Resolution - to read the Bible
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Which also makes me wonder if they didn't just roll all the other Gods they worshiped into "one God" , which would explain why "God" has so many sides that don't translate into "an all loving God" as the god they worship.
Indication of the duplicity of two nothings ... OO
Can one be both loving and brutal iyho Waterfall? Is not love the antithesis of brutality?
Seeler
Well-Known Member
Continuing reading through 1 Kings, interspersed with 2 Chronicles. They tell the ssame story of the divided kingdom and the kings that followed the death of Solomon.
Solomon's son Rehoboam becomes king of Judah. Jeroboam, king of Israel. (first off, as a beginning writer I was told never to give two main characters similar names. In the first draft of my first novel I had Johnny, Jack, Jim, and Joey. I left Johnny and Jack - father and son. changed Jim to Charlie, and Joey to Davy. - in the Bible reading I kept getting Rehoboam and Jeroboam mixed up until I started writing down the lines of succession.)
In Judah Solomon's line runs from father to son (as God had promised to King David - his descendants would sit on the throne) from Rehoboam to Ahaziah. In Israel there was no direct lineage.
The split into two nations was not easy or peaceful. There were battles between them as well as battles with neighbouring tribes, until Ahaziah of Judah intermarries and makes friends with Ahab of Israel. Displaced people travelled from one nation to the other as Israel turned from worshipping the One God at the temple in Jerusalem (in Judah) and established shrines to baals in the high places; Levites made their was from Israel to Judah.
As one Israelite king replace another all were declared as doing what was evil in the sight of the Lord. Judah didn't do much better. Only Asa and his son Jehoshaphat 'did what was right'.
Kings in both nations sought guidance from prophets - prophets of God, or prophets of baals introduced by foreign wives. Enter Elijah - and his problems with King Ahab and Jezebel. Stories of Elijah show him larger than life. Surely some of them are legends that grew with the retelling.
A man of God who confronts the king and tells him where he is wrong; who suffers the consequences and comes back to challenge the king again.
But also a bloodthirsty man who has no qualms about killing the prophets of the baals.
Some things of note: the king is not above the law - God's laws, God's commandments apply to all. All land belongs to God and is alloted to families for their use - not to be sold. A poor peasant has the right, respected by King Ahab, to refused to sell his land to the king. Of course the Queen can falsely accuse him and have him murdered.
A switch here for one day: reading the book of the prophet Obediah (short book) and Psalms 82 - 83 (very violent; not of David).
I checked: Psalm 83 is not included in the Psalms for responsive reading at the back of Voices United.
Solomon's son Rehoboam becomes king of Judah. Jeroboam, king of Israel. (first off, as a beginning writer I was told never to give two main characters similar names. In the first draft of my first novel I had Johnny, Jack, Jim, and Joey. I left Johnny and Jack - father and son. changed Jim to Charlie, and Joey to Davy. - in the Bible reading I kept getting Rehoboam and Jeroboam mixed up until I started writing down the lines of succession.)
In Judah Solomon's line runs from father to son (as God had promised to King David - his descendants would sit on the throne) from Rehoboam to Ahaziah. In Israel there was no direct lineage.
The split into two nations was not easy or peaceful. There were battles between them as well as battles with neighbouring tribes, until Ahaziah of Judah intermarries and makes friends with Ahab of Israel. Displaced people travelled from one nation to the other as Israel turned from worshipping the One God at the temple in Jerusalem (in Judah) and established shrines to baals in the high places; Levites made their was from Israel to Judah.
As one Israelite king replace another all were declared as doing what was evil in the sight of the Lord. Judah didn't do much better. Only Asa and his son Jehoshaphat 'did what was right'.
Kings in both nations sought guidance from prophets - prophets of God, or prophets of baals introduced by foreign wives. Enter Elijah - and his problems with King Ahab and Jezebel. Stories of Elijah show him larger than life. Surely some of them are legends that grew with the retelling.
A man of God who confronts the king and tells him where he is wrong; who suffers the consequences and comes back to challenge the king again.
But also a bloodthirsty man who has no qualms about killing the prophets of the baals.
Some things of note: the king is not above the law - God's laws, God's commandments apply to all. All land belongs to God and is alloted to families for their use - not to be sold. A poor peasant has the right, respected by King Ahab, to refused to sell his land to the king. Of course the Queen can falsely accuse him and have him murdered.
A switch here for one day: reading the book of the prophet Obediah (short book) and Psalms 82 - 83 (very violent; not of David).
I checked: Psalm 83 is not included in the Psalms for responsive reading at the back of Voices United.
Seeler
Well-Known Member
The continuing story of the kings of Judah and Israel as told in 2 Kings 1 - 15 and 2 Chronicles 24 - 26
Stilll all the kings of Israel are said to have 'done what is evil in the sight of the Lord', while a few of the kings of Judah were credited in doing what was right. Interestingly at one time the widow of a deceased evil king of Judah continued his evil reign in his stead for the next seven years.
Again the names are confusing. Among the rulers of Judah we find: Ahaziah, Queen Athaliah, Amaziah, and the prophet Amariah. In Israel there was also a king Ahaziah (presumable a different person from the Judah king).
But the stories are fascinating. Although worship of the baals and other foreign gods is invasive, Judah and to lesser extent Israel continue to worship God and seek the advice of prophets. In Israel Elijah and Elisha challenge and advise the king. Stories abound about the miracles they perform - restoring life to widows sons, causing an ax that has fallen in water to float to the surface, dividing waters so they can pass on dry land, and in Elijah's case being taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire.
Lots of violence. Uprisings between the divided nations, battles with other tribes, fratricide among sons of deceased kings, famine, sieges that resulted in starvation and cannibalism. And tender stories such as the one of a little Israelite girl, taken as the bounty of war by an outside tribe, advising her master to seek help from the prophet Elisha to cure his leprosy.
And the commandment that parents should not be punished for the sins of their children, nor children for the sins of their parents, but each bear responsibility for their own sins.
So we now have King Uzziah dying of leprosy and his son Jotham on the throne of Judah, while Zechariah king of Israel.
And we will switch for awhile to reading from the prophets.
Stilll all the kings of Israel are said to have 'done what is evil in the sight of the Lord', while a few of the kings of Judah were credited in doing what was right. Interestingly at one time the widow of a deceased evil king of Judah continued his evil reign in his stead for the next seven years.
Again the names are confusing. Among the rulers of Judah we find: Ahaziah, Queen Athaliah, Amaziah, and the prophet Amariah. In Israel there was also a king Ahaziah (presumable a different person from the Judah king).
But the stories are fascinating. Although worship of the baals and other foreign gods is invasive, Judah and to lesser extent Israel continue to worship God and seek the advice of prophets. In Israel Elijah and Elisha challenge and advise the king. Stories abound about the miracles they perform - restoring life to widows sons, causing an ax that has fallen in water to float to the surface, dividing waters so they can pass on dry land, and in Elijah's case being taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire.
Lots of violence. Uprisings between the divided nations, battles with other tribes, fratricide among sons of deceased kings, famine, sieges that resulted in starvation and cannibalism. And tender stories such as the one of a little Israelite girl, taken as the bounty of war by an outside tribe, advising her master to seek help from the prophet Elisha to cure his leprosy.
And the commandment that parents should not be punished for the sins of their children, nor children for the sins of their parents, but each bear responsibility for their own sins.
So we now have King Uzziah dying of leprosy and his son Jotham on the throne of Judah, while Zechariah king of Israel.
And we will switch for awhile to reading from the prophets.
Seeler
Well-Known Member
Jonah - it seems to me that I read this familiar story recently; but I am committed to reading all the Bible according to a schedule. It is a short book to reread. Reflecting on it - Jonah was one of God's chosen people. He believed in the One True God. Despite his reluctance to be a prophet, he must have been a good speaker. He spoke about his God on the ship where many of the people were calling on other gods, and they turned to God. And he eventually agreed to do as God requested and carry a message to the non-Jewish people of Nineveh. To his surprise and displeasure they listened and repented their ways, turning to God.
Despite the Jewish peoples belief that they were the chosen people, we find several incidents throughout our reading that shows God reaching out to other people.
Despite the Jewish peoples belief that they were the chosen people, we find several incidents throughout our reading that shows God reaching out to other people.
Throws out the concept of divine, separated and need for anti-dissociative behaviour ... to allow for free choice!
Thus the great mix-up ... tempests ... Tea Parties, etc. ...people that are driven to not know ... absolutists?
BetteTheRed
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So God is both loving and brutal/evil IYO?
BetteTheRed
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Waterfall, I believe that "god" is everything, so yes. To modify this subtly, I believe that there is a macrocosmic benevolent intent to this universe and the ones beyond it.
It seems God would have to go against His own nature to achieve this. Not doubting that evil exists, but why would we pray or worship a God that may choose to use brutality against us?
I will take this to another thread so as not to disrupt Seelers.
Seeler
Well-Known Member
Isaiah 1 - 4 -
Elijah appeared as a prophet in Israel during the reign of King Ahab.
Isaiah received his call as a prophet in Judah when Uzziah was king, and he continued to prophesy during the reign of four kings.
The book of Isaiah is beautifully written; much of it in poetry. But that doesn't mean that it is all sweetness and light. It tackles difficult subject matter, beginning with the accusation that it is a sinful nation that has turned its back on the Lord and as a result it is becoming desolate. The nation's hands are covered with blood. It gives a great show of religion but neglects its duty to care for the people, particularly the widow and the orphan. (does this sound like anything happpening today?) Judah will suffer the consequences of their sin.
But Isaiah also gives hope. Cease to do evil, learn to do good ... though your sins are like scarlet they shall be like snow. After a time of punishment, God will restore the land for those who repent. Then they 'shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.' A vision of the world as God intended it to be.
Elijah appeared as a prophet in Israel during the reign of King Ahab.
Isaiah received his call as a prophet in Judah when Uzziah was king, and he continued to prophesy during the reign of four kings.
The book of Isaiah is beautifully written; much of it in poetry. But that doesn't mean that it is all sweetness and light. It tackles difficult subject matter, beginning with the accusation that it is a sinful nation that has turned its back on the Lord and as a result it is becoming desolate. The nation's hands are covered with blood. It gives a great show of religion but neglects its duty to care for the people, particularly the widow and the orphan. (does this sound like anything happpening today?) Judah will suffer the consequences of their sin.
But Isaiah also gives hope. Cease to do evil, learn to do good ... though your sins are like scarlet they shall be like snow. After a time of punishment, God will restore the land for those who repent. Then they 'shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.' A vision of the world as God intended it to be.
Actually Bette, God declared Creation very good before humanity sinned and brought death into the world. At the time of the Creation, foxhounds did not kill rabbits.
They ate plants. "'I have given every green plant for food to every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the sky, and to every thing that moves on the earth that has life.' And it was so." - Genesis 1:30 (NLV).
BetteTheRed
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Foxhounds could be okay on a vegetarian diet, although they probably would not thrive. Cats could not. Means that "the fall" genetically changed them.
Thus mental complexity ...