Christian hostages murdered by Somali Pirates

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Sam

Someone has said:
Solomon wrote the Song of Solomon when he was young and passionately in love.

Some would have us cross reference the events in 1 Kings 1, and 1 Kings 2:17-25, with Song of Solomon 6:13. The "name" for the maiden in the Song of Solomon is "the Shulamite." Abishag was a "Shunammite" from the town of Shunem. Solomon had his own brother killed after expressing his affection for Abishag.

"The Shulamite" is sometimes said to be a feminine form of Solomon's own name which means "Peace." The village of Shumen is translated as "Quiet" or "Peaceful." The two names are obviously entwined.

Originally Posted by Sam

He wrote the Book of Proverbs when he was mature and had gained wisdom through experience plus receiving wisdom from God.
He wrote the Book of Ecclesiastes when he became a bitter and cynical old man.

However, how does the Book of Ecclesiastes end?
What we call chapter 12, the last portion of the book, begins with an exhortation to remember the Creator while you are young. Then he goes on with a description of the ravages of aging. Then the final words of the book:
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

He winds up saying, start serving God while you are young and before life gets sour. Then concludes with a warning that we will all face God's judgment.

I hope this means that he considered his ways, maybe not until he was an old man, and turned to God and was ready to face God at his death.

Solomon's biggest problems seemed to be the girls (of course!). "The woman gave me to eat ..." Almost all of our problems are caused by women - especially when we were young.

... ah! But I seem to remember them being such enjoyable problems, now.

[Sam]

speaking of idolaters, Colossians 3:5 speaks of "covetousness, which is idolatry"

Ezekiel 14:1-7 speaks of having idols in a person's heart

and check out 1 John 5:20-21 which says:

20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen (King James Version)

20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.
21 Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.
New Living Translation

20 And we [have seen and] know [positively] that the Son of God has [actually] come to this world and has given us understanding and insight [progressively] to perceive (recognize) and come to know better and more clearly Him Who is true; and we are in Him Who is true--in His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah). This [Man] is the true God and Life eternal.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols (false gods)--[from anything and everything that would occupy the place in your heart due to God, from any sort of substitute for Him that would take first place in your life]. Amen (so let it be).
The Amplified Bible

Martin Luther (the German reformer, Not Martin Luther King the American) is alleged to have said:
"Whatever man loves, that is his god. For he carries it in his heart, he sleeps and wakes with it, be what it may-- wealth or self, pleasure or renown."

While we are criticizing and declaring the eternal fate of some who may kneel before a statue or icon or who may look at a picture while they pray, we need to look at our own hearts and see if we might be giving God's rightful place to something or someone else.

[Truthseeker]

Originally Posted by NotforSale

You make no sense.

That's ok, I'll still with Pauls teaching on this one.

[Truthseeker]

Originally Posted by Sam

speaking of idolaters, Colossians 3:5 speaks of "covetousness, which is idolatry"

Ezekiel 14:1-7 speaks of having idols in a person's heart

and check out 1 John 5:20-21 which says:

20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen (King James Version)

20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.
21 Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.
New Living Translation

20 And we [have seen and] know [positively] that the Son of God has [actually] come to this world and has given us understanding and insight [progressively] to perceive (recognize) and come to know better and more clearly Him Who is true; and we are in Him Who is true--in His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah). This [Man] is the true God and Life eternal.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols (false gods)--[from anything and everything that would occupy the place in your heart due to God, from any sort of substitute for Him that would take first place in your life]. Amen (so let it be).
The Amplified Bible

Martin Luther (the German reformer, Not Martin Luther King the American) is alleged to have said:
"Whatever man loves, that is his god. For he carries it in his heart, he sleeps and wakes with it, be what it may-- wealth or self, pleasure or renown."

While we are criticizing and declaring the eternal fate of some who may kneel before a statue or icon or who may look at a picture while they pray, we need to look at our own hearts and see if we might be giving God's rightful place to something or someone else.

One idolatry act doesn't excuse another.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by Truthseeker

One idolatry act doesn't excuse another.

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me" is about so much more than having the wrong religion.

[Truthseeker]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me" is about so much more than having the wrong religion.

Agree

[NotforSale]

Originally Posted by Truthseeker

That's ok, I'll still with Pauls teaching on this one.

I figured you would say something like this. You are doing what ALL Religions do; you focus on what fits for you and ignore what doesn't, which again is the result of your experience, culture, and tradition.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Truthseeker

One idolatry act doesn't excuse another.

I'm not saying that. I'm just saying we need to be careful before we judge others for a form of idolatry that might be a little different than a form we might be guilty of.

[Truthseeker]

Originally Posted by Sam

I'm not saying that. I'm just saying we need to be careful before we judge others for a form of idolatry that might be a little different than a form we might be guilty of.

Gotcha, just some seem to be excusing it because what solomon did disregarding what Paul taught.

[NotforSale]

Originally Posted by Truthseeker

Gotcha, just some seem to be excusing it because what solomon did disregarding what Paul taught.

So forgiveness for Idolatry is not possible in your book?

I'm not excusing the act of bowing down to false gods, but if you sanction Solomon’s books in our current Bible, you have tolerated or forgiven a man given over to this problem.

Truthseeker, this is the issue here. You totally condemn others who fall down to idols, but you allow grace for Solomon. And this is not a New or Old Testament issue, either. God has never endorsed such a practice.

Religion is full of this malpractice in Faith. We accept some things and reject others, tooting our little horn of truth. Then, when contradiction is found, we reach into our bag of Religious Tricks (Smoke and Mirrors) and we make the Bible say what we want it to say.

And BTW, don’t forget, all liars will burn too, not just Idolaters. Oh, and adulterers. You know, all those people who have remarried; according to some Apostolics people are living in adultery because of divorce and remarriage. Got a whole lot of those in Church today.