WEBVTT - The Dead Sea Scrolls 0:00:07.880 --> 0:00:12.740 In 1947, Bedouin shepherds stumbled upon a remarkable discovery in 0:00:12.740 --> 0:00:16.640 the Judean Desert seven scrolls tucked into clay jars in 0:00:16.640 --> 0:00:19.610 the back of a cave. But not just any scrolls. 0:00:19.610 --> 0:00:21.470 These were the first of what came to be known 0:00:21.470 --> 0:00:24.740 as the Dead Sea Scrolls. Hey, stick around to learn 0:00:24.739 --> 0:00:27.320 how you can see some of these scrolls in person 0:00:27.320 --> 0:00:30.920 without traveling to Israel. Plus the latest headlines from the 0:00:30.920 --> 0:00:33.410 Middle East. Hey, welcome to this week's edition of The 0:00:33.409 --> 0:00:36.380 Land and the book. If we haven't met, I'm John Gager, 0:00:36.380 --> 0:00:38.960 and our Middle East authority is Doctor Charlie Dyer. How 0:00:38.990 --> 0:00:39.830 are you doing, Charlie? 0:00:39.860 --> 0:00:41.870 John, I'm doing great as we end this year and 0:00:41.870 --> 0:00:43.190 get ready to start the new one. 0:00:43.190 --> 0:00:45.860 Well, speaking of the end of this year, many world 0:00:45.860 --> 0:00:48.949 events have left us wondering what God's plan is for 0:00:48.950 --> 0:00:52.100 the future. And that's especially true when it comes to Israel. 0:00:52.130 --> 0:00:55.400 Despite its tiny size, people around the world are just 0:00:55.400 --> 0:00:59.209 intensely focused on what takes place. There are today's headlines, 0:00:59.210 --> 0:01:02.660 we wonder, connected in any way with prophecies in the Bible? 0:01:02.660 --> 0:01:05.780 And how should followers of Jesus interpret current events as 0:01:05.780 --> 0:01:07.459 we await Christ's second coming? 0:01:07.490 --> 0:01:10.640 To help answer those important questions, our friends at Life 0:01:10.640 --> 0:01:14.600 and Messiah encourage you to check out their book, God, Israel, 0:01:14.600 --> 0:01:18.380 and Bible Prophecy with Scripture as its foundation. This book 0:01:18.380 --> 0:01:20.630 will take you on a journey into what God has 0:01:20.630 --> 0:01:23.990 in store, both for the Jewish people and the nations. 0:01:24.020 --> 0:01:26.330 The book is for anyone who wants to explore where 0:01:26.330 --> 0:01:30.080 modern day events fit on God's grand timeline. Now, if 0:01:30.080 --> 0:01:32.570 that's you or someone you know, this would be a 0:01:32.569 --> 0:01:37.190 great resource or gift. Visit Life in Messiah. Org and 0:01:37.190 --> 0:01:39.590 click on the Moody Radio button to find out how 0:01:39.590 --> 0:01:43.970 you can receive your copy of God, Israel and Bible Prophecy. 0:01:43.970 --> 0:01:46.910 That's life in messiah.org. 0:01:47.090 --> 0:01:49.309 Well, as you've pointed out, Charlie, we're at the end 0:01:49.310 --> 0:01:52.010 of the year and boy, that has slipped by, hasn't it? 0:01:52.010 --> 0:01:54.980 But before we flip the page on the calendar to 0:01:55.010 --> 0:01:57.620 a new calendar, let's look back at the top stories 0:01:57.620 --> 0:02:00.420 of the past year. The major event had to be 0:02:00.420 --> 0:02:03.870 the Multi-front War fought by Israel. What were the highs 0:02:03.870 --> 0:02:05.970 and lows of this military struggle? 0:02:06.000 --> 0:02:08.639 You know, this is the longest and most brutal war 0:02:08.639 --> 0:02:12.329 Israel has faced since its war of independence back in 1948. 0:02:12.360 --> 0:02:15.840 They had to fight both Hamas and Hezbollah. They also 0:02:15.840 --> 0:02:18.540 traded blows with Iran, with the Houthis and the Shiite 0:02:18.570 --> 0:02:22.350 militants in Iraq. And in addition, they experienced terror attacks 0:02:22.350 --> 0:02:25.170 from within their own borders. The highs over the past 0:02:25.169 --> 0:02:28.920 year definitely include the dramatic attacks against Hezbollah, thought to 0:02:28.950 --> 0:02:32.070 be the most powerful of Iran's allies, from the exploding 0:02:32.070 --> 0:02:36.300 pagers to the effective elimination of Hezbollah's leadership, including their 0:02:36.300 --> 0:02:40.530 long term head, Hassan Nasrallah. Israel decimated the group, forcing 0:02:40.530 --> 0:02:43.470 them to agree to a ceasefire and relocate their forces 0:02:43.470 --> 0:02:46.920 to a line north of the Litani River. Israel also 0:02:46.919 --> 0:02:50.580 devastated Hamas, destroying most of their brigades and killing their 0:02:50.580 --> 0:02:55.290 key political and military leadership, including Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, 0:02:55.290 --> 0:02:59.720 and Mohammed Deif. They also destroyed much of the military infrastructure, 0:02:59.720 --> 0:03:05.239 including underground tunnels, rockets, and manufacturing facilities. Israel attacked Iran 0:03:05.240 --> 0:03:08.419 in response to rockets Iran fired at them. They eliminated 0:03:08.419 --> 0:03:12.950 most of Iran's anti-aircraft sites, making Iran vulnerable to future attacks, 0:03:12.950 --> 0:03:17.720 and they eliminated Iran's ability to manufacture additional solid fuel rockets. 0:03:17.750 --> 0:03:20.810 Now the lows for Israel over the past year. That 0:03:20.810 --> 0:03:25.070 includes especially the toll in human life. Around 900 soldiers 0:03:25.070 --> 0:03:28.549 and police have been killed in the ongoing conflict. Another 0:03:28.550 --> 0:03:30.919 low is the impact of the war on Israel's economy. 0:03:30.950 --> 0:03:35.450 Service time for reservists in the IDF averaged 136 days 0:03:35.450 --> 0:03:39.020 per year. Some businesses failed, others were forced to cut back, 0:03:39.020 --> 0:03:41.930 and families struggled to get by financially with the loss 0:03:41.930 --> 0:03:44.930 of income. We saw that John firsthand back in March, 0:03:44.930 --> 0:03:49.010 when we visited a company that normally employs about 150 people. 0:03:49.010 --> 0:03:51.619 Most of the desks were empty, with just a handful 0:03:51.620 --> 0:03:54.260 of people still in place. The rest were either called 0:03:54.260 --> 0:03:56.540 up for reserve duty or furlough due to the lack 0:03:56.540 --> 0:04:00.380 of work and sadly, the conflict still isn't over. Though 0:04:00.410 --> 0:04:03.050 hopefully things are finally winding down. 0:04:03.080 --> 0:04:05.750 Well, the second major story of the year was the 0:04:05.750 --> 0:04:10.640 surprising rise in anti-Semitism worldwide, in response to Israel's fight 0:04:10.640 --> 0:04:14.480 against Hamas and Hezbollah. What was behind this dramatic rise? 0:04:14.510 --> 0:04:17.270 You know, analysts point to a variety of causes, including 0:04:17.270 --> 0:04:20.540 the apparent disparity between the number of casualties in Israel 0:04:20.540 --> 0:04:23.299 and the number in Gaza. The problem here is that 0:04:23.300 --> 0:04:26.659 the numbers provided by Hamas can't be verified and don't 0:04:26.660 --> 0:04:30.560 distinguish between civilians and fighters. Hamas was quick to report 0:04:30.560 --> 0:04:33.380 mass casualty events, even though many turned out to be 0:04:33.380 --> 0:04:36.740 inaccurate or downright false. But by the time the truth 0:04:36.740 --> 0:04:40.700 finally came out, the damage was already done. Those reasons alone, however, 0:04:40.730 --> 0:04:45.080 don't account for the dramatic rise in anti-Semitism. For example, 0:04:45.080 --> 0:04:48.830 protests began on college campuses on October 8th, the day 0:04:48.830 --> 0:04:52.970 after Hamas killed over 1200 Israelis and before Israel was 0:04:52.970 --> 0:04:57.550 able to respond, anti-Semitism was always there, just below the surface. 0:04:57.580 --> 0:05:01.240 October 7th gave those who hate the Jews an opportunity 0:05:01.240 --> 0:05:05.620 to publicly demonstrate that hatred under the guise of supporting Hezbollah, 0:05:05.650 --> 0:05:10.360 Hamas and the Palestinians. But let me dig even deeper, John. Bigotry, 0:05:10.360 --> 0:05:13.510 prejudice and the wickedness of the human heart are also 0:05:13.510 --> 0:05:17.350 key reasons for anti-Semitism. But I believe the ultimate cause 0:05:17.380 --> 0:05:20.650 for anti-Semitism can be traced back to Satan and his 0:05:20.680 --> 0:05:25.299 opposition to God. anti-Semitism has Satan's fingerprints all over it. 0:05:25.330 --> 0:05:28.480 He rebelled against God. Originally, he tried to kill God's 0:05:28.480 --> 0:05:31.539 Messiah at his first coming, and he's actively trying to 0:05:31.540 --> 0:05:35.410 turn the world against God's chosen people before the Messiah returns. 0:05:35.440 --> 0:05:38.409 The rise in anti-Semitism over the past year is a 0:05:38.410 --> 0:05:42.130 reminder that Satan hates God. He hates God's people, and 0:05:42.130 --> 0:05:45.400 he hates God's program. And it's also a reminder that 0:05:45.400 --> 0:05:47.860 we need to stand up for the Jewish people and 0:05:47.860 --> 0:05:50.050 for Israel's right to exist as a nation in their 0:05:50.050 --> 0:05:52.750 own land, a land which, by the way, was promised 0:05:52.779 --> 0:05:54.160 to them by God. 0:05:54.220 --> 0:05:57.250 You're listening to The Land and the book from Moody Radio. 0:05:57.279 --> 0:06:00.460 Our host is Doctor Charlie Dyer, noted Middle East expert. 0:06:00.490 --> 0:06:03.760 I'm John Gager, and our third major story of the 0:06:03.760 --> 0:06:07.660 year looks at the International Criminal Court, which charged Israel 0:06:07.660 --> 0:06:11.229 and her leaders with genocide and war crimes. What's the 0:06:11.230 --> 0:06:14.320 impact of these charges? And is Israel guilty? 0:06:14.350 --> 0:06:16.900 Well, in terms of the impact of the charges, they 0:06:16.900 --> 0:06:19.570 do make it difficult on Israel as a country and 0:06:19.600 --> 0:06:23.500 on individual Israelis. Israel's leaders are threatened with arrest if 0:06:23.500 --> 0:06:26.320 they visit a country that's a member of the ICC. 0:06:26.350 --> 0:06:30.010 This also opens the door for countries to boycott Israeli products. 0:06:30.040 --> 0:06:33.250 Israeli soldiers who fought in Gaza or Lebanon are in 0:06:33.250 --> 0:06:36.130 danger of being arrested and charged with war crimes for 0:06:36.130 --> 0:06:39.160 serving in the military. So the bottom line, though, is 0:06:39.160 --> 0:06:42.940 Israel guilty? Well, they're not. In fact, over the past year, 0:06:42.940 --> 0:06:45.789 Israel demonstrated that it's done more than any army in 0:06:45.790 --> 0:06:49.870 history to protect civilians while fighting in an urban environment 0:06:49.870 --> 0:06:54.219 against an enemy who deliberately embedded itself among civilians, using 0:06:54.220 --> 0:06:57.610 them as human shields. Israel filed two appeals against the 0:06:57.610 --> 0:07:01.870 arrest warrants, the first focused on serious procedural deficiencies in 0:07:01.870 --> 0:07:04.750 the ICC decision, and the second dealt with the claim 0:07:04.750 --> 0:07:09.190 that the ICC lacks any jurisdiction over Israelis. Could there 0:07:09.220 --> 0:07:13.690 be individual instances where soldiers committed war crimes? Yeah, that's 0:07:13.690 --> 0:07:17.320 true of every war ever fought. And Israel, just like 0:07:17.320 --> 0:07:21.640 the US, has a mechanism for prosecuting individual soldiers for 0:07:21.640 --> 0:07:24.850 war crimes. But Israel didn't invade Gaza to try and 0:07:24.850 --> 0:07:28.120 wipe out the Palestinian people. They invaded to defeat an 0:07:28.120 --> 0:07:31.270 enemy that had attacked them. And they called on civilians 0:07:31.270 --> 0:07:34.000 within Gaza to move out of areas they're about to attack. 0:07:34.030 --> 0:07:37.270 You know what nation telegraphs its plan of attack, putting 0:07:37.270 --> 0:07:40.900 its own soldiers in harm's way to spare civilians? Well, 0:07:40.900 --> 0:07:43.870 that's what Israel did. Thankfully, the United States has made 0:07:43.870 --> 0:07:46.990 it clear that we believe the charges have no merit. 0:07:47.020 --> 0:07:50.470 There has been genocide, but it's been committed by Hamas 0:07:50.500 --> 0:07:52.780 and Hezbollah, not Israel. 0:07:52.810 --> 0:07:54.760 The final story of the year has to be the 0:07:54.760 --> 0:07:58.600 ongoing hostage drama and the related opposition to Prime Minister 0:07:58.600 --> 0:08:01.750 Netanyahu on the part of many Israelis. How do these 0:08:01.750 --> 0:08:03.220 two pieces interconnect? 0:08:03.250 --> 0:08:05.950 Yeah, well, one reason Hamas chose to attack when they 0:08:05.950 --> 0:08:09.760 did was the very public division within Israel, between the 0:08:09.760 --> 0:08:12.820 government and those who were opposed to it. The specific 0:08:12.820 --> 0:08:14.830 issue was a plan on the part of the coalition 0:08:14.830 --> 0:08:18.040 to reform Israel's legal system. Now, what got lost in 0:08:18.040 --> 0:08:20.290 all of the protests is the fact that some of 0:08:20.290 --> 0:08:22.930 the reforms would have made their system more like that 0:08:22.930 --> 0:08:26.650 in the U.S., adding additional checks and balances to keep 0:08:26.650 --> 0:08:30.160 the judiciary from exerting too much power to Hamas as 0:08:30.160 --> 0:08:32.710 they looked at all the conflict. It appeared that Israel 0:08:32.710 --> 0:08:36.520 was imploding, and this encouraged them to attack. One tactic 0:08:36.550 --> 0:08:39.430 they've used in the past was to capture hostages, to 0:08:39.460 --> 0:08:42.220 try to keep Israel from responding. And in this case, 0:08:42.220 --> 0:08:45.819 Israel initially came together as a nation to oppose Hamas 0:08:45.820 --> 0:08:48.250 and to push for the return of the hostages. That 0:08:48.250 --> 0:08:51.220 was a highlight for Israel in terms of their unity. 0:08:51.220 --> 0:08:55.209 But Hamas scattered the hostages throughout Gaza, making their rescue 0:08:55.240 --> 0:08:59.559 extremely difficult. Hamas then demanded Israel stop its attack, withdraw 0:08:59.559 --> 0:09:02.710 from Gaza and allow Hamas to remain in power as 0:09:02.710 --> 0:09:06.280 conditions for the return of the hostages. Israel set two 0:09:06.309 --> 0:09:09.309 goals in this war with Hamas defeat and remove Hamas 0:09:09.309 --> 0:09:12.550 from power and bring back all the hostages. But as 0:09:12.550 --> 0:09:16.240 the war dragged on, those goals seemed to become mutually exclusive. 0:09:16.270 --> 0:09:20.410 The fractures within Israel resurfaced, and those opposed to Netanyahu 0:09:20.410 --> 0:09:25.150 claimed he was prolonging the war for his own personal benefit, which, sadly, 0:09:25.150 --> 0:09:28.780 just isn't true. Hamas saw political benefit in keeping the 0:09:28.780 --> 0:09:32.829 hostages until Israel agreed to all its demands. Now, as 0:09:32.830 --> 0:09:35.320 this year ends, we might, and I use the word 0:09:35.320 --> 0:09:40.089 might be seeing a way forward. Hamas is feeling more isolated. 0:09:40.120 --> 0:09:43.359 Israel didn't allow U.S. pressure to force them to back 0:09:43.360 --> 0:09:47.199 off in the fight against Hamas. They kept advancing inside Gaza, 0:09:47.200 --> 0:09:51.790 further degrading Hamas's military capabilities. And as the year ends, 0:09:51.790 --> 0:09:54.700 the hope in everyone's mind is that the release of 0:09:54.700 --> 0:09:58.630 the remaining hostages might finally be close at hand. It's 0:09:58.630 --> 0:10:02.050 certainly time to bring them home, and the threats by 0:10:02.050 --> 0:10:05.350 president elect Trump seem to be helping in that regard. 0:10:05.350 --> 0:10:07.660 But the same can't be said for the opposition to 0:10:07.690 --> 0:10:11.080 Netanyahu on the part of a significant number of Israelis 0:10:11.080 --> 0:10:13.780 that opposition is likely to continue. 0:10:13.809 --> 0:10:16.540 Charlie, isn't it true in one sense that although it's 0:10:16.540 --> 0:10:19.660 bad for the hostages and their families, the longer this 0:10:19.660 --> 0:10:22.510 thing continues to play out, it seems to weaken the 0:10:22.510 --> 0:10:25.390 position of Hamas. It makes their lives more difficult. 0:10:25.420 --> 0:10:27.579 Well, what I would say is it makes the lives 0:10:27.580 --> 0:10:31.270 of the people in Gaza definitely more difficult. Sadly, Hamas 0:10:31.270 --> 0:10:34.450 have been hijacking the aid trucks that have come in. 0:10:34.570 --> 0:10:37.600 The individual Hamas fighters are doing much better than the 0:10:37.600 --> 0:10:40.960 average person within Gaza, but Hamas doesn't care about them. 0:10:40.960 --> 0:10:42.400 And that's what's sad. 0:10:42.429 --> 0:10:44.590 Let me ask you to put on your thinking cap here. 0:10:44.590 --> 0:10:47.800 What's a likely six month forecast for both Syria and Lebanon. 0:10:47.830 --> 0:10:50.199 The situations there, Syria and Lebanon. 0:10:50.230 --> 0:10:53.410 Unfortunately, we're likely to see a Sunni Islamic state come 0:10:53.410 --> 0:10:57.340 into play for Lebanon. There's perhaps a little bit more hope. 0:10:57.340 --> 0:11:00.460 The lifeline to Hezbollah has been cut off with Iran 0:11:00.460 --> 0:11:03.309 not being able to resupply them. And there's a possibility 0:11:03.309 --> 0:11:06.429 at least of a government forming in Lebanon that could 0:11:06.460 --> 0:11:09.400 hold Hezbollah in check and not let them become, again, 0:11:09.429 --> 0:11:11.080 a state within a state. 0:11:11.110 --> 0:11:13.150 All right. And that's a look at current events and 0:11:13.150 --> 0:11:15.339 a little bit of a forecast of what's likely ahead 0:11:15.340 --> 0:11:18.700 in Syria and Lebanon. I'm looking forward to our conversation 0:11:18.700 --> 0:11:20.890 coming up next, where we're talking about the Dead Sea 0:11:20.920 --> 0:11:23.530 Scrolls and how you can see some of them right 0:11:23.530 --> 0:11:26.650 here in the United States of America. That's a great conversation. 0:11:26.679 --> 0:11:44.800 Up next on the Land and the book. In 1947, 0:11:44.800 --> 0:11:49.350 Bedouin shepherds stumbled upon a remarkable discovery in the Judean Desert. 0:11:49.380 --> 0:11:53.309 Seven scrolls tucked away into clay jars in the back 0:11:53.309 --> 0:11:56.070 of a cave. But not just any scrolls. These were 0:11:56.070 --> 0:11:57.870 the first of what came to be known as the 0:11:57.870 --> 0:12:02.040 Dead Sea Scrolls. Over the next decade, thousands of manuscript 0:12:02.070 --> 0:12:05.880 fragments from 11 different caves were discovered near the ancient 0:12:05.880 --> 0:12:10.170 site of Qumran, dating back two millennia. These fragile parchments, 0:12:10.170 --> 0:12:13.199 preserved by the dry climate and darkness of the caves, 0:12:13.200 --> 0:12:16.800 represent the oldest known copies of the Hebrew Bible, which 0:12:16.800 --> 0:12:19.830 we refer to as the Old Testament. But here's the shocker. 0:12:19.860 --> 0:12:23.760 Eight of those scrolls and more than 200 artifacts are 0:12:23.760 --> 0:12:26.310 part of a special exhibition that you can see now 0:12:26.309 --> 0:12:30.300 for yourself at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California. 0:12:30.330 --> 0:12:33.480 Are you intrigued? Well, I am. Hey, welcome to segment 0:12:33.510 --> 0:12:36.510 two of The Land and the book. I'm John Gager. 0:12:36.540 --> 0:12:40.829 Joining our conversation today is Melissa Giller, chief marketing officer 0:12:40.830 --> 0:12:45.400 for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute. Melissa oversees 0:12:45.400 --> 0:12:49.150 the marketing, the public relations, social media center for public affairs, 0:12:49.150 --> 0:12:53.410 programming and facility rental business for the Foundation. While working 0:12:53.410 --> 0:12:56.740 for that foundation, Melissa has helped secure the special exhibitions 0:12:56.740 --> 0:12:59.620 that are housed at the library, helping make the Reagan 0:12:59.620 --> 0:13:03.699 Library the most visited museum in the presidential library system. 0:13:03.700 --> 0:13:07.689 That said, welcome to the land and the book. Melissa, thank. 0:13:07.690 --> 0:13:09.070 You so much for having me. 0:13:09.100 --> 0:13:11.440 Well, how in the world did you get approval from 0:13:11.440 --> 0:13:14.620 the Israeli antiquities authorities to host this exhibit? 0:13:14.679 --> 0:13:19.660 So we've been working with them since 2019. This exhibition 0:13:19.660 --> 0:13:22.540 had traveled before, but it went on rest in 2018, 0:13:22.540 --> 0:13:24.370 and they knew they were bringing it back out in 0:13:24.370 --> 0:13:26.770 a couple of years. And it takes a really long 0:13:26.770 --> 0:13:29.770 time to get approval from the Israeli Antiquities Authority. We're 0:13:29.770 --> 0:13:32.410 very fortunate. We're actually a government building, so we have 0:13:32.410 --> 0:13:35.590 all the security and safety measures that they require. We've 0:13:35.590 --> 0:13:38.770 also been able to host some of the most, you know, 0:13:38.800 --> 0:13:42.099 exquisite exhibitions like Auschwitz not long ago, not far away 0:13:42.100 --> 0:13:44.910 in Vatican splendor. So they know that we have a 0:13:44.910 --> 0:13:48.330 venue that can bring in these large exhibitions and host them. And, 0:13:48.360 --> 0:13:49.950 you know, we were even able to point to the 0:13:49.950 --> 0:13:53.370 fact that President Reagan believed so strongly in his faith, 0:13:53.370 --> 0:13:57.360 believed so strongly in Israel, and all of those things 0:13:57.360 --> 0:14:00.720 mixed together. They opened up their doors. And we are 0:14:00.720 --> 0:14:02.610 so excited about this new exhibit. 0:14:02.640 --> 0:14:05.430 So how long will that exhibit be available to the public? 0:14:05.429 --> 0:14:06.270 I'm curious. 0:14:06.420 --> 0:14:09.780 Yeah. The exhibition will run through the very end of 0:14:09.780 --> 0:14:13.710 August in 2025. And what's extraordinary about it, you mentioned 0:14:13.740 --> 0:14:16.650 that there are eight scrolls. Well, the scrolls can only 0:14:16.650 --> 0:14:20.910 be in light three months every five years. So we 0:14:20.910 --> 0:14:23.310 have this exhibition for a total of nine months in 0:14:23.310 --> 0:14:26.160 its entirety. And every three months they bring us an 0:14:26.160 --> 0:14:28.260 entire new eight set of scrolls. 0:14:28.290 --> 0:14:29.370 Wow. 0:14:29.400 --> 0:14:33.600 To honor that, need to keep those fragments in good, 0:14:33.630 --> 0:14:35.190 good health, as it were. 0:14:35.310 --> 0:14:37.590 Exactly preserved as long as they can be. 0:14:37.620 --> 0:14:40.110 Well, in addition to the scrolls, one of the artifacts 0:14:40.110 --> 0:14:43.350 on display, I'm told, is the Magdala Stone, which dates 0:14:43.350 --> 0:14:46.470 to the Second Temple period. Describe this piece. How big 0:14:46.470 --> 0:14:48.090 is it and what does it look like? 0:14:48.510 --> 0:14:50.640 Sure. So as you said, it dates back to the 0:14:50.640 --> 0:14:54.660 Second Temple period. It's a very intricate stone that shows 0:14:54.660 --> 0:14:57.630 the carvings of the temple, and they believe that those 0:14:57.630 --> 0:15:01.290 drawings are actually showing the role of the synagogue as 0:15:01.290 --> 0:15:04.830 a sacred space. They believe it was used as furniture, perhaps, 0:15:04.830 --> 0:15:08.220 to hold the Torah or some other important object from 0:15:08.220 --> 0:15:11.670 the temple of the time. It's completely made of stone. 0:15:11.670 --> 0:15:15.900 It's perhaps maybe two feet wide by maybe four feet 0:15:15.930 --> 0:15:19.980 across and maybe about three feet tall. And it's just 0:15:20.010 --> 0:15:22.950 it's extraordinary. It has a whole bunch of different markings. 0:15:22.950 --> 0:15:26.400 They believe it's the first ever use of a seven 0:15:26.400 --> 0:15:30.540 candle menorah on an object like that, dating back 2000 years. 0:15:30.570 --> 0:15:33.300 Yeah. And if you've been to the Magdala site, you've 0:15:33.300 --> 0:15:36.210 seen a replica of that. And boy, fascinating to see 0:15:36.210 --> 0:15:38.850 that you guys have the actual one. This is the 0:15:38.850 --> 0:15:41.370 land in the book I'm John Geiger, visiting today with 0:15:41.370 --> 0:15:43.590 Melissa Giller, who is taking us on a bit of 0:15:43.590 --> 0:15:46.560 an audio tour of a fabulous exhibit open to the 0:15:46.560 --> 0:15:50.190 public now at the Ronald Reagan Library. Also on display 0:15:50.190 --> 0:15:53.040 is the Sea of Galilee boat, often referred to as 0:15:53.040 --> 0:15:56.370 the Jesus Boat. That's a first century fishing boat discovered 0:15:56.370 --> 0:15:59.940 in 1986 along the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. 0:15:59.940 --> 0:16:02.160 Many of our listeners will be familiar with that, and 0:16:02.160 --> 0:16:04.770 they know this is not a small thing. So describe 0:16:04.770 --> 0:16:07.380 this remarkable treasure for anybody who's new to it. 0:16:07.650 --> 0:16:10.980 Yes. So what's extra? Well, there's many things extraordinary about 0:16:10.980 --> 0:16:13.500 this boat, but one of the things that's extraordinary is 0:16:13.500 --> 0:16:17.220 it's never toured before. So since finding it in 1986, 0:16:17.220 --> 0:16:20.850 it has never left the Israel Antiquities Authority archives. So 0:16:20.850 --> 0:16:23.940 we are the first location to ever have it on display. 0:16:23.970 --> 0:16:26.370 It was found in 1986, as you said, during a 0:16:26.370 --> 0:16:29.940 really strong drought in the Sea of Galilee. And through 0:16:29.940 --> 0:16:32.580 carbon dating, they have been able to prove that it 0:16:32.580 --> 0:16:35.460 was a boat, most likely a fisherman's boat used on 0:16:35.460 --> 0:16:38.100 the Sea of Galilee at the exact same time that 0:16:38.100 --> 0:16:41.460 Jesus was a fisherman on that exact sea. So the 0:16:41.460 --> 0:16:44.700 boat itself is very fragile. It doesn't really travel. So 0:16:44.700 --> 0:16:48.570 what they've traveled are wood fragments from the boat. They 0:16:48.570 --> 0:16:51.630 can prove that the wood is both cedar from Lebanon 0:16:51.630 --> 0:16:54.720 as well as other wood species from Israel. And then 0:16:54.720 --> 0:16:57.450 they've sort of recreated the full scope of the boat, 0:16:57.450 --> 0:16:59.430 so you can see the size of it with the 0:16:59.430 --> 0:17:02.730 original wood carvings, the sort of wood fragments in a 0:17:02.730 --> 0:17:04.140 case in the middle of the boat. 0:17:04.410 --> 0:17:07.649 I understand you also feature a number of ossuaries, small 0:17:07.650 --> 0:17:11.939 stone receptacles used for secondary burial. For those who aren't familiar, 0:17:11.940 --> 0:17:14.310 tell us a bit about the practical side of an 0:17:14.310 --> 0:17:17.970 ossuary and why these are important to include in your display. 0:17:18.330 --> 0:17:21.629 Yes, so they really wanted this exhibition to, you know, 0:17:21.660 --> 0:17:24.330 it's called the Dead Sea Scrolls. But as you said earlier, 0:17:24.330 --> 0:17:27.270 there are 200 objects and only eight scrolls. So the 0:17:27.270 --> 0:17:29.429 scrolls are really just almost a small part of it. 0:17:29.430 --> 0:17:31.830 And they wanted to be able to show the culture 0:17:31.830 --> 0:17:35.730 and the foundations of faith across Christianity, Judaism, and even 0:17:35.730 --> 0:17:38.430 the beginning of Islam faith in this exhibition, and they 0:17:38.430 --> 0:17:41.609 do so through the use of these other 200 artifacts 0:17:41.609 --> 0:17:45.240 we have. I believe it's five ossuaries on display. And 0:17:45.240 --> 0:17:47.399 for those who aren't aware, as you said, they hold 0:17:47.430 --> 0:17:50.969 bone fragments inside of them. And I've been learning some 0:17:50.970 --> 0:17:54.570 really interesting information because, again, if you are of the 0:17:54.570 --> 0:17:58.530 Jewish faith, they have to keep things in a sense 0:17:58.530 --> 0:18:00.720 kosher and what they can and can't do with certain 0:18:00.720 --> 0:18:03.600 bones and sort of changing things up so the bones 0:18:03.600 --> 0:18:07.109 would be cleaned before they would be put inside these 0:18:07.109 --> 0:18:09.720 stone cases to be preserved forever. 0:18:09.930 --> 0:18:12.840 Melissa Geller is our guest today on the Land and 0:18:12.840 --> 0:18:16.080 the book. She serves as chief marketing officer for the 0:18:16.080 --> 0:18:20.160 Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California. I am just 0:18:20.160 --> 0:18:22.950 blown away that you also have on display some objects 0:18:22.950 --> 0:18:26.760 from Masada. That's Herod the Great's desert fortress overlooking the 0:18:26.760 --> 0:18:30.990 Dead Sea. Remind listeners why this particular fortress was such 0:18:31.020 --> 0:18:34.590 a strategic site, and what specific artifacts can we expect 0:18:34.590 --> 0:18:35.190 to see? 0:18:35.700 --> 0:18:38.760 So what I can tell you is that Masada is 0:18:38.760 --> 0:18:42.420 really important, because what they're explaining in this exhibit as 0:18:42.420 --> 0:18:45.690 a whole is why these scrolls, why these artifacts were 0:18:45.690 --> 0:18:47.550 hidden to begin with, and they were hidden to begin 0:18:47.550 --> 0:18:51.900 with because of the Roman Empire rule and them going 0:18:51.900 --> 0:18:54.930 in and all the the fighting, if you could call 0:18:54.930 --> 0:18:58.260 it that. But really, the execution and persecution of the 0:18:58.260 --> 0:19:01.590 Jews at the time. And most of those fights were happening. 0:19:01.590 --> 0:19:04.439 Some of the strongest fights were happening at Masada. So 0:19:04.440 --> 0:19:08.130 they've actually built replica sort of scenic view of what 0:19:08.160 --> 0:19:10.740 Masada looked like at the time, as well as really 0:19:10.740 --> 0:19:13.290 beautiful photographs that people can get a sense of where 0:19:13.290 --> 0:19:16.230 you were sort of near the Dead Sea during those fights. 0:19:16.230 --> 0:19:20.520 There are sort of panel copies around the exhibition explaining 0:19:20.520 --> 0:19:23.670 what happened during that time, why that time is so 0:19:23.670 --> 0:19:25.980 important to the history of the Dead Sea Scrolls and 0:19:25.980 --> 0:19:28.320 the hiding of all these objects. And then this is 0:19:28.350 --> 0:19:31.320 a sort of silly answer, but, um, so they're still 0:19:31.320 --> 0:19:34.320 inserting artifacts and they haven't yet put the artifacts in 0:19:34.350 --> 0:19:36.320 that gallery at the time of this recording, so I 0:19:36.320 --> 0:19:39.260 haven't seen exactly what's going in there yet. So you 0:19:39.260 --> 0:19:41.840 might need to cut that part out. But the history part, 0:19:41.840 --> 0:19:42.650 I can tell you. 0:19:42.980 --> 0:19:45.590 No, I think we're good, because I heard from a 0:19:45.590 --> 0:19:48.439 little bird somewhere that you guys have some small pot 0:19:48.440 --> 0:19:53.990 sherds bearing writing, some botanical remains, including some pomegranate peels, 0:19:53.990 --> 0:19:58.669 walnut shells and olive pits, as well as imported textiles. 0:19:58.670 --> 0:20:01.040 All that to say, it's more than just a couple 0:20:01.070 --> 0:20:05.810 of photos. It really is a remarkable presentation of Masada 0:20:05.840 --> 0:20:09.470 at several different levels, so that's just too cool, I think. 0:20:09.500 --> 0:20:12.140 Yeah, very cool. They also even have they talk about 0:20:12.140 --> 0:20:15.650 Pilgrimage Road, which is the road that people would take 0:20:15.680 --> 0:20:18.980 as they approached the temple. And so along the pilgrimage 0:20:18.980 --> 0:20:27.110 road were shops. And they have found through their excavations jewelry, weapons, pottery, money, 0:20:27.109 --> 0:20:29.990 all the different things that were used along pilgrimage roads 0:20:29.990 --> 0:20:32.300 in these markets. And these things will all be on 0:20:32.300 --> 0:20:33.170 display as well. 0:20:33.740 --> 0:20:36.560 In the New Testament, we read that the shekel coin 0:20:36.560 --> 0:20:39.500 was the official annual temple tax you had to pay. 0:20:39.500 --> 0:20:42.680 Every male above 20 years old had to pay up 0:20:42.710 --> 0:20:46.040 because your collection is so amazing. Melissa. You also have 0:20:46.040 --> 0:20:48.380 some shekels for people to see. 0:20:48.410 --> 0:20:49.550 We sure do. 0:20:49.609 --> 0:20:52.820 I'm kind of curious if you've seen one. What American 0:20:52.820 --> 0:20:56.210 coin does the shekel mostly resemble, or am I putting 0:20:56.210 --> 0:20:57.830 you in a in a tough spot there? 0:20:58.340 --> 0:21:01.250 You know, I don't know if I can answer that. 0:21:01.250 --> 0:21:04.129 We have the silver coin, which was the coin used 0:21:04.130 --> 0:21:07.189 to pay the half shekel head tax. It has a 0:21:07.190 --> 0:21:09.980 man's face engraved in it, almost like maybe we might 0:21:09.980 --> 0:21:13.850 have the face of Washington engraved in a coin. But 0:21:13.850 --> 0:21:18.470 of course, much more textured, because our coins are manufactured 0:21:18.470 --> 0:21:21.260 in such a beautiful way. There's even some that have 0:21:21.260 --> 0:21:24.650 an eagle on one side. And again, these were used 0:21:24.650 --> 0:21:27.920 for the actual tax that was used to pay to 0:21:27.950 --> 0:21:29.840 enter the temple. So just like the same kind of 0:21:29.840 --> 0:21:32.270 tithes that many people still pay today to their churches 0:21:32.270 --> 0:21:35.060 or their temples. They were doing it 2000 years ago. 0:21:35.210 --> 0:21:38.899 We're talking with chief marketing officer Melissa Giller. I'm assuming 0:21:38.900 --> 0:21:42.050 there's a fair amount of security concerns that must be 0:21:42.050 --> 0:21:45.110 managed with something like this. Help us understand that facet 0:21:45.140 --> 0:21:47.630 of the exhibit as much as you can without giving 0:21:47.630 --> 0:21:48.980 away too many secrets. 0:21:49.130 --> 0:21:52.370 Sure. So again, we are a government facility, so we 0:21:52.369 --> 0:21:56.000 actually have security on our premises 24 over seven already. 0:21:56.030 --> 0:21:59.030 Our last really big exhibition was on Auschwitz, and we 0:21:59.060 --> 0:22:01.610 sort of ramped up our security a little bit for 0:22:01.640 --> 0:22:03.950 that as well. When we had the Auschwitz exhibition, that's 0:22:03.950 --> 0:22:07.070 when the October 7th Hamas attack happened on Israel. So 0:22:07.070 --> 0:22:10.340 we're sort of prepared for this. I don't think visitors 0:22:10.340 --> 0:22:14.090 will really see a difference. It's security cameras, security guards, 0:22:14.090 --> 0:22:16.490 the things that we already do, we do check bags. 0:22:16.490 --> 0:22:19.040 So nothing like that is really changed. But we are 0:22:19.040 --> 0:22:22.070 just more aware. We do live in a very political climate. 0:22:22.070 --> 0:22:24.680 I can tell you, without naming names, that there were 0:22:24.680 --> 0:22:27.919 other locations being considered for this exhibition, and some of 0:22:27.920 --> 0:22:30.320 those museums backed out because they were too nervous that 0:22:30.320 --> 0:22:32.840 it might not be a safe time to house the exhibition, 0:22:32.840 --> 0:22:35.930 but that made us want to house the exhibition even more. 0:22:36.170 --> 0:22:39.980 It is so important for people to see these artifacts, 0:22:39.980 --> 0:22:42.620 to learn these stories, you know. As you said, this 0:22:42.619 --> 0:22:46.730 is the oldest known full portion of the Hebrew Bible 0:22:46.730 --> 0:22:49.640 known to ever exist. It's the same books in the 0:22:49.640 --> 0:22:53.270 Old Testament and the Christian Bible. And what's also spectacular 0:22:53.270 --> 0:22:55.970 about them is that if you can read Hebrew, you 0:22:55.970 --> 0:22:58.400 can actually read the Dead Sea Scrolls, because the characters 0:22:58.400 --> 0:23:01.430 haven't changed in over 2000 years. So again, if you 0:23:01.430 --> 0:23:03.770 can read it when you see these scrolls, you will 0:23:03.770 --> 0:23:05.090 still be able to read it just as if you 0:23:05.119 --> 0:23:06.530 were reading a Torah today. 0:23:06.650 --> 0:23:08.570 So let me ask you a personal question. As you 0:23:08.570 --> 0:23:13.640 have examined this collection being put together and taking shape. 0:23:13.670 --> 0:23:16.790 What for you is the most intriguing item or the 0:23:16.790 --> 0:23:19.310 most maybe significant personal takeaway? 0:23:19.940 --> 0:23:23.540 For me personally, it's the two ton piece of the 0:23:23.540 --> 0:23:26.929 Western Wall. Israel is a place I've always wanted to visit. 0:23:26.930 --> 0:23:29.750 I have not yet been able to do that and 0:23:29.750 --> 0:23:32.060 to go to Israel to be at the Wailing Wall, 0:23:32.060 --> 0:23:34.250 the Western Wall, and to leave a note of prayer 0:23:34.280 --> 0:23:37.370 or something that is really important to me. And when 0:23:37.369 --> 0:23:40.010 this exhibition has traveled in the past, it has only 0:23:40.010 --> 0:23:43.730 traveled with a replica of the Western Wall. And this 0:23:43.730 --> 0:23:47.390 exhibition travels, as I said, with a real two ton piece. 0:23:47.420 --> 0:23:50.629 It fell off the wall surrounding the Second Temple, but 0:23:50.630 --> 0:23:53.660 it's never left Jerusalem before. And to have that here 0:23:53.660 --> 0:23:56.540 and visitors are allowed to actually leave a note next 0:23:56.540 --> 0:23:59.510 to it. Um, again, I still want to get to Israel. 0:23:59.540 --> 0:24:01.610 It's not a replacement for going to Israel. 0:24:01.670 --> 0:24:02.780 That's right. But it is. 0:24:02.780 --> 0:24:06.440 For me a very significant piece that something I've always 0:24:06.440 --> 0:24:07.760 wanted to do, and that I can now do it 0:24:07.760 --> 0:24:10.310 at the Reagan Library is fun, but extraordinary at the same. 0:24:10.310 --> 0:24:11.000 Time. Oh, for. 0:24:11.000 --> 0:24:13.580 Sure. And that's neat that you're allowing people to place, uh, 0:24:13.580 --> 0:24:16.490 notes and prayers there, as they do at the wall. 0:24:16.490 --> 0:24:19.670 We we see those crammed into the cracks. I've placed 0:24:19.670 --> 0:24:22.730 one there myself a time or two. Hey, what is 0:24:22.730 --> 0:24:25.310 your goal in hosting this exhibit when all is said 0:24:25.310 --> 0:24:26.270 and done? Melissa. 0:24:27.170 --> 0:24:33.500 We want to bring awareness to history, first and foremost, religion. 0:24:33.500 --> 0:24:38.000 But the importance of not forgetting, right? I mean, I 0:24:38.000 --> 0:24:40.430 know if people study the Bible or people study the Torah, 0:24:40.460 --> 0:24:43.490 they know the stories that are in there. But to 0:24:43.520 --> 0:24:47.510 see the items themselves, these 2000 year old items from 0:24:47.510 --> 0:24:50.360 the time of Jesus, I think it sort of opens 0:24:50.359 --> 0:24:52.520 up what you believe and what you see in a 0:24:52.520 --> 0:24:55.940 whole new way. So we really hope that people come 0:24:55.940 --> 0:24:58.730 to the Reagan Library, see the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibition, 0:24:58.730 --> 0:25:02.330 not let the political environment scare them away, or think 0:25:02.359 --> 0:25:06.139 maybe another day, another time. It's more important now than 0:25:06.140 --> 0:25:08.810 ever to remember these stories and to see these items 0:25:08.810 --> 0:25:11.870 up close and personal. So, um, we are the only 0:25:11.869 --> 0:25:14.960 location in all of the West Coast to house this exhibition. 0:25:14.960 --> 0:25:17.360 When it starts to travel. It'll be on the East Coast. 0:25:17.359 --> 0:25:20.390 So we do encourage anyone west of the Mississippi who 0:25:20.390 --> 0:25:21.260 can hear me. 0:25:21.320 --> 0:25:22.130 Come on out. 0:25:22.130 --> 0:25:22.580 Before it. 0:25:22.580 --> 0:25:23.330 Closes. 0:25:23.359 --> 0:25:26.900 That's great. And we'll link to your museum right there 0:25:26.900 --> 0:25:30.890 at our website. The land and the book. Org take 0:25:30.890 --> 0:25:33.890 you right to this display and all the information you 0:25:33.890 --> 0:25:37.520 need to know about the Ronald Reagan Library's extraordinary collection, 0:25:37.520 --> 0:25:40.400 the Dead Sea Scrolls. Melissa, a pleasure to chat with 0:25:40.400 --> 0:25:42.500 you today. Thanks for letting us know what we can 0:25:42.500 --> 0:25:45.320 expect when we get out there and see this tremendous 0:25:45.320 --> 0:25:46.460 exhibit for ourselves. 0:25:46.460 --> 0:25:48.500 Thank you so much for having me. I appreciate. 0:25:48.500 --> 0:25:49.129 It, and. 0:25:49.130 --> 0:25:50.840 We're looking forward to connecting with a fresh set of 0:25:50.840 --> 0:25:54.199 Bible questions and their answers. Up next here on the 0:25:54.200 --> 0:26:07.760 land and the book. You know, you have so many 0:26:07.760 --> 0:26:09.830 options in what you listen to these days. Here you 0:26:09.830 --> 0:26:12.139 are with us at the land and the book, and 0:26:12.140 --> 0:26:14.150 we're glad you decided to hang out. I think you'll 0:26:14.150 --> 0:26:16.460 be glad you did. Fascinating to hear what people are 0:26:16.460 --> 0:26:19.459 wondering as they open their Bibles. Do some study. We're 0:26:19.460 --> 0:26:21.980 going to get to a great list of questions. First, though, 0:26:21.980 --> 0:26:24.109 you think about the end of the year approaching and 0:26:24.109 --> 0:26:26.660 all the world events that have left us wondering what 0:26:26.690 --> 0:26:29.960 God's plan is for the future. And that's particularly true 0:26:29.960 --> 0:26:32.780 when it comes to Israel, despite its small size. Think 0:26:32.780 --> 0:26:36.590 about this people around the world are intensely focused on 0:26:36.590 --> 0:26:40.430 what takes place there. Many wonder, are today's headlines connected 0:26:40.430 --> 0:26:43.219 in some way with the prophecies in the Bible? And 0:26:43.220 --> 0:26:47.570 more specifically, how should followers of Jesus interpret current events? 0:26:47.600 --> 0:26:49.400 As we await his second coming? 0:26:49.430 --> 0:26:52.640 And those are great questions. And to help answer those questions, 0:26:52.640 --> 0:26:55.670 our friends at Life and Messiah encourage you to check 0:26:55.700 --> 0:26:59.540 out their book, God, Israel, and Bible Prophecy. Now, with 0:26:59.540 --> 0:27:02.270 Scripture as its foundation, this book will take you on 0:27:02.270 --> 0:27:04.969 a journey into what God has in store for the 0:27:04.970 --> 0:27:08.510 Jewish people and the nations. This book is for anyone 0:27:08.510 --> 0:27:11.600 who wants to explore where modern day events fit on 0:27:11.600 --> 0:27:15.800 God's grand timeline. Now, if that's you or someone you know, 0:27:15.800 --> 0:27:20.090 this would be a great resource or gift. Visit Lifeline Messiah. 0:27:20.300 --> 0:27:22.580 Org and click on the Moody Radio button there to 0:27:22.609 --> 0:27:26.000 find out how you can receive your copy of God, 0:27:26.030 --> 0:27:31.130 Israel and Bible Prophecy. That's life in messiah.org. 0:27:31.340 --> 0:27:35.359 Jared is questioner number one in this Q&A segment for 0:27:35.359 --> 0:27:38.210 the day. He says, I've been noticing that even some 0:27:38.210 --> 0:27:43.340 conservative evangelical folks are leaning now toward centering prayer and 0:27:43.340 --> 0:27:46.790 contemplative prayer, these being the most important thing to learn 0:27:46.790 --> 0:27:48.740 and the way to be closest to God. Do you 0:27:48.740 --> 0:27:51.710 have any counsel about what is biblical and what is 0:27:51.710 --> 0:27:55.400 extra biblical versus traditional in this emerging practice? 0:27:55.430 --> 0:27:57.290 Yeah, I just need to say right up front, I 0:27:57.290 --> 0:28:00.379 have problems with the practice of people that refer to 0:28:00.410 --> 0:28:04.550 these centering prayer or contemplative prayer. Now, in these practices, 0:28:04.550 --> 0:28:07.310 prayer becomes a form of meditation where the person is 0:28:07.310 --> 0:28:10.550 told to focus his or her attention on a simple 0:28:10.550 --> 0:28:14.330 word or phrase and attach it to a rhythmic breathing pattern. 0:28:14.330 --> 0:28:16.310 But when I look at prayer in the Bible, it's 0:28:16.310 --> 0:28:19.400 an active, not a passive activity. You know, Jesus gave 0:28:19.400 --> 0:28:22.460 very specific instructions on how to pray in Matthew six, 0:28:22.490 --> 0:28:24.700 the passage. We often call it the Lord's Prayer, but 0:28:24.700 --> 0:28:27.490 it actually should be called the Disciples prayer. Since he 0:28:27.490 --> 0:28:30.550 was explaining to his disciples how his followers ought to pray. 0:28:30.550 --> 0:28:32.590 And he says there that prayer ought to be private 0:28:32.619 --> 0:28:35.889 rather than public, and is not to involve the incessant 0:28:35.890 --> 0:28:39.190 repetition of words. In fact, in verse seven he uses 0:28:39.190 --> 0:28:43.120 the word bartolaccio, which refers to stammering or repeating words 0:28:43.120 --> 0:28:46.390 over and over, which he then connects to the compound 0:28:46.420 --> 0:28:51.250 word eulogia, which literally means many words. Then Jesus provides 0:28:51.250 --> 0:28:54.430 a basic outline for prayer that involves a focus in 0:28:54.430 --> 0:29:00.790 prayer on adoration, submission to God's will, requests for specific needs, confession, 0:29:00.790 --> 0:29:04.360 and requests for guidance and protection. The kind of prayer 0:29:04.360 --> 0:29:08.260 Jesus is describing is active and focused. Rather than seeking 0:29:08.260 --> 0:29:11.470 some altered state of serenity. It's a realization that we've 0:29:11.470 --> 0:29:14.650 come into the presence of God Himself in active communion. 0:29:14.680 --> 0:29:17.140 You know, when Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, 0:29:17.170 --> 0:29:20.290 Luke says, and being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, 0:29:20.290 --> 0:29:22.640 and his sweat was like drops of blood falling on 0:29:22.640 --> 0:29:26.270 the ground. In his extended prayer in John 17, Jesus 0:29:26.270 --> 0:29:30.110 prayed actively for himself, his disciples, and for all believers 0:29:30.110 --> 0:29:32.870 who would then come to faith. Now in all those instances, 0:29:32.870 --> 0:29:36.710 Jesus's prayer is active and direct. Another example in Colossians 0:29:36.710 --> 0:29:40.010 chapter four, Paul described one of the church's own members, 0:29:40.010 --> 0:29:42.890 who was with Paul as a servant of Christ, who 0:29:42.890 --> 0:29:46.010 was always wrestling in prayer for you. And the word 0:29:46.010 --> 0:29:49.520 Paul uses. There is the Greek word agonism, from which 0:29:49.520 --> 0:29:51.920 we get the word agony. Now the word has the 0:29:51.920 --> 0:29:55.910 idea of fighting, struggling, striving, or laboring. His prayer for 0:29:55.910 --> 0:29:58.700 these saints was an act of labor on his part. 0:29:58.730 --> 0:30:01.190 Now we're all told to meditate on God's Word. So 0:30:01.190 --> 0:30:04.400 I'm not against meditation. Psalm one verse two tells us 0:30:04.400 --> 0:30:07.790 that Psalm 119, verse 11 does as well. The word 0:30:07.790 --> 0:30:11.120 of Christ is to dwell in us richly. Colossians 316. 0:30:11.150 --> 0:30:13.760 We're told to read God's Word and memorize God's Word 0:30:13.760 --> 0:30:16.580 and meditate on God's Word. But that's not the same 0:30:16.610 --> 0:30:19.430 activity as prayer, at least not as I see prayer 0:30:19.430 --> 0:30:21.040 being described in the Bible. 0:30:21.130 --> 0:30:24.160 Well, a question from Robin, who says A Jewish friend 0:30:24.190 --> 0:30:28.420 greeted me on Yom Kippur with the phrase Djemaa satima tova. 0:30:28.450 --> 0:30:31.960 I know it's a greeting and means a good final ceiling, 0:30:31.960 --> 0:30:34.030 but can you explain just a bit more of its meaning? 0:30:34.030 --> 0:30:35.050 Is it in the Bible? 0:30:35.080 --> 0:30:38.170 Yeah, well, the phrase comes from the Jewish tradition that 0:30:38.170 --> 0:30:40.540 God writes a person's fate for the coming year on 0:30:40.540 --> 0:30:43.570 Rosh Hashanah into one of three books. The righteous are 0:30:43.570 --> 0:30:45.790 inscribed in the Book of Life, the evil into the 0:30:45.790 --> 0:30:48.580 Book of Death, and those in between have their judgment 0:30:48.580 --> 0:30:52.000 suspended until Yom Kippur, the ten days between the start 0:30:52.000 --> 0:30:54.130 of the New Year and Yom Kippur give this third 0:30:54.160 --> 0:30:57.790 group of individuals an opportunity to tip the scales in 0:30:57.790 --> 0:31:00.640 their behalf so they can do extra good deeds or 0:31:00.640 --> 0:31:03.190 something during that period. So the greeting by your friend 0:31:03.220 --> 0:31:05.530 is hoping that your fate for the coming year will 0:31:05.530 --> 0:31:08.080 be tipped in your favor, and that you'll experience God's 0:31:08.080 --> 0:31:10.750 blessing in life for the coming year. Now, the idea 0:31:10.750 --> 0:31:12.940 of a book of life does come from the Bible, 0:31:12.940 --> 0:31:16.870 though modern Jewish understanding isn't exactly what's meant there. In 0:31:16.870 --> 0:31:20.530 Psalm 69 verse 28, David called on God to judge 0:31:20.530 --> 0:31:22.660 his enemies and said, May they be blotted out of 0:31:22.660 --> 0:31:25.420 the book of life and not be listed with the righteous. 0:31:25.450 --> 0:31:28.360 Now these enemies had been seeking David's death, so David 0:31:28.360 --> 0:31:31.570 prays that God will bring about their death. David's prayer 0:31:31.600 --> 0:31:33.580 isn't based on the idea that there's a ten day 0:31:33.580 --> 0:31:36.790 period when this person's fate is sealed. He's using the 0:31:36.790 --> 0:31:39.520 imagery of a book in a poetic fashion, to ask 0:31:39.520 --> 0:31:42.070 God to remove his enemies from God's record of those 0:31:42.070 --> 0:31:44.770 who remain alive. In the Book of Revelation. The Book 0:31:44.770 --> 0:31:47.470 of Life is also used to picture God's record of 0:31:47.470 --> 0:31:50.110 those who have been declared righteous, and anyone whose name 0:31:50.140 --> 0:31:52.540 isn't written in the Book of life will be cast 0:31:52.540 --> 0:31:55.090 into eternal punishment in the lake of fire. And that's 0:31:55.090 --> 0:31:58.270 in revelation 20. But the modern Jewish use of these 0:31:58.270 --> 0:32:00.910 words isn't exactly the way they appear in the Bible. 0:32:00.940 --> 0:32:05.050 Sadie asks, was the Babylonian captivity a revenge for what 0:32:05.050 --> 0:32:06.460 King Solomon did? 0:32:06.760 --> 0:32:09.430 Yeah. I don't believe the Babylonian captivity was revenge on 0:32:09.430 --> 0:32:12.820 God's part, though. The breakup of the empire into two kingdoms, 0:32:12.850 --> 0:32:15.970 Israel and Judah, was part of God's judgment for his 0:32:15.970 --> 0:32:19.570 turning away from God. I traced the Babylonian captivity back 0:32:19.570 --> 0:32:22.840 to the covenant God made with Israel. In Leviticus 26 0:32:22.840 --> 0:32:26.110 and Deuteronomy 28, God gave a series of blessings he 0:32:26.110 --> 0:32:28.960 would give for obedience and cursings that he would send 0:32:28.960 --> 0:32:32.110 for disobedience. The ultimate curse was his threat to cast 0:32:32.110 --> 0:32:35.860 Israel out of the land. And in Second Chronicles 36, 0:32:35.860 --> 0:32:38.230 at the end, as they describe him going into captivity 0:32:38.230 --> 0:32:42.910 in Babylon, the writer connects that captivity to the nations disobedience. 0:32:42.910 --> 0:32:46.000 The kingdom was divided because of Solomon's sin, but the 0:32:46.000 --> 0:32:49.750 people were carried into captivity because they violated God's Word 0:32:49.750 --> 0:32:53.560 and brought on themselves that ultimate covenant curse, expulsion from 0:32:53.560 --> 0:32:54.040 the land. 0:32:54.070 --> 0:32:56.800 You're listening to the land in the book. Doctor Charlie Dyer, 0:32:56.830 --> 0:33:00.130 our host, always welcomes your Bible questions at the land 0:33:00.130 --> 0:33:05.440 and the book@moody.edu. In Romans 11 verse 28, Paul says, 0:33:05.440 --> 0:33:08.979 Israel is beloved for the sake of their ancestors. A 0:33:08.980 --> 0:33:11.320 listener wants to know, does this mean that God loves 0:33:11.320 --> 0:33:14.740 those whose ancestors were pagan in a different way for 0:33:14.740 --> 0:33:17.680 different reasons? What exactly does it mean that God loves 0:33:17.680 --> 0:33:20.050 someone for his ancestor's sake. 0:33:20.080 --> 0:33:22.690 Well, in Greek the phrase is literally beloved for the 0:33:22.690 --> 0:33:25.660 sake of the fathers. And in the context since Paul's 0:33:25.660 --> 0:33:29.440 speaking about Israel, the fathers he's referring to are Abraham, Isaac, 0:33:29.440 --> 0:33:33.010 and Jacob, the three patriarchs to whom God made specific 0:33:33.010 --> 0:33:37.000 promises regarding the nation of Israel. Hundreds of years later, 0:33:37.000 --> 0:33:39.340 Micah the prophet ended his book with an assurance that 0:33:39.340 --> 0:33:42.190 God could bless Israel because of the oath God made 0:33:42.190 --> 0:33:45.250 to these patriarchs. He said, you will again have compassion 0:33:45.250 --> 0:33:48.190 on us. You'll tread our sins underfoot, hurl our iniquities 0:33:48.190 --> 0:33:50.530 into the depths of the sea. You will be true 0:33:50.530 --> 0:33:53.500 to Jacob and show mercy to Abraham, as you pledged 0:33:53.500 --> 0:33:56.260 on oath to our fathers in days long ago. Now, 0:33:56.260 --> 0:33:58.300 what Paul meant by this phrase is that God had 0:33:58.300 --> 0:34:01.660 made a solemn promise to Abraham, which he reaffirmed to 0:34:01.690 --> 0:34:04.660 Isaac and Jacob. And in context Paul is saying, the 0:34:04.660 --> 0:34:07.390 Jewish people are beloved in the sense that they could 0:34:07.390 --> 0:34:10.299 rely on God to keep the promise he made to 0:34:10.330 --> 0:34:13.299 Abraham and the other patriarchs. And we can't apply this 0:34:13.300 --> 0:34:16.540 principle to the ancestors of pagans simply because there's no 0:34:16.540 --> 0:34:19.060 record of a promise God made to them. Here's a 0:34:19.060 --> 0:34:21.400 simple illustration to show what I mean. Suppose I made 0:34:21.400 --> 0:34:23.650 a promise to you and your family, and then later 0:34:23.650 --> 0:34:26.290 I had it notarized to make it legally binding. Now, 0:34:26.290 --> 0:34:27.850 the fact that I made a promise to you and 0:34:27.850 --> 0:34:31.120 your descendants doesn't necessarily mean I also made a similar 0:34:31.120 --> 0:34:33.640 promise to someone else. Nor does it keep me from 0:34:33.640 --> 0:34:36.819 choosing to do so for someone else later on. The 0:34:36.820 --> 0:34:40.060 one really doesn't impact the other. Paul's just saying Israel 0:34:40.060 --> 0:34:43.000 has a future because God made a solemn covenant with 0:34:43.000 --> 0:34:45.640 the patriarchs and God's gifts and his calling, he says, 0:34:45.670 --> 0:34:48.280 are irrevocable. The good news for us is that God 0:34:48.280 --> 0:34:51.069 has also given us promises in the New Testament, and 0:34:51.070 --> 0:34:53.049 we can depend on those as well. 0:34:53.140 --> 0:34:56.230 Nancy takes us to Luke chapter 17, where it says, 0:34:56.230 --> 0:34:59.290 they answered and said to him, where, Lord? And he 0:34:59.290 --> 0:35:01.480 said to them, wherever the body is, there the eagles 0:35:01.480 --> 0:35:04.960 will be gathered together. I've seen many different interpretations that 0:35:04.960 --> 0:35:08.410 seem quite confusing. Nancy wants to know what is the body. 0:35:08.410 --> 0:35:11.560 Refer to the church. Someone who died in battle. What 0:35:11.560 --> 0:35:14.140 are the eagles or vultures symbolize? Is this an allusion 0:35:14.140 --> 0:35:17.230 to the rapture, end times or or some past tragedy 0:35:17.230 --> 0:35:18.910 that has already taken place? 0:35:18.940 --> 0:35:21.279 Well, the phrase appears to be in the form of 0:35:21.280 --> 0:35:23.589 a proverb there, though the only other occurrence is in 0:35:23.590 --> 0:35:26.680 Matthew 24. But in both cases, it seems the point 0:35:26.710 --> 0:35:28.299 of the proverb is that if you want to know 0:35:28.300 --> 0:35:31.540 where the dead bodies are, look for vultures circling. Or 0:35:31.540 --> 0:35:33.820 perhaps it could be understood this way. If you see 0:35:33.820 --> 0:35:37.149 a flock of vultures circling overhead, we can assume something 0:35:37.150 --> 0:35:40.270 dead must be somewhere nearby. On the ground below the 0:35:40.270 --> 0:35:43.540 object we can see that is, the vultures flying overhead 0:35:43.540 --> 0:35:46.450 point towards something that we might not otherwise be able 0:35:46.450 --> 0:35:49.690 to see in the context in Luke 17. It's a 0:35:49.690 --> 0:35:53.680 context of judgment. In verses 26 and 27, Jesus mentions 0:35:53.680 --> 0:35:56.290 the days of Noah, when a flood came and destroyed 0:35:56.320 --> 0:35:59.200 them in 28 and 29. He mentions the days of 0:35:59.200 --> 0:36:02.529 lot when fire and brimstone came and destroyed them. He 0:36:02.530 --> 0:36:05.500 then compares all that to his return and the judgment 0:36:05.500 --> 0:36:07.689 it will bring the two people who are in a bed, 0:36:07.690 --> 0:36:10.410 or two people who are grinding in verses 34 to 0:36:10.410 --> 0:36:13.210 36 represent those who will be alive at his return. 0:36:13.230 --> 0:36:16.290 One taken is the one taken in judgment, like in 0:36:16.290 --> 0:36:18.450 the flood or in Sodom. And the one who is 0:36:18.450 --> 0:36:20.939 left like Noah or Lot is the one who's left 0:36:20.940 --> 0:36:23.370 to remain alive. So I think what Jesus is doing 0:36:23.370 --> 0:36:26.040 here isn't emphasizing where the judgment will take place or 0:36:26.040 --> 0:36:28.080 what the body is, but he's just giving an illustration 0:36:28.080 --> 0:36:30.060 to say, when you see the vultures, when you see 0:36:30.060 --> 0:36:33.120 the events happening, you know that the judgment is coming. 0:36:33.150 --> 0:36:35.549 Well, we've certainly covered a lot of ground today. Thank 0:36:35.580 --> 0:36:38.040 you for your hard work on these questions. Yours is 0:36:38.040 --> 0:36:42.900 welcome any time at the land and the book@moody.edu. Well, 0:36:42.900 --> 0:36:45.330 there's more to come in today's program, and that includes 0:36:45.330 --> 0:36:48.720 Charlie Dyer's devotional. It's next right here on the land 0:36:48.719 --> 0:37:04.140 and the book. Well, you don't need me to tell 0:37:04.140 --> 0:37:06.750 you the end of the year is coming. Hi, I'm 0:37:06.750 --> 0:37:09.480 John Gager here at the Land and the book. Do 0:37:09.480 --> 0:37:10.770 you ever think about the fact that you and I 0:37:10.770 --> 0:37:14.819 might need wisdom to finish this year out, and of course, 0:37:14.820 --> 0:37:17.310 wisdom as we begin another year. Charlie, is that the 0:37:17.310 --> 0:37:19.560 essence of your devotional? I'm looking forward to it, by 0:37:19.560 --> 0:37:20.520 the way it is. 0:37:20.550 --> 0:37:21.930 We're going to talk about the end of the year 0:37:21.930 --> 0:37:26.040 and New year and Wisdom and Solomon. They all fit together. 0:37:26.070 --> 0:37:28.170 Okay, I'm looking forward to that after we take in 0:37:28.170 --> 0:37:30.120 this Holy Land experience. 0:37:34.260 --> 0:37:36.810 I was raised Jewish, so I had a totally different 0:37:36.810 --> 0:37:40.320 experience than probably any of your listeners. I thought it 0:37:40.320 --> 0:37:43.770 was amazing. When I came back, I was more religious 0:37:43.770 --> 0:37:49.440 as a Jew. And then in 1985, I had a 0:37:49.440 --> 0:37:53.760 conversion experience and became a Christian. The Lord totally called 0:37:53.760 --> 0:37:56.700 me to follow him and become his child of God. 0:37:57.090 --> 0:37:59.940 And I have yet to go back as a Christian, 0:37:59.940 --> 0:38:03.600 but I see Israel as a totally different place than 0:38:03.600 --> 0:38:06.629 I did as a Jew. One of my favorite experiences 0:38:06.660 --> 0:38:11.009 was hiking up the top of Masada at three in 0:38:11.040 --> 0:38:14.100 the morning and watching the sun rise and learning all 0:38:14.100 --> 0:38:18.780 about how the battle. You know, the battle that was 0:38:18.780 --> 0:38:23.399 fought there, they were under attack by Romans, and instead 0:38:23.400 --> 0:38:26.399 of losing, they all committed suicide. I thought it was 0:38:26.400 --> 0:38:30.180 noble at the time. That was pretty cool. Absolutely loved 0:38:30.180 --> 0:38:37.020 Israel and said, Jesus's birthplace. I saw King David's tomb. 0:38:37.050 --> 0:38:40.230 I saw lots of ruins. It was very, very, very 0:38:40.230 --> 0:38:43.200 beautiful place to visit. As I said, I'd like to 0:38:43.200 --> 0:38:45.300 go back there as a Christian because I would have 0:38:45.300 --> 0:38:48.960 a totally different experience now. Thanks for letting me share. 0:38:51.030 --> 0:38:53.489 Charlie, I have to confess, I've never given thought to 0:38:53.520 --> 0:38:56.819 wisdom to finish the old year out. I'm looking forward 0:38:56.820 --> 0:38:58.350 to that and what you have to say about the 0:38:58.350 --> 0:38:59.070 new Year. 0:38:59.100 --> 0:39:02.310 Yeah. Thanks, John. Well, the orchestra is on stage tuning 0:39:02.310 --> 0:39:05.160 up and getting ready to play. The noisemakers and party 0:39:05.190 --> 0:39:08.609 hats are arranged on the tables by each place setting, 0:39:08.610 --> 0:39:11.669 and the guests are already milling about out in the foyer, 0:39:11.700 --> 0:39:14.880 waiting for the banquet doors to open. It's almost time 0:39:14.880 --> 0:39:17.820 to gather and celebrate the ringing out of an old year, 0:39:17.820 --> 0:39:20.400 and the ringing in of a new one. Most of 0:39:20.400 --> 0:39:22.980 those gathering are more than ready to say goodbye to 0:39:23.010 --> 0:39:27.000 the old year. It started last January 1st with such promise, 0:39:27.000 --> 0:39:29.130 but in so many ways it failed to live up 0:39:29.130 --> 0:39:32.640 to its potential, and each person arriving tonight has his 0:39:32.640 --> 0:39:36.270 or her own reasons to feel less than nostalgic over 0:39:36.270 --> 0:39:39.120 this past year coming to an end. For some, it 0:39:39.120 --> 0:39:41.250 was the loss of a loved one, or the loss 0:39:41.250 --> 0:39:44.580 of a job, or the tragic breakup of a relationship, 0:39:44.580 --> 0:39:49.620 or an unexpected illness, or serious financial setback or or well, 0:39:49.620 --> 0:39:52.830 the circumstances are unique to each person coming through the doors, 0:39:52.830 --> 0:39:56.310 but the year certainly had its share of hurt and heartache, 0:39:56.310 --> 0:39:59.009 and on this New Year's Eve, most hope the next 0:39:59.010 --> 0:40:02.130 year will somehow be different. As we take our seats, 0:40:02.130 --> 0:40:05.730 we notice an old, distinguished looking gentleman seated next to us. 0:40:05.760 --> 0:40:09.089 We introduce ourselves and discover this is none other than 0:40:09.090 --> 0:40:12.840 the wise King Solomon. Taking advantage of the opportunity, we 0:40:12.840 --> 0:40:14.910 turn to him and say, so, do you have any 0:40:14.910 --> 0:40:16.770 words of wisdom for us as we get ready to 0:40:16.770 --> 0:40:20.160 start a new year? We're somewhat taken aback when he says, 0:40:20.160 --> 0:40:24.030 rather cryptically, there's a time for everything and a season 0:40:24.030 --> 0:40:28.020 for every activity under heaven. Well, that's true, we respond. 0:40:28.020 --> 0:40:30.930 But exactly what kind of times or seasons might the 0:40:30.930 --> 0:40:34.200 new year bring? We try to pin Solomon down to 0:40:34.230 --> 0:40:36.930 get his read on the economy or world affairs, or 0:40:36.930 --> 0:40:40.770 maybe even our own personal circumstances. But Solomon proves to 0:40:40.770 --> 0:40:43.230 be as elusive as trying to pick up a drop 0:40:43.230 --> 0:40:46.680 of oil between two fingers. Turning to look directly into 0:40:46.680 --> 0:40:50.520 our eyes, he compresses the entire new year into 14 0:40:50.520 --> 0:40:54.510 pairs of opposites, encompassing all of life. The new Year 0:40:54.510 --> 0:40:56.910 will be a time to be born and a time 0:40:56.910 --> 0:40:59.850 to die. A time to plant, and a time to uproot, 0:40:59.880 --> 0:41:02.160 a time to kill and a time to heal. A 0:41:02.160 --> 0:41:04.770 time to tear down and a time to build. A 0:41:04.770 --> 0:41:07.319 time to weep and a time to laugh. A time 0:41:07.320 --> 0:41:09.690 to mourn and a time to dance. A time to 0:41:09.719 --> 0:41:12.750 scatter stones and a time to gather them. A time 0:41:12.750 --> 0:41:15.600 to embrace and a time to refrain. A time to 0:41:15.630 --> 0:41:18.000 search and a time to give up. A time to 0:41:18.030 --> 0:41:20.130 keep and a time to throw away. A time to 0:41:20.160 --> 0:41:22.379 tear and a time to mend. A time to be 0:41:22.380 --> 0:41:25.020 silent and a time to speak. A time to love 0:41:25.020 --> 0:41:27.630 and a time to hate. A time for war and 0:41:27.630 --> 0:41:32.340 a time for peace. Initially we're at a loss for words. 0:41:32.370 --> 0:41:35.280 We were hoping for some golden nuggets of wisdom that 0:41:35.280 --> 0:41:37.920 could help us become more healthy, wealthy, and wise in 0:41:37.920 --> 0:41:41.279 the coming New Year. But instead, Solomon has reminded us 0:41:41.280 --> 0:41:42.870 that there will be times in the New Year that 0:41:42.870 --> 0:41:46.170 will bring both joy and sorrow that will result in 0:41:46.170 --> 0:41:49.920 healing and death. Our emotions will span the gamut from 0:41:49.920 --> 0:41:53.820 love to hate. Countries will experience both war and peace. 0:41:53.850 --> 0:41:56.580 In other words, next year will be very much like 0:41:56.580 --> 0:41:59.640 the one just ending. But just as we start to 0:41:59.640 --> 0:42:03.570 wrap our minds around these conflicting actions and emotions, Solomon 0:42:03.570 --> 0:42:08.190 adds two other truths to this already complex equation. First, 0:42:08.219 --> 0:42:10.649 all our effort and toil to get ahead, to reach 0:42:10.680 --> 0:42:13.650 our own personal goals of life, liberty and the pursuit 0:42:13.650 --> 0:42:18.239 of happiness will end up falling short and leaving us unsatisfied. 0:42:18.270 --> 0:42:22.080 Solomon immediately goes to the bottom line what does the 0:42:22.080 --> 0:42:24.990 worker gain from his toil? No matter how hard a 0:42:24.989 --> 0:42:30.390 person works, results can be elusive. Sometimes something unexpected can 0:42:30.390 --> 0:42:33.779 come along to undermine the business or the property or 0:42:33.780 --> 0:42:36.630 the family. And no matter how tightly someone tries to 0:42:36.660 --> 0:42:39.270 hang on to all the stuff of life, in the 0:42:39.270 --> 0:42:42.000 end he or she must leave it all behind. Death 0:42:42.000 --> 0:42:45.270 is certain, and no one can carry their material possessions 0:42:45.270 --> 0:42:49.770 into eternity. Solomon's Second Truth focuses on the reality that 0:42:49.770 --> 0:42:52.560 God has arranged life in a way that causes everything 0:42:52.590 --> 0:42:56.759 to be beautiful, or perhaps appropriate in its time. And 0:42:56.760 --> 0:43:00.480 because of our God designed nature, we innately understand this 0:43:00.480 --> 0:43:03.420 to be true. He has also set eternity in the 0:43:03.420 --> 0:43:06.200 hearts of men, but this truth only leads to more 0:43:06.200 --> 0:43:09.830 frustration on our part, because he says, we cannot fathom 0:43:09.830 --> 0:43:12.470 what God has done from beginning to end. We can 0:43:12.469 --> 0:43:14.840 see all the different pieces of life, and we get 0:43:14.870 --> 0:43:18.140 glimpses of how all those pieces must somehow fit together. 0:43:18.140 --> 0:43:20.840 But try as we might, we can't get all the 0:43:20.840 --> 0:43:24.560 pieces to match up. The sheer complexity of life overwhelms 0:43:24.560 --> 0:43:28.400 our ability to see the entire picture. The orchestra is 0:43:28.400 --> 0:43:30.950 working its way through all the songs as the clock 0:43:30.950 --> 0:43:33.980 heads toward midnight. Before very long, it will be time 0:43:33.980 --> 0:43:36.950 for them to begin playing Auld Lang Syne, and people 0:43:36.950 --> 0:43:40.820 will start singing and blowing their noisemakers. But frankly, we're 0:43:40.820 --> 0:43:43.969 too depressed right now to care. We're trying to wrap 0:43:43.969 --> 0:43:48.110 our arms around the disturbing truths presented by Solomon. We 0:43:48.140 --> 0:43:51.440 finally blurt out, okay, is this what you're saying? This 0:43:51.440 --> 0:43:53.899 next year will be pretty much like the past year, 0:43:53.900 --> 0:43:56.720 and like the one before that, because all of life 0:43:56.719 --> 0:43:59.540 is a mixture of joy and sadness. It'll be a 0:43:59.540 --> 0:44:02.180 year of births and deaths, of hatred and hope, of 0:44:02.180 --> 0:44:05.000 weeping and laughing. There are struggles where we'll need to 0:44:05.000 --> 0:44:08.089 keep searching for answers, and others where we finally need 0:44:08.090 --> 0:44:10.610 to acknowledge the hopelessness of it all and give up. 0:44:10.610 --> 0:44:13.190 And no matter how hard we try, we'll never be 0:44:13.219 --> 0:44:15.169 able to reach a point where we can say we 0:44:15.170 --> 0:44:17.840 have it all together, or that we've arrived, or that 0:44:17.840 --> 0:44:20.300 we finally understand how it all works. Is that what 0:44:20.300 --> 0:44:25.549 you're saying? Touching our arm, Solomon quietly says, yes, that's 0:44:25.550 --> 0:44:28.520 what I'm saying. Then how in the world can I 0:44:28.520 --> 0:44:31.130 find the wisdom to make it through such a confusing, 0:44:31.130 --> 0:44:34.670 frustrating New Year? And with the kind smile of a 0:44:34.670 --> 0:44:37.250 man who lived through all the ups and downs of life, 0:44:37.250 --> 0:44:41.120 Solomon leans in and says, by remembering this, there is 0:44:41.120 --> 0:44:43.370 nothing better for men than to be happy and do 0:44:43.370 --> 0:44:46.100 good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink 0:44:46.100 --> 0:44:49.130 and find satisfaction in all his toil. This is the 0:44:49.160 --> 0:44:52.069 gift of God. I know that everything God does will 0:44:52.070 --> 0:44:54.980 endure forever. Nothing can be added to it and nothing 0:44:55.010 --> 0:44:58.760 taken from it. God does it so men will Revere him. 0:44:58.969 --> 0:45:02.150 Don't miss my three secrets for living a wise life 0:45:02.150 --> 0:45:05.960 in a confusing world first. Don't spend your time trying 0:45:05.960 --> 0:45:09.650 to pursue happiness. Learn to be satisfied with what you have. 0:45:09.680 --> 0:45:13.700 Enjoy the blessings God has already provided rather than pushing 0:45:13.730 --> 0:45:17.780 to acquire more stuff. Trust me, stuff doesn't provide long 0:45:17.810 --> 0:45:22.400 term satisfaction. Second view where you are, what you have, 0:45:22.400 --> 0:45:25.220 and what you do as gifts from God, and learn 0:45:25.219 --> 0:45:28.700 to be thankful for his gracious provision. Learn to enjoy 0:45:28.700 --> 0:45:32.750 what he has provided. And third, be willing to admit 0:45:32.750 --> 0:45:35.720 you are not God. He understands how life works, but 0:45:35.719 --> 0:45:38.600 you don't. Trying to put all the pieces together will 0:45:38.600 --> 0:45:41.630 only frustrate you. What he has done is what will 0:45:41.630 --> 0:45:45.230 endure forever. Just be sure to Revere him by putting 0:45:45.230 --> 0:45:48.230 him first in your life. As we rise from the 0:45:48.230 --> 0:45:50.570 table and head toward the door, we leave with a 0:45:50.570 --> 0:45:53.960 wisdom we didn't possess before. We understand the New Year 0:45:53.960 --> 0:45:56.419 will be filled with the same highs and lows as 0:45:56.420 --> 0:46:00.350 the year just ending. Blind optimism has been replaced with 0:46:00.350 --> 0:46:03.259 clear eyed realism. We know that the goal is not 0:46:03.260 --> 0:46:07.009 to pursue happiness and strive to acquire more stuff, hoping 0:46:07.010 --> 0:46:09.739 to get ahead. We've replaced that with a plan to 0:46:09.770 --> 0:46:12.860 enjoy what God does provide. To take pleasure in the 0:46:12.860 --> 0:46:16.340 tasks he places before us, and to focus on learning 0:46:16.340 --> 0:46:19.940 how to trust him more fully as the year goes on. 0:46:19.940 --> 0:46:22.549 And that is indeed a wise way to end this 0:46:22.550 --> 0:46:25.310 year and to move on into the new one. 0:46:25.370 --> 0:46:28.670 Wow, great perspective there. Thank you. Charlie, I found myself 0:46:28.670 --> 0:46:31.130 as I'm listening to you, just wishing I was there 0:46:31.130 --> 0:46:33.290 in the room with Solomon. But in a sense, every 0:46:33.320 --> 0:46:36.080 time we open the book and read that passage, we 0:46:36.080 --> 0:46:37.009 really are right. 0:46:37.040 --> 0:46:38.750 That's exactly right. Yeah. 0:46:38.780 --> 0:46:41.240 Well, it's been a great broadcast. I hope you enjoyed it. 0:46:41.239 --> 0:46:44.390 Our host, doctor Charlie Dyer. I'm John Gager. Dan Anderson, 0:46:44.390 --> 0:46:46.549 our producer. All three of us say thank you to 0:46:46.580 --> 0:46:49.190 you for carving out time to be with us here 0:46:49.190 --> 0:46:52.339 at The Land and the book, a production of Moody Radio, 0:46:52.370 --> 0:46:54.890 a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.