Recently I have thought upon the problem that anyone visiting would expect more discussion of the Koran. Most of that was in the first couple of years, and you must go to old posts and look in 2007, 2008, etc. During the last year I was delving into the news after having avoided politics during the wars of the U. S. (and its allies) with Iraq and Afghanistan. Part of this was led by greater concern with the spread of Islam and my concern with the Islamification of my country along with that of Europe. My visiting of the Psalms and Biblical exegesis, such as it was, was motivated by a few issues.
One was to show how one should examine their holy book. Regarding the spirituality which one might be touched yes, but looking at the words. What do they say literally. What does that mean in relation to my life-how I might interpret it or understand because of situations I now or have dealt with. And spiritually what might I glean to apply to my life. The other issue is that the Koran challenges us (those who do not accept it as proof of your prophet's calling) to provide a better sura and verse. My understanding is that you are allowed to read the Torah, the Injel, the Psalms (you have another name for them), and some of the prophets (in the Old Testament.) But being given permission is not the same as having possession of these to read. So I provide that as well, though more concise copies are available online. If you can risk reading them without being caught.
At some point in the future I need to realign the blog so that the better postings are more available. But shortly I will again post some things that involve analysis of Koranic verses. I had held some out with the thought to publishing them, and to ensure they were not on the blog so no one could claim any ownership of them but me. But if these might reach someone who needs to hear it, then I will post here. (That does not mean I relinquish concern or copyright.) I mention this because I do want you to look at the words. Do not exalt yourself into some spiritual numbness and ignore what the letters add up to. A word translated or not means something. It cannot reasonably be ignored because it is inconvenient.
Also, someone was kind enough to share with me a site that told me where I might go to get verses of English versions that are tied to the arabic ones. Thus anything I quote will be referred to you in arabic. If you must see it in that language in order to believe it, then this will be useful to you. You will still have the option to ignore the information. But I had thought it sufficient to merely provide the sura number and verse. Though I discovered on comparison of two different copies of an Ali translation that rarely but sometimes the verse number might be off by one or two. Nevertheless if you are intellectually honest, locating the passage should be sufficient to be able to validate whether a passage says what I declare it does. That was, after all, the point of reading and studying it for myself, to make sure that those who quoted it were not taking it out of context. Not that I distrusted them, but to lessen any chance of error.
Another reason I had digressed was perhaps a concern for my reputation spiritually. I did not want someone who loved the Bible to think I was only reading the Koran. I needed to rewash my brains. Partly to remember and verify what it said, as to not misquote it, but also for my own spiritual needs. Reading the Koran can lead to verbal and emotional abuse, as if to use it as a weapon to prove my point. Becoming more confrontational or rude does not increase any desire for others to consider who my God is. Thus I needed to renew myself with a spirit of love and gentleness which I find in reading my holy book. Some of what I share is already written, and needs only be uploaded or retyped. Should I begin again to read the Koran for fresh items to discuss I need to have the balance to keep myself friendly (hopefully humble, gentle, and less rude.)
Also the reason this side is so empty while the other goes on for so long is that I wrote both sides together. However, instead of having the side article remaining with the post that was made at or close to the same time, they show all the ones on the right. Then they only reveal a number of posts and leave the rest blank. Those you have to look up under old posts. It might be more useful to go to the beginning and see what is posted at that time, if it is limited to a shorter list. If not, then I will have to completely redo it, to keep things together. This is another reason why I have considered printing it. It would have the additional benefit of having the earliest explanations at the beginning instead of having folks jump into the middle or end of a subject. I may have explained something well much earlier and I do not like to repeat myself. However, I have had to occasionally because it is a couple of years later and you might not be familiar with it.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Psalm 32
Part two
Having already spent an hour or so writing the first part but not posting it here, I skip to the next set of verses of it with the intent of returning to reprint part one later.
We stopped at "Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found."
Surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him.
You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go,
I will counsel you and watch over you.
Do not be like the horse or mule,
which have no understanding,
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.
Many are the woes of the wicked,
but the Lord's unfailing love
surrounds the man who trusts in Him.
Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart.
Now I contemplated the part of verse six, "surely ...won't reach him." The him is not capitalized. The first thought was the water wouldn't reach to the heavens, the Lord is safe from disasters and always available. If it does not refer to Him, then perhaps it refers to the godly who has already connected to Him. He will be safe. The mighty waters won't reach him because the Almighty will have protected him. I choose this understanding, it fits well with the rest of the psalm. However, another thought reached into my consciousness.
When the mighty waters rise, the prayers of those who did not seek him when he may be found, their tardy cries will not reach him. Another psalm mentions our cries coming into his hearing, into his temple with the vehemance of the response to deliver his beloved child. So we know He is selective about which noises he allows to bother him, and which are filtered out. Though He is merciful, He does not force himself. But He is no fool. He knows who seeks Him and who merely desires to use Him to get what they want. I cannot say more because too many have cried out and found Him. Sometimes He allows things just to get us to the point where we will. So I do not discourage any from crying out whenever they feel so led. But earlier is better.
Some have made new songs out of the psalms, and we do not even know the tunes of the originals. But the next verse has been made into one. I cannot read it without the tune hitting me. "You are my hiding place... you surround me with songs of deliverance."
There are several relevent points to be made. He has gone from being nearly slain from depression. His bones sag, his strength is sapped, he groans all day long. He is silent. After he breaks his silence, and confesses his sin, becomes real with and before the Lord, he receives the peaceful release of having his sins forgiven. Now he has moved past that to experiencing deliverance, and being able to rejoice in it. In fact, he has had time to compose songs plural. And other people have too, for David was well known and his people kept track of his battles and victories.
During the trouble he had a hiding place, the Lord who protected him from trouble. He can speak of this now in triumph and with praise. His trial now offers hope to others with whom he can share and uplift who may be facing their own. The Psalm which started talking of any man who is forgiven, and then to personal testimony, now turns from David's experience to the Lord speaking to him. For a conversation is most useful when it is twosided.
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will counsel you and watch over you." For the one who comes to Him early, he offers private help. Not merely from godly individuals or those trained in theology, though those may be part of the help. The One who made the universe, who created us, and all the elements, as well as our foes, HE will teach us. So much for not being able to know the Almighty or having to depend upon another. He Himself will instruct.
Who better to know the thoughts of the Lord, what pleases Him and what does not. What He wants us to know of Him or His ways! He will teach us in the way we should go. Doesn't everyone want direction for his choices? A wise person gets tired of learning from mistakes and would just like to know ahead of time which way to go when facing a choice. His entire life's direction may completely change depending on the consequences of one decision.
He will give us advice-counsel not just an instruction as to a robot-do this because I said so. And in case we are stupid and still manage to mess it up, He offers private guard duty as well. He does not leave us alone or forsaken. He will watch over us, so if anything comes at us that somehow we have not expected or prepared for, He is there and ready to do something about it.
I mention this point because it radicalized the Church. During the Reformation it was explained to folks that they did not have to depend upon another, special person to go to the Lord for them. He wanted them to come on their own. They did not have to let someone else do all the thinking, they could have their own knowledge of what the Scripture said, and not have to hope the men were giving the whole truth to them. This knowledge had been available prior to this time, but over the years had been forgotten. (Not only was it available in the writings of the New Testament, as in the old, and in the writings of the early church fathers for the first couple of centuries AD. But it was recorded in the Koran, as well. And they say they have an intercessor -in heaven. It was one of the reasons they did not need a Messenger.)
This was important because when an economy develops wherein others profit for your lack of knowledge, and they know you depend upon them for information, they do not want to lose control over you. They might lose a job or the extra money they got when you came for help. In fact, you did not have to learn a foreign language (Latin) or have the scriptures read in language you did not fully understand. Or be told if you did not comprehend something, it was beyond your ability to grasp it unless you were an intellectual trained in this special language. They printed the Bible in the common languages of German and English, which caused a lot of controversy with those who tried to suppress it in order to maintain their control. Wycliffe, Huss, and Luther were all persecuted, and the first two died for it.
The Lord offered private tutoring along with forgiveness because He wanted a relationship with you. That is all He asks. He tells you all He offers, but warns that He doesn't want to have to jerk you around on a string or with external controls. He wants you to choose to seek Him, to obey Him, to look to Him, and to rest in His provisions.
Do not be like the horse or mule ... who will not come to you without being forced. Because God requests our cooperation and willfull choice. He will teach us what we do not know (instruction) and guide us in the right ways. His advice is available as is his protection to watch over us. Such a guard is unbeatable. But he does not force Himself on others. You need to not make Him drag you around! Nor use trials to make you cry out to Him.
Those who opt out of the offer, who do not want a relationship with Him, will have many problems. How can they not if they are going the wrong direction or not following the instructions the Creator gives? Many are the woes of the wicked, but the one who chooses Him- he gets special protection.
"The Lord's unfailing love surrounds him who trusts in Him." Not to say you won't have trials, but how can you have deliverances of which to sing, if you do not face them. The choice may not be the wicked have trials, the righteous don't, though certainly if they make the right choices some of the unnecessary ones will be avoided. But you trust the Lord through them. He protects you, and as you go, or afterwards you can honestly sing praises about your victories. Do you think the wicked are singing about their failures? Not unless they like the blues or country music, but they are certainly not rejoicing in their triumphs. Because they have less of these.
Before we address the singing and rejoicing, remember it is his unfailing love we contemplate. Sometimes we do not see the answer soon enough and we doubt. But the longer you have tried this way of life, the surer you become by sheer number of times it has worked. He is faithful. He has guided, instructed, watched over us. And His love that does not fail has surrounded us-which means nothing can get to us.
So let the righteous rejoice. Rejoice in Him, not luck, not because you waited something out, but because of His protection. Be glad. It is a choice, not easy some times when we look at our situations. Instead of worrying, pray. And afterwards sing. It lifts our spirits and gives us strength to continue. Besides shouldn't those who see us know that this way to live provides joy, not merely serious obedience and some stoic self-control? And singing increases our faith as well as letting the enemy know he is not winning against us.
Having already spent an hour or so writing the first part but not posting it here, I skip to the next set of verses of it with the intent of returning to reprint part one later.
We stopped at "Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found."
Surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him.
You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go,
I will counsel you and watch over you.
Do not be like the horse or mule,
which have no understanding,
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you.
Many are the woes of the wicked,
but the Lord's unfailing love
surrounds the man who trusts in Him.
Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart.
Now I contemplated the part of verse six, "surely ...won't reach him." The him is not capitalized. The first thought was the water wouldn't reach to the heavens, the Lord is safe from disasters and always available. If it does not refer to Him, then perhaps it refers to the godly who has already connected to Him. He will be safe. The mighty waters won't reach him because the Almighty will have protected him. I choose this understanding, it fits well with the rest of the psalm. However, another thought reached into my consciousness.
When the mighty waters rise, the prayers of those who did not seek him when he may be found, their tardy cries will not reach him. Another psalm mentions our cries coming into his hearing, into his temple with the vehemance of the response to deliver his beloved child. So we know He is selective about which noises he allows to bother him, and which are filtered out. Though He is merciful, He does not force himself. But He is no fool. He knows who seeks Him and who merely desires to use Him to get what they want. I cannot say more because too many have cried out and found Him. Sometimes He allows things just to get us to the point where we will. So I do not discourage any from crying out whenever they feel so led. But earlier is better.
Some have made new songs out of the psalms, and we do not even know the tunes of the originals. But the next verse has been made into one. I cannot read it without the tune hitting me. "You are my hiding place... you surround me with songs of deliverance."
There are several relevent points to be made. He has gone from being nearly slain from depression. His bones sag, his strength is sapped, he groans all day long. He is silent. After he breaks his silence, and confesses his sin, becomes real with and before the Lord, he receives the peaceful release of having his sins forgiven. Now he has moved past that to experiencing deliverance, and being able to rejoice in it. In fact, he has had time to compose songs plural. And other people have too, for David was well known and his people kept track of his battles and victories.
During the trouble he had a hiding place, the Lord who protected him from trouble. He can speak of this now in triumph and with praise. His trial now offers hope to others with whom he can share and uplift who may be facing their own. The Psalm which started talking of any man who is forgiven, and then to personal testimony, now turns from David's experience to the Lord speaking to him. For a conversation is most useful when it is twosided.
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will counsel you and watch over you." For the one who comes to Him early, he offers private help. Not merely from godly individuals or those trained in theology, though those may be part of the help. The One who made the universe, who created us, and all the elements, as well as our foes, HE will teach us. So much for not being able to know the Almighty or having to depend upon another. He Himself will instruct.
Who better to know the thoughts of the Lord, what pleases Him and what does not. What He wants us to know of Him or His ways! He will teach us in the way we should go. Doesn't everyone want direction for his choices? A wise person gets tired of learning from mistakes and would just like to know ahead of time which way to go when facing a choice. His entire life's direction may completely change depending on the consequences of one decision.
He will give us advice-counsel not just an instruction as to a robot-do this because I said so. And in case we are stupid and still manage to mess it up, He offers private guard duty as well. He does not leave us alone or forsaken. He will watch over us, so if anything comes at us that somehow we have not expected or prepared for, He is there and ready to do something about it.
I mention this point because it radicalized the Church. During the Reformation it was explained to folks that they did not have to depend upon another, special person to go to the Lord for them. He wanted them to come on their own. They did not have to let someone else do all the thinking, they could have their own knowledge of what the Scripture said, and not have to hope the men were giving the whole truth to them. This knowledge had been available prior to this time, but over the years had been forgotten. (Not only was it available in the writings of the New Testament, as in the old, and in the writings of the early church fathers for the first couple of centuries AD. But it was recorded in the Koran, as well. And they say they have an intercessor -in heaven. It was one of the reasons they did not need a Messenger.)
This was important because when an economy develops wherein others profit for your lack of knowledge, and they know you depend upon them for information, they do not want to lose control over you. They might lose a job or the extra money they got when you came for help. In fact, you did not have to learn a foreign language (Latin) or have the scriptures read in language you did not fully understand. Or be told if you did not comprehend something, it was beyond your ability to grasp it unless you were an intellectual trained in this special language. They printed the Bible in the common languages of German and English, which caused a lot of controversy with those who tried to suppress it in order to maintain their control. Wycliffe, Huss, and Luther were all persecuted, and the first two died for it.
The Lord offered private tutoring along with forgiveness because He wanted a relationship with you. That is all He asks. He tells you all He offers, but warns that He doesn't want to have to jerk you around on a string or with external controls. He wants you to choose to seek Him, to obey Him, to look to Him, and to rest in His provisions.
Do not be like the horse or mule ... who will not come to you without being forced. Because God requests our cooperation and willfull choice. He will teach us what we do not know (instruction) and guide us in the right ways. His advice is available as is his protection to watch over us. Such a guard is unbeatable. But he does not force Himself on others. You need to not make Him drag you around! Nor use trials to make you cry out to Him.
Those who opt out of the offer, who do not want a relationship with Him, will have many problems. How can they not if they are going the wrong direction or not following the instructions the Creator gives? Many are the woes of the wicked, but the one who chooses Him- he gets special protection.
"The Lord's unfailing love surrounds him who trusts in Him." Not to say you won't have trials, but how can you have deliverances of which to sing, if you do not face them. The choice may not be the wicked have trials, the righteous don't, though certainly if they make the right choices some of the unnecessary ones will be avoided. But you trust the Lord through them. He protects you, and as you go, or afterwards you can honestly sing praises about your victories. Do you think the wicked are singing about their failures? Not unless they like the blues or country music, but they are certainly not rejoicing in their triumphs. Because they have less of these.
Before we address the singing and rejoicing, remember it is his unfailing love we contemplate. Sometimes we do not see the answer soon enough and we doubt. But the longer you have tried this way of life, the surer you become by sheer number of times it has worked. He is faithful. He has guided, instructed, watched over us. And His love that does not fail has surrounded us-which means nothing can get to us.
So let the righteous rejoice. Rejoice in Him, not luck, not because you waited something out, but because of His protection. Be glad. It is a choice, not easy some times when we look at our situations. Instead of worrying, pray. And afterwards sing. It lifts our spirits and gives us strength to continue. Besides shouldn't those who see us know that this way to live provides joy, not merely serious obedience and some stoic self-control? And singing increases our faith as well as letting the enemy know he is not winning against us.
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