In the first part of this Q&A, we looked at the biblical evidence that God the Father, Jesus Christ the Word, and innumerable angels are all in the third heaven.

But are there any human beings in heaven?  What about those who have died and have lived good lives?  Did they go to heaven and live there now in a conscious state?

In Ecclesiastes 9:5 we read: “For the living know that they shall die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten.” 

Psalm 146:3-4 illustrates that the day one dies, his thoughts perish.

No human being has ascended to heaven, as Jesus revealed in John 3:13, and this is a telling piece of Scripture: “No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from, and it is heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.”   

The NIV states “No one has ever gone into heaven.” The old Luther Bible says: “No one ascends to heaven.”

Acts 2:29 and 34 are also instructive on this matter:

“Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day… For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand…”

And Hebrews 11:39-40 speaks of the great men and women of old and shows that they are STILL awaiting their reward: “And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.”

For much more on this subject, please see our Q&A:  https://www.eternalgod.org/question-and-answer-1066/ and our booklet “Do We Have an Immortal Soul?”    

Those who know the doctrines of the Church of the Eternal God and its international affiliates will be fully aware that our understanding from the Word of God is that we do not go to heaven at death.

For those who may want to study this more thoroughly, please see our Q&A’s:

“What are the biblical proofs that we do not go to heaven when we die?” https://www.eternalgod.org/q-a-11453/

“Do certain biblical passages tell us that we go to heaven when we die?”  https://www.eternalgod.org/q-a-11468/

“How do you explain certain passages in the Bible suggesting that we go to heaven when we die?”  https://www.eternalgod.org/q-a-11483/

“Doesn’t the Bible say that we will enter the kingdom of heaven? Doesn’t this show that we will go to heaven when we die?”  https://www.eternalgod.org/q-a-11501/

There are some commentators who say, incredibly, that there are human beings in heaven, and in their physical state, and they even make some other even more preposterous assertions.   We have no doubt about their sincerity, but such errors are something that we must avoid.  

What is in Heaven?

We read in Exodus 20:4 the following: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth…”

This verse reveals that there are things in heaven.

Revelation 3:5 speaks of a “Book of Life” which is in heaven.  In our booklet “Are You Predestined to be Saved?”, we read in the first chapter, page 3, the following description: 

“‘THE BOOK OF LIFE. The most important heavenly book, or scroll, that pertains to God’s true children is mentioned numerous times in Scripture. But many who have read these references have falsely assumed that this particular book is just a figurative expression, rather than a real, albeit spiritual book. The opposite is true. The book we are talking about is a VERY real book! It is called in Scripture, ‘the Book of Life.’ For example, we read in Revelation 3:5: ‘He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I [Jesus Christ] will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.’ On its face value, and without trying to ‘interpret’ this passage, we are plainly told that the names of true Christians are written down in a particular book—the Book of Life—and that they will not be erased from it as long as they continue to overcome. We can also understand from this that their names could be blotted out from the Book of Life.”

The information below is taken from Mr Norbert Link’s very revealing booklet, “Angels, Demons and the Spirit World” on pages 59-62:

“In Revelation 20:12 we read: ‘And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.   Barnes Notes on the Bible states: ‘And the books were opened – That is, the books containing the record of human deeds.’ 

“Revelation 4:2 mentions a ‘throne set in heaven.’” 

We have seen, in part one of this Q&A that God the Father and Jesus Christ, both Spirit beings, reside in heaven.   In Psalm 47:8 we read: “God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne.”   And in Psalm 103:19: “The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.”

“Revelation 4:4 describes several thrones in heaven.”

The Scripture reads: “Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.”

“Revelation 4:6 speaks of a ‘sea of glass’ before the throne in heaven.”

The Scripture reads: “Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.”

“Revelation 5:1 mentions a spiritual scroll, sealed with seven spiritual seals.” 

The Scripture reads: “And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.”

“Revelation 5:8 talks about a spiritual harp and golden bowls.”

The Scripture reads: “Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”

These golden bowls housed the prayers of God’s people, the saints, which indicates how important they are.   Incense burned in the temple in the Old Testament gave off a pleasing aroma to God, and His people’s prayers are likened to this. 

“Revelation 8:2–5 reveals the existence of a spiritual golden censer, a spiritual golden altar, and even spiritual fire.”

The Scripture reads: “And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.”

“We are informed in the book of Hebrews that all of these spiritual objects were used as a pattern for the creation of physical objects at the time of Moses. We read in Hebrews 9:23–24, in the Living Bible: ‘That is why the sacred tent down here on earth, and everything in it—all copied from things in heaven—all had to be made pure by Moses in this way…But the REAL things in heaven, of which these down here are copies, were made pure with far more precious offerings… It was not in the earthly place of worship that He did this, for that was merely a copy of the REAL TEMPLE IN HEAVEN.’ 

“So, there is a spiritual temple in heaven (Revelation 11:19; 15:5–6, 8). Further, we read about the temple of the tabernacle. God showed Moses exactly on the mountain how to build the earthly tabernacle. Time and again we read (Exodus 25:9; 25:40; 26:30; and 27:8) that God showed Moses a pattern as to how to build the tabernacle, the altar, the golden lamp stand and the sanctuary. God showed Moses what the real spiritual heavenly things look like. Moses was also instructed to form two cherubim, which were to cover the mercy seat. Again, God showed Moses, if he did not already know, what cherubim look like… 

“Isaiah 14:13 reports that Satan, formerly Lucifer, said: ‘I will ascend into heaven. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. I will also sit on the mount of the congregation.’ Ezekiel 28:14 adds what God said about Lucifer: ‘You were the anointed cherub who covers…You were on the holy mountain of God.’ This spiritual mountain of God in heaven is also described in Hebrews 12:18–24. 

“We read about a city in heaven, the spiritual or heavenly Jerusalem (compare Hebrews 11:9–10; Revelation 3:12). It will come down to this earth in the future (Revelation 21:2–3, 10–21; 22:1–2). 

“Revelation 2:7 says that the tree of life is in the Paradise of God. Ezekiel 28:13–16 adds that Lucifer, who became Satan, was in the garden of God at the time of his creation, long before there ever was a physical world. So, we see that there is a spiritual garden of God, a Paradise, in heaven. 2 Corinthians 12:2–4 mentions that ‘Paradise,’ the spiritual garden, is in the third heaven where God dwells [and is] a heaven composed of spirit—the third heaven… where God lives (Psalm 11:4; Hebrews 9:24)]. The physical garden of Eden, which God later created for Adam and Eve, was patterned after the spiritual garden that exists in heaven, and in which is a spiritual tree of life. When the heavenly Jerusalem comes down to this earth, the heavenly garden, with the tree of life in it, will come down to this earth as well. 

“Revelation 21:1 tells us that the heavenly Jerusalem will come down from heaven to this earth, AFTER God has created a new heaven and a new earth. This will take place after all human beings have been changed into immortality or have been burned up and destroyed in the lake of fire. By that time, as we read in Revelation 20:14, death will no longer exist. We are told that death will have been cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 21:4–5 confirms that there will be NO MORE DEATH from that time on. 

“It is true that during the Millennium, certain of the things mentioned in Revelation 21 and 22 will be found on this earth as physical forerunners (Ezekiel 47:1, 7–8, 12). There are differences, however. Ezekiel 47 talks about the existence of a physical temple. When the heavenly Jerusalem comes down to this earth, after the Millennium, there will be no temple in it, ‘for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple’ (Revelation 21:22).”

In our booklet “Is That in the Bible? – The Mysteries of the Book of Revelation” page 145, we read:

“……John sees the ‘holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God’ (Revelation 21:2). This is a literal city—albeit not physical, but spiritual. (For more information on the spiritual nature of the new Jerusalem, please read our free booklet, ‘Angels, Demons and the Spirit World.’) That this city is literal and not just a symbolic reference to the Church, for example, can be seen from the very detailed and specific description in Revelation 21:10–22; 22:1–5. We are told in Revelation 21:2, in conjunction with other Scriptures, that God is presently ‘preparing’ this city in heaven (compare Revelation 3:12; Hebrews 11:9–10; 12:22; 13:14; Galatians 4:26). We also read that Jesus Christ is presently ‘preparing’ for us a place in the ‘Father’s house’—the new Jerusalem (John 14:1–3).”

What marvellous and thrilling information about who and what is in heaven—exciting and mind-blowing facts that we may not have previously fully understood or appreciated.

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

These are very interesting questions and the only place that we can find this information is in the Word of God, the Bible.

The spiritual realm is a fascinating subject.   Physical can’t see spirit.  Our physical life now, however long or short, will be a fraction of our life as a Spirit-born member of God’s Family if we make it into the Kingdom of God.

In an article entitled “What Science Can’t Discover About the Human Mind”, Mr Herbert W Armstrong (1892-1986), former leader of the now defunct Worldwide Church of God, wrote that “God has had to plan to bridge the gap between MATTER (of which MAN is now wholly composed) and SPIRIT (which God now is, and man must become).   The body that comes in the (first) resurrection is not the same body that was flesh and blood in this human lifetime. God does not turn flesh and blood matter INTO Spirit. The flesh and blood physical body, after death, decomposes and decays, but the spirit that was IN that body, like the sculptor’s mold, preserves all the form and shape, the memory, and the character INTACT. And that mold, being spirit does not change — even though the resurrection may take place thousands of years after death.”

 

In his book “Beyond the Cosmos,” author Hugh Ross states on page 15 that “Since birth we have lived in the four dimensions of length, width, height and time.   We will continue to reside there until the day of our physical death.”  On page 19, we read: “With the help of supercomputers, mathematicians have designed realms with as many as a million dimensions of space.  On page 20, we further read: “Physicists have just uncovered strong evidence that extra dimensions do indeed exist.  Yet predating these physics discoveries by more than nineteen hundred years are the words of the prophets and apostles who penned the sixty-six books of the Bible.  These ancients described phenomena – such as the creation event, miracles, [and] Jesus’ post-resurrection capacities…  – that require the existence of extra dimensions or the functional equivalent of extra dimensions.”  

We quote these comments to show how incredible the future will be when the physical will be but a fleeting moment of history and everything will then become spiritual.   As Spirit beings, the people of God will understand all of this information, and much more as the sons and daughters of God.

Therefore, we will have a look at the spiritual world now and see how magnificent it is.   This should encourage and motivate us about the future that is set before us and show us how much greater it will be than that which we enjoy today, and much greater than we can understand at this time.   It is exciting to think about all of this and to pray for God’s Kingdom to come – and soon!

There are three heavens and we have written before, for instance in our Q&A https://www.eternalgod.org/q-a-3756/, about these as follows:

“The Bible does indeed reveal the existence of ‘three’ heavens. While the first two heavens are ‘physical’ in nature, the third heaven is composed of spirit — it is referred to in Scripture as God’s dwelling place.

“The atmosphere or the ‘first heaven’ — the air that surrounds the earth — refers to the space where the birds fly, the clouds and the wind roam, and from which the dew comes. We read in Genesis 1:20: ‘…let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.’ We also read, in Genesis 27:28, that God promises to give ‘the dew of heaven.’ Finally, we are told in Deuteronomy 33:28, that Jacob’s ‘Heavens shall also drop dew.’

“The physical universe, which is beyond this earth’s atmosphere, can be described as the ‘second heaven.’ It represents the space where we find the sun, the moon, the stars, and all the other planets that God has created. We read, in Genesis 1:14-17, that God referred to sun and moon as ‘lights in the firmament of the heavens’ (verses 14, 15), and that He ‘set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth’ (verse 17). David pondered, in Psalm 8:3, over God’s ‘heavens, the work of Your fingers,’ and he especially continued to talk about ‘the moon and the stars, which You have ordained.’

“In addition to these two physical ‘heavens,’ we find that the Bible speaks about another heaven, a heaven composed of spirit — the third heaven, where God lives. No human being has ever ascended to this heaven (compare John 3:13) — the only one who went to this heaven after His resurrection was Jesus Christ. We are specifically told that David did not ascend to heaven (Acts 2:34).’”

So, let us now look at the Heaven of God’s Throne and so much more.  We will explore WHERE it is, WHO and WHO IS NOT in heaven, WHAT is in heaven.

One commentator opined that “I believe that heaven cannot thoroughly be explained, even by the Scriptures, for it must be too wonderful for words and it must be too indescribable to relate to by word pictures.”   It would be difficult to disagree with that assertion!

So, where is the Heaven of God’s Throne?    

In Isaiah 14:13, we read about Lucifer’s attempted coup d’etat, the most audacious but ridiculous attempt at a take-over bid in the history of the universe!  But this verse does reveal a geographical location of the third heaven: “For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north” (Authorized Version).

This reveals that it is in the north of the earth and the word ascend means to go or move upward, to rise.   This is confirmed when we read that Jesus came down from heaven (cp John 3:13 and many other verses particularly in John 6 which are quoted further on in this Q&A.  Therefore, it must be in the north.

There are many verses in the Bible where heaven is shown as in the north. Psalm 75:6-7 (Authorized Version) states: “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.” Promotion or “exaltation” comes from the north, where God’s throne is. 

The Bible does not give other information about this location, geographically, but the location is immaterial anyway because, as it is spiritual, it can’t be seen by man.

Let us look WHO and WHO is not in heaven.

It is interesting to read about those spiritual beings who inhabit that wonderful spiritual place.

Wikipedia gives the following insight into the 3^rd heaven: “A third concept of Heaven, also called shămei hashamayim (שׁמי השׁמים or ‘Heaven of Heavens’), is mentioned in such passages as Genesis 28:12, Deuteronomy 10:14 and 1 Kings 8:27 as a distinctly spiritual realm containing (or being traveled by) angels and God.”

We know, of course, that God the Father and Jesus Christ are in heaven.   Let us review just a few of so many verses in the Bible that refer to this.

Psalm 11:4: “The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.”

Psalm 115:3: “But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases.”

Isaiah 66:1: “Thus says the LORD, Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest?”

In the model prayer given by Jesus as recorded in Matthew 6:9, Jesus opens with the phrase “Our Father in heaven.”

In John 3:12, we read: “If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?” Jesus knew about heavenly things because He had come down from there.

In John 6, Jesus refers to Himself as the bread which came down from heaven (see verses 33, 41, 48, 50, 51, 58).

Hebrews 8:1: “Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,”

Mark 16:19: “So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.”

Revelation 3:21: “The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.”

 And then there are the angelic beings.   

On page 3 of our booklet “Angels, Demons and the Spirit World,” the question is asked: “How Many Angels Exist?” and the answer reads as follows:

“Man has no comprehension of how many angels exist. The revealed number is indeed mind-boggling. In Revelation 5:11, the number of angels that had assembled before the throne of God is given as ‘…ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.’ Hebrews 12:22 goes even further: ‘But you have come to… an innumerable company of angels.’ The Greek word for ‘innumerable’ is ‘anarithmethos,’ literally meaning, ‘unnumbered’ or ‘without number.’ Certainly, God knows how many angels He created but for man, angels are ‘without number.’”

Let us, from the same booklet on page 4, read about them having their own names:

“As individual beings with feelings and emotions, and with their own language, God also knows them by individual names. The Bible reveals two angelic names to us—Michael and Gabriel. It also talks about a third angel—Lucifer—who became Satan the devil. It appears, however, that all of the other angels have God-given names too. In Hebrews 1:4, we are told that Christ ‘…obtained a more excellent name than they,’ and Ephesians 1:21, in comparing Christ with the angelic world, states that Christ was seated at the right hand of God the Father, …far above…every name that is named.’ (Compare, too, Philippians 2:9.)”

Then on page 7, we read about the different orders of angels:

“There seem to exist different orders, categories or ranks of angels, with varying degrees of power and authority. When describing the angelic world, Colossians 1:16 speaks about ‘…thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.’ Ephesians 1:20–21 refers to angels as ‘…principality and power and might and dominion.’ In Ephesians 3:10, angels are identified as ‘…principalities and powers in the heavenly places,’ and 1 Peter 3:22 describes the created world of spirit beings as ‘…angels and authorities and powers.’

“In light of these Scriptures, the Swiss Zürcher Bible does refer to ranks among the angels. The Ryrie Study Bible states in an annotation to Ephesians 1:21: ‘These words (i.e., principality, and power, and might, and dominion) in rabbinical thought of the time, described different orders of angels.’

“As will become clearer in the remainder of this booklet, angels have been given varying degrees of power and glory. All of them are powerful and glorious, but not to the same extent. Revelation 5:2 speaks about a ‘strong angel.’ Revelation 10:1 and 18:21 describe ‘mighty’ angels. Revelation 18:1 introduces an angel ‘…coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory.’  Other Scriptures imply that specific angels were given special powers over fire (Revelation 14:18) and water (Revelation 16:5).

“The following brief overview will summarize the varying orders or categories of angels, as revealed in Scripture.”

We then read about them on pages 6-10:

• Archangels
• Seraphim
• Cherubim
• Four Living Creatures
• The twenty-four Elders
• The seven Spirits of God
• The Remaining Angels 

In heaven, there are God the Father, Jesus Christ the Word, and innumerable angels.   

(To be continued)

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

In the first part of this two-part series, we began our review of Deuteronomy, chapter 17:14-20, where we read about an instruction that was to be given to a king showing that he was not to look after his own personal interests as being foremost in his activities, but to learn to fear God and to observe His law and statutes.  We read in verse 14:

“When you come to the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, ‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me’…”

But why did God talk about a future king when Israel was a theocratic institution?   We read in 1 Samuel 8 that Israel demanded a king.  In verses 1-4, we read that Samuel was old and that his sons didn’t walk in the ways required of them.   Then in verse 4, we see how this affected the nation:

^“Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, ‘Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.’ But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, ‘Give us a king to judge us.’   So Samuel prayed to the LORD.”

Samuel knew that this was not the right course of action—that it was a SIN to ask for a king—but it had come about because his own sons had set such a bad example. Continuing with verses 7-10:

^“And the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also. Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behaviour of the king who will reign over them.’ So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who asked him for a king.”

In verses 11-18, he clearly set out the consequences of their request but they would have none of it, and in verses 19-22 is their response and that of God and the prophet Samuel:

^“Nevertheless, the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, ‘No, but we will have a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.’And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the hearing of the LORD. So the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Heed their voice, and make them a king.’ And Samuel said to the men of Israel, ‘Every man go to his city.’”

Then, as we read in 1 Samuel 9 and 10, Saul was the chosen one and anointed and proclaimed king.  

There appears to be no record of an Israelite king actually writing out the entire Law of the LORD as was instructed by Moses.   However, that does not invalidate its value in any way, nor does it prove, that it never happened. It is clear, of course, that David KNEW the Law of God, meditating in it day and night, and we should not assume that he himself did not actually write the Law himself in a personal book, as instructed by God in Deuteronomy 17:18.

While the Scripture says specifically that the king had to write his own copy, with his own hand, some feel that it was sufficient that it was written for him, upon his command, and being handed to him. This interpretation seems to defeat the purpose of God’s explicit command. There is great value in writing down the Scriptures yourself, as this also serves to retain them to memory. This practice, which had been recommended in the past by the Church of God, might have fallen into neglect by many. But to write at least key Scriptures down in a personal notebook—especially when you are still young in the faith—can be of great lasting importance. We are told to write God’s Law into our minds. In order to do this, we might be well advised to write it down first quite literally in a book, and to read in it day and night.

An excellent admonition is found in Proverbs 29:2: “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.”   That backs up what this admonition would achieve if followed through as instructed.

Knowing about, and keeping the Law of God, was an important function that the future kings of Israel were required to do so that they were kept in mind of the way that they should act for their own benefit and that of their subjects.   Unfortunately, there were good kings and bad kings in Israel and Judah.   The seeming resultant neglect showed that so many kings wanted to just do their own thing.

And so, what can WE learn from the requirements given to kings thousands of years ago?   The same approach by the people of God to honour our Creator and live by His Law, is of paramount importance.   Let us look at this passage of Scripture in Deuteronomy 17 and see what was required. Verse 16 states: “…he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the LORD has said to you, ‘You shall not return that way again.’”

The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary makes these interesting observations:

“…he (the king) shall not multiply horses to himself—The use of these animals was not absolutely prohibited, nor is there any reason to conclude that they might not be employed as part of the state equipage. But the multiplication of horses would inevitably lead to many evils, to increased intercourse with foreign nations, especially with Egypt, to the importation of an animal to which the character of the country was not suited, to the establishment of an Oriental military despotism, to proud and pompous parade in peace, to a dependence upon Egypt in time of war, and a consequent withdrawal of trust and confidence in God (2 [Samuel] 8:4; 1 [Kings] 10:26; 2 [Chronicles] 1:16; 9:28; [Isaiah] 31:3).”

Barnes Notes on the Bible states:

“The spirit of the prohibition therefore is that the king of Israel must not, like other earthly potentates, put his trust in costly and formidable preparations for war (compare Hosea 1:7).

“Egypt was the principal source from where the nations of western Asia drew their supplies of this animal (compare Exodus 14:5 ff; 1 Kings 10:28-29; 2 Kings 7:6); but contact, traffic, or alliance which would ‘cause the people to return to Egypt’ would be to reverse that great and beneficent wonderwork of God which inaugurated the Mosaic covenant, the deliverance from the bondage of Egypt; and to bring about of set purpose that which God threatened Deuteronomy 28:68 as the most severe punishment for Israel’s sin.”

We can learn from this that, for us, such distraction and reliance on outside sources can lead us into areas that will probably not be conducive to our Christian Way of Life. In Matthew 19, we read the account of Jesus and the rich young ruler.  Wealth can be a way that can be more important to some than the Way that God has shown His people, and in verse 23 we read: “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.’   We must not be distracted from our chosen path.

Deuteronomy 17:17 says: “Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself.”

A classic example of this problem can be found with King Solomon’s departure from God in 1 Kings 11. Verse 3 shows the extent of the problem: “And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.”   Solomon’s actions with foreign princesses were in part for political ends, but introduced heathen cults into Israel.  He was not content with just one wife as is the instruction from God (cf Genesis 2:20-24; 1 Corinthians 7:2; 1 Timothy 3:2).   Although there are examples in the Old Testament where having multiple wives was extant, but this never occurred with the approval of God, and the outcomes were not good.  Again, distractions from our Godly calling can arise when the Way that is best for us is not adhered to.

“Multiplying gold and silver for himself” is a case of wealth being pursued as an end in itself, thus distracting from the much more important things in life.   It can be self-serving and we read in Matthew Poole’s Commentary: “Neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold, lest this should lift up his heart in confidence and pride, which God abhors, and beget in him a contempt of his people; and lest it should incline, or engage, or enable him to burden his people with immoderate exactions. They are not simply forbidden to be rich, if God made them so either by the voluntary gifts of their subjects, or by the spoils of their enemies, which was the case of David, and Solomon, and Jehoshaphat [etc.],  but they are forbidden either inordinately to desire, or irregularly to procure, great riches by grinding the faces of their poor people, or by other wicked arts and courses, as the manner of their neighbouring kings was.”

Deuteronomy 17:18-19 continues: “…so it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites.  And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes…“

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary reads as follows (our emphasis underlined): “He must carefully avoid everything that would turn him from God and religion. Riches, honours, and pleasures, are three great hinderances of godliness, (the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eye, and the pride of life,) especially to those in high stations; against these the king is here warned. The king must carefully study the law of God, and make that his rule; and having a copy of the Scriptures of his own writing, must read therein all the days of his life. It is not enough to have Bibles, but we must use them, use them daily, as long as we live.  The king’s writing and reading were as nothing, if he did not practise what he wrote and read. And those who fear God and keep his commandments, will fare the better for it even in this world.”

Deuteronomy 17:20 continues: “…that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.”

The Benson Commentary states “that his heart be not lifted up — He intimates, that the Scriptures, diligently read, are a powerful means to keep a person humble, because they show him that, though a king, he is subject to a higher monarch, to whom he must give an account of all his administrations, and receive from him his sentence, agreeably to their quality, which is sufficient to abate the pride of the haughtiest person in the world.”

We read earlier that the king must read God’s law (or Word) every day of his life. Not only must he read it, but he must develop the skill to interpret and apply it rightly and fairly. We can take from that, that we must also read God’s Word daily as part of our Christian Way of Life.   If it was good enough for the king, it would certainly be deemed to be good enough for us!

A godly leader must be a humble person, serving always with humility. The Israelite king was told “that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren.” He may have had a far superior position; nevertheless, he was, like his brethren, still a servant of God.

We are to be kings and priests in the Kingdom of God, as we read in Revelation 5:10: “And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”  This is the time when the Law of God will be the Way that people will live in the Kingdom of God during the 1,000 millennial rule of Jesus Christ.

Learning these lessons today from this passage of Scripture will help us to see what will be required of us when we become a member of the Family of God at the return of Jesus Christ.

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

In the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 17, we read about an instruction that was to be given to a king showing that he was not to look after his own personal interests as being foremost in his activities, but to learn to fear God and to observe His law and statutes. Deuteronomy 17:14-20 reads as follows:

“When you come to the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, ‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,’ you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the LORD has said to you, ‘You shall not return that way again.’ Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself. Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.”

In respect of what qualified as a book that the king had to write out as a copy, we read these observations In Coffman’s Commentaries on the Bible:

“In our opinion, neither a few verses nor a short document qualifies as ‘a book.’ Perhaps this is the reason that the Septuagint (LXX) translated this place in such a manner as to make the meaning ‘a copy of all the law of God.’ Recent knowledge of the suzerainty treaties (see below for an explanation of these) and the resemblance to them found in Deuteronomy has shed some light on this, and, as Kline expressed it: ‘A duplicate copy of the suzerainty treaty was provided for each vassal king.’… Moreover, that ‘copy’ was not a few excerpts, but the whole document, the entire treaty. That is clearly what is indicated here.

“Canon Cook discerned this a long time ago, writing that, ‘What was given to the king was the whole Pentateuch, or at any rate the legal portion of it… Only the whole law of the covenant could preserve the king from the dangers of his position.’… Note also, in this connection, what was to be copied: It was that which was laid up ‘before the priests and the Levites,’ (Deuteronomy 17:18) and that is a clear reference to ALL of the sacred law. [The Pulpit Commentary] also concurred in this view: ‘The priests were the custodians of the written Law (Deuteronomy 31:26) and from the text of their codex was the king’s copy to be written…”

What are the suzerainty treaties referred to above? Wikipedia states that these were the “Type of relationship between a dominant and a vassal state.  Suzerainty includes the rights and obligations of a person, state or other polity which controls the foreign policy and relations of a tributary state, but allows the tributary state internal autonomy. Where the subordinate party is called a vassal, vassal state or tributary state, the dominant party is called a suzerain.” 

Why should this be of any real interest and importance to us today? If the king did not follow this instruction and practice about which he was commanded to both read and write out, he would be like the rest of the world and miss out on the benefits that following such an instruction would bring. It took work but was surely worth all of the effort in following what God instructed for his own good and that of his subjects and nation.

This Q&A is not designed to be a thorough exposition of everything that surrounded this instruction and all the different views that many have about it today, but to show the wisdom of God in issuing this requirement then and what we can learn from this today.

Theologyofwork.org makes these interesting and legitimate observations:

“Just as people and institutions must not contravene legitimate authority, people in positions of power must not use their authority illegitimately. Moses specifically deals with the case of a king… He shall have a copy of this law diligently observing all the words of this law and these statutes, neither exalting himself above other members of the community nor turning aside from the commandment, either to the right or to the left… In this text we see two restrictions on the use of authority—those in authority are not above the law but must obey and uphold it, and those in authority must not abuse their power by enriching themselves…

“Today, people in authority may try to put themselves above the law, as for example when police and court workers ‘fix’ traffic tickets for themselves and their friends, or when high-ranking public servants or business employees do not obey the expense policies others are subject to.  Similarly, officials may use their power to enrich themselves receiving bribes, zoning, and licensing exemptions, access to privileged information, or personal use of public or private property. Sometimes special perks are granted to those in power as a matter of policy or law, but this does not really eliminate the offense. Moses’ command to kings is not to make sure to get legal authorization for their excesses, but to avoid the excesses altogether. When those in power use their authority not simply to gain special privileges but to create monopolies for their cronies, to appropriate vast lands and assets, and to jail, torture, or kill opponents, the stakes become deadly. There is no difference in kind between petty abuses of power and totalitarian oppression, merely in degree…

“The more authority you have, the greater the temptation to act as though you are above the law. Moses prescribes an antidote. The king must read God’s law (or word) every day of his life. Not only must he read it, but he must develop the skill to interpret and apply it rightly and fairly. He must develop the habit of obeying God’s word himself, of putting it into practice in his work, ‘diligently observing all the words of this law’ (Deuteronomy 17:19).  By this the king learns to revere the Lord and fulfill the responsibilities God has given him. He is reminded that he too is under authority. God does not give him the privilege of making a law unto himself, but a duty of fulfilling God’s law for the benefit of everyone.”

These comments, as far as they go, are very helpful. However, what this commentary and many others overlook or fail to mention is the instruction that the king had to write himself God’s Word in a personal book of his to read from it (compare Deuteronomy 17:18: “… he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites.”). We will address this unique requirement in the next instalment.

Let us look at what the torah.com has to say about this matter:

“The book of Deuteronomy presents itself as the final address of Moses, delivered to the Israelites upon the plains of Moab, on the verge of their entry into the land.  The book is set in the time between the wilderness period and Israel’s future life as inhabitants of the land, a space opened between memories and threats, past and future.

“The core of the book is the Deuteronomic law collection, spanning chapters 12–26 which is followed in chapter 28 by a list of the rewards for obedience (vv. 1–14)and a much longer list of consequences for disobedience (vv. 15–69).

“Moses’s Deuteronomic address, delivered to the Israelites on the eve of their entry into the land, anticipates and establishes the perpetuity of the Israel’s subjection to YHWH’s rule. In this, YHWH was no different from any other suzerain in the ancient Near East, or ever since. The people as a multitude and as a nation are placed at a juncture in which they have to agree to serve YHWH loyalty, or face an endless slew of punishment, and they remain in that juncture ever since.

“For the people standing in the Plains of Moab, compliance is not really a choice at this point. The revelation at Horeb has already taken place, the previous generation has already been punished for its sins, and the laws have already been explicated. Israel’s agency here is limited to their agreeing to follow YHWH’s commands or suffer the deity’s wrath.”

Peter Pett’s Commentary on the Bible has this to say: “Thus he should ensure that he had his own copy of the record of Yahweh’s doings and of His Law as contained in the books which were in the levitical priests’ care. (As Deuteronomy was not, at this stage in his speech, in written form, this must refer to an earlier written Law). And he must keep it ever by him and read it every day of his life, so that he might learn to fear Yahweh his God, and keep His Instruction and what He had laid down, in accordance with what was now being spoken of by Moses.” 

From the jewishvirtuallibrary.org website we read about the problems after the death of Solomon:

“The experiment with the opulence and power of the great eastern kingdoms had ended in disaster for Israel.  King Solomon created the wealthiest and most powerful central government the Hebrews would ever see, but he did so at an impossibly high cost. When Solomon died, between 926 and 922 BCE, the ten northern tribes refused to submit to his son, Rehoboam, and revolted.

“From this point on, there would be two kingdoms of Hebrews: in the north – Israel, and in the south – Judah.  The Israelites formed their capital in the city of Samaria, and the Judaeans kept their capital in Jerusalem. These kingdoms remained separate states for over two hundred years. [In fact, they never became united again. This will only happen after Christ’s return.]

“The history of the both kingdoms is a litany of ineffective, disobedient, and corrupt kings. When the Hebrews had first asked for a king, in the book of Judges, they were told that only God was their king. When they approached Samuel the Prophet, he told them the desire for a king was an act of disobedience and that they would pay dearly if they established a monarchy. The history told in the Hebrew book, Kings, bears out Samuel’s warning.” 

(To be continued)

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

In the first part of this two-part series, we looked at some of the superstitions that are commonplace in society today.   Let us continue in reviewing this practice.

We read the following at gotquestions.org: “There are many types of superstitions in the world, ranging from the benign—such as not walking under a ladder—to the occult practices of astrology, black magic, divination, voodoo and sorcery. Scripture condemns those who practice astrology (Deuteronomy 4:19), magic, divination and sorcery (2 Kings 21:6; Isaiah 2:6). Idolatry is also forbidden, and no one who practices it will enter the Kingdom of God (Revelation 21:27). These types of practices are extremely dangerous because they open the minds of the practitioners to the influence of the devil.”

On the bible-dictionary.info, we read about superstition:

“An irrational belief or fear that an object or other factor has the power to affect a person’s life with some action bringing bad luck or occasionally good luck. There is no Christian, rational or scientific basis for such behaviour as putting confidence in a lucky charm or doing something to gain protection from misfortune or to bring good luck. God causes or allows everything in keeping with His divine plan (Isaiah 46:9-11; Acts 4:26-28; Ephesians 1:9, 10). 

“Any unbiblical, irrational fear or ritual falls into the realm of superstition with some things what is often termed just a coincidence (1 Samuel 5:4,5; 1 Kings 20:23; Acts 28:3-6).

“However, the Bible says that God’s purposes will prevail and that He is in control of even the most random event (Proverbs 19:21).

“Superstitions range from not walking under a ladder, through astrology, black magic and divination, to voodoo and sorcery. These types of practices are forbidden in Scripture (Deuteronomy 18:10-12;  2 Kings 21:6; Isaiah 2:6). The Bible warns against being taken captive by deceptive philosophies, which are based on human traditions, rather than on Christ; instead we should be alert to the enemies’ tactics as these practices open the mind of the practitioners to the influence of evil (Colossians 2:8-10; 1 Timothy 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8). We are not to give credence or pay attention to superstitions; instead God’s laws, plans and help should be our focus.”

Let us review those Scriptures mentioned above:

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, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.  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 Benson Commentary observes as follows (we quote just a few comments from many that are made):

“That maketh his son or daughter pass through the fire — By a superstitious dedicating, or a cruel sacrificing of them, see on Leviticus 18:2.  That useth divination — Of which there were many sorts, as is implied in the original expressions here: קסם קסמים, kosem kesamim, divining divinations, or with divinations. The meaning undoubtedly is, That seeketh to know or foretel things secret, or to come, by unlawful arts and practices. An observer of times — Superstitiously pronouncing some days lucky and others unlucky: or, an observer of the clouds, or heavens; 

“An enchanter — Or a conjecturer, that endeavours, or pretends, to discover hidden things by a superstitious use of words or ceremonies, by observation of water or smoke, or tiny contingencies.”

2 Kings 21:6: “Also he made his son pass through the fire, practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft, and consulted spiritists and mediums. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger.”

Pretty much the same condemnation as in the previous observations on Deuteronomy 18:10-12.

Isaiah 2:6: “For You have forsaken Your people, the house of Jacob, Because they are filled with eastern ways; They are soothsayers like the Philistines, And they are pleased with the children of foreigners.”

The ways that God taught them were being cast aside for pagan gods.

In 1 Timothy 4:7 we read: “But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.”

Here is an instruction to reject old wives’ fables – the word fable was “muthos”, from which the English words “myth” and “mythology” originate.   Young’s Analytical Concordance of the Bible also describes it as talk, tale or legend.

And 1 Peter 5:8 tells us where all of the wrong words and action emanate from: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

We read on the byjus.com website: “Superstitions are a universal phenomena having their own peculiar place in the cultural ethos and milieu of a people. They epitomize man’s fear of the unknown, fear of evil, blind faith in omens and portents. Superstitions are interwoven with myth, legend, unnatural phenomena and disaster, customs and traditions, and are mainly the outcome of ignorance. They are unreasonable and irrational beliefs that gradually become matters of faith. When certain things and happenings are rationally inexplicable people tend to assign mysterious and supernatural reasons for their operation. Thus a natural disaster is explained in terms of God’s wrath and the failure of one’s project is assigned to the black cat which crossed the path just as one set out on the errand.”

There are many references in the Word of God which clearly condemn the occult, magic, sorcery, witchcraft, astrology and idolatry from where much of superstitious ways emanate from.  It could be said that some of these actions are harmless like for example, crossing fingers, touching wood and throwing salt over your shoulder.   However, they are not harmless in God’s eyes, and a mindset can develop that can regularly involve such actions that progress on to matters of a more sinister nature and can be part of a way of life.

God has given us many warnings against superstition, idolatry, divination, (the art or act of foretelling future events or revealing occult knowledge by means of augury or an alleged supernatural agency), astrology, consulting horoscopes, witchcraft and sorcery (use of supernatural power over others through the assistance of spirits; witchcraft.).  

There are psychics and mediums today who flourish and thrive at the expense of those who are drawn into their web of deceit.   These are not the signs of a sound mind.

Let us look at a few Scriptures to show how important it is to have a sound mind.

In Isaiah 26:3, we read the following:  “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.”   Trusting in God is clear evidence of a right mind which is hugely beneficial in the here and now and essential for life in the eternal Kingdom of God.

Romans 12:1-2 reads:  “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary observes: “He (Paul) entreated the Romans, as his brethren in Christ, by the mercies of God, to present their bodies as a living sacrifice to Him. This is a powerful appeal. We receive from the Lord every day the fruits of his mercy. Let us render ourselves; all we are, all we have, all we can do: and after all, what return is it for such very rich receivings? The great enemy to this renewal is, conformity to this world. Take heed of forming plans for happiness, as though it lay in the things of this world, which soon pass away. Do not fall in with the customs of those who walk in the lusts of the flesh, and mind earthly things. The work of the Holy (Spirit) first begins in the understanding, and is carried on to the will, affections, and conversation, till there is a change of the whole man into the likeness of God, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness. Thus, to be godly, is to give up ourselves to God.”

As the people of God, we have to come out of this world and its ways, and replace them with getting, and staying close to God, and His ways.   Anything less will simply not do.

Reviewing 1 Corinthians 2:16 is instructive.  “For ‘who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.”  

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers puts it well: 

“‘For’—This is the proof that the enlightened spiritual man cannot be judged by any one who is not thus enlightened. ‘Who (thus uninstructed) can know the mind of the Lord Jesus, that he may instruct Him?’; But we.—That is, spiritual men, including the Apostles. The Apostle here identifies Christ with the Spirit, whom he has previously spoken of as the Teacher of spiritual things. He does not mean to assert that the Apostles knew all that the mind of Christ knew, but that all things which they did know were from Him and spiritual (John 15:15).”

Philippians 4:6-7 states: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

connectusfund.org comments: “God’s peace is not like the peace of the world. The world’s peace is based on the world’s thinking, which is the thinking of Satan. The world’s peace is circumstantial and depends on comparisons. The world’s peace is fleeting. Here one moment, gone the next. One of Satan’s tricks towards man is to whisper foreboding forecasts and to lie about the meaning of the present situation in order to get you to forget the truth that you know and believe. God’s peace, when it comes, overshadows and drives away the anxiety of the world.” 

Further instruction is given in Colossians 3:2: “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”   We can become too involved in earthly matters that our spiritual life, and future, can be relegated in our list of priorities until we realise that that is not the Way of God.

Finally, let us look at 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”   

This verse promises us that if we are led by the Holy Spirit which we receive at proper baptism and the laying on of hands, we can have a spiritually sound mind.  We read in John 16:13 that the Holy Spirit is vitally important because by it we can be guided into the Truth of God.   That is where our emphasis must be, not on any superstition which has no value at all, but on the Truth that God has revealed to us and which will lead us along the right path towards being in the Kingdom of God when Jesus Christ returns to this earth.

Superstition in all its many forms can sidetrack us, to divert from a main issue or course, which is our calling from God.   A review of whether we have fallen prey to superstition in one way or another, however small that may be, could be worthy of our time.  If we have, without realising it, then corrective action can be taken.   Something as simple as crossing our fingers or knocking on wood might seem, at first glance, a minor matter but they remove what should be our total reliance on our great Creator God.

Please also see our four-part series, entitled “How do you view paganism today, and exactly what is it?”, and our Q&A, titled, “How can Satan and his demons appear to you?”

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)

In answering this question, let us first of all define what superstition is. Wordnik defines this as follows:

“1. An irrational belief that an object, action, or circumstance not logically related to a course of events influences its outcome.

“2. A belief, practice, or rite irrationally maintained by ignorance of the laws of nature or by faith in magic or chance.

“3. A fearful or abject state of mind resulting from such ignorance or irrationality.”

“Therefore, a superstitious person is one who relates to, or is swayed by superstition.

“Superstition is irrational as can be worked out when reviewing some of these actions that are taken by superstitious people:

“… crossing fingers for luck; touching [or knocking on] wood; not walking under a ladder (although it would be sensible if doing that to check that it was safe to do so); throwing salt over your shoulder; a black cat crossing your path; a broken mirror bringing seven years of bad luck; Friday the 13^th being an unlucky day. Some countries won’t have a 13^th level on an apartment block. Don’t open an umbrella inside a house. Finding a horseshoe is good luck.”

And there are more of course. Lucky charms are another source of superstition thinking that a ‘rabbit’s foot,’ a lucky horseshoe or a four-leafed clover can change one’s luck.  Because of its association with the Norse god Odin, the lowly acorn is also considered a symbol of luck. Odin hung himself from an oak tree to gain knowledge, so the acorn has come to symbolize wisdom.

Tempting fate is to invite bad luck or unpleasant situations by showing one’s confidence in something.

It is interesting that many football (soccer) players in the UK step on to the pitch with a variety of different things they do: crossing themselves, kissing their wrist, kissing the ground, looking up into the sky etc.   It could be that they think that it is part of their faith but the Bible nowhere states that such gestures have to be carried out.   It is more likely a ritual for superstitious players. 

One famous football goalkeeper for many years used to wear his socks inside-out during matches!

When a game is on a knife edge, many cricketers who are on the batting side and not on the field of play, will sit in the same position in the pavilion and not move until the outcome of the match is known.   One famous cricket umpire would dance on one foot when the score was on 87 or 111 as these are considered unlucky numbers.

One world famous tennis player goes through the same routine during every game. Before he serves, he places some of his hair behind each one of his ears and also tugs on his shorts and then touches several parts of his head just before serving.   Another champion tennis player always got up second from the chair and would also never step on the lines of the court. And a top female tennis player always brought her shower sandals to the court, tied her shoelaces a specific way and bounced the ball five times before her first serve and twice before her second.

Why?  Reuters reported some years ago that “psychologists say people often become superstitious when faced with unknown and stressful situations, which explains why so many athletes are superstitious and frequently bound to rigid preparation routines.  ‘When the stakes are high and there is a great deal of uncertainty – as in top-level sport – then people will try anything to get the outcome they want,’ Richard Stephens, a senior lecturer in psychology at Keele University, told Reuters.”

There can be references to the “sporting gods” as if they were real rather than just a figment of man’s imagination.

Astrology – looking at what the stars have in store for us – is a pastime, deemed to be harmless, that many regularly get involved with.  [This would also include consulting horoscopes to learn about our future.]  Deuteronomy 4:19 gives us God’s answer to such practices: “And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the LORD your God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage.”

The Bible is instructive when it teaches that “whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap” (see Galatians 6:7).   Such instruction reveals that actions produce good and bad results, depending on what they are and these are based on Godly wisdom, not just random or accidental events.

It has been said that because superstition is dependent upon unseen forces, atheists and agnostics often say that anyone who believes in God may well be superstitious.  Of course, this is erroneous thinking as those who truly believe in the great God are confident of, and can prove that, the Creation requires a Creator and there are spiritual unseen forces that must exist for this to have occurred.

We read in Colossians 2:8-10: “ Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”

The Benson Commentary observes: “It seems some teachers had crept in among the Christians at Colosse, either of Gentile or Jewish extraction, who endeavoured to blend deceits of this kind with the gospel of Christ, and that this is what the apostle here condemns; 1st, Because it was empty and deceitful, promising wisdom, but giving none. 2d, Because it was grounded, not on truth, or solid reason, but on the vain and false traditions of men. 3d, Because, as the apostle here says, it was after the rudiments, στοιχεια, the elements, of the world — Such as the [unbiblical] Jewish ceremonies [being a product of human inventions], or the pagan superstitions.”

In 1 Samuel 5, we read about the Philistines taking the ark and putting it next to Dagon in the house of Dagon (verses 1-2).   In verses 4-5 we read: “And when they arose early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. The head of Dagon and both the palms of its hands were broken off on the threshold; only Dagon’s torso was left of it. Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor any who come into Dagon’s house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.”  

The Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary states the following: “Therefore neither the priests … nor any … tread on the threshold of Dagon—A superstitious ceremony crept in, and in the providence of God was continued, by which the Philistines contributed to publish this proof of the helplessness of their god….unto this day—The usage continued in practice at the time when this history was written—probably in the later years of Samuel’s life.”

There is another excellent example in the Old Testament of superstitious beliefs.   In 1 Kings 18, we read about Elijah’s Mount Carmel Victory: “And Elijah came to all the people, and said, ‘How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.’ But the people answered him not a word” (verse 21).  Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal in verses 22-25 and they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon (verse 26).   As nothing happened, we read in verses 27-29, “And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, ‘Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.’  So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them.   And when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.”

Again, reading from the Benson Commentary, it observes that: “The worship of idols being a most ridiculous thing, it is perfectly just to represent it so, and expose it to scorn. And nothing can be imagined more cutting and sarcastic than these words of the prophet, in which he ridicules, in the finest manner possible, their wretched, false, and derogatory ideas of the Deity. The two last notions of being asleep and not at home, how absurd soever they may be, when applied to the Deity, were certainly such as several idolaters conceived of their gods, as appears from various passages in Homer…”   These were superstitious, unproven practices that led to the downfall of these pagan priests as we read in verses 30-40.

We read in 1 Samuel 28, starting in verse 7, that King Saul consulted a witch at En Dor.   He should never have done this as God had said, “You shall not permit a sorceress to live” (Exodus 22:18), but he did this out of desperation and the end result was catastrophic as he died in battle the following day.   In Leviticus 19:31 we read: “Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.”   Today, witchcraft and superstition go hand in hand and they are not harmless.

Jeremiah 10:2 states: “Thus says the LORD: ‘Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, For the Gentiles are dismayed at them.’”  Matthew Poole’s Commentary observes: “Learn not the way of the heathen: the Jews being to live among the Chaldeans in their captivity, where many of them were already, the prophet in this sermon admonisheth them against the superstitions of the Chaldean idolatries…..”

In Ezekiel 13:17-19, we read: “ Likewise, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own heart; prophesy against them, and say, ‘Thus says the LORD God: “Woe to the women who sew magic charms on their sleeves and make veils for the heads of people of every height to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of My people, and keep yourselves alive?  And will you profane Me among My people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, killing people who should not die, and keeping people alive who should not live, by your lying to My people who listen to lies?”’”

Barnes Notes on the Bible has this to say about this passage of Scripture: “Most ancient interpreters and many modern interpreters have understood the ‘pillows’ (or charms) and ‘kerchiefs’ (or veils), as appliances to which the sorcerers had resort in order to attract notice. The veil was a conspicuous ornament in the east – women whatever their ‘stature’ (or height) putting them on – and it was worn by magicians in order to seem more mysterious and awful.”   Sorcerers and magic were condemned by God and were part of the superstitious nature that seemed to attract so many.

In Acts 17 we read of Paul and the philosophers at Athens.   The fact that they were superstitious is indicated in verses 22-23: “Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ Hill and said, ‘Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.  For as I passed by and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription: “To the Unknown God”. Whom therefore ye worship in ignorance, Him I declare unto you’” (21st Century King James Version).   It seemed that they were “hedging their bets’ or “to avoid committing oneself; to leave a means of retreat open” (phrases.org.uk). Even those who were supposedly religious, were superstitious in this case.

(To be continued)

Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)