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Thursday, March 14, 2024

Book of Joel Chapter 1 Vs. 20

 A Call to Repentance


The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness. Joel 1:20


The beasts of... As well as the prophet, in their way; which may be mentioned, both as a rebuke to such who had no sense of the judgments upon them, and called not on the Lord; and to express the greatness of the calamity, of which the brute creatures were sensible, and made piteous moans, as for food, so for drink.

בְּהֵמָה

behêmâh

be-hay-maw'

From an unused root (probably meaning to be mute); properly a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collectively): - beast, cattle.

שָׂדַי שָׂדֶה

śâdeh śâday

saw-deh', saw-dah'ee

From an unused root meaning to spread out; a field (as flat): - country, field, ground, land, soil, X wild.

cry also unto... Panting thorough excessive heat and vehement thirst, as the hart, after the water brooks, of which this word is only used (Psalm 42:1); but in vain.

עָרַג

ârag

aw-rag'

A primitive root; to long for: - cry, pant.

גַּם

gam

gam

By contraction from an unused root meaning to gather; properly assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correlation both... and: - again, alike, also, (so much) as (soon), both (so) . . . and, but, either . . . or, even, for all, (in) likewise (manner), moreover, nay . . . neither, one, then (-refore), though, what, with, yea.

אֶל אֵל

'êl 'el

ale, el

(Used only in the shortened constructive form (the second form)); a primitive particle, properly denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, that is, near, with or among; often in general, to: - about, according to, after, against, among, as for, at, because (-fore, -side), both . . . and, by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in (-to), near, (out) of, over, through,to (-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in).

for the rivers... Not only springs, and rivulets and brooks of water, but rivers, places where there were large deep waters. By the excessive heat and scorching beams of the sun, by which such effects are produced.

כִּי

kı̂y

kee

A primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent; (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjugation or adverb; often largely modified by other particles annexed: - and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured [-ly], + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, who, yea, yet,

אָפִיק

'âphı̂yq

aw-feek'

From H622; properly containing, that is, a tube; also a bed or valley of a stream; also a strong thing or a hero: - brook, channel, mighty, river, + scale, stream, strong piece.

and the fire... Whereas the word rendered pastures signifies both them and habitations. (Joel 1:19)

אֵשׁ

'êsh

aysh

A primitive word; fire (literally or figuratively): - burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot.

This drought has been so severe, that the rivers and streams have dried up. There is no water for the crops. There is no water for the people or the cattle either. Their only chance for help is to cry out to God.

We read in Jeremiah of a drought where the cows had their calves early and lost them. This was no ordinary dry period. This was a drought so great that nothing could live. This speaks of horror beyond our imagination.

As we see, even the streams had dried up, causing the dehydrated wild animals to pant for water. People will need to cry out to the Lord.


He compared the locusts to a fire (in both Joel 1:19 and Joel 1:20) which destroys everything in its path. Even the streams had dried up, causing the dehydrated wild animals to pant for water.

Book of 1 John Chapter 2 Vs. 10

 The New Commandment


1 John 2:10 “He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.”

He that loveth... A man that truly loves his brother has proof of his Christian experience, and if he continues to love he will not stumble over his brethren.

abideth in the... means to continue to live. Love is a product of Light. There is no temptation to steal from your brother, if you love him. There is no desire for things that your brother owns, if you love him.

Abideth μένει

To abide in God is a more common expression with John than to be in God, and marks an advance in thought. The phrase is a favorite one with John. See John 15:4 sqq.; John 6:56; 1Jhn. 2:24, 2:27, 2:28; 3:6, 3:24; 4:12 sq.; 4:15 sq. Bengel notes the gradation in the three phrases to know Him, to be in Him, to abide in Him; knowledge, fellowship, constancy.

occasion of stumbling... Greek: proskomma. Translated stumbling (1Pet. 2:8); stumbling Block (Rom. 14:13; 1Cor. 8:9); and offence (Rom. 14:20).

occasion of stumbling (σκάνδαλον)

See on offend, Mat. 5:29. For the image in John, see John 6:61; 11:9; 16:1; Rev. 2:14. The meaning is not that he gives no occasion of stumbling to others, but that there is none in his own way. See John 11:9, John 11:10.

These are just two examples, but you can see that loving your brother causes you to have no desire to do him harm in any way. The lust of the flesh causes sin. The Light of God helps us see things more clearly and causes us not to lust.

He who truly loves not he that saith, verse 9, abideth in the light, that is, the presence of God. He does not stumble, nor does he cause others to stumble. John stresses actions, not mere words.



By contrast, whoever loves his brother lives in the light of the new Age which has dawned in Christ (cf. 1Jhn. 2:8). There is nothing in him in one who loves his brother to make him stumble. Hatred is a kind of internal stumbling block which can lead to disastrous spiritual falls. But the calamities to which hatred leads are avoided by one who loves his brother.

Friday, March 8, 2024

Book of Joel Chapter 1 Vs. 19

 A Call to Repentance


O LORD, to thee will I cry: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field. Joel 1:19


O Lord, to... As the first to call to repentance, the prophet had to be the first to heed the warning. He had to lead by example and motivate the people to respond. In the midst of proclaiming judgment, God’s prophets often led in intercessory prayer for mercy and forgiveness (Exo. 32:11-14; Jer. 42:1-4; Dan. 9:1-19; Amos 7:1-6).

יְהֹוָה

yehôvâh

yeh-ho-vaw'

From H1961; (the) self-Existent or eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God: - Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050, H3069.

אֶל אֵל

'êl 'el

ale, el

(Used only in the shortened constructive form (the second form)); a primitive particle, properly denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, that is, near, with or among; often in general, to: - about, according to, after, against, among, as for, at, because (-fore, -side), both . . . and, by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in (-to), near, (out) of, over, through, to (-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in).

This is the same problem we read about in Isaiah. There was a drought. There was fire that burned what did spring up, and there were swords which killed, as well. It seems that all of nature was in opposition to them. The truth is that God has sent a curse upon man, and beast, and the crops of the field. The day of the Lord is approaching.

אֵשׁ

'êsh

aysh

A primitive word; fire (literally or figuratively): - burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot.



The prophet, who clearly identified with his suffering nation (cf. my which occurs three times in Joel 1:6-7), cried out to the Lord in his anguish. He compared the locusts to a fire (in both Joel 1:19 and 1:20) which destroys everything in its path.

לָהַט

lâhaṭ

law-hat'

A primitive root; properly to lick, that is, (by implication) to blaze: - burn (up), set on fire, flaming, kindle.

עֵץ

êts

ates

From H6095; a tree (from its firmness); hence wood (plural sticks): - + carpenter, gallows, helve, + pine, plank, staff, stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood.

Book of 1 John Chapter 2 Vs. 9

 The New Commandment


1 John 2:9 “He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.”


He that saith... No man professing a Christian experience who hates his brother has received a saving knowledge of truth (1Jhn. 2:9, 2:11).

This is just saying, those who hate others are not walking in the Light. The perfect Light provided for believers leads us into His perfect love. It does not allow hate of any kind. Hate is of the devil and is surrounded by darkness.

Hateth (μισῶν)

The sharp issue is maintained here as in Christ's words, He that is not with me is against me (Luke 11:23). Men fall into two classes, those who are in fellowship with God, and therefore walk in light and love, and those who are not in fellowship with God, and therefore walk in darkness and hatred. A direct opposition says Bengel; where love is not, there is hatred. The heart is not empty. See John 3:20; 7:7; 15:18 sqq.; John 17:14. The word hate is opposed both to the love of natural affection φιλεῖν, and to the more discriminating sentiment - love founded on a just estimate ἀγαπᾶν. For the former see John 12:25; 15:18, 15:19; compare Luke 14:26. For the latter, 1Jhn. 3:14, 3:15; 4:20, Mat. 5:43; 6:24; Eph. 5:28, 5:29. In the former case, hatred, which may become a moral duty, involves the subjection of an instinct. In the latter case it expresses a general determination of character (Westcott).

Doctrinal truth about spiritual matters means nothing without compassion for others. For John, hateth seems to mean simply fails to love.

In the original language, hate coveys the idea of someone who habitually hates or is marked by a lifestyle of hate.

His brother (τὸν ἀδελφόν)

His fellow-Christian. The singular, brother, is characteristic of this Epistle. See 1Jhn. 2:10, 2:11; 3:10, 3:15, 3:17; 4:20, 4:21; 5:16. Christians are called in the New Testament, Christians (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1Pet. 4:16), mainly by those outside of the Christian circle. Disciples, applied to all followers of Christ (John 2:11; 6:61) and strictly to the twelve (John 13:5 sqq.). In Acts 19:1, to those who had received only John's baptism. Not found in John's Epistles nor in Revelation. Brethren. The first title given to the body of believers after the Ascension (Acts 1:15, where the true reading is ἀδελφῶν brethren, for μαθητῶν disciples). See Acts 9:30; 10:23; 11:29; 1Thes. 4:10; 5:26; 1Jhn. 3:14; 3Jhn. 1:5, 1:10; John 21:23. Peter has ἡ ἀδελφότης the brotherhood (1Pet. 2:17; 5:9). The believers. Under three forms: The believers οἱ πιστοί; Acts 10:45; 1Tim. 4:12; they that believe οἱ πιστεύοντες; 1Pet. 2:7; 1Thes. 1:7; Eph. 1:19); they that believed οἱ πιστεύσαντες; Acts 2:44; 4:32; Heb. 4:3). The saints οἱ ἅγιοι; characteristic of Paul and Revelation. Four times in the Acts (Acts 9:13, 9:32, 9:41; 26:10), and once in Jude (Jude 1:3). Also Heb. 6:10; 13:24. In Paul, 1Cor. 6:1; 14:33; Eph. 1:1, 1:15, etc. In Rev. 5:8; 8:3, 8:4; 11:18, etc.

Is in the darkness even until now: Those who profess to be Christians, yet are characterized by hate, demonstrate by such action that they have never been born again. The false teachers made claims to enlightenment, transcendent knowledge of God, and salvation, but their actions, especially the lack of love, proved all such claims false (see also verse 11).

Until now (ἕως ἄρτι)

Though the light has been increasing, and though he may claim that he has been in the light from the first. The phrase occurs in John 2:10; 5:17; 16:24; and is used by Paul, 1Cor. 4:13; 8:7; 15:6.

It follows that anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. This warning is clearly intended for Christians as the words his brother plainly show. An unsaved person can indeed hate a brother of physical kin, but since he has no spiritual kin, he cannot really hate his (spiritual) brother. If John thought that no Christian could hate another Christian, there was no need to personalize the relationship with the word his. But the opinion, held by some, that a true Christian could never hate another Christian is naive and contrary to the Bible and experience. Even so great a man as King David was guilty of murder, which is the final expression of hate. John was warning his readers against a spiritual danger that is all too real (cf. 1Jhn. 1:8, 1:10). And he was affirming that a Christian who can hate his fellow Christian has not genuinely escaped from the darkness of this present passing Age. To put it another way, he has much to learn about God and cannot legitimately claim an intimate knowledge of Christ. If he really knew Christ as he ought, he would love his brother.

Sunday, March 3, 2024

Book of Joel Chapter 1 Vs. 18

A Call to Repentance 


How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate. Joel 1:18


How do the... Not only are the people out of food, but even the grass of the field is not producing, and the cattle and sheep are starving. The drought and the locusts have destroyed everything that even resembles grain. For want of fodder, all green grass and herbs being eaten up by the locusts; and also, for want of water to quench their thirst.


מֶה מַ־ מָ־ מַה מָה

mâh mah mâ ma meh

maw, mah, maw, mah, meh

A primitive particle; properly interrogitive what? (including how? why? and when?); but also, exclamations like what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even relatively that which); often used with prefixes in various adverbial or conjugational sneses: - how (long, oft, [-soever]), [no-] thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing), whereby (-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.

בְּהֵמָה

behêmâh

be-hay-maw'

From an unused root (probably meaning to be mute); properly a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collectively): - beast, cattle.


The herds of... The larger cattle, as oxen; these were in the utmost perplexity, not knowing where to go for food or drink.


עֵדֶר

êder

ay'-der

From H5737, an arrangement, that is, muster (of animals): - drove, flock, herd.

yea, the flocks... Which have shepherds to lead and direct them to pastures, and can feed on commons, where the grass is short, which other cattle cannot. Yet even these were in great distress, and wasted away, and were consumed for want of nourishment.


גַּם

gam

gam

By contraction from an unused root meaning to gather; properly assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correlation both... and: - again, alike, also, (so much) as (soon), both (so) . . . and, but, either . . . or, even, for all, (in) likewise (manner), moreover, nay . . . neither, one, then (-refore), though, what, with, yea.


עֵדֶר

êder

ay'-der

From H5737, an arrangement, that is, muster (of animals): - drove, flock, herd.



With no harvest available, the storehouses and granaries had been left to deteriorate. The domesticated animals (cattle.… herds… flocks of sheep) were suffering from starvation.

Book of 1 John Chapter 2 Vs. 8

 The New Commandment


1 John 2:8 “Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.”


a new commandment... Greek: kainos, renewed; fresh (2Cor. 5:17). This new commandment is an old one renewed and made complete in meaning by Jesus Christ (1Jhn. 2:7-8; Lev. 19:18 with John 13:34).

New commandment

The commandment of love is both old and new. Old, because John's readers have had it from the beginning of their Christian experience. New, because, in the unfolding of Christian experience, it has developed new power, meaning, and obligation, and closer correspondence with the facts of Christ's life, with the crowning mystery of His passion, and with the facts of the Christian life.

Which thing is true (ὅ ἐστιν ἀληθὲς)

The expression which thing, or that which, refers either to the commandment of love, or to the fact stated, viz., that the old commandment is new. The fact that the old commandment is new is true in Him and in us. On the whole I prefer this.

This is just expressing how much easier it is for us to understand the law of God, since the Light of Jesus has shown on it. This new commandment is let Jesus, (the Light of the world), live in you and through you. We do not have to question about God anymore.

In Him and in us

For us, read you. The fact that the old commandment is new, is true in Him (Christ), since He gave it as a new commandment, and illustrated it by His word and example. It is true in you, since you did not receive it until Christ gave it, and since the person and life of Christ are appealing to you in new lights and with fresh power as your Christian life develops. In Him, points back to as He walked.

His perfect Light has shined in our heart and made us aware of His perfect Love. The Light of Jesus brightens our path that we are to walk. It is not a dark and fearful walk anymore.

Because

Explaining the apparent paradox.


The darkness (ἡ σκοτία)

See on John 1:5. God is light; and whatever is not in fellowship with God is therefore darkness. In all cases where the word is not used of physical darkness, it means moral insensibility to the divine light, moral blindness or obtuseness. Compare John 8:12; 12:35, 12:46; 1Jhn. 2:9, 2:11.


Is past (παράγεται)

Wrong. The passing is not represented as accomplished, but as in progress. Rev., rightly rendering the present tense, is passing away.


The true light (τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινὸν)

Lit., the light, the true (light). See on that eternal life (1Jhn. 1:2). True, not as distinguished from false, but as answering to the true ideal. See on John 1:9. The true light is the revelation of God in Christ. See on 1Jhn. 1:5.


Shineth (φαίνει)

See on John 1:5. Compare Rev. 1:16; 8:12; 21:23; 2Pet. 1:19. See also Rom. 13:11 sqq.; Tit. 2:11; 3:4.



Yet Jesus had called that commandment new (John 13:34) and John pointed out that it had not lost its freshness. It is really still a new command, and its truth is seen in Him and you. This last assertion, somewhat freely rendered by NIV, seems to mean that the command to love came to realization first in Jesus Himself and then in His followers. The next phrase, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining, is best related back to the claim that he was after all writing a new command to them. His point was that the command to love which Jesus and His followers exhibit belongs to the new Age of righteousness which has begun to dawn. It does not belong to the old Age of darkness which was passing away. Christ’s Incarnation brought a light into the world which can never be extinguished. The love He manifested and taught His disciples to manifest is a characteristic of the Age to come. It is the darkness of the present world and all its hatred which is destined to disappear forever (cf. 1Jhn. 2:17).

In speaking this way, John gave to the terms light and darkness a slant differing slightly from what they had in 1Jhn. 1:1-10. There light was defined in terms of the fundamental character of God (1Jhn. 1:5). In that sense, the light has been shining as long as there has been a revelation of God to man. But here John wrote of the Incarnation in particular as the point at which the light began to shine. The new Age has dawned, and its true character can now be defined in terms of the special revelation God has made of Himself in His Son. And above all, that revelation is a revelation of divine love.