ISRAEL UPDATEAugust 10, 2003 - Let me echo the sentiment of the prophet, “My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war." Jeremiah 4:19
There is much excitement and expectation in the Palestinian-controlled areas of Israel, along with the Arab world, as the thought of a Palestinian state is propped up on false notions, lies, and pretensions.
Earlier this year, during the time of Mahmoud Abbas being considered for his current position, I stated in one of my articles that a move of that nature would only empower Arafat, keeping him in power behind the scenes, while further compromising the security of Israel.
Ariel Sharon and Israel have been painted deeper into a corner, as the United States has now approved funding for the Palestinian Authority, even with all the multiple millions poured in by the European Union, and the OPEC nations.
The current cease-fire brokered by Abbas between Hamas and Islamic Jihad is only a lull in the storm – giving them time to recruit, train, and rearm for the next round of violence that will cause more blood to flow and casualties to rise.
By using Mahmoud Abbas as a front man, we can see another step toward the legitimizing of terrorism in the name of nationalism.
Abbas, the Palestinian Authority, President Bush, and the U.S. will all look good as Arafat’s evil plan comes together. Watch… if Sharon and Israel raise any questions, they will be considered the problem.
Unfortunately, as the world talks peace, the trumpet and the alarm of war are sounding - war is looming on the horizon - sooner than most realize...
August 10, 2003 - In Matthew 23:2-3, Jesus describes some of the Pharisees, "Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not."
Jesus addresses a specific group of Pharisees in this passage. The Shimki or Shoulder Pharisee, the one who places heavy burdens on other people's shoulders, yet does not do as he says.
As you read further in Matthew 23:4-8, we see these people desire to be seen of men, as their religious garb is made excessively large. They believed that if their phylacteries and prayer shawls were wide, G-d's acceptance would grow through their man-made efforts.
These Pharisees were known as Shechemites, or those that follow after practices in Shechem. So today, as we see as in Bible days, there are geographical considerations to people's beliefs. Not what G-d has commanded, but rather what their local group says is correct.
Today we see the Shoulder Pharisees that say if you do not believe and practice all we do, you cannot enter the Kingdom of G-d.
These Pharisees of antiquity, or geographical (denominational), people think they have the world cornered when it comes to G-d's grace and love.
In essence, in the past and yet today, there are those who are broad in their beliefs, but have no depth of understanding. Because of this, they enforce man-made rules, seek to be noticed, and love to be called by title. But in the end, they do not have the real concept of G-d, thus nothing has really changed in their beliefs.
To be continued…