i once read somewhere,the reason there was a friendship between king saul and the witch of endor, was both of them were working in rebellion to God. darkness cannot fight darkness
That is an interesting thought, and I can see why the author of that statement came to that conclusion. The text makes it clear Saul had himself cut off communication with God by killing God's priests and hunting down God's anointed. God had also made it clear to Samuel that the Spirit of God had been removed from Saul because of his rebellion. There seems to be little question about that side of the equation. The situation is a bit more complex concerning the Witch of Endor. There are a lot of "if"s, there. Was she a Hebrew? Was the region of Endor under Saul's jurisdiction? Did she know and worship YHWH? Those are not slam-dunk answers. There is evidence that the region of Endor was not incorporated into Israel at that time, even though technically God had given it to the Hebrews. They just hadn't managed to colonize there yet. So it would stand to reason that Saul's command to drive out all workers of magic would not have had effect there. The witch herself clearly was well-known and working her craft. She may have recognized Saul's garb and accent as Hebrew, tipping her off of the danger in agreeing to his request. There would have been an uneasy detente between as-yet -unconquered areas bordering the nascent Israelite nation. She most likely was a native of Endor and a worshiper of their own gods. So it is also very possible she was not in rebellion against God, but was instead a Canaanite who did not know God, but only knew of God. Her ministrations to Saul reveal a kindness and generosity that goes way over the top. I wonder if she one day did come to know and worship God
Idk if you will ever see this or even read it, but something greatly disturbed me while listening to this wonderful and informative video. How do you "love" someone who continually walks all over you, how do you respond to someone who always takes advantage of you and misuses your goodness and kindness, though through no fault of their own but their uncontrollable emotions...how do you counteract the terrible misconduct done against you when the only way to get through to them is to stoop down to their level and become just as cruel as they are? How do I defend myself from someone who does not give credence to what I tell them, do I just let them walk all over me, treating them with respect and so called "love" when they don't do the same for me, do I just lay down and accept the wrong they do and continually do good to them out of "love" while they themselves will not change. I of course hate embracing that side of me, I hate doing bad to those who have done bad to me, but what choice do I have? How do I respond to someone with greater authority them me when they mistreat me, because I know for a fact that I can not accept that.
First, am so, so sad you are enduring what sounds like an ongoing and horrific situation. You and I can be confident God is angry and grieved over situations like what you describe. Genesis 6 and Exodus 1-2 are two examples that leap immediately to mind. What’s more, time and again God speaks in the strongest terms possible about those who abuse vulnerable people. This strikes at the very core of God’s ethos of love and justice. Throughout the gospels, Jesus is portrayed as the defender of the weak, disadvantaged, vulnerable, and marginalized. He is truly both our Savior and our Champion. Still, as you describe, there are situations and relationships we can find ourselves where we are being victimized or abused in some way. And though there are probably similarities between many experiences, no two are exactly the same or have exactly the same answer, because every situation involves real people, and every person is unique. It sounds like you could use some help, someone, or a few others, to stand with you, be there for you, and give you wise counsel. Sometimes accepting wise counsel and following through with it can take a tremendous amount of courage. Maybe that’s the direction of prayer God will guide you in as you call out to the Lord for a way through whatever it is you are experiencing-who can you turn to, in your life, who can help you in practical ways as well as with perspective and wisdom. Without knowing the particulars of your story, I can still hear your heart-you know to return evil with evil is never God’s way. However, there are more ways to return good than remaining in your current situation. The Apostle Paul acknowledges that even for married couples a time of separation may be prescribed for God to do work in those people’s lives. A time of separation in any relationship is sometimes the necessary next step for perspective, healing, cleansing, processing, and whatever other work needs to be done. Sometimes an individual needs time alone with God-Moses, Elijah, Elisha, John the Baptist, and Jesus are all examples, but there are plenty more. Sometimes we need others to come into our lives to clean us up and get us onto the road to recovery, think of the story of the Good Samaritan. Godspeed you in whatever the Lord is showing you to do next. It sounds like doing nothing, or the same thing is not the answer, at this point. Grace and Peace, Joanne
Can everyone explain to me what samuel meant when he said to saul why have you called me up does this mean that samuel was in the ground and not with God in heaven and therefore that when we die our souls go into the earth until armageddon or like I thought up to heaven with the lord confused sam uk
You ask some great questions! 1. Where did God's people go in death, before Christ? The answer is the Bosom of Abraham, something I wrote on recently graceandpeacejoanne.com/2021/05/27/1-peter-3-spirits-in-prison/ 2. Why did Samuel say, "called up"? There is certainly the sense in the Hebrew verb of being brought up, as in to ascend. But it is not the only meaning. In the verb tense use, (Hiphil) it also means to be roused, to be stirred up, and I think that is the best translation. Saul, why did you rouse me, why did you stir me up? Remember, the ancients used the euphemism of sleep to connote death, looking forward to that great and glorious day when all would be raised to life in the new heavens and earth. 3. Most Christians today envision death as the final portal to life with God in heaven. A minority of Christians see death as a long sleep until the day of resurrection. All Christians believe together that we await physical resurrection when Christ returns. Thanks for asking!
In Old Testament times the Fallen Spirits (all of us living on Earth) were restricted to Hell. Earth was the highest level of Satan's Kingdom and humans were born from below to incarnate on Earth and returned to Hell or to a spiritual world parallel to the earth depending upon the life they lived. There was no escape. When God and Christ determined that the time was right to launch a rescue mission a Spiritual Staging Post was established that was lower than Heaven but higher than Earth which would make it easier to guide and direct God's "Chosen" People as they worked to create the right conditions for Christ's incarnation. Angels guiding the Isralites would do so from that lower sphere and Heavenly Spirits would incarnate on earth and return there at the end of their earthly life to continue their work. Jesus referred to that sphere as Paradise from the Cross "This day you will be with Me in Paradise". Christ incarnated from Paradise and returned there to gather His army for the assault on Hell in order to defeat Satan and rewrite the terms and conditions under which Satan could retain His subjects - thus allowing all humans who wished to leave to begin their journey homewards.
By your own admission, the Mosaic myth is based on previous religions, and spirituality. Your story is ridiculous since there were the Nephilim (Genesis 6). His adversaries? Isn't he God? Omnipotent and omniscient? Exodus 20 he says "You shall have no other gods before me." Other gods? Which ones? Sounds like a jealous god who for some reason feels he has to be a dictator. Has it occurred to anyone following him that they may actually be following the wrong god? Much like people followed Hitler? Seemed like a good thing at the time, but turned out to be a pretty bad dude. Psalm 82:1 -> God presides in the great assembly; he gives judgement among the "gods." So many gods.... so many choices. Clearly, the bible indicates that there isn't simply a single god, just a bitchy one who wants humans to worship him. Does any "believer" actually READ their holy book?
Thank you for taking time to write that all out, Dean. You "sound" pretty passionate about your point of view, and you even took time to include scriptural citations. Am glad you are taking time to read through the Bible and think hard about what you are reading. I found I had many questions when I really sat with the Bible and mulled over what I was reading. It is what ultimately led my to grad school, to learn the original languages of the documents we call the books of the Bible, and to learn what I could from those disciplines that seek to understand ancient peoples--archaeology, anthropology, textual forensics and the like. Your interest sound keen enough to perhaps suggest you would find a similar education worthwhile.
![⌛ [David Elbaz] L’histoire de l’univers racontée par la lumière](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/yqbdE7oa9h0/mqdefault.jpg)
i once read somewhere,the reason there was a friendship between king saul and the witch of endor, was both of them were working in rebellion to God. darkness cannot fight darkness
That is an interesting thought, and I can see why the author of that statement came to that conclusion. The text makes it clear Saul had himself cut off communication with God by killing God's priests and hunting down God's anointed. God had also made it clear to Samuel that the Spirit of God had been removed from Saul because of his rebellion. There seems to be little question about that side of the equation.
The situation is a bit more complex concerning the Witch of Endor. There are a lot of "if"s, there. Was she a Hebrew? Was the region of Endor under Saul's jurisdiction? Did she know and worship YHWH? Those are not slam-dunk answers.
There is evidence that the region of Endor was not incorporated into Israel at that time, even though technically God had given it to the Hebrews. They just hadn't managed to colonize there yet. So it would stand to reason that Saul's command to drive out all workers of magic would not have had effect there.
The witch herself clearly was well-known and working her craft. She may have recognized Saul's garb and accent as Hebrew, tipping her off of the danger in agreeing to his request. There would have been an uneasy detente between as-yet -unconquered areas bordering the nascent Israelite nation. She most likely was a native of Endor and a worshiper of their own gods.
So it is also very possible she was not in rebellion against God, but was instead a Canaanite who did not know God, but only knew of God. Her ministrations to Saul reveal a kindness and generosity that goes way over the top. I wonder if she one day did come to know and worship God
Idk if you will ever see this or even read it, but something greatly disturbed me while listening to this wonderful and informative video.
How do you "love" someone who continually walks all over you, how do you respond to someone who always takes advantage of you and misuses your goodness and kindness, though through no fault of their own but their uncontrollable emotions...how do you counteract the terrible misconduct done against you when the only way to get through to them is to stoop down to their level and become just as cruel as they are? How do I defend myself from someone who does not give credence to what I tell them, do I just let them walk all over me, treating them with respect and so called "love" when they don't do the same for me, do I just lay down and accept the wrong they do and continually do good to them out of "love" while they themselves will not change.
I of course hate embracing that side of me, I hate doing bad to those who have done bad to me, but what choice do I have? How do I respond to someone with greater authority them me when they mistreat me, because I know for a fact that I can not accept that.
First, am so, so sad you are enduring what sounds like an ongoing and horrific situation. You and I can be confident God is angry and grieved over situations like what you describe. Genesis 6 and Exodus 1-2 are two examples that leap immediately to mind. What’s more, time and again God speaks in the strongest terms possible about those who abuse vulnerable people. This strikes at the very core of God’s ethos of love and justice.
Throughout the gospels, Jesus is portrayed as the defender of the weak, disadvantaged, vulnerable, and marginalized. He is truly both our Savior and our Champion. Still, as you describe, there are situations and relationships we can find ourselves where we are being victimized or abused in some way. And though there are probably similarities between many experiences, no two are exactly the same or have exactly the same answer, because every situation involves real people, and every person is unique.
It sounds like you could use some help, someone, or a few others, to stand with you, be there for you, and give you wise counsel. Sometimes accepting wise counsel and following through with it can take a tremendous amount of courage. Maybe that’s the direction of prayer God will guide you in as you call out to the Lord for a way through whatever it is you are experiencing-who can you turn to, in your life, who can help you in practical ways as well as with perspective and wisdom.
Without knowing the particulars of your story, I can still hear your heart-you know to return evil with evil is never God’s way. However, there are more ways to return good than remaining in your current situation. The Apostle Paul acknowledges that even for married couples a time of separation may be prescribed for God to do work in those people’s lives. A time of separation in any relationship is sometimes the necessary next step for perspective, healing, cleansing, processing, and whatever other work needs to be done. Sometimes an individual needs time alone with God-Moses, Elijah, Elisha, John the Baptist, and Jesus are all examples, but there are plenty more. Sometimes we need others to come into our lives to clean us up and get us onto the road to recovery, think of the story of the Good Samaritan.
Godspeed you in whatever the Lord is showing you to do next. It sounds like doing nothing, or the same thing is not the answer, at this point.
Grace and Peace, Joanne
Walk away , bonehead
Sister of the faith. Saint of YAHUSHA HAMASHIACH. Child of El -YAHUAH ELOHIYM. These videos are truly a blessing. Thank you. May YAH bless you. Amein
Excellent presentation. Thank you 🙏 - Silin 🌙
Thank so much!
You did a great job. Your video taught me so much and affirmed many things. Todah. Thank you :)
Thank you so much for your warm encouragement. (and I loved "todah!")
Wow thank you
Thank you. May God bless you.
I really enjoyed the narration
Thanks! And thanks for taking time out to send me that encouragement, I appreciate you.
Amein. Glory HALLELUYAH
Can everyone explain to me what samuel meant when he said to saul why have you called me up does this mean that samuel was in the ground and not with God in heaven and therefore that when we die our souls go into the earth until armageddon or like I thought up to heaven with the lord confused sam uk
You ask some great questions!
1. Where did God's people go in death, before Christ? The answer is the Bosom of Abraham, something I wrote on recently graceandpeacejoanne.com/2021/05/27/1-peter-3-spirits-in-prison/
2. Why did Samuel say, "called up"? There is certainly the sense in the Hebrew verb of being brought up, as in to ascend. But it is not the only meaning. In the verb tense use, (Hiphil) it also means to be roused, to be stirred up, and I think that is the best translation. Saul, why did you rouse me, why did you stir me up? Remember, the ancients used the euphemism of sleep to connote death, looking forward to that great and glorious day when all would be raised to life in the new heavens and earth.
3. Most Christians today envision death as the final portal to life with God in heaven. A minority of Christians see death as a long sleep until the day of resurrection. All Christians believe together that we await physical resurrection when Christ returns.
Thanks for asking!
Thank you for that makes more sense and thank you for sending me a personal reply samya
In Old Testament times the Fallen Spirits (all of us living on Earth) were restricted to Hell. Earth was the highest level of Satan's Kingdom and humans were born from below to incarnate on Earth and returned to Hell or to a spiritual world parallel to the earth depending upon the life they lived. There was no escape. When God and Christ determined that the time was right to launch a rescue mission a Spiritual Staging Post was established that was lower than Heaven but higher than Earth which would make it easier to guide and direct God's "Chosen" People as they worked to create the right conditions for Christ's incarnation. Angels guiding the Isralites would do so from that lower sphere and Heavenly Spirits would incarnate on earth and return there at the end of their earthly life to continue their work. Jesus referred to that sphere as Paradise from the Cross "This day you will be with Me in Paradise". Christ incarnated from Paradise and returned there to gather His army for the assault on Hell in order to defeat Satan and rewrite the terms and conditions under which Satan could retain His subjects - thus allowing all humans who wished to leave to begin their journey homewards.
You have the Spirit of YAH. And then you have the Holy Spirit which is innocent. Amein
By your own admission, the Mosaic myth is based on previous religions, and spirituality. Your story is ridiculous since there were the Nephilim (Genesis 6). His adversaries? Isn't he God? Omnipotent and omniscient? Exodus 20 he says "You shall have no other gods before me." Other gods? Which ones? Sounds like a jealous god who for some reason feels he has to be a dictator. Has it occurred to anyone following him that they may actually be following the wrong god? Much like people followed Hitler? Seemed like a good thing at the time, but turned out to be a pretty bad dude. Psalm 82:1 -> God presides in the great assembly; he gives judgement among the "gods." So many gods.... so many choices. Clearly, the bible indicates that there isn't simply a single god, just a bitchy one who wants humans to worship him. Does any "believer" actually READ their holy book?
Thank you for taking time to write that all out, Dean. You "sound" pretty passionate about your point of view, and you even took time to include scriptural citations. Am glad you are taking time to read through the Bible and think hard about what you are reading.
I found I had many questions when I really sat with the Bible and mulled over what I was reading. It is what ultimately led my to grad school, to learn the original languages of the documents we call the books of the Bible, and to learn what I could from those disciplines that seek to understand ancient peoples--archaeology, anthropology, textual forensics and the like.
Your interest sound keen enough to perhaps suggest you would find a similar education worthwhile.