What does "for as the days of a tree are the days of my people" mean?

What is the meaning of God’s message in Isaiah 65:22" TARGET="_blank">Isaiah 65:22?

"They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands" (Isa 65:22)." TARGET="_blank">Isa 65:22). This echoes from the beginning of Israel’s national history in their land. The sins of the idolatrous inhabitants of the land rose to such a level that God removed them and gave it to Israel (Genesis 15:7, 16)." TARGET="_blank">Genesis 15:7, 16). When they went into that land, they received cities they didn’t build, houses they didn’t fill, wells they didn’t dig, and vineyards and olive trees they didn’t plant (Deuteronomy 6:11)." TARGET="_blank">Deuteronomy 6:11). Because of God’s judgment, the previous tenants built and didn’t inhabit, and planted but didn’t eat the fruit. God warned His people that disobeying Him would bring a curse; they would build a house and not dwell in it and plant vineyards and not eat the grapes (28:30), because invaders would oppress and spoil them (v 29).

As the decades of their disobedience mounted, they suffered tastes of this from invading armies, as in the days of Judges. Eventually, the Babylonian army carried them away captive and they suffered the full weight of the curse; their houses and vineyards were left for their captors to enjoy. During their captivity, the Lord pointed to a future day when He would regather them, judge their enemies, and cause His people to dwell safely in their land (Ezekiel 25, 26)." TARGET="_blank">Ezekiel 25, 26). They would build houses, plant vineyards, and dwell there with confidence. That promise has not yet been fulfilled, but will be during the coming earthly reign of Christ. They would no longer be disobedient and never again suffer from invaders.

The passage in Isaiah 65" TARGET="_blank">Isaiah 65 includes this blessing, but extends it. The context deals with the longevity God’s obedient people will enjoy during those thousand years (Isa 65:20)." TARGET="_blank">Isa 65:20). Even if no enemy invaded their land in the past, death would eventually intervene and someone else would live in their house and eat from their vineyards. In that future kingdom, where believers have God’s law written on their hearts, even death will not dispossess them of houses and lands. Their days will be lengthened to the age of trees, which generally outlive animal life. Horticulturalists indicate that some of the olive trees presently standing in Jerusalem’s Garden of Gethsamane were there when the Lord agonized in the garden’s dust.

The result would be prolonged enjoyment of their labors, for their days would be long on the land which the Lord gave them (Exodus 20:12)." TARGET="_blank">Exodus 20:12). The verse then assures their security (no dispossession), longevity (no death), and felicity (no departure).

D. Oliver
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Did the wise men visit Jesus in Bethlehem?

Where did the wise men (Matthew 2:1)" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 2:1) find the child Jesus— in Bethlehem or Nazareth?

I do not think there can be any reasonable doubt that it was in Bethlehem. Verse i tells us the narrative happened “when Jesus was born in Bethlehem.” It was thither theywere directed by the teaching of the elders (vv. 4-6) and sent by Herod. Nazareth is not mentioned. It was in Bethlehem and its borders that the slaughter of the innocents took place (ver. 16), after the Child and Mary and Joseph had departed into Egypt. From verse 22 we learn that after the death of Herod they would have returned into Juda, but hearing that Archelaus, his son, was reigning in his stead, Joseph was afraid to go thither and being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee and dwelt in a city, now mentioned for the first time—Nazareth.

W.H. .

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How do we "make disciples" and fulfill the Great Commission?

What is the most important help in "making disciples"?

The responsibility to "make disciples" extends "to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19, 20)." TARGET="_blank">Matthew 28:19, 20). We need every available spiritual means to encourage all believers to "obey all things."

New believers retain their former personality traits. Some love to learn something new (Acts 17:21);" TARGET="_blank">Acts 17:21); others like the challenge of advancing beyond others (Galatians 1:14);" TARGET="_blank">Galatians 1:14); still others love to fit into their new-found society and they eagerly conform (Acts 8:13)," TARGET="_blank">Acts 8:13), while the timid can be intimidated (Diotrephes did this, 3 John 1:9, 10)." TARGET="_blank">3 John 1:9, 10). Playing on these natural traits cannot produce spiritual results. The Lord predicates discipleship on this condition: "if any man will come after me" (Luke 9:23)." TARGET="_blank">Luke 9:23). Hearts drawn to Christ by an all-consuming devotion gladly embrace all He commands (John 14:15, 23)." TARGET="_blank">John 14:15, 23). Fostering devotion to Christ, coupled with patient, practical teaching, is essential to making disciples.

D. Oliver
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Does the Bible say "Where there's life there is hope"?

In Ecclesiastes 9: 4," TARGET="_blank">Ecclesiastes 9: 4, we find these words :—“For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.” Does this teach that there is hope as long as life remains?

Solomon beholds all the work of God (Ecclesiastes 8:16)" TARGET="_blank">Ecclesiastes 8:16) and desires to understand what God is doing, but not even a wise man can fathom it (i.e., by his natural intelligence). God must make it plain, as He did His WAYS unto Moses (Psalm 103:7)." TARGET="_blank">Psalm 103:7). But of one thing he is sure, that the righteous and wise are in God’s hand (Ecclesiastes 9:1)." TARGET="_blank">Ecclesiastes 9:1). But judged by all they see before them (i.e., by the sight of the eyes), no man can gauge whether love or hatred is his, because, by the fact of sin being in the world, one event—death_comes to all, righteous and wicked, religious and irreligious. Surely that is an evil thing. I think that verse 4 only emphasises this evil—an inevitable death. For while there is life there is hope, “for a living dog”—an unclean animal in the Oriental and Biblical view—”is better than a dead lion”—the king of beasts. When Solomon wrote, many problems now revealed were unsolved. “Jesus Christ had not yet brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.” But none the less, the Ecclesiastes is a true revelation from God of the workings of man’s mind, so that man may know himself.
WH.

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Can a sister shepherd or teach a brother?

Can a sister shepherd or teach a brother?

Guidance for this answer comes from Acts 18:26." TARGET="_blank">Acts 18:26. Priscilla’s care for Apollo was not in the context of assembly meetings. Several translators indicate that the expression, "they took him unto them," suggests receiving him to their home. In addition, Priscilla acted in concert with her husband. She didn’t assign Aquila the job of getting Apollos to their home. They moved together and worked together for his spiritual benefit.

It seems abundantly clear that as Apollos learned "the way of God more perfectly," Priscilla didn’t sit demurely in the corner while Apollos and Aquila engaged in "men talk."

Our society’s laxness underlines the need for all female and male interactions to be "with all purity" (1 Timothy 5:2)." TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 5:2).

Keeping these things in mind, a sister can be used by Lord in trying to help a brother spiritually.

D. Oliver
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What shape was Jesus' cross?

Was the Cross on which our Lord was crucified the cross as shaped to-day?

Is the word used that for a stake and not a cross, a word only implying that which stands up?

It is true that the first meaning of “stauros,” the word translated, “cross,” in the New Testament, is a “stake” (from “histëmi,” to st nd), and this was occasionally used in executions, the victim being sometimes impaled on it. But this stake, called “the simple cross,” was not the Latin cross, which was in the shape of a T, and had an upright above the crossbar, on which the title of accusation was displayed. This was the form of cross the Romans used, and, on which there seems no room to doubt, our Lord was crucified. Because the cross is found in Babylonian cults is no good reason for denying that the Romans crucified Him on the ordinary Latin cross. We are certainly not to wear a cross or display it on “religious buildings,” but to learn the meaning of Christ’s Cross, and bear our own. W.H.

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Should Christian women wear pants?

Be the first to give an answer to this question. Write an answer in the comment section below. Please provide your name and if you have a website or blog, be sure to include the URL and email address in your answer.

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Should a Christian have friends who are not believers?

Be the first to give an answer to this question. Write an answer in the comment section below. Please provide your name and if you have a website or blog, be sure to include the URL and email address in your answer.

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How are the books of the Bible interrelated?

Are the Bible’s books interrelated?

Dates, themes, and settings of A books help in relating them. Two examples might suffice.

Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther close Israel’s Old Testament history, following the exile, and foreshadow events yet future. Ezra and Nehemiah tell of the spiritual and national recovery of a faithful remnant in the land, although both recoveries are somewhat limited. But what about other Jews who will remain scattered among the Gentiles? As in Esther, God will sovereignly preserve those who respond to His Word; they’ll also come into joy and blessing.

Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians emphasize teaching regarding the Church, the Body. Ephesians focuses on our relationship with one another; we are one in Christ. Colossians focuses on our relationship with Christ; we are complete in Him. Philippians shows how right relationships with one another are maintained by a devoted appreciation of our relationship with Christ.

D. Oliver
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Do the Scriptures guide only the husband to contribute financially to the church?

Do the Scriptures guide only the husband to contribute financially at the Lord’s supper?

I Corinthians 16:2" TARGET="_blank">I Corinthians 16:2 teaches that "every one of you" ("each of you," JND) should set aside funds on the first day of the week. Although a couple’s resources are one, is she not as much a priest as her husband? Husbands are not priests who offer on behalf of their wife or family; the males offer on behalf of the assembly. Is it not a fitting testimony to the wife’s priesthood that she should offer her financial sacrifice in the assembly? Does he partake of the emblems on her behalf, or does she remember the Lord individually? Is a believing couple received into the assembly as a couple or as individuals? Sapphira did not die (Acts 5:10)" TARGET="_blank">Acts 5:10) because she was one with Ananias in marriage, but because she was one with him in tempting the Spirit of the Lord (verse 9). In an assembly, we stand before the Lord as individuals.

D. Oliver
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