has done this. What His creation does is to cause a person to first behold the wonder and the beauty of His Creation. Secondly, it then draws us in to look closer, whereupon we begin to see even more wonders at finer detail, especially now that we have such high-powered microscopes. What this ultimately boils down to is this: Will you use your freedom of will to choose to acknowledge that indeed there is an Almighty Creator who has done all of these wonderful works, or will you remain like “The fool that said in his heart, There is no God.”

 

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

 

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, January 20, 2013

 www.rtl.org/sohls

This Sunday, January 20, 2013 will mark the 40th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade, or more commonly known as the bill for ‘abortion on demand’. Sunday will be dedicated to memorializing the 55 million babies that have been slaughtered right here in the United States of America. The Right to Life Movement has been working at removing these laws from our land.

This writer would like to ask this question of her readers:

Why is it that when America’s children are slaughtered by sniper’s bullets, there is a rallying cry for strict gun control laws. Where are the rallying cries for strict laws for the surgeon’s knives or the other cruel instruments of destruction that literally tear babies apart from limb to limb inside the womb? Where is the Poison Control Center on this issue? They make a big deal about ingesting poison but say nothing about injecting poison into the womb?

The following are excerpts from the Hippocratic Oath penned in the 5th century B.C.

I will apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgment; I will keep them from harm and injustice. I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody if asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect.

Similarly I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy. In purity and holiness I will guard my life and my art.

Whatever houses I may visit, I will come for the benefit of the sick, remaining free of all intentional injustice.

This writer has crafted a new acrostic for the womb:

Remember the Wish Of My Baby: “Please love me, Mommy”

Genesis 1:31

And God saw every thing that He had made, and behold, it was very good.

A Blessed Christmas day

 I thank each and every one of my subscribers and those who check in regularly and read my articles.  A Christmas blessing to each and all and a blessing for the New Year.  Thank you.

Scripture readings for the last day of Hanukkah

Thank you Lord! The eighth candle has been lit and we rejoice that it stands for a new beginning. As we reflect on this last day of Hanukkah here are some Scripture readings to engage our hearts and minds.

Scripture readings for the last day of Hanukkah are these:

Genesis 41:1-44:17 from the Torah or the First Testament and it covers the account of Joseph being sold into slavery and how God established him or ‘settled’ him, even in the time of his imprisonment and the years of slavery that his brethren forced upon him. This account is told from the perspective of God bringing all things to a good ending or conclusion that favors all of His children. The readings from the Torah for this day are called, ‘Miketz,’ which means ‘At the end of.’ Even when dire circumstances arise in our lives or persecution comes upon us because of our walk with the Lord Y’shua because of our determination to walk righteously even as He did, we can know in our hearts that God has already ‘settled’ a goodly conclusion at the end of the tribulation. It is He that shall restore us. It is written in:

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

The entire second reading is this: 1 Kings 3:15-4:1 but we find in:

1 Kings 3:26-28

Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it. Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof. And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.

This speaks of the enemy who is sometimes camped out in our own encampment, who has partaken of the goodness of God; God Himself shall expose them and bring wisdom into even those situations that hinge on the edge of life and death even as He brought to light the real mother of the child in question.

The final reading for this first day of celebration concludes in:

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

But God was with Joseph, giving him the wisdom to bring him once again to his Father who still grieved his loss. God even brought Joseph to the point to allow him to forgive those who sold him into slavery and falsified his death to his father, Israel. In the second account the two women were fighting over the one living child, both claiming that the child was theirs. God gave wisdom to King Solomon in order to determine the true mother. In this situation the true mother’s enemy was living with her, attempting to usurp her role as the mother of the living child. God cares enough about us to even be involved in every situation that we find ourselves dealing with on a daily basis.

This is what God our Father and Creator does for those who worship Him and Him only and who choose to live righteously. He delivers, lifts up and restores those who have been brought down through the unrighteousness of others. He gives wisdom to those who ask of Him and upbraids us not. If we rely on man’s wisdom we shall not prevail, but if we wait for the Lord and His wisdom, we shall stand “in the power of God.”

So think upon these things as you light your eighth candle tonight.