AS DAVID DANCED, MICHAL SCORNED

AS DAVID DANCED, MICHAL SCORNED

BY DR. MERVYN ABREO

As David danced in Jehovah’s sight,

Michal scorned him with all her might,

Before the King of Kings!

                                                               (2 Samuel 6:16).

                                                            

The question we have to ask ourselves is:

Was Michal justified in what she did?

And was King David justified in dancing before God after what he had done to his wife Michal?

          So let us look at the whole drama from the viewpoint of Michal, David and God!

MICHAL: She loved David from her very youth. She became his wife and  when her father, the then king Saul, sent soldiers to capture David, she saved her husband by lying that he was still in bed while he made good his escape.

                                                                    

          During the years that David was on the run, he married other women. While the lonely Michal also remarried and had children from her second husband and was very happy with her new family.

DAVID: When he became king, though he had several wives, his first demand was that Michal be brought to him, even though her husband went crying after the carriage which was carrying his wife away from him.

                                                              

          Not satisfied with a few wives, David took four hundred wives besides the three hundred concubines he possessed.

                                              

GOD: He loved David like a favorite son. He had him anointed when he was just a young shepherd and was thrilled when David, filled with righteous anger because Goliath had blasphemed Him, slew the giant in combat.

                                                          

          David fully trusted God while on the run from king Saul, never taking the king’s life even when he had the opportunity to do so. (1 Samuel 24:12,13).

          David never defected to Israel’s enemies but killed them whenever he got the opportunity.

                                                                    

           When he became king, the first thing he did was to send gifts to the leaders of Israel, emulating Abraham who had sent tithes to Melchzedek. He was a man after God’s own heart. He openly confessed his sin with Bathsheba, with one of the most renowned Psalm, ‘Have mercy on me oh Lord.’ God forgave David but made him pay for the wrongs he did.

          God was pleased when David brought the Arc back into the city. And it was on this occasion that David, overflowing with joy, danced half naked before his Creator. And Michal laughed at him, thereby scorning him as well as God!

          We should never lose sight of the fact that the Lord is both a just as well as a merciful God! He had forgiven David. And David forgave his wife and slept with her. But God was displeased because she never conceived, which was a sign of disgrace.

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SCIENTIFICALLY MODERNIZING BIBLICAL LANGUAGE -- PART II

SCIENTIFICALLY MODERNIZING BIBLICAL LANGUAGE 
 PART II

BY DR. MERVYN ABREO

          The reason for this project is essentially because, with our modern knowledge of time and space, we are able to understand to a much greater extent the ‘strange’ phrases used in the New Testament.
                                                         

          On the other hand, because of the lack of knowledge of time and space, leading theologians, without a proper insight, have come up with strange interpretations, or have even lost their faith.

(The reader is advised to read Part I as it gives a very brief summary of the history of the Church where great theologians came up with bizarre theories about the Holy Trinity, of even lost their faith, because they did not did not comprehend ‘time and space’ as we do as explained by my article in this blog: “Understanding time-space-matter”).

INTER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FATHER, SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT:

          Having got some idea of how the modern man will review the New Testament, let us see, by using the very same formula, weather we can get a better understanding of the relationship between the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit; and how God relates to us in our earthly dimension.

I. THE BAPTISM OF JESUS: All three Persons are mentioned.

                                                                                                                                                  

        

(Please note that first the Biblical passage will be given in the original. This will be followed by the author’s paraphrased in his Scientific Modernized language).

Biblical language: 

          ‘As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. At that moment heaven opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is My Son Whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3:16,17).

Modern Scientific Language:

          ‘As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. At that moment he (John the Baptist) was able to perceive into the heavenly dimension and discern the Spirit of God transcending from that dimension, manifested as a dove, lighting on Him. And he received a communication from the heavenly dimension, which was manifested as a voice, interpreted as, “I , Jesus am God, and I am well pleased with what I have accomplished as Jesus, in love.”

THE TRANSFIGURATION.
                                                  

          ‘While He was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My Son, Whom I love; and with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him.” (Matt. 17:5).

          ‘While He was still speaking, they (Peter, John and James) experienced the heavenly dimension manifested as a shining cloud enveloping them, and they received communication from that dimension, which was interpreted as, “I am God, and I am well pleased with what I have accomplished as Jesus. Listen to Me.”

JESUS CHRIST: FULLY MAN AND FULLY GOD!
                                                             

          We see Jesus as a man equating Himself with God in no uncertain terms. And He does so on many, many occasions and in many, many ways.

          When we re-read the New Testament, using this new modern language, we see that the problem of seeing Jesus simultaneously, as man and God, does not arise. This is the main purpose of this exercise.

I. Apostle John’s statement about the Deity hood of the human Jesus.

 1) ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.’ (Jh. 1:1).

‘Even before time began, Jesus existed, and Jesus and God were one, because Jesus is God.’

2) He (Jesus Christ) was with God in the beginning.’ (Jh. 1:2).

‘He (Jesus Christ) was God before the beginning of time.’

II. Then we have Peter’s – God inspired declaration!
                                                          

‘Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matt. 16:16).

‘Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the human manifestation of God Himself.”

III. But people were unable to perceive Jesus Christ as God!

‘They will treat you this way because of My name, for they not know the One Who sent Me.’ (Jh.15:21).

‘They will treat you this way on account of Me, because they are not able to perceive Me as God.’

IV. The challenge of the high priest to the Deity hood of Jesus.
                                                                

          ‘The high priest said to Him, “I charge You under oath by the living God:

Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.” (Matt.26:63B).

            ‘The high priest said to Him, “I charge You under oath by the living God: “Tell us if You are the Christ (the human manifestation of the livivg God).

V. And Jesus’ resounding answer!

                                                               

                                                                                                                            
                                                                

1) “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Matt. 26:64).

“Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will perceive Me exercising power as the Almighty and then entering this dimension (manifested to you) as coming on the clouds of heaven.

2) “But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the Mighty God.”

“Are You then the Son of God?”

He replied, “You are right in saying I am.” (Lk.22:69,70).

“But from now on, the human Jesus will be exercising His authority as the Mighty God.”

“Are You God?”

He replied, “You are right in saying I am God.”

VI. Jesus claims to be the Savior of mankind – the Bread of life!
                                                        

“For the bread of God is He Who comes from heaven and gives life to the world.” (Jh.6:33).

“God transcends from the heavenly dimension, as Jesus, to become your spiritual food, and give life to (the people) of this dimension.”

VII. Jesus equates Himself with God!

                                                             

1) ‘Jesus answered, “My teaching is not My own. It comes from Him Who sent Me. If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether My teachings come from God or whether I speak on My own.” (Jh.7: 16, 17)

‘Jesus answered, “My teaching is not earthly. It is Godly (Divine). If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether My teachings are a result of My Godhood (Divinity) or whether I speak only in My human capacity.”

2). ‘Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time, and then I go to the One Who sent Me.” (Jh.7:33).

‘Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time, and then I transcend to be the God I am.”

3) “I and the Father are one.” (Jh.10:30).

I Jesus am God the Father.

4) ‘He who listens to you listens to Me, he who rejects you rejects Me; but he who rejects Me rejects Him Who sent Me.’ (Lk.10:16).

‘He who listens to you listens to Me, he who rejects you rejects Me; but he who rejects Me as man, rejects Me as God.

5) ‘All things have been committed to Me by My Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows Who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.’ (Lk.10:22)

As Jesus, I possess all the authority of God. No one can perceive Me as God, and no one can perceive God as Me, except those whom I choose to reveal Myself as God.

VIII. Jesus explains the difference between Himself as Man and as God.

           Or, Jesus explains how He has limited Himself, and His power, glory etc. when He was here on earth, in this dimension.

                                                                               

1) ‘By Myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and My judgment is just, for I seek not to please Myself but Him Who sent Me.’ (Jh.5:30).

‘As a man (in this dimension) I do not exert My power, My judgment is just and pleasing to Me because I judge as God, not influenced by this worldly dimension.

2) ‘For I have come down from heaven not to do My will but to do the will of Him that sent Me.’ (Jh.6:38).

‘For I have transcended into this dimension from the heavenly dimension not to do as I feel (influenced by this world) but to exert My will as God.’

IX. LOVE JESUS AND EARN HIS LOVE!

                                                           

‘In that day you will ask in My name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father Himself loves you because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from God’. (Jh.16:26,27).

‘In that day you will ask in the name of Jesus. I am not saying that I, as God the Father, will have to remind Myself of what you meant to Me (as Jesus). No, for I, as God the Father, love you because you have loved Me (as Jesus) and believed that I, Jesus, am God.’

X. WHEN JESUS IS GLORIFIED, GOD IS GLORIFIED!
                                                             

1).‘I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave Me to do.’ (Jh.17:4)

By completing the work that I (as God) set out to do in the earthly dimension (as Jesus), I have brought glory to Myself (as God).

2). ‘And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world began.’ (Jh.17:5).

And now, I (Jesus) will be glorified as God, in the heavenly dimension, with the same glory I enjoyed before the worldly dimension came into being’.

XI. GOD’S PEOPLE ARE NOW JESUS’ PEOPLE!

                                                     

‘I have revealed You to those whom You gave Me out of the world. They were Yours; You gave them to Me and they have obeyed Your word.’ (Jh.17:6).

‘I have revealed Myself as God to the elect of this worldly dimension. They were Mine, as God, and so they are Mine, as Jesus, and they have obeyed Me as God.

XII. AND WE KNOW THAT GOD HAS COME DOWN AS JESUS!

                                                            
                                                                 

‘For I gave them the words You gave Me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from You, and they believed that You sent Me.’ (Jh.17:8).

XIII. THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS!
                                                             

‘Jesus said, “Do not hold on to Me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to My brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’” (jh.20:17).

‘Jesus said, “Do not restrain Me, for I have not yet transcended to reign as the God I am. Go instead to My brothers, and tell them, that I am transcending to reign as God (the Father), Who is your God.’

XIV. JESUS CHRIST AND THE HOLY SPIRIT!
                                                           

1) ‘But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.’ (Jh.14:26).

‘But I, God, will transcend, from the heavenly dimension into this dimension, as the Holy Spirit, and will be a Counselor to teach you all things, and remind you of everything I have said to you, as Jesus.’

2) ‘When the Counselor comes, Whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that goes out from the Father, He will testify about Me.” (Jh.15:26).

‘When I, Jesus, will transcend from the heavenly dimension, into this dimension, as the Counselor, the Spirit of truth, then I will testify about Myself.’

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Dear friend,

          I look forward to getting your feedback. Do write in to me at:

                                        drmervynabreo@gmail.com

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HOW WE RELATE TO JESUS

HOW WE RELATE TO JESUS

BY DR. MERVYN ABREO

          Whenever we come to the Lord Jesus in prayer, we should be very careful to choose the right approach because, though He is our friend and brother, we should never lose sight that He is the King of kings and Lord of lords!

          In the Scripture in the Gospel of Luke (7:1-10), we see four types of people relating to Jesus.

THE JEWISH ELDERS: They were unafraid to come to Jesus and ask Him for a favor. Unfortunately their boldness was wrongly motivated. It sprung from their religious confidence as leaders who fasted and prayed correctly, with no sympathy for the poor servant who was dying, but eager to please the centurion because he had built their synagogue.

          It was these same elders who questioned Jesus from time to time with the intention of catching Him unawares, sent people to spy on Him and would ultimately reject Him as the Christ and would crucify Him.

                                                       

THE SERVANT: A helpless pawn, probably a slave who received more love and appreciation from his master than the elders had for their own people.

FRIENDS OF THE CENTURION: Their respect for Jesus must have increased tenfold when they saw they saw how highly he esteemed Him. We could learn a thing or two from them.

                                                   

THE CENTURION: He was a Roman, a man of authority with a hundred soldiers under him. He could easily have Jesus picked up and brought to him.

           But he was a man who lived more in the SPIRIT than in the FLESH. And therefore he could discern the spiritual authority that Jesus held over the powers of darkness that had caused the near fatal illness in his servant. And his faith was lauded by Jesus.

          This is the only way to come to Jesus, with faith and humility!

          Therefore we need to tell ourselves regularly: I am a spirit being who has a soul and lives in a body.

THE CROWD: I hope the learnt a lesson like we did.

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Dear friend,

          I look forward to getting your feedback. Do write in to me at:

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THE DECISION -- GRANDMA, MOTHER AND CHILD

THE DECISION

GRANDMA, MOTHER & CHILD

BY.DR.MERVYN ABREO

                                         

          I am a grandmother and I have been happily married for many years. I sigh contently as I gaze upon my brood of children and grandchildren, all gathered around me. They have come so that we can all be together as one big happy family. We do this regularly once every year.

                                                           

           Except for the youngest, all my children are married. And soon, in the near future, their sons and daughters will marry and, in turn, have children of their own. And the cycle of life will continue.

          When I look at my youngest daughter, soon to be a bride, I think of myself when I was her age, waiting eagerly for the big day with all the excitement and anxiety of starting a new life. Those wonderful, carefree days in college had passed so swiftly, during which time I had been transformed from a childish teenager into a mature young lady.

                                                              

          And the transformation from a gawky girl-child to a woman had taken place when I was in school, bringing along with it giggles and questions and all the confusing emotions that followed.

                                                         

          One of my daughters-in-law sat beside me, peacefully breast feeding her infant son. There was so much love and tenderness in this simple act.   And the baby was happily sucking on the teat, blissfully unaware of the world around, secure in the arms of his mother. I was happy that she did not have to make the decision-- at least this one time. She had simply left it to me.

          The men folk usually shirked from getting involved, at least in this decision making. They did not want to soils their precious hands with blood. Innocent blood! And so the decision was left to us women folk who were no strangers to blood.

          Our first experience was with our periods, then onto the marriage bed and then when we made the decision.

          This decision was a woman thing. We would advice each other whenever the need arose and when we got the opportunity: while waiting for our kids to take them home after school, while chopping veggies, shopping or even during brunch at exclusive clubs or hotels, while our husbands were busy making money.

          I was one of the best decision makers. I had helped many young mothers-to-be to make the decision. It was a necessity and made our society strong and well balanced.
                                                                 

          For the men, what was more gratifying than a successful business deal or even a killing at the stock market was to gaze down at his son and heir, the continuation of his progeny.

          As I once more looked at my grandson, the product of my decision, I was pleased; so tiny, so helpless, so manly.

          As I dreamily reminisce down the road to my own infancy, I wonder how I, an independent and tenacious woman, could have once been such a small, helpless baby. And with a sudden start I realize that, there had even been a period, before being a baby, when I had actually been a small, tiny developing fetus in my mother’s womb, waiting for the weeks and months to pass by, until she had reached full term, when I could be safely delivered and come out into the world.

This world! wonderful world where I could live This my life to the full.

          But oh no! I’m not just any fetus. I’m a female fetus. And I’ll grow up into a female child.

                                                             

                                                                    

      


            I hope………………..Oh no! I will not entertain that thought. My mother loves me too much for that. She would never think of aborting me. Of getting rid of me in such a demeaning manner, just flushing me down the toilet!

          I have so much to look forward to. Please mama please! Please! Please! Please let me live my life to the full, just as you have. Please don’t let me die. I beg you. Please let me live! Please, please let me live!

          I was gently woken up from my reverie by a hand on my shoulder. It was my youngest and only daughter.
                                                          

          “Mother,” she said. “I am trying out my hand at baking. I’ve started out with some bread. The bun is in the oven. Like to come and see how it turns out?”

          I looked up to her and gave her my warmest smile.

          “No need to, baby. No need to.” I said. “You’ll do fine on your own.”

          And then added, more to myself. “My baking days are over. Never again. Never ever again!”

PLEASE NOTE: All pictures exhibited on this blog are chosen randomly and have no connection with the topics in any article whatsoever!

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Dear friend,

          I look forward to getting your feedback. Do write in to me at:

                                        drmervynabreo@gmail.com

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