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BEWAILING VIRGINITY – Revised

Added insight to the previously posted article, “Bewailing Virginity,” posted in 2010

There is a record in the book of Judges that many readers of the Bible have found difficult to understand. In 2010, I posted an article on this site entitled, Bewailing Virginity.  

While having the great privilege of teaching God’s Word for nearly 50 years, I still consider myself a student of the Bible. There is only One Who completely understands every verse of the Bible, and that is the Author, God Himself. Therefore, we can all continue to learn. 

The original article has received numerous comments. Having recently revisited this topic, I have come to have a little more understanding. It is my intention to pass on that understanding, which is why I entitled this article, Bewailing Virginity – Revised.

(At the end of this article, there is a link to a recent teaching I did in which I shared a good portion of the article below.)

For those wanting to read this revised version, please note this will not be a short article. But I hope by taking the time, you, as I have, will gain a greater appreciation of the record from Judges 11. At the end of this article you will find additional resources from others who have discussed this topic.

As you are aware, the Bible is an Eastern book, meaning it was not written from the perspective of our modern Western culture. It is very important when reading the Bible to take into consideration the culture in which it was written. That would of course include manners, customs, idioms, lifestyles, etc. 

There is no one I am aware of who had, or has, a greater understanding of Bible culture than the late Bishop K.C. Pillai. Much of the material in the first article, as well as the content in my book, What Does it Mean?, came as a result of what I learned from him. That is why in my book, in the Preface, I included  a serious explanation to the reader of why he is such a great authority.

Before I share some added insight I’ve learned about Judges 11, for those WHO may not have my book, I’m including, from the Preface, a portion of what I wrote about Bishop K.C. Pillai.

“I was first introduced to eastern customs in the Bible during a biblical class in 1975.  A portion of the class was devoted to keys of how to get a proper interpretation of the Scriptures from the Scriptures themselves.  One of the keys discussed was orientalisms.

“I live in the western world.  The people of biblical times lived in the eastern world, or what we refer to today as the Middle East.  Thus, the Bible is indeed an eastern book.

“Over the years I have thrilled at the added understanding of many verses once I understood the culture of the Bible.  I have studied many resources concerning this topic and taken numerous biblical classes and lectures where various orientalisms were shared.

“By far, the greatest resource for me has been the teachings of Bishop K.C. Pillai. In the late 1970’s, I enjoyed reading three of his books.  Later, I had access to many, many more of his teachings, both printed and audio recordings. While I am deeply grateful for all the biblical classes and teachers I’ve learned from for over forty years, in my opinion, Bishop Pillai is the foremost authority on this topic, period. Let me explain why.

“Bishop Pillai was born in 1900 in India and raised Hindu.  When he converted to Christianity, his family disowned him, literally holding a funeral service and burying his picture in a casket. Nevertheless, he was ordained a bishop in the Eastern Orthodox Church in India. Later, he would be sent on a special mission.

“At the time of the Bishop’s early life, his native India had remained an isolated country for thousands of years. Therefore, the customs and manners of the people were still aligned with the eastern, biblical culture.  Much of the rich eastern culture and tradition Bishop Pillai was reared and educated in has changed dramatically.  The twentieth century saw great changes around the world, which eventually included India.  Bishop Pillai’s knowledge of eastern culture brought great understanding of the Scriptures to the western world.

“Sir S. Radhakrishnam wrote, “Any interpretation of the Jewish religion which ignores the total environment in which it grew up would be dangerously narrow.”[i] Add to that the words of Max Muller, “Whatever sphere of the human mind you may select for your special study, whether it be language, or religion, or mythology, or philosophy, whether it be the laws or customs, primitive art or primitive science, everywhere, you have to go to India, whether you like it or not because some of the most valuable and most instructive material in the history of man are treasured in India, and in India only.”[ii]

“Bishop Pillai once wrote, “The Oriental traditions and philosophy are foreign to the Occidental world in general.  Therefore, it is essential that one understand the Oriental thought and way of life (especially that of India, since the culture of India was adopted by the Middle East and Near East centuries before the birth of Christ). Otherwise, one will be unable to understand the Spiritual significance of the Scripture.  We cannot believe what we do not understand.”[iii]

“Recognizing the lack of understanding in the western world, the Indian Orthodox Church sent Bishop Pillai on a mission: to bring the light of the Scriptures through understanding the culture in which it was written. Bishop Pillai spent the last twenty years of his life acquainting Christians with the orientalisms of the Bible, imparting great enlightenment of the eastern culture. His mission carried him to numerous universities and seminaries as well as every major denomination throughout Europe, England, the United States, and Canada.

“In, What Does it Mean? the reader will gain an understanding of many verses as well as some practical application for consideration. An understanding of what a word or phrase means can be very enlightening and inspiring. However, the practical application presented will also be of great benefit to the reader.

“This book is not a re-presentation of Bishop Pillai’s writings or teachings.  Rather, it is a culmination of my study and understanding of the Scriptures.”

[i] Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Eastern Religions and Western Thought (Oxford University Press 2007), 23

[ii] Max F. Muller, What Can It Teach Us (Book Tree 1999), 37

[iii] Bishop K.C. Pillai, Orientalisms of the Bible (Mor-Mac Publishing Company, Inc. 1969), xii


Bewailing Virginity – Revised

(On Sunday, 9/29/2024, at our Sunday morning Westbrook Village Fellowship, I shared a good portion of this article, as well as some other insights. Here is the link to that teaching: Bewailing Virginity.).

Let’s consider the record in chapter 11, in the book of Judges.

It is very important to note that the main character we are looking at, Jephthah, is also one of those who is listed in the book of Hebrews, Chapter 11. Bible students are well aware that chapter lists many of the great believers of the Old Testament, including Abel, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and many more. Some have referred to that chapter as, “The Hall of Fame of Believers.” Therefore, we know God had a very high opinion of this man, or else God would not have had him included among so many of the great believers of the Old Testament. This is very important to keep in mind when reading the record in Judges 11.

Judges 11:29 -40:
Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.

:30 And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,

:31 Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD’S, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.

:32  So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands.

:33  And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.

:34  And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.

:35  And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back.

:36  And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon.

:37  And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my fellows.

:38  And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.

:39  And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel,

:40 That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.

 

Did Jephthah actually offer his daughter as a literal burnt offering to the Lord, meaning have her killed?  Verse 29 is often overlooked; it says …”the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah.” To serious Bible students, that speaks volumes.  Jephthah having the spirit of the Lord walked with and for God. And keeping in mind that God recognized and listed Jephthah with the great believers of the Old Testament,  Jephthah would have never considered a human sacrifice. The Old Testament law absolutely forbade that.

Deuteronomy 12:30-31:
Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.

Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.

Knowing that Jephthah had the spirit of the Lord upon him, and that God included him with the list of great believers in Hebrews 11, it is troubling to think that he would have disobeyed such a very specific commandment of the Lord, or even considered it!  Are we to think that Jephthah in asking God for His help, vowed that if he was successful he would do something that was absolutely forbidden by God? And yet, verse 40 said that Jephthah “…did with her according to his vow which he had vowed.”  

A careful look at verses 38-40 indicate that he did not offer his daughter as a human sacrifice.  

From E.W. Bullinger

The great Bible researcher, E.W. Bullinger, has some very interesting and noteworthy insight into this passage of scripture in his Bible, The Bullinger Bible. He also included a chapter on this passage in his book, Great Cloud of Witnesses. That entire chapter is included later in this post. 

Verse 31, tells us the vow Jephthah made: “…Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD’S, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.” 

Bullinger points out that the word, “and” (put above in bold type) can also be translated as, “or.”  That would mean the verse would be rendered, “…whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD’S, or, I will offer it up for a burnt offering.”  Bullinger concludes that Jephthah’s intention was either a burnt offering, which would have to be an animal sacrifice, or, it would be in giving someone to the Lord.

From the chapter in his book, mentioned above, Bullinger wrote the following:
“It is recorded that Jephthah “did with her according to his vow
which he had vowed, and she knew no man” (v. 39). What has this to do
with a burnt offering, one way or the other? But it has everything to do
with the former part of his vow, in dedicating her to Jehovah. This
seems to be conclusive. It has nothing to do with a sacrificial death, but
it has to do with a dedicated life. She was dedicated to a perpetual
virginity.

“To what else can the “custom of Israel” refer (v. 39, 40) when “the
daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the
Gileadite, four day in a year” (v.40).”

 

At this point, I would like to add that some have wondered how Jephthah could have spoken such a vow, having only one daughter. People assume the only people in his house were his wife and daughter. but no one really knows how many people were in his household.  Furthermore, when we read “house” we think of the houses we live in today, but we don’t know what his house looked like; we don’t know the layout of his property. And, interestingly, the word translated “doors” in verse 31 can also be translated “gates.”


From Bishop K.C. Pillai
Here is some insight on this record, including, “bewailing virginity, from the teachings of Bishop K.C Pillai.

“Now this does not mean that the person will be killed and burned on the altar, as many have thought. God has never required that mankind bring human sacrifices. A person who is dedicated to the Lord is sent to serve in the temple and they will never marry. It is like the nuns and priests which we see in the Roman Catholic Church today. The basis for this is found in Leviticus.”

Leviticus 27:2:
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When a man shall make a singular vow, the persons shall be for the LORD by thy estimation.

“When Jephthah saw his daughter, he rent his mantle because of the promise he had made to God concerning the burnt sacrifice. He had no other children and felt sorrow. The girl understood immediately.”

Judges 11:36-38:
And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon.

And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my fellows.

And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.

“This does not mean she would be killed because human sacrifice has always been forbidden. Jephthah gave her as a living sacrifice to serve God for the rest of her life. He gave her to the temple to serve there. This is a burnt offering—suffering humiliation, disgrace, insult to serve in the temple for life.

“Jephthah was not going to kill his daughter and offer a burnt sacrifice. Once having served in the temple, the servant lived and died there, and never left. The father followed through with his pledge to God. The daughter wanted to see her father keep his promise, so she was willing to sacrifice all else. Jephthah could not go back on his vow to God, because the vow to God was salted. If something is said to God, it cannot be broken. The daughter was brought up to be obedient and treated her parents as unto God.

“Any virgin who knew no man and was not married, when she decided to go to the temple and serve the Lord, she has to go for two months to the mountains with her girlfriends to bewail her virginity. In the mountains they have prayer meetings, consecration meetings, seeing and visiting relatives and friends, saying her “goodbyes” to the pleasures and things of the world, etc.

“This was a common occurrence when women were preparing to enter the service of the temple. They receive all their friends and relatives, and bewail the loss of their worldly life. Jephthah’s daughter was a princess; she would have had fine clothes and jewels and servants; she would have married and given Jephthah the joy of grandchildren and heirs. All this was now out of the question, since Jephthah had made the vow.”

Judges 11:39, 40:
And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel,

That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.

“When the virgin is brought to the door of the temple at the end of the two months, she is prepared to enter the service of the temple. Her hair is shaved off to signify that she is laying aside the glory of her head so that she may serve God. Her fashionable clothes are exchanged for the white robe which is the symbol of purity and sanctity.

“And so it was with Jephthah’s daughter. As a princess in this case, she took off all of her clothes and jewelry putting on a long white robe which covered her head and began to serve God from there on.

“This word “lament” is a misplaced word. Some of you may have Bibles with a marginal note saying that this word should be “talk with.” It seems strange to me that the truth is in the margin and the lie is left in the text. When the women go to visit her in the temple, they would say, “How wonderful you are, we wish we were like you! You don’t have the sins or pleasures of the world to bother you. You, by choice, are separated from the things of this world. God must be loving and honoring you for the sacrifice you have made and the humiliation you go through. Thereby, they comfort her by praising her.”

Conclusion

In conclusion, Bullinger, as well as many Bible scholars, agree with Bishop Pillai regarding the word, “lament.” They agree that the word “lament” does not mean to mourn, but rather it has the meaning of conversation, and more specifically, honor and praise..

As a final note, it would appear Bishop Pillai was not aware of the insight that Bullinger presents in his Bible regarding the word, “and” in verse 31. I wasn’t until recently. But both Bullinger and Pillai agree, as I do, and as many other Bible students do, that Jephthah did not offer his daughter up as a human sacrifice.

I hope this expanded revised article adds insight and learning from this passage in Judges 11.

On 9/29/2024, at our Sunday morning fellowship, I shared a good portion from this article. It is posted under the tab, Recent Teachings. You can also access it here.)

Mike Verdicchio
2024

Other Resources
(My thanks to my good friend, Dave Bailey  for providing the following resources, including the complete article by Dr. E. W. Bullinger).

1) Gleason L. Archer, New International Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, Based
on the NIV and the NASB, Electronic edition (Zondervan, 2001) 240

2) Alfred Edersheim, Bible History Old Testament, Electronic edition (Hendrickson
Publishers Marketing,LLC,1995, originally published 1890, 11 th printing 2018)
420

3) New King James Version Study Bible, Second Edition (Thomas Nelson, 2007),
391

4) Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible, by Adam Clarke [1831].
(Text Courtesy of Internet Sacred Texts Archive).

5) Did Jephthah really sacrifice his daughter ? An analysis of Judges 11:31, by E.W. Bullinger

Note: Below is a chapter from the book of E. W. Bullinger : Great Cloud of Witnesses in Hebrews 11, Kregel Publications, 1979, pp. 324-331. This book as well as all other work of E. W. Bullinger is in the
public domain (i.e. free from copyright).

Jephthah is introduced to us under the same title as Gideon, «a
mighty man of valour» (Judges 11:1) Again, we have not to consider
his history as a man, but his faith,
which was of God.

He was one who feared Jehovah. In his earliest words he calls
Jehovah to witness; and he afterwards went and “uttered all his words
before Jehovah, in Mizpeh” (v. 11)

His message to the king of Ammon (vv. 14-27) shows that he was
well versed in the history of His people, as recorded in “the book of the
Law”. He must have studied it closely and to some purpose ; for he not
only knew the historical events as facts, but he recognised them as being
ordered by Jehovah.

He traced all to Jehovah. It was He Who had “delivered Sihon and
all his people into the hand of Israel” (v.21). It was Jehovah, God of
Israel, who had disposed the Amorites before His people (v.23). What
Jephthah and Israel would now posses was what God had given to them
(v. 24). And it was Jehovah, the Judge, Whom he called on to judge
between Israel and Ammon (v. 27).

Jephthah had heard the words of Jehovah as written down in the
Scriptures of truth; and he believed them. This is exactly an instance of
what the Apostle refers to in Hebrews xi. He, too, knew the history which
Jephthah believed, and the faith which conquered through God. This it is
that gives Jephthah his place in this great “cloud of witnesses.”

When he had thus called on God to judge, we read: “Then the
Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah,” and we again note the words
which this describe the action of the Holy Spirit in that dispensation
(v.29).

In the power of that Holy spirit, Jephthah undertook the war with
Ammon, and Jehovah crowned his faith by delivering the Ammonites
into his hand (v.32).

This is the exceedingly simple account of Jephthah’s overcoming
faith; and there is little to be added to it. He had simply read what
Jehovah had done; and thus heard what He had said. He believed what
he had thus read and heard, and this is quite sufficient to cause him to
be placed among the “elders who received a good report” on account of
their faith.

But in the case of Jephthah, as in no other, we feel compelled to
go out of our way to vindicate him from what we shall show to be the
unjust judgement of men.

His God-wrought faith must not be tarnished without the sure
and certain warrant of the word of God itself. Like Moses, Jephthah
“spake unadvisedly with his lips,” but this does not touch his faith in
what he had heard from God; his vow was made according to his zeal,
but not according to knowledge.

That he would sacrifice his daughter, and that God would not reprobate by one
word of disapproval a human sacrifice is a theory incredible. It is only a
human interpretation, on which Theologians have differed in all ages,
and which has been reached without a careful examination of the text.

It is important to remember that the ancient Jewish Commentator
Rabbi David Kimchi (1160-1232) renders the words of the
vow (Judges 11:31) very differently from the A.V (editor’s note: A.V. =
Authorised version, KJV) and R.V. (editor’s note: R.V. = Revised version),
and he tells us that his father Rabbi Joseph Kimchi (died 1180)
held the same view. Both father and son, together with Rabi Levi ben
Gerson (born 1288), all of them among the most eminent of Hebrew
grammarians and commentators, who ought to know better than any
Gentile commentator, gave their unqualified approval to the rendering
of the words of the vow which, instead of making it relate to one object,
translate and interpret it as consisting of two distinct parts.

This is done by observing the well known rule that the connective
particle ו) vau, our English v) is often used as a disjunctive, and mean
“or”, when there is a second proposition. Indeed this rendering is
suggested in the margin of the A.V. The following passages may be consulted:

Genesis 41:44
“Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no
man lift up his hand OR foot in all the land of Egypt.”

Exodus 20:4
“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, OR any likeness of
any thing that is in heaven above, OR that is in the earth beneath, OR
that is in the water under the earth”

Exodus 21:15
“He that smiteth his father, OR his mother, shall be surely put to
death.”

Exodus 21:17
“He that curseth his father, OR his mother, shall surely be put to death.”

Exodus 21:18
“if men strive together, and one smite another with a stone, OR with his
fist, and he die not, but keepeth his bed”

Numbers 16:14
“Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk
and honey, OR given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou
put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.”

Numbers 22:26
“And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place,
where was no way to turn either to the right hand OR to the left.”

Deuteronomy 3:24
“what God is there in heaven OR in earth” &c.

2 Samuel 3:29
“Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house; and let
there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, OR that is a
leper, OR that leaneth on a staff, OR that falleth on the sword, OR that
lacketh bread.”

1 Kings 18:10
“there is no nation OR kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek
thee.”

1 Kings 18:27
“And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry
aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, OR he is pursuing, OR he is
in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.”

With a negative, the rendering “NOR” is equally correct and
conclusive:

Exodus 20:17
“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy
neighbour’s wife, NOR his manservant, NOR his maidservant, NOR
his ox, NOR his ass, NOR any thing that is thy neighbour’s.”

Deuteronomy 7:25
“The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not
desire the silver OR gold that is on them, NOR take it unto thee, lest
thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God.”

2 Samuel 1:21
“neither let there be rain, upon you, NOR fields of offerings”

Psalms 26:9
“Gather not my soul with sinners, NOR my life with bloody men:”

Proverbs 6:4
“Give not sleep to thine eyes, NOR slumber to thine eyelids.”

Proverbs 30:3
“I neither learned wisdom, NOR have the knowledge of the holy.”

We are now in a position to read and understand the word of
Jephthah’s vow, where we have the same word, or rather the letter
which represents it, in Hebrew.

“Jephthah vowed a vow (i.e., made a solemn vow) unto Jehovah,”
which he had a perfect right to do. Such a vow was provided for in the
Law which prescribed exactly what was to be done in such cases ; and
even when the vow affected a person (as it did here) that person could
be redeemed if it were so desired. See Lev. 27 where in verses 1-8 it
affected “persons,” and verses 9-13 it affects “beasts”; and verses 14-15 a
house.

It thus seems clear that Jephthah’s vow consisted of two parts;
one alternative to the other. He would either dedicate it to Jehovah
(according to Lev. 27), or, if unsuitable for this, he would offer it as a
burnt offering.

It should be noted also that, when he said “whatsoever cometh
forth of the doors of my house to meet me,” the word “whatsoever” is
Masculine. But the issuer from his house was Feminine, and therefore
could not come, properly, within the sphere of his vow certainly not
according to the literal meaning of his words.

In any case, it should have been unlawful, and repugnant to
Jehovah, to offer a human being to Him as a burnt-offering, for His
acceptance. Such offerings were common to heathen nations at that time, but
it is noteworthy that Israel stands out among them with this great
peculiarity, that human sacrifices were unknown in Israel.

It is recorded that Jephthah “did with her according to his vow
which he had vowed, and she knew no man” (v. 39). What has this to do
with a burnt offering, one way or the other? But it has everything to do
with the former part of his vow, in dedicating her to Jehovah. This
seems to be conclusive. It has nothing to do with a sacrificial death, but
it has to do with a dedicated life. She was dedicated to a perpetual
virginity.

To what else can the “custom of Israel” refer (v. 39, 40) when “the
daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the
Gileadite, four day in a year” (v.40).

The word rendered “lament” occurs only in one other passage in
the Hebrew Bible, and that happens to be in this very book. So that we
could not possibly have a surer guide to its meaning.

The passage is in Judges 5:11, “There shall they rehearse the
righteous acts of Jehovah.” It means to talk with others hence to
rehearse together.

This being done annually, the friends of Jephthah’s daughter went
to rehears with her, this continued virginity of her life, and not to mourn
over the past fact of her death.

We may conclude from the whole tenor of scripture, as well as
from Psalms 106: 35-38, Isaiah 57:5 etc., that human sacrifices were
abomination in the sight of God; and we cannot imagine that God would
accept, or that Jephthah would offer, human blood.

To uphold this idea is a libel on Jehovah as well as on Jephthah.
We can understand Voltaire and other infidels doing this, though
they reason in a circle, and depend on the two cases of Isaac and
Jephthah’s daughter (which we dispute) to support their contention.
Their object is clear.

But what are we to say of the “higher” critics, most
of whose conclusions are to be found in some shape or another, in the
writings of French and English Atheists and Deists of the last century?
On the other hand, it is worthy of note to remark how the enemy
of God’s word has used even innocent persons to perpetuate traditions
which bring a slur on Jehovah’s works and words.

Milton’s words combined with Haydn’s music (The Oratorio of
“The Creation”) have riveted the tradition on the minds of all that God
created “chaos,” whereas “all His works are perfect” in beauty and in
order.

Milton’s words, again, combined with Handel’s music (the
Oratorio of “Jephthah”) have perpetuated the tradition that an Israelite
father offered his daughter as a burnt-offering to Jehovah.

It is too much to hope that these words of ours can do much to
break the tether of tradition with regard to either of the above important
subjects.

There is Rutualism to contend with on one hand, but there
Ritualism on the other; and so deep are the ruts, that only the
strongest faith (like the strongest axles) can get out of them with
success.

We need something of Jephthah’s faith in the inspired
records of God’s Word and works. He believed what Jehovah had caused
to be written in “the book of the Law.” He had read and pondered over
those records of Jehovah’s words and works, or he could not have
spoken so strongly and so truly of what had been written for his
learning.

May it be ours to have a like faith, so that when we have to
contend with those who oppose us, we may not depend on our own
arguments or our own wisdom, but quote God’s Word written, and use
“the sword of the Spirit” – the God-breathed words which are so
profitable to equip the man of God, and all who would speak for Him,
when we meet with those who “resist the truth.”

Jephthah had heard,
Jephthah had believed, and
Jephthah was one of that group of overcomers who
conquered through God

E.W. Bullinger

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THE GREAT LOVE OF THE CREATOR

God Has A Deep Love And Concern For You!

There’s an interesting question in Psalm 8.

Psalm 8:4
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

So why is God Almighty so invested and concerned with human beings on planet Earth?  It’s unmistakable and undeniable that the Creator of all the heavens and the earth is extremely concerned with human beings here on this planet. Among other things, He gave us 66 written books, and in those writings, the Bible, He gives past, present and future details about us.

Imagine for a moment you own all the land in the state of Texas, over 268,000 square miles. And you decide to heavily invest your attention into a single ant hill. I know, it’s a silly illustration, but you can surely agree one little ant hill seems very small and insignificant compared to thousands of square miles, right?

How Big?

God created more than just the land in Texas!  He created more than planet Earth. He created the earth and all the heavens. And to help put that into a little perspective, here’s some information from an article I read recently by Austin Schoonmaker .

A light year is the distance light can travel in one year, about 186,000 miles per second. The Milky Way Galaxy is where planet Earth and our solar system resides in. Our home galaxy is about 100,000 light-years across. Within the Milky Way, there are an estimated 200-400 billion stars similar to our very own Sun. Among these 200-400 billion stars, there are an estimated 100 billion planets across the Milky Way.

At the time of that article, scientists were saying that there were an estimated 100 billion galaxies in the observable universe, but since then they now estimate at least 200 billion galaxies.

200 billion galaxies. 200-400 billion stars per galaxy. 100 billion planets per galaxy.

Wow!  Remember the ant hill I mentioned?  That silly illustration certainly pales in trying to compare the earth with all the universe.  And yet, as tiny as earth is in comparison, the Creator of the earth and all the heavens, has invested heavily into the inhabitants of this planet of ours.

God not only gave us His Word, the written Scriptures, but through the centuries He also revealed helpful information to certain individuals, people like Noah, Abraham, Moses, David and many others.

God Made A Choice

At one point in our human history, the Creator of the heavens and the earth chose a specific group of people; He said they would be His people and He would be their God.  He helped, blessed and protected His people for centuries.

But God then took things a step further – a big step further. The Bible tells us that He so loved the world (meaning all the people on earth) that He gave His only begotten Son to redeem mankind.  He further made a promise that anyone (not just His chosen people, but anyone) who believes in His Son will be saved; given eternal life!

But Why?
Why did He do that?  Who is man that He is mindful of us?  Why would the Creator of all the vast galaxies make salvation and eternal life available to human beings here on planet earth?

The answer is found in the most popular verse of the Bible, John 3:16.

John 3:16:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God so loved the world! The answer is God’s love.  God loves human beings!

The Creator of it all loves human beings!  He loves us so much He devised a plan whereby any one of us can gain eternal life! When anyone accepts Jesus as lord and believes God raised him from the dead, the Bible says they are saved!

Romans 10:9:
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth [accept, acknowledge, agree] the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Eternal life and salvation is not based on your good works – Ephesians 2 is very clear we are not saved by our works.  God made eternal life and salvation so easy – BELIEVE on His Son!  What great love that is!

Why does God love human beings to that degree?  Because love is God’s very nature. The Bible tells us, “God is love.”  God really does love you!

(If you want to see a small glimpse into the magnificent  handiwork of God Almighty, our heavenly Father, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, check out the  pictures in the article, In The Beginning.)
Mike Verdicchio
2024

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THE LAST SUPPER

Jesus Christ’s Final Hours Before His Arrest

I thought it might be timely, so I  recently posted a five minute podcast titled, The Last Supper.

Back in March of this year I did a teaching (35 minutes) titled, The Last Supper.

Below are the links to both.

Of course it would be well worth your time to read the accounts in all four Gospels of the great event we refer to as, “The Last Supper.”

What a wonderful savior we have – the Lord Jesus Christ! 

His Word Podcast #172: The Last Supper
Sunday, March 17, 2024 teaching: The Last Supper

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MY COUNTRY ‘TIS OF THEE

Independence Day 2024

Independence Day 2024!

This year, as we once again celebrate Independence Day, this post has a song,
an article,
and some quotes. 

The words for the song “America” (My Country ‘Tis of Thee) were written by Samuel Francis Smith in 1831, but the melody is much older and has been used for songs in many countries.

It was first sung in public on July 4, 1831, at a children’s concert at the Park Street Church, Boston, and published in 1832. In the video below, the song is sung by the United States Army Field Band. The words to the song are below this video. Enjoy!

America” (My Country ‘Tis of Thee
My country, ’tis of Thee,
Sweet Land of Liberty
Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims’ pride,
From every mountain side
Let Freedom ring.
My native country, thee,
Land of the noble free,
Thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and templed hills;
My heart with rapture thrills,
Like that above.

Let music swell the breeze,
And ring from all the trees
Sweet freedom’s song;
Let mortal tongues awake;
Let all that breathe partake;
Let rocks their silence break,
The sound prolong.

Our fathers’ God to Thee,
Author of liberty,
To Thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright,
With freedom’s holy light,
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God our King.

 

We Need God’s Help

Our country more than ever needs a lot of prayer. In these deeply divided and troubling days, we need help from God Almighty. I join many other Christians who continue to ask Him for His help. 

At the end of this short article you will find some quotes from our Founding Fathers. There are some haters of America that diligently seek to find any of their shortcomings, and then, denounce them as evil people, ignoring their love of God and their sacrifices.  

None of us, including the Founding Fathers of the United States of America, are without faults. And who among us, at the end of our lives, or in future days, would like for people to shout out our faults or shortcomings, having only those  define us?  That’s why I’ve included a few quotes after this article.

This Thursday, we here in the United States of America, celebrate our freedom. Independence was formally declared on July 2, 1776, On July 4, 1776, Congress approved the final text of the Declaration of Indepedence.

It is a time for celebration! John Adams wrote, “I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty; it ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”

What followed was a brutal 8 ½ year war with England. After the Revolutionary War ended, in 1783, before the official Constitution was finally ratified in 1791, The Bill of Rights was added – the first ten amendments. This was adopted to place specific limits on government power. It was seen as very necessary to safeguard individual liberty.

In later years, John Adams would write, “Posterity! you will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in Heaven that I ever took half the pains to preserve it.”

The United States is not and has not been a “perfect country.” We can, and we are still improving, “in order to form a perfect union.” With God’s help, and only with His help, the rampant ungodly ideologies permeating our society can be stopped. I encourage you to pray every day for our beloved country. With God’s help, we can get through all the problems facing our nation.
Mike Verdicchio 2024

Some quotes you may have not read…

While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished character of Christian.  George Washington

God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever.  Thomas Jefferson

Suppose a nation in some distant Region should take the Bible for their only law Book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited! Every member would be obliged in conscience, to temperance, frugality, and industry; to justice, kindness, and charity towards his fellow men; and to piety, love, and reverence toward Almighty God … What a Eutopia, what a Paradise would this region be.  John Adams

Resistance to tyranny becomes the Christian and social duty of each individual. … Continue steadfast and, with a proper sense of your dependence on God, nobly defend those rights which heaven gave, and no man ought to take from us.
John Hancock

Here is my Creed. I believe in one God, the Creator of the Universe. That He governs it by His Providence. That He ought to be worshiped.
Benjamin Franklin

And as it is our duty to extend our wishes to the happiness of the great family of man, I conceive that we cannot better express ourselves than by humbly supplicating the Supreme Ruler of the world that the rod of tyrants may be broken to pieces, and the oppressed made free again; that wars may cease in all the earth, and that the confusions that are and have been among nations may be overruled by promoting and speedily bringing on that holy and happy period when the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ may be everywhere established, and all people everywhere willingly bow to the sceptre of Him who is Prince of Peace.
Samuel Adams

I do declare to the whole world that we believe the Scriptures to contain a declaration of the mind and will of God in and to those ages in which they were written; being given forth by the Holy Ghost moving in the hearts of holy men of God; that they ought also to be read, believed, and fulfilled in our day; being used for reproof and instruction, that the man of God may be perfect. They are a declaration and testimony of heavenly things themselves, and, as such, we carry a high respect for them. We accept them as the words of God Himself.
William Penn

The Bible … is a book worth more than all the other books that were ever printed.
Patrick Henry

By conveying the Bible to people thus circumstanced, we certainly do them a most interesting kindness. We thereby enable them to learn that man was originally created and placed in a state of happiness, but, becoming disobedient, was subjected to the degradation and evils which he and his posterity have since experienced. The Bible will also inform them that our gracious Creator has provided for us a Redeemer, in whom all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; that this Redeemer has made atonement ‘for the sins of the whole world,’ and thereby reconciling the Divine justice with the Divine mercy has opened a way for our redemption and salvation; and that these inestimable benefits are of the free gift and grace of God, not of our deserving, nor in our power to deserve.
John Jay

And here’s one from a Founding Father’s son, who was the sixth president of the United States.

The hope of a Christian is inseparable from his faith. Whoever believes in the divine inspiration of the Holy Scriptures must hope that the religion of Jesus shall prevail throughout the earth. Never since the foundation of the world have the prospects of mankind been more encouraging to that hope than they appear to be at the present time. And may the associated distribution of the Bible proceed and prosper till the Lord shall have made ‘bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God’ (Isaiah 52:10).
John Quincy Adams

 

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FATHER’S DAY 2024

Happy Father's Day Dads!

Happy Father’s Day, Dads!

Here is both the and the transcript from a His Word podcast, titled, “Who Is The Father?”

Some people say we are all God’s children. Is that true?  In this short podcast (4:03), I shared a tremendous truth about who “the Father” is.


Transcript:
Welcome to His Word – short podcasts about what God has to say about topics you might be interested in – not my words, but His Word.  Today’s podcast: Who is the Father?

If you’re even a little bit familiar with His Word,  the Bible, you probably notice that in the Old Testament, God almighty is referred to as God, or the Lord God. Like in the very first verse of the Bible, in the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth.

However in the New Testament we see God many many times referred to as Father. That is something you don’t see in the Old Testament but you do see quite often in the New Testament.

In reading the Gospels, Jesus Christ many times referred to God Almighty, the Creator of the heavens and the Earth, as Father. He said things like, “my Father, the Father, your Father” and so on. He introduced to the world that God almighty could be called Father.

In the New Testament, for those who are born again,  His Word often speaks of God being our Father. Now one might ask, is this figurative, or is it literal? Is God really our Father, literally?

There are some who teach that we are all God’s children, all the people on earth are God’s children and therefore God is Father to all of us.  But His Word does not agree with that.

In a previous podcast, #4, I mentioned a discussion Jesus had with a religious leader named Nicodemus.  Jesus told him plainly that unless a person gets born again they cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven. Jesus said, “you must be born again.”

In the Epistles of Peter, His Word speaks of the believers as being begotten of God, and, being born again of incorruptible seed. When a person gets saved, or born again, at that moment, God becomes your Father, literally – you are saved, you are born again.  And God made that so easy – confess or acknowledge the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, and His Word says, you shall be saved!  You have eternal life, you are born again and God is now literally your Father.

That’s why in a number of places in the New Testament, His Word speaks about those who believe in Jesus, those who are born again, that God is our Father.  And His Word also says, obviously,  we in turn are His children, children of God, sons and daughters of the Most High God!  What an awesome privilege!

So, who is the Father?  For those who are born again, the Creator of the heavens and the earth is literally our Father.  And His Word says we, His children, now have access to the Father.

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For more His Word podcasts, Click Here. From that page you can access all of them, and find links to share individual ones with someone else.  There’s also a list of platforms you can use to subscribe, and it’s free. Please note: Due to my recent move, I’m still in the process of getting my recording area situated. Hopefully more new His Word podcasts will be coming soon.

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MEMORIAL DAY 2024

Today is Memorial Day. I am reposting 3 very moving videos.

Sometimes people get confused. Veterans Day, which is in November, is when we remember every military person who served our country, at any time, in any capacity.  Memorial Day, formerly known as, “Decoration Day,” commemorates the men and women who died while in military service to the United States.

It began as a way to honor both Union and Confederate soldiers following the devastating and bloody American Civil War.  After World War I it was extended,  to honor all American military who died in all wars; we remember those who gave their life in service to our country.

Congress actually established an exact minute of remembrance. The National Moment of Remembrance Act, adopted in December of 2000, encourages every citizen to pause each Memorial Day at 3:00 p.m. local time to remember the brave men and women who died serving this country.

Thank God for the freedoms and liberty we still have in this country, because over the years so many gave their lives.  But it is still up to each generation to protect and preserve the freedoms we enjoy.  Pray for our country, for those in government positions, to make godly decisions that which will insure our liberties and freedoms to continue.

If you don’t live here in the United States, take some time to pause and pray for God’s help and blessings on your country.

And, regardless of where we live, how very, very thankful we are for the greatest ultimate sacrifice ever;  our Lord Jesus Christ gave his life so we could have eternal life – the ultimate freedom – freedom from death itself!

Below are 3 very moving videos that help put this remembrance into perspective.

 THANK YOU!

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PENTECOST 2024

The Significance of that Momentous Occasion!

This year, on Sunday, May 19, Christians around the world celebrate Pentecost, remembering the events recorded in Chapter 2 of the book of Acts.

Jesus specifically spoke about this momentous occasion right before he ascended.   Yet, many Christians don’t understand the great significance of what took place eight days later.

But with a right understanding of God’s Word it becomes clear that event was the greatest event to date in the history of mankind! What happened on that day, recorded in Acts Chapter 2, is a not just a big deal; it’s a really, really big deal!

What Happened In The Garden?

In order to gain a greater appreciation of what occurred on the Day of Pentecost recorded in Acts 2, one needs to understand what happened with Adam and Eve in the Garden. God had told Adam not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and if he did, he would surely die. If you’re familiar with the record in Genesis 2 and 3 then you know both Adam and Eve ate of that fruit.

God had said, “for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die,” meaning that very day. Yet, if you continue reading, they both lived for many, many years. Was God wrong?

Genesis 1 and 2 describe how God

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IT WOULD HAVE BEEN #53

Remembering My Kathy

Today, May 8th, would have been our 53rd wedding anniversary. 

On this occasion, I am spending some quiet time. But I thought it might be a blessing for you to hear a teaching my Kathy did a number of years ago at a Women’s Advance in 2007.

 


I Thessalonians 4:13-18
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

 

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JESUS CHRIST IS ALIVE!

God Raised Jesus Christ From the Dead and He's Coming Back!

Jesus Christ is alive! God raised him from the dead! And he is coming back!

This Sunday, March 31, Christians around the world will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  God raised him from the dead.  The Bible is very clear that after his resurrection, he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God – he is God’s right hand man!

God has put all things (Himself excluded of course) under Jesus Christ. He is the head of the Body. He is lord of all people who have lived. He is our Lord and Savior!  It is only through believing in Jesus Christ that a person can gain salvation.

Romans 10:9
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

I Timothy 2:4 and 5
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

It is stunning and remarkable when you consider that Jesus Christ did not establish an institution of higher learning, and yet all the schools of all times could never measure even close to his number of students. 

All the rulers who ever reigned, all the government bodies that ever sat, and all the military campaigns ever engaged, have not affected the life of mankind as powerfully and dynamically as Jesus Christ.

The Bible declares he was the Son of God who always did the Father’s will.  In his earthly life he carried out and completed God’s great plan of redemption and salvation.  One of the last things he said before laying down his life for all of mankind was, “It is finished!” 

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WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU?

Reposting a Short Video I Did Awhile Back

Here’s a “blast from the past.”  I did this video a number of years ago.  It’s still true for me, and I hope for you too!

There are lots of things in life that are important. Some more than others. But what is most important to you?

The video below is from my YouTube channel.

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