2
INSIDE THIS ISSUE From Pastor Bill by Pastor Bill Shults
4
Growing in Grace By Pastor Bill Shults The Hanukkah Miracle: Fact or Fiction? By Evangelist Kelly McDonald, Jr. An Authentic Faith By Evangelist Kelly McDonald, Jr. Mount Ebal and Tel Dan By Elder Joe Perry Sabbath Meditation: Dominion of God and the Dominion of Man
5 7 12 13
16
By Evangelist Kelly McDonald, Jr.
Pursuit Magazine is published for FREE Distribution in the Public Interest. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without permission. All rights reserved. Owner: Bill Shults
Editor: Evangelist Kelly McDonald, Jr.
Cover and Graphics Designer: Deaconess Michelle Loncar Contributors: Pastor Bill Shults, Evangelist Kelly McDonald, Jr. and Elder Joe Perry Pursuit Magazine is printed at Allegra Print Imaging, Jackson, TN and is published quarterly by Hungry Hearts Ministries. PO Box 10334 Jackson, TN 38308 hungryheartsmin@aol.com (731) 736-1055 www.hungryheartsministry.com 3
From Pastor Bill Thanksgiving is my favorite time of year. The weather is still nice. The heat is gone, the leaves on the trees are brilliant and we’re about to eat. I love the holiday. I love the food that goes with the holiday. I love enjoying the day with my family. Thanksgiving has been my favorite holiday for a long time.
in these United States to get by with thanklessness towards God. Many in America profess to be Christians, even though that number is the lowest in many generations. No Christian in America can afford to be thankless towards God. Our nation is in peril from within. The rise of agnosticism and the accompanying rise of sin that goes with it are putting our nation at risk. God will not look the other way forever. We, who still believe, need to step in and thank the mighty God for His mercy, His grace and His favor towards us who still believe. We can never be thankful enough to the True and Living God.
Lanice and I are empty nesters now, so it is a lot different. Sometimes we get to be with family and sometimes not. Nonetheless it is still my favorite holiday. There is just something about the name Thanksgiving. It is ever so easy to get caught up in the race of life to forget to give thanks. Obviously we need to give thanks to God for everything. But, we also need to thank everyone else around us. It is too easy to forget to thank those who help us everyday in so many ways. We all need to hear it. We all respond well to it.
The people of God who are left in this country have a big impact on God. We are His people. We need to demonstrate our gratitude towards Him by keeping His Commandments. We need to let Him know how much we love Him with our deeds by obeying His Word. And, let Him know how much we love Him with our mouths by telling Him “Thank You.” Thanking the Lord for all of the great things that He does in our lives is a great way to let this Thanksgiving have a real impact in our lives.
The human need to be important is one of the strongest needs within our selves. Saying thanks lessens this need in an easy and simple way. We all want to contribute something useful and receiving a “thanks” for something we do helps us to realize our usefulness. Saying “thank you” also helps to smooth out the rough patches in life. It is one of those little Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. We’re empty nesters, so I don’t know where I’ll be, or with things which we can do to ease life along. whom. I do know this: I will be thankful to God How much does God do for each and every one of Almighty for such a stupendous year. I will thank us every day? Who deserves the greatest thanks of Him personally in prayer. I will be thankful for the all? We can easily see the biggest things: life, Hungry Hearts Churches. I will be thankful for each breath, food, shelter, family, etc. What about the and every reader of Pursuit Magazine. I will be hidden things? How about things like favor at work? thankful for each and every subscriber of Pursuit Resolving disputes among friends? Healing fami- Magazine. Most importantly, I will be profoundly lies? Healing real wounds? Learning how to be thankful that when I was a sinner, Jesus Christ came grateful is something most of us need to do. Most to save me. especially we need to learn how to be grateful towards God. We talk about it at Thanksgiving, but God Bless. it is something we need to think about all year long.
Bill Shults
Many call Thanksgiving “turkey day.” Thanksgiving was started by George Washington to thank God because the USA survived the Revolutionary War. We failed to keep it. Abraham Lincoln brought it back during the Civil War and Franklin Roosevelt brought it back for good during WWII. Americans have difficulty in sticking with Thanksgiving. The flaw in our American character is in saying “thanks.” If we were living right with God in America, we might get away with it. This is no time
Bill Shults is the Pastor of Hungry Hearts Ministries. He also oversees the churches in Jackson, Cookeville and Murfreesboro TN and Corinth MS. Bill was baptized in the World Wide Church of God in 1986. He has remained faithful to the Truth ever since. Bill has also written eleven books on how to have a closer walk with Jesus Christ.
4
We need grace. It is often misunderstood, but never duplicated. I have spent years teaching the brethren to do their due diligence in confronting their personal sins. Due diligence, taking a realistic view of how we behave, is crucial to attain repentance from sin. Today I want to focus you on the Grace, Mercy and Forgiveness of Jesus Christ. Your Repentance is how to access His grace. However, it is the grace I want to talk about. “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:13). We can enter into the Manifest Presence of Jesus Christ because of His grace. It is grace that allows our worship to be accepted. I teach over and over again that we must perfect bodily holiness, because the Bible teaches that, but it is the grace that allows us to enter in. I taught many years ago on Covenant Love. It is the covenant that opens Heaven’s doors. Are you in covenant with Jesus Christ? Do you know its terms? Do you know what you are required to do under His Covenant? Do you know what He will do for you?
who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments” (Exo. 20:5-6). He gives to those outside of His covenant, Justice; to those within His Covenant, love and mercy.
Chesed means unfailing covenant love. When we enter into covenant with Him, He will never fail you, no matter what we do, as long as we return to Him, He will deliver us. “Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself” (2 Tim. 2:11-13). He will remain faithful; therefore, we must continually return to living by the Bible, so that we may stand in Grace. “Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.” “Praise be to the LORD, for he showed his wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city” (Psalm 31:16, 21). When we fail Him, He will not fail us. Grace is all about Him: His strength, His Love, His wisdom, His Justice. We must return to Grace does not nullify your requirements under His the Bible because that is our agreement in His Covenant; Grace is His obligation to you under His Covenant. It is not “works,” it is the terms of our Covenant. Many fail to achieve grace, because they covenant. are taught to sin to prove His grace. You must loose the sin in your life to attain His grace. “What shall Breaking His Law represents a repudiation of the we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace Covenant. Grace is His demonstration of love to us. may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how Grace is His provision for our weakness. Living by the Bible is how we show our love to Him. “If you can we live in it any longer?” (Rom. 6:1-2). love me, you will obey what I command.” “Whoever The Hebrew word for grace is chesed. “And he has my commands and obeys them, he is the one passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The LORD, who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, Father, and I too will love him and show myself to slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, him” (John 14:15, 21). maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the their children for the sin of the fathers to the third One and Only, who came from the Father, full of and fourth generation’” (Exo. 34:6-7). Chesed is grace and truth. John testifies concerning him. He covenant love. To enter into the Saving Grace of cries out, saying, ‘This was he of whom I said, He Yeshua Messiah, you have to enter into Covenant who comes after me has surpassed me because he with Him. Love, mercy, kindness and grace are was before me.’ From the fullness of his grace we available to those who enter into covenant with Him. have all received one blessing after another. For the To those outside of the covenant, covenant love law was given through Moses; grace and truth came requires punishment to the third and fourth through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but generations. “You shall not bow down to them or God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a has made him known” (John 1:14-18). Grace is His jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the Chesed towards us to make up for our failure. The fathers to the third and fourth generation of those Greek word for grace is Charis, which is the state of (Continued on page 6)
5
kindness and favor toward someone with the focus faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, on a benefit to be given. locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might There is a benefit to be given as a result of having be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are grace. The gifts of that grace are called charisma in no longer under the supervision of the law” (Gal. the Greek; we know them as the gifts of the Holy 3:21-25). Grace without Living by the Bible is a Spirit. It is more than unfailing love, it is unfailing license to Sin, and it has openly been interpreted that covenant love with a benefit to be given as a result of way by some churches. But every New Testament the covenant love. “But now a righteousness from writer asked the rhetorical question, “should we sin God, apart from law, has been made known, to that grace may abound,” they all answered God which the Law and the Prophets testify. This Forbid! righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for Many sin to prove they have grace and thereby all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, renounce their covenant with Jesus. Grace under and are justified freely by his grace through the God’s law leads us to repentance, which brings us to redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ. “In the same way, count yourselves dead to him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its in his forbearance he had left the sins committed evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer justice at the present time, so as to be just and the yourselves to God, as those who have been brought one who justifies those who have faith in from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to Jesus” (Rom. 3:21-26). The sacrifice of atonement him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not has been presented for those people who are in be your master, because you are not under law, but Covenant with the Living God, and for those who under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are will enter into that covenant with the Living God. not under law but under grace? By no means! Don't The atonement is for those in covenant, are you in you know that when you offer yourselves to covenant? Do you want to be? These are the last someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the days, don’t delay. one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to You can’t prove the Grace of Yeshua Messiah with righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though leniency towards God’s Law. You prove the Grace you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly of Yeshua Messiah by your proficiency in the gifts obeyed the form of teaching to which you were of the Spirit. The Greek word for gifts of the Spirit is entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have charisma. Which means gracious gift, or gifts of become slaves to righteousness (Rom. 6:11-18). Grace. Living by the Bible is our obligation under Covenant. Living by the Bible is how we show our The more that we understand covenant love and our love to Jesus. Grace is His unfailing love with a part in His covenant, the more that we can appreciate focus on the gifts of the Spirit we receive. Our use of His Grace. And, the more that we will desire to the Spiritual Gifts is the demonstration of our faith, become proficient in His Gifts. Neither Grace, nor discernment, and understanding of His Grace. The the Gifts of the Spirit are in conflict with God’s Law. gifts of the Spirit are also a demonstration of His Rather, they compliment each other and build on gracious favor in our lives. each other to bring each Believer into the fullness of the maturity in Christ. We can’t find our own way to Christ; we must come to Him according to the instructions in the Holy “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be Bible, all of it from Genesis to Maps. Playing in the prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be Grace while we sin will never get us to Christ, pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for because we lack the required repentance. “Is the law, works of service, so that the body of Christ may be therefore, opposed to the promises of God? built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, could impart life, then righteousness would certainly attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of have come by the law. But the Scripture declares that Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was back and forth by the waves, and blown here and promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning might be given to those who believe. Before this (Continued on page 15) 6
When we think about the Hanukah celebration, we tend to think about God’s miraculous work for the Jewish people. It is a historical account filled with amazing plot lines that we can learn many lessons from today. However, there is one event in the Hanukkah account that may or may not have happened. It involves the relighting of the menorah.
Antiochus’ defilement. They cleansed it of impurities and prepared it to be used for God’s purposes once again.
As part of rededicating the Temple, they had to relight the menorah. According to Jewish legend, they only found one container of pure oil that had not been defiled. The story goes on to say that they lit We will begin with a brief overview of the historical the menorah on faith and this one container of oil details leading up to the Hanukkah miracle. In 175 lasted eight days (the entire time of the rededicaBC, there was a Greek king named Antiochus IV tion). This event is called the Hanukkah miracle. who ruled over the Seleucid Kingdom. At this time, his kingdom spanned from modern-day Syria to near When we read about Hanukkah and the revolt India. It went as far south as the border of Egypt. against the Greeks, the legend of the menorah being Antiochus was not content with this massive territo- rekindled is usually given a prominent place. Some say that the miracle of the oil did not actually hapry; he sought to conquer Egypt as well. pen. For some reason, modern people do not place He tried twice, but failed both times. The second as much emphasis on the military victories – which failure occurred in 168. The Romans decided to pro- were miracles of themselves. In this article, we will tect Egypt and opposed his expansion. Antiochus review the historicity of the Hanukkah miracle. The made extensive preparations for this expedition and term historicity refers to the historical legitimacy of was determined to conquer something. Since he was an event. In other words, did it really happen? Andeterred from Egypt, he turned his fury towards the other question we hope to answer: why are the miliJewish people and especially the city of Jerusalem. tary victories not as emphasized by people today when we discuss Hanukkah? Initially, Antiochus and his forces approached Jerusalem under a banner of peace. When the army en- Let’s start by examining the primary sources nearest tered the city, they began to slaughter innocent peo- the event. A primary source is a person, artifact, or ple and even sold them into slavery. As part of his some historical record that is contemporary to the desecration, he invaded the Temple precincts. He time period we are considering. erected a temple of Zeus and sacrificed a pig on God’s altar. The pig’s blood was spread inside the The first book of Maccabees was written about the Temple. Whole sections of the city were desecrated. time that the events surrounding the Hanukah story occurred. This book describes the invasion of the The Jewish people did not remain silent. Antiochus Greeks, the courageous resistance of the Jewish peosent his henchmen into the country side to compel ple, and their victory. In it, the re-lighting of the meJewish people to sacrifice to the Greek gods and eat norah is told. unclean animals. Among the first men to resist this apostasy was Judeas Maccabeus. He refused to com- “They burned incense on the altar and lighted lamps promise his beliefs and fought back. He led a group on the lampstand, and these gave light in the Temple” (1 Maccabees 4:50). The re-lighting of the Methat would later become called the Maccabees. norah is recounted as a significant event in the reThe Jewish people fought valiantly despite being dedication of the Temple. This account also menserious disadvantages. They were outnumbered, had tions how the menorah and altar of incense brought inferior equipment and had a lack of military train- light to the Temple. Thus, the light emanating from ing compared to their Greek counterparts. Despite the menorah (and the altar of incense) is a central these apparent deficits, the Jewish people won victo- theme of the rededication. However, there is no ry after victory. It was truly miraculous how God mention that there was a lack of oil for the menorah came through for His people. or that it burned eight days on a one-day supply. After three years of intense fighting, the Jewish peo- Another historical work completed after the Hanukple regained control of the Temple area. Once this kah story is called the second book of Maccabees. happened, they immediately sought to purify it from The name for this work can be a little deceiving. It is 7
commonly called the second book of Maccabees, but it was a summary of a five volume series written by Jason of Cyrene (2 Maccabees 2:19-25). The writer described the “mass of material” available in these volumes. These five volumes recounted the story of Judas Maccabeus and the rededication of the Temple. Second Maccabees mentions the relighting of the menorah (2 Macc. 10:3). It does not mention the Hanukkah miracle. The five volumes by Jason might have contained more details about the lightning of the menorah. Unfortunately, these volumes have been lost.
Another very important point to consider in this discussion is the following: how many people would have actually been around to view any miracle inside the temple? Only priests could enter the Temple. The writer of 1 Maccabees may not have had access to testimonies about those who witnessed it (if it actually happened). As aforementioned, we do not have the five volumes written by Jason.
The main sources that discuss any miracle of oil come later. The Babylonian Talmud was written between 200 and 500 AD. In it, we read about the miracle. This is hundreds of years after the event The next credible source describing these events actually happened. comes from Josephus, a first century AD source. His account follows first Maccabees pretty closely. He “…When the Greeks entered the sanctuary they dementions no miracles, but he does mention the me- filed all the oils that were in the Sanctuary by touchnorah being rekindled. At the same time, the other ing them. And when the Hasmonean monarchy overcame them and emerged victorious over them, furniture pieces are also mentioned. they searched and found only one cruse of oil that “…they lighted the lamps that were on the candle- was placed with the seal of the High Priest, undisstick, and offered incense upon the altar of incense, turbed by the Greeks. And there was sufficient oil and laid the loaves upon the table of showbread, and there to light the candelabrum for only one day. A offered burnt offerings upon the new altar of burnt- miracle occurred and they lit the candelabrum from offering...Nay, they were so very glad at the revival it eight days. The next year the sages instituted those of their customs, when, after a long intermission, days and made them holidays with recitation of halthey unexpectly had regained the freedom of their lel and special thanksgiving in prayer and blessworship, that they made it a law for their posterity, ing” (Shabbat 21b). that they should keep a festival on account of the restoration of their temple worship for eight days. How reliable is a document that recorded an event And from that time to this we celebrate this festival hundreds of years after it happened? First of all, we and call it “Lights”. I suppose the reason was, be- do not know all the documents the writers of the cause this liberty beyond all Hopes appeared to us; Talmud used to compile their books. Wars, natural and that thence was the name given to that disasters, and time caused documents to be lost (such as Jason’s five volumes). festival” (Antiquities, Book 12, Chapter 7) This is a fascinating statement. Did Josephus know Secondly, consider another example. The Torah was more than what he disclosed? He calls this festival given to Moses around 1500 BC, but the earliest the festival of lights, but gives no reason as to why it manuscripts we have date to approximately 700 BC should be called that. The Greek word translated as (800 years later). This does not diminish the content lights in this passage literally means illumination – of the Torah. Third, there are other historical details as emanating from a light source. His statement in- in the Talmud that are accurate. dicates he may not have been completely convinced “…forty years prior to the destruction of the Second how the name “Festival of Lights” was conceived. Temple, the lot for God did not arise in the High Josephus, 1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees are the Priest’s right hand at all. So too, the strip of crimson primary sources closest to the Hanukkah story. The wool that was tied to the head of the goat that was menorah being relit was obviously an important part sent to Azazel did not turn white, and the westernof reclaiming the Temple. It is recalled by all of most lamp of the candelabrum did not burn continuthem. If some kind of miracle occurred regarding ally. And the doors of the Sanctuary opened by the menorah (or any other Temple furniture piece), themselves as a sign that they would soon be opened maybe these authors did not know about it or chose by enemies. …” (Talmud Bavli, Yoma 39b) to leave it out. The fact that they had freedom from The Temple was destroyed in 70 AD. 40 years prior the Greeks seems to be of the upmost importance. would have been 30 AD. This was approximately The Jewish people gained control of their own the same year Jesus (Yeshua) was on earth or about destiny. the year He died. It would make sense to have these 8
disturbances around that time. When the crimson stripe turned white on Atonement, this was seen as a sign of God’s forgiveness. Jesus said all the blood of the righteous would fall on the generation that rejected Him (Matthew 23:35). They took that blood on themselves.
tion the great military victories with a minor focus on the Temple furniture. Perhaps the long-term fruit of the Maccabee revolt will guide us towards resolving some of the issues between sources closer to the event and those that are farther away.
Fourth, by the time the Talmud was written, the practice of lighting a menorah to honor Hanukkah was deeply entrenched in its celebration. It was so widely practiced that it was recorded as a necessary tradition. For instance, if you only had enough money for Shabbat wine or oil during Hanukkah, you would buy the oil (Shabbat 23b, Raba). Having a Hanukkah lamp ignited was of utmost importance. It became a requirement among Jewish people. Such a practice does not develop overnight. It takes time for such a custom to become so entrenched that it is viewed as a requirement.
The Temple was rededicated around 165 BC. Good things seemed to be happening. In 142 BC, Simon was proclaimed the leader and high priest of the Jewish people forever until a faithful prophet should arise. Just three years later, the Roman Senate recognized their dynasty. Regrettably, these good times did not last. Simon was murdered in 135. John Hyrcanus then became the ruler until 104. He wanted to make his wife queen after his death and his oldest son, Aristobulus, the high priest. Aristobulus did not like this plan. Thus, after his father’s death, he cast his mother and other brothers in prison. His mother starved to death; he later put one of his brothers, Antigonus, to death. He died about one year after becoming king.
The Talmud also contains a lot of commentary on the schools of Hillel and Shammai, which we know existed in the last century BC/first century AD. Between the two schools, there was even a difference as it relates to Hanukkah. The school of Shammai lit eight candles on the first day of Hanukkah and then decreased the amount of candles by one each day. The school of Hillel started with one candle and increased the amount of candles each day by one (Shabbat, 21b). There are historically accurate details in the Talmud that give it a degree of accuracy.
From 103 to 76, Alexander Jannaeus, a different son of John Hyrcanus, ruled. After his death, his wife Alexandra became queen for a short time. After her reign, a civil war raged across Judea. It was so bad that the Roman general Pompey eventually got involved in the conflict and put the country of Judea One last source we will consider is a document under Roman supervision. They lost their political called The Scroll of Antiochus. It is a possible pri- freedoms and were forced to pay tribute. mary source, but it has problems. It records military From 63-40 BC, Hyrcanus II supervised the governvictory, but also the miracle of the oil. It has some ment on behalf of the Romans; he was high priest. historical inaccuracies, but other correct details. The Parthians briefly conquered the Promised Land The main problem with this scroll is that scholars around 40. They proclaimed Antigonus as king and debate the time period in which it was written. The high priest over Judea; he would be the last of the dates range from the 1st century through the 11th cen- Hasmonean rulers. For the next three years, there tury AD. This is a pretty large discrepancy. The ma- was contention as Herod, the pro-Roman antagonist, jority of scholars settle for a 5th century to 7th centu- fought for control of the throne against Antigonus. ry dating because it is mentioned in other writings Herod eventually gained control of the country in 37 (the Gedolos in 600 AD; Saadia Gaon in the 800s BC. Herod (called the great) became the founder of AD). Nissim b Jacob (around 1000 AD) attributed the Herodian dynasty. The Romans allowed Antigothe scroll on the same level as Scriptural canon. We nus to be put to death; he was the first king the Roknow that in the 1200s, the scroll was read every mans put to death. Hanukkah in Italy. In 66 AD, the Jewish people revolted against the We have given a fair overview of sources that re- Romans. Four years later, they were defeated. The count the Hanukkah story and the possibility of a city of Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed. menorah miracle or a lack thereof. Perhaps it is im- Over a million people either died or were sold as portant to return to our original question: Why was slaves. About 60 years later, the Bar Kokhba revolt the miracle of the oil found in the Talmud and em- began. In the 130s AD, Jerusalem was devastated phasized by later writers? The earliest sources men- again; the Jewish people were banned from the city (Continued on page 17)
9
Deacon Nathan Clifford
Deacon James Loncar, III
Deaconess & Writer Sandy Clifford
Deaconess & Graphics Designer Michelle Loncar
Deaconess Barbara Dickerson
Deaconess & Writer Kasey Perry
Not Pictured: Prophet Jacquie Chippeaux Prophet Jean Collins Deaconess Francis Myers Prophet Lanice Shults
10
Pastor Bill Shults is the Pastor of Hungry Hearts Ministries and he oversees the churches in Jackson, Cookeville and Murfreesboro TN and Corinth MS. He was baptized in the World Wide Church of God in 1986. He has remained faithful to the Truth ever since. He has also written eleven books on how to have a closer walk with Jesus Christ.
Elder Joe Perry is featured speaker at Hungry Hearts Ministries. He and his wife Kasey have attended Hungry Hearts Church of Murfreesboro, TN since October 2011. Joe earned a Bachelor‘s degree in History from John Carroll University and has a Master‘s degree in American History from Louisiana State University.
11
Evangelist Kelly McDonald, Jr. is an ordained Evangelist at Hungry Hearts Ministries in Jackson, TN. Kelly has written for several magazines and online blogs over the years. Additionally, he has authored a combined total of 40 books and booklets on pursuing Jesus Christ. Presently, Kelly serves as President of the Bible Sabbath Association (BSA). He has been preaching since 2007 and is available to speak at your church upon request to hungryheartsmin@aol.com
As we read the Hanukkah story, we learn an important lesson about authentic faith. In the events leading up to the story, there was the struggle between the Hellenized Jewish people and those who wanted to be loyal to God. The Hellenized Jewish people compromised obedience to the commandments of God to please Greek rulers such as Antiochus. They wanted gifts and positions of authority. When Antiochus came to power, the authenticity of each person was tested. Each person had to choose whether they were going to support the pagan practices of Antiochus or stay faithful to God. Those who were going through the motions when times were good compromised when this national trial arrived. They did not have an authentic faith. Mattathias was offered fame and fortune if he would compromise (1 Maccabees 2:15-26). He chose to stand and suffer for God’s name rather than betray His faithful God.
knew them. They ministered to us, prayed for us, cried with us, and fought the battles of life with us. We look up to them. While we have heroes of the faith—whether from the Bible, history, or the present—we also must have our own personal faith in God. This means that we spend time seeking God for His will in our own lives. When someone asks you a question about your faith or the Bible, does your answer sound like the following: “Because my father says so;” “Because my favorite preacher said it was true;” or “Because someone from history believed the same way.”
When we have answers like this, it makes us sound insincere. Do you know why you believe a certain way? Are you just imitating someone else or following an organizational command? Do you go through the motions because you were raised to behave a certain way? Do you compromise when the situation is convenient like the Hellenized Jewish people from “And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall the Hanukkah story? he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits” (Dan. It is still important to honor and respect others who 11:32). Flattery will seduce people who have wick- encourage you in the faith. At the same time, you edness in their hearts. People that genuinely know need to have an authentic faith. Paul said, “…for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that God will stand for Him and do exploits. He is able to keep what I have committed to Him What does it mean to have an authentic faith? In the until that Day” (2 Tim. 1:12b, NKJV). Paul was perBible and history, we find many heroes of faith. suaded because He knew God for himself. Hebrews chapter 11 has a list of them from the Old Testament, including Gideon and David. In the New Heroes of the present and past can certainly encourTestament, Paul, Peter, and others inspire us to age, inspire, and teach us. But their example is to pursue God. When we study Christian history, there encourage us in our own genuine faith in God. Their are a number of men and women who have set a faith cannot take the place of our own. Take the time tremendous example of faith such as Polycarp and to study the Bible and pray to be convinced and persuaded like Paul. Serve in your local church. In the Wycliffe. process of developing an authentic faith, let us Over the years, I have heard people compare them- remember that the end result is the example of Jesus selves or others to people from the Bible or history. Christ. No one else can exceed His perfect life. David is a common comparison. He fought many battles for the Lord and displayed courageousness in the face of peril. He is even called a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). Keep in mind David also made serious mistakes. One reason why we connect with heroes of the past is because they fell short as we do. There are also heroes of today—people from our own lives that have made an impact on our walk with God. This can include, but are not limited to, a pastor, fellow church member, or family member. These individuals are dear to our hearts because we 12
“And all Israel... stood...half of them in front of mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount EBAL,...that they should bless the people of Israel” (Deut. 8:33).
erately laid layers of field stones, earth and ashes layered one on top of the other. There were pottery pieces in the earth and ashes as well as animal bones. An analysis of the bones determined that they had been burnt in open flame fires and came from “Then Joshua built an altar unto Adonai, the God of young male bulls, sheep, goats and deer. All but the Israel, in Mount Ebal” (Deut. 8:30). latter are described in Leviticus as being acceptable In recent decades, one of the more amazing finds sacrifices. made in Biblical archaeology is the discovery of Attached to the structure were two adjacent stoneJoshua’s altar on Mount Ebal. It is one of the oldest paved courtyards. There were stone built installaHebrew sites ever found! tions in the courtyards. They contained either ashes Archaeologist Adam Zertal was not actually looking and bones or intact pottery vessels, but never both. for the altar when he chanced upon the site. He was There is also a ramp leading up to the top of the actually conducting an archaeological survey of the main structure. There is also a low wall that area inhabited by the tribe of Manasseh which surrounds the entire area. A gateway through the includes Mt. Ebal. This was a 12 year survey which wall has also been unearthed. The entrance is well paved with large, flat stones. It was the first time an began in 1978. Joshua’s altar was found in 1980. entranceway like this had ever been found in Israel. While exploring Ebal, Zertal and his colleagues came upon a large heap of stones. What made one Although bones and pottery make up the vast heap stand out was the large quantity of pottery majority of artifacts found at this location, the shreds around it. When the pottery shreds were dated archaeologists also turned up two 13th century it turned out they were from the period archaeolo- scarabs from the reign of Ramses II. What they were gists call Iron Age I (1220-1000 B.C.). It was in this doing at an Israelite religious site remains a mystery. era that the Israelites entered the Promised Land and It is evident that large assemblies and ceremonies it also includes the time of the Judges. Interestingly, could be held at this place. All indications are that this was the only Iron Age site discovered on Mt. Adam Zertal and his crew have found a sacred cenEbal. There were other sites but none of them were ter on Mount Ebal. Although some archaeologists occupied during the Iron Age. The heap of stones dispute the findings, Zertal and others are convinced was located on the northeast side of Mt. Ebal on a they have found Joshua’s altar on Mt. Ebal. low ridge. Over a three-year period Zertal and his team of volunteers excavated the site. Here is what Tel Dan they found. “...For the children of Dan went up and fought The central feature was found under the stone pile. It against Leshem, and took it, and smoke it with the is a rectangular, almost square structure. Today it edge of the sword, and possessed it and dwelt stands almost nine feet tall, and Zertal believes that therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of is close to its original height. Large, natural field Dan their father” (Josh. 19:47). stones make up the walls of the structure. They were unhewn, which means they had not been polished or “And he set the one in Beth-el, and the other put he shaped by human instruments. It measures 24 1/2 by in Dan. And this thing became a sin; for the people 29 1/2 feet. It was initially thought to be a farmhouse went to worship before the one even unto Dan” (1 or a watchtower but there was no floor or entrance Kings 12:29-30). which made it different from other farmhouses that The ancient site of the city of Dan has been known have been excavated in Israel. There is really no in modern times since 1838, when the great need for a watchtower because there is no transpor- geographer Edward Robinson first proposed Tell eltation route that in Biblical times went through Qadi, (in Arabic the judge’s mound) as the site of Mount Ebal. that ancient Israelite city. The Israeli government The strangest feature of the structure was the filling. renamed the site Tel Dan. Robinson’s theory was When it was dug up, it was found to consist of delib- supported by potsherds discovered at the site and 13
clinched when in 1976, the inscription “To the God a scarab from the time of Ramses II of Egypt. This who lives in Dan” was found in the excavation. closes out the era of the Canannites. Dan is mentioned many times in the Bible, in particular as the northernmost point of ancient Israel. The city of Leshem or Laish is first noted in Egyptian texts of the 18th century B. C. Pharaoh Thutmose III conquered the city in the 15th century B. C.
The era of the Danite occupation of the site begins about 1250 BC. The earliest stratum has remains that consist of pits used as storage silos. A number of pots, bowls, jugs, and flasks exist from this time frame. On top of this stratum we get stone houses that contain stone and plaster floors with plaster roofs. Among the pottery we now find lamps and The Danites could not drive out the inhabitants of the parts of crucibles used in the manufacture of copper territory that was allotted to them by Moses and objects. Joshua. They subsequently moved north, captured Laish, and renamed it Dan. It remained the northern By far the most the most exciting find at Tel Dan is border of Israel through the reign of Solomon. the discovery by Biran of what he calls Bamah or Jeroboam I set a golden calf there and so Dan “the High Place.” This encompasses more than one became a pagan Celtic center. It was still flourishing stratum or level of the tel. The oldest remains in this as such in the time of Amos (8:14). Although the area is probably where the Danites placed the idol, Bible does not explicitly say so, Dan most likely was ephod and teraphim they took from the tribe of captured by the Assyrians along with the other cities Benjamin, as recounted in the Book of Judges. The of Galilee. stratum above shows destruction. One theory is that Dan may have been destroyed at the same time the Noted archaeologist Abraham Biran first began Philistines devastated Shiloh. leading excavations at Tel Dan in 1966 and was still in charge in the final season of 1986. The ruins are The tel was not abandoned, however. Using the walls located on a large mound, also called a tel. During of the destroyed city, the inhabitants rebuilt. Certain the course of the 20 year excavation Biran and his architectural changes took place, which indicate team were able to conduct extensive digs in a extensive official construction. These activities may number of different areas on the tel. Here is some of be associated with the installation of the golden calf what they uncovered. by Jeroboam I. The foundation was laid for a religious center which was soon expanded greatly. The abundance of Early Bronze Age pottery shards indicate that Laish was a thriving city as early as The bamah or high place consists of a masonry 2700 BC. Among the finds from this time period are structure composed of two courses of large dressed complete storage jars and a complete bone handle. stones that that total an area approximately 75ft x Numbers of shreds from platters, jugs and bowls 26ft. It was destroyed in a violent conflagration were also uncovered. Further finds include an axe, during Ben-hadad’s attack on Dan (I Kings 15:20). some figurines and a score of cylinder seal Evidence that the building was part of a cult center impressions which feature geometric patterns as well includes three large earthenware jars used to store as human and animal figures. All this shows that liquids like wine or food such as grain that had Laish was a large, rich urban center that flourished writhing snakes as a decorative motif. Also until the 24th century BC. unearthed were lamps and incense stand plus an installation Biran believes was used in a water ritual, No remains of a Middle Bronze Age I (2000—1750 as well as a clay bathtub with a shelf. Another bamah BC) city exists but pottery shreds from this time was also discovered in this same stratum. A square period have been found in other areas. On the south structure consisting of large square cut limestones side of the tel archaeologists found a 35 foot high was found surrounded by a yellowish rock floor. rampart but no wall at its top. They did, however Found inside the building were a horned altar, five find the city gate with four towers to on each end and rock steps and a horn from another altar, along with a rooms inside the towers. The gate was approximately figurine of Astarte. Evidence of Dan’s being a center ten feet high. Past the gate, stone steps led to the of Israelite pagan worship abounds! main city street. In the rampart itself seven tombs were discovered which yielded jugs, juglets, bowls, On the southern slopes of the tel, two phases of bone vessels and two scarabs. fortifications were exposed. The first is thought to date to the reign of Jeroboam I. The second consists Remains of the Late Bronze Age (1550-1200 BC) of a gate complex, the wall and a pavement that runs include a structure in which a clay female mask and up to the top of the mound. The gate features two 14
towers and two guard rooms on each side. A bench was placed outside one of the towers as well as four pillars which may have once held up a canopy, perhaps used to accommodate the king’s throne as depicted in 2 Sam. 19:9; “the king arose and sat in the gate.” It is also possible that it served as a platform for an idol, perhaps one of the high places that Josiah smashed “and broke down the high places of the gates” ( 2 Kings 23:8). In front of the gate was a square with flat basalt flagstones. It was in a similar square that Hezekiah assembled his commanders (2 Chron. 32:6). They would have been protected by the city walls and the outer gate. The wall is 13 feet wide and has been preserved to a height of 11 1/2 feet; it was probably higher. Pavement goes through the gate and when inside it becomes a city street. Biran conjectures that it was a royal processional route used for religious processions. Destruction of the gate occurred in the second half of the 8th century probably during the Assyrian invasion. Despite the demise of the gate, Dan continued to be occupied up until the Babylonian occupation of Israel as buildings and pottery from that period have been found. However, no evidence of conflagration in Babylonian times has been found. Habitation at Dan continued through the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Coins from these periods have been uncovered. Earlier, we mentioned an inscription that fixed the site as Dan. It also dates from the Hellene time period. One of the more impressive finds at Dan is a pottery figure of the Egyptian god Bes; a god of protection. The only disappointment archaeology wise is that no evidence of the golden calf has been found. These two sites, Joshua’s altar on Mount Ebal and the city of Dan show that the Bible is depicting real places and real events (whether holy or pagan). As believers we know that is true. Archaeology helps bring these places to life and shows the skeptics what we already know; the Bible is the Word of God. Sources
Online American Standard Version. Blue Letter Bible App. Biblical Archaeology Review. July/August 1987. Biran, Abraham. “Dan”. Stern, Ephraim ed. The New Encyclopedia Of Archaeological Excavations In The Holy Land. New York 1993.
15
(Continued from page 6)
and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (Eph. 4:11-16) Every office in the church, every gift of the Spirit is given to help every Believer to understand how to live by the Bible. They are all given to enable the brethren to unlock the Spiritual gifts of Christ and to encourage their use in the church and at home and in private to build each Believer up in Christ. Many of the gifts manifest from the laying on of hands by the ordained ministry team. Proficiency in the gifts helps to bring a Believer into maturity. Because when we start using the gifts we begin to discern right use. While discerning right use of the gifts we will make mistakes. That is called humanity. Grace covers our mistakes while we learn how. Proficiency can not be learned by abstinence with the gifts.
“27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth…. 31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day” (Gen. 1:2728, 31, KJV).
ing time and the Sabbath. It was the only time in the week that was blessed and made holy by the sovereign act of an eternal being.
Since an eternal being endowed this day with perpetual spiritual blessing and holiness, it is something that no created being, such as a human, could create, edit, or have dominion over. What God has blessed cannot be cursed by man (Num. 22:6, 22:12, 23:11, 23:20). While no created being can affect the Sabbath, it is a day endued by God to affect created things. God intended for this day to spiritually affect “1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and humanity. all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on We are even required to grant rest to the animals that the seventh day from all his work which he had we have dominion over. “But the seventh day is the made. 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanc- sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do tified it: because that in it he had rested from all his any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor work which God created and made” (Gen. 2:1-3, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle…” (Deut. 5:14). KJV). God is literally commanding us to stop exerting doThrough Christ, all things were made (Col. 1:15-17). minion over the physical creation. This includes visible things such as creatures and features that we see every day. It also includes invis- If someone works on the Sabbath, it extends the dominion of man into a realm that God never intended ible things such as the Sabbath. for it to be exerted. This is not God’s will. There is When humans were created, we were given domin- an eternal dominion that is greater than that the ion over living creatures; we were asked to rule, re- earthly dominion given to humanity. Our practice of plenish, and subdue this physical earth (Gen. 1:26- the Sabbath acknowledges and affirms this eternal 28). However, God did not give mankind dominion fact. Let us honor that eternal dominion. over time. “My times are in thy hand…” (Psalm 31:15a). Christ has dominion over all things, includ- Selah.
Step 1: Facing the menorah, place candles
right to left starting with the Shemesh (Middle)
16
Step 2: Facing the menorah, light from left to right using the Shemesh (Middle) candle to light the other candles.
time we cannot affirm it happened beyond the shadow of a doubt. It does leave our minds to wonder the and surrounding country side. Over 585,000 Jewish specific details and conditions surrounding the mepeople died from fighting. They would not be al- norah when it was rekindled. lowed to return to the city for almost 300 years. At the very least, let us consider their struggle to reThis is a brief overview of the events that occurred dedicate the Temple as we rededicate our own. What immediately after the Maccabean revolt. Thus, the miracles have happened in your life as you sought to initial revolt was successful and involved great mili- dedicate yourself to God? tary exploits. However, the long-term actions of the Hasmonean dynasty were marred with failure. There Sources was betrayal, murder and civil war. The country lost Babylonian Talmud. Accessed through https:// its sovereignty and became subject to another empire www.sefaria.org. – Rome. The city was destroyed twice and the Jewish people banned from even approaching it. These Flavius Josephus. The Complete Works of Flavius events sound like an account from the Biblical books Josephus. Translated by William Whiston. 1737. Antiquities of the Jews. Book 12, Chapter 7. p 302. of Judges with 1 and 2 Kings. (Continued from page 9)
Now that we have reviewed quite a few facts and details, we can have a better perspective. Here are some final things to remember when you consider the historicity of the Hanukkah miracle. The people who lived immediately after the Jewish victory focused on battles. Those who lived between 200 and 500 AD saw the long-term fruit of that Maccabeean revolt, which was contrary to the very purpose of it (freedom to worship God). They did not value the military victories as much. If you were writing, what events might you emphasize?
First and Second Book of Maccabees (Revised Standard Version). 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Jewish Encyclopedia 1905: Antigonus Mattathias, Aristobulus I, Aristobulus II, Scroll of Antiochus, Hasmoneans, Hyrcanus, John.
Moore, George Foot. Judaism in the First Centuries of the Chris-tian Era the Age of the Tannaim. Vol. 2 Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1932. pp 49The fact that the menorah was relit (along with the 51. altar of incense and the altar of sacrifice) is recounted by primary sources. It is a significant part of the Temple regaining its light. Josephus even calls it the Feast of Lights. The Bible calls it the Feast of Dedication in John 10:22 (literally, “in newness” or “in refreshing”). This is a reference to the rededication of the Temple. We are not certain of all the details surrounding the re-lightning of the menorah. We know the Temple was defiled by uncleanness. Thus, the concept that there was an insufficient supply of Levitically clean oil is not absurd. If there was a shortage of oil, it would have taken a miracle to keep the menorah burning for the dedication process. The holy oil for the Temple requires a special process and time to refine it. A few hundred years after these events, the lighting of a menorah is the central focus of the Hanukkah celebration. Considering all the details gives it a little bit more merit. Did it happen? Well, the menorah was relit. There very well could have been a miracle involving the oil. We cannot negate it as a possibility; at the same 17
18
Georgia
Tennessee
Mississippi
Athens
Cleveland
Corinth
Cookeville Jackson Murfreesboro
19
SUN
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19*
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
*Observed previous evening, after sunset.
20