can't relate

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Does anyone else have trouble relating to some of what the Bible says? Things like *God sitting on His throne*? Some of the phrases used in the Bible are completely foreign to me. Throne. Tentmaking. Winepresses. Temple. Lots of other words. I understand the *meanings* but it doesn't give me a vital, living picture in my mind.

It's hard to read something that I can't relate to...

[Gail]

Pam, some of those things are covered in the topics in, "Biblical Lifestyles". I am endeavouring to do exactly that, to provide explanations about how life was in those times and hopefully give a key into the thinking of the people of the Bible.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

oh. okay.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

I remember one hymn in the old SDA hymnbook was called "Before Jehovah's Awful Throne." Just the title scared me on *that* one.

[Gail]

Yes, with the change in meanings over the years, I can imagine how a kid would picture that

Kinda like "standing on the promises" when we would get into trouble for standing on our Bibles

[Nan]

This description quoted from a letter I wrote to my mother in 1981, when Jared was 3 and a half and Wendy 5, illustrates the confusion in kids' minds:

One incident I don’t think I mentioned concerned singing Standing on the Promises. Some one had been singing that song and a bit later Jared was seen sitting on a stool with Wendy standing nearby. He was singing to roughly that tune, “Sitting on the Kingdom”. I explained that is not really the lyric but he grew quite indignant. Wendy was standing on the promises and he was sitting.

[John317]

I remember one hymn in the old SDA hymnbook was called "Before Jehovah's Awful Throne." Just the title scared me on *that* one.

In our post-modern day lots of people don't even see any meaning in the word "God." I have a friend at my work who thinks that word is meaningless, too., except as a word to use when he's really mad. But "Jehovah" doesn't help, usually. Most people, unless they go to church or were brought up in a Christian home where the Bible was read regularly, have never even heard the name Jehovah or only in connection with Jehovah's Witnesses.

Of course the name Jehovah itself is a mistake, the Hebrew lacking the J sound. Yet, is the most likely pronunciation, Yahweh, any more familiar?

"Heaven" doesn't mean very much to a lot of people today, either. Hell is more likely to have meaning than heaven. They can understand fire, but again it is a word they usually only use when they're angry, just like the word "God."

We live in a time when most people are Biblically illiterate and when many words and concepts that used to be common among English-speaking people are seldom used or whose meaning is obscure, such as in "Marching to Zion." People are likely to think when singing it that they would be sure to get lost if they had to start marching there today without any directions.

A lot of people don't even have a good grasp of such basic concepts as law, sin, and salvation. Saved from what and for what? The only thing they think they need salvation from is a low bank account.

And now, sadly, we have entered a time when the old hymns that all Adventists and even all Christians were familiar with are almost never sung in church. So many adults and most children have never heard them. Classics like "Onward Christian Soldiers," "The Old Rugged Cross," "I Saw One Weary," "Under His Wings," "Trust and Obey," and "Once to Every Man and Nation," all going the way of the Dodo bird.

We all need to take out our Bible's (which translation?) and our hymnals (what's that?!!) and become really familiar with them by reading or singing them every day. That's the only solution to their words and concepts being strange and unfamiliar or scary. When we do, we discover some really wonderful, awe-inspiring (or "awful") things in them, and then we are likely to have strong emotions associated with them.

[bevin]

I can't relate to the concept of 'worship' - it makes no sense to me at all.

I feel like 'Bones' on the TV show of the same name, watching these people do these mysterious rituals and not understand what they get out of it.

When we read the old literature, and then understand the old society, sometimes we can see that the modern people are misunderstanding the context.

For instance, the court system in the OT and NT times depended on who would declare themselves your protector, not did you do it. This puts a whole different light on the court system themes in the NT.

Simply put, the court system was about avoiding a fight. If some powerful person was your accuser, you had better find an even more powerful person as your protector.

Satan is a powerful accuser, but my Lord is an even more powerful protector.

/Bevin

[Gail]

Hmm... interesting!

[olger]

oh. okay.

Awe-ful is the more accurate meaning, Pam.

olger

[David Koot]

For instance, the court system in the OT and NT times depended on who would declare themselves your protector, not did you do it. This puts a whole different light on the court system themes in the NT.

Not according to God's direction in Scripture. God placed great emphasis on clearing the innocent, and He charged the judges to be just. Also, the principle of 'innocent until proven guilty' appears to have been supported by God's direction in Scripture.

[John317]

I can't relate to the concept of 'worship' - it makes no sense to me at all.

I feel like 'Bones' on the TV show of the same name, watching these people do these mysterious rituals and not understand what they get out of it.

Do you enjoy studying the Psalms? It is really all about worship. Worship is simply praising and thanking God for what you believe He has given you. It is more than that, of course, but you might start out with just giving him praise and thanks for life and for all the good that you experience in your life. At bottom worship is obedience and doing His will.

Quote:

...Simply put, the court system was about avoiding a fight. If some powerful person was your accuser, you had better find an even more powerful person as your protector.

Satan is a powerful accuser, but my Lord is an even more powerful protector.

/Bevin

Yes. The picture drawn for us in Zechariah 3 comes readily to mind, doesn't it? If we ask Him to be, Jesus becomes both the Judge and our defense attorney. And we know He has already defeated our accuser.

I don't want to give my accuser any more ammo. He already has enough, I'm afraid. I like to imagine Jesus saying to him, "Yeah you know you're right about him. He certainly committed his share of sins but that is how he used to be. He's put his faith in Me now and he's a changed person. He's agreed with my diagnosis and has allowed Me to begin the process of healing. I won't reject one who has put his complete trust in Me and demonstrated his loyalty to Me. Sit down, Satan, you've lost the battle over this one. A brand plucked out of the fire, he belongs to Me."