1 Samuel 29: 4 Commentary

To me, it is interesting that this is the first passage that mentions Satan. And it used to describe David!

In 1 Sam. 29:4 David is called Satan. Strong’s Ref. # 7854 Romanized as Satan.

PART 5
“History of the End of the World” by Jonathan Kirsch

A BACKGROUND HISTORY OF APOCALYPTIC WRITERS
The invention of Satan, the Anti-God, is a result of Jewish exile. This conception is a result of the Jews occupation, oppression and dis-empowerment at the hands of pagan kings and armies whom Jehovah seemed unwilling or able to defeat.

Jewish innovators set out tow work a theological revolution by raising the biblical Satan from divine counselor and public prosecutor (Job) to the new elevated role of master conspirator and maker of war on God himself.

Thus begins the apocalyptic tradition that will figure pre dominantly in Christian theology. Nowhere predominant than in the pages of Revelation.

HELLENISTIC CULTURE
Traditionally the end of the Babylonian Exile marks the end of prophecy. God was willing to speak in dreams and visions only to those in the distant past. Visions of the here and now are not readily accepted. Jewish Rabbis, at the time, were willing to imagine a savior who would bring the Jews peace and prosperity. They gave no credence to those who espoused an apocalypse of the end of the world.

Judea was invaded by Alexander the Great. He died at age 33 in 323 B.C., at the time he was already weeping for want of new worlds to conquer. The capture of this region brought Greek thought and culture. This is called Hellenism. Hellenism was readily accepted by the people in Judea.

Hellenism was deeply offensive to the fundamentalist Jews. They condemned their fellow Jews as ‘violators of the Law.’ There was a culture war as the Jews abandoned the rite of circumcision and the dietary laws. They participated in Greek games where they were naked.

Once Alexander died his empire was dived up amongst his generals. The Syrian dynasty was taken over by Seleucus. Thus, the Jews were a part of the Seleucidian dynasty. This dynasty produced a man called Antiochus IV. Whom called himself Aniochus Epiphanes (Antiochus the Manifistation of God).

Antiochus was troubled by the unsettled stat of affairs in Judea. The culture war on Hellenism was reaching a point of civil war. Jewish fundamentalists were seeking to align themselves with the rival Hellenistic monarch of Egypt. Antiochus marched into Judea and defeated Egypt in 168 B.C.

Judaism was criminalized. Anyone who didn’t hand over the Torah was subject of arrest, torture, and execution. These sparked the Maccabean Revolt against Syrian occupation led by Judah Maccabee.

A few charismatic authors began to tell tales that were intended to increase the resolve of the resistance fighters. Their stories were embellished to tell of a day of bloody revenge against their enemies.

In this atmosphere we will see the invention of Daniel.

By James Richter (wrote 536 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 8/22/2011 02:00 am

James R. GOD INDEED IS SOVERIEGN and is RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THINGS THAT HAPPEN-but their is no unrigtheousness with Him

O.T.-”“I am Jehovah, and there is none else; besides me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known me; that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none besides me: I am Jehovah, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil. I am Jehovah, who does all these things” (Isa. 45:5-7).

N.T.- He said to them, “You will surely say this proverb to Me,
‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in
Capernaum,[a] do also here in Your country.’” Then He said,
“Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own
country. But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel
in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years
and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all
the land; but to none of them was Elijah sent except to
Zarephath,in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.

And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha
the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except
Naaman the Syrian.”

So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things,
were filled with wrath,
and rose up and thrust Him out of
the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which
their city was built, that they might throw Him down over
the cliff. (Luke 4:23-29).

Though God may alseo create evil or leave alone other people..there is no unrightouesness with Him, THERE IS UNRIGTHEOUSNESS WITH US even now as we think bad of Him, God forgive us. As Romans 9:13-21.
“As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
Mal 1:2,3
What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Exod 33:19
So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Exod 9:16
Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
WE ARE NOTHING JAMES, YOU WANT TO EXALT YOURSELF OVER GOD? ME, I HUMBLE MYSELF BEFORE HIM COZ I KNOW I AM NOTHING!
Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Isa 29:16.
Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
Hath not Matt 20:15.

LOYALTY & FAITHFULNESS TO GOD IS NEEDED THAT YOU MAY BE INCLUDED INTO……………… “{ THE CALLED, THE CHOSEN AND THE FAITHFUL}”But if you will insist on your own judgement and righteousness over Him…then you have not repented of rebellion against the ETERNAL AND YOU WILL DIE IN YOUR SIN (see John 8:24).

PUT IT IN OUR HEAD JAMES, NO MATTER WHAT GOD DID, DOES OR WILL DO; NO MATTER WHAT HE SAID, SAY, OR WILL SAY, GOD IS ALWAYS RIGHT & HIS WORD IS TRUTH!

By TIUCHE (wrote 3262 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 8/20/2011 10:26 am

“History of the End of the World” by Jonathan Kirsch
A critical look at the book of Revelations.

Review by J.Richter.

PART 4
SATAN : THE CREATION OF AN ENEMY
When Satan is mentioned, he is the ‘accuser’ or ‘adversary.’ This is the literal meaning of the word ‘Satan.’ When the word is first used in the old testament it actually applies to King David. In 1 Sam. 29:4 David is called Satan. Strong’s Ref. # 7854 Romanized as Satan.

Satan is imagined to be the demonic counterpart to God. Satan is a powerful figure whom the Messiah would fight and defeat in the end times.

In the old testament Satan plays only a cameo role. He is never depicted as the arch-demon that the author of Revelations imagines him to be.

Satan’s power in the old testament is granted by God. God grants Satan power to test Job’s faith. The whole affair resembles a laboratory experiment in the limits of human endurance under torture.

Why do bad things happen go good people? The author of Revelation sets up “that old serpent, called the Devil” as the source of evil in the world. What we see from the old testament, their prophets care not about Satan. They embrace the idea that everything that is good or bad comes from God.

If the armies of Gog invade Israel, for example, it is because God sent them to do so. If Israel defeats the invaders it is because God grants them victory in battle. If the Israelites lose, they only have themselves to blame. God s the sole author of history and sole arbiter of what happens to mankind.

Moses brings a catalog of curses that God will bring to the children of Israel. “If you are not careful to do all of the words of the law written in this book, that you may fear his glorious and awful name, the Lord your God.

God afflicts his ‘Chosen People’ with plagues, strange and lasting. Starting with hemorrhoids, boil scars and itch. God continues to inflict madness, blindness and dismay. God brings conquest, dispersion, exile and enslavement to his people. “The Lord will bring a nation against you from afar.”

Hebrew prophets find fault only with the Israelites. They do not mention Satan at all. They do not blame the unhappy fate of the Israelites on various pagan kings who are shown in the bible to invade and conquer the land of Israel. According to the logic of the old testament, these oppressors are sent by God.

The idea that God is forced to struggle against an Anti-God is alien to the old testament prophets. This idea would be baffling and heretical.

By James Richter (wrote 536 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 8/20/2011 06:41 am