Perhaps you are facing a difficult circumstance. It should not be trivialized or minimized. It might be painful and protracted. But it should neither be the source of defeat or an excuse to stop serving the Lord.
Neal Pollard
In Acts 28:16, Luke tells us that when Paul came to Rome he was allowed to stay by himself (in a house he paid for himself, according to verse 30). However, he was guarded by a Roman soldier. Paul again refers to this in Philippians 1:13, 17, and your version probably has either the word “imprisonment” or “bonds.” Many ancient historians tells us that the Romans would chain the prisoner and soldier together in a practice known as “Custodia Militaris.” Polybius, a Roman historian writing more than a 100 years before the first century, wrote, “They kept them bound with a chain to a soldier who was responsible for their custody” (Histories 1.88.8). Seneca and Josephus also record this practice.
Can you imagine what a daily problem this would have been? Consider the invasion of privacy, the unpredictable disposition of your companion, and the potential for scorn and humiliation? Yet, day after day, Paul would be chained to a soldier. The chains were 18-24 inches long (the British Museum has archaeological finds from the period), and the guards were rotated every four to six hours (Vegetius 3.8). Maybe the last guard was a nice guy, but the next was not so much. It could not have been an enjoyable task for the soldier either, and he might be inclined to take that out on the prisoner.
But, how did Paul respond? Paul implies what he did as one guard came and another went. “my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else” (Phil. 1:13). These praetorian guards were elite Roman soldiers, also known as the imperial guard. This might further explain how the gospel reached members of Caesar’s household (Phil. 4:22). Imprisoned for preaching Jesus and shackled to worldly, hardened men, Paul taught the gospel. He learned to be content in every circumstance (Phil. 4:11), but that didn’t mean idle or self-absorbed.
Perhaps you are facing a difficult circumstance. It should not be trivialized or minimized. It might be painful and protracted. But it should neither be the source of defeat or an excuse to stop serving the Lord. Paul had a captive audience, literally bound to hear the good news from a man enduring what most would deem a bad fate. He transformed his difficulty into opportunity. May we have the will and wisdom to do the same!
To accurately understand Isaiah 5.20 against the backdrop of modern moral ambiguity, it is crucial to comprehend its original historical and literary context…
Brent Pollard
Text: “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” — Isaiah 5.20
Expository Background: The Context of Isaiah 5.20
To accurately understand Isaiah 5.20 against the backdrop of modern moral ambiguity, it is crucial to comprehend its original historical and literary context. The prophet Isaiah shared his prophecies during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, a timeframe of around 740–686 BC. Concurrently, the kingdom of Judah experienced both material prosperity and a concerning spiritual decline.
The Literary Structure of Isaiah 5
Isaiah 5 opens with the famous “Song of the Vineyard” (vv. 1–7), in which God compares Israel to a carefully tended vineyard that produced sour grapes instead of the anticipated good fruit. The vineyard represents the chosen community, whereas the wild grapes symbolize their moral decline, despite being bestowed with plentiful spiritual blessings.
Following this parable, Isaiah announces six “woes” (vv. 8–23) that clearly illustrate how Israel has produced these “wild grapes.” Each lament tackles a particular transgression that had become prevalent in Judean society:
An insatiable craving for acquiring land and possessions (vv. 8–10)
A state of intoxication coupled with a lack of spiritual enthusiasm (vv. 11–17)
Intentional misconduct and ridicule of the sacred (vv. 18–19)
Labeling what is evil as good and vice versa (v. 20)
Excessive pride and unwarranted confidence (v. 21)
Corrupt authority and injustice (vv. 22–23)
The Specific Context of Verse 20
The fourth woe (verse 20) is essential in this list, underscoring its significance. The Hebrew phrasing employs four parallel clauses that form a chiastic, or mirrored, structure:
A: “those who call evil good”
B: “and good evil”
B’: “who substitute darkness for light”
A’: “and light for darkness”
This literary device underscores the significant shift in moral standards that occurred in Judean society. The messenger does not reflect accidental ethical ambiguity but rather an intentional and systematic inversion of the divine order established by the Creator.
Historical Circumstances
Archaeological evidence and scriptural records suggest that the land of Judah faced significant social unrest in the eighth century. While wealth increased and an elite class emerged, many people suffered from poverty and oppression. The political alliances of that era required concessions to the customs and beliefs of non-believing nations.
Crucially, in Judea, society developed complex justifications for actions that clearly violated divine laws. The wealthy justified their mistreatment of the poor as vital for economic growth. Religious leaders conformed to local customs to maintain political ties. Social elites altered moral standards to fit their personal goals.
Isaiah 5:20 specifically highlights the changing perspectives on morality within both intellectual and cultural contexts. The Hebrew verb amar, meaning “call,” suggests more than just a personal viewpoint; it denotes an authoritative pronouncement—key individuals were reshaping society’s moral discourse.
Theological Principles for Application
Several hermeneutical principles enable the legitimate application of Isaiah 5:20 to modern contexts:
Divine moral standards are universal: The distinctions upheld by Isaiah testify to God’s immutable nature. What God deems wicked in one age remains wicked throughout all ages.
Patterns of Betrayal in the Covenant: Though we do not belong to ethnic Israel, the New Testament recognizes the church as Israel’s spiritual counterpart (Galatians 6:16; 1 Peter 2:9).
The Influence of Culture on Moral Understanding: Isaiah’s message targets the broader evolution of societal ethical standards, making his warnings perpetually relevant.
The Weight of Leadership Endures: Isaiah’s woes address influential figures who shaped public values. Today, spiritual leaders bear a similar responsibility.
While skeptics might claim that the formation is made up of natural limonite, counter evidence such as the uncanny alignment/shape, subsurface architecture, ancient marine traces, and organic soil signatures prove to be an ensemble unlikely to occur by chance. Yes, I was looking for an excuse to use the word “ensemble.”
Dale Pollard
LATEST NEWS: NOAH’S ARK
Shrouded in snow and a little suspicion, the Durupınar Formation is a mysterious boat-shaped mound just over 18 miles south of Mount Ararat, is at the center of a groundbreaking (ha!) discovery.
CAPTURING THE PAST
Soil samples collected after 2021 by a collaborative team from Istanbul Technical University, Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University, and Andrews University put its dramatic past on display. These samples contain clay-like sediments, marine deposits, and mollusk shells, dating between 3,500–5,000 years ago—coinciding with the biblical “Great Flood” era. Some coincidental findings, if you believe in coincidences.
MULTIPLE DECKS
At approximately 538 feet long, the formation mirrors the ark dimensions (300 × 50 × 30 cubits). However, the real juicy discoveries lie beneath the surface: re‑analyzed 2019 ground‑penetrating radar (GPR) scans reveal angular structures, central corridors stretching 234 ft, and a tunnel measured at 13 ft—features that align uncannily with the arks multi‑deck design (Gen. 6.16).
WE FOUND SOME WOOD
Inside the formation, the vegetation tells its own story—grasses grow with altered color and vigor, tied to elevated organic matter, higher potassium levels, and lower pH readings. These soil anomalies suggest the decay of ancient wood remnants. The author is no scientist, but old wood sounds good.
The project, led by Andrew Jones and William Crabtree of Noah’s Ark Scans, aims for a carefully controlled excavation—delayed until non‑invasive scans, thorough soil mapping, and site preservation methods are fully in place. When? Who knows!
SKEPTICS & EVIDENCE
While skeptics might claim that the formation is made up of natural limonite, counter evidence such as the uncanny alignment/shape, subsurface architecture, ancient marine traces, and organic soil signatures prove to be an ensemble unlikely to occur by chance. Yes, I was looking for an excuse to use the word “ensemble.”
What Comes Next?
• Continued GPR and radar surveys,
• Core drilling for deeper context,
• Last but not least, a permitted excavation under strict guidelines.
You may had heard once about the couple archaeologists dug up in an excavation in Rome, Italy. They found the bones of a couple who would have possibly lived before Noah, but how they found them was most unique. The skeletons were found in embrace, suggesting especially to the sentimental the profoundest expression of love and togetherness possible (source here).
Who knows what it truly means, who they were, and if they were even husband and wife? Yet, I would like to think that they were a couple so close and whose lives were so intertwined that their repose in death was symbolic of how they were to each other throughout life. We certainly need good role models, wherever we can “dig them up.”
Society does not do so much to encourage married people staying together. In fact, infidelity and fornication are idolized character traits. Those who stick together through thick and thin are portrayed as foolish or at least boring. Yet, God laid out a blueprint for the whole that includes a bond much stronger than an embrace for couples staying together (cf. Gen. 2:18-24; Mat. 19:3-9; 1 Pet. 3:1-7; etc.). The Lord’s church needs men and women who are committed to staying together, to building healthy, happy and close marriages. Societies, to long endure, need such values embraced and encouraged. You, if you are married, need to rededicate yourself to your spouse each day, finding ways to stick close and reasons to stay together.
Reading about the discoveries of Biblical archaeology and how they shed light on the Bible is a fascinating hobby of mine. I read a recent article about discovering five Tartessian busts in Spain, which could shed light on people who were once close allies of Israel. Scholars considered the Tartessians aniconic because they had left behind no icons or symbols of their religion. However, among these masks, archaeologists think they might see images of the goddess Astarte. So yes, they may have discovered representations of Baal’s consort.
The Phoenicians are still shrouded in mystery. Even though scholars will reject much of the Bible’s record about Israel, they will cling to the testimony about the Phoenicians because we know so little about them. The Phoenicians were considered Canaanites, but did they come from the area or, like the Philistines, move there from somewhere else in the Mediterranean? Indeed, if these were indigenous inhabitants of the Levant or Arabia, they adapted to the sea like a duck to water, forging a maritime empire.
The Phoenicians colonized a region of Spain in addition to their colonies in northern Africa (such as Carthage). One possible origin for the name of the country is the Phoenician word “i-span-ya,” which translates as “land of gold forging” or “earth where metals are forged.” This Spanish colony returns us to the Tartessians mentioned in the first paragraph. These individuals were the product of cultural mixing between Phoenician colonists and natives of the Iberian Peninsula.
According to 1 Kings 5.1, the king of the Phoenician city-state of Tyre admired King David. King Hiram demonstrated his fondness for David by building him a palace (2 Samuel 5.11). After David’s death, Solomon still had an ally in Tyre. The Phoenicians assisted Solomon in the construction of an Israelite navy and accompanied Solomon’s men on an expedition to Ophir to obtain gold (1 Kings 9.26–28).
The fleet returned from Ophir with more than just gold; they also brought back a “very great number of almug trees and precious stones” (1 Kings 10.11 NASB1995). The Bible says King Solomon used almug wood to fashion temple pillars and musical instruments. Whatever the identity of these trees, the author of 1 Kings 10.12 states that those “trees have not come in again, nor have they been seen to this day” (NASB1995). For his part, Solomon rewarded King Hiram’s fidelity by giving him twenty cities in Galilee (1 Kings 9.11).
Solomon got his hands on goods from faraway Spain because of the alliance between Israel and Phoenicia. You can read about Solomon receiving gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks from King Hiram and the Tarshish fleet in 1 Kings 10.21–23. As a result, silver’s value plummeted because it was so abundant during Solomon’s reign. Scholars have long regarded Tarshish as Phoenicia’s most western settlement in Spain. (Would our Tartessians be inhabitants of Tarshish?) Because of Tarshish’s perceived isolation, Jonah believed he could elude God by boarding a ship headed there (Jonah 1.3).
It is interesting how Solomon used his alliance with the Phoenicians when building the Temple. 1 Kings 7 details all of the work that Solomon had one named Hiram do for the Temple. This Hiram was part Israelite, having a mother from the tribe of Naphtali, and part Phoenician, having a father from Tyre. So, though he is not King Hiram, he is a man named Hiram and a Phoenician. Could Hiram have been a common Phoenician name?
Following the breakup of Israel’s united kingdom, the ten northern tribes were renowned for their great wealth. The prophet Amos blasted them for being at ease in Zion, reclining on ivory beds, and writing songs about themselves (Amos 6.1–8). No doubt, this was a result of their continued ties with Phoenicia. Their relationship was so close that King Ahab married the daughter of the king of Sidon, another Phoenician city-state (1 Kings 16.31). Not long after our introduction to Jezebel, we find her slaughtering God’s prophets (1 Kings 18.4).
By the time we reached the world of the New Testament, the Phoenicians had long since lost their influence. The Babylonians conquered parts of Tyre built on the mainland, leaving only the island city. The Greek conqueror Alexander the Great built a causeway to the island city using debris from the city’s destruction. After a lengthy siege, he was able to take the city in 332 BC.
When the Romans took control of the Mediterranean, they refused to share it with anyone else. As a result, the Romans and the Phoenicians, then known as Carthaginians, would fight three Punic Wars. Historians call them the Punic Wars because the Romans called the Carthaginians Puni. You’ve probably heard of Hannibal, a Carthaginian. Hannibal dared to attack the Roman Empire nearly 200 years before Christ, riding his elephants across the Alps to Rome. However, the Romans foiled his plans, and Carthage eventually fell to the Romans. By 19 BC, Rome had conquered all the remaining territories of the (Phoenician) Carthaginian empire (i.e., Spain).
In the pages of the New Testament, Phoenicia is the Roman provincial name for Syria. The place where people first called Christ’s followers “Christians” was Antioch, a town in Phoenicia (Acts 11.19). Next, Paul and Barnabas traveled back through Phoenicia to report to Jerusalem’s brethren concerning the work done among the Gentiles (Acts 15.3). Lastly, Paul’s fateful return from the third missionary journey would take him through Phoenicia (Acts 21.2).
In conclusion, the Phoenicians were pivotal figures in ancient Near Eastern history, and their impact was felt far beyond the boundaries of the Mediterranean. They were important allies of Israel and built a massive empire thanks to their knowledge of the sea. Recent archaeological discoveries, such as the Tartessian busts, shed light on their religious practices, but many aspects of their culture remain a mystery. Although the Babylonians, Greeks, and Romans ultimately defeated the Phoenicians, their impact on world history is undeniable, and their legacy lives on.
It was just about 2,400 years ago that a philosopher by the name of Plato would write about a place that has captured the imagination since. The legends of that fabled Atlantis have been the inspiration behind movies, TV shows, and countless documentaries.
Some believe that it was a place that held secrets and hidden knowledge of the universe. Some will even claim the inhabitants had access to advanced technology— surpassing even our own!
Disney’s movie, “Atlantis,” depicts hover crafts which are powered by crystals and robotic stone giants that guard the city.
There’s some credence to the idea that the mythology around the “City of the Sea” was a product of a pre-flood civilization. It’s not hard to see how an earth-altering event like the flood could inspire stories of a great city vanishing beneath the waves. There was a time when people’s hands grew idle after they were no longer focused on their own immediate survival. History paints a picture time and again of the spiritual and physical destruction that follows when we have time to sit and scheme. Nimrod was one of the first “mighty men” mentioned in the book of Genesis, as well as a visionary nation builder (Gen. 10.8). He broke away from the nomadic life that was modeled before him and he instead— decided to build. The end result would lead to a catastrophe that is symbolic of our own, were we to reject the invitation to board the ark (Gen. 6.5, Heb. 11.7ff).
In 1830 and almost every year since, there have been those who claim that the ancient city of Atlantis has finally been found. From Africa to Europe, archeologists and self-proclaimed experts have hotly contented the whereabouts of a place that likely doesn’t exist.
It’s undoubtedly fascinating to listen to the latest Atlantean news and it’s never in short supply but it’s a tragedy that so many people give their lives chasing a city they’ll never find.
There’s another group of people on a quest to find a city far more incredible and beautiful than Atlantis, though. Unlike Plato’s writings, the city of Heaven is based entirely on the writings of God Himself.
It’s a place made up of inhabitants spanning every generation on earth (Phil. 3.20).
A place so difficult to describe, even inspired writers struggle to find the words (2 Cor. 12.2).
It wasn’t built with advanced ancient technology, but by two hands bearing the marks of the ultimate sacrifice (2 Cor. 5.1). Oh, and it’s a place literally to die for (1 Thess. 4.16-17).
Why would anyone spend the time searching for a place the pales in comparison to the city of God? We’ve got the map and we’ve got the promise, let’s not settle for anything less than.
For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. – 2 Corinthians 5.1
Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. – Colossians 3.2
We all know the story of the Tower Of Babel. It’s the event that gave us all the diverse languages of the world. That account is not just for our entertainment or education, but there are many spiritual applications that can be pulled from the event. Here are just six from Genesis 11:1-9.
What we are building will only be successful if God designed the blue prints. What are we building? Where do we choose to place our time and effort? Making a name for ourself? Making the most money? Getting the most pleasure out of life? If this is the life we’re building, like the foolish man that’s a life built on sand.
We are free to do as we want, but for every bad decision there are consequences.
There is a truth to what God said about our ability to accomplish much as a unified people. There’s also a positive side to this not so positive account. When the church body is unified there is no limit to what we can accomplish. When there’s dissension we are weaker.
Ignorance does not mean a blissful existence. It was ignorant to think that a closer relationship with God involved building a stairway into the sky that in their minds would allow God to have the ability to descend to earth. The opposite is true. God built us a way to go to Him.
Be mindful of the presence you keep and the vision you share. It seemed that most if not all mankind at this time was unified under one vision. “To make a name for themselves,” they worked together. They planned, schemed, spent resources and time to build something that would change the world forever— but it wasn’t God’s vision. The presence you keep and the shared vision matters. What are we building?
Accounts in the Bible that seem unrealistic or mythical should not weaken our faith but strengthen it when we do our due diligence in digging into His word. God is capable of great things, and that hasn’t changed. We serve a powerful God who has big plans for the world. Are we willing to side with Him?
The oldest buildings in the world are found in Turkey, France, Italy, Scotland, Malta, England, Ireland, and Iran. All of them date back to at least 3,000 B.C. They include tombs, temples, settlements, houses, sanctuaries, and plazas. They are historical treasures, revealing the earliest dental procedures, burial habits, religious ceremonies of pagans, societies and more. Some are remarkably preserved for their age, and many are visited by tourists after having been meticulously studied by archaeologists and other students of history. It fires the imagination to think about what life was like for people who lived contemporary to Noah’s sons, Abraham, and perhaps Job. The fact that any part of these edifices still stand is incredible. When you consider that the oldest buildings intact in the United States are Puebloan houses and villages located in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah, dating only as far back as between 750-1000 A.D., the existence of the aforementioned structures in Europe and Asia is all the more impressive (information via taospueblo.com, wikipedia, et al).
History and archaeology buffs revel at the thought of visiting such sites, and who could fail to marvel at such testaments to durability? We can hardly fathom buildings that have stood for several thousands of years. However, they are all comparatively temporary.
Peter writes, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!” (2 Pet. 3:10-12). When Christ comes again, all the works of earth will be destroyed with fire. Such a promise is meant to motivate us to live in view of the unseen and the eternal. Specifically, Peter says such knowledge such cause us to be holy and godly, watchful and anticipating. Ancient buildings can be seen with the eyes of flesh. Future destruction must be viewed through eyes of faith. May we remember, as we live each day and build our lives, that nothing in this life is worth surrendering eternal life.
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