Mark Tabata

Genesis And The Chinese Language

Mark Tabata — Tue, 03 Nov 2026 14:19:12 GMT

Wednesday, October 28 2026

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Revelation 2:17-He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it." '

Some years back, I was holding a revival at the Beatyville church of Christ. One of the faithful families at that location pulled me aside one night and gave me a truly beautiful gift. It was a book entitled The Discovery Of Genesis. It chronicles how many of the historical facts recorded in the Book of Genesis were documented in the ancient Chinese language (which dates back easily to the time of the Tower Of Babel).

Yet, if we take a journey backward in time, passing the first century B. C., when Buddhism was introduced; the fifth century B.C., when Taoism and Confucianism simultaneously blossomed; and continue back 1,500 or even 2,000 years more, we find a different religious atmosphere. There we find the little-appreciated evidence that these ancient people served only one God, had no myths or idols, and kept a strict moral code.2 They called their God ShangTi (Shang Ti, Shangti, Shangti), the Heavenly (above) Emperor . It is supposed that the Chinese originally migrated from a site in Mesopotamia, for they show evidences of similarity to the later Babylo-Assyrian culture in arts, sciences, and government.3 The approximate date of their origin, 2500 B. C., is surprisingly close to the strict chronological dating of the great event at the tower of Babel which resulted in the division of all mankind into new linguistic groups and the consequent dispersion of peoples over the face of the earth...When the Chinese, very early in their history as a separate people, found a need to communicate with a written language, a system of word-pictures was invented in keeping with the characteristic calligraphy of the ancient world. True to all primitive written languages, these so-called pictographs were satisfactory for representing objects but carried limitations in expressing abstract concepts. The early graphic symbols, therefore, were combined in meaningful ways to convey ideas, called ideograms, and these “picture stories” of necessity had to contain common knowledge in order to be understood. It would have been only natural to use as a basis for some of the ideograms the history of the ancient beginnings of humanity with which all were familiar by oral tradition. Consequently, the written Chinese language is composed of characters uniquely adapted to the possibility of containing the stories of Genesis. (C.H. Kang & Ethel R. Nelson, The Discovery of Genesis: How The Truths Of Genesis Were Found Hidden In The Chinese Language, 2-3 (Kindle Edition): St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing)

Notice some examples from this book of how Genesis is confirmed in the Chinese language.

True Happiness

祝福

(zhu fu-blessing, happiness)

(God+First Person+Unity+Garden=Happiness)

The Bible reminds us that in the beginning, before sin entered into the Creation, everything was "very good" (Genesis 1:31). God created the universe out of an act of unmerited grace and love (Psalm 136:1-9). It was in the beautiful Paradise Garden of Eden that our human parents, Adam and Eve, existed in pure and unbroken communion with the God Who is love (I John 4:8). Here, The Lord walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:8). How appropriate that the Chinese remembered this wonderful fellowship and described true happiness as being the unity of God and man in the Garden!

The First Family In The Beginning

开始

(kāi shǐ- Beginning, First)

(Two People+Palace [Home]+Peace=Beginning)

In the beginning, God created Adam (Genesis 2:1-6). Out of his rib, He created the woman (Genesis 2:18-25). God had created the family unit to be a blessing to humans. The Psalmist said that the reason for the family was so that people would not be lonely or alone (Psalm 68:6). Later corruptions to the home caused sorrow and grief (such as polygamy and homosexual 'marriage'). Interestingly enough, the ancient Chinese practiced polygamy; yet they clearly point out that in the very beginning, there were two people who comprised the first home and lived in a "palace" (Paradise in the Garden of Eden-they lived as "king" and "queen" having all their needs met-Genesis 2:8) in peace and tranquility.

The Fall In The Garden Of Eden

欲望

(yù wàng- Desire, Covet)

(Two Trees+A Woman In The Midst Of=Covet)

When God created man, there were two trees in the Garden that men were to avoid: the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-6) and the tree of life (Genesis 3:22-24). Temptation had its' origin in the "desire" of the man and the woman to violate God's Law (Genesis 2:14-17) by partaking of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Satan first approached the woman with his deceptive lies (Genesis 3:1). As such, "evil desire" or "covetousness" had its' origin in the woman being tempted in the midst of the two trees (Genesis 3:6).

恶魔

(è mó- Tempter, Demon)

(Motion+Garden+Privately=Devil=Two Trees=Cover=Tempter)

The "tempter" or Satan (Matthew 4:3; I Thessalonians 3:5) stealthily approached Eve in the Garden. He took the form of a serpent (Genesis 3:1; Revelation 12:9) and in his craftiness he deceived Eve (II Corinthians 11:3). He did this subtly near the two trees. Again, notice how the Chinese language confirms the basic elements of the Genesis account of Creation and the Fall.

隐藏

(yǐn cáng- To Hide)

(Body+Is+Tree=To Hide)

The Bible tells us that when Adam and Eve rebelled against God, they tried to "hide" from Him in the trees of the Garden (Genesis 3:8). People try to hide their sins from God, but He knows and calls us to repentance because He loves us (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). If we attempt to hide from God, we will not succeed. "He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy." (Proverbs 28:13) The truthfulness of the Fall is captured in vivid detail in the Chinese word "hide" which means that the man is (or is covered by) the trees.

驱逐

(qū zhú- To Expel)

(Offender+Two Persons=To Expel)

Adam and Eve were cast out of or "expelled" from the Garden of Eden. This was a punishment, but also an act of mercy from God. If they had eaten of the tree of life, they would have been forever

There are many other examples like this that remind us of the historical reliability of the Book of Genesis.

Lord, thank You for the Chinese and for their remarkable language that bears witness to the truthfulness of Your Word. Help us to see Your handiwork all around us every day. Amen.

The Mystery And Beauty Of The White Stone

Mark Tabata — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 21:45:25 GMT

Tuesday, October 27 2026

What is the “white stone” that God promises to give to His faithful disciples who overcome the attacks and challenges put forth through the city where Satan’s throne itself was located?

Let’s study.

The first thing for us to discern that may help us understand this passage is what city is under consideration. John tells us that it is the city where God’s faithful martyr, Antipas, was put to death (Revelation 2:13). Perhaps by learning the significance of this city we will be in a better position to comprehend the “white stone” that is under consideration. The Bible identifies this city as Pergamos (Revelation 2:12), which is the modern day site of Bergama, Turkey.

We are told that Satan’s throne is located here.

What does this mean?

Well, located at Pergamos was a huge altar to the pagan god, Zeus.

In ancient literature, Zeus was another name used interchangeably with Baal.

In later days Baal, in his incarnation as Baalshamen, or Baal Shamim, was identified with the god Zeus, head of the Greek pantheon. An ancient Nabatean text says this: …they regarded as god the lord of heaven, calling him Beelsamen, which is in the Phoenician language “lord of heaven,” and in Greek “Zeus.” 2 Syriac writers referred to Baalshamin as Zeus Olympios. Both gods appeared as idols standing in the same position, with arms lifted up and ready to hurl a thunderbolt to the earth. Zeus was presented as Zeus Belus, and Jupiter as Jupiter Belus, which could be translated respectively as “Zeus Baal” and “Jupiter Baal. (Jonathan Cahn, The Return of the Gods, 30 (Kindle Edition): Lake Mary, FL: FrontLine)

With that being said, we learn also that Baal was known as Beelzebub, which was a title for Satan.

The term “Beelzebul” occurs in several places in the New Testament (Matt 10: 25; 12: 24 [cp. Mark 3: 22; Luke 11: 15]; Matt 12: 27 [cp. Luke 11: 18, 19]). 6 Twelftree notes, “The Vulgate and Syriac versions have attempted to explain the term by correcting it to beelzebub, the god of Ekron (2 Kings 1: 2–3, 6, 16; Josephus Ant. 9.19).” 7 MacLaurin (with other scholars) is most likely correct in the opinion that beelzebub “is almost certainly secondary … and probably represents an attempt to replace some honorific title by some disgraceful one just as in the O.T. Ba’al is sometimes replaced by bosheth.” 8 There is general consensus that the initial part of the name (beel-) represents Semitic baʿal (“ lord, master”) and perhaps the divine name Baal (Baal). However, some scholars believe that zeboul reflects Hebrew zebul (“ exalted dwelling”; 1 Kgs 18: 33), producing a meaning akin to “lord of heaven” (i.e., ruler in the heavenly realm), a title that would make its bearer the “prince of demons” (archonti tōn daimoniōn; Matt 12: 24; Mark 3: 22; Luke 11: 15). 9 This association of the title with an “exalted dwelling” (whether the temple or heaven) is most likely not the case, for reasons suggested by the usage of zbl in Ugaritic where the word means “prince” and never seems to be used for a temple. In Ugaritic texts, we sometimes find zbl baʾal (“ prince Baʾal”), but in other “cases we find a proper name followed by the title, as in N.T. Beelzeboul, where Beel is the equivalent of a proper name.” 10 This suggests that the name Beelzebul means “Baʾal prince/ ruler” and the word archonti in Matthew 12: 24 (and parallels) was a Greek translation of the Semitic title zbl. 11 The phrase baʿal zebul would have been well known in the Semitic world as meaning “prince Baal” or “ruler Baal.” Attributing such a title to the original rebel of Eden, cast to earth/ the underworld after his deception led to the loss of immortality (death) for humanity, makes good sense, as “Baʾal was ruler of the gods, the earth and the underworld” in ancient Semitic religion. 12 Beelzebul is therefore best understood as a Greek transliteration of a title of Baal. (Michael S. Heiser, Demons: What the Bible Really Says About the Powers of Darkness, 176-178 (Kindle Edition): Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press)

Jesus Himself clearly designates Beelzebub as another name for Satan (Matthew 12:24-27).

So…

Zeus=Baal=Beelzebub=Satan

Pergamos had a huge statue of Zeus…which was another name for Baal…which was another name for Beelzebub….which was simply yet another designation for Satan.

Second, notice the significance of the “white stone” to those who lived in Pergamos. Barclay provides the possible interpretations of the “white stone” in the ancient world.

THE final promise of Christ to the faithful in Pergamum is that he will give them the white stone with the new name on it. This is a passage of which there are almost endless interpretations. In the ancient world, a white stone might stand for many things. (1) There was a Rabbinic legend that precious stones fell from heaven along with the manna. The white stone would then simply stand for the precious gifts of God to his people. (2) In the ancient world, coloured stones were used as counters for doing calculations. This would mean that Christians are counted among the number of the faithful. (3) In the ancient law courts, white and black stones were used for registering the verdicts of juries–black for guilty, white for not guilty. This would mean that Christians are acquitted in the sight of God because of the work of Jesus Christ. (4) In the ancient world, objects called tesserae were much used. A tessera was a little tablet made of wood or metal or stone; it had writing on it; and, generally speaking, the possession of a tessera conferred some kind of privilege upon an individual. Three of these tesserae add something to the picture. (a) In Rome, the great houses had their clients, dependants who each morning received from their patron food and money for the day. They were often given a tessera by which they identified themselves as having the right to the free gifts. This would mean that Christians have the right to the free gifts for life which Christ can give. (b) To win a victory at the games was one of the greatest honours the ancient world could give. Outstanding victors were given, by the master of the games, a tessera, which in the days to come conferred upon them the right of free entry to all public entertainments. This would mean that Christians are the victorious athletes of Christ who may share in the glory of their Lord. (c) In Rome, a great gladiator was a hero admired by everyone. Often, a gladiator had to fight on until he was killed in combat. But, if he had had a particularly illustrious career, when he grew old he was allowed to retire in honour. Such men were given a tessera with the letters SP on it. SP stands for the Latin word spectatus, which means a man whose valour has been proved beyond a doubt. This would mean that Christians are the gladiators of Christ and that, when they have proved their valour in the battle of life, they are allowed to enter into the rest which Christ gives with honour. (5) In the ancient world, a particularly happy day was called a white day. The Greek historian Plutarch tells that, when Pericles was besieging Samos, he knew that the siege would be long. He did not want his army to grow weary, so he divided it into eight parts. Every day, the eight companies drew lots; one was a white bean; and the company which drew the white bean was exempt from duty for the day and could enjoy itself as it wished. So it was that a happy day came to be called a white day (Life of Pericles, 64). In one of his letters, Pliny tells a friend that that day he had had the joy of hearing in the law courts the cases made by two magnificent young advocates in whose hands the future of Roman oratory was safe; and, he says, that experience made that day one marked candidissimo calculo, with the whitest of stones (Letters, 6: 11). It was said that the Thracians and the Scythians kept in their homes an urn into which for every happy day they threw a white stone and for every unhappy day a black stone. At the ends of their lives, the stones were counted; and, depending on the greater number of white or black stones, a person was said to have had a wretched or a happy life. This would mean that, through Jesus Christ, Christians can have the joy that no one can take from them (John 16: 22). (6) Along this line, there is another and most likely interpretation. One of the most common of all customs in the ancient world was to carry a small lucky object, or charm. It might be made of a precious metal or a precious stone, but often it was nothing more than a pebble. On the pebble there was a sacred name; to know a god’s name was to have a certain power over that god, to be able to summon him to one’s aid in time of difficulty and to have control over the demons. Such an object was thought to be doubly effective if no one but the owner knew the name that was inscribed upon it. Most likely, what John is saying is: ‘Your friends–and you did the same in the days before you became a Christian–carry charms with superstitious inscriptions on them and they think they will keep them safe. You need nothing like that; you are safe in life and in death because you know the name of the only true God. (William Barclay, The Revelation of John, Volume 2 (The New Daily Study Bible Book 1), 106-108 (Kindle Edition): Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press)

So, the white stone represents:

The Precious Gifts Of God To His People In His Natural And Supernatural Provision;

A Symbol Of Being Counted Saved And Worthy By God;

Forgiveness Through Jesus So That The Guilty Have Been Rendered Innocent;

Having Access To Divine Rights And Privileges;

Victorious Athletes Who Have The Privilege To Share In The Glory Of The Lord Jesus Christ;

Gladiators Who Have Been Triumphant And Granted The Blessing To An Honorable And Luxurious Retirement;

A True “Happy Ending” For God’s People In Eternity Despite Possibly Dealing With Many “Black Days” Throughout The Earthly Sojourn;

Something Better Than Magic Charms With The Names Of False Gods Etched Upon Them, For We Have Something Stronger Than Witchcraft With The Name, Authority, Relationship, And Provision Of The True God Graciously Gifted To Us

Especially in light of Pergamos where Satan’s throne is located, this last likely meaning of the “white stone” is heavy with meaning. There are many false gods in this world (Deuteronomy 32:16-17; Psalm 82; 96:5-6; 97:7; 1 Corinthians 8:5-6; 10:19-21) over which Satan is the ruler (2 Corinthians 4:4). The Christians whom John addresses in Pergamos certainly knew this, for Satan’s throne itself was located there! No doubt, the Christians faced much opposition from the devil’s minions here. As much as they may persecute and target God’s people, the schemes of the powers of darkness pales in comparison to that of the Lord Messiah.

What a blessing for God’s people to have the white stone from the Lord Himself!

Lord, thank You for the blessings You have freely given us. Our only hope is in You, Lord Jesus! Amen.

The Mystery And Beauty Of The White Stone

Mark Tabata — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 21:38:04 GMT

Tuesday, October 27 2026

What is the “white stone” that God promises to give to His faithful disciples who overcome the attacks and challenges put forth through the city where Satan’s throne itself was located?

Let’s study.

We are told that Satan’s throne is located here.

What does this mean?

Well, located at Pergamos was a huge altar to the pagan god, Zeus.

In ancient literature, Zeus was another name used interchangeably with Baal.

With that being said, we learn also that Baal was known as Beelzebub, which was a title for Satan.

Jesus Himself clearly designates Beelzebub as another name for Satan (Matthew 12:24-27).

So…

Zeus=Baal=Beelzebub=Satan

Pergamos had a huge statue of Zeus…which was another name for Baal…which was another name for Beelzebub….which was simply yet another designation for Satan.

Second, notice the significance of the “white stone” to those who lived in Pergamos. Barclay provides the possible interpretations of the “white stone” in the ancient world.

So, the white stone represents:

The Precious Gifts Of God To His People In His Natural And Supernatural Provision;

A Symbol Of Being Counted Saved And Worthy By God;

Forgiveness Through Jesus So That The Guilty Have Been Rendered Innocent;

Having Access To Divine Rights And Privileges;

Victorious Athletes Who Have The Privilege To Share In The Glory Of The Lord Jesus Christ;

Gladiators Who Have Been Triumphant And Granted The Blessing To An Honorable And Luxurious Retirement;

A True “Happy Ending” For God’s People In Eternity Despite Possibly Dealing With Many “Black Days” Throughout The Earthly Sojourn;

What a blessing for God’s people to have the white stone from the Lord Himself!

Lord, thank You for the blessings You have freely given us. Our only hope is in You, Lord Jesus! Amen.

Lessons From The Journey

Mark Tabata — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 01:13:43 GMT

Monday, October 26 2026

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8-To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: 2 A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; 3 A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; 7 A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; 8 A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace.

In the last couple of days, I have journeyed to Moundsville, West Virginia.

The reason for my visit was twofold. First, to attend some of the annual lectureship program of the West Virginia School Of Preaching (from which I graduated in 2001). Second, to stop at bookstores between Kentucky, West Virginia, and Ohio in an attempt to sell some of my books and magazines.

But I want to tell you about an event took place which is still impacting my thoughts.

On the way to Moundsville, I stopped at a restaurant in the nearby town of New Martinsville. Incidentally, this is the town where I was raised as a child. In this particular restaurant, the owners have decorated the walls with pictures of high school students from years gone by, spanning several decades. As I walked through the establishment on my way to a table, I had to stop and look at some of the pictures. I experienced a strange feeling as I stopped and observed those photographs.

Within those pictures, preserved in moments of time, were so many individuals. Each had his or her own entire story, family, experiences, and backgrounds that helped to mold who they were, who they became, and where they went.

How many had been born in that small West Virginia town?

How many still lived there?

How many have gone on to other areas of the country…or the world?

How many have passed into eternity?

Did our paths ever cross?

In what ways did our personal stories intersect and affect others?

During this, I met a gentleman who was a lifelong resident of New Martinsville. As we ate, we talked for about an hour of years gone by, of present situations, of family, of people we had known.

We discussed a friend of mine from high school who had taken his life when I was a sophomore.

He told me about a young man I had known who had died in a horrific car accident some years after I moved away.

I told him about my parents and my brother, and about ministry as a Gospel preacher in the beautiful state of Kentucky.

We spoke of the Lord, of days gone by, of people alive and dead, of sports, and of schools, and of churches.

Memories of 9-11, of the Washington Sniper, of Covid, of so many other things

As I was preparing to leave, I as reminded of a scene from the movie Star Trek: The Search For Spock. In the previous movie, one of the heroes of the Star Trek universe, Spock, had heroically and nobly given his life to save his friends. On top of that, we were introduced to Kirk’s son, David, who was unaware that Kirk was his father. Then, suddenly Spock was dead, David was gone again, and Kirk is left alone!

It had a profound impact on Captain Kirk, and in the beginning of the third movie, we find the Captain making a ship’s log.

He says this:

“And Enterprise feels like a house with all the children gone. No, more empty even than that.”

In a way, that is how this brief visit has felt to me.

Lately, I have become very much aware that the numbers of days ahead for me are likely fewer then the days behind.

Looking at my life, I see seasons that are completed and finished.

Once, this thought would have filled me with sadness.

Yet now I look at those days with gratitude and awe at the God Who has brought me through everything that I have faced (both good and bad).

Ephesians 5:15 (TPT)-So be very careful how you live, not being like those with no understanding, but live honorably with true wisdom, for we are living in evil times. Take full advantage of every day as you spend your life for his purposes.

I am excited about what the unknown future holds, knowing that He Who walks with me each step of the way will never leave me or forsake me.

What grand adventures still await?!

And when the time is right, and my work on this good Earth is finished, the weight of these present moments will give way to the greatest adventure of all: the beauty of Heaven!

The home prepared by our Savior.

Ecclesiastes 3:11-He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

John 14:1-3-Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

Say friend, is Heaven your home too?

To those who are not Christians, God’s Word bids you to come to Jesus so that you can have that promised land when your pilgrimage is finished.

Acts 2:38-Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

If you are a baptized Christian who has turned from the Lord in sin, come back to Him!

1 John 1:9-If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Let’s follow Jesus together, and look forward to those mansions He is building.

Lord, thank You for loving us and for the plan of salvation. Help us to humble ourselves and follow where Your Word leads. Amen.

Learning To Rightly Use The Keys Of The Kingdom

Mark Tabata — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 01:08:54 GMT

Friday, October 23 2026

Matthew 5:3-11- "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

Jesus is Man, but He is also God.

This duality of the Christ is one of the great teachings of God’s Word. Numerous Scriptures remind us about both the humanity (Genesis 3:15; 49:10; Psalm 22:1-21; Philippians 2:5-9; Colossians 2:9) and the Deity (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 48:16; Psalm 45:6-7; John 1:1-14) of Christ. He is as unique in His Being as He is in His wisdom. The Beatitudes, which are the in many ways the keys for accessing Christ’s kingdom, display this uniqueness as well.

FREDERICK WILLIAM IV OF PRUSSIA ONCE VISITED A SCHOOL and asked the children some questions. Pointing to the stone in his ring, a flower in his button-hole, and a bird that flew past the window, he asked to what kingdom each of them belonged. The children gave him the right answers: the mineral, the vegetable, and the animal kingdoms. Then he asked, “To what kingdom do I belong?” That is really the supreme question facing every man. For some men the answer is the animal kingdom, because they live on the appetite level, and are controlled by their passions and physical desires. But most people rise above the animal level. They have a sense of right and wrong, a feeling of duty and decency, some ideals and purposes. However, some rise to an even higher kingdom. No one can think of Christ as being animal. Though He took the form of man, the word “human” is insufficient to describe Him. Christ was divine. He belonged to a kingdom beyond the kingdoms of this world. The Bible tells us we can enter jointly with Him into His kingdom: “The Spirit itself heareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8: 16,17). We can belong to the Kingdom of God! That is a thrilling fact and gives to every life a thrilling mission. Recently someone asked me this question, “What do you want ten years from now?” I might answer that I want to be preaching, to be helping to build some church, some degree of comfort and security, to see my children becoming established in life. There are so many things I want. But if I know my heart, as I think I do, I want, above all things, to belong to the Kingdom of God. Well, Jesus gave us eight keys to God’s kingdom. (Dr. Charles L. Allen, God's Psychiatry: Healing for Your Troubled Heart, 129-130 (Kindle Edition): Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books)

When we learn the meaning and application of the Beatitudes in our everyday lives, we will truly understand the keys of the kingdom of Heaven.

What are some ways that we can apply these principles to our lives?

How can we use these keys of the kingdom to become more successful in our own spiritual and emotional life?

Father, thank You for Your wisdom. Help us to see where we are lacking in our life and make the changes we need. Amen.

The Power Of The Beatitudes

Mark Tabata — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 00:59:30 GMT

Thursday, October 22 2026

The section of Scripture that here introduces the Lord’s famous Sermon on the Mount begins with a set of principles generally known as the Beatitudes. These are attitudes which the Lord which the Lord teaches us to learn and put into practice in our lives so that we can live in the power of God’s kingdom. Warren Wiersbe describes this so well.

This is what the Beatitudes are all about. They explain how you can reign in life and live like an heir of the King. Most people think of the Beatitudes as a collection of idealistic sayings—beautiful to read but impossible to practice. How wrong they are! In fact, the entire Sermon on the Mount is a glorious explanation of what life is really like when you reign through the power of the Holy Spirit. Dr. G. Campbell Morgan called the Sermon on the Mount “The Manifesto of the King,” and that is just what it is. Jesus Christ the King is telling us how to live like kings. He is explaining how to reign over such servants as ego, so that you practice humility and not pride; power, so that you build up and do not destroy; appetite, so that you crave purity and not sin. The Beatitudes tell you how to get back in the saddle so that you are riding like a king and not trudging like a slave. (Warren W. Wiersbe, Heirs of the King: Living the Beatitudes, 10 (Kindle Edition): Grand Rapids, MI: Discovery House)

The Beatitudes contain the keys to living victoriously in life as members of God’s kingdom, no matter what our station or circumstance. The world often laughs and mocks the beauty and elegance of the Beatitudes, and yet their wisdom stands unmatched especially in contrast with the wisdom of the world.

Are we living triumphantly as part of God’s kingdom?

Give us wisdom, Lord. Amen.

Let’s Ask Fermi

Mark Tabata — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 00:54:53 GMT

Wednesday, October 21 2026

Isaiah 45:18-For thus says the LORD, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: "I am the LORD, and there is no other.

The Bible teaches that one of the things which is unique about Earth is that God designed it to be inhabited. Indeed, His purpose for making the starry heavens and the Earth was not “in vain.” That is, His purpose in crating the heavens and the Earth was fulfilled in His purpose to make a planet in the universe which would be suitable for humanity to “inhabit.” Among other things, this speaks to us about the uniqueness of our planet.

Many people object to this, having been indoctrinated in something known as the Copernican Principle. This idea maintains that Earth is one of millions of life-friendly planets in the universe, that it is a mediocre planet in a vast collection of planets that any number of species could live on and thrive.

That brings us to a physicist named Enrico Fermi.

Who is he, you ask?

Our privileged status in the universe is also highlighted by what is known as the Fermi paradox. Famously summarized through a question-“But where is everybody?”-, the Fermi paradox is the apparent conflict between the high statistical probability that there is intelligent life in the universe and the fact that we haven’t seen any sign of it so far. The eponymous author of this so-called paradox, the Italian-American physicist Enrico Fermi, abruptly asked this question after having an informal conversation on the topic of UFOs with a couple of fellow scientists in the 1950s. It is a paradox only because we’re “modest” again, this time about the possibility of being the only intelligent species in the entire universe. And yet direct experience shows us that it’s highly likely that we’re all alone. There are at least 100 billion stars in our galaxy, and some of these stars have planets located in the goldilocks zone, the region around a star where the temperature is just right for liquid water to exist and life as we know it to potentially flourish. Given that some of these stars are billions of years older than Earth, if intelligent life is as common as some scientists suggest, our galaxy would have been colonized a long time ago, and yet we haven’t come across any extraterrestrial civilizations, their probes, or their radio signals. One of the first scientific papers to explore the Fermi paradox was published by the astrophysicist Michael Hart. After reviewing many speculations, ranging from the infeasibility of space travel to the predisposition of advanced civilizations to destroy themselves, it concluded that the most reasonable explanation is that we’re the only intelligent species in the galaxy. And if we’re alone in our galaxy, we're very likely alone in the entire universe. The Fermi paradox shows that life in general, and intelligent life in particular, are not as common as some biologists would have us believe. Being the only intelligent species in the universe is a privilege that no special physical position can provide. We're the only ones who bring meaning to the cosmic game of particle billiards. (Christian Bandea, God of the Details: The Scientific Cover-Up of Intelligent Design, 34-35 (Kindle Edition): Independently Published)

The truth, as it is often said, is much stranger fiction.

On the one hand: the world of science-fiction would have us believe that the universe is a hotbed of intelligent life, and that Earth is just one of many planets with people.

On the other hand: the world of inspired Scripture and of scientific fact which tell a far different story: the eternal Creator exists, His Word is true, and Earth is amazingly untrue among the other planets in our universe.

So which will you believe?

The inspired and proven Word of God (in science and Scripture), or the message of the UFO enthusiasts which are so popular today?

Revelation 22:17-And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

Lord, open our eyes to Your truth. Amen.

The Sting Of The Scorpion

Mark Tabata — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 19:59:34 GMT

.Mark Tabata’s Weekday Devotionals

Tuesday, October 20 2026

Revelation 9:1-12-Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. 2 And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. 3 Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. 6 In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them. 7 The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. 8 They had hair like women's hair, and their teeth were like lions' teeth. 9 And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle. 10 They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months. 11 And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon. 12 One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things.

The Book of Revelation contains a series of visions, each beginning with Jesus’ First Coming, progressing through the Christian Age, and ending with the Second Coming. In each of these visions, several themes are repeated from different vantage points. The initial defeat of Satan at the First Coming, the gradual increase in power of Satan and his forces during the Christian Dispensation, the suffering of God’s people on Earth, the security and safety of Gods people in Paradise, and the final defeat of Satan and victory of the church at the Second Coming, are just some of those prominent themes.

In Revelation 9, John describes the continuing saga of the suffering of God’s faithful people on Earth during the Christian Age.

Let’s notice several lessons from this passage.

First, John tells us about a time between the First Coming and Second Coming when Hades itself is opened and the souls of the dammed are released into the world of humanity. The word “Hades” is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word “Sheol.” These refer to the “realm of the dead,” which in God’s Word is associated with “the bottomless pit.”

For example, notice what Paul tells us.

Romans 10:7-or, " 'WHO WILL DESCEND INTO THE ABYSS?' " (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).

In this text, the “Abyss” is literally “the bottomless pit,” and this is here joined with the realm of “the dead” (i.e, Sheol/Hades).

We learn from Revelation 9 that during the Christian Dispensation, Satan’s power will increase on Earth and that the multiplying powers of Hades itself are unleashed upon humanity. As such, Scripture is clear that during the Christian Age, Satan will replenish much of his power before the Second Advent of the Son of God. This is one powerful argument the claim that all demonic activity in the world ceased on the Day that Jesus died, and that Satan is presently locked away in Hell.

Second, the imagery of the locusts and scorpions is very interesting. In Jewish legend, these are often associated with the demonic powers of darkness. As an example, consider the book known as the Testament Of Solomon (alluded to by both Jesus and Paul). King Solomon captures several demons, and look at what the seventh tells him.

“41. Likewise also the seventh said: “I am the worst, and I make you worse off than you were; because I will impose the bonds of Artemis. But the locust will set me free, for by means of it, it is fated that you will achieve my desire. For if one were wise, he would not turn his steps toward me.”” (Translated by F. C. Conybeare -Revised English and partial translation by Jeremy Kapp, The Testament Of Solomon, 142 (Kindle Edition): Publisher Unknown)

Observe the parallel thought between the demon that has been captured, and his belief that the “locust” will set him free. It is also fascinating that the “locust” seems to be connected in some way with the goddess, Artemis. Scripture is clear that the gods and goddesses of the pagans are often fallen angels and demons (Deuteronomy 32:16-17; 1 Corinthians 10:19-30; Psalm 82; 96:5). The link between the “locust” and “demons” is evident from this account.

We see the same in regard to the relationship between scorpions and evil spirits in Jewish extra-biblical texts.

Hell has seven divisions, one beneath the other. They are called Sheol, Abaddon, Beer Shahat, Tit ha-Yawen, Sha'are Mawet, Sha'are Zalmawet: and Gehenna. It requires three hundred years to traverse the height, or the width, or the depth of each division, and it would take six thousand three hundred years to go over a tract of land equal in extent to the seven divisions. Each of the seven divisions in turn has seven subdivisions, and in each compartment there are seven rivers of fire and seven of hail. The width of each is one thousand ells, its depth one thousand, and its length three hundred, and they flow one from the other, and are supervised by ninety thousand Angels of Destruction. There are, besides, in every compartment seven thousand caves, in every cave there are seven thousand crevices, and in every crevice seven thousand scorpions. Every scorpion has three hundred rings, and in every ring seven thousand pouches of venom, from which flow seven rivers of deadly poison. If a man handles it, he immediately bursts, every limb is torn from his body, his bowels are cleft asunder, and he falls upon his face. (Louis Ginzberg, The Legends of the Jews, 242-250 (Kindle Edition): Philadelphia, PA: The Jewish Publication Society Of America)

It isn’t that the Jews believed that locusts and scorpions were literal demons. Instead, they saw characteristics between certain animals and demonic spirits.

Third, the Bible and Jewish legend help us to better understand what the primary “sting” of the scorpions and locusts is.

It is false teaching!

The combination of serpents (9: 19) and scorpions (vv 3, 5, 10) reflects a broader linkage in biblical and ancient thought, where the combination was metaphorical for judgment in general and deception or delusion in particular (e.g., Deut. 8: 15; Sir. 39: 30; CD 8.9-11; Luke 10: 19; m. Aboth 2.10; Midr. Rab. Num. 10.2). In Num. 21: 6 and Deut. 8: 15 the reference is to “fiery serpents,” which is similar to the threefold repetition of fire in connection with serpents in Rev. 9: 17-19. In Num. 21: 6 the serpents’ bite, as here, kills a significant portion of the people because of unbelief. Sir. 39: 27-31 provides a striking parallel with Rev. 9: 3-4, 15-19: “All these things are for good to the godly; so to the sinners they are turned into evil. There are spirits created for vengeance, which in their fury lay on sore strokes; in the time of destruction they pour out their force, and appease the wrath of him that made them. Fire and … death … all these were created for vengeance … scorpions [and] serpents … punishing the wicked to destruction … they will be prepared on earth, when need is; and when their time is come, they will not go beyond his word.” These afflictions occur generally throughout all ages. Likewise, John understood that the sufferings he was narrating were already occurring and were not to be limited to a period immediately preceding the parousia. This is also hinted at by another conspicuous parallel, Luke 10: 17-19, where “the demons” are called “serpents and scorpions and … the power of the enemy,” over which Christians presently have power, but which can still “harm” unbelievers. The harm associated with the two repellent creatures is sometimes metaphorically expressed as deception, which is undoubtedly implicit in the Lukan text. Ps. 57( 58): 4( 3)-7( 6) refers to the “lie” that sinners “speak” as “venom … like that of a serpent, as that of a deaf asp …”; these liars also have “the cheek teeth of the lions” (cf. Rev. 9: 8-10, 17; cf. also Sir. 21: 2). CD 8.9-13 compares the High Priest in Jerusalem and the Roman authorities with “the poison of serpents and the head of asps.” This metaphor explains the harm of false teaching and deception that the High Priest had caused (cf. also CD 1.14-15). Jesus calls the Pharisees “serpents, … brood of vipers” partly because they were “blind guides” to others (Matt. 23: 15-33). In CD 5.12-14 those participating in the same false teaching are compared to “kindlers of fire and lighters of brands” and to spiders and adders. Similarly, Targ. Pal. Deut. 32: 33 refers to the “evil counsels … [and] wicked thoughts” of idolatrous Israelites as being “as serpents’ heads”; likewise, Targ. Jer. Deut. 32: 33 speaks of “their malice like the head of asps.” Targ. Onk. Deut. 32: 32-33 affirms that the “plagues” on Israelite idolaters “will be evil as the heads of serpents, and the retribution of their works like their venom,” and then compares this punishment to that of Sodom and Gomorrah, as does Rev. 9: 18. Midr. Rab. Num. 10.2 says that God’s judgment of the idolatrous nations persecuting Israel will be like “the basilisk [who] severs man from life,” and God’s judgment on the wicked within Israel is compared to “a bee sting and a scorpion bite.” Those suffering the latter affliction will have “their minds … deranged, and their heart will utter confused things.” We see here that serpents and scorpions may have been used to signify doctrinal deception because their bite or sting can cause mental delusion leading to death. Prov. 23: 32-33 is adduced to supplement the imagery. In Proverbs the harm of too much wine is likened to “bites like a serpent and stings like a viper” resulting in the eyes seeing “strange things” and the “mind … uttering perverse things.” Consequently, again, in the Midrash and Proverbs the serpent-scorpion metaphor concerns a woe of delusion (cf. Prov. 23: 29; not coincidentally, the severity of the judgment in the Midrash is compared to that of Pharaoh in Exodus). In 1QH 3( 11). 16-18, 25-27; 5( 13). 27 the “pit” and “abyss” open and spit out billows, arrows, and “the spirits of the Asp” against hardened hypocrites, “leaving [them] no hope.” This affliction arising from the pit is interpreted as deceptive influences (especially false teaching) affecting the ungodly but not those truly loyal to God (2[ 10]. 12-34; 4[ 12]. 5-22). In b. Aboth 2.10 the words of the wise exponents of Torah do harm to those who do not obey them, and, in apparent contrast to the preceding imagery, describes this harm as “the sting of a scorpion … the hiss of a serpent … coals of fire.” Yet this is similar to Rev. 11: 5 and overlaps generally with some of the above imagery in its emphasis on judgment through the infliction of harm. Indeed, the reference associates closely the metaphors of scorpions and serpents with teaching, though in this case the focus is on the results that true teaching has for those responding wrongly to it. (G.K. Beale, The Book of Revelation (New International Greek Testament Commentary (NIGTC), 921-923 (Kindle Edition): Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company).

One of Satan’s greatest ploys is to work through deception and lead people away from the Word of God.

John 8:44-You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

Revelation 12:9-So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

How unsurprising, then, that during the Christian Age, the devil and his forces work so hard to try and lead people away from the truth and authority of Scripture. Many reject the authority of God’s Word in favor of modern day substitutions (popes, church councils, monarchal bishops, creeds, traditions, etc.), and this will lead to pain and heartbreak.

John 12:48-He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.

Lord, give us humility and wisdom to accept Your Word, even when obeying such can lead to difficult times and adversities in this world. Help us to be faithful pilgrims looking for the city with foundations, people that You will not be ashamed of. Amen.

The Folded Napkin

Mark Tabata — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 19:45:44 GMT

Mark Tabata’s Weekday Devotionals

Monday, October 19 2026

John 20:6-7-Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself.

Everything in the Bible is significant.

One example of this is found in what John records regarding the clothes that he and Peter found at the tomb where Jesus was resurrected. Please observe that John goes to great detail to document that there was a “handkerchief” that had been around Jesus’ head. He goes on to tell us that it was “”folded together in a place by itself.”

Why, someone might ask, would John include that detail?

Enter a man by the name of Dinesh D’Souza.

This gentleman has written several excellent books regarding Christianity and American history. In his most recent book on the subject of Biblical archaeology, The Stones Cry Out, he describes his recent and informative visit to Israel.

Keynan is a Messianic Jew—a Jewish believer in Jesus. He told us about Jewish customs of Jesus’ day and of today that give us a deeper understanding of the significance of this scene. “Even today,” Keynan said, “when my father has a bunch of people at a meal, if he has to leave, he will either fold his napkin and place it on the table, or he will toss it and then leave.” “What,” I asked, “is the meaning of that?” “If he tosses it,” Keynan said, “that means the meeting is over. People are free to leave. But if he folds it, that means no one should get up. That means he is coming back.” A strange feeling came over me as I applied what Keynan said to the folded clothes in Jesus’ empty tomb. Debbie and I were with another couple from Montreal, cultural Christians who had never previously considered seriously whether the things they had been taught in childhood were actually true. I saw the expression of astonishment on their faces, which they tried quickly to conceal, almost as if it came with a note of reluctance. (Dinesh D’Souza, The Stones Cry Out: Biblical Archaeology, Prophecy, and the Last Days, 3-4 (Kindle Edition): Lake Mary, FL: Frontline)

I had heard this before, but was told it was just unfounded Facebook drivel. Yet here is a Messianic Jew documenting the significance of the folded napkin. It teaches us some very important lessons.

First, in our studies of the Bible, we need to be willing to study outside of the Bible to better understand what is inside the Bible. The Bible itself authorizes this by referring time and again to uninspired books that are worthy of consideration. Examples include First Enoch, Jubilees, Jasher, 1 and 2 Maccabees, the Ascension Of Isaiah, The Testament of Job, etc. We should never be afraid of carefully examining other books that help us better understand the context and content of Scripture.

Second, this speaks to the factuality of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The folded napkin was a not so subtle reminder that Jesus arose from the grave, and by this act several things are shown to be true. By the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, Jesus is declared to be the Son of God with power (Romans 1:4), the fact of the Day of Judgment is assured (Acts 17:30-31), salvation is made possible (Romans 6:3-4), and the promise of new life in Christ and the hope of Heaven is secured (1 Peter 1:3-5).

Finally, Jesus is coming back!

Are we ready for that Day (Acts 2:37-47; 1 John 1:9)?

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.

What Muslims Think Christians Mean By Saying That Jesus Christ Is The “Son Of God”

Mark Tabata — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 23:43:20 GMT

Mark Tabata’s Weekday Devotionals

Friday, October 16 2026

Matthew 24:24-For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

One of the great teachings of the Bible is that Jesus is the Son of God. This has been made abundantly clear in both the Old and New Testaments.

Proverbs 30:4-Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son's name, If you know?

Isaiah 9:6–For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

John 3:16-For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

1 John 4:9-10-In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

When studying with our Muslim neighbors, it is important to realize what they believe the phrase “Son of God” means when disciples of Christ use it.

Ibn Kathir understood Muhammad’s teachings. Muhammad taught that Christians held the doctrine that God took Mary as His wife or concubine, impregnated her, and as a result she later gave birth to Jesus. The Quran challenges, “Allah could not have had a son because he took no wife.” Later in Medina, Muhammad, still not understanding the Christian doctrine of Jesus’ sonship, continued to speak out against the idea that God had fleshly relations with Mary: And they say: Allah hath taken unto Himself a Son. Be He glorified! Nay, but whatsoever is in the heaven and the earth, His. All are subservient unto Him. The Originator of the heavens and the earth! When He decreeth a thing, He saith unto it only: Be! and it is (2: 116-117). Again Ibn Kathir comments on the Quran’s rejection of Jesus’ sonship: This and the following Ayat refute the Christians, may Allah curse them, and their like among the Jews and the Arab idolators, who claimed that the angels are Allah’s daughters. Allah refuted all of them in their claim that He had begotten a son… All creatures are Allah’s servants and are owned by Him. Therefore, how could one of them be His son? The son of any being is born out of two comparable beings. Allah has no equal or rival sharing His grace and greatness, so how can He have a son when He has no wife? 8 Ibn Kathir refers to a union of flesh to produce offspring. Since there was no woman comparable to Allah then Allah could not have taken a wife to have relations with. Note here that in all of these verses a physical union (with Mary), is presented and rejected by the Quran. Muhammad countered that concept and said that Allah only needed to speak “Be” and in that fashion Mary conceived miraculously. Muhammad did not understand the very essence of Christianity. His knowledge of Christianity seems to be flawed and inaccurate, that is, that a follower of Jesus believes that God had sex with Mary! This is contrary to what the Bible teaches. We believe that Jesus, in eternal relationship with God, took upon Himself human form. (Josh McDowell, Jim Walker, Understanding Islam and Christianity: Beliefs That Separate Us and How to Talk About Them, 66-67 (Kindle Edition): Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers)

What does the phrase “Son of God” actually mean? The answer lies in recognizing that the phrase “son of” often had a metaphorical use in the Bible.

(b) huios is used metaphorically to denote membership of a particular group of people (e.g., “heirs [lit., sons] of the prophets,” Acts 3: 25; “son of a Pharisee,” 23: 6). “Son of man” can denote membership in the human race (Mk. 3: 28; Heb. 2: 6; see “ho huios tou anthrōpou, the Son of Man,” below). huios can denote participation in a greater whole: “children of the resurrection” (Lk. 20: 36), “sons of the kingdom” (Matt. 13: 38), “sons of light” (Jn. 12: 36; cf. 1 Thess. 5: 5), “sons of the evil one” (Matt. 13: 38), “child of the devil” (Acts 13: 10), and “Sons of Thunder” (Mk. 3: 17). (Verlyn D. Verbrugge, New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology: Abridged Edition, 569 (Kindle Edition): Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan)

Rhodes provides more detail.

Such an understanding is based on a faulty conception of what “Son of...” meant among the ancients. Though the term can refer to “offspring of” in some contexts, it carries the more important meaning, “of the order of.”[ 23] The phrase is often used this way in the Old Testament. For example, “sons of the prophets” meant “of the order of prophets” (1 Kings 20: 35). “Sons of the singers” meant “of the order of singers” (Neh. 12: 28). Likewise, the phrase “Son of God” means “of the order of God,” and represents a claim to undiminished deity. Ancient Semitics and Orientals used the phrase “Son of...” to indicate likeness or sameness of nature and equality of being.[ 24] Hence, when Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, his Jewish contemporaries fully understood that he was making a claim to be God in an unqualified sense. Benjamin B. Warfield affirms that, from the earliest days of Christianity, the phrase “Son of God” was understood to be fully equivalent to God.[ 25] This is why, when Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, the Jews insisted: “We have a law, and according to that law he [Christ] must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God” (John 19: 7, insert mine). Recognizing that Jesus was identifying himself as God, the Jews wanted to put him to death for committing blasphemy (see Lev. 24: 16). Scripture indicates that Christ’s Sonship is an eternal Sonship.[ 26] It is one thing to say that Jesus became the Son of God; it is another thing altogether to say that he was always the Son of God. We must recognize that if there was a time when the Son was not the Son, then, to be consistent, there was also a time when the Father was not the Father. If the first person’s designation as “Father” is an eternal title, then the second person’s designation as “Son” must be so regarded. Seen in this way, Christ’s identity as the Son of God does not connote inferiority or subordination either of essence or position. (Ron Rhodes, Christ Before the Manger: The Life and Times of the Preincarnate Christ, 29-30 (Kindle Edition); Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock Publishers)

Saying that Jesus is “the Son of God” means that He is of the same Nature as God, not that He is the biological offspring of God via sexual intercourse.

Lord Jesus, thank You for revealing Yourself as the Son of God to mankind. We praise You! Help us to reach out with these truths to our Muslim friends and neighbors. Amen.

The Apiru And The Conquest Of Canaan

Mark Tabata — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 19:02:31 GMT

Mark Tabata’s Weekday Devotionals

Thursday, October 15 2026

Genesis 15:13-16-Then He said to Abram: "Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. 14 And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions. 15 Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. 16 But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete."

One of the greatest events of the Bible is the Conquest of the land of Canaan.

Our Lord instructed the Hebrews to go into the land of Canaan, which was largely populated by wicked giants, and “utterly destroy” or “drive them” from the land (Numbers 33:50-56). The Hebrews then were to take control of and occupy the land, which they would inhabit and possess as long as they were faithful to the Lord (Joshua 23:14-16).

Skeptics of the Bible argue that the Conquest was a myth invented by Jewish people long after the events of the Book of Joshua. They argue that the Canaanites living in the land of Canaan would have made some mention of this Conquest if it had occurred, and so the Conquest cannot be true!

Sounds logical, doesn’t it?

The problems is….

The Canaanites DID make mention of the Conquest! .

The term Apiru, which appears throughout the archive, is merely the Akkadian cognate of the word Hebrew (Habiru), Akkadian being the diplomatic language in which most of the tablets are written. The critics know this very well, and those who deliberately disguise the meaning and hide it from the public-which many of them have done since the archive’s discovery in 1887-commit a very grave offence indeed. To counter this concerted misrepresentation, in the quotes below we have rendered the Akkadian word Apiru in all places into its proper meaning of Hebrew, or Hebrews. This will allow the reader to see the contents of the tablets in their correct historical context and perspective. The quotes below are not from one, but from many Canaanite kings, each of them complaining in turn that as the Hebrews come closer to them, so their danger increases. At the end of each quote, we give the tablet number and the line of text in which the quote appears. It is not a complete list of the occurrences, nor can we be at all sure that the tablets have been catalogued in their correct chronological order. In fact the order appears to have been inverted for some reason, a matter which we will discuss a little later. In the Appendices, we give the full text of some of the Amarna letters, so that the reader can better judge the context in which certain of the quotes below are given: “Now he is like the Hebrew, a runaway dog....” EA 67: 17. “The war of the Hebrew hosts against me is most severe....” EA 68: 18. “Through the Hebrews his auxiliary force is strong!.... Let him not gather together all the Hebrews....” EA 71: 21 & 29. “Kill your lord and join the Hebrews.... and all the lands will be joined to the Hebrews.... EA 73: 29 & 33. “They were won over following his message, and they are like Hebrews.... that the entire country be joined to the Hebrews.” EA 74: 29 & 36. “The war, however, of the Hebrews against me is severe.... The Hebrews killed Aduna, the king of Irqata, and so they go on taking territory to themselves.” EA 75: 10 & 27. “He has just gathered together all the Hebrews against Sigata and Ampi, and he himself has taken these two cities.” EA 76: 18. “ ... speak to your lord so that he will send you at the head of the archers to drive off the Hebrews...” EA77: 24 & 29. “... all the Hebrews... have turned against me.... If there are no archers, then all lands will be joined to the Hebrews. Listen!” EA 79: 10 & 20. “He said to the men of Gubla, ‘Kill your lord, and be joined to the Hebrews like Ammiya.’” EA 81: 13. “All the Hebrews are on his side.... he is strong.” EA 82: 9. “The Hebrews have taken the entire country!” EA 83: 17. “... the Hebrews have gone to Yapah-Hadda in Beirut so an alliance might be formed.... the lands have been joined to the Hebrews.... lest he gather together all the Hebrews and they seize the city.” EA 85: 41, 73 & 78. “Let an elite force, together with chariots, advance with you, that I may drive the Hebrews from the gate.” EA 87: 21. “But if the king my lord does not give heed to the words of his servant... all the lands of the king as far as Egypt will be joined to the Hebrews.” EA 88: 34. “You yourself have been negligent of your cities, so that the Hebrew dog takes them.” EA 90: 25. “Why have you sat idly by and done nothing, so that the Hebrew dog takes your cities?.... I have just heard that he has gathered together all the Hebrews to attack me!” EA 91: 5 & 24. “They would attack me and I would be unable to get out, and Gubla would be joined to the Hebrews. They have gone to Ibirta, and an agreement has been made with the Hebrews.” EA 104: 49-54. “If this year there are no archers, then all lands will be joined to the Hebrews. Behold, members of the [Hebrew] army have entered Akka....!” EA 111: 21. “I paid 13 shekels of silver and a pair of mantles as the hire of the Hebrews....” EA 112: 46. “... all my towns have been joined to the Hebrews....” EA 116: 38. “There is treachery against me.... all the lands will belong to the Hebrews.... What am I to do? May the king send a garrison and men from Meluhha to guard me. May the city not be joined to the Hebrews!” EA 117: 58 & 94. “Behold... the Hebrews will seize the city!” EA 118: 38. “... the sons of Abdi-Asirta have said to the Hebrews and the men who have joined them...” EA 121: 21. “Should Gubla be joined to the Hebrews....” EA 127: 22. “They have won the lands for the Hebrews....” EA 129: 94. “They are like dogs, and there is no one who wants to serve them. What am I, who live among the Hebrews, to do?” EA 130: 38. “Now Aziru has gathered all the Hebrews....” EA 132: 21. “All the cities that the king put in my charge have been joined to the Hebrews.... a man that will lead the archers of the king to call to account the cities that have been joined to the Hebrews, so you can restore them to my charge....” EA 144: 26 & 30. “The king of Hasura has abandoned his house and has aligned himself with the Hebrews.... He has taken over the land of the king for the Hebrews.” EA 148: 43 & 45. “He has made Amurru an enemy territory, and has turned over all the men in the cities of the king... to the Hebrews.” EA 179: 22. “... when the Hebrew forces waged war against the king.... The Hebrews captured Mahzibtu... then the Hebrews took refuge.... And the Hebrews captured Gilunu.... And the Hebrews captured Magdalu... plundered it, sent it up in flames.... And the Hebrews captured Ustu.... And then the Hebrews raided Hasi... we did battle with the Hebrews.... Then 40 Hebrews went to Amanhatpe... Amanhatpe is an Hebrew.... &c.” EA 185. “... allowed all of the cities of the king, my lord, to go over to the Hebrews in Tahsi and Upu.... I restored from the Hebrews.... I disbanded the Hebrews.” EA 189r 11, 17-18. “They gave his horses and his chariot to the Hebrews....” EA 197: 4. “Lost to the Hebrews from my control are all the cities of the king.” EA 207: 21. “... all the lands are lost to the Hebrews.” EA 215: 15. “And as the warring of the Hebrews in the land is severe...” EA 243: 20. “The two sons of Labayu have indeed given their money to the Hebrews...” EA 246r: 7. “I did not know that my son was consorting with the Hebrews.” EA 254: 34. “So may the king, my lord, save his land from the power of the Hebrews.” EA 271: 16. “... and the entire land of the king, my lord, has deserted to the Hebrews.” EA 272: 17. “... and gone is the land of the king, my lord, by desertion to the Hebrews.... know that the Hebrews wrote to Ayyaluna and to Sarha, and the two sons of Milkilu barely escaped being killed.” EA 273: 14 & 19. “May the king, my lord, save his land from the power of the Hebrews lest it be lost.” EA 274: 13. “... my lord, why do you love the Hebrews, but hate the [city] governors?.... That Hebrew has plundered all the lands of the king.” EA 286: 19 & 56. “... who have given the land of the king to the Hebrews.” EA 287: 31. “I am treated like an Hebrew.... but now the Hebrews have taken the very cities of the king.... ” EA 288: 38 & 41-47. “... when he was giving the land of Sakmu to the Hebrews?” EA 289: 24. “The land of the king deserted to the Hebrews.... the land of the king will desert to the Hebrews.” EA 290: 13 & 24. “... having become my enemy, entered Muhhazu and pledged himself to the Hebrews!” EA 298: 27. “Since the Hebrews are stronger than we.... may the king, my lord, get me away from the Hebrews, lest the Hebrews destroy us.” EA 299: 18, 24 & 26. “As the Hebrews are more powerful than we...” EA 305: 22. “... merchants from Egypt who were struck down in the attack of the Hebrews.” EA 313: 6. “Save me from the powerful enemies, from the hand of the Hebrews....!” EA 318: 11. ... and so on. But there are added corroborations for the Book of Joshua amongst the Amarna Tablets, and one of them is the specific mention of “men of Judah”–ameluti Ia-u-du!–and “armed men [or warriors] of Judah”–ameluti sabe Ia-u-du. 2 The Canaanite spelling of Ia-u-du is identical to that of Assyrian inscriptions which later speak of Judah, and it is interesting to see the men of Judah and the many cities allotted to Judah set out so precisely in Joshua 15. The tribe of Judah formed a major component of Joshua’s people, and it is interesting to see the Canaanites unwittingly acknowledging that fact. It is also worth noting a complaint made by Abdi-heba, king of Jerusalem, that he is troubled by the men of “Laba,” or Levi in the Hebrew. 3 (Bill Cooper, The Authenticity of the Book of Joshua, 246-330 (Kindle Edition): Creation Science Movement)

The archaeological evidences supporting the authenticity of the Bible are as numerous as they are astounding. Satan would have you believe that the Scriptures are a collection of unproven legends and myths; yet nothing could be further from the truth.

John 17:17-Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

Are you building your life on God’s holy Word?

Father, thank You for the confirmation of Your Word that exists in so many places. Strengthen our faith and help us walk closer to You each day. Amen.

A Tip For Salvaging Your Relationships

Mark Tabata — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 05:43:39 GMT

Mark Tabata’s Weekday Devotionals

Wednesday, October 14

1 Corinthians 4:14-I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.

The couple that I was counseling had a lot of anger towards each other.

Joe and Sally (not their real names) had been baptized and saved about a year earlier. They had two children, and both worked secularly. One Sunday after my morning sermon, they came to me and asked for a Bible study. I gladly agreed, and we got together.

It didn’t take long to realize that they were both FURIOUS with each other. Here was part of the trouble (some details changed to protect their privacy).

Joe: Brother Mark, I just don’t think our marriage is fixable.

Mark: Brother, tell me-from your perspective-what the problem is that you all want to discuss.

Joe: She got on Facebook and ran me and my my ex-girlfriend through the mud.

Mark: (Before I could say anything…)

Sally: Me?! What about what YOU said about me and my cooking on Facebook? You told everyone on your page that I cannot cook a decent meal, and that you missed your ex-girlfriend’s cooking!

Joe: I didn’t tell everyone that I missed my ex-girlfriend’s cooking! You did that on your Facebook post, blasting me and telling everyone on God’s green Earth how angry you were at me!

Mark: (Still unable to get a word in…)

Sally: You are always posting on Snapchat about how I look like a dog when I get caught in the rain. You even showed photos!

Joe: That is an exaggeration. You are always getting on Facebook and TikTok and telling everyone whenever I do anything that makes you mad! Why are you blaming me?!

Sally: Why are you blaming me? You never listen to me!

Joe: Well, you never listen to me!

Mark: Both of you, listen to me!

(Joe and Sally stopped glaring at each other long enough to glare at me. I think they forgot I was there. Then they allowed me to share some biblically sound counsel with them. They took it, and thank God, they were able to work through their marital issues).

I wish I could say that Joe and Sally’s experiences regarding social media and their relationship were unique, but I can’t.

In fact, I have worked with more couples and families over the years whose relationships have been strained, jeopardized, and sometimes destroyed over issues stemming from social media.

And guess what?

The main problem isn’t social media!

Look at what Peter says.

1 Peter 4:8-And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "LOVE WILL COVER A MULTITUDE OF SINS."

The Apostle here tells us about how love “will cover a multitude of sins.”

What does that mean?

Because love covers a multitude of sins -- This is the reason why Christians are strenuous in their love for each other. The same statement also occurs in James 5:20.45 "Covers" represents the Greek word kaluptō, which means "to cover up, to hide, to veil, to hinder the knowledge of a thing" (Thayer). Perhaps the "multitude of sins" that are covered are the sins of the one extending his or her love. The idea would be that when we love others God forgives our own sins.46 Perhaps the "multitude of sins" that are covered are the sins47 of the one who is the object of the Christian's love. Love doesn't magnify or publicize the sins of others into an excuse to quit showing love. The person who wants to love (extend acts of help and kindness) can do so in spite of the sins observed in the life of the one being helped. It is not that love is blind, but it is that love loves a person just as he is, faults and all. (Gareth L. Reese, New Testament Epistles: 1 2 Peter Jude-A Critical And Exegetical Commentary, 4063-4070 (Kindle Edition): Moberly, MO: Scripture Exposition Books LLC).

When you love someone properly, you want to do what you can to shield them from embarrassment. Public shaming for private sins or offenses is not a good way to love someone properly, and I have never seen a soul saved in such a fashion.

Someone may say, “Social media is the culprit.”

In Joe and Sally’s case, social media did not help, but it was not the primary issue.

The problem was that they, in their anger, communicated to everyone else why they were angry instead of speaking to each other. They spoke about each other instead of to each other.

People have been doing that for years!

Social media just gives people a wider audience to gripe and shout out their personal grievances.

My advice to Joe and Sally was simple.

Deactivate all your social media for one month, and commit not to talk to ANYONE ELSE about why you are angry with each other if you get on each other’s nerves.

Instead, talk first to God (Philippians 4:6-7).

Then, to each other (Matthew 5:23-24).

They told me that advice helped them and their marriage.

They also decided not to start back on social media, because the temptation was too great to get online and post about each other when they get annoyed.

Good for them!

When your spouse, or child, or friend, or brother or sister in Christ, does something to annoy you, and it is something that you cannot overlook (Proverbs 19:11), go speak with them privately; going to others should be an absolute last resort (Matthew 18:15-18).

Keep people’s private offenses, failures, and struggles, in confidence.

Proverbs 11:13 (TPT)-You can’t trust gossipers with a secret; they’ll just go blab it all. Put your confidence instead in a trusted friend, for he will be faithful to keep it in confidence.

Luke 6:31-And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

In essence: ponder before you post.

Lord Jesus, help us to follow in Your footsteps in all of our relationships. Amen.

The Courtroom Trials From The Book Of Job

Mark Tabata — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 05:36:13 GMT

Mark Tabata’s Weekday Devotionals

Tuesday, October 13

Micah 6:1-3-Hear now what the LORD says: "Arise, plead your case before the mountains, And let the hills hear your voice. 2 Hear, O you mountains, the LORD's complaint, And you strong foundations of the earth; For the LORD has a complaint against His people, And He will contend with Israel. 3 "O My people, what have I done to you? And how have I wearied you? Testify against Me.

Have you ever stopped to consider that the Book of Job is like a series of court trials?

First, you have Satan putting God Himself on trial. This really makes sense, because the name “Satan” literally means “accuser.”

Satan's activity of bringing accusation is more in line with the extended usage of the Hebrew term satan. In the Old Testament the word is used elsewhere with the simple meaning ing of "accuser" or "adversary." The writer of 1 Samuel records, for instance, that the Philistines were opposed to David fighting with them, "lest in the battle he become an adversary [satan] to us" (1 Sam 29:4 RSV). Satan is thus an accuser and a powerful adversary against God's people. He performs his hostile functions against them by luring them into rebelling against the express will of God and by causing even physical destruction, pain and grief. In spite of Satan's powerful malignant activity, God's people are called to maintain their pure devotion to the Lord. (Clinton E. Arnold, Powers of Darkness: Principalities & Powers in Paul's Letters, 668-691 (Kindle Edition): Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press)

God is the Defendant, with Satan as the first district attorney. The “sons of God” (another name for the angels) are the jury. Yet they are also the subjects who could suffer the worse if they end up believing Satan’s charges against God, for then they could very easily rebel against God and be condemned to hell (Jude 6-7).

Later, Job himself wishes he could serve as the prosecuting attorney against God.

Job 9:2-3-Truly I know it is so, But how can a man be righteous before God? 3 If one wished to contend with Him, He could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.

Job 9:32-35-For He is not a man, as I am, That I may answer Him, And that we should go to court together. 33 Nor is there any mediator between us, Who may lay his hand on us both. 34 Let Him take His rod away from me, And do not let dread of Him terrify me. 35 Then I would speak and not fear Him, But it is not so with me.

Job doesn’t realize that in his speeches, he is already testifying against God, just like he wished!

Second, you have Job on trial. The ones prosecuting him-Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar- are his friends (although that is hard to see throughout the Book as they are not perhaps very “friendly” towards the patriarch). They are testifying against Job, saying that all the suffering that he endures is somehow his fault.

But help is on the way. Job’s buddies have heard of his problems and are coming to comfort their friend. And they are remarkable at it. The first thing they do is sit with him without saying a word for seven days! That is support. Day eight, they adjust their strategy. Eliphaz suggests that Job must have done something to earn what he is getting. In his view of God, admittedly very primitive, you get what you deserve. For this caliber of suffering to fall on his friend, something bad must have been going on in Job’s world. Eliphaz seemed to genuinely care for his friend. He was just trying to get him to admit his failures. The only problem was that Job couldn’t figure out what he had done to cause all the pain and loss. Then Bildad jumps in. Bildad suggests it was the wrongdoing of Job’s children that brought disaster on him. In Bildad’s world-view, the lightning strikes pretty close to the infraction. You see in the B.C. comic strip the misadventures of several prehistoric people. Someone does something wrong and then there’s a massive ZOT! And the wrongdoer is toast. Bildad was trying to help his friend see that Job’s kids had gotten out of hand, so God took care of it. Done and done. The final friend, Zophar, even goes so far as to hope that God will soon start to go after Job for his insistence that he didn’t do anything to bring this on himself. All these guys seemed to care for Job in his deep suffering—remember, they sat with their friend in silence for seven days! The only problem was that they were wrong. Finally, God does speak. He challenges many of Job’s anguished words, but he never once says that Job’s friends were right. He makes it clear that Job didn’t deserve what happened—only that there was much more going on than Job could possibly understand. (Jim Pace, Should We Fire God?: Finding Hope in God When We Don't Understand, 178-179 (Kindle Edition): New York, NY: FaithWords Hachette Book Group)

We learn later that Job’s friends are as wrong about Job and God, as Job himself is about God! God’s questions in Job 38-41 vindicate Him and His goodness. Indeed, the creation itself is called to testify of God’s glory and grace.

Even if it is not meant literally, God’s description of the sunrise speaks clearly to a central aspect of Job’s protest: far from an amoral dictatorship in which the earth is under the power of the wicked (9:24), God’s strategy for creation structures the natural order in such a way that it works against human evil, shaking the wicked out of the earth (v. 13). Job cannot command the sunrise or teach the dawn its place – but God can, and does, to blessed effect. Taken together with verses 8–11, we see God’s nurturing gentleness with and containment of his enemies (whether human or supernatural) nuanced by his defeat of them. In sharp contrast to Job’s criticisms, justice matters to God, and the orderliness of his creation enacts it.40…Furthermore, Job has never been to the storehouses of snow and hail (vv. 22–23). Since these are stored for the day of battle, when a nation is in trouble and needs to defend itself, and since God sometimes fights on behalf of his people with hail (Josh. 10: 11; Isa. 30: 30), 43 the implication in these two verses both emphasizes Job’s ignorance and reaffirms God’s goodness in intervening on behalf of the helpless. Nor can Job control the storm–if it were up to Job, the world might soon turn into a desert; but under God’s care, even those places far from human habitation are renewed (vv. 25–27). While Job claims that God’s control of rain is the worst of both worlds in that the only relief to a drought is an overwhelming flood (12: 15), God shows how he renews life in places far beyond Job’s ken. Furthermore, Job cannot generate the rain, cold or frost (vv. 28–30); nor can he guide the stars (vv. 31–33). 44 He does not even know the ‘ordinances’ of the heavens, the laws by which they function (v. 33). God made the heavenly lights to rule (Gen. 1), but if it were up to Job, this part of creation would fall apart. Nor can Job control or even fully understand the lightning (vv. 34–38). The second half of God’s speech transitions from different parts of his creation to the animals living in it. God’s care for lions and ravens is presented first (38: 39–41), the point being much the same as above: Job cannot provide or care for these animals, but God both can and does. Divine sovereignty is clearly emphasized in this short passage. But more importantly, the goodness of God’s sovereignty over everything he has created is in view. The same creation both Job and Job’s friends pointed to in order to substantiate their theological claims (e.g. 4: 10–11) takes on a happier meaning when interpreted by its creator. (Eric Ortlund, Piercing Leviathan: God's Defeat of Evil in the Book of Job (New Studies in Biblical Theology 56), 74-76 (Kindle Edition): Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press)

God Himself, vindicated by creation and by Job’s repentance, then defends Job against his friends.

Job 42:6-8-Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes." 7 And so it was, after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. 8 Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has."

Third, we come to realize that Satan himself is on trial!

In Job 41, Satan is described under the name “Leviathan” (cf. Isaiah 26:19-27:1). God Himself declares his guilt, so that He will one Day rise up to fight against him and defeat him for all of the harm that he has done against humanity (Job 41:10-11, 33).

Now, all of this raises questions for each of us.

First, how often do we (like Satan and Job) accuse God unjustly for all the evil in our realm, when it was actually angelkind and humankind that introduced such into His original perfectly good universe (Genesis 1:31; 2:15-17; 3:1-19; Romans 5:12-21)?

Second, how often do we (like Job’s friends) unjustly accuse the innocent when they suffer some affliction (Luke 13:1-9; John 9:1-3)?

Third, will we (like Job) have the humility to repent of such unjust speech and wrongdoing (Acts 17:30-31)?

Finally, do we take heart and give thanks to God in the knowledge that He is good and that He does good (Psalm 119:68), that He is working even now (Habakkuk 1:1-6), and will one Day fully defeat Satan and the powers of darkness (Revelation 20:11-15)?

If you are facing some hardship or obstacle in your life, invite God in faith to work and bring good through it all.

He will!

Romans 8:18-For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Father, thank You for Your goodness. Forgive us when we in ignorance say things against You (or others) that we shouldn’t. Please work in our hearts and our lives. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

Bible Studies With a Kentucky Gospel Preacher

Mark Tabata — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 01:52:26 GMT

Here is the eighth issue of the monthly magazine. Please mention it to any family and friends who may also be interested in subscribing. Thank you!

Salvation And “Belief”

Mark Tabata — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 15:14:54 GMT

Mark Tabata’s Weekday Devotionals

Monday, October 12

Acts 16:31-So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."

Often when studying with friends from a denominational background, it is common to be told that all a person needs to do in order to be saved is “believe” in Jesus Christ. This is certainly true enough, but often the word “believe” is not examined and properly interpreted. In the Scriptures, “believing” in God describes a faith that is willing to obey what God has said and set forth in His Word. This is demonstrated in many places in Scripture, but let’s notice one verse in particular.

John 3:36-He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

Notice that the rendering of John 3:36 in the NKJV is slightly different from other versions.

John 3:36 (ESV)-Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

The ESV here more literally translates the Greek word apeitheo (translated “does not believe” in the NKJV) as “does not obey.” This word is often translated as “disobey” in the NKJV.

Romans 2:8-but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey (apeitheo) the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath,

Romans 10:21-But to Israel he says: "ALL DAY LONG I HAVE STRETCHED OUT MY HANDS TO A DISOBEDIENT (apeitheo) AND CONTRARY PEOPLE."

Hebrews 3:18-And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey (apeitheo)?

1 Peter 2:7-8-Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient (apeitheo), "THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE,". 8 and "A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE." They stumble, being disobedient (apeitheo) to the word, to which they also were appointed.

The history of this word and its translation is very enlightening.

We are again confronted with the point on which James is so insistent, a truth so aptly summarized by Melanchthon's dictum, "It is faith, alone, which saves; but the faith that saves is not alone." Not all "faith" is saving faith. "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (Jas. 2:26). Such "faith" cannot save. Paul makes the same point in Galatians 5:6, "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything nor uncircumcision, but faith working by love." Lightfoot comments: "These words di' agapes energoumene bridge over the gulf which seems to separate the language of St. Paul and St. James. Both assert a principle of practical energy, as opposed to a barren, inactive theory."6 Jesus is the Saviour, not of all who profess faith in Him, but "of all them that obey him" (Heb. 5:9). Only obedient faith is saving faith. Consider John 3:36: "He that believeth [pisteuo] on the Son hath everlasting life, but he that does not obey [apeitheo] the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him." The use of two different words in the Greek text (a fact not indicated in the Authorized Version) lends emphasis to obedience as an essential aspect of saving faith. There is no saving faith apart from obedience. (Robert Shank, Life in the Son: A Study Of The Doctrine Of Perseverance, 2094-2101 (Kindle Edition): Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers)

Notice how in John 3:36, saving faith (pisteuo) is compared with disobedience (apeitheo). The point being made is that the faith that saves is the faith that obeys.

James 2:18-26-But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS ACCOUNTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS." And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Are we truly living by faith?

Father, help us to truly live by faith in You and Your Word. Amen.

Two Things We Can Learn From The Nazis

Mark Tabata — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 15:12:31 GMT

Mark Tabata’s Weekday Devotionals

Friday, October 9

Romans 2:14-15 (ERV)-Those who are not Jews don't have the law. But when they naturally do what the law commands without even knowing the law, then they are their own law. This is true even though they don't have the written law. 15 They show that in their hearts they know what is right and wrong, the same as the law commands, and their consciences agree. Sometimes their thoughts tell them that they have done wrong, and this makes them guilty. And sometimes their thoughts tell them that they have done right, and this makes them not guilty.

When the Nazis were on trial for their crimes against humanity, several tried to argue that their actions in attempting to exterminate the Jews were justified because they were acting in the best interest of their people and in harmony with the laws of their land. Therefore, they argued, they could not be held accountable, since they had not violated their national laws.

In response, notice the testimony of Robert Jackson, one of the trial judges at Nuremberg.

As we are well aware, the sufferings of the legal profession in Germany were paralleled at every level of the society, and in the apocalyptic holocaust of the Third Reich six million Jews perished. After the Nazi defeat the blood of these victims cried out for justice; war crimes trials were an inevitability. But what standard was to be used at Nuremberg to judge the accused leaders of the Nazi regime? When the Charter of the Tribunal, which had been drawn up by the victors, was used by the prosecution, the defendants very logically complained that they were being tried under ex post facto laws; and some authorities in the field of international law have severely criticized the allied judges on the same ground. 15 The most telling defense offered by the accused was that they had simply followed orders or made decisions within the framework of their own legal system, in complete consistency with it, and that they therefore could not rightly be condemned because they deviated from the alien value system of their conquerors. Faced with this argument, Robert H. Jackson, Chief Counsel for the United States at the trials, was compelled to appeal to permanent values, to moral standards transcending the lifestyles of particular societies—in a word, to a “law beyond the law” of individual nations, whether victor or vanquished: It is common to think of our own time as standing at the apex of civilization, from which the deficiencies of preceding ages may patronizingly be viewed in the light of what is assumed to be “progress.” The reality is that in the long perspective of history the present century will not hold an admirable position, unless its second half is to redeem its first. These two-score years in this twentieth century will be recorded in the book of years as one of the most bloody in all annals. Two World Wars have left a legacy of dead which number more than all the armies engaged in any war that made ancient or medieval history. No half-century ever witnessed slaughter on such a scale, such cruelties and inhumanities, such wholesale deportations of peoples into slavery, such annihilations of minorities. The terror of Torquemada pales before the Nazi inquisition. These deeds are the overshadowing historical facts by which generations to come will remember this decade. If we cannot eliminate the causes and prevent the repetition of these barbaric events, it is not an irresponsible prophecy to say that this twentieth century may yet succeed in bringing the doom of civilization. Goaded by these facts, we have moved to redress the blight on the record of our era. . . . . . . At this stage of the proceedings, I shall rest upon the law of these crimes as laid down in the Charter. . . . In interpreting the Charter, however, we should not overlook the unique and emergent character of this body as an International Military Tribunal. It is no part of the constitutional mechanism of internal justice of any of the Signatory nations. . . . As an International Military Tribunal, it rises above the provincial and transient and seeks guidance not only from International Law but also from the basic principles of jurisprudence which are assumptions of civilization. . . .16. (John Warwick Montgomery, The Law Above The Law, 11-12 (Kindle Edition): Irvine, CA: New Reformation Publications)

Consider two lessons this teaches us.

First, the existence of objective and prescriptive moral law within humanity points undeniably to the existence of the moral Lawgiver, i.e., God.

There is within humanity knowledge of certain moral principles which do not arise from within humanity. They are objective (factually true regardless of circumstance, and hence not subjective), and they are prescriptive (they describe how persons should behave, regardless of circumstance). These laws transcend the physical world. Moral laws may only be accounted for by lawgivers: hence, the reality of objective and prescriptive moral law demands the existence of the universal moral Lawgiver (i.e., God).

Many years ago, C.S. Lewis defended the reality of the moral law within humanity.

I know that some people say the idea of a Law of Nature or decent behaviour known to all men is unsound, because different civilisations and different ages have had quite different moralities. But this is not true. There have been differences between their moralities, but these have never amounted to anything like a total difference. If anyone will take the trouble to compare the moral teaching of, say, the ancient Egyptians, Babylonians, Hindus, Chinese, Greeks and Romans, what will really strike him will be how very like they are to each other and to our own. Some of the evidence for this I have put together in the appendix of another book called The Abolition of Man; but for our present purpose I need only ask the reader to think what a totally different morality would mean. Think of a country where people were admired for running away in battle, or where a man felt proud of double-crossing all the people who had been kindest to him. You might just as well try to imagine a country where two and two made five. Men have differed as regards what people you ought to be unselfish to—whether it was only your own family, or your fellow countrymen, or every one. But they have always agreed that you ought not to put yourself first. Selfishness has never been admired. Men have differed as to whether you should have one wife or four. But they have always agreed that you must not simply have any woman you liked. But the most remarkable thing is this. Whenever you find a man who says he does not believe in a real Right and Wrong, you will find the same man going back on this a moment later. He may break his promise to you, but if you try breaking one to him he will be complaining ‘It’s not fair’ before you can say Jack Robinson. A nation may say treaties don’t matter; but then, next minute, they spoil their case by saying that the particular treaty they want to break was an unfair one. But if treaties do not matter, and if there is no such thing as Right and Wrong—in other words, if there is no Law of Nature—what is the difference between a fair treaty and an unfair one? Have they not let the cat out of the bag and shown that, whatever they say, they really know the Law of Nature just like anyone else? It seems, then, we are forced to believe in a real Right and Wrong. People may be sometimes mistaken about them, just as people sometimes get their sums wrong; but they are not a matter of mere taste and opinion any more than the multiplication table….These, then, are the two points I wanted to make. First, that human beings, all over the earth, have this curious idea that they ought to behave in a certain way, and cannot really get rid of it. Secondly, that they do not in fact behave in that way. They know the Law of Nature; they break it. These two facts are the foundation of all clear thinking about ourselves and the universe we live in. (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (C.S. Lewis Signature Classics), 5-8 (Kindle Edition): New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.).

The existence of moral demands the existence of God.

Second, we also see here an important lesson that is sometimes overlooked: the laws of man are sometimes unjust when measured against the law of God. Just as the unjust laws of Germany authorized the Jews to be nearly destroyed by the Nazis, so there have been many other examples of unjust laws throughout human history. Christians are called on to obey righteous laws of the lands in which we live (Romans 13:1-7). Yet if faced with unrighteous laws, it is the responsibility of God’s people to choose His Word and to peacefully refuse such.

Acts 5:29-But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men.

Indeed, it is interesting to observe that many of God’s most celebrated heroes in the Bible were those who opposed unjust laws. When such laws of man disrespected God or mistreated humanity, they were rightly opposed. Some noted champions of faith in Scripture thus commended by God would certainly include Jochebed, Moses, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abed-Nego, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Elijah, Elisha, Micaiah, Nehemiah, John the Baptist, Peter, John, James, Paul, and of course the Lord Jesus Himself.

Lord Jesus, give us wisdom and discernment as we strive to serve You faithfully in this world. Amen.

Was The Holocaust A Big Lie?

Mark Tabata — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 19:53:25 GMT

Mark Tabata’s Weekday Devotionals

Thursday, October 8

Revelation 2:24-Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden.

Some years back, while ministering with the Couchtown church of Christ, I prepared a series of lessons on the Book of Job focusing on the subject of the relationship between God’s existence and the problem of evil, pain, and suffering. As part of my research, I ended up reading a truly horrific account by a man named Elie Wiesel. His book, Night, is one of the most powerful ever written describing the terrible events of the Holocaust. Writing as a witness and survivor of the atrocities perpetrated by Hitler and the Nazi party, Wiesel remains one of the most haunting testimonies that I have ever read of one of the darkest epochs of human history. It is easy to understand why many people would want to forget the terrible reminders of wickedness ever to be experienced in the world of man.

However, there are some in our country who advocate that the Holocaust is a lie.

According to them, it never happened!

Or if it did (we are told), it was greatly exaggerated and not true to reality.

I have been told by some (especially in jail ministry) that the Holocaust was a gigantic lie, created to protect Jewish bankers!

However, these claims do not stand up against scrutiny.

In their book, Debunking Holocaust Denial Theories, James and Lance Morcan examine and debunk many “Holocaust denial” theories. The chapters in their book include the following:

1 The root of every Holocaust denial theory

2 Questioning the confirmed death toll

3 How was the genocide organized?

4 Verifying the gas chamber exterminations

5 The “history is written by the winners” argument

6 The legalities of Holocaust denial

7 The “Joooz control the world” conspiracy theory

8 Variations in death toll statistics

9 The Israeli connection

10 The “Zionists created the Holocaust” claim

11 A montage of the 'Holocaust by Bullets'

The book itself is a fascinating read, but there is one thing that troubles me about all of these conspiracy theories. The authors point out that, in their extensive research, there always seems to be a strong bias against Jewish people by Holocaust deniers.

We have studied all sides of this so-called debate. We’ve read Holocaust survivors' books and watched documentary footage of the actual Holocaust; we’ve listened to recordings of Hitler's speeches and those of other Nazis; we’ve watched footage of talks given by notorious Holocaust deniers including shamed historian David Irving; we’ve studied WW2 history and have met and interviewed Jewish survivors of the concentration camps. And we can assure you of one thing… Holocaust deniers always have anti-Semitic beliefs and sympathies somewhere inside them. Always. We need to point out not everyone would agree with that, however. The great American political activist and linguist Noam Chomsky once stated, “I see no antisemitic implications in denial of the existence of gas chambers, or even denial of the holocaust,” as reported by William Rubinstein in the October 1981 edition of Quadrant. Chomsky later elaborated, in a personal letter to Lawrence K. Kolodney, by saying, “I was asked whether the fact that a person denies the existence of gas chambers does not prove that he is an anti-Semite. I wrote back what every sane person knows: no, of course it does not. A person might believe that Hitler exterminated 6 million Jews in some other way without being an anti-Semite. Since the point is trivial and disputed by no one, I do not know why we are discussing it. In that context, I made a further point: even denial of the Holocaust would not prove that a person is an anti-Semite. I presume that that point too is not subject to contention. Thus if a person ignorant of modern history were told of the Holocaust and refused to believe that humans are capable of such monstrous acts, we would not conclude that he is an anti-Semite.” We would respectfully disagree with Chomsky. Or at least conclude that he is perhaps correct if incidents of denialism are assessed formally in almost an academic fashion, but incorrect if denialism is considered in the wider sense, including what it takes to maintain such a belief system. Yes, in the first instance someone could potentially be a Holocaust denier on the basis of reasons that are not anti-Semitic. For example, an engineer may have no hatred for Jewish people whatsoever and yet may dispute Holocaust reports simply because he or she believes it was not technically possible to kill millions of people in gas chambers over the course of WW2. However – and this is where we would disagree with Chomsky – in the long-term, to hold to the belief that the historicity of the Holocaust is pure fabrication, or has been greatly exaggerated, requires that you also believe that virtually the entire worldwide Jewish community, including Holocaust survivors past and present, are liars and that they collectively make up what deniers callously refer to as the “Holocaust industry”. So, even if the original reason for an individual’s denial of this historical event was not anti-Semitic, in the long-term it always leads down the “Holocaust industry” path the deniers allege is “slyly managed by Jews” who, they insist, are concealing the facts from the public.…An article on the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) website does an excellent job of summarizing the various ways people end up becoming deniers. Titled Origins of Holocaust Denial, the article states that many “deny the Holocaust for more overtly racist, political, or strategic reasons.” The USHMM article continues, “These deniers begin with the premise that the Holocaust did not happen. This premise suits their broader purposes. They deny the Holocaust as an article of faith and no amount of rational argumentation can dissuade them. This denial is irrational, largely unrelated either to the facts of the history or to the enormity of the event. Some people deny the Holocaust because of innate antisemitism, irrational hated of Jews. “In fact, Holocaust denial has been called by some scholars the “new antisemitism” for it recycles many of the elements of pre-1945 antisemitism in a post-World War II context. Holocaust deniers argue that reports of the Holocaust are really part of a vast shadowy plot to make the white, western world feel guilty and to advance the interest of Jews. “Holocaust denial, then, unites a broad range of radical right-wing hate groups in the United States and elsewhere, ranging from Ku Klux Klan segregationists to skinheads seeking to revive Nazism to radical Muslim activists seeking to destroy Israel”. The USHMM article concludes, “Holocaust deniers want to debate the very existence of the Holocaust as a historical event. They want above all to be seen as legitimate scholars arguing a historical point. They crave attention, a public platform to air what they refer to as ‘the other side of the issue’. Because legitimate scholars do not doubt that the Holocaust happened, such assertions play no role in historical debates. Although deniers insist that the idea of the Holocaust as myth is a reasonable topic of debate, it is clear, in light of the overwhelming weight of evidence that the Holocaust happened, that the debate the deniers proffer is more about antisemitism and hate politics than it is about history.” Incidentally, the USHMM makes a perceptive point about Holocaust deniers. It reminds us the very views they perpetuate, accusing Jews of conspiracy and world domination, are the same “hateful charges that were instrumental in laying the groundwork for the Holocaust” in the first place. (James Morcan & Lance Morcan, Debunking Holocaust Denial Theories: Two Non-Jews Affirm the Historicity of the Nazi Genocide, 22-29 (Kindle Edition): Bay Of Plenty, New Zealand)

Now, I am no fan of the government of the modern state of Israel. Following the examples of the Prophets and Apostles of the Bible, I do my best to commend good and speak against evil in whatever sphere such is found. That includes wickedness in human government (2 Timothy 4:1-5). There have been many instances-especially in recent months-where I have spoken against elements and tenants of Israel’s governing authorities.

At the same time, speaking against wickedness in government does not mean that an entire people is wicked or complicit in that wickedness. I am alarmed at the rise of what appears to be a new form of antisemitism in America. As Christians we must always oppose racism. The Jews were chosen to bring the Messiah into the world (Genesis 12:1-3), yet that very act was for the benefit of all mankind (Galatians 3:7). When the nation of Israel rejected Jesus, they were cut off from being the chosen people of God (Romans 11:19-22). Yet they can still be saved-just like Gentiles-through the Gospel (Romans 11:23-25). God wants all persons to be saved, in and through Christ!

Galatians 3:26-29-For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

As the church of Christ, may we always stand against the wickedness of racism, in whatever form such may take.

Father, fill our hearts with love for every human being. Help us to see with the love of Christ. Amen.

Are Blood Transfusions Prohibited By Scripture?

Mark Tabata — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 15:03:52 GMT

Mark Tabata’s Weekday Devotionals

Wednesday, October 7

Genesis 9:4-But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.

Does the Bible here forbid blood transfusions, as our friends among the Jehovah’s Witnesses teach?

Not at all.

Instead, the passages which forbid the consumption of blood have to do with pagan worship.

Before going any further, we must address the question: Why was the dietary law in Genesis 9: 4 given to the Israelites in the first place? Many scholars relate the law to the blood sacrifices that would become a regular part of Israel’s religious life. Bible scholar H.C. Leupold has this to say: These restrictions are given in view of the ordinances that are later to govern the use of blood in sacrifices. This provision, then, of Noah’s time prepares for the sacrificial use of blood, and that which is to be sacred in sacrifice… should hardly be employed that a man may glut his appetite with it. In fact, it is not an overstatement of the case to remark that ultimately this restriction is made in view of the sanctity of the blood of our Great High Priest, who is both priest and sacrifice. 23 It is understandable why such a dietary regulation would be necessary. After all, some of the pagan nations surrounding Israel had no respect whatsoever for blood. These pagans ate blood on a regular basis. Sometimes they did this as part of the worship of false gods; at other times they did this because they thought it might bring them supernatural power. In any event, the prohibition against eating blood set Israel apart from such ungodly nations. (Ron Rhodes, Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Jehovah's Witnesses, 382-383 (Kindle Edition): Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers)

Throughout God’s Word, we are warned against becoming engaged in pagan practices and religions, many of which revolve around the abuse of blood. For example, in warning the children of Israel against the corruption in the land of Canaan, the Lord told them to beware of the influence of “that person who eats blood.”

Leviticus 17:10-11-And whatever man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who eats any blood, I will set My face against that person who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people. 11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.'

The context of this passage is tied directly with the shedding and consuming of blood in paganism as a form of worship.

Leviticus 17:7-They shall no more offer their sacrifices to demons, after whom they have played the harlot. This shall be a statute forever for them throughout their generations." '

This is seen especially in the context of the people of Israel not imitating the religious practices of the Egyptians and Canaanites.

Leviticus 18:1-3-Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'I am the LORD your God. 3 According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances.

There were nine specific forms of witchcraft which the Canaanites practiced, all of which were forbidden by God.

Deuteronomy 18:10-12-There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 12 For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you.

The ancient Jewish history book, the Wisdom of Solomon, has this description of the pagan religion of the Canaanites.

Wisdom Of Solomon 12:1-7-For thine incorruptible Spirit is in all things. 2 Therefore chastenest thou them by little and little that offend, and warnest them by putting them in remembrance wherein they have offended, that leaving their wickedness they may believe on thee, O Lord. 3 For it was thy will to destroy by the hands of our fathers both those old inhabitants of thy holy land, 4 Whom thou hatedst for doing most odious works of witchcrafts, and wicked sacrifices; 5 And also those merciless murderers of children, and devourers of man's flesh, Andy the feasts of blood, 6 With their priests out of the midst of their idolatrous crew, and the parents, that killed with their own hands souls destitute of help: 7 That the land, which thou esteemedst above all other, might receive a worthy colony of God's children.

Notice how one element of Canaanite religion involved “the feasts of blood.”

In our day and age, there are many who continue to practice paganism with the consumption of blood. There is a substance known as adrenochrome, which is blood that has been flooded with adrenaline. Horrifically, the notorious Epstein Files contain numerous references to this. Long before I heard much of Jeffrey Epstein, I was ministering in eastern Kentucky with people who were involved in pagan religions that detailed these things to me. (Back then, I learned of a man named Kerth Barker, who is a survivor of Satanic Ritual Abuse. He is very familiar with how occultists in our time follow these same ancient pagan ceremonies, and he even wrote a truly unsettling book about the matter entitled Cannibalism, Blood Drinking, And High Adept Satanism).

The passages of the Bible that forbid the consumption of blood have to do with pagan worship, and nothing to do with blood transfusions.

Father, give us discernment and wisdom as live and minister in this world. We praise You. Amen.

Kiss The Son

Mark Tabata — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 18:10:24 GMT

Mark Tabata’s Weekday Devotionals

Tuesday, October 6

Psalm 2:12-Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

Within the Book of Psalms, there is a theme that is woven throughout. We find many references to the coming Messiah, the King invested with the authority of God Who will lead and save the world of humanity. Sometimes, there is a lack of comprehension regarding this theme throughout Psalms, yet it was seen and recognized by the Jewish rabbis for centuries before Jesus was born.

However, there is significant and considerable evidence from the original Hebrew language of the book itself that proves that it is not a haphazard collection. Evidence of repeated words or expressions from one psalm to another indicates every chapter should be understood in the light of those around it. Psalms are chained together with unique vocabulary, and these are signposts from the author that they belong together and should be read accordingly. They also shed light on the message intended by the order. …The repeated language and concepts between Pss 20 and 21, and also between Pss 21 and 22, indicates they were intentionally placed together. Both speak repeatedly of the messianic king who is granted salvation[ 6] out of trouble (Ps 20: 5[ 6], 6[ 7], 9[ 10], and Ps 21: 1[ 2], 5[ 6]).[ 7] Ps 20: 5 Let us rejoice in your salvation Ps 20: 6a …the Lord has saved his anointed/ messiah Ps 20: 6b by the strength of the salvation of his right hand Ps 20: 9 Lord save the king Ps 21: 1 the king… how he will exceedingly exult in your salvation Ps 21: 5 his glory is great through your salvation It is no coincidence that it is only Ps 20’ s final half and Ps 21’ s first half that repeat the particular word “salvation.” The deliberate linking of the two psalms is explicit and there are more examples. Psalm 20: 6[ 7] refers to him as “his anointed one (messiah)” and then in verse 9[ 10] as “the king.” Immediately following in Ps 21: 1 he is mentioned again as “the king,” as well as in verse seven. Remarkably, it is the last verse of Ps 20 that matches the word “king,” found in the first verse of Ps 21. This is further proof of a deliberate juxtaposition of the two psalms. Ps 20: 6 his anointed one Ps 20: 9 the king Ps 21: 1 the king Ps 21: 7 the king It is the same king messiah whom God saves or delivers in each psalm….These psalms describe the same king presented at the book’s introductory Pss 1-2 and in the intervening Pss 3-19. As noted above, Ps 20: 6[ 7] calls him the “Lord's anointed,” which is the same title Ps 2: 2 gives him. Undoubtedly it is the same messianic king described in both.[ 8] (Robert Cole, Why Psalm 23 Is Not About You, 33-82 (Kindle Edition): College And Clayton Press)

With this Messianic theme throughout the Book of Psalms in mind, carefully consider what this verse in Psalms teaches us.

First, the “Son” here was understood by the Jewish rabbis to be a reference to the Messiah.

In all fairness, using the word “Son” and capitalizing it to imply a reference to Jesus has some basis. For one thing, although there is no superscription attributing this psalm to David as its author, Acts 4: 24–26 suggests that it was written by him. This would follow the teaching of the Talmud in Sukkah 52a that the Messiah would descend from the line of David. Genesis Rabbah, a commentary by ancient Jewish rabbis, teaches in 44: 8 that there were three persons who were bidden by God to ask Him for something: The first was Solomon, who was instructed to request what he wanted God to give him. (See 1 Kings 3: 4–15.) The second was Ahaz, who was invited to ask for a sign. (See Isaiah 7: 1–14.) And the third was the Messiah, to whom God says, “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession” (Psalm 2: 8). Thus, even Jewish tradition teaches this psalm in a messianic context. On this basis, Christians may legitimately assume that the word bar (רב) is Aramaic and correctly render it as “Son” with a capital S, implying that we are to kiss the Son of God—Jesus. (Chaim Bentorah, Laura Bertone, Hebrew Word Study: Exploring the Mind of God, 280 (Kindle Edition): New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House)

Second, what does it mean to kiss the Son?

The word nashaq (קשׁנ) is in a piel (intensive), imperative (command) form. My study partner expressed it as “setting ablaze your desire to know Him.” If we follow this with the word “Son,” it pretty well follows the traditional interpretation of “kiss the Son” as a sign of both submission and love. Since “kiss” is in an intensive form, it would indicate a kiss of desire. Thus, this is not a command to kiss in order to show respect and submission, but rather a command to express your passion and desire for Jesus.…The idea is that we are to embrace, with passion, purity in our relationship with God—having no personal agendas other than to just love Him. If we “love” Him like some gold digger wanting to gain material blessings or personal honor, it will grieve God’s heart, just as it would grieve the heart of a wealthy woman to discover her fiancé is courting her only for her money and not out of genuine love. If we seek God for personal gain—to become rich and receive other material benefits—then we using God for our own personal desires, and we would be in danger of “perish[ing] from the way.” The Hebrew word for “perish” is ’abad (דבא), which means “to be destroyed,” “to be exterminated,” or just “to vanish.” God would be distraught if our motives were not pure because we would be in danger or wandering down a path into an abyss.…I think I am more blessed by submitting to a God who passionately loves me and is grieved that, by not loving Him in purity, I have placed myself on a path of destruction. To me, that really expresses the heart of David, a heart that was truly in love with God. (Chaim Bentorah, Laura Bertone, Hebrew Word Study: Exploring the Mind of God, 282-285 (Kindle Edition): New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House)

Third, observe who is exhorted here to kiss the Son. It is specifically those who are the enemies of God and His people. The Lord invites all-even the most wicked-to turn to Him and be redeemed. Yet make no mistake: God will not allow the evil these people inflict to continue unavenged. If they choose to reject His grace, they will be stopped by His judgment.

Psalm 7:12 (ERV)-If the wicked will not change, then God is ready to punish them. He has prepared his deadly weapons. His sword is sharp. His bow is strung, drawn back, and ready to shoot its flaming arrow.

Have you made the decision to kiss the Son?

Lord, we praise You and thank You. Amen.

Real Scholarship Disproves The Bible?

Mark Tabata — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 20:44:14 GMT

Mark Tabata’s Weekday Devotionals

Monday, October 5

Luke 8:11-15-Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. 14 Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

Over many years of ministry, I have worked with lots individuals who disbelieved in the Bible. Quite often, this initial distrust of God’s Word was based on the mistaken notion that the Bible has been proven false time after time. Indeed, many believed that “real scholars” had long since demonstrated that the Bible is a collection of myths and fables. When such claims are made, I like to share with them these (or similar) words from scholar Craig Blomberg.

Ironically, what has become best known in our culture over the past generation, both inside and outside of Christian circles, is the flurry of skepticism that certain narrow segments of scholarship and pseudoscholarship have unleashed. This is ironic because in each instance the less-quoted majority of scholars2 have increasingly come to recognize that the evidence is actually stronger for the trustworthiness of Scripture in each of these areas, as long as that trustworthiness is appropriately defined by the standards of antiquity. Sadly, some of Christianity’s very conservative, high-profile power brokers have played directly into the hands of the most skeptical wing of scholarship by giving the skeptics more attention than they deserve and by branding almost all scholars who reject their own ultraconservatism as just as “liberal” as the archskeptics! Worse still, some people are discouraged from holding the faith altogether, buying into the misconception that they cannot be true Christians at all unless they hold these ultraconservative viewpoints. We have thus discussed the charges that the textual transmission of the biblical books was so corrupt that we cannot even be sure how close to the original documents our current Bible is. We have examined claims that the biblical canon is up for grabs, that the only or main reason we have the sixty-six books that all branches of Christendom agree on is because the early church leaders, who decreed which documents should be treated as uniquely sacred, were the victors in battles with others who wanted to create a very different Bible. We have looked at allegations that the proliferation of modern-language translations, especially in English, suggests that we really don’t have the ability to declare any given translation sufficiently reliable for Christian thought and life. The true state of affairs in each of these areas is quite the opposite: (1) We have an extraordinarily high probability of being able to reconstruct the original texts of the biblical books, much higher than for any other documents of antiquity. (2) Especially with respect to the New Testament books, where there is no disagreement among the major branches of the Christian church as to what the canon should contain, claims about the accuracy and value of apocryphal or noncanonical counterparts are dramatically exaggerated. (3) Modern-language translations, including in English, are demonstrably very reliable. In addition, we have scrutinized the historic Christian doctrine of the inerrancy of Scripture to see what it does and does not claim about the uniquely trustworthy nature of the Bible. We observed that it does not require us to hold the ancient texts to any higher standards of accuracy than would have been imposed by the societies from which they emerged. To do otherwise is sheer anachronism. We considered a sampling of some of the most well-known illustrations of biblical books or passages where Christians without access to comparative literature from the ancient world may have too often taken a text to be historical that was never intended to be so taken. In other words, defending Scripture’s reliability in these instances might require our recognition of a different genre of prose narrative rather than straightforward history. The results, in turn, may make inerrancy even more defensible than it was previously. Finally, we turned to the issue of the miraculous. While for many this is the ultimate defeater in taking the Bible seriously, the amount of documented evidence for miracles similar to those of the Bible, especially from the last century or so, is so overwhelming that it actually counts as strong evidence for the credibility of Scripture. If someone seriously and dispassionately examines this evidence and still rejects it in toto, it is hard not to conclude that the prejudice at work is just irrational. This does not mean that we accept all claims of the miraculous in our world or in previous eras; indeed, we should want to employ very strict criteria before ever accepting them in any context. But when those criteria are fully met, to then continue to claim that there must be a naturalistic or scientific explanation that we just haven’t discovered yet constitutes a faith claim with less rational foundation than the faith that believers must exercise to be Christians! These are among the most important reasons that I believe in the uniquely God-given nature of the Bible more than ever after forty-three years of being a Christian and after forty-two years of studying it from just about every perspective ever invented! (Craig L. Blomberg, Can We Still Believe the Bible?: An Evangelical Engagement with Contemporary Questions, 213-215 (Kindle Edition): Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press)

The problem is not a lack of evidence, nor is it often a person’s lack of knowledge of such evidence.

People often reject the Word of God because of the condition of their heart.

Jeremiah 4:3-For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: "Break up your fallow ground, And do not sow among thorns.

Proverbs 28:14-Happy is the man who is always reverent, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

Lord, soften our hearts to Your truth. Amen.