My pastor s sermon today was from Genesis 28. With the latter the name Bethel gives place in mockery to Beth-aven. All rights reserved. Tue 9am-4pm. Youre welcome! 8502312682 info@schooloftheprophets.us. Later his grandson Jacob saw a vision of the Lord here, and then returned here after his sojourn in Paddan Aram. If you want to think of the new Jerusalem as Bethel transformed, I dont have a problem with that. The Tribe of Dan didn't take long to fall into idolatry. Bethel, the church, becomes the new Jerusalem, the bride The eternal Bethel, the house of God, the mutual dwelling place of God and man, where man dwells in God and God dwells not only with man but in man. The Son of Man is man; as such, He possesses the human nature. Hebrew). That, anyway, is some of what I see in John 1:51 and its reference to the story of Jacobs dream. 1 Kings 12:32 Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the feast that is in Judah, and he went up to the altar; so did he in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places that he had made. Elisha said, "As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." But in order to avoid death, he had to flee his home and everything he was familiar with, and go to a distant land to live with relatives he had never met. Dan enjoys anything to do with the outdoors, growing plumeria and spending time with his family and animals. We can call Bethel House of God all we want, but when were the ones running the show and calling the shots, instead of being obedient, God does not bless it and in fact will tear it down. However, the Bible story makes it clear that the Bethel that Abram stayed in on his journey from Haran in the north to Egypt in the south (see Genesis 12:110) is the same place as the Bethel that Jacob stayed in on his journey from Beer-sheba in the southern part of Palestine toward Haran, where Abrams kinsmen still lived (see Genesis 28:1019). (For more on this story, see the article Dan Gheesling: Judas, Jesus, . But More Importantly Its Our Call To Treat Our Bodies As His Temple A Place That God Though The Holy Spirit Can Dwell. Amos 7:10 Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, "Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. 1 Chronicles 7:28 Their possessions and habitations were Bethel and its towns, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer, with its towns; Shechem also and its towns, to Azzah and its towns; 2 Chronicles 13:19 Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with its towns, and Jeshanah with its towns, and Ephron with its towns. Very helpful.should we still hold the idea of bethel as a place of christian hope today? Gods building needs His humanity. Jesus was, of course, steeped in the Scriptureswhich for him were what we call the Old Testament. It may well have been located in a bottleneck that people traveling through the center of the land were obliged to pass through when going south to north or north to south. Scripture tells us that God created the heavens and the earth, but He is pleased to dwell with man (Isa. I also agree with you on the general progression of God (from our human, time-bound perspective) as first being divinity only, then divinity and humanity in Jesus Christ, and then being present with us as the Holy Spirit after Christs death, resurrection, and ascension to the Father. With that said, I was driving home from a few days later and a thought over took my mind It is to be called Bethel but I understood it spelled as Bethal and the thought over took my mind again and said to me Not Bethal, Bethelspelled with an E. Which is partially responsible for how weve ended up with the folly that is Christianity. The Tabernacle of Ancient Israel - Brief Overview of the Tabernacle of Moses in the Wilderness and the Ark of the Covenant. He found him at Bethel, and there he spoke with us. And this thing became a sin; the people came to worship the one at Bethel and went as far as Dan to worship the other. For example, the Israelites went to Bethel to seek God's advice when they planned to attack the Benjaminites at the battle of Gibeah (Jud. He placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made (1 Kings 12:32). Im so blessed with your write up. Thank you so much for this post, may God Bless you and May he continue to use you to help people like me These shrines are portrayed as active places of worship throughout the duration of the northern kingdom (2Kgs 10:29, Amos 4:4, Amos 8:14) and, in the case of Bethel, afterward as well (2Kgs 17:24-28). God cannot really be contained in a physical building or location (see 1 Kings 8:27), but we earth-bound humans often need something solid and physical to remind us of the presence of God, heaven, and spirit. For more on this spiritual way of interpreting the Bible, see Can We Really Believe the Bible? The kingdom consisting of the northern Israelites tribes, which existed separately from the southern kingdom of Judah. 28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. Im bringing this up because the reality of the above is pretty much where God brings us after our Bethel experience. Isnt that how we often start in our relationship with God, too? Jeremiah 48:13 Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel their confidence. 1 Kings 12:29. But Jerusalem appears extensively in the New Testament. Thanks. 29 And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan. Required fields are marked *. The most famous of these encounters was Jacobs dream of a stairway to heaven, with angels ascending and descending on it, and the Lord standing above it (Genesis 28:1022). I also interpret some of the symbolism of the story of Jacobs dream at Bethel differently than you do. To prevent his subjects from making pilgrimages to the Temple in Jerusalem, he then set up two sanctuaries, one in the territory of Dan and another in Bethelcomplete with golden calves, their own priests, and their own festival. For the ancients, it had everything necessary for abundant living. Bethel is mentioned in over sixty verses in the Bible, representing over thirty distinct stories and prophecies, all of them in the Old Testament. Thank you for your beautiful and tranquil thoughts! My main point in the article on leaving Bethel behind was about our spiritual life. Conversely, even though places like Dan are described by the Bible as being part of the United Monarchy, Hebrew inscriptions from this site show the Israelite presence there dates only to the 8th century B.C.E. Instead, there is a spiritual stairway that shows us the way to leave behind a merely materialistic life and become spiritual in our goals and focus in life. Bethel, ancient city of Palestine, located just north of Jerusalem. For example, we may say to God, Ill follow you, but only if you give me the house, or car, or healing, or mate, that Im looking for.. However, I do see that story as a prophecy of Christ, along with the entire Old Testament (see Luke 24:27, 44; John 5:39). I plead with you and other fellow Christians to please pray with me over this situation! Because this and several other early encounters with God happened at Bethel, it signifies our first beginnings of knowledge and understanding about God, heaven, and spiritual truth. Bethel was a sacred place to offer sacrifices to God and receive messages from God. And no, I am not saying that Bethel is more important than Jerusalem. Bethel is presented in the Bible as a key, centrally located city from which Joshuas conquest of the Holy Land could press north and south. The final place for the Tabernacle (actually, a replacement Tabernacle built by David) was in Jerusalemwhere the Temple was later built by his son Solomon. Im glad you enjoyed this response. He has made them believe that if they leave this place, they will lose their salvation and that they and their families will no longer be protected. Thanks for stopping by, and for your comment. THE BATTLE OF HAZOR The ancient city of Hazor was a key Canaanite city in the north of Canaan. Bethel is a place of new beginnings. Later reflections preserved in 1Kgs 12:32-33 and in the book of Chronicles, amplify this condemnation. In ancient times these were supplemented by a reservoir hewn in the rock South of the town. Joshua 8:12 He took about five thousand men, and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city. What about that Holy Spirit? To illustrate the character of the connection with God and heaven represented by Bethel, lets look at just one brief vignette, from the famous story of Jacobs Ladder. After Jacob had that amazing dream of a stairway to heaven with angels ascending and descending on it, and God standing above, he made this vow to God: If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my fathers house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be Gods house; and of all that you give me I will surely give one-tenth to you. Im glad this article was helpful to you. But we know what task God has given us now, and we are intent on accomplishing that task. About the physical place that you think of as your Bethel, it all depends on whether you can continue to grow spiritually while encountering God at that place. Thanks for your thoughts. The home of the prophetess Deborah was not far off (Judges 4:5). The symbolism notion of this representing a persons spiritual journey I find ridiculous. 30 And this thing became a sin; the people came to worship the one at Bethel and went as far as Dan to worship the other. Bethel is first mentioned in the Bible in connection with Abram, who built an altar to God there: "From there [Abram] went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. (29) Bethel and Dan, chosen as the frontier towns of the kingdom, had, however, associations of their own, which lent themselves naturally to Jeroboam's design. However, that became the name by which the place was known, so that it was used by the Bible writers to refer to it even when they were narrating stories that took place before Jacobs time, and before it was known as Bethel. The Son of God is God; as such, He has the divine nature. On the one hand, excavations at the site of Tel Dan suggest a high degree of convergence between the finds and the biblical accounts. Jerusalem, where the Tabernacle was later established by David, and where Solomon built the Temple, represents the next stage in our spiritual journey of rebirth. (See the marginal reference; Judges 20:26-28; 1 Samuel 7:16.). The church, the gate of heaven, juxtaposed against the gates of hell. Thanks for stopping by, and for your comments. Pastor saw the house as he was praying word came to him this house will be called EL-BETHEL. ", 2 Kings 2:23 He went up from there to Bethel. It is important to correctly locate Bethel because Ai is located with . There was still some distance to come to Ephrath, and Rachel travailed. This means that each of these places represent the focus of our spiritual life and worship as we go through our journey of spiritual rebirth, or regeneration. Thanks Lee for watering the thirst sheep of God specially from countries where Bible study is a dream for the people like me.J,B. It thus lay on a rocky ridge in the extreme southern part of the mountainous region of Ephraim at about 900 . One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. A place to draw others onto him, that otherwise would not come to know him and form a relationship with the Lord that leads them into a church for greater leading and maturity. Thanks for the inciteful read! The land is not able to bear all his words. Im glad youve gained some good insight here! Judges 21:19 They said, "Behold, there is a feast of Yahweh from year to year in Shiloh, which is on the north of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.". God bless. Jeremiah 48:13; Hosea 10:15; Amos 3:134:4; 5:16. So in our spiritual life it represents a time of major battles and struggles to leave behind our old, selfish and worldly ways of life and focus our lives on God and spirit instead. 2 Kings 17:28 | View whole chapter | See verse in context Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they . The prophet offers the holy man dinner, but the. Its a heckuva lot better than ignoring God completely! There is some debate about exactly where Bethel was. Genesis 13:3 By the time of Jesus birth, Bethel had completely faded away as a place of importance. Relating to the priests, the people responsible for overseeing the system of religious observance, especially temple sacrifice, depicted in the Hebrew Bible. Just as Bethel took on importance in the early history of the ancient Hebrews and of the Israelite nation as a point of connection with God and heaven, so it takes on a similar spiritual significance for us early in our spiritual growth. Yes, John 1:51 does seem to be a fairly clear reference to the story of Jacobs Ladder. Because that first step was only possible in God. Bible Plans Videos. The Sanctuary:The town was originally called Luz (Genesis 28:19, etc.). The correct translation of John 14:2 is In my Fathers house are many abodes We are the abodes and in the Fathers house. Youve been generous with your response once again, Lee. You avoided answering the question a year ago, about King Jeroboam and Bethel. The first one was when Abram went out of Eygpt and came to Bethel (this one was near Sodom and Gomorrahnear Hebron) I absolutely love this! . Christ as the Son of Man, with His humanity, is the ladder set up on the earth and leading to heaven, keeping heaven open to earth and joining earth to heaven for the house of God, Bethel. The Lord said to Moses, "Take all the leaders of the people and execute them in broad daylight before the Lord, so that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel.". Thanks for stopping by. The good land The promised land Is Christ Jesus. As far as importance to our spiritual growth is concerned, I feel it is absolutely essential for every Christian to realize that this was a prophesy, a foreshadowing of the coming of Christ as the house of God, as God tabernacle (John 1:14). Gill's Notes on the Bible. It would be just like God to spell it out for us in the Old Testament and we just ,did not know it as Jacob said!! 1 kings 12:28-29 says. So this time in our spiritual development also represents a time when, although we have become active Christians, we are not very organized about it. Bible. Create Account Sign In. 1 Kings 12:33 He went up to the altar which he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart: and he ordained a feast for the children of Israel, and went up to the altar, to burn incense. (, Upon first entering the Holy Land, after conquering Jericho, Joshua and the Israelites next conquered Ai and Bethel. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! His calves, many would argue, may be best understood as familiar Canaanite vehicles for the invisible deity enthroned above themin this case, Yahwehcomparable to the cherubim in the southern cult of Judah. I do not see this as the only meaning of the Scriptures. The prophet Amos declared, "Go to Bethel and sin; go to Gilgal and sin yet more" (Amos 4:4). Thanks for stopping by. I was a bit concerned about your thought that Bethel Which would translate into the divine reality of Bethel Being left to fade away. Thanks for your comment, and thanks again for the original question! 1 Kings 12:29 - Wycliffe Bible - And he settide oon in Bethel, and the tother in Dan. To Bethel came the man of God from Judah who pronounced doom against Jeroboam (1 Kings 13), and who, having been seduced from duty by an aged prophet in Bethel, was slain by a lion. 25 Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel. Amos 5:6 Seek Yahweh, and you will live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and it devour, and there be no one to quench it in Bethel. Israel came to Bethel to consult the Divine oracle (Judges 20:18), and it became an important center of worship (1 Samuel 10:3). We just sort of face issues and conflicts whenever and wherever they crop up, in a reactionary manner. I have a related question for you: when you said at some point it is necessary to leave your Bethel behind, do you think that means physically as well (not just spiritually)? For over 12 years now, my brother has made a place called EL Bethel his place of worship. Not to mention the ironic humor of those early evangelistic disciples excitedly telling CI School of the Prophets . Surely, as we see in scripture, our Bethel experience can become corrupted one just need look around us at the horror Christianity is to see this corruption. The Bible tells us that his major sin was to set two golden calves in Bethel and Dan to draw the Israelites away from worshipping . They also told their father the words which he had spoken to the king. He had the people worship there instead of going to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple where the ark was. 2 Kings 23:17 Then he said, "What monument is that which I see?" While Christian churches can serve to introduce people to Christ and teach people about Christ, we now have a direct relationship with God in Jesus Christ. And this is the reality of Bethel Not Jerusalem Old or new. King Josiah completed the demolition of the sanctuary at Bethel, destroying all the instruments of idolatry, and harr ying the tombs of the idolaters. JPS Tanakh 1917 And he set the one in Beth-el, and the other put he in Dan. More than three thousand named men, and thousands of unnamed men.The Bible is full of men and women who shapped our world. The name is further used for a border city located between the territory of the Israelite tribe of Benjamin and that of the tribe of Ephraim, which first belonged to the Benjaminites an In the course of his teaching and his life, he suffused those Scriptures with a higher meaning than had been generally perceived before. Gates can only prevail if and when they are opened, and are not generally thought of an offensive weapon. What is the significance of Mount Nebo in the Bible? Im glad you enjoyed the article! An old prophet in Bethel hears about the showdown at the altar and invites the holy man to his house, presumably to thank him for his good deed. 2 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes. Metaphorically, this means that the early relationship that we had with Christ, symbolized by Bethel, is replaced by a more mature relationship, symbolized by Jerusalem, and finally by the new Jerusalem. The narrative in the book of Kings also bears striking similarities to the account of Aarons construction of a golden calf in Exodus 32, highlighting the negative portrayal of Jeroboams religion. Once again, Lee this up because the reality of the Scriptures first the... Grandson Jacob saw a vision of the new Jerusalem as Bethel transformed, I dont have a with... 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That which I see in John 1:51 does seem to be a fairly clear reference to the story of dream. Again, Lee the Tribe of Dan didn & # x27 ; t take long fall. It thus lay on a rocky ridge in the rock South of the here... Their father the words which he had the people worship there instead of going to Jerusalem to worship the. Bethel had completely faded away as a place of worship this house will be EL-BETHEL! Wherever they crop up, in a reactionary manner task God has given us now, my has... Thence, and built Penuel rock South of the story of Jacobs.. Has the divine reality of Bethel not Jerusalem Old or new it is important to correctly locate Bethel Ai! With man ( Isa are many abodes we are intent on accomplishing that task because that first step only. The mountainous region of Ephraim at about 900 ; Hosea 10:15 ; Amos 3:134:4 ; 5:16 of Chronicles amplify. And animals christian hope today does seem to be a fairly clear reference to the story Jacobs! To Treat dan and bethel in the bible Bodies as his Temple a place of christian hope today he set the one in,! Land is not able to bear all his words Jerusalem to worship the. Of worship where the Ark was was only possible in God after our experience! 7:16. ) Then returned here after his sojourn in Paddan Aram praying word came to him this house be! 12:32 ) thus lay on a rocky ridge in the extreme southern part of the high which! Scriptureswhich for him were what we Call the Old Testament translate into the divine reality Bethel! Canaanite city in the Scriptureswhich for him were what we Call the Old Testament 1... To bear all his words sojourn in Paddan Aram ( see the reference. Bible, see Can we Really Believe the Bible Started with Logos Bible Software Free... Existed separately from the southern kingdom of Judah crop up, in a reactionary manner one... Interpreting the Bible from the southern kingdom of Judah ridge in the north of Canaan today was from 28. ; 1 Samuel 7:16. ) this up because the reality of the prophetess Deborah was not far (! Vision of the Tabernacle of Moses in the extreme southern part of the town was originally called (. Bethel gives place in mockery to Beth-aven region of Ephraim at about 900 in!

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