This may seem to be a rather strange topic since Sunday evening, September 30th, at sunset, we began observing the Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot. What do the two events have in common?
The Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, is the final fall Biblical feast described in Leviticus.
Leviticus 23:39-43 (KJV)
39
Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.
40
And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days.
41
And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month.
42
Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:
43
That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
From this passage we see that it occurs on the fifteenth of the month of Tishrei and runs for seven days. It was the time when the Jews gathered in the olive crop as well as began processing the grapes for the year. The first day of the feast was to be a Sabbath as well as the eighth day (even though the feast ran for seven days). Four species of tree branches were to be waved before the Lord in joy. Verse 41 states that this feast was to be kept every year forever. And verse 42 commands that the people were to live in booths (tabernacles or tents) throughout the week's celebration. This was in remembrance of the time of the Exodus when the people lived in tents.
The tone of the entire feast was to be joyous. This was in contrast to the feasts of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, which were very solemn feasts due to their focus on repentance and judgment. The sins of the people had been covered for the year. How could they not now be joyous over that?
But what does this have to do with Jesus?
It is widely accepted that Jesus was probably not born on Christmas, the 25th of December. That day had been chosen in about 375 A.D. by the Church of Rome because it was a day that was already celebrated as a pagan holiday (the Victory of the Sun-God festival in Babylon and Saturnalia, which honored Saturn, the harvest god, and Mithras, the god of light). Since Christianity was the official religion there was a desire to "Christianize" the pagans in the empire and co-opt this pagan holiday. In this way, the pagans could feel more comfortable making the switch while keeping many of their own traditions (like evergreens in the home, mistletoe, Santa Claus, and the Yule log).
So, can we discover when Jesus was actually born? We do find some clues in the Scriptures.
Luke 1:5 (KJV)
5
There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
This verse tells us the Zachariah was of the priestly course of Abijah. According to 1Chronicles 24:7-19, Abijah was the eighth of twenty-four courses which served in the temple throughout the year. The first week of service for the eighth course would have fallen the week immediately after Pentecost. This would have been about the first week of June. It was during this week that Gabriel, while visiting Zachariah, told Zachariah that he and Elisabeth would have a son, named John, who would prepare the way for the Lord. Although Zachariah would have served a second week later in the year, it is this first week that fits with other circumstances.
Luke 1:26-27 (KJV)
26
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
These verses mark six months of Elisabeths's pregnancy. Roughly, if Elisabeth's first month were July, then Mary's encounter with Gabriel would have probably been in late December. Assuming John was not premature, he would then have been born three months later in about the first part of April. This would have been around the time of the Passover, which would not be surprising since the Jews had expected Elijah to return at Passover (John being a type or kind of Elijah). Since Mary's visit to Elisabeth was at the beginning of her own pregnancy (December), we just need to go out nine months from then, or six months from John's birth, to arrive at a birth time in late September.
This time period aligns well with the Matthew account that states that the sheep around Bethlehem were out in the fields. Normally, during the winter they would have been kept in pens or corrals. It was usually around October that they would have been brought in from the fields. In September they would have been outside.
The census that is mentioned in Luke 2:1-2 would likely have been done after the fall harvest. Judea also customarily collected taxes during this time when the bulk of the farmers' income came in.
So far, the picture that is emerging seems to indicate that Jesus could have been born during the time of the Feast of Tabernacles which occurs in September or October.
John 1:14 (KJV)
14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The word that is translated as "dwelt" is the Greek word "skenoo" which means "to tabernacle" (or "tent"). Jesus came to tabernacle amongst us!
All of these clues point to the Feast of Tabernacles. Doesn't this seem fitting? So, while the Jews have much to be joyful over during the Feast of Tabernacles, how much more do we who are born again believers in Jesus have a reason to celebrate it?!
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Sunday, September 30, 2012
The Most High God - Daniel 2:1-13
Previous: Daniel 1:17-21
Now that Daniel and his three friends are in Babylon what will happen to them? Certainly God brought them here for a reason. Let's see.
Daniel 2:1-13 (KJV)
1 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.
2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
3 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.
4 Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.
5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
6 But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.
7 They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.
8 The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
9 But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.
10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
11 And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
13 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.
Side note: Daniel 2:4-7:28 is written in Aramaic and not Hebrew. Why might this be? Aramaic was the language that many people spoke and understood. The section that is written in Aramaic deals with God's rule over the Gentiles. It seems like this was the section that God specifically intended the Gentiles to be able to read. This seems to confirm that God is not solely interested in one group of people but is rather concerned with all. (Although His concern with other groups does not change God's special interest in and love for the Jewish people.)
What has happened to Nebuchadnezzar (verse 1)? He has been dreaming something unsettling to the point that it woke him up. When he woke what did he do (verse 2)? He called the magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and Chaldeans. Why would he do this? Remember that these people were very superstitious and placed high esteem on abilities in magic. Who are the Chaldeans? The term is often used in place of Babylonians. However, in this context it is used for a specific group in Babylon who were "versed in occult learning" (the Free Online Dictionary). In verse 3 Nebuchadnezzar tells the assembled group that he was disturbed by his dream. In verse 4 the Chaldeans tell the king to relate the dream to them so that they could give him the interpretation. But does Nebuchadnezzar do as they requested (verse 5)? No, he says that he doesn't remember the dream. What does Nebuchadnezzar want the magicians to do? He wants them to tell him what the dream was first and then give the interpretation. This is really pretty shrewd on Nebuchadnezzar's part if he really did remember the dream or at least some part of it. The magicians had a very cushy job. Hear the dream and then give any interpretation that they wanted. The king would never be any wiser. But if these magicians were not really as talented as they purported to be, they would surely demonstrate it by relating an incorrect dream. What does Nebuchadnezzar say he will do if they cannot relate the dream and its interpretation (verse 5)? He threatens to cut them in pieces and make their houses dunghills. What would be the reward if they can tell him the dream and its interpretation (verse 6)? He would give them gifts, rewards, and great honor. What is the Chaldeans' response (verse 7)? They reiterate that the king must tell them the dream in order to get the interpretation. How does Nebuchadnezzar respond to this (verse 8)? Nebuchadnezzar tells them outright that they are using a delaying tactic since the king would lose more of the dream as time goes by. Nebuchadnezzar presses them further in verse 9. How do the Chaldeans respond in verse 10? They inform the king that there is no man on earth that can tell him the dream and that no one has ever made such a request before. According to verse 11 who are the only ones who know what Nebuchadnezzar had dreamed? The gods are the only ones who know. What is Nebuchadnezzar's response to this (verse 12)? He is angry and commands that the all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. This decree would affect whom? Remember that Daniel and his friends were also considered to be a part of this group. What happens in verse 13? The decree goes out that all the wise men were to be killed. Daniel and his three friends are included.
What will happen next? Since there is a lot of the book of Daniel left, he obviously can't be killed, at least not yet. Will Daniel escape? Will he be able to save himself in some way? Stay tuned for the next part!
Next:
Now that Daniel and his three friends are in Babylon what will happen to them? Certainly God brought them here for a reason. Let's see.
Daniel 2:1-13 (KJV)
1 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.
2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
3 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.
4 Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.
5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
6 But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.
7 They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.
8 The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
9 But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.
10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
11 And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
13 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.
Side note: Daniel 2:4-7:28 is written in Aramaic and not Hebrew. Why might this be? Aramaic was the language that many people spoke and understood. The section that is written in Aramaic deals with God's rule over the Gentiles. It seems like this was the section that God specifically intended the Gentiles to be able to read. This seems to confirm that God is not solely interested in one group of people but is rather concerned with all. (Although His concern with other groups does not change God's special interest in and love for the Jewish people.)
What has happened to Nebuchadnezzar (verse 1)? He has been dreaming something unsettling to the point that it woke him up. When he woke what did he do (verse 2)? He called the magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and Chaldeans. Why would he do this? Remember that these people were very superstitious and placed high esteem on abilities in magic. Who are the Chaldeans? The term is often used in place of Babylonians. However, in this context it is used for a specific group in Babylon who were "versed in occult learning" (the Free Online Dictionary). In verse 3 Nebuchadnezzar tells the assembled group that he was disturbed by his dream. In verse 4 the Chaldeans tell the king to relate the dream to them so that they could give him the interpretation. But does Nebuchadnezzar do as they requested (verse 5)? No, he says that he doesn't remember the dream. What does Nebuchadnezzar want the magicians to do? He wants them to tell him what the dream was first and then give the interpretation. This is really pretty shrewd on Nebuchadnezzar's part if he really did remember the dream or at least some part of it. The magicians had a very cushy job. Hear the dream and then give any interpretation that they wanted. The king would never be any wiser. But if these magicians were not really as talented as they purported to be, they would surely demonstrate it by relating an incorrect dream. What does Nebuchadnezzar say he will do if they cannot relate the dream and its interpretation (verse 5)? He threatens to cut them in pieces and make their houses dunghills. What would be the reward if they can tell him the dream and its interpretation (verse 6)? He would give them gifts, rewards, and great honor. What is the Chaldeans' response (verse 7)? They reiterate that the king must tell them the dream in order to get the interpretation. How does Nebuchadnezzar respond to this (verse 8)? Nebuchadnezzar tells them outright that they are using a delaying tactic since the king would lose more of the dream as time goes by. Nebuchadnezzar presses them further in verse 9. How do the Chaldeans respond in verse 10? They inform the king that there is no man on earth that can tell him the dream and that no one has ever made such a request before. According to verse 11 who are the only ones who know what Nebuchadnezzar had dreamed? The gods are the only ones who know. What is Nebuchadnezzar's response to this (verse 12)? He is angry and commands that the all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. This decree would affect whom? Remember that Daniel and his friends were also considered to be a part of this group. What happens in verse 13? The decree goes out that all the wise men were to be killed. Daniel and his three friends are included.
What will happen next? Since there is a lot of the book of Daniel left, he obviously can't be killed, at least not yet. Will Daniel escape? Will he be able to save himself in some way? Stay tuned for the next part!
Next:
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