____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ June 13, 1999 ____________________________________________________ Who Were the "Amorites"? by Craig Meyer The terms ``Amorite'' and ``Amorites'' appear 26 and 60 times, respectively, in the American Standard Version of the Bible, totaling 86 occurrences. The Amorites are first mentioned as early as Gen. 10:16 as having descended from Canaan, the son of Ham. They, along with many other tribes, occupied the pre-conquest territory of Canaan. ``Amorite'' may have signified either a single ethnic clan or a loose confederacy of tribes. At times, the Amorite name seems to be synonymous with ``Canaanite'' and to represent all non-Israelites whom God commanded to be driven from the land (Josh. 10:5; 24:8,15; Jgs. 6:10). The Amorite name means literally ``the high one'' and may refer to one (or more) of three possibilities: 1. the mountainous terrain of the land they occupied (Num. 13:29; Deut. 1:7,19-20); 2. their fearsome military prowess (Deut. 1:44); or 3. their great stature (Num. 13:33). If #1 was intended then Amorite would stand for ``highlander'' or ``mountaineer.'' If #2 or #3, then the concept of ``the high [and mighty] one'' was implied. It is possible that a combination of more than one idea inhered in the name. It is quite likely that at one time the Amorites were the most powerful of all the pagan clans in Palestine. The Babylonians called Syria-Palestine ``the land of the Amorites'' (International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, I:119). In the first stage of conquest, O.T. texts label the men of Ai (Josh. 7:7), along with the armies of Sihon and Og (Num. 21:21-35), as formidable Amorite foes. Future Israelite generations would later view these events as significant turning points in their history (Neh. 9:22; Psa. 135:10-12; Amos 2:9-10). By the time of Samuel's judgeship, ``there was peace between Israel and the Amorites'' (1 Sam. 7:14). Less than a century later, Solomon forced menial servitude upon the last few survivors (1 Kgs. 9:20-21). The Amorites are last mentioned by the prophet Amos (2:10), apparently either having died out as a race or absorbed into Israel. All that is left is but a memory of their great sin (cf. 1 Kgs. 21:26; 2 Kgs. 21:11). On several occasions God reiterated His promise to give Abraham a land ``flowing with milk and honey.'' Yet the godly patriarch did not inherit the land in his time because ``the iniquity of the Amorites [was] not yet full'' (Gen. 15:16). Here we see the grace and longsuffering of Jehovah even toward those who were not His covenant people. I refer the reader to this insightful observation on Gen. 15:16 from the commentary of Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown: ``The statement implies that there is a progress in the course of sin and vice among nations as well as with individuals, and that, although it be long permitted, by the tolerant spirit of the Divine government, to go on with impunity, it will at length reach a culminating point, where, in the retributions of a righteous Providence, the punishment of the sinner, even in this world, is inevitable.'' In closing, I believe that we can learn at least three lessons from the Amorites. First, we must never worship their gods. Only the one, true, living God is worthy of our adoration--impotent idols cannot compete with the omnipotent I AM. Second, we must never become so intoxicated with human strength that we forget the Divine power that can drive us to our knees (Dan. 4:28-37), yea, even unto oblivion's dust (Matt. 23:12; 25:41,46; Jas. 4:8-10,12a). Third, we must remember that God gives both men and nations time and opportunity to repent of their sin (cf. Rev. 2:20-21). The Amorite nation despised God's goodness and longsuffering by refusing to repent of their sin (cf. Rom. 2:4); the Lord's judgment upon them was most severe. Anyone who imitates their rebellion will one day ``lift up his eyes in torment'' and eternally regret it (Rom. 2:5; Matt. 10:28; Rev. 2:22-23). -- Via Watchman Magazine, May 1998 ___________________________________________ Superfluous Verbalizations by Jim R. Everett There may be one of two intentions when one prays publicly -- first, to be seen of men; or second, to talk to God. Some folks think that Jesus was condemning praying publicly when He said, ''...But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret'' (Matthew 6:6). But, what He is really condemning is not public prayer -- it is praying in public to be ``seen of men'' (v. 5). One thing is for sure, when one is in his closet praying, he isn't too concerned about man's evaluation of his prayer -- unless he has made sure that someone saw him going into his closet. He could spend a long time there hoping to impress someone with his long, devout praying. In that instance, closet praying would be just as wrong as street corner praying. As in the other instances in Matthew 6, Jesus tells disciples that they are not to be as the hypocrites are who love to practice their acts of worship in order that they may have the praise of men. Jesus said, ``They have their reward'' and the significance of that statement is, ``And that's all they are going to get.'' Even public praying should be done ``in secret''; that is, it should be isolated from the pride of self that seeks man's approval. How do ``vain repetitions'' fit into what Jesus is saying about wrong prayers and right prayers? Is it wrong to repeat oneself in the same prayer? Is it wrong to keep praying for the same thing? ``Vain repetitions'' (KJV) are literally ``empty words'' and what Jesus meant is expanded by His statement, ''...for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking'' (v. 7). ``Vain repetitions'' are superfluous verbalizations -- valueless utterances. Prayers which are repeated petitions for the same need are not wrong. In fact, Jesus taught persistence in prayer in the parable of the widow and the unjust judge (Luke 18:1-8). Little children who begin to pray are inclined to go into great detail and get very specific when they offer thanks to God for ``Mommy and Daddy, and Mimi and Papaw, and the beans, and the meat, and the potatoes, and the salt, and the pepper, and the knives....'' From the mouth of babes comes the sweetest praise. However, prayers that contain a lot of ``filler'' are prayers which are shallow and the one who offers is not praying so that God will hear -- he is praying so that others will be impressed with the quantity. The hypocrites serve as a good negative example. And the model prayer Jesus gave His disciples in Matthew 6:9-15, is beautiful because it is concisely thorough. When we pray, let us pray to God and not to men. ___________________________________________ Out of Fellowship by Joe Fitch Brethren get disturbed over talk about ``disfellowshipping'' folk. This usually amounts to nothing more than marking some names off the directory. I doubt a church can ``withdraw fellowship'' -- at least from some of these brethren. Let me explain. Fellowship (koinonia) is joint participation, partnership, partaking (see Thayer or Vine). Thus, ``withdrawing fellowship'' would be dissolving the partnership and terminating the participation together. Fellowship with God (church universal 1 JO. 1:1-7) is through obedience -- ``walking in the light.'' When a man does as God directs, he is in fellowship; when he rebels, God severs relationship with him (JOH. 15:1-6). Some ``brethren'' couldn't care less what God says. Withdraw this fellowship from such people? They have already broken fellowship with God. Nevertheless remember, God never charged men with keeping his roll book. He adds (ACT. 2:47); he blots out (EXO. 32:33). Doubtless, God has already pruned the trees of such rotten and fruitless branches! The local church is a fellowship in things saints do together. The Lord's supper is fellowship (communion koinonia, 1 CO. 10:16) with the body and blood of Jesus, and it is observed together with other Christians. Some never participate with other saints in this memorial. Praying together is fellowship, but these folk add no amen. Neither do they mingle their voices with other saints in singing praise and thanksgiving -- yet singing together is fellowship. Class study, sharing the fruit of our research, admonishing and correcting each other is fellowship but many go fishing instead. Pooling our money to provide for the work of the congregation is fellowship, but their mite is not in the treasury. These ``brethren'' do not attend, hence, they are not in this fellowship! The congregational fellowship is also the daily partnership of saints in things of the kingdom. It is a man working together with a preacher to convert a sinner (GAL. 6:6 -- communicate koinoneo). It is ministering to the sick, comforting the distressed, supporting the weak, and supplying the needs of the destitute. It is weeping with those that weep and rejoicing with those that rejoice (ROM. 12:15). It is hands joined in the work of God but many brethren never ``soil their hands'' in such activities. Withdraw fellowship? How? There is no fellowship to withdraw! Anyway, where in the Bible did we read about ``withdrawing fellowship''? I am not opposed to scriptural discipline; God demands it. See MAT. 18:15-17; ROM. 16:17; 1 CO. 5:1-13; 1 TH. 5:14; 2 TH. 3:6-15; 1 TI. 6:3-5; 2 JO. 9-11. Plainer commands cannot be found, and we can do what they require -- ``warn them,'' ``mark them,'' ``avoid them,'' ``with such...not to eat,'' ``reject,'' ``withdraw yourselves.'' Yet all this is not in order to disfellowship. But because man through sin has already broken fellowship with God and his saints. Such drastic measures are the last efforts aimed at restoring fellowship -- gaining a brother (MAT. 18:15). -- Via Plain Talk, September, 1969 ___________________________________________ Greetings to all of our visitors! We are thankful for your being here. Please come again! ___________________________________________ World Affairs and Your Life by Jere E. Frost The nightly news is not the story of your life. ``The news'' is dominated by world affairs, the politics of our nation, sports and the weather. But your life is made up of the decisions that you have made, the decisions of each day, and how you have carried them out. Who rules, the sports heroes and weather are all matters of the moment, but you -- you are a creature of eternity. Who the Roman Caesar was at a given time made a significant difference, for some of them were cruel and persecuted Christians heartlessly. Others were men of considerable justice. If the Caesar to whom Paul appealed had not been replaced by Nero, it is entirely possible that he would not have been put to death. So politics can and do make a difference, a big difference, in many ways. But infinitely more important than who ruled, and how their rule affected Paul's physical wellbeing, is Paul's own relationship with God. That mattered then, and it still matters today! Much of what we see and hear has to do with what matters only a little, if it matters at all. Who was the greatest athlete in the world in the first century AD? Who knows, and who cares -- right? And as time marches on, it matters less and less. Who was the greatest of the pharaohs? Who was the greatest Caesar? How many Romans worried and fretted about Caesar's policies, and who the next Caesar would be, who never gave any serious thought to God and their own spiritual and moral certitude? Caesars, pharaohs, prime ministers, kings, emperors, presidents, governors and senators come and go. Who they are, and their righteousness and wisdom, or wickedness and folly, greatly affects the well-being of their subjects. We are to pray for them, for they affect our lives. When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn'' (Proverbs 29:2). ``I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty'' (I Timothy 2:1,2). Because we are so affected by powers that are beyond us, and are able to watch the nightly news as spectators, we may mistakenly think of ourselves more as onlookers than performers. Yet you are in the world, and your life is just as sovereign, just as much as anyone including a president or celebrity. Whether the rulers are wise or otherwise, neither their sagacity nor folly alters the simple fact that we must personally make moral and spiritual judgments. We also are on the stage of life! It is out of the decisions that we make in the common day that we will reap an eternal destiny. You are either for or against your Lord; you are either serving or doing a disservice. As Jesus said: ``He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad'' (Matthew 12:30). Do not let the sideshow of world politics, sports and entertainment distract you from your own life. -- Via The Bulletin of the North Courtenay church of Christ, March 7, 1999 ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 1314 Montgomery Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________