Category: The Nation Israel

Litanies of Philosophies #6

Monday, March 3, 2025

“Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:…” (1 Corinthians 2:6 KJV).

What wisdom really matters—and what wisdom really does not?

Today’s Scripture is a clarification. The Apostle Paul in no way disparages or discourages all wisdom, for he does “speak wisdom among them that are perfect [spiritually-mature Christians, who alone can appreciate true wisdom—God’s wisdom].” The world in its so-called “wisdom” had no capacity whatsoever, and still has no capability whatsoever, to comprehend just how God kept a secret (“mystery… hidden wisdom”).

Read today’s Scripture within its context: “[6] Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: [7] But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: [8] Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”

Had Satan known what precisely was God’s secret, he would have never influenced man (apostate Israel and pagan Rome) to crucify the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ, “the Lord of glory,” is at the center of a plan called “Glory” whereby Father God will glorify Him eternally in both Heaven and Earth. Man, in all his satanic wisdom, still cannot fathom how God will use Christ’s finished crosswork as the plan of salvation to redeem two peoples—Israel (for Earth) and us, the Church the Body of Christ (for Heaven).

“Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool [“moros” = moron!], that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness” (1 Corinthians 3:18,19). Saints, far better it is to be temporarily labeled “fools” according to the world’s (flawed) standards—devoid of all their advanced degrees, “clever” explanations, and elaborate arguments—than for God to use His exceeding mightier (perfect) standards to forever prove us fools!

“Baalim?” #3

Tuesday, February 25, 2025

“And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:…” (Judges 2:11 KJV).

The Authorized Version features “Baalim” some 18 times, but what is it exactly?

“Ba‘al” is Hebrew for “lord.” This was the supreme god of the Phoenicians and Canaanites, the neighbors of Israel in the Promised Land. “Baal worship” appears throughout the Old Testament (Numbers 22:41; Judges 2:13; Judges 6:25,28,30,31,32; 1 Kings 16:31,32; 1 Kings 18:19,21,22,25,26,40; 1 Kings 19:18; 1 Kings 22:53; 2 Kings 3:2; 2 Kings 10:18-23,26-28; 2 Kings 11:18; 2 Kings 17:16; 2 Kings 21:3; 2 Kings 23:4,5; 2 Chronicles 23:17; Jeremiah 2:8; Jeremiah 7:9; Jeremiah 11:13,17; Jeremiah 12:16; Jeremiah 19:5; Jeremiah 23:13,27; Jeremiah 32:39,35; Hosea 2:8; Hosea 13:1; Zephaniah 1:4; cf. Romans 11:4).

With the addition of the Hebrew plural suffix “–im,” “Baal” becomes “Baalim”—a multiplicity of gods called “Baal.” See Hosea 2:17, “For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name.” Observe how “names” is plural. Baal worship takes on many forms, just as Christendom is divided into various denominations. There is a Baal worshipped here, and a Baal worshipped there; depending on the location or role, he assumes assorted names.

For example, “Baalpeor” (Numbers 25:1-5; Deuteronomy 4:3; Psalm 106:28; Hosea 9:10) means “lord of Peor/gap [a mountain east of the Jordan River].” This was a god of the Moabites, also worshipped by the apostate Israelites. Another compound “Baal” name is in 2 Kings chapter 1: “Baalzebub the god of Ekron” (verses 2,3,6,16), defined as “lord of the flies,” was a god of the Philistines. The Jews later applied this appellation to Satan (Matthew 10:25; Matthew 12:24,27; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15,18,19)! A third “Baal” title was “Baalberith” (Judges 8:33; Judges 9:4), which was “lord of the covenant [agreement with his devotees]”—another idol of the Philistines and apostate Israel.

In fact, “Bel” (rhyming with “Baal”) was the Babylonian deity corresponding to that Phoenician, Canaanite, Moabite, and Philistine god (Isaiah 46:1; Jeremiah 50:2; Jeremiah 51:44). Furthermore, King Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson Belshazzar (“Bel protect the king;” Daniel 5:1) and Belteshazzar (“Bel’s prince,” Daniel’s heathen label given in Daniel 1:7) were named to honor this heathen idol. Whatever he was called, Baal worship was nothing but devil worship!

“Baalim?” #2

Monday, February 24, 2025

“And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:…” (Judges 2:11 KJV).

The Authorized Version features “Baalim” some 18 times, but what is it exactly?

“For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them” (2 Chronicles 33:3). “And they brake down the altars of Baalim in his presence; and the images, that were on high above them, he cut down; and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces, and made dust of them, and strowed it upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them” (2 Chronicles 34:4). “How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;…” (Jeremiah 2:23).

“But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them:…” (Jeremiah 9:14). “And I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, wherein she burned incense to them, and she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith the LORD” (Hosea 2:13). “For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name” (Hosea 2:17). “As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images” (Hosea 11:2).

Having scanned all references, we now possess a few clues as to the identity of “Baalim.” Read Judges 8:33 again: “…and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith [!] their god.” Judges 10:6 again: “And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods [!] of Syria, and the gods [!] of Zidon, and the gods [!]  of Moab, and the gods [!] of the children of Ammon, and the gods [!] of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him.” Hosea 2:17 again: “For I will take away the names [!] of Baalim out of her mouth….”

“Baalim” is connected to widespread idolatry….

“Baalim?” #1

Sunday, February 23, 2025

“And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:…” (Judges 2:11 KJV).

The Authorized Version features “Baalim” some 18 times, but what is it exactly?

Before we consider establishing any definition, we have to read the other pertinent verses. “And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves” (Judges 3:7). “And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith their god” (Judges 8:33). “And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him” (Judges 10:6).

“And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim” (Judges 10:10). “Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only” (1 Samuel 7:4). “And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee” (1 Samuel 12:10). “And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim” (1 Kings 18:18).

“And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;…” (2 Chronicles 17:3). “For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God; and also all the dedicated things of the house of the LORD did they bestow upon Baalim” (2 Chronicles 24:7). “For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim” (2 Chronicles 28:2).

There are still a few other references to read….

Lessons from the Biblical Apothecary #7

Friday, February 21, 2025

“And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil” (Exodus 30:25 KJV).

Let us learn some lessons from the biblical apothecary….

From the Book of Hebrews, which enlarges upon Jeremiah 31:31-34, we discover the Old Covenant was temporary and will be replaced by the New Covenant (see particularly Hebrews chapters 8–10). Considering that change, Messiah (Jesus Christ) speaks to Father God: “Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart” (Psalm 40:6-8). Hebrews 10:5-9 interprets this as Messiah submitting to Father’s will to sacrifice Himself on Calvary’s cruel cross, the foundation for the New Covenant.

“By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;…” (Hebrews 10:10-12). This “offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” is described in Ephesians 5:1,2 as: “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”

Christ’s finished crosswork on Calvary was “a sweetsmelling savour”—just as pleasant to God’s nostrils as those aromas of the anointing oil and the perfume or incense (the context of today’s Scripture). The stench of the spiritual decay of our sin debt is overwhelmed by the blood sacrifice of the sinless Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, that does not deter works-religionist man from offering his own righteousness, his reeking “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6) and stinky “dung” (Philippians 3:8), bragging, “I can be just as good as Jesus!” If nothing else, may the “sweetsmelling savour” of Calvary at least discourage us Christians from resurrecting the buried, rotting old man to boast, “I can live the Christian life!”

Lessons from the Biblical Apothecary #6

Thursday, February 20, 2025

“And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil” (Exodus 30:25 KJV).

Let us learn some lessons from the biblical apothecary….

Any hasty reading of the Law of Moses with respect to its Tabernacle and (subsequent) Temple and their furnishings and ministers, yields one undeniable fact: it was an extremely complex arrangement and rigorous routine, involving elaborate ceremonies, sacrifices and offerings, an altar, a laver, a candlestick (lampstand), shewbread, incense, a veil, an ark (chest) containing stone tablets, a mercyseat, and other items. See, for example, Exodus chapters 25–31, Exodus chapters 34–40, Leviticus chapters 1–10, and Leviticus chapters 16–17. The daily, weekly, and annual duties of the Levitical priests were endless—spanning over 1,500 years, encompassing countless generations of Aaron’s sons.

For a more abridged summary of the responsibilities of the Levitical priesthood as touching the Tabernacle and the Temple, see Hebrews chapters 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10. Suffice it to say that their work with those holy vessels, utensils, and furnishings—and even those vessels, utensils, and furnishings themselves—pointed to Calvary’s cross in a veiled or disguised form. Recall the holy anointing oil and the perfume or incense referenced in Exodus 30:22-38, the context of today’s Scripture. Intense, albeit pleasant, odors emanated from them, filling the Tabernacle and the Temple with fragrances. Moreover, the atmosphere would have been smokey, obscuring some priestly activities.

As we gag and recoil at sewage, body sweat, rotting bodies, and other offensive odors, so the holy, righteous Creator God is highly irritated at the stench of sin. Like we react in the physical realm, He responds in the spiritual world. Though He was dwelling in the Tabernacle and the Temple in the midst of sinful Israelites, though sinful priests were working in His service, He could tolerate it because the sweet aromas smeared on those men, their instruments, and their sacrifices covered the disagreeable smell. Hence, Mosaic sacrifices were “for a sweet savour” (Exodus 29:25,41; Leviticus 1:9,13,17; Leviticus 2:2,9,12; Leviticus 3:5,16; Leviticus 4:31; Leviticus 6:15,21; Leviticus 8:21,28; Leviticus 17:6; Leviticus 23:13,18; et cetera).

Let us see how to appreciate the delightful scent of Calvary in God’s nostrils….

Lessons from the Biblical Apothecary #5

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

“And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil” (Exodus 30:25 KJV).

Let us learn some lessons from the biblical apothecary….

The ingredients of the holy anointing oil and the components of the perfume or incense were rare and imported, and therefore expensive. Additionally, the fragrances were a combination of sweet, floral, and woody. Think of the intense aroma of costly potpourri or pricey cologne. It was really tempting for someone in ancient Israel to apply for personal usage and/or copy the recipes. The LORD thus strictly forbade both activities!

Verses 31-33: “And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations. Upon man’s flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make any other like it, after the composition of it: it is holy, and it shall be holy unto you. Whosoever compoundeth any like it, or whosoever putteth any of it upon a stranger, shall even be cut off from his people.” The adjective “holy” meant the anointing oil was set-apart (hallowed, sanctified) unto the LORD God’s purposes. It was not for ordinary use. No one was to duplicate its formula. Both violations carried the death penalty!

Verses 37,38: “And as for the perfume which thou shalt make, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto thee holy for the LORD. Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people.” The perfume or incense was also “holy” (verse 35), set-apart (hallowed, sanctified) unto JEHOVAH God’s purposes. It too was not for common use. No one was to copy its formula either. As with the holy anointing oil, both abuses resulted in capital punishment!

These two compositions of the biblical apothecary were reserved for usage as touching the Tabernacle, its furnishings, and its ministers, all equally holy (read verses 22-38, if necessary). Why would God be so particular about these scents and strictly govern their handling? To answer this, we must search the Scriptures to uncover the formulation of a far more superior aroma, personally mixed by an Apothecary of another world….

Lessons from the Biblical Apothecary #4

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

“And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil” (Exodus 30:25 KJV).

Let us learn some lessons from the biblical apothecary….

Read verses 34-36: “And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight: And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy: And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy.”

As touching the perfume or incense, it too was a recipe the LORD had invented. Of equal quantities the following “sweet spices” were to be mixed. “Stacte” was sap from various unidentified tree or plant species. “Onycha” was a type of mussel or mollusk shell that emitted an aroma when burned. “Galbanum,” also having an extremely strong odor, was rubbery resin extracted from the roots of a flowering plant native to Afghanistan, Syria, and Persia (Iran). “Frankincense” (Boswellia carteri) was tree sap or bark imported from Saudi Arabia or Ethiopia. This mixture was to burned on the altar of incense in the Tabernacle before the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 30:1-9).

See Exodus 30:1,6-9: “And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it…. And thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee. And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations. Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon.” Any such “strange [foreign] incense,” which God rejected, was produced when the recipe of Exodus 30:34-36 was not followed!

Let us see other Divinely-ordained specifications associated with the biblical apothecary’s work….

Lessons from the Biblical Apothecary #3

Monday, February 17, 2025

“And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil” (Exodus 30:25 KJV).

Let us learn some lessons from the biblical apothecary….

Read verses 22-24: “Moreover the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels, And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin:….”

This holy anointing oil was made according to a special recipe the LORD wrote. “Pure myrrh” (Balsamodendron myrrha) was derived from balsam-tree sap imported from Arabia and Ethiopia. Emitting a strong odor, its oily gum hardened upon exposure to air. “Five hundred shekels” (14.5 pounds, or 7 kilograms) of this myrrh were added to half that weight of “sweet cinnamon” (Laurus cinnamomum, laurel tree bark growing in Ceylon and Malaysia). This was added to roughly 7.25 pounds, or 3.5 kilograms, of “sweet calamus” (Acorus calamus, also known as “sweet flag” [an iris-like reed]). Approximately 14.5 pounds or 7 kilograms of “cassia” (flowers or tree bark from India, perhaps Cinnamomum?) and a “hin” (1.5 gallons or 5.7 liters) of “oil olive” were combined to complete the mixture.

“[25] And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil. [26] And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony, [27] And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense, [28] And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot. [29] And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy. [30] And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office.”

Although its ingredients are somewhat enigmatic to us (the species of plant or tree are not always identified), this we do know. The holy anointing oil was used in the Law of Moses to set apart people and instruments unto JEHOVAH God….

Lessons from the Biblical Apothecary #2

Sunday, February 16, 2025

“And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil” (Exodus 30:25 KJV).

Let us learn some lessons from the biblical apothecary….

Firstly, what exactly is an “apothecary?” Here are the six pertinent verses from the Authorized Version that shed some light on the subject. “And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil…. And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy:…” (Exodus 30:25,35). “And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the apothecary” (Exodus 37:29).

“Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour” (Ecclesiastes 10:1). “And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries’ art: and they made a very great burning for him” (2 Chronicles 1:14). “Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths. Next unto him also repaired Hananiah the son of one of the apothecaries, and they fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall” (Nehemiah 3:8).

In ancient times, the apothecary (Greek, “apotheke,” “storehouse”) was someone who prepared and sold spices and/or compounded and sold medicine (drugs, “perfumes,” and “ointments”). The closest modern equivalent to an apothecary is a pharmacist or a very basic physician (treating medical problems, albeit with extremely limited knowledge). Having just come out of Egypt (the Book of Exodus, the context of today’s Scripture), Moses and Israel were quite familiar with this profession. The (advanced) Egyptian people had an abundance of apothecaries, and, doubtless, their herbs and spices (valuables) would have been among the treasures the Egyptians hastily gave the departing Israelites (see Exodus 12:35; Exodus 32:2,3; Exodus 35:22).

Following the practice of the apothecary, Moses was to prepare a holy anointing oil plus perfume or incense for JEHOVAH God….