"STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS" Nahum - The Fall Of Nineveh (1:1-3:19) by Mark Copeland

                    "STUDIES IN THE MINOR PROPHETS"

                 Nahum - The Fall Of Nineveh (1:1-3:19) 

 INTRODUCTION

1. At the same time Jeremiah and Zephaniah were pronouncing judgment 
   against Judah, another prophet was directing his attention at one of her enemies

2. The prophet was Nahum, whose name means "Consolation"
   a. The name "is in a sense symbolical of the message of the book,
      which was intended to comfort the oppressed and afflicted people of Judah" (Eiselen)
   b. Concerning the MAN
      1) His home was Elkosh, of which little is known - Nah 1:1
      2) Some think that Capernaum (lit., "village of Nahum") may have been his birthplace
      3) He was contemporary with Jeremiah, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah
   b. Concerning his MESSAGE
      1) His message is usually dated around 630-612 B.C.
         a) The northern kingdom of Israel was already in Assyrian captivity
         b) Assyria itself was still a world power, though in a state of decline
      2) The theme of his message is simple:  "The Fall Of Nineveh"
         a) This makes his work a complement to that of Jonah
         b) Though by this time no mercy would be shown, judgment would be final

[The book of Nahum can easily be divided into three sections which 
coincide with the three chapters.  In the first section we find...]

I. NINEVEH'S DOOM DECLARED

   A. THE CHARACTER AND POWER OF THE LORD...
      1. God's vengeance, even though He is slow to anger - Nah 1:1-3a
      2. The fierceness of His anger described - Nah 1:3b-6
      3. The goodness of the Lord, as a stronghold to the faithful - Nah 1:7
      4. The pursuer of His enemies - Nah 1:8

   B. THE COMPLETE OVERTHROW OF NINEVEH...
      1. She will not afflict again, despite her plotting against the Lord - Nah 1:9-11
      2. Judah will be delivered from Nineveh's affliction - Nah 1:12-13
      3. Nineveh's destruction has been commanded by the Lord - Nah 1:14
      4. There shall be good tidings in Judah, she can keep her feasts- Nah 1:15

[Having "declared" Nineveh's doom in the first section, we now find...]

II. NINEVEH'S DOOM DESCRIBED

   A. THE SIEGE AND CAPTURE OF THE CITY...
      1. Furious preparation for the battle is described - Nah 2:1-4
      2. Resistance is futile, captivity has been decreed - Nah 2:5-7
         a. Note verse 6:  "The gates of the rivers are opened, and the palace is dissolved"
         b. "The Babylonian Chronicle tells that Nineveh fell because
            the flooding rivers made breaches in the city's defenses." (Believers' Study Bible)

   B. THE UTTER SACK OF THE CITY...
      1. Her inhabitants flee, the city is plundered - Nah 2:8-10
      2. Her destruction will be complete, Nineveh as a dwelling of
         devouring lions will be no more - Nah 2:11-13

[Thus far, Nineveh's doom has been "declared" and "described" by Nahum.
In the third and final section, we find him saying...]

III. NINEVEH'S DOOM DESERVED

   A. BECAUSE OF HER SINS...
      1. Her woe will be due to her sins - Nah 3:1-4
      2. The Lord will uncover her shame and make her a spectacle - Nah 3:5-7

   B. SHE IS NO BETTER THAN NO-AMON...
      1. Nineveh is no better than No-Amon (Thebes in Egypt) - Nah 3:8
      2. Who despite her strength, was carried away into captivity - Nah 3:9-10
      3. So it will be with Nineveh - Nah 3:11

   C. HER STRENGTH AND WEALTH WILL NOT SAVE HER...
      1. Her strongholds will fail - Nah 3:12-13
      2. All her efforts, her wealth, her army, will be futile - Nah 3:14-17

   D. HER END HAS COME...
      1. Her leaders are dead, her people scattered - Nah 3:18-19a
      2. Those who hear of her fall will rejoice - Nah 3:19b
 
CONCLUSION

1. The message of Nahum for the people of God is one of consolation...
   a. That those who afflict God's people will be judged - Nah 1:2-3; cf. Lk 18:7-8
   b. That God is a stronghold in time of trouble - Nah 1:7;  cf. Ps 27:5
   -- Are you trusting in God as your Stronghold?

2. The message of Nahum for those who do evil is one of warning...
   a. Don't rely on what mercy was shown to your ancestors (e.g., as in the days of Jonah)
   b. The Lord may be merciful and slow to anger, but the day of judgment does finally come!
   -- Are you trusting in what your parents or ancestors may have done,
      to escape the judgment of God?

This message of Nahum is reminiscent of the words of Paul:

   "Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who
   fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His
   goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off."  (Ro 11:22)

Let us be sure to "continue in His goodness", lest we too experience the "severity of God"!

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2016

Demon Possession, the Bible, and Superstition by Wayne Jackson, M.A.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=1154

Demon Possession, the Bible, and Superstition

by	Wayne Jackson, M.A.

Q.

How does one respond to the charge that the New Testament endorses superstition by its occasional references to demon possession?

A.

Demon possession was a real, historical phenomenon of the first century. Spirit entities, known as demons [the KJV “devils” is an incorrect translation], did inhabit and afflict human bodies during that age.
The question of demon origin is not spelled out in the Scriptures, though several theories have been proposed by Bible scholars—some of which may be dismissed out of hand. A few writers have suggested that demons were the disembodied spirits of a pre-Adamic race of men who lived upon the Earth in an alleged “gap period” between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. There is, however, no evidence of any such gap period. Furthermore, Adam is clearly identified as the “first man” (1 Corinthians 15:45). Others speculate that demons resulted from the cohabitation of angels with antediluvian women (based upon a misunderstanding of Genesis 6:1-4), even though Christ plainly taught that angels are sexless beings incapable of such unions (Matthew 22:30).
The two more plausible views surmise that: (a) demons may have been the spirits of wicked dead men whom God, in harmony with His divine purpose, permitted to leave the Hadean realm to indwell some people (see, for example, Alexander Campbell, “Demonology,” Popular Lectures and Addresses); or (b) demons may have been fallen angels who were allowed to escape their confinement (Jude 6) for a similar purpose (see Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology). Regardless of their origin, the existence of demons is recognized within the pages of the New Testament.
In regard to their nature, demons are portrayed as spirits (Matthew 8:16), and thus did not possess a corporeal existence (Luke 24:39). In regard to their character, demons are portrayed as unclean spirits that were evil, and under the immediate control of Satan (Matthew 12:24,43,45). Demons also were intelligent beings (Mark 1:24), and could exercise both volition and locomotion whenever permitted (Matthew 12:44-45). Demon possession of human bodies frequently resulted in physical and/or mental illness (although such ailments clearly were distinguished from the demon itself (see Matthew 4:24). Dumbness (Matthew 9:32), blindness (Matthew 12:22), and supernatural strength (Mark 5:4; Acts 19:16) sometimes were characteristic of demoniacs.
The New Testament supplies no reason as to exactly why demons entered particular individuals, but makes clear that they inhabited men (Matthew 9:32), women (Luke 8:2), and children (Mark 7:30). Apparently, demon possession was permitted temporarily by God in order that the authority of Christ might be made manifest. As the Lord revealed control over nature (Mark 4:41), disease (Mark 2:12), material things (John 2:9), and even death (John 11:44), so also did He demonstrate power over the spirit realm (Luke 11:20). In fact, the authority of Jesus over evil spirits amazed His contemporaries, who exclaimed: “What is this? a new teaching! With authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him” (Mark 1:27). Christ’s disciples, by His authority, also could expel demons (Luke 10:17), except on one occasion when hindered by their weak faith (cf. Mark 9:28 and Matthew 17:20).
With the termination of the supernatural era of the early church, demon possession, and the corresponding gift of expulsion ceased. Satan’s supernatural power was bound (Matthew 12:29). Certainly, the devil exerts great influence today. However, just as God no longer works miraculously, but influences men through His Word and providence, so also, Satan wields his power indirectly and non-miraculously through various media. Modern cases of supposed demon possession are doubtless the results of psychosomatic problems, hysteria, self-induced hypnosis, delusion, and such like. They have natural, though perhaps not always well-understood, causes. When the Bible discusses demon possession, it is always from a specific, historical vantage point. As such, it does not endorse myth or superstition.

Defend the Truth...In Meekness and Fear by Eric Lyons, M.Min.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=534

Defend the Truth...In Meekness and Fear

by	Eric Lyons, M.Min.

The Truth of God’s Word is precious (Proverbs 23:23; cf. John 17:17; Psalm 119:142,151). God expects humanity to come to learn it and love it (John 8:31-32; Psalm 119:47,48,113,119,127,165,167). Christians are then expected to defend it and let others know about it (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 8:4; Acts 26:24-25). The inspired apostle Peter even commanded first-century Christians to “sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15, emp. added). God is serious about His people teaching and defending His Word.
In our proclamation of the Truth, however, we must keep in mind what Peter noted at the end of 1 Peter 3:15—that our defense is to be made “with meekness and fear” (emp. added). Christians are to try to be Christ-like at all times, including when we defend the truth. Our teaching is to be characterized “with gentleness and reverence” (1 Peter 3:15, NASB/RSV). We are to “honor all people” as we “fear God” (1 Peter 2:17). As we “proclaim the praises of Him” who called us “out of darkness into His marvelous light,” we must be “clothed with humility” (1 Peter 2:9; 5:5).
Recently a man who identified himself as a Catholic priest wrote an unsolicited letter to Apologetics Press. We had never heard of this gentleman before reading his note. Although, sadly, he is very misled in his adherence to Catholic doctrine (see Pinedo, 2009), consider some of his analysis of a handful of preachers in the church of Christ. [NOTE: He refers to preachers as “elders.”]

As a Roman Catholic priest who follows non-Catholic religions with some interest...I have observed a lot of meanness, rudeness, and lack of basic civility among CoC [Church of Christ—EL] elders [preachers—EL], especially recently. How does one explain this? In general (no doubt there are exceptions perhaps many), Christian love seems deficient in the way they seek to promote truth.
In general, they strike me as tending to be suspicious, rash and uncharitable in their judgments about other people’s motives, prone to arrogance, and even too eager to call someone a liar, more so than the average pagan in the streets. These comments are based on only my limited experience, to be sure, and sometimes, no doubt, I am guilty of some of the very same sins and character flaws.
I was considering doing some kind of oral interaction with an elder or two about Catholic matters. Now it looks to me like this would be a royal invitation to verbal abuse, misrepresentation, and even character assassination....

Some members of the Lord’s church might tend to dismiss this criticism with a wave of the hand, but we believe this gentleman was right in his assessment and denouncement of some who attempt to “defend the truth,” yet do so in an unchristlike manner. What’s more, we all need to be reminded of the necessity and seriousness of “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). We must examine ourselves and ensure that our teachings and defense of the truth are done lovingly and patiently, confidently yet kindly, neither rudely nor arrogantly (1 Corinthians 13).
Keep in mind what the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy shortly before commanding him to “preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:2). He described “a servant of the Lord” as one who “must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition” (2 Timothy 2:24-25). May God help us to live according to the Truth as we seek to defend it.

REFERENCE

Pinedo, Moises (2008), What the Bible says about the Catholic Church (Montgomery, AL: Apologetics Press), [On-line], URL: http://apologeticspress.org/pdfs/e-books_pdf/wtbsatcc.pdf.

David’s Census and the Plague by Kyle Butt, M.Div.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=2237

David’s Census and the Plague

by	Kyle Butt, M.Div.

The biblical account of David’s census in 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21 is (for some) among the most enigmatic portions of the Bible. One of the first questions that arises when reading the text is who “moved” David to number Israel. Second Samuel 24:1 says that the Lord did, while 1 Chronicles 21:1 says Satan did. We have dealt with this idea in a previous article and shown that there is no contradiction between these verses (Lyons, 2003).
Another alleged problem that the skeptic is quick to point out is the “injustice” of God’s punishment for David’s sin. Because of David’s census, the Bible says: “So the Lord sent a plague upon Israel from the morning till the appointed time. From Dan to Beersheba seventy thousand men of the people died” (2 Samuel 24:15). The skeptic accuses God of punishing the wrong people. If David sinned, why did the plague kill the people? In his Skeptic’s Annotated Bible, Steve Wells wrote: “Even David can see the injustice of God’s punishment” (2001). Wells further commented that those killed during the plague were “innocent,” implying that they had done nothing wrong in the affair.
Upon closer inspection of the biblical text, however, we see that Wells’ accusation of injustice on God’s part is inaccurate. Second Samuel 24:1 says that “the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel” (emp. added). Apparently, the nation of Israel had so sinned that they had angered God. Yet, even though God was angry, the Israelites could have manifested their obedience to God’s commands during the census. God gave Moses instructions hundreds of years earlier concerning any census taken among the Israelites. He said: “When you take the census of the children of Israel for their number, then every man shall give a ransom for himself to the Lord, when you number them, that there be no plague among them when you number them. This is what everyone among those who are numbered shall give: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary...” (Exodus 30:12-13, emp. added).
In the accounts of David’s census, there is no indication that the people gave the ransom of half a shekel in order to avoid being plagued. The plaguing of the Israelites is exactly what one would have expected, knowing what God said in Exodus 30:12-13. The Israelites should have known these verses and they should have complied with them. The feeling that one gets from reading the accounts of David’s census is that the command to pay half a shekel ransom had been completely forgotten and neglected during the intervening years between Moses and David. The people died for their disobedience to God’s command. A similar event occurred when, under David’s leadership, the Israelites did not carry the Ark of the Covenant correctly, bringing about the death of Uzzah. Concerning that episode, David himself stated: “[T]he Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order” (1 Chronicles 15:13, emp. added). Neither did the Israelites consult God’s Word about the “proper order” concerning the census.
God, through Moses, gave the Israelites instructions concerning a census. He also warned them that a plague would ensue if they neglected to follow these instructions. Hundreds of years after His warning, the Israelites were counted, with no indication that they offered half a shekel ransom to avoid being plagued. A plague ravaged the people, exactly as God had warned. Simple obedience to God’s instructions could have prevented the plague. It is the sad truth that God’s people are often “destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). King David once profoundly stated the solution when he said concerning God’s word: “Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11).

REFERENCES

Lyons, Eric (2003), “Who Incited David to Number Israel?” [On-line], URL: http://apologeticspress.org/articles/604.
Wells, Steve (2001), Skeptic’s Annotated Bible, [On-line], URL: http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/1cor/index.html.

Should We Use The "Purpose Driven Life?" GEORGE L. FAULL

http://steve-finnell.blogspot.com/2017/04/should-we-use-purpose-driven-life.html

Should We Use The "Purpose Driven Life?" 

GEORGE L. FAULL

Dear Brother Faull,

Should we use the “Purpose Driven Life” and the 40-day program it advocates in our Church?

ANSWER:

I would not recommend if for the following reasons:

1.                   The author does not hold to the New Testament pattern in many areas of theology.

It is the same o, same o use of fads that’s ruining our Churches because it introduces false doctine.

2.                   It is Calvinistic through and through and most readers will not be able to even discern the doctrine hidden in its pages.

He even says God planned that children would be born out of wedlock!  Did he plan fornication?  It claims that he planned our life in every detail even to the reading of His book!

3.                   It is presumptuous from the very beginning.

It informs us that God planned for you to read the Book before you were born.  Has a more egotistical remark ever begun a book.  It assures the reader will be transformed.  That is audacious.

4.                   It manipulates the reader by using 15 alleged translations, many of which are only paraphrases and not translations, so you will get the nuance he wants you to get.

It borders on manipulation.

5.                   He uses paraphrases to prove his Calvinism and predestination doctrines.

6.                   It has dozens of verses taken out of context.

A text out of context indicates a pre-text.

7.                   Its emphasis is trite.

He says, “whenever God wanted to prepare someone for His purpose, He took 40 days.”  He then names a few Bible characters of which this is alleged to be true, but this is not true even of these people.  Forty is the number of probation not preparation. That is, someone is on trial or being tested, not transformed.  He says,  “Whenever God wanted to prepare someone for his purposes, he took 40 days…  The next forty days will (not may) transform your life.”

He says, “God considers 40 days a spiritually significant time period.  When God wanted to prepare someone for His purpose, He took forty days.”

This is not so.  One could name dozens of Bible saints that a 40-day period had no significance in their life.

8.                   It gets very repetitive especially in latter chapters in order to continue their 40-day idea.

9.                   It is your typical faddish “easily believism.”

“Jesus, I believe in you, I receive you.”  Welcome to the family of God.  That doesn’t sound like Luke 14:26-27, “26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”

10.                It stresses a false plan of salvation of “faith only” rather than obedience to the faith.

Romans 1:5, “By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:”

Romans 16:26, “But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:” He advocates that the sinner’s prayer will save.  This is unscriptural.

11.                He quotes many renowned popular religious figures like Mother Teresa with no warning of her universalistic, New Age philosophy and her Mariolatry and subjection to the Pope of Rome.

Other well-known apostates are quoted as if they were Christians.

12.                Warren is known for his “seeker sensitive” fad as if there were people everywhere who are diligently seeking God though they are in a lifestyle of hedonism, debauchery and rebellion.

“Seeker sensitive” is absurd language for a Calvinist to even speak about.  Supposedly the lost have no ability to seek God.  They are totally depraved and God must give them faith so they can be part of the elect.

13.                It preaches a diluted gospel at best.

Sin, repentance, the cross, or the empty tomb is noticeably rarely mentioned.  The Gospel definitely is not explained, yet the book is supposed to be for both sinner and saint.

My beef with the book is, “where’s the cross?”

14.                If you use this book as a textbook, you are not marking and avoiding false teachers, but rather promoting a denominational preacher.  You are making him an authority and expert on a subject that he knows little about.

15.                Any book outside the Bible that is well received for Bible study by Churches of all persuasions must be suspect.

16.                To use this book is to follow the philosophy that the end justifies the means.

A book filled with abused Scriptures, false concepts, easy believism, Calvinism and faith-only doctrine as a means to an end cannot produce more good fruit than harm.

17.                Our Churches are turning Baptists in their doctrine, they are joining Baptists Church Associations, they are inviting in Baptist ministers to our conventions and colleges and they are using books by Baptist authors for study guides.

Think of the foolishness of doing that.  “Repent and be Baptists” is the cry of our Churches.  I for one protest solemnly.  Our Churches do not do anything to alarm the flock but invite their Pastors in to feed them.  Some Elders and Preachers are going to have a lot of explaining to do to the Chief Shepherd.

I could name Churches in my area that is Christian Church or Church of Christ in name only.  They are totally Baptist in doctrine, polity, and vocabulary due to their fads.

18.                Stop and think how absurd it is for a predestinationist who believes that everything ever done is planned of God, to be a pusher of someone to be driven by a purpose.

If God ordained or planned for man to accomplish or be something, mans own drive is worthless and fruitless.  Imagine a predestinated man having to read a mere man’s book to fulfill his destiny.  How could a man choose to have a “purpose driven life” if predestination is true?  It would be like preaching to the elect.  It would be unnecessary.

19.                He denies that baptism is essential to salvation or a part of being added to the Church, but it’s merely an initiation.

What?  That’s what an initiation is, “a bringing into.”

Galatians 3:27, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

Romans 6:3, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?”

I Corinthians 12:13, “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

These show that baptism is into Christ, His death and His body!  Is there salvation anywhere else than in Christ?  How do you get into Christ?  Is baptism not essential?  There are no un-baptized Christians in the Bible.

His chapter on baptism is atrocious.  No wonder our Churches are so mixed up!

20.                It is dangerous for a leadership to recommend a book to its congregation.

The people buy into the book, the author and his concepts and then they are sold on him, and they buy his next book.  So it continues on and on.  Warren had the Purpose Driven Church, now the Purpose Driven Life.  What’s next?  Who knows, but you can depend on our faddish Brethren to seek it out and Standard and College Press to promote it big time, false doctrine and all!

Why did God destroy the world? by Roy Davison

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Davison/Roy/Allen/1940/028-sinbeforetheflood.html

Why did God destroy the world?
Or did you forget that God destroyed the world? “For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water” (2 Peter 3:5, 6).

Some willfully forget the flood to avoid thinking about the impending judgment: “But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men” (2 Peter 3:7).

Why did God wipe out mankind?

“Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, ‘I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them’” (Genesis 6:5-7).

“The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, ‘The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth’” (Genesis 6:11-13).

What do we learn from the sinners who perished in the flood?

What was the condition of society? How did people become so wicked? Were there exceptions? Was there a solution for their sins? Is our world any better? Is there a solution for our sins?


What was the condition of society?

Technologically, society was quite advanced. The longevity of man allowed him to acquire skills and pass them on for several generations. Cain built a city (Genesis 4:17); Jubal played the harp and flute (Genesis 4:21); Tubal-Cain was an instructor of craftsmen in bronze and iron (Genesis 4:22). Noah built a boat with three decks that held a large cargo (Genesis 6:14-16) and that stayed afloat for five months (Genesis 7:11, 24; 8:4).

The lifespan of the antediluvians was about 900 years, thus physiologically they were far superior to modern man. That these years were equivalent to ours is indicated by the statement: “In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened” (Genesis 7:11). The ark rested on the mountains of Ararat “in the seventh month, the seventeenth day of the month” (Genesis 8:4). This period of exactly five months is also designated as “one hundred and fifty days” (Genesis 7:24) making five months of thirty days.

In the antediluvian period there were people whose physical makeup was superior to ours. “There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown” (Genesis 6:4).

The physician, Philippe Charles Schmerling (of Austrian descent but born in Holland), who found the first human skull in 1829 at Engis, Belgium of the type that would later be called Neanderthal, believed that he had found bones of antediluvians (Recherches sur les ossemens fossiles découverts dans les cavernes de la province de Liége, 1833-1834).

This is possible since the skeletons of Neanderthal man indicate that these people were much stronger and more muscular than modern man.

Some artists like to depict Neanderthals as dumb-looking cave men, but here is a scientific reconstruction from the skull of a Neanderthal girl made by Elisabeth Daynes.

Thus, at the time of the flood, man had built up a society that was quite advanced technically, and people were far superior physically to modern man. So what was the problem? Why did God decide to destroy them? Sin was the problem.

The wickedness of man was great. Every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually and the earth was filled with violence “through them” (Genesis 6:11).


How did people become so wicked?

We know very little about antediluvian society, but certain contributing factors are mentioned.


Man’s longevity contributed to wickedness.

Solomon said: “Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil” (Ecclesiastes 8:11).

At the time of the flood, God reduced man’s lifespan from 900 to 120 years. “And the LORD said, ‘My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years’” (Genesis 6:3).

When Pharaoh asked Jacob “How old are you?” he replied: “The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty years; few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage” (Genesis 47:8, 9).

When the Psalms were written, man’s lifespan had been reduced to 70 years: “The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength, they are eighty years” (Psalm 90:10).

The longevity of the antediluvians made it easier for them to forget that God would punish them for their sins.


Man did not leave vengeance to God.

When Cain killed Abel, God did not execute Cain. A curse was placed on him: the ground would not yield its fruit to him and he would be a fugitive (Genesis 4:11-14). But God commanded that Cain not be killed and warned: “whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold” (Genesis 4:15).

This was misapplied by Lamech, a fifth generation descendant of Cain, who was proud of being a man of violence: “I have killed a man for wounding me, even a young man for hurting me. If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold" (Genesis 4:23, 24).

God’s warning to prevent violence was misapplied by Lamech to justify violence.

Vengeance is God’s prerogative, not man’s: “‘Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; their foot shall slip in due time; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things to come hasten upon them.' For the LORD will judge His people and have compassion on His servants” (Deuteronomy 32:35, 36). This passage is quoted in the NT in Romans 12:17, 19, 21 and in Hebrews 10:30. This truth is the basis of the command of Jesus in Matthew 5:38, 39 that if someone hits you on one cheek you must turn the other also. We must overcome evil with good.


The sons of God made bad marriage choices.

“Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose” (Genesis 6:1, 2).

Men chose wives, not on the basis of spiritual qualities, but on the basis of physical beauty.

God gave Adam one wife (Genesis 2:23-25). Cain’s violent descendant, Lamech, had two wives (Genesis 4:19). Social research in our time indicates that polygamy results in more domestic violence and an increase in the number of unmarried men, who then are more prone to violence.


Were there exceptions?

In the days of Enosh, the grandson of Adam and Eve via Seth, “men began to call on the name of the LORD” (Genesis 4:26). There were people who served God and asked Him for help. The number of people serving God decreased, however, until at the time of Noah, he and his family were the only ones who still served God.

Although there undoubtedly were others, the only two men in the prediluvian period in addition to Abel who are mentioned as being righteous, were Enoch and Noah.

Enoch, in the seventh generation after Adam, “walked with God; and he was not, for God took him” (Genesis 5:24). “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, ‘and was not found, because God had taken him’; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God” (Hebrews 11:5).

Like Abel, Enoch was a prophet: “Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, ‘Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him" (Jude 14, 15).

Adam and Enoch were contemporaries, since Adam did not die until Enoch was 308 years old. Those living on earth still had first-hand testimony about their creation by God.

Enoch lived in about the same period as Cain’s descendant, Lamech, who was so proud of being violent. Enoch warned sinners that God would execute judgment on them.

Noah was also righteous. He was born 126 years after the death of Adam, but his father, grandfather and three other ancestors, who were still living when Noah was 100 years old, were contemporaries of Adam.

When Noah was born, his father called him ‘Noah’ which means ‘repose, rest or consolation’, saying, “This one will comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD has cursed” (Genesis 5:29).

Thus, at the time of the flood, man’s creation by God, man’s sin, and sin’s consequences were common knowledge. The wickedness of man did not result from ignorance. People knew God existed but they spoke against him. Enoch warned that God would punish them for “all their ungodly deeds” and for “all the harsh things which ungodly sinners” had spoken against Him (Jude 14, 15).

Noah was righteous in a world filled with wickedness and violence: “Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God” (Genesis 6:9). In Ezekiel 14:14, 20 Noah is named, along with Daniel and Job, as a righteous man. He was a man of faith: “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith” (Hebrews 11:7).


Was there a solution for their sins?

Noah condemned the world by demonstrating to them that it was possible to be different. He was saved because of his faith and godly fear. “Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD” (Genesis 6:8).

For a hundred years, while the ark was being built, the world had an opportunity to repent. Noah was “a preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5). Through the Spirit, Christ had preached (no doubt through Noah) to those “who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared” (1 Peter 3:20).

God was patient. He gave them a hundred years to repent. If they had repented, they would have been saved.

Consider the example of Nineveh in the days of Jonah. God decided to destroy the city of Nineveh because of their wickedness. But they repented at the preaching of Jonah and the city was saved: “Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it” (Jonah 3:10).

But those to whom Noah preached ‘were disobedient’. They refused to repent.

Is our world any better?

Do you think God has not yet destroyed our world because it is less wicked than the world at the time of Noah? Not necessarily. “Then the LORD said in His heart, ‘I will never again curse the ground for man's sake, although the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease’” (Genesis 8:21).

Thus, “although the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth” God has promised to never again destroy the world by a flood “while the earth remains”. Did you notice that “while the earth remains”?


Is there a solution for our sins?

The flood demonstrates for all time that God hates sin and will bring sinners into judgment. But it also proves for all time that God can and will save those who repent of their sins and lead faithful, god-fearing lives. God “did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly” (2 Peter 2:5).

Peter writes that “scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation’” (2 Peter 3:3, 4). He goes on to explain that these people willfully forget the flood and that God allows the world to carry on only because He “is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

As in the days of Noah, God is giving this sinful world an opportunity to repent before it is too late. “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness” (2 Peter 3:10, 11).

“The Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world” (1 John 4:14). Before He returned to the Father, after dying for our sins and rising from the dead, He told His followers: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:15, 16).

Just as Noah “prepared an ark for the saving of his household” (Hebrews 11:7), Christ has established His church in which people now can be saved from God’s judgment on a sinful world. As Peter proclaimed on the day of Pentecost: “Be saved from this perverse generation” (Acts 2:40). “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38).

Peter explains that just like Noah and his family were saved from the wicked world by water, we are now saved by baptism. Just as there was an ark “in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us -- baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:20, 21).

God destroyed the world because of sin, and He will do so again.

When Christ comes, will we be inside the ark or outside the ark? When He comes “in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed” (2 Thessalonians 1:8-10).

Yes, there is a solution for our sins if we repent and are baptized into the body of Christ, His church, God’s ark of salvation for our time. Amen.

Roy Davison

The Scripture quotations in this article are from
The New King James Version. ©1979,1980,1982, Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers.
Permission for reference use has been granted.

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

The Old Paths by Gary Rose

In the U.S.A., money, possessions and power are everything. While there is nothing wrong with having these things, making them your “everything” is very dangerous. Just because something seems to be new, improved or good doesn’t mean it is; older may be better. Consider the picture above; how many of these old TV shows can you name. I tried, and here are my answers (left to right, top to bottom)…

Bewitched, My three sons, That girl, McCales Navy,

Petticoat Junction, The Munsters, F-Troop, The Mod squad,

Buffy and Jody, Hazel, Get smart, Lost in space,

The Andy Griffith show, Batman, The flying nun, I spy

Hogan’s heroes, Gunsmoke, Lassie, Bonaza,

Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C., I dream of Genie, Laugh-in, The Monkees,

Mr. Ed, The Beverly Hillbillies, The Adams family, Gilligan’s Island

I think I got them all correct, but if I didn’t – let me know. Well, anyway, I am of the opinion that every one of them were better than what is on the tube today. Why? Because of their higher moral content. Society has changed- and not for the better. Sex, violence and sin of every kind is being emphasized on the television (and in my mind, approved of) every single day. And people imitate what they see on TV. It is no wonder that our society has become a more dangerous, unfriendly place to be in. Why? Because along with all this, people have decided to go their own way, to do exactly as they please – and forget God or outright reject The Almighty. This has happened in times past, as noted by what God said through Jeremiah. He says…

Jeremiah 6 ( World English Bible )

 ^[16]  Thus says Yahweh, “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, ‘Where is the good way?’ and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’  ^[17] I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen!’  ^[18] Therefore hear, you nations, and know, congregation, what is among them.  ^[19] Hear, earth! Behold, I will bring evil on this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not listened to my words; and as for my law, they have rejected it.

Israel of old did not listen and punishment came; death, destruction and deportation; all because they rejected God and his message. Today, Americans are leaving churches in droves. I recently read that in the year 2000 only half of the people said that they attended church on a regular basis. I can only imagine how low that number is in this current year of 2020.

Seek, the old paths and God before it is too late. People today are afraid of the recent Corona-virus and our country is shutting down, with the stock market plummeting, and people hunkering down until the danger is over. But, being afraid can be a good thing, because it just may save your life. Consider what Jesus said about fear:

Matthew 10 ( WEB )

  ^[24]  “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord.   ^[25]  It is enough for the disciple that he be like his teacher, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household!   ^[26]  Therefore don’t be afraid of them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed; and hidden that will not be known.   ^[27]  What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops.   ^[28]  Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

Listen to Jesus, fear God for HE has power beyond any thing a man can do to you. Seek his will (the old paths) and live. Do not ignore HIM and suffer the eternal consequences of indifference or disobedience like Israel of old did!