Proverbs & Short Articles

The hope of the Lord’s coming used to separate people from the world. Now we have the doctrine of ‘premillennialism’ and people stay where they are.

One single sentence out of God’s Word has more value, more power and more certainty than all the discoveries of all the learned men of all the ages.

Eph. 2: 18 is essentially a summary of what Christianity is: “For through him we have both access by one Spirit to the Father”.

Daniel did not seek political office. That is the great difference between him and those believers today who choose to be politicians in this world.

“Forbearing one another” is a passive word—what I patiently endure; “forgiving one another” (Col. 3: 13) is grace actively shown to others.

How soon barriers between races, nations, classes, and cultures disappear when Christ is “all” (Col. 3: 11; AV), and how quickly love springs up when Christ is seen “in all” (v 11, my emphasis).

The truth of God is not merely a thing to know but to live out.

How can we ask according to His will? By immersing ourselves by the Spirit in His Word (see John 15: 7).

Gaza

In the light of recent world events that centre around the so-called Gaza Strip, it is of interest that Philistia (which included this area) was part of “the inheritance of the children of Judah according to their families” (Josh. 15: 20). Earlier we read that “there remaineth yet very much land to take possession of. This is the land that yet remaineth: all the districts of the Philistines and all the Geshurites, from the Shihor, which [floweth] before Egypt, as far as the borders of Ekron northward, [and which] is counted to the Canaanite; five lordships of the Philistines: of Gazah, and of Ashdod, of Eshkalon, of Gath, and of Ekron” (Josh. 13: 1-3, my emphasis). There was no provision for Israel to have anything on her western border apart from the Mediterranean Sea (see Num. 34: 6). In Josh. 15, Judah’s territory is described as including “Ekron and its dependent villages and its hamlets. From Ekron and westward all that are by the side of Ashdod, and their hamlets. Ashdod, its dependent villages and its hamlets; Gazah, its dependent villages and its hamlets, as far as the torrent of Egypt, and the great sea and [is] coast” (vs. 45-47). Later we learn that the five lordships of the Philistines were not conquered (see Judg. 3: 3; comp. Num. 33: 55), although Judah took Gazah, Ashkelon and Ekron temporarily (see Judg. 1: 18; see 1 Sam. 7: 14; 2 Chron. 26: 6). Future devastation of Philistia is prophesied, as well as future possession by Israel of these lands (see Is. 14: 28-32; Ezek. 47: 15-21; Joel 3: 4; Obad. 1: 19; Zeph. 2: 4-7; Zech. 9: 4-8). The hatred of the Philistines for Israel is also spoken of (see 2 Sam. 1: 20; Neh. 4: 7, 8; Ezek. 16: 27, 57; 25: 15; Amos. 1: 6).

   In the light of these things, we need to ensure that our prayers for the people of that part of the world are not only marked by love, but also by the wisdom and knowledge that comes from the Word of God. “And this is the boldness which we have towards him, that if we ask him anything according to his will he hears us” (1 John 5: 14).