Tuesday, 4 June 2019

Rarest words in the Bible

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Question of the day: What are the rarest of words in the Bible?

Answer: We find them in today's reading: 1 Kings 12:24b "So they heeded the word of Adonai." Sadly, most of+Jewish history is filled with stories of rebellion.

Jewish people complain that the New Testament is hard on Jews. Really? Read the Old Testament. It is much harder on Jewish people. The Old Testament is filled with the story of rebellion that leads to destruction.

But destruction is not the end of the story. God has promised to restore the fortunes of His people, Israel.

Rabbi Trail: Some proponents of replacement theology (such as Gary Burge) believe that Israel (and Jewish people) have sinned away their promised blessings. But those blessings are based on grace and grace cannot be sinned away.

So, to believe what they believe they have to twist themselves into a pretzel. Warm, soft pretzels twist easily, but after they get cold and hard the only way to get untwisted is to be broken. End RT.

And so, after just a few days, we are back at Amos, the last 2 verses. Such a happy ending. Amos 9:14-15 "Yes, I will restore the captivity of My people Israel. They will rebuild desolated cities and dwell in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine. They will also make gardens and eat their fruit. Yes, I will plant them on their land, and they will never again be plucked up out of their land that I have given to them. Adonai, your God, has said it."

Okay, one more... (Rabbi's note: furthermore; I dare you to read Jeremiah 31-33 in faith and come away believing replacement theology. Those 3 chapters end with these words ...) Jeremiah 33:25-26 "Thus says Adonai: If I have not made My covenant of day and night firm, and the fixed patterns ordering the heavens and earth, only then would I reject the offspring of Jacob, and of My servant David so that I would not take from his offspring rulers over the offspring of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will restore them from their exile, and have compassion on them."