Is there any scriptural authority for the assertion that Hezekiah wrote some of the Psalms?

Though ecclesiastical commentators seem to be attracted by such theories, we do not know of any authority, scriptural or other, for above assertion, It is enough to read an article in some Bible Dictionary, on the authorship of the anonymous Psalms, to be aware how precarious are the theories advanced. Some psalms speaking of desolation and judgment may be made to fit in with Sennacherib’s invasion, as also with any other invasion.
I believe it is possible to assign authorship to a few of the anonymous Psalms, following Psalms by well-known authors, on internal evidence. Thus it seems clear that Psalm 43" TARGET="_blank">Psalm 43: , is by the author of Psalm 42" TARGET="_blank">Psalm 42: (the same phrase “Why art thou cast down, oh my soul?” occurring in both); Psa. 91, by the author of Psalm 90" TARGET="_blank">Psalm 90: and Psalm 104" TARGET="_blank">Psalm 104: , by that of Psalm 103" TARGET="_blank">Psalm 103: , but as a rule it is safer not to attempt to be wise above that which is written. We believe the Holy Spirit spake by David and the other psalmists: that is the chief point. However, to return to our question, I read the following in a well-known Bible Dictionary,* as a whole reliable: “Book II. (i.e., of Psalms) appears by the date of its latest (I) psalm, Psalm 46: , to have been compiled in the reign of King Hezekiah.” We turn with interest to see on what this statement rests, and we find NIL. The real reason comes out later in the same article as to why Hezekiah’s name is brought in. It comes, I believe, from a misreading of the closing words of Psalm 72" TARGET="_blank">Psalm 72: , “the prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.” But there are at least fifteen subsequent psalms, e.g., Nos. 86, 103, 110, 142, which are entitled “Psalms of David,” i.e., these must be by some descendant of David, so the theory runs, Hezekiah, Josiah, or Zerubbabel, in fact you may take your choice. Now, this will never do, because in the case of Psalm 142" TARGET="_blank">Psalm 142: —the place where David wrote it is indicated, and the Lord definitely ascribes to David the authorship of Psalm 110" TARGET="_blank">Psalm 110: , and as far as we know, though Hezekiah wrote a prayer, neither he, nor the others wrote psalms, and certainly not in a cave. The explanation is simple: the word, Kãlãh, translated “ended” in Psalm 72" TARGET="_blank">Psalm 72: means also fulfilled or consummated; e.g., Ezra 1:1;" TARGET="_blank">Ezra 1:1; Ezekiel 5:13;" TARGET="_blank">Ezekiel 5:13; Daniel 11:36;" TARGET="_blank">Daniel 11:36; Daniel 12:7." TARGET="_blank">Daniel 12:7. The words then refer to the prophetic subject of the Psalm, the Millennial Reign of David’s “Greater Son.” In that hope David’s prayers reached their zenith. He could not sing of anything higher. That infinitely greater Kingdom—the mystery of God’s will—was unknown to Him, when “in the dispensation of the fulness of times (i.e., the eternal state and the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ) all things in heaven and earth shall be headed up in Christ” (Eph. i. io). David prayed many subsequent prayers, but he could never reach a higher level than in that psalm.

W.H.

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What does praying in the Spirit mean?

Q: I have come out of the charismatic church. I am praying for wisdom and understanding. I am unsure of speaking in tongues now. I do have the 'gift' but now i am unsure. Well, I do understand the 'speaking in tongues' is actually a language that needs an interpreter that it was origionally designed to spread the gospel for other countries. Now I want to know why in the bible there is a verse saying, " continue to pray in the spirit at all times' what is then praying in the spirit? My brain is experiencing some conflict but I am at peace with leaving the cahrismatic church and its beliefs and I am now searching the bible and discovering truth for myself however there are some parts which i cannot fully explain as I was taught that tongues were a sign from God. Please can you let me know your interpretation of praying in the spirit. Thank you and God bless

A: I'm glad you are examining your experience in the light of scripture. Often, we are more comfortable to interpret experiences based on feelings or advice of others.

Praying in the Spirit is mentioned three times in Scripture.

1) 1 Corinthians 14:15" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 14:15 says, “So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.”

2) Ephesians 6:18" TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 6:18 says, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”

3) Jude 20" TARGET="_blank">Jude 20 says, “But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.”

Some Christians understand these Scriptures to be referring to praying in tongues. However, God usually communicates to us in our native language and we speak to him with understanding by using our own language. As you mentioned in your email, when a person has the gift of speaking in tongues, it is sign to the audience that God is revealing new information through direct revelation. The miracle of tongues authenticates the messengers.

So what does it mean? “Pray in” the Spirit can have several different meanings. It can mean “by means of,” “with the help of,” “in the sphere of,” and “in connection to.” Praying in the Spirit does not refer to the words we are saying. Rather, it refers to how we are praying. Praying in the Spirit is praying according to the Spirit’s leading. It is praying for things that the Spirit leads us to pray for.

1 Corinthians 14:15" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 14:15 uses the words "my spirit" which means Paul's spirit - the inner, spiritual part of man that responds to God's truth. Paul is using both his powers of reason and capacity to worship when he prays.

Ephesians 6" TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 6 tells us that we should be sensitive to spiritual necessities of every moment and every person. A spiritual person recognizes these needs by being awakened to such needs - for example, how we see a financial crisis in a home can be interpreted as nothing more than poverty, or we can see a spiritual problem in a relationship as the root cause. A spiritual insight means we see problems that have a spiritual solution which may be salvation, obedience to a commandment of the scripture or a clearer understanding of who we are in Christ.

Jude refers to spiritual growth in our faith. Increasing understanding and appreciation to "the faith" or the doctrines of scripture will affect the way we pray - enlightened by the spirit of God in the understanding of His word.

Romans 8:26" TARGET="_blank">Romans 8:26 tells us, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”

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When will Jesus drink of the wine in his father's kingdom?

What did our Lord mean in Matthew 26:29," TARGET="_blank">Matthew 26:29, "when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom?"

The context is clear. The Lord is partaking of the last Passover supper and will soon be separated from them. He leaves them with the assurance that in the millennial day He will have the new joy (symbolized in the fruit of the vine) of celebration with them in that Messianic kingdom. The emphasis is on spiritual joy. "My Father's kingdom" expresses the intimacy of that kingdom suggested by the singular "My." These related terms are suggestive: "kingdom of God," the source of the kingdom; "kingdom of heaven," the sphere of the kingdom; "My Father's kingdom," the secrets of the kingdom; "the kingdom of their Father," the sharers of the kingdom. That last Passover anticipated the day when He would share His fullness of joy with His own in His Father's kingdom. What took place in embryo before His death will have universal fulfillment.

A. Hull

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Did the Mayan Calendar predict the end of the world in 2012?

Did the Mayan Calendar predict the end of the world in 2012?

According to many who interpret the Mayan calendar, there will be a world-wide catastrophe in December 21, 2012. How did 12/21/2012 come to the year of the end of the world? Will there be catastrophes or disasters that end civilization? Are there prophecies in the Bible about this being the Great Tribulation or the coming of Christ?

The Mayan civilization was very involved with the study of the movements of the stars. For hundreds of years they carefully observed the stars and created several different calendars that accurately predicted the future positions of planets and stars as viewed from earth. They noticed that there was a wobble in the earth’s rotation that caused slight variation in the positions of the stars. The effect is slow, taking 5,125 years to complete one cycle. The Mayan astronomers noticed that the dark band at the center of the Milky Way (called the Galactic Equator) coincides with the plane of sun’s movement across the sky, once every 5,125 years. The last time these two intersected was in 3114 B.C. The next time they coincide is 2012" TARGET="_blank">is 2012 A.D.

This intersection is significant to the Mayans because they believed that the Sun is a god and the Milky Way is the gateway to life and death. The Mayans believed that 3114 B.C. was the year of the creation of the earth and that 2012 A.D. would mark the change of a new cycle bringing some significant change to the earth which gives rise to the theory that the Mayan’s know when and how the world will end.

As to the specific day of the end of the world, December 21 is the date of the winter solstice every year in the northern hemisphere (the summer solstice in the southern hemisphere) where the sun reaches its maximum distance north (or south) of the equator. This marks the first day of winter in the northern hemisphere and the first day of the summer season in the south which is important for a society of farmers.

The end of the world scenarios is based on uncertain interpretations by scholars of Mayan hieroglyphs. The calendar may end in 2012, but it doesn’t mean that it is the end of the world. Other than the astronomical coincidences, there is little proof that the Mayans prophesied the events of this distant future. The Mayans were not even able to predict their own cultural apocalypse. They died out without any special predictions of their own. They were great astronomers, but lousy prophets.

If we are to believe that the Mayan’s knew the exact date of the end of the world, logically we would have to accept other beliefs of theirs:

•   The Mayans believed that the blood of human sacrifices was what powered the sun and gave it life.
•   The Mayans believed that the world was created in 3114 B.C.
•   The Mayans believed that the movements of the stars affected life on earth – astrology.

The Bible?

Bible prophecies do no indicate the specific year of the end of the world. In fact, the Bible speaks of future events as two periods of time that are yet to come – the Tribulation, which will last seven years, and the Millennium, which will last 1,000 years. (Revelation 21:1-10)." TARGET="_blank">Revelation 21:1-10).

The Mayan religion is described along with other false forms of worship in the Bible in Romans chapter 1. “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator” (Romans 1:25)." TARGET="_blank">Romans 1:25).

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What does the Bible say about "full-time" minister work?

Is a full-time, itinerant, "faith-supported" ministry biblical or relevant?

Such a ministry is biblical and therefore relevant, since the God-breathed Word fully equips us for every age and circumstance (2 Timothy 3:16, 17)." TARGET="_blank">2 Timothy 3:16, 17). The Spirit separated Barnabas and Saul to a distinct work (Acts 13:1-4)." TARGET="_blank">Acts 13:1-4). While Paul had reasons for doing secular work in Corinth and Ephesus (Acts 18:3; 20:34;" TARGET="_blank">Acts 18:3; 20:34; 1 Corinthians 9:12, 15;" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 9:12, 15; 2 Corinthians 11:12)," TARGET="_blank">2 Corinthians 11:12), the norm is "that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel" (1 Corinthians 9:14)." TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 9:14). It was therefore appropriate that he and Barnabas would forbear from secular work (verse 6). The gospel was their full-time work. Their’s was an itinerant ministry. Likewise, Timothy and other young men traveled with Paul (Acts 20:4)." TARGET="_blank">Acts 20:4). Although the work had progressed for several decades, there were still itinerant preachers whom Gaius faithfully helped (3 John 5-8)." TARGET="_blank">3 John 5-8). Such men - then and now - consolidate, unify, and further the work of God by moving among existing assemblies and into new work. Timothy and Titus stayed for extended periods in locations that needed assistance. These were temporary assiguments in which they served along with other local men.

The New Testament pattern is that such work received support through the voluntary offerings of assemblies (2 Corinthians 11:8;" TARGET="_blank">2 Corinthians 11:8; Philippians 4:14-16)" TARGET="_blank">Philippians 4:14-16) and individual believers (1 Corinthians 16:17)." TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 16:17). To reduce support to a contractual basis lowers the spiritual character of Christian giving and robs the worker of a singular dependence on His Master for all his needs.

D. Oliver
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Are New Testament believers of a higher class than those of the OT?

OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS

Is not the claim altogether unreasonable, that we of the Present dispensation, though so inferior to faithful Abraham, and not worthy of a quarter of his reward, are a different class of saint?

It is a very serious thing to let go dispensational differences. God is sovereign, and works all things after the counsel of His own will. Supposing we admit the above estimate of Abraham’s merits, as is certainly correct in the case of many Christians, even then our questioner’s conclusion is based on a fallacy. It involves a confusion between individual rewards for faithfulness, and the place in the kingdom will depend on that, and the calling of God, which is entirely of grace. Grace is free to bestow positions of privilege, quite apart from personal merit. The character of collective blessing depends on the character of the dispensation. Thus the blessings of Israel were in one sense material blessings in earthly places, those of the Church are spiritual blessings in heavenly places. One day Israel will be the head of the nations, and instruments of blessing to the whole world, but they were never in the Church.

For the differences between Jew and Gentile were very definite in Old Testament times. The building of the Church was future even in our Lord’s time:—”I will build my church.” But this does not say that individual saints of the Old Testament: Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David, etc., will not have a far higher individual reward, than many of the Church. An illustration may serve. At the opening of Parliament, the King on his throne, is surrounded by Peers of the Realm, Statesmen, High Officials, and Dignitaries of State, many of whom owe their position to personal merit, for having served well their King and country. But by his side is one seated nearer than any other, accorded that place, not by personal merit exactly, but by the choice of the King, to whom she occupies a relationship nearer than the Prime Minister. On the steps of the throne are the Royal Princes and Princesses, including the little grandchildren, who certainly have done nothing to deserve that honour, but they were born to it. How foolish it would then be to raise the question of their merit! Some present may have made their mark by leadership or statecraft, but that is something over and above their birthright. We must distinguish them. The Kingdom will be a sphere of rewards as well as of blessings. All believers will be in it, that is, in the earthly or heavenly side of it, but all will not enjoy the same reward. Relationships, then, depends upon grace. We do not become members of the Church by merit, but by God’s own purpose and grace, and by the baptism in the Holy Spirit. The rewards of faithfulness will be crowns and positions in the kingdom.

W.H.

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Is the "fear of death" no longer satanic in its origin?

This page was adapted from an answer at Truth and Tidings Magazine by David Oliver.

Satan used Adam as the instrument to bring death into the world (Romans 5:12)." TARGET="_blank">Romans 5:12). So it may be said the Satan is the origin of death in the world. The fear of death, though, has human origins. However Satan can use it effectively as his tool.

The verse, therefore is not making a difference between those who lived before Christ and others who were born after the cross. It would be incorrect to say that believers or unbelievers in times before Christ were more afraid of death. However, it is correct to say that we have a much clearer understanding of Eternity and life after death. We should anticipate heaven more than even the greatest saints of the Old Testament.

D. Oliver

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How should a Christian vote?

Is voting in political elections appnopniate fon us?

In countries where voting is mandated, Christians vote in subjection to the law.

Where voting is optional, other biblical principles apply. This world has rejected Christ (Luke 19:14;" TARGET="_blank">Luke 19:14; 1 Corinthians 2:8);" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 2:8); His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36)," TARGET="_blank">John 18:36), nor is our citizenship or hope (Philippians 3:20)." TARGET="_blank">Philippians 3:20). Although government is ordained by God, governments are opposed to God, as will be fully demonstrated in a coming day (Psalm 2:2, 3)." TARGET="_blank">Psalm 2:2, 3). How, therefore, can a believer involve himself in governmental leadership? Such involvement and voting are cut from the same fabric Voting seems to deny our separation from the world. Christians’ moral impact, retarding evil (2 Thessalonians 2:7)," TARGET="_blank">2 Thessalonians 2:7), is through character (salt) and conduct (shining as lights, Matthew 5:13-16;" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 5:13-16; Philip pians 2:15). Believers are "resident aliens."

In addition, God has not abdicated His role in controlling who rules (Romans 13:1;" TARGET="_blank">Romans 13:1; Daniel 4:17)." TARGET="_blank">Daniel 4:17). He requests that we pray, "Thy kingdom come" (Matthew 6:10)." TARGET="_blank">Matthew 6:10). We do not know God’s will in His present "guidance of history," nor is that our domain. We are responsible to know His will for our lives (Romans 12:2;" TARGET="_blank">Romans 12:2; James 4:15)." TARGET="_blank">James 4:15). Were we to vote in keeping with God’s will, we should likely select "the basest of men," hardly "responsible citizenship."

D. Oliver
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Will the resurrection bodies of the saints be the same as those in which they lived and died?

THE RESURRECTION BODY
Will the resurrection bodies of the saints be the same as those in which they lived and died?

In our Lord’s resurrection we have the pattern of our own. Was the Lord’s resurrection body the same as that in which He lived and died? Yes, it was the same body; there was nothing left in the tomb but the grave-clothes, and our Lord took pains to show that His body was truly the very one that had died, by calling attention to His hands and feet which bore the marks of His cruel death on Calvary.

But though the same, it was not under the same conditions.* It was a spiritual body, not subject to the same laws as before. It could disappear at will; it could pass through closed doors; it could be seen and not be recognised, and then suddenly become recognisable; but also it could be touched and felt; it could eat, it had flesh and bones, it was a real body. When the Lord ascended “God gave Him glory,” and His body was also glorified, as Paul saw Him on the way to Damascus. It was the same body, but under new conditions (see Luke 24:36-43;" TARGET="_blank">Luke 24:36-43; John 20:5, 7, 13, 19, 25, 27;" TARGET="_blank">John 20:5, 7, 13, 19, 25, 27; Philippians 3:20-21)." TARGET="_blank">Philippians 3:20-21). Really the buried body is the sown grain, and the glorified body the flower, the same, yet not the same. God gives to the grain a body as He pleases. But what goes to form the flower, was once in the grain. A gardener can recognise the flower from the seed, and vice-versa. And so every saint will have a glorified body that will be recognisable, as coming from its particular seed sown in the graveyard. There will be no confusion: “to every seed his own body,” and all “like Him” (1 Corinthians 15:37, 38, 44, 49)." TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 15:37, 38, 44, 49).
W.H.

* certain elementary substances such as sulphur, phosphorus, oxygen, carbon have the quality of existing in distinct forms, known as allotropic modifications. Thus carbon exists as diamond, graphite or soot. There may be a distant analogy between this and the existence of the body under different conditions.

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what are the Gates of Hell?

“What are the Gates of Hell?”

This phrase is used only once in the Bible, Jesus speaking to Peter about the Rock on which He would build his church, and “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 16:18) These gates are clearly a force trying to “prevail” or win over the Church. So . . .

what can it be?

First of all, the word for hell here is the Greek word “Hades” which is also translated “grave”. Revelation 20:13" TARGET="_blank">Revelation 20:13 tells us that Hades holds dead people, and delivers them up for the final judgment, so it is like a prison. It is given as the place where the rich man in Luke 16 ended up, burning in flames. In Revelation 6:8" TARGET="_blank">Revelation 6:8 Hades comes as a person, following along behind Death on a pale, sickly green horse, so the prison has a ghastly warden.

We can look at these “gates” then in two related ways. One is as a devil-manned fortification trying to capture and hold conquered prisoners. Many verses - such as 2 Timothy 2:26" TARGET="_blank">2 Timothy 2:26 - talk about the devil holding people captive.

The other is based on the ancient custom of conducting all governmental business in “the gates” of the city, the place where the judges and legislators sat. In that case “the gates” represent more generally the authority structure of the devil as he commands his minions to try to undermine everything Jesus and His Church are trying to do. Perhaps not much difference when all is said and done, since the Savior’s business is freeing prisoners from Satan’s grasp.

So what about Jesus and His Church? Acts 2:31" TARGET="_blank">Acts 2:31 tells us that the Savior’s soul could not be held in Hades, just like His body could not

be held in the tomb. He crashed those gates open, raided the Enemy, disarming him (Colossians 2:15)" TARGET="_blank">Colossians 2:15) and leading the Captor captive (Eph. 4:8 1)." TARGET="_blank">Eph. 4:8 1). Jesus and His Church are seen, frankly, laughing at Hades’ weakness and defeat (1 Corinthians 15:55)." TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 15:55). We read that the Lord Jesus now has the keys to those gates (Revelation 1:18)." TARGET="_blank">Revelation 1:18). With those keys in hand He has all authority in every place, and expects His Church to extract as many prisoners from the devil’s clutches as possible while there still is time.

C. T. Studd was a wealthy young man in the 1800s who was also a world-class athlete in cricket. He turned his back on all of that and gave his life to missionary work on two continents, seeing people saved. A couplet he wrote expresses his keen awareness of the role the Lord Jesus gave the Church with regard to these “gates” and what he intended to do about it with the time and money he had:

“Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.”

When it comes to winning lost souls the Church has full authority and power to see them “delivered … from the power of darkness, and … translated into the kingdom of His (God’s) dear Son.” (Colossians 1:13) Hades’ gates can’t defeat us but must give way time and time again. If you are not saved, I hope and pray that you will be among those we can see sprung out in time.

Alfred Corduan

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