On The Matchless Value of the Book of Revelation!

June 10, 2015

The book of Revelation is a book of matchless value to believers for many reasons, including these eight reasons that many believers may not be aware of fully:

1. Revelation uniquely stresses information about its unique origin—a stress that is divinely purposeful—we must consider why God gave us this information about its origin in the way that He did.

Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

Rev 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne

2. Revelation uniquely informs the reader of the unique value of the book by its being the only New Testament book that explicitly says that those who properly receive what the books says will be specially favored by God: “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand” (Rev. 1:3).

Furthermore, Revelation has six more statements about who will be blessed, including a reiteration of the blessedness of those who heed what the book says:

Rev 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

Rev 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Rev 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Rev 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Rev 22:14  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

3. Revelation is unique in the scope of what it reveals: things that John saw that no other man has ever seen; the things that were true in his day, which no other writer of Scripture lived to tell us about; and the things that would take place shortly after these things; it is also the only book in Scripture that provides additional revelation about the tree of life!

Rev 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

4. Revelation uniquely states the breadth of its intended recipients: the book is for all those who are the servants of Christ (Rev. 1:1); seven times, Jesus declares, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches,” which shows that the book is for all churches of all time; and Jesus tells about an action that He will render so that “all the churches shall know” a specific truth about Him (Rev. 2:23).

The book also includes two other statements of its universal applicability: “If any man have an ear, let him hear” (Rev. 13:9); and, “Let him that hath understanding count . . .” (Rev. 13:18). Finally, the book ends with Jesus declaring again the widespread value of the book: “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches.” (Rev. 22:16).

5. Revelation uniquely sets forth the importance of churches—Yes, our lives as individual believers are important (cf. Matt. 5:16), but we must also understand the significance of these churches being spoken of as golden lampstands (Rev. 1:20); Christ walks in their midst (Rev. 2:1); also, the word “churches” occurs more times in the book of Revelation than it does in any other book of the NT.

6. Revelation uniquely emphasizes the importance of Christian pastors: the glorified Christ holds them in His hands in a special way (Rev. 1:16, 20); He says that He scrutinizes their lives in a profound way and warns them to repent or else face His judgment (Rev. 2:5, 16). Obviously, these statements show the special importance of this book for all those who are leaders in Christian churches and for all those of us whom they lead.

7. Revelation uniquely presents that the glorified Jesus emphasized repeatedly that the Father was His God:

Rev 3:2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

8. Revelation is unique because of the fearful warnings that it reveals about altering its contents, which highlights its special nature:

Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Given these many ways in which the book of Revelation is of incomparable value, I urge to you profit fully from the book by reading it often, hearing all that it says, and keeping all that it reveals about what the people of God are to be and do!

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

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Thoughts about Redemption in Genesis 1-4 and the Book of Revelation

June 5, 2015

In preparation for teaching a Sunday school class in June and July, I have been studying extensively Genesis 1-4 and the Book of Revelation, especially about what both of these key parts of Scripture teach about creation, fall, and redemption. Here are 21 preliminary observations that I have made from my study on teaching about redemption in Genesis 1-4 and Revelation.

Redemption promised (implicit in Gen. 3:15)

Redemption pictured (Gen. 3:21)

Redemption as a vital basis for the Lamb being extolled (Rev. 5)

The work of the Lamb in providing redemption for the saints can only be fully extolled through singing that is instrumentally accompanied (Rev. 5:8).

The extolling of the Lamb stems from His work of redemption, but redemption is not the actual subject of this heavenly new song—the song is about the Lamb’s worthiness to execute the upcoming end-time judgments for God: “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals . . .” (Rev. 5:9).

Redemption of the saints is the central basis for the Lamb’s worthiness to take the Book out of the Father’s hand and to break its seals (Rev. 5:9).

Redemption required that the Lamb be slain (Rev. 5:9).

The Lamb redeemed the saints by purchasing them with His blood (Rev. 5:9).

The Lamb redeemed the saints for God (Rev. 5:9).

Redemption of the saints has as one of its chief goals that the saints would become a kingdom and priests to their God and would reign on the earth (Rev. 5:10)—they will yet participate vitally in fulfilling the dominion mandate that was given originally to Adam and Eve (Gen. 1:26-28).

Redemption has as its objects people from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation (Rev. 5:9; cf. 7:9).

Redemption is celebrated not just by the saints but also by angelic creatures (Rev. 5:8, 11, 13).

The slaying of the Lamb was not solely for the sake of redeeming humans—He was slain so that He Himself would be worthy of universal exaltation (Rev. 5:11-14).

Redemption is a vital aspect of the eternal glory and worship that the Father and the Lamb will receive from every created being, but it is not the exclusive basis for their being glorified and worshiped eternally. Both the Father and the Lamb will be eternally glorified also for their righteous judging of wicked humans and spirits (cf. Rev. 14:7; 19:1-6).

Revelation 6-22 fills out what Revelation 5 stresses—the Father and the Lamb will be eternally glorified and worshiped through the Lamb’s rendering judgment for God both temporally and eternally and on both humans and on angelic beings (cf. Rev. 14:10-11). The eternal judgment of wicked angelic beings is not subsumable under the rubric of the redemption of human beings because God would have punished these evil spirits even if man had never fallen (cf. Matt. 25:41).

Revelation gloriously presents the ultimate fulfillment of how the Seed of the Woman will crush the Serpent’s head (Gen. 3:15) fully and permanently (Rev. 20:10).

The Lamb’s work of redemption includes His purchasing 144,000 Israelites (Rev. 14:3). For His accomplishing this work, He will again be extolled in heavenly singing that will be accompanied instrumentally (Rev. 14:2-3).

The Israelites whom He redeems will be first fruits to God and to the Lamb (Rev. 14:4), which indicates that there will be many more who will subsequently be redeemed.

Those who are redeemed are of excellent moral character (Rev. 14:4-5), and they unfailingly follow the Lamb (Rev. 14:4c). We who have been redeemed in our day need to be and do the same.

We must worship God as Scripture reveals He is to be worshiped—God is to be worshiped, especially in song, not just as Creator (Rev. 4:9-11) and Redeemer (Rev. 5:9-10; 14:2-3) but also as Judge (Rev. 5;14:7; 15:2-5; 19:1-6).

An overemphasis on the glory of the Lamb as the Redeemer does not give Him the full glory that God demands that He be given (cf. John 5:22-23).

 

 

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

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Who Needs to Forgive Someone Who Has Sinned As Josh Duggar Has?

May 30, 2015

Many people have written recently about the situation involving the aftermath of the immoral acts that Josh Duggar committed when he was a young teenager. Some have asserted that the only people who need to forgive him for what he has done are his victims. An examination of Pauline teaching in First and Second Corinthians does not support this assertion.

An Initially Mishandled Case of an Immoral Man in the Church at Corinth

Paul sternly challenged the Corinthians about their failure to discipline a man in their church who had committed incest with his father’s wife (1 Cor. 5). Using his apostolic authority, Paul judged this immoral man (1 Cor. 5:3-5) and instructed the Corinthians to judge him as well by removing him from among themselves (1 Cor. 5:7, 12, 13).

The Subsequent Mishandling of This Case

Based on what Paul later wrote to the Corinthians (2 Cor. 2:1-11), we learn that the Corinthians at some point after receiving Paul’s challenge corrected their initial mishandling of the case involving this immoral man by properly punishing him (“this punishment, which was inflicted of many,” 2 Cor. 2:6). We also learn, however, that they subsequently mishandled this case by not properly forgiving and comforting him (2 Cor. 2:7) after he repented.

Using again his apostolic authority, Paul exhorted the Corinthians to correct their subsequent mishandling of this case by confirming their love toward him (2 Cor. 2:8). Paul explained that their obedience to this directive about their forgiving him was directly tied to his forgiving him for their sakes “in the person of Christ” (2 Cor. 9-10).

Who Needs to Forgive Josh Duggar?

Paul’s teaching to the Corinthians about their dealings with this horrible case of incest among themselves shows that it was not true that the only people who needed to forgive this immoral man for what he had done was the one with whom he had committed immorality. According to this divine revelation, the entire church at Corinth needed to forgive this man, as also Paul did.

Applying this teaching to the current situation with Josh Duggar, we understand that other believers besides his victims must also forgive and comfort Josh Duggar. They must also confirm their love toward him.

A failure to do so puts him at risk of being “swallowed up with overmuch sorrow” (2 Cor. 2:7). It also puts all believers at risk of Satan’s gaining an advantage of us (2 Cor. 2:11).

Conclusion

Certainly, what Josh Duggar did when he was a young teenager was reprehensible, and we must not condone his actions in any way. Applying Pauline teaching about forgiveness in First and Second Corinthians to his case does not lessen the need for proper care of those whom he victimized.

Having said that, based on what I have read being said by some people concerning forgiving Josh Duggar, it is vital that we do heed what Scripture teaches about forgiveness and how that teaching applies to the issue of who should forgive him. It is not true that the only people who need to forgive him are the ones whom he victimized—other believers must also forgive him, comfort him, and confirm their love toward him.

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

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On the Transmission of Information from Adam to Abraham

May 25, 2015

Genealogical information about our families is something that probably greatly interests most of us. Based on a careful analysis and correlation of the genealogical information provided in Genesis 5 and 11, we learn some vital information through our determining which men were contemporaries among our first forefathers from Adam to Abraham and for how long.

Contemporaries from Adam to Noah

Adam and Methuselah were contemporaries for 243 years (687-930 AA).1 Adam and Lamech were contemporaries for 56 years (874-930 AA). Both Methuselah and Lamech, therefore, had extensive opportunities to get eyewitness information from Adam about what took place after he was created!

Methuselah and Lamech were contemporaries for 777 years (874-1651 AA). If only one of these men ever actually took the opportunity to visit with Adam and hear as much as they could from him, he would have had a vast amount of time to share it with the other.

Noah and Methuselah were contemporaries for 600 years (1056-1656 AA). Noah and Lamech were contemporaries for 595 years (1056-1651 AA). Noah thus had more than half a millennium to meet with either Methuselah or Lamech or both and get information from them that they had gotten directly from Adam.

Methuselah became the oldest man alive when Jared died in 1422 AA at the age of 962. For the next 234 years (1422-1656 AA), Methuselah was the oldest man alive. When Methuselah died in 1656 AA, which was also the year the Flood took place, Noah became the oldest man alive (600 years of age).

Contemporaries from Noah to Abraham

After the Flood, Noah was the oldest man alive for the last 350 years of his life (1656-2006 AA), and his sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth were the next oldest men living during their remaining lifetimes.

From 1878-1996 AA, Noah, Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah, Eber, Peleg, Reu, Serug, Nahor, and Terah were all contemporaries. After Peleg died in 1996 AA, Nahor died in 1997 AA.

From 1997 until the death of Noah in 2006 AA, Noah, Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah, Eber, Reu, Serug, and Terah were contemporaries. After Abraham was born in 2008 AA, Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah, Eber, Reu, Serug, Terah, and Abraham were contemporaries for 18 years (until Reu died in 2026 AA)!

Eber was still alive when Abraham died in 2183 AA.

Direct Transmission of Eyewitness Information from Adam to Abraham

Based on the preceding analysis, we learn that Noah readily could have gotten information that was received directly from Adam via either Methuselah or Lamech or both. In turn, Noah would have had opportunities to transmit that information personally to at least one of his sons from each of the nine generations after him!

Direct transmission of eyewitness information from Adam to Abraham through Noah and either Methuselah or Lamech or both and then through any one or more of 7 descendants of Noah (Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah, Eber, Reu, Serug, Terah) thus was entirely possible!

Given the immense importance of such information, and the great value that we as human beings place on meeting our forefathers at least once while they are living and having them tell us about their lives, we can be almost certain that direct transmission of vital eyewitness information took place from Adam to Methuselah and Lamech to Noah to Terah to Abraham!

 

1 AA means “after Adam” and denotes the number of years after the creation of Adam.

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

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“Beginnings at the End: Creation, Fall, and Redemption in the Book of Revelation”

May 23, 2015

I am eagerly anticipating beginning to teach a new Sunday School series, Beginnings at the End: Creation, Fall, and Redemption in the Book of Revelation. This eight-week study begins on June 7 and builds on our current series, which has been a study of Genesis 1-4.

In preparation for teaching this series, I have been studying Genesis 1-4 and carefully pondering some key questions concerning the Fall of mankind, including the following:

—Was Satan’s tempting Eve a manifestation of his own unbelief in what God had said?

—What would have happened if Eve and Adam had resisted the temptation initially? Would the devil then have continued to tempt them repeatedly, as he did with Jesus for 40 days (Luke 4:2)?

—What would have happened if Eve had succumbed but Adam had rejected Eve’s offer for him to do likewise?

I also have read the book of Revelation through four times in the last two months and hope to read it at least three more times before we start. What a phenomenal book Revelation is!

What’s more, as time allows, I hope to read a couple of books that explain the value of understanding Scripture using the paradigm of Creation, Fall, and Redemption: God’s Big Picture: Tracing the Storyline of the Bible and Creation Regained: Biblical Basics for a Reformational Worldview. If God would lead you to do so, I would appreciate prayer for my continuing preparations for this tremendous opportunity.

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

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Mi Oración por La Ofrenda – 5.17.15

May 18, 2015

Padre celestial, gracias por la gracia de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, que siendo rico, sin embargo por amor a nosotros se hizo pobre, para que nosotros por medio de su pobreza llegáramos a ser ricos. ¡Cómo te alabamos, oh Padre, por tu don inefable! Concédenos que nosotros te sigamos plenamente a ti, oh Señor nuestro Dios. Gracias por esta ofrenda. Te rogamos que bendigas esta ofrenda y la uses para tu gloria. En el maravilloso nombre de Jesús. Amén.

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

In Ministry, Prayer, Spanish
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Did God Curse Adam and Eve After They Fell?

May 16, 2015

Genesis 3 records God’s judgments upon the serpent, Adam, and Eve for their roles and actions that led to the Fall of Adam and Eve. Genesis 4 then records how God judged Cain for murdering his brother Abel.

In rendering these judgments, Scripture records that God used the word “cursed” in the following statements in Genesis 3 and 4:

Gen 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

Gen 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

Gen 4:11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand;

These verses show that God cursed the serpent and He cursed Cain, but Scripture does not say (at least directly) in Genesis 3 that God cursed Adam (or Eve)—God told Adam that the ground, and not he (or Eve), was cursed for his sake (Gen. 3:17). Does the fact that Scripture does not directly say here that God cursed Adam and Eve mean that He in fact did not curse them after they fell?

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

In Interpretation, Theology
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How 2 Kings 10:29-33 Provides Vital Instruction for Fundamentalists

May 10, 2015

Some fundamentalists who rightly insist on the importance of biblical separation have allowed certain aspects of that teaching to govern their thinking in a way that causes them not to be fully God-like in their perspectives about and dealings with those from whom they separate. Second Kings 10:29-33 provides vital instruction to all believers that reveals what their perspectives and actions should be in such situations.

The Mixed Record of the Life of King Jehu

God anointed Jehu to be king over Israel and commanded him to execute God’s vengeance on the house of Ahab (2 Kings 9:6-10). The author of Second Kings chronicles at length how Jehu faithfully rendered that judgment on Ahab (2 Kings 9:11-10:17).

Jehu then “destroyed Baal out of Israel” (2 Kings 10:18-28). He displayed incredible zeal for God in eradicating the worship of Baal in this manner.

Remarkably, however, Scripture then records that Jehu did not depart from the sins of Jereboam (2 Kings 10:29, 31)! The biblical record of the life of King Jehu thus is a mixed record detailing the life of one who was very zealous for God in certain respects but also very sinful in other respects.

God’s Commendation of Certain Actions of Jehu in spite of Jehu’s Great Wickedness in Other Respects

Despite Jehu’s great sinfulness in continuing in the sins of Jereboam, Scripture records that God yet commended (and rewarded) him for the right things that he had done:

2Ki 10:30 And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.

This remarkable commendation from God is especially noteworthy because it is sandwiched between two statements of the great sinfulness of Jehu (2 Kings 10:29, 31) and is followed by the record of how God judged Israel for its continuing sinfulness (2 Kings 10:32-33).

How God Instructs Fundamentalists through 2 Kings 10:29-33 

The biblical record of the mixed nature of Jehu’s life provides vital instruction to believers in at least two important ways. On the one hand, although Jehu had done well in serving God in certain respects, God yet recorded how Jehu was very sinful in other respects.

God also chastened him and his nation for their sinfulness. Fundamentalists should thus learn that it is God-like to point out the sinfulness of those from whom they separate—even if those from whom they separate are greatly serving God in some respects.

On the other hand, however, even though Jehu was horrifically sinful in following in the sins of Jeroboam, God still commended Jehu for what he had done well and even rewarded him for his faithfulness in doing what God had commissioned him to do concerning the house of Ahab. Fundamentalists should learn from this facet of the record of Jehu’s life that being God-like in our dealings with those we separate from also includes properly commending them for the right things that they have done in their service for God.

Conclusion

In separating from other believers, fundamentalist must be God-like by pointing out the great sinfulness of those believers and by properly commending them for whatever true good they have done for the cause of Christ. Doing so, fundamentalists will be God-like, just as the record of God’s dealings with Jehu teaches.1

 

1 They will also be like Christ, who both called attention to the sinfulness of those who were in His churches and commended them for whatever good aspects there were to their lives (Rev. 2-3).

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

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What Does Hebrews 9:23 Teach?

May 6, 2015

Reading Hebrews 9:23 again yesterday morning, I was again struck with how the verse reads:

It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

What does it mean that “the heavenly things themselves [had to be purified] with better sacrifices than these”? Does it mean that heaven (where God dwells, not the sky or even outer space) had to be purified?

Certainly, human sin, starting with the sins of Adam and Eve, is incapable of defiling heaven. If this verse is teaching that heaven had to be purified, it would have to be saying so because it had been defiled not by any sin or sins of mankind but by the sinning of Satan and the angels that fell with him.

Do you think that this is the correct understanding of what Hebrews 9:23 teaches?

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

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Fundamentalists Should Lament the (Upcoming) Closing of Northland

April 30, 2015

Northland International University has announced that it will soon be closing.1 How should fundamentalists, especially those of us who have strongly disapproved of the direction that the recent leadership of Northland has taken the school, respond to this development?

Like many other fundamentalists, I regarded it as a great tragedy when the recent leadership of Northland adopted the use of non-conservative music on the campus. Many fundamental churches who have given sacrificially for years to support Northland likely believe that the leadership has betrayed them.

Given what has taken place at Northland in these recent years, it would be natural for some to think that Northland is getting what it deserves for its departure from its conservative roots. Some of us who might be inclined to think that way might think that responding to the upcoming closing of Northland by lamenting that closing would be a strange response.

My recent reading of 2 Samuel 1:17-27, however, makes me think that lamenting the closing of Northland is a right response to its tragic downfall.

The Remarkable Record in 2 Samuel 1:17-27 of David’s Lament for Saul

In spite of David’s having been very good to Saul throughout the years that they had known each other, Saul, prior to his death, fiercely persecuted David for years and sought many times to kill him. David, therefore, would seem to have had great justification for hating Saul and for rejoicing that Saul would no longer be around to afflict David.

After learning of the death of Saul and Jonathan, however, David remarkably chanted a lament over the death of Saul:

2Sa 1:17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:

 18 (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)

 19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!

 20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

 21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.

 22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.

 23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

 24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

 25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.

 26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

 27 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

In this lament, David does not say anything about any of the evil actions of Saul! Rather, David only speaks positively of Saul and remarks of how Saul was “lovely and pleasant” in his life (2 Sam. 1:23; see also 2 Samuel 1:19).

He also extols him for his swiftness and strength (2 Sam. 1:23) and exclaims how Saul was a man of mighty exploits (2 Sam. 1:19, 21, 22, 25, 27). David then directs Israelites to weep over the demise of Saul because of his goodness to them (2 Sam. 1:24).

Application of 2 Samuel 1:17-27 to the Closing of Northland 

I believe that it is not coincidental that God directed my attention to 2 Samuel 1:17-27 just a relatively short time before I recently heard about the likelihood that Northland International University would be closing. God has used this passage to instruct and challenge me about how I should respond to the tragic downfall of Northland.

Northland has produced many choice servants of Christ during its years of operation. Their excellent Christian character and living has commended the gospel to many lost people.

God has used Northland greatly for good in this country and the world for many years. The brethren at Northland have mightily served to advance the cause of Christ for many decades.

The upcoming closing of Northland International University will be a great loss for the people of God around the world. I believe that those of us who are fundamentalists should lament the closing of Northland, even as Scripture records that David lamented the tragic demise of Saul.

1 See this statement on the university’s website.

 

 

 

Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

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