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Psalm 83 Claim Gets 86'd

Saturday, Jul. 29, 2006 2:52 AM


The discovery of an ancient Book of Psalms earlier this week in Ireland is remarkable in and of itself.

What is disturbing about the story is how readily media outlets like CNN, and evangelical Christians began gushing about how timely the find is, because the book was open to Psalm 83, which speaks of Israel and her enemies.

(The article is sourced to the Associated Press. However, CNN has been playing the 'Apocalypse Now?' game by inviting guests like Left Behind author Tim LaHaye for their insight on the Israel/Lebanon situation, as has ABC.)

Thankfully, someone is thinking rationally about the whole thing. The National Museum of Ireland has issued a clarification.

Though the book was open to Psalm 83, the manuscript is an older version of the Bible, a Latin translation used in the medieval period, and does not correspond to the King James Bible, which was based on the Hebrew text. The manuscript refers to what is Psalm 84 in the King James, and not Psalm 83.

It's time for people to step back from getting high on the Rapture, and getting real about the situation. Mankind is fully capable of destroying itself without any advice from the Bible, and the escalating conflict needs no comparison to Revelation.

God will not reward us for destroying the planet and expecting to skip town on the Rapture Bus and neatly avoid any consequences or responsibility for our actions..

The Gospel of Matthew contains not only the Sermon on the Mount, wherein Christ Jesus says, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God," but a warning that is perhaps more timely than interpreting Psalm 83 as the kickoff to war.

"But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment � first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift."

Without cause. Think on how much the current situation resembles squabbling children. The other did something first, or something worse. When you were a child, did your parents ever accept that kind of reasoning? Mine didn't. Neither did my teachers, or other adults entrusted with my upbringing.

I'm not a Biblical scholar, but I interpret cause to require the highest standards. Christ is not talking about keeping track of someone else's transgressions. Christ's lesson is to express to us the importance of forgiveness, and the wisdom to see how small differences can be blown out of proportion, until they touch upon all that you do � even the worship of God.

"Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven; for he maketh the sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."



The Ministry has received 1 comment(s) on this topic.



scottski - 2006-07-29 10:35:57
Rapture Junkies. privileged to be the focus of God's Wrath... how egotistical and presumptuous. i find this encouraging, though.