Tag Archives: history

Sermons

Salt and Light

Leave a comment

Most of my life, I’ve been interested in nautical things. I’m not exactly sure why. Maybe it’s because I grew up on the beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline. Maybe it’s because I received a gift from my Aunt Shay of a carved captain figure that I always liked. Maybe it’s because my mom used to read me the classic story of Scuppers the Sailor Dog.

Some of the nautical stuff I’ve collected includes ships, sailors, and lighthouses. And of all the lighthouses, one of the most spectacular is the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in North Carolina.

First constructed in 1802, Cape Hatteras now stands 198 feet tall with its distinctive black and white spiral design. It is the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States.

Dawson Carr in his book on the Cape Hatteras lighthouse poetically describes why this building was necessary. He says the Diamond Shoals of the Atlantic seaboard “waited there like a spider whose web ensnares the unwary who dare to pass too closely.” Only a lighthouse could help ships “stay safely away from this ship cemetery” (p. 32).

There’s no telling how many lives have been saved by the Cape Hatteras lighthouse over the last two hundred years.

I think of that lighthouse when I hear Jesus’ words in Matthew 5. “You are the light of the world…A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others.”

Just as a lighthouse prevents ships from coming too close to shore and running aground on dangerous shoals, so we are called to be salt and light, living distinctively from the world around us. That’s what Paul has in mind as he comes to the final chapter of his letter to the Colossians.

Several months ago, I preached on this passage at Calvary Church. Together, we learned…

  • How to develop the habit and mindset of prayer
  • How we can pray for one another
  • Trusting God when he closes a door
  • What to do when you’re surrounded by darkness
  • A challenge not to waste the precious time God has given us

The message has now been uploaded to my podcast and you can listen using this link:

Thanks for listening. For a complete list of sermons, please visit my sermon hub page.

This article may contain affiliate links to help me earn credits toward future Amazon books. Thanks for shopping!

Teaching

Dead Sea Scrolls at the Reagan Library

Leave a comment

The Dead Sea Scrolls are now on display at the Reagan Library, and our church is planning a field trip there this Friday.

Last Thursday, I taught a seminar to explain the significance of the scrolls, and how to get the most out of a visit:

Here’s the slideshow that goes with that presentation…

Summary and basic outline of my talk:

Introduction
Stephen shares his personal experience of visiting Israel, including swimming in the Dead Sea, boat rides on the Sea of Galilee, and exploring caves and tombs.
He expresses his love for Jerusalem, highlighting its rich history dating back to King David and the time of Christ.
Stephen mentions visiting the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, where he saw a permanent display of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
He recounts his experiences of seeing the Dead Sea Scrolls at various locations, including the California Science Center and the Reagan Library.
Significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls
Stephen explains the popularity of the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibits and their relevance to people of different faiths.
He emphasizes the importance of the Dead Sea Scrolls for Christians, as they provide a tangible connection to ancient biblical documents.
Stephen discusses the field of apologetics, which defends the faith and the truth of the Bible.
He quotes Proverbs 30:5-6 and Revelation to highlight the importance of preserving the Word of God without adding or subtracting from it.
The Jesus Boat and Ancient Warfare Artifacts
Stephen introduces the Jesus Boat, a replica of an ancient boat found in the Sea of Galilee during a severe drought in the mid-1980s.
He describes the process of extracting the boat from the mud and the tests that dated it to the time of Christ.
Stephen explains the significance of the Jesus Boat in the context of biblical stories, such as Jesus calling the disciples and the miraculous catch of fish.
He also mentions other artifacts on display, including catapult rocks and spear tips, which provide insights into ancient warfare.
Archeology and the Dead Sea Scrolls
Stephen explains the process of archeology, particularly the study of ancient cities and tells.
He describes the layers of civilization found in these tells, with the oldest layers at the bottom and the newest at the top.
Stephen discusses the different periods, including the Bronze Age, Iron Age, and Roman period, and their significance in biblical history.
He provides a historical perspective, linking the periods to biblical figures like Job, Abraham, and King David.
Discovery and Preservation of the Dead Sea Scrolls
Stephen recounts the story of the Bedouin shepherd who discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls in a cave in the late 1940s.
He explains that the scrolls were found mostly in clay jars and were largely undecayed due to the dry climate of the Dead Sea area.
Stephen describes the process of recovering and documenting the scrolls, including the use of modern technology like lasers and MRI equipment.
He highlights the importance of the Dead Sea Scrolls in confirming the reliability of the biblical text over thousands of years.
The Dead Sea and Qumran Community
Stephen provides a geographical overview of the Dead Sea, including its location, depth, and the surrounding areas like Jericho and Qumran.
He explains the significance of Qumran, a community of ancient Jews who were messianic and avid documenters of biblical and extra-biblical texts.
Stephen describes the caves near Qumran where the scrolls were found and the challenges of accessing these remote locations.
He mentions the shrine of the book in Jerusalem, which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls and other ancient artifacts.
The Scrolls on Display at the Reagan Library
Stephen lists the specific Dead Sea Scrolls that will be on display at the Reagan Library, including fragments of Exodus, Psalms, and the Book of Tobit.
He explains the significance of the paleo-Hebrew script found in some of the scrolls and its historical context.
Stephen discusses the extra-biblical texts, such as sapiential literature and the community rule of the Essenes, and their historical value.
He emphasizes the importance of the Dead Sea Scrolls in confirming the accuracy and reliability of the biblical text.
The Role of Scribes and the Masoretic Tradition
Stephen explains the role of scribes in copying and preserving the biblical text over centuries.
He highlights the work of the Masoretes, a group of highly trained scribes who produced accurate copies of the Bible in the Middle Ages.
Stephen discusses the significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls in supporting the fidelity of the Masoretic tradition, which is the basis of modern Hebrew Bibles.
He provides examples of the close agreement between the Dead Sea Scrolls and later manuscripts, demonstrating the reliability of the biblical text.
Practical Tips for Visiting the Reagan Library Exhibit
Stephen provides practical tips for visiting the Reagan Library exhibit, including the importance of arriving early to avoid crowds.
He advises visitors to read interpretive signs and make biblical connections to enhance their understanding of the artifacts.
Stephen suggests taking advantage of the commemorative booklet available in the gift shop to document the exhibit.
He encourages visitors to explore other parts of the Reagan Library, including the presidential travel area and the Air Force One exhibit.
Closing Remarks and Final Questions
Stephen concludes the presentation with a reminder of the importance of the Dead Sea Scrolls in confirming the reliability of the biblical text.
He encourages visitors to ask questions and seek further information from docents and other knowledgeable individuals at the exhibit.
Stephen provides final logistical details, including the meeting time and location for the field trip to the Reagan Library.
He opens the floor for any final questions and comments from the attendees.

(Summary generated by Otter.ai)

Journal

Israel Museum

1 Comment

On Tuesday, April 11, 2000, IBEX took an afternoon field trip to the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. This museum includes some priceless treasures including the ossuary of the High Priest Caiaphas and the famous Dead Sea Scrolls.

The Dead Sea Scrolls are housed in a special exhibit called the “Shrine of the Book.” The large water fountain resembles the lid of a jar like those where the scrolls were found. We already had opportunity to visit the caves at Qumran where the scrolls were found. Now, we got to see the scrolls themselves, preserved and on permanent display.

Why are the Dead Sea Scrolls significant? Until 1947, our oldest surviving manuscripts of the Hebrew Scriptures dated to around 1000 AD. When the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, we suddenly had manuscripts that pre-dated our oldest scrolls by a thousand years! Compared side-by-side, they confirmed the Masoretic Text (MT) was incredibly accurate and well preserved.

One of the most significant finds was a massive scroll of Isaiah that contains all 66 chapters. Robinson and Harrison explain, “From Cave 1 came a complete copy of the book of Isaiah, known to scholars as &1QIsaa;. Surprisingly well preserved, it comprised fifty-four columns of clearly written Hebrew script inscribed on seventeen sheets of leather that had been stitched end to end. When unrolled it measured about 7.3 m (24 ft) in length, and was approximately 30 cm. (1 ft) in width… Aside from differences in orthography and the use of certain consonants as vowel letters, the text of Isaiah in &1QIsaa; was identical with that in the much later editions of the MT.” (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)

There are some minor differences in various scrolls, even in the two copies of Isaiah found. This might be because the text of Isaiah was preserved and passed down in different parts of the world, like an ancient game of telephone. “Isaiah A” includes vowel points and may have been for a less fluent Hebrew reader. “Isaiah B” seems to be a more pure form of Hebrew. But they are still very close overall and the differences are negligible in English.

As we explored the museum, I began to better grasp the flow of history and periods of archaeology:

Neolithic Period (Shortly after Noah’s flood) – Early pottery. Oldest known building is a tower in Jericho.
Chalcolithic Period (before 3000 BC) – Chaeleo (copper) + lithic (stone). Surprising sophistication and craftsmanship. Basalt bowls and ivory fertility objects found in Beersheba.
Early Bronze Period (3000-2200 BC) – Copper implements. Large urban settlements. Fortified cities. Writing develops in Mesopotamia and Egypt.
Intermediate Bronze (2200-1550 BC) – Fewer cities. Mostly nomadic. Some jars and spear heads found. Beginning of alphabetic script in Phoenicia and Canaan. The time of Abraham and the patriarchs.
Middle/Late Bronze (1550-1200 BC) – Period of the exodus under Moses and conquest under Joshua. Classic Canaanite culture (as far as craftsmanship) was far superior to Israelite culture. Advanced weaponry like ax heads and sickle swords. Anthropoid sarcophagus found in Beit Shan.
Iron Age (1200-586 BC) – Iron technology. A loose tribal confederation gave way to wider rule under Saul, David, and Solomon, then division of Northern and Southern tribes. Many items have been found during this time such as a a bronze bull in Manasseh, proto-aeolic capitals on top of pillars, the Tel Dan inscription, and ivory pomegranates from Solomon’s temple.

One special exhibit are two silver amulets found by Gabi Barkay at the tombs of Ketef Hinnom in 1979. These small amulets contain the priestly blessing from Numbers 24-26 and predate the Dead Sea Scrolls by several hundred years, making them the oldest known surviving biblical text in the world.

Photo courtesy Wikipedia

Later periods of archaeology include the Persian, Hellenistic, Hasmonean, and so forth, but much of Old Testament biblical archaeology took place during these earlier times.

A final highlight was seeing the actual Seat of Moses from the synagogue of Chorazin. We had seen a replica in the Galilean town, but here they had the original on display.

25 years ago, I had the privilege of traveling to Israel for a semester through the Master’s College IBEX program. To celebrate the 25th anniversary, I’m sharing highlights from my journal, emails, and photos. Feel free to share your own IBEX memories here as well!