S1: I'm.
S2: Sure you've heard. You're supposed to memorize the Bible. What
S2: about the people in the pages of Scripture? Did they
S2: memorize whatever portions of the Bible they had back then? Ha!
S2: Just ahead, a fascinating look at people in Scripture who
S2: memorize scripture. We've got some compelling examples for you and
S2: some bonus tips for your own Bible memory as well. Plus,
S2: all the news from the Middle East here on the
S2: land and the book. Thanks for connecting with us today.
S2: I'm John Gager and our host, Doctor Charlie Dyer is
S2: out on assignment, but he's still in touch with us
S2: and shared his thoughts about the news stories that have
S2: come out of the Middle East this week. But first,
S2: Passover will soon be upon us. And one of the
S2: traditional Passover questions is what makes this night different from
S2: all others? Passover is an important biblical holiday with huge
S2: meaning for Jewish people and believers in Jesus. And if
S2: you want to learn more about what makes Passover so special,
S2: our friends at Life and Messiah are offering to mail
S2: you a free copy of their Messianic Passover Haggadah. This
S2: is a booklet that will lead you through the celebration
S2: of Passover to see the rich connections to Jesus, our Messiah,
S2: and the Last Supper. You'll also receive a link for
S2: an interactive Passover Seder video, and with the Haggadah and
S2: the video together, you can really celebrate Passover this year
S2: with your family and friends. And to get this free offer,
S2: just go to life in Messiah. Org and click on
S2: the Moody Radio button there to find out more and
S2: request your copy. Again, that's life in messiah.org. All right,
S2: let's swing our focus toward current events from the Middle East.
S2: The threatened attack against Iran by Israel and possibly the U.S.
S2: is already impacting Iran. What preparations are they taking and
S2: how serious is the threat of such an attack actually happening? Well,
S2: in spite of their bluster and bravado, Charlie suggests that
S2: Iran appears to be very concerned about a threatened attack.
S2: As we mentioned before, they were apparently secretly rushing to
S2: develop the technology to produce several basic or crude nuclear
S2: weapons just as quickly as possible. Now, the bombs don't
S2: need to be ultra powerful or sophisticated. They simply need
S2: to be small enough to mount on a missile and
S2: deliver to a target. In threatening a small country like Israel,
S2: having a nuclear weapon that could be launched against Tel Aviv,
S2: for example, could deter Israel from responding to future Iranian threats.
S2: The ayatollah also suggested there should be no negotiations with
S2: the U.S. because of the apparent threats, but he apparently
S2: left the door open to talks with the understanding that
S2: they do not include any threats of attack. Iran also
S2: launched its first drone carrier. The former container vessel has
S2: been equipped with a runway for launching drones, and it
S2: can also operate helicopters. This gives Iran more flexibility in
S2: launch locations, however, it's also unclear how vulnerable the ship
S2: will be. Should it stray too far from home waters.
S2: But to the main question being asked here, how serious
S2: is the actual threat of an attack? President Trump posted
S2: an online message saying reports that the United States, working
S2: in conjunction with Israel, is going to blow Iran into
S2: smithereens are greatly exaggerated. However, it is unclear what is
S2: his final word on the subject. Or is this simply
S2: a way to try to coax Iran into negotiations? President
S2: Trump has made it clear that Iran cannot possess nuclear weapons.
S2: The breakout time for Iran to actually build a nuclear
S2: bomb once they start is likely measured in weeks, not months.
S2: So the US and Israel are likely both preparing a
S2: response should they receive intelligence suggesting Iran is moving forward.
S2: Story number two. President Trump has proposed a trade corridor
S2: linking India to Europe and the U.S. through Israel. Now,
S2: what would such a trade corridor accomplish and is it
S2: even feasible? Well, Doctor Dyer told me he thinks that
S2: most in the US really didn't grasp the strategic significance
S2: of this proposal. So let me share some of the background.
S2: The US and China are in an economic war, no
S2: doubt about it. China has been using its Belt and
S2: Road Initiative to try to carve out its own worldwide
S2: connections to diminish US influence. At the same time, the
S2: Houthis have created a force in the Red sea that
S2: is disrupting trade and commerce through the Suez Canal. That's
S2: increasing the price of everything from goods to oil coming
S2: from Asia to the west. China has also tried to
S2: gain influence in the Panama Canal, another major choke point
S2: for world commerce. India is a major counterbalance to China,
S2: and at the same time, a peace treaty between the
S2: Gulf states and Israel and a route through them connecting
S2: the Arabian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea could bypass the
S2: Houthis and their attempt to block the Red sea as
S2: envisioned by President Trump. This new trade route would run
S2: from India to Israel and onward to Italy in the U.S.,
S2: and would include seaports, rail lines, and undersea cables. Now
S2: the question is, is it feasible? The short answer is
S2: that it is. Though it will face some obstacles. For example,
S2: China will not stand idly by and allow India to
S2: become the dominant power in Southeast Asia, though they don't
S2: have the military capability to project power and control through
S2: the area. Iran is one other potential block for the project,
S2: like the Houthis in the Red sea. Iran sits at
S2: the narrow band between the Gulf of Oman and the
S2: Persian Gulf. They've blocked oil shipments there before. However, a
S2: road and rail link through the United Arab Emirates, through
S2: Saudi Arabia and Jordan to Israel's port at Ashdod could
S2: help bypass that blocking point. Now, the major stumbling block
S2: to such a deal remains lack of a peace treaty
S2: between Saudi Arabia and Israel. But while Europe and the U.S.
S2: have in the past tried to force a deal on
S2: Israel because of pressure from the oil producing states. President
S2: Trump is presenting a vision for a deal in which
S2: everyone who participates comes out on top, and that's a
S2: great incentive to get everyone to buy into it. If
S2: you joined us midstream, you're listening to The Land and
S2: the book. I'm John Gager, and in this opening segment,
S2: we're looking at current events based in the Middle East.
S2: Our expert and host, Doctor Charlie Dyer, returns next week
S2: from his assignment. But let's continue now with our look
S2: at the top stories. Number three, watching the interaction of
S2: all the countries and groups in the Middle East is
S2: like watching the ever shifting shapes in a kaleidoscope. So
S2: what do you say we take a kind of a
S2: walk around the latest events in places like Syria, Turkey
S2: and Saudi Arabia? Here we go. In Syria, the army
S2: that is now aligned with the new administration has openly
S2: fought with Hezbollah. Hezbollah tried to advance into a stronghold
S2: they previously held in Syria, but were repulsed by the
S2: Syrian Army. The Syrian Army then entered a town on
S2: the Lebanese side of the border, forcing the Hezbollah forces
S2: to retreat further into Lebanon. Now there's no love lost
S2: between the Sunni forces now controlling Syria and the Shiite
S2: Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon, supported by Iran. This border war
S2: could become more active as Iran tries to resupply Hezbollah.
S2: Iran and Turkey are also vying for control in the region.
S2: Turkey's President Erdogan is claiming that Iran is planning to
S2: send drones to the Kurds in Syria to fight against
S2: Turkish forces. Now, the Kurds had been our ally, but
S2: in their fight against Turkey, they will apparently seek help
S2: from any source willing to provide arms. Meanwhile, Turkey is
S2: trying to build a modern version of the Ottoman Empire
S2: with their brand of a Sunni religious caliphate controlling the
S2: region from Istanbul. And Turkey's influence in Syria could bring
S2: it into conflict with Israel should Turkish forces end up
S2: on Israel's northern border. This is especially troubling given Turkey's
S2: ideological alignment with groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas and
S2: even the jihadist al-Nusra group now controlling Syria. Saudi Arabia
S2: would also like to be a major regional player in
S2: the Middle East. They don't have the population of Turkey
S2: or Iran, but they do have incredible oil wealth and
S2: closer connections to the Sunni Arab states and to the west.
S2: Saudi Arabia would also like to be a major player
S2: in a regional security arrangement between the Gulf states, Israel,
S2: and the United States. The Abraham Accords are the initial
S2: basis for such an agreement. But the main sticking point
S2: is the issue of a Palestinian state. So can a
S2: trade alliance like the one just mentioned help overcome those obstacles? Well,
S2: I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Story
S2: number four. Archaeologists in Egypt have announced the discovery of
S2: the lost tomb of Pharaoh Thutmose the second. Maybe you're
S2: curious what exactly was discovered and how significant is this find? Well,
S2: it turns out the actual discovery isn't nearly as spectacular
S2: as that of the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun back in 1922.
S2: There was no sarcophagus or golden face mask or other
S2: hoard of chariots, beds, jewelry or intact alabaster jars. Truthfully,
S2: the tomb was in a poor state of preservation, apparently
S2: because of flood damage shortly after the king's death. However,
S2: fragments of alabaster vases, along with texts and paint fragments
S2: were discovered, and they helped identify the tomb as that
S2: of Pharaoh Thutmose the second, whose mummy had been discovered
S2: in the 1800s. Now, what makes this find significant, at
S2: least for those of us who take the book of
S2: Exodus literally, is that throughout, most of the second plays
S2: a minor role in the time of Israel. In Egypt,
S2: his father, Thutmose the first, would seem to be the
S2: pharaoh who gave the order to kill the Hebrew boys
S2: that were born. Thutmose the second was then married to
S2: his sister Hatshepsut. Now follow this. She is likely the
S2: pharaoh's daughter, the very one who rescued and raised Moses. Well,
S2: there's a lot more details to this whole story, but
S2: the bottom line is this discovery might simply be the
S2: tomb of a minor pharaoh, but it does help fill
S2: in the details of the account of the first 40
S2: years of Moses life in Exodus one and two. Boy,
S2: that is amazing, right? Hey, we'd love for you to
S2: visit our website, The land and the book. Org where
S2: you can access our podcast. A great tool to stay
S2: in touch throughout the week, and a neat way to
S2: share this ministry with a friend. Somebody who doesn't live
S2: anywhere near a radio station that carries the program. So
S2: check out the podcast at the Land and the book. Org. Also,
S2: we'd love for you to email your question. That question
S2: that's been nagging you as you go through Scripture and wonder,
S2: what's that there for? Email your question to the land
S2: and the book@moody.edu. Just ahead, a fascinating look at people
S2: in Scripture who memorize scripture. We've got some compelling examples
S2: for you, and some bonus tips for your own Bible
S2: memory as well. On the land and the book. Oh sure,
S2: you've heard you're supposed to memorize the Bible, but what
S2: about the people in the pages of Scripture itself? Did
S2: any of them memorize whatever portions of the Bible they
S2: had back then? Coming up, a fascinating look at people
S2: in Scripture who memorized Scripture. We've got some pretty compelling
S2: examples for you and some bonus tips as well. A
S2: welcome to the second segment of Moody Radio's broadcast The
S2: Land and the book. I'm John Gager, inviting you to
S2: envision with me what it might look like to take
S2: just another step in walking with your Jewish friend or co-worker.
S2: So I've noticed in the past that when I try
S2: to bring up Messiah Yeshua with a Jewish friend. Invariably,
S2: the conversation comes to a screeching halt. It's not like
S2: there's an openness toward further discussion, even when there's a
S2: friendship that pre-exists. What's going on? Let me ask Justin
S2: Cronin of Chosen People Ministries. What's going on?
S3: Yeah, John, I think we need to understand that it's
S3: been drilled into the hearts and minds of Jewish people
S3: for decades, for centuries, that Jesus is not for Jews.
S3: And if a Jewish person were to embrace Jesus as
S3: their Messiah, they're going to be rejected by their family,
S3: by their closest friends. And so when they weigh the cost,
S3: their immediate thought is, no, I'm not going to lose
S3: those friendships. I'm not going to lose my respect, if
S3: you will, within my community.
S2: My standing.
S3: And my standing. And so it's just an immediate reaction
S3: of nope, not interested, don't want to go there. I
S3: don't want to deal with that pain or that struggle
S3: that might come as a result of even considering that
S3: Jesus might be the Messiah.
S2: So what's a reasonable response to that? Well, just. And
S2: I will have to pick that up in a conversation
S2: in the future. Justin Crone is with Chosen People Ministries
S2: and joins us today on the Land and the book.
S2: Professor Tom Meyer, the Bible Memory Man, is a guest
S2: speaker at churches and conferences where he presents the Bible
S2: spoken dramatically from memory in an engaging and powerful manner.
S2: Tom is also a professor at Shasta Bible College and
S2: the author of the Memorization Study Bible. He's become kind
S2: of a fan favorite here on the program. So welcome
S2: back to the land and the book. Tom.
S4: Thank you. Great to be back.
S2: Well, the notion of people in Scripture, memorizing scripture goes
S2: all the way back to the Israelites. Take us to
S2: Joshua chapter one and the scene that unfolds there. Tom.
S4: Well, that's a great place to start. You know, we
S4: have these verses in Deuteronomy that remind us of the
S4: the family educational structure where we had verses in the
S4: Torah like, you know, repeat them again and again to
S4: your children. Talk about them when you're at home, while
S4: you're on the road, when you're getting up from Deuteronomy six,
S4: as you know. And so with this knowledge that the
S4: children of Israel now have, of the word of the
S4: living God, and just about to enter into Canaan, Joshua
S4: receives a divine revelation. And that is the instruction that
S4: this book of the law shall not depart out of
S4: your mouth, but you shall meditate therein day and night,
S4: that you may be able to do according to all
S4: that is written therein. Then shall you make your ways prosperous,
S4: then shall you will have good success. So once that
S4: seven year war, when you do the math, it's the
S4: conquest of seven years. You can deduce that from chapter
S4: 14 of Joshua. But after that seven year war, these
S4: unconquered Canaanites that you're living next to are quote unquote,
S4: going to work with. They don't think in practice like
S4: you do. And in order for the ancient Israelites not
S4: to become like them, they were to do what? To
S4: have this book of the law not depart out of
S4: their mouth. To have those words that their parents taught
S4: them when they were children, that they repeated to them
S4: over and over and over again, would have dwelt inside them,
S4: and they would make the right choice when no one
S4: is looking. Well, except God. That they would obey God's law.
S2: Well, we see the command for a lifestyle of memorizing
S2: scripture as far back as the book of Deuteronomy. Take
S2: us there.
S4: It's true. Like I touched on earlier, you know, we
S4: have that famous verse from chapter six, which is kind
S4: of repeated again in chapter 11 where we have these,
S4: these admonitions again and again to recite God's instructions from memory,
S4: lest they be forgotten. And it's so easy to forget,
S4: isn't it? I mean, that's why the ancient Israelites, even
S4: to this day, some of them wear tassels, don't they?
S2: That's right.
S4: And it's so easy to forget, because behind these wondrous
S4: acts like, you know, the exodus out of Egypt and etcetera, right?
S4: So the loving, faithful and fearful God who doesn't change,
S4: and these accounts of God's deliverance, these works of Yahweh,
S4: were to be taught to all generations. This is the
S4: basis for godly living. This is the basis for obedience.
S4: This is our God. And then, you know, then they
S4: could speak. And God spake all these words, saying, I
S4: am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of
S4: the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, etc.
S4: because they were there, they were eyewitnesses. Many of them
S4: were right at the giving of the Torah. And so
S4: whether it's in Deuteronomy with this emphasis, like we touched
S4: on right in chapter six and 11 with the family education,
S4: or whether it's after that event in the wilderness wanderings
S4: and about to enter into the back door of Canaan
S4: and attack Jericho from beginning to end, is that the
S4: spiritual condition of people's hearts was was most important to God.
S4: And having the word hidden in the heart, of course,
S4: is the best way not to sin against them. As
S4: David would later say.
S2: People in Scripture who memorized scripture, that's our conversation on
S2: the land and the book with professor Tom Meyer, the
S2: Bible Memory man. You know, David himself offered us one
S2: of the most famous statements about Scripture memory in Psalm
S2: 119 verse 111. Some of our listeners can quote it,
S2: but why don't you take us there, Tom?
S4: That's a great passage to go to, John. Remember to
S4: start in verse nine where it says wherewithal, or how
S4: shall the young man cleanse his way? That's the million
S4: dollar question that we want for us and our kids
S4: and our grandkids, right? Right. How do we clean our way?
S4: How do we walk with the Lord? How do we
S4: walk in the spirit, etc.? Wherewithal? Or how shall men
S4: cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word,
S4: with my whole heart? O let me not wander from
S4: thy commandments. And here we go, the famous one. Thy
S4: word have I hid in my heart that I might
S4: not sin against thee. So that's the number one reason why,
S4: whether we live in the economy, the era of the
S4: children of Israel way back when, or the church today,
S4: God's people have always been instructed to hide His word
S4: in their heart, so they don't sin against him. And
S4: God has, as you know, John, he has no greater
S4: joy than his children walk in truth, just like we
S4: who are parents have no greater joy than when our
S4: children walk in truth. And what greater truth to walk
S4: in than the light of his word?
S2: King Solomon was big on Scripture memory. Where do we
S2: find the evidence for that, Tom?
S4: Yeah, he does seem to be big on his scripture memory,
S4: but when he got older, it seemed maybe like it
S4: didn't stick as much as it did right when he
S4: was younger. You know, and that's a warning to us, right?
S4: Even the devil can quote scripture, right? Yeah. He quotes
S4: Psalm 91, doesn't he? And Matthew chapter four, I believe
S4: when he's tempting the Lord Jesus. But you're right. Solomon
S4: was a product in many ways of his environment. That
S4: is to say, he lived in a world where the
S4: student was the son and the teacher's the father. That
S4: kind of mindset. And so we have that phraseology or
S4: proverbs a lot like my son, write these words upon
S4: the table of thine heart. Well that's perfect. There it is.
S4: Write these words on the tablet, depending on your translation
S4: of your heart, because the author knows that the heart
S4: is the inner control center of the person, you know,
S4: the heart is the part of us that the Lord
S4: is most concerned with, because out of it come all
S4: the issues of life, and with a well-stocked heart, full
S4: of Torah, of the oracles of the living God. Then ideally,
S4: we won't sin against him.
S2: Professor Tom Meyer, the Bible Memory man, is a guest
S2: speaker at churches and conferences where he presents the Bible
S2: spoken dramatically from memory in an engaging and powerful manner.
S2: Hey Tom, let's switch gears and move into the New
S2: Testament in Matthew 538. Jesus told everyday people in the
S2: first century, you have heard that it was said, sounds
S2: to me like he's referring to commonly known scripture. Your thoughts?
S4: It is true, John. You know, they lived in a
S4: world so much different than ours, didn't they? In many ways, yes,
S4: it's the same God yesterday, today and forever. Right? But
S4: on the other hand, they lived on the other side
S4: of the world in an oral world. We live in
S4: a in a written world in many regards. You know,
S4: so these people in the first century way obviously before then. Right.
S4: The only way to get access to the word of
S4: the living God is to hear it read aloud in
S4: a church service. Once the church is born on Pentecost,
S4: or one of the the high holy feasts in the temple,
S4: as you know, three times a year. But by going
S4: to those events at the temple, you know, Josephus says
S4: that they know the Word of God better than their
S4: own name. And so these people, the Lord Jesus is
S4: talking to, they're not fools. These people are well versed,
S4: even though they live far away from Jerusalem in the Galilee.
S4: You know, they're well versed in the history of God's people.
S4: And they knew his word. And when you have verses
S4: like that, it goes to show us that we have
S4: people like King David, right. Who's a king who memorized
S4: God's Word. We have prophets, right, who memorize God's Word.
S4: And we have common people here, perfect, right, who hide
S4: God's Word in their heart, just like us.
S2: Paul was probably the Scripture memory overachiever of his day.
S2: Paul quotes Luke's Gospel in first Timothy 518, but there's
S2: a whole lot more than that. Take us, for example,
S2: to Colossians 116. If I'm not being too specific to
S2: draw on that.
S4: Well, um, there are almost like 300 Quotes. Just like
S4: direct quotes from what I can count from the Old
S4: Testament in the New Testament. Okay, by the author. So
S4: that means the authors had all of those quotes memorized
S4: when the Holy Spirit inspired them to move them along.
S4: What they wrote, they wrote it without error, but they
S4: used their own personality and backgrounds to draw upon all
S4: those memorized verses that they had, and no one was
S4: better at that, like you said, than than Paul, who
S4: sat at the feet of Gamaliel. Right. As a young
S4: Jewish student. Right. He would have known the Torah backwards
S4: and forwards, up and down, left and right. And he
S4: brought that skill set, didn't he?
S2: I just want to look at this. Verse 16. It says,
S2: for by him all things were created in heaven and
S2: on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or
S2: rulers or authorities, all things were created through him and
S2: for him. And that would include Scripture itself.
S4: It would 100%. But I was thinking more along the
S4: lines of like 316.
S2: Okay, go for 316 then. Yeah.
S4: Because that's the one that says that's a good one too.
S4: You mentioned, but that the command to let the word
S4: of Christ dwell in you. You know the word richly?
S2: Yeah.
S4: Where do we let the word of Christ dwell richly
S4: on our phone? No. On our bookshelf? No. In your heart.
S4: In us. And then, as you know, he says it
S4: a different way, doesn't he, in Ephesians, when he commands
S4: us to to speak to one another in psalms and
S4: hymns and spiritual songs. So during our downtime, when we're
S4: standing in line at the store, whether we're in traffic
S4: or whatever, one of the best ways to redeem that
S4: time is not only to pray, to let our requests
S4: be made known unto God, but also during that downtime
S4: is to speak to ourselves in psalms and hymns and
S4: spiritual songs, and by doing that by reciting the Word
S4: of God to ourselves, it puts the mind of the
S4: living God right there. And we don't always act on
S4: what we know to be true. We know it's more
S4: precious than rubies. We know it's more to be desired
S4: than anything. It's more precious than gold. The Word of God. Right?
S4: And to be able in that downtime, to have that
S4: and reach and think on it and dwell on it,
S4: you do it all the time. You understand how it works, right?
S4: The benefits are amazing.
S2: Yeah. For sure. In Ephesians 519, Paul commands believers to
S2: be speaking to yourself in Psalms. We've referenced this, uh,
S2: you know, wouldn't you love to know how much scripture
S2: Paul memorized?
S4: Well, he would be the first one, probably to tell
S4: you that he would have never counted the verses. I
S4: know verses don't come in until the 16th century AD,
S4: and and chapters don't come in until approximately the 12th
S4: century AD, but still, you know, he was the kind
S4: of guy you would think, right, who was humble, who
S4: was meek, right? Who believed in the power of the
S4: word of God. And that's just it. You know, at
S4: the early church services, he commanded them in first Timothy
S4: chapter four, verse 13, until I come to devote yourself
S4: to the public reading of Scripture, see, even to this
S4: very day when I lived in Jerusalem for four years,
S4: I would ask the cantors, the the leaders in the synagogue,
S4: how did the people memorize to this day in Jerusalem
S4: and the synagogues? And they would tell me by hearing it,
S4: read the scriptures, read aloud. So 2000 years later, this
S4: tradition still exists. So by the public proclamation in first
S4: Timothy 413 of the scriptures, that's how really in that
S4: early church period where no one had a copy at home,
S4: where you could hear the Word of God, where you
S4: could meditate it, and then you could memorize it.
S2: Well, is it an overstatement to say that a Christian
S2: cannot fully please God without an ongoing lifestyle of Scripture memory?
S4: Oh, I don't know about that. That's a big one there.
S4: You know, it's like I grew up most of my
S4: life when all I knew was John 316 and Genesis
S4: one one, so I was I still please God. But
S4: I think the way I would put it is I
S4: was I was not fully equipped. Yeah, but I was
S4: just left so much on the table. Yes. You know,
S4: and to have that word in your heart, no matter
S4: where you are, no matter what you're doing, it not
S4: only puts the mind of God within reach, it provides
S4: you with words of comfort for yourself, for others. It
S4: provides us with our weapon of choice, etc..
S2: Well, what's a first step for somebody who says, you know,
S2: I'm hearing what you're saying. I, you know, I'd like
S2: to do this. I want to memorize, but I struggle.
S2: My mind just doesn't seem to be able to retain scripture.
S2: It doesn't retain anything anymore. What's your counsel for us?
S4: Join the club. Welcome to humanity. I forget everything all
S4: the time. I have to write it down. But in
S4: all seriousness, the best way to go about this ancient
S4: but all important discipline is the number one. Ask the
S4: Lord Jesus to help you. Ask for help. I know
S4: it sounds like. What? No, but seriously, ask him to
S4: help you. Number one. Number two. Pick something with light
S4: at the end of the tunnel. Like you memorize some psalms, John? Yes,
S4: something like that. Something that's doable. Right. And then shoot
S4: for 1 or 2 verses a week and you'll see
S4: that it's difficult. Okay. It's hard. It's like exercising. And
S4: then some people do it when the new year starts,
S4: you know they don't want to do it, but they're
S4: glad they've done it down the road. Right. Because they
S4: see the results. And this is just bodily exercise which
S4: profits little. Okay. Start memorizing chapters, verses, etc. and you'll
S4: see over time how it's going to have more of
S4: the mind of Christ in you. It'll transform your thinking.
S4: It'll transform your practice. It will make you hopefully a
S4: better father, a better friend, a better, etc. because you
S4: have more of that mind of Christ in you.
S5: Yes.
S2: Well, that's a great encouragement, Tom, for all of us.
S2: And I thank you for your insights. People in Scripture
S2: who memorize Scripture. We're talking today with Tom Meyer, who's
S2: kind of the Bible memory man. Thanks for your conversation, Tom.
S5: Thank you.
S2: Coming up on the land and the book, we're looking
S2: at a fresh set of Bible questions. Stick around for
S2: more on the land and the book. Here at the
S2: land of the book, we really love what we do,
S2: and we really love it when people like you make
S2: the effort to send your Bible questions our way, because
S2: there's nothing better than wrestling with some of these issues
S2: and in most cases, finding some answers. Of course, we
S2: can't find an answer to every single question you might have,
S2: but there's an awful lot of it that we can. Hi,
S2: I'm John Gager sitting with me in the studio, doctor
S2: Gerald Peterman of the Moody Bible Institute. Faculty capable and qualified.
S2: He's got plenty of enthusiasm and his Bible is open.
S2: And let's get right to our questions after I talk
S2: to you about a Seder. What does Passover mean for
S2: us as believers in Jesus? Some might remember the story
S2: from the book of Exodus, but there's a whole lot
S2: more to it. You know, the Last Supper was really
S2: a Passover meal. And not only did Jesus and his
S2: disciples celebrate Passover, it also foreshadowed his death on the
S2: cross for our redemption. Jewish people, of course, have been
S2: observing the feast of Passover for thousands of years. So
S2: understanding the history, the importance of this holiday will help
S2: us better connect with our Jewish friends and neighbors. Boy,
S2: what better way is there to learn about Passover than
S2: to experience a Passover Seder yourself? If you've never celebrated Passover? Well,
S2: our friends at Life in Messiah would love to partner
S2: with you in hosting a Seder experience. Every year their
S2: staff engaged churches and small groups in an interactive Messiah
S2: in the Passover Seder, allowing participants to taste and see
S2: the redemption story. And if you're interested in having somebody
S2: come to lead a Seder in your area, your church,
S2: visit life in Messiah. Org and click on the Moody
S2: Radio button there to learn more. That's life in messiah.org.
S2: Ready for our first question?
S6: Yes, sir.
S2: This one from Peggy, who is currently in a Bible
S2: study about heaven. And she says one of the Catholic
S2: ladies at our study brought up the Apostle's Creed and
S2: the part that says Jesus descended into hell. Since Jesus
S2: is God and hell is separation from God. I commented
S2: that perhaps there's a different meaning to that part of
S2: the Apostle's Creed. Another person tied this in with revelation
S2: 118 and said, Jesus descended to hell to get the
S2: keys to free the saints who had been waiting to
S2: go to heaven. Is there any scripture to back up
S2: any of these thoughts?
S7: Creeds are very important, and there are creeds in and
S7: outside of Scripture, and the Apostles Creed is one of
S7: the oldest ones. But we should keep in mind that
S7: the Creed developed over the course of time in the
S7: early church. So the Apostles Creed is first developed in
S7: the second century, and then it's changed and transformed. And
S7: the oldest written version of that creed is called the
S7: Old Roman Creed, that dates to around 340 A.D., and
S7: this oldest version makes no reference to a descent into hell.
S7: The descent into hell was added to the Creed about
S7: a century later, and the Book of Common Prayer, used
S7: by the Anglican Church uses the old version of the
S7: Creed without the descent into hell. So I just want
S7: to say that not all Christians believe in a descent
S7: into hell, and no passage of Scripture specifically mentions one.
S7: Yet a verse that sometimes used is Ephesians four eight
S7: and nine. They say, therefore it says, when he ascended
S7: on high, he led host captives, and then he gave
S7: gifts to men in saying he ascended, what does it
S7: mean but that he also descended to the lower regions,
S7: that is the earth. Here the descent is coming down
S7: from heaven to earth in becoming human. Now about our
S7: Lord Jesus freeing people from hell. There are very good
S7: reasons to believe that rather than going to hell temporarily
S7: when God's people die, they go instead to a place
S7: of comfort and blessing. Let me mention a couple of these.
S7: In Luke 16, our Lord tells a parable about the
S7: rich man and Lazarus. I suggest you read it. It
S7: is wonderful. After the death of the rich man, he
S7: goes to a place of torment and punishment. But Lazarus
S7: goes to a place of comfort next to Abraham. Likewise,
S7: in Luke, Jesus promises to the thief on the cross
S7: that at death he will be with Jesus in Paradise
S7: that day. And in Philippians one, Paul says that at
S7: death he will be with Christ. Now, as for the keys,
S7: this passage is revelation one, verses 17 and 18. I'm
S7: going to read that. Then I saw him. I fell
S7: at his feet as though dead. But he laid his
S7: hand on me, saying, fear not. I am the first
S7: and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold,
S7: I am alive forevermore. I have the keys of death
S7: and Hades. When one has keys, one has power and authority.
S7: So death and hell have no power over Jesus. He
S7: has power over them.
S2: That's Doctor Gerald Peterman, who's happy to answer your Bible
S2: questions with an email to the land and the book@moody.edu.
S2: Helen talks about a friend who was studying Joshua at
S2: the end of his life. He's challenging the people to
S2: continue to follow the true God, and he set up
S2: a stone of witness. And she was thinking about Jesus
S2: on Palm Sunday when he said that if the people
S2: were quiet, even the rocks would cry out. And she
S2: wonders if he was referring to the stones of witness
S2: in the Old Testament. I'd never taken it that way,
S2: but I was curious. Do we know if there were
S2: any stones of witness near where Jesus was when he
S2: said that?
S7: It's hard to say that so many centuries have passed
S7: with comings and goings and buildings and war. There's no
S7: evidence of ancient witness stones like the ones set up
S7: at the time of Joshua. But if you've ever traveled
S7: in Israel, and I hope you get a chance to
S7: do that, then you know that the territory can be
S7: very rocky, very uneven, very difficult. And as our Lord
S7: is coming in to Jerusalem in Luke 19, this is
S7: the triumphal entry. This is the passage we're talking about.
S7: The Pharisees hear the crowd saying about Jesus, Blessed is
S7: the King who comes in the name of the Lord.
S7: And they say, teacher, rebuke your disciples. And Jesus says
S7: in response, I tell you, if they keep silent, the
S7: stones will cry out. There will be stones all around
S7: on the path. And again, when our Lord is tempted
S7: by the devil, he says, if you're the Son of God,
S7: command these stones to become bread, because they're just all
S7: over the place. Right. So it's very rocky territory.
S2: Okay. This is the land in the book from Moody
S2: Radio doctor Gerald Peterman answering our Bible questions like this
S2: one from Mary, who takes us to second Samuel 12,
S2: verse eight, where Nathan tells David what God said of David,
S2: I gave your master's house to you and your master's
S2: wives into your arms, and I gave you the house
S2: of Israel and Judah. And if that wasn't enough, I
S2: would have given you even more. She wants to know
S2: is this verse saying that God gave David more than
S2: one wife, and that he approved of David's polygamy? Doesn't
S2: Romans 325 indicate that God passed over some sins, particularly
S2: that of adultery, among Old Testament saints?
S7: Oh, thanks so much for the question. God did not
S7: and does not approve of polygamy during the time period
S7: of Israel's kings, God was tolerating it. One of the
S7: reasons that Saul's family comes to David is that that
S7: family needs a provider and a protector. Saul dies, all
S7: of Saul's sons die in war. Who's going to take
S7: care of the family? So the family comes to David
S7: so he can be their protector. But again, God does
S7: not approve of multiple wives. We know this. We know
S7: this from Deuteronomy 17. In Deuteronomy 17, we hear this Israel,
S7: when you go into the land and you want a king,
S7: this is what the king should do. The king should
S7: not multiply wives for himself. Deuteronomy 1717. So monogamy, one husband,
S7: one wife has always been God's pattern. We see that
S7: in Ephesians five. We see that in the book of Proverbs.
S7: And of course we see it in Genesis one and two.
S7: Now there was also a question about Romans 325 about
S7: God passing over sins. This is an important passage, so
S7: let's read it in its context. Verses 24 and 25
S7: say we were justified by his grace as a gift
S7: through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God
S7: put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be
S7: received by faith. This is to show God's righteousness, because
S7: in his divine forbearance he passed over former sins. The
S7: passing over former sins is not punishing them to the
S7: degree they deserved. Old Testament sacrifices did not punish our
S7: sins to the degree they deserved that punishment. All of
S7: it went on. Jesus.
S2: Eric takes us to Proverbs 18, which speaks about the
S2: mouth and the power of our words. Proverbs 18 verses
S2: seven and 21. Eric wants to know, is the writer
S2: referring to words coming from the mouth as having the
S2: potential to be harmful for your soul, as well as
S2: bringing forth good results or bad results in the lives
S2: of others?
S7: Yes, that is so right. Words have the potential to
S7: be very helpful and very destructive. I'm sure many of
S7: our listeners have experienced that. A harsh and critical word
S7: spoken in anger can be very discouraging or cause a
S7: rift in a relationship, but a timely word of encouragement
S7: can be just what is needed for someone who's discouraged,
S7: I'm reminded of James chapter three. The tongue is a fire,
S7: a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members,
S7: staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course
S7: of life for every kind of beast and bird or
S7: reptile or sea creature can be tamed and has been
S7: tamed by man. But no human being can tame the tongue.
S7: It's a restless evil, full of deadly poisons. So we
S7: should be very careful. Speech is a gift of God.
S2: Restless, full of deadly poison. That's our tongues. Wow. Good morning.
S2: Good words. There. Thank you, Doctor Peterman. Talk about the
S2: value of an interlinear Bible as we search through these
S2: questions that we've got. What is an interlinear Bible? Somebody
S2: might ask.
S7: An interlinear is where you have your first language. Say
S7: your first language is English an English translation. And then
S7: right below it or right above it, you have the
S7: original language, whether that language is Greek or Hebrew. So
S7: you can kind of see how they're related. So you
S7: can kind of begin to get a feel for your
S7: Bible's original languages by way of using your interlinear.
S2: So an interlinear Bible, if you were to purchase one,
S2: is quite expensive. However, I routinely use one online. If
S2: you just do a Google search for Interlinear Bible Bingo,
S2: you're in and you're having fun.
S7: Oh, absolutely. And they're going to be several web pages
S7: where you can access these.
S2: So it's a great way to study the Bible for
S2: yourself and get to the original languages for yourself. So
S2: check out Interlinear Bible next time you're online. Well, we've
S2: got another segment to come on the broadcast. Want to
S2: say thank you to Gerald Peterman, who returns next week
S2: with Charlie Dyer is back with his devotional next here
S2: on the land and the book. If you like the
S2: book of Isaiah, I do. We're headed there next here
S2: on the land and the book. Welcome back to this
S2: fourth and final segment. It's Charlie Dyer's devotional. Charlie, I'm
S2: intrigued with your title, Shebna Tomb. I'm saying to myself,
S2: who is Shebna? Where is his tomb and why should
S2: we care so much?
S8: Yeah, and I think most people are going. Yeah, I
S8: don't recall that name either. Hopefully by the time we're done,
S8: it'll be unforgettable for them.
S2: All right. Let's pause first, though, and check in with
S2: an Israel traveler who has an experience that they want
S2: to relate to us now in this testimony.
S9: This was an amazing trip. It just brings the Bible
S9: to life. When I teach the children about places in
S9: the Bible, I can relate to them and tell them
S9: where they've been and it. I've also known and learned
S9: a lot that the wilderness is not a group of trees,
S9: and it's just amazing how awesome the country of Israel
S9: is and just brings the Bible to life and really
S9: enjoy it.
S10: My name is Anne, and I would just like to
S10: say in my 40 some odd years of studying the
S10: Bible in a Bible teaching church, I never realized what
S10: the wilderness really looked like. And on this trip, to
S10: see that, and to know that Naomi and Ruth traveled
S10: over that land and that Christ was in the wilderness.
S10: And just to see the difference in what I thought
S10: was some area that had green trees and everything, and
S10: to know that it's dry rocks, hard and such a
S10: hard land to travel over. It just was very moving
S10: to me.
S2: All right. We're continuing your series 11 inscriptions in the Bible. Right, Charlie?
S8: That's right, John. And we've reached the fourth week in
S8: that series. We're exploring written inscriptions uncovered by archaeologists that
S8: provide insight into our understanding of God's Word. And today's
S8: inscription takes us to the British Museum. Now, I love
S8: exploring the British Museum. It's a virtual treasure trove of
S8: artifacts tracing the history of civilization through the ages. We
S8: could spend days here looking at all the different pieces,
S8: but today we're heading to the upper floor to visit
S8: the rooms devoted to the Middle East. And our focus
S8: is an object that can easily be missed because it's
S8: positioned just to the left and near the top of
S8: the doorway leading into room 57. Now pause here with
S8: me and look up at this rough hewn piece of
S8: limestone just above our heads. That piece of stone was
S8: hacked from the entrance to a tomb on the Mount
S8: of Olives, just across the Kidron Valley from the original
S8: city of David. You can see that it has an
S8: inscription written in the ancient Hebrew script, and which was
S8: partially destroyed when someone cut through the limestone to expand
S8: the opening into the tomb. Now, do I detect a
S8: look of disappointment on your face? There are many fascinating
S8: objects here in the museum, and I get the impression
S8: that this piece of limestone, with its chiseled inscription, doesn't
S8: seem that interesting. And from watching others walk through the museum,
S8: I know you're not alone. Most don't even stop to
S8: look up at the piece, and those who do barely
S8: give it a fleeting glance. But that begs the question,
S8: so what are we doing here? Looking at it? Well,
S8: for those who stop to read the translation and who
S8: know the Bible, this inscribed piece of limestone has a
S8: fascinating story to tell. As I said before, this three
S8: lined inscription was carved into the rock over the entrance
S8: to a tomb just across from the city of David.
S8: It was discovered by a French archaeologist and eventually made
S8: its way into the British Museum. Later, an Israeli epigraphist,
S8: a person who specializes in studying inscriptions, determined that the
S8: style of writing was the same as the inscription found
S8: in Hezekiah's tunnel, meaning it was written about the same
S8: time he reconstructed the inscription to read as follows. This
S8: is the tomb of Shebna Yahu, the royal steward. There
S8: is no silver or gold here, only his bones and
S8: the bones of his maidservant. With him cursed be the
S8: man who opens this. A part of the person's name
S8: was missing, but there are two clues as to his identity.
S8: The last part of his name was Yah or Yahoo,
S8: the covenant name of God, and the individual identified himself
S8: as the royal steward. The royal steward was the treasurer,
S8: or in today's terms, the comptroller or CFO. He's the
S8: one who controlled the royal purse strings of Judah. And
S8: those clues, along with the dating of the inscription, narrowed
S8: down the search for the identity of this person to
S8: just one man in the Bible, a man named Shebna
S8: or Shebna Yahu. And we learn about Shebna and his
S8: tomb in Isaiah 22. Last week we looked at Isaiah's
S8: message to Hezekiah and the people of Judah as they
S8: were making preparations to defend themselves against a threatened attack
S8: by Assyria. It was a time of national calamity, a
S8: time when people needed to. Refocus their priorities and turn
S8: to God for help. But one of the major stumbling
S8: blocks was a self-centered, materialistic. What's in it for me
S8: attitude that stretched all the way up into the royal
S8: court and the royal steward, Shebna was perhaps one of
S8: the most flagrant examples of everything that was wrong with
S8: the country. Here's the message Isaiah had for Shebna. Thus
S8: says the Lord God of hosts, come, go to this
S8: steward to Shebna, who's in charge of the royal household.
S8: What right do you have here? And whom do you
S8: have here that you have hewn a tomb for yourself here?
S8: You who carve a resting place for yourself in the rock.
S8: The nation was on its last legs militarily, economically and spiritually,
S8: and Shebna was spending all his time working on a
S8: lasting monument to himself at a time when Judah needed
S8: trusted leaders, the head of the royal household was acting
S8: like some pharaoh, diverting resources to build himself a tomb.
S8: God's judgement was very direct and appropriate. God announced through
S8: Isaiah that Shebna would be deposed from his office and
S8: taken captive into a foreign country, where he would die.
S8: All Shebna plans for a fancy burial would be for naught.
S8: He wouldn't be using the tomb he had spent so
S8: much time preparing, and the only part of his memorial
S8: to himself that would survive the ages would be the
S8: inscription over the doorway, with most of his name chiseled
S8: out by someone thousands of years later who had no
S8: idea what he was defacing. Now take another look at
S8: the carving. It's not particularly pretty or dramatic, but it
S8: fills in the blanks on why God had Isaiah condemn
S8: this royal steward named Shebna. But what lessons can we
S8: take with us as we leave here today? I'd like
S8: to suggest to first. Like Shebna, we also live in
S8: uncertain times economically, spiritually and morally. These are times that
S8: call for dedication and sacrifice on the part of all
S8: who claim to be followers of Christ. But way too
S8: many Christians are spending their time and their resources on
S8: only themselves. God is looking for faithful stewards and that
S8: involves using our resources wisely for him. Second, Isaiah ends
S8: this section by announcing Shebna replacement, Eliakim. God then says
S8: to this new faithful steward, I will set the key
S8: of the house of David on his shoulder. When he opens,
S8: no one will shut, and when he shuts, no one
S8: will open, and I will drive him like a peg
S8: in a firm place. It's no accident that this same
S8: imagery was used later in the Book of Revelation to
S8: describe Jesus as Jesus spoke to the church in Philadelphia,
S8: a church which also faced difficult times, he described himself
S8: this way he who is holy, who is true, who
S8: has the key of David, who opens and no one
S8: will shut, and who shuts, and no one opens, says
S8: this I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before
S8: you an open door which no one can shut, because
S8: you have a little power, and have kept my word,
S8: and have not denied my name. The ultimate faithful servant
S8: is Jesus, and he's promised to help and protect those
S8: of us who are committed to being faithful to him
S8: in spite of circumstances. The museum is getting ready to close,
S8: so it's time to leave. But look back at the
S8: Shebna inscription one last time and ask yourself this what
S8: kind of steward am I being with all that God
S8: has given to me? Am I building a monument to myself,
S8: or am I using the resources he's entrusted to me
S8: to make an eternal difference for him? Let's make sure
S8: we don't end up like Shebna. If you'd like to
S8: see photos of this three lined Shebna inscription on display
S8: in the British Museum along with the explanatory sign. Be
S8: sure to head over to our land in the book
S8: Facebook page where I'll post those pictures.
S2: Thank you Charlie. You know, there's something about seeing it
S2: for yourself that just brings it all alive. This is
S2: not just a, you know, two dimensional. It's three dimensional.
S2: It's real. It happened. Charlie, thank you for bringing our
S2: attention to this great story. If it's been a while
S2: since you've written us, we'd love to hear from you.
S2: Connect with you. Find out how God is using the
S2: program in your life. We're just a quick email away.
S2: Here's how you write to us at The Land and
S2: the book@moody.edu. That's the land and the book@moody.edu. Also visit
S2: our website, The land and the book org where you
S2: can check out today's guest, past guests, future programs, and more.
S2: That's the land and the book.org. Thanks for your company.
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S2: Bible Institute.