Wars in the Old Testament (1)Saturday 26.09.2015

Why repentance is needed?

But for the searching and right understanding of the Scriptures there is need of a good life and a pure soul, and for Christian virtue to guide the mind to grasp, so far as human nature can, the truth concerning God the Word. One cannot possibly understand the teaching of the saints unless one has a pure mind and is trying to imitate their life. ... Similarly, anyone who wishes to understand the mind of the sacred writers must first cleanse his own life, and approach the saints by copying their deeds. Thus united to them in the fellowship of life, he will both understand the things revealed to them by God and, thenceforth escaping the peril that threatens sinners in the judgment, will receive that which is laid up for the saints in the kingdom of heaven.

On the Incarnation Ch. 57

Knowledge and Fear of God

Because they hated knowledge. And did not choose the fear of the Lord, Prov.

1:29

The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and

understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the

fear of the Lord. Isa 11:2

God is good

"The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made" (Ps

145: 9)

God is Just

"Surely, God will not act wickedly, And the

Almighty will not pervert justice. Job

34:12

God is Sovereign

Yet this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “ ‘It will not take place, it will

not happen, Isa 7:7

Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign LORD comes escape

from death. Ps 68:20

The Passover Lamp

1. To be separated n the 10th day and kept safe and sound

2. Without blemish

3. To be killed on the 14th day

God wants pure faith and clear lineage for Israel

18 lest they teach you to do according to all their

abominations which they have done for their gods, and you sin against the Lord your

God. Deut 20:18

God discipline nation with other nation

So nation was destroyed by nation, and city by city, for God troubled

them with every adversity. 2 Chr 15:6

Example of a discipline10 And at the end of three years they took it.

In the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is, the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken. 11 Then the king of Assyria carried Israel away captive to Assyria, and put them in Halah and by the Habor, the River of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes, 12 because they did not obey the voice of the Lord their God, but transgressed His covenant and all that Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded; and they would neither hear nor do them. 2 kings 18:10-12

Last days example

7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences,[b] and

earthquakes in various places. Matt 24:7

Cultural and time differences

We can not judge another culture and/or another nation with our standards of today.

Snapshots !!!

Never take a snap shots from the Word of God.

16 “But of the cities of these peoples which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance, you shall let

nothing that breathes remain alive, 17 but you shall utterly destroy them: the Hittite and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite, just as the Lord your God has commanded

you, 18 lest they teach you to do according to all their abominations which they have done for their gods,

and you sin against the Lord your God. Deut 20 :16-18

How many times it happened?

16 “But of the cities of these peoples which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance, you shall let nothing that breathes remain alive, 17 but you shall

utterly destroy them: the Hittite and the Amorite and the Canaanite

and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite, just as the Lord your God has commanded you,

Deut 20:16,17

God has the right to uproot sin

But if any nation does not listen, I will completely uproot and destroy it," declares the LORD. Jer

12:17

Death is not the End

Moses and Aaron

Most of the Israelites

Death was mercy and became a Grace

4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” Luke 13:4,5

We have to observe the language of their time

Figure of speech

Hebrew literature

The Holy scripture speaks of divine wrath, punishment and vengeance, this is language that does not necessarily describe the unknowable, incomprehensible and unspeakable nature of God, but rather its aim is to prevent man from remaining in his wickedness and to repent.

God’s Wrath?

Is the failure of Man to Experience God’s Love.

The Loving-kindness of God towards man, yet the wicked

experience this love unto salvation as wrath and punishment. St John

Chrysostom

Is it the same asin other religions?

① Attack them and blunder them before they attack you

② If they attack you , defend yourself and take double of what they have taken from you

③ If they attack you do the same for them ( Eye for eye – Judaism)

④ If they attack you , attack them and take less to discipline them.

⑤ Forgive them

⑥ Love them