What does your Bible mean to you?

If your house was on fire and you were only allowed to chose one object (obviously all the people and pets are safe in this scenario) to save, what would it be?

For me, it would be my Bible.

But why? Today, Bibles are not rare – more than five billion copies have been sold worldwide, and over 100 million last year alone. Not only are there millions of Bibles circulating in the world, but now, with the innovations in technology, there are so many free Bible apps that you could have a different Bible on every device you own!

Surely then, it is a strange object to save if you could choose only one. It is not unique after all.

For a moment, let us consider the following scene: a person bursts through a door shouting, loudly and excitedly, that he has just discovered the word of God for the first time! Just imagine it. Would you be excited?

Yet there was a time when it was truly exhilarating to find the word of God. This story is not fictional, but based upon an actual event. It is something that happened during biblical times, a long time ago. During Jeremiah’s time, Hilkiah the high priest found the book of the law and gave it to Shaphan, the scribe, who brought it before the king of Judah – King Josiah (2 Kings 22:8).

Imagine what it must have been like for the young king to hear the word of God read to him for the very first time. On hearing the law, the king was moved with such emotion that he told everyone in Judah about God’s holy ways.

Now bring this stirring account back to us. Are we excited about opening the word of God and reading it (Acts 17:11)2 Do we long to read our Bibles? Have you ever been so interested, so absorbed, in a section of scripture that you have spent hours studying it, even into the long hours of the night? Do you read the Bible daily to learn more about God’s plan? Do you consider it the most precious possession you have? Our answers are good indicators of how much we genuinely love and value the Bible.

The value of our Bible is not in its printing and binding but in its words. The words have come from God Himself, the author of this extraordinary book. Although many people own a copy, sadly few read it today – as predicted by Jesus when he said, “when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8).

Let us try to emulate the same level of excitement and enthusiasm for God’s precious word as Hilkiah, Shaphan and King Josiah. Read it every day and at every opportunity and love its words and message. And let us make it central in our lives and view it as the most precious thing we possess.

Tell others you have found the word of God!

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A life of contentment

Contentment doesn’t feel like a word or topic that is discussed very often. We speak of people’s feelings, emotions and mental state, but not the idea of being content. Which is surprising, as when we think about it, we live in a very discontented world. Everything around us is driven by discontentment.

This discontentment can come from many things: being dissatisfied by a relationship, work, or the circumstances you are currently in.

These can take all sorts of forms in our lives and manifest themselves in many different ways, such as envying, anger, bitterness or even worry and anxiety. These emotions often come from a root of discontentment.

The Apostle Paul teaches us that we can achieve contentment in Philippians 4 v 11-13: “For I have learned that whatever state I am, to be content, I know how to be brought low and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Paul tells us that contentment is something we must learn. “I have learned.”

The only way to do this is through Christ who strengthens us, it is something God wants to teach us, something we must practise every day to achieve.

Do you want to find that contentment?

The best way to do this is to approach God, read his word The Bible and follow his ways.

As Jesus teaches us in Matthew 11v28: “Come to me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

The word labour here is for those physically tired and the words heavy laden means mentally exhausted, when we are in this way we can find our rest, our refreshment and satisfaction in the Lord God.

In 1 Timothy 6v6-11, we are advised: “Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we carry nothing out … Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and into many foolish and harmful lusts … But flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.”

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Nourished by the Bible

We have become accustomed to our ‘five-a-day’ fruit and vegetables, recommended for the health of our body and brain. The food we eat affects our frame and functions! 

The Bible is the spiritual equivalent BUT there are nine of them! We find the ‘fruits of the spirit’ (as they are known) in Paul’s words to the Christians living in the first century in a place called Galatia – modern day Turkey. 

His message to them was urgent – they were not to falter in their faith. Paul was encouraging them all to remain true to the gospel they had originally grasped. That they would stand firm in Christ, that he died to provide freedom from sin by his sacrifice, once and for all. But being free did not mean indulging their sinful nature, developing hatred, discord, sexual immorality, and such like. Their freedom in Christ was to serve one another, to develop spirituality and to mature in themselves the mind of Christ. And so, we come to the nine fruits of the spirit given in chapter 5 of Galatians. They are love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.

To cultivate these is to develop our character, “to be transformed by the renewing of your mind” as Paul wrote to the believers in Rome (Romans12 v 2). This struggle to mind the things of the spirit is a thread throughout the Bible and is explicit in the New Testament books. The real emphasis is in being Christlike and then doing good will be the natural outcome. Let’s look at these lovely qualities of the Godly mind:

Love

It’s so much more than good neighbourliness and brotherly kindness. It involves considering how Christ would’ve behaved and talked to any individual. It is unconditional, constant-caring, underpinned by the wisdom of God.

Joy

A contentment and happiness within, regardless of circumstances because we are certain of God’s care and purpose and his love and mercy, giving us a deep-seated security.

Peace

This involves an ease of mind, essentially untroubled by stresses and strains because we are confident that God is in control. “All things work together for good for those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose”. (Romans 8 v 28)

Long-suffering

This quality is slow to anger, long-tempered with endurance. So it is unlikely to be hostile, give stinging remarks or angry glances! It’s a forgiving spirit too!

Gentleness 

Essentially this is a genuine kindness of heart, not out of obligation or from a social motive. An attitude which makes allowances, has generosity and bears with the person, having empathy. Kindness can be inconvenient to the giver!

Goodness

Not a bland, low-key quality. Rather, goodness combats ‘badness’. It works effectively against error, corruption and distortion, championing truth, judgement, and discernment.

Faith

This involves the realisation and certainty of what we hope for, it is a solid ground and carries conviction. Believers must believe! Faith needs to be personal and then it will transform our lives – because we know God exists “and rewards those who earnestly seek him”. (Hebrews 11 v 6)

Meekness

Not timidity, nor weakness! Rather it is strength and control arising from our security in the Lord. Being empowered by God’s word. It is strength with gentleness because the true Christian is God-reliant and not out to impress.

Temperance

An old-fashioned word for self-control but, really it is being controlled by the word of God, with its immense transforming power. “He who rules his spirit is better than he who takes a city”. (Proverbs 16 v 32) We need to control our thoughts which in turn influence our actions and habits. 

Fruits often grow on trees and the person who develops the fruit of the spirit has often been likened to one! The very first psalm describes it:

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers.” (Verse 1)

“That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.” (Verse 3)

And how do we do this? 

“His delight is in the law of the Lord, and he meditates on His law day and night.” (Verse 2)

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How will you use your time?

As humans we are confined by time, hours, days, seasons and years. Do we really appreciate that is God that has given us time?

“Then God said “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide day from night: and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years” Genesis 1 v 14

God created these on the fourth day, so that they were in place before He created man on the sixth day. The earth has been governed by time from the very beginning.

We wake each morning to a new day and many of us rush around looking at the clock to see how time is going.

We live in a society today that is becoming more aware of Wellbeing and making time for ourselves. One aspect of this is relaxing and meditation, to help with pressures of this life that lead to anxieties. 

Relaxing and meditation may help us for a little while but wouldn’t it be great if we could find something that can help us all the time.

Well we can, by taking time out to read (or listen to) God’s word the Bible we can learn that He has a plan for this world when all people will live in peace.

“The wolf shall dwell with the lamb…..and a little child shall lead them……..They shall not hurt or destroy……..For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea”. Isaiah 11 v 6 – 9

“There shall be no more death nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away”. Revelation 21 v 4

We can all called to have an opportunity to be part of this kingdom of God’s on earth.

Jesus God’s son said “Come unto Me all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” Matthew 11 v 28

As we begin another year, let us try to learn more about God’s purpose with the earth by using some of our time to learn more about Him.

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The Greatest Gift Of All

As we head into the festive season this year things feels a little different still … Nevertheless, our families and friends, are a special part of our celebrations. We look forward to gathering together to catch up with those we don’t see often (now more than ever). We enjoy our time together and look forward to giving and receiving gifts.

It’s a time when we can all get caught up in the excitement of the season and lose ourselves in the festivity of it all. Our supermarkets tempt us with cut price offers of boxes of sweets, biscuits and chocolates. Christmas puddings, cakes and mince pies, which made their appearance in early October!

I wonder how many people in our increasingly materialistic world will think about the birth of Jesus Christ. Almighty God, in His love for mankind, sent us all a marvellous gift – the gift of His Only Son, the pathway to salvation for those who trust in Jesus and in God, his Father.

The story is simple. God chose Mary, a virgin, to be the mother of His beloved Son. The angel Gabriel was sent to tell Mary.

“Then the angel said to her, “… you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Highest … The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore also that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:30-32, 35

So Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the city of his ancestor King David as it had been foretold many years before by the prophet Micah.

“….. Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel.” Micah 5:2

This humble birth sends an amazing message to us all. The All Powerful God chose to give us the gift of His Only Beloved Son Jesus, our Saviour and King, born as one of us, to reveal God’s character and His plan of salvation.

Jesus born in Bethlehem lived a perfect sinless life. He is our Saviour and High Priest who, by his death, is the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all who try to follow his example.

The Letter to the Hebrews tells us that:

“For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15

So, as we look forward to Christmas, we must always remember why Jesus was born and give our grateful thanks to God for His Gift, Jesus the Saviour, as the apostle Paul did “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:15

Quotations from New King James Bible

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THE BIBLE SAID IT FIRST

It is truly amazing that the Bible has had so much influence on our day to day conversations. There are at least 75 commonly used phrases that have their origins in the Bible. Be sure to look up the passages below, just a sample of these sayings, in your Bible. In some of them there are powerful lessons for us all.

All these quotations can be found in the King James Version of the Bible.

Did you know that in 1947 a collection of the oldest manuscripts of the books of the Bible were discovered in a cave in Wadi Qumran, near the Dead Sea? Among them was a 23ft leather scroll containing the complete book of the prophet Isaiah. This copy is a unique proof of the reliability of the Holy Scriptures. The text agrees exactly with what we have in our Bible today. Many more books of the Bible were discovered in 11 caves nearby. A special museum, The Shrine of The Book, was opened in Jerusalem to house many of the scrolls.

Let us not neglect the Bible for its pages contain a message from God, a message of hope and salvation for all who read His word, believe it and try to follow the example of His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

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DRIVEN BY PRESSURE

“No steam or gas drives anything until it is confined. No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, disciplined” Henry Emerson Fosdick. (an American pastor)

This quote teaches us a valuable lesson that is supported by Scripture. We may not like pressure but we have to admit that pressure focusses us to get things done.

The great apostle and preacher of the Gospel, Paul, was fully focussed on God and yet he writes: “for we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself, indeed we felt that we had received the sentence of death.” (2 Corinthians 1:8)

Later, in the same letter, he says “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed, perplexed but not driven to despair, persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed.”(2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

Of Jesus it is recorded: “although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him.” (Hebrews 5:8-9)

Surely God is teaching us that life has its troubles and that we should accept the trials, the troubles and the chastening that come to everyone whom he loves. We all agree “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:11)

While Paul, having been blinded by the light from heaven when Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-18) , wondered what was going to happen to him next , Jesus told Ananias, a disciple, when he was sent to find Paul, “For I will show him (Paul) how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” (Acts 9:16)

Paul did indeed suffer. Later in life he reflected upon the sufferings he endured for the Lord.

“Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one……with far greater labours, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings and often near death.” (2 Corinthians 11:23)

He was beaten with whips and rods, stoned, shipwrecked three times and survived many other dangers. (2 Corinthians 11:24-28)

Paul surrendered his own will to God, just as the Lord Jesus Christ did.

Paul exclaims, “…. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities. For when I am weak then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

As followers of God and of Jesus Christ we must try to adopt Paul’s attitude when we confront our personal problems and sufferings, knowing that God knows every pressure and hardship we will face. Rom 5:3 “More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings owing that sufferings produces endurance, endurance produces character and character produces nope (Romans 5:3)

We are being prepared for our eternal salvation. For this wonderful hope set before us let us endure the pressures and problems that come our way and look forward to the “crown of righteousness” that is laid up for us if we will put God and Jesus first in our minds and in our actions.

The words of this hymn are a prayer encouraging us to trust in God wherever our path may lead.

Give to the winds thy fears;

Hope and be undismayed;

God hears thy sighs and counts thy tears:

God shall lift up thy head.

Put thou thy trust in God,

In duty’s path go on;

Walk in his strength with faith and hope

So shall thy work be done.

Leave to His sovereign sway

To choose and to command:

With wonder filled, thou then shalt own

How wise, how strong His hand!

Through waves and clouds and storms,

He gently clears thy way;

Wait thou his time, so shall the night

Soon end in joyous day.

(Paulus Gerhardt 1607 -76 tr John Wesley

To find out more about our hope and how you can become a part of it, visit our website: www.ammanfordchristadelphians.co.uk.

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Have we got the message?

About 3 weeks ago our television stopped working. This sign came up on the screen NO SIGNAL. I checked all the connections and even brought out two other televisions to try as well! Again, NO SIGNAL x 2. Was I getting the message at last? NO SIGNAL meant something other than that there was a fault with three televisions. My friend told me that his television also had this NO SIGNAL message and that he was able to retune his set. Everything was now working properly. I tried this but, sadly, I couldn’t access the screen directions.

As I went to take our car for its MOT I noticed a television company van parked at the roadside. I stopped and asked the driver about our problem. He was really helpful and suggested that it might be because the TV tower had recently had changes to its frequency. A new aerial might be the only answer. He opened the rear door of the van to show me a dozen or so new types of aerial he was now having to fit. I felt that I had found the truth of the matter. This man had clearly explained what I must do. He was an expert!

If we want to know the truth about God and His Son Jesus, we have to open our Bibles to read what they tell us about what is promised for us in the Word of God. God promises resurrection from the grave to live forever when Jesus returns to live on this earth to set up his Father’s Kingdom.

God’s message gives us hope. He is the expert. He is in control. Open your Bible (rather like the van doors) and you will find the “truth of the matter” within its pages.

As soon my helpful nephew retuned our television normal service resumed. We can switch it on to watch a programme at any time of day.

Of course we can all open our Bible at any time of day to access God’s message to us all. God doesn’t want any of us to perish. Our minds need to be tuned to His message. We need to be on God’s frequency to understand how we should live our lives by God’s laws.

John 3: 16-17 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

Jesus said “Come to me all who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” Matthew 11:28-30.

Quotes ESV

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Spiders and the Bible

Whatever have spiders got to do with a blog about the Bible? Well, in the Book of Proverbs we are directed to study some of the smaller creatures. Proverbs 6:6 “Go to the ant O sluggard; consider her ways and be wise” So let’s look at the jumping spider! A study carried out by Harvard University reveals the amazing ingenuity of the jumping spider, Myrmarachne formicaria. Whenever a potential adversary looms into view they impersonate something their predator would avoid.

This involves mimicking an ant, because ants have venomous stings, produce unpleasant chemicals and are generally aggressive.

How is a tall, stocky, eight legged spider with three segments able to mimic a thin, six-legged ant with two body segments?

For starters, the spider lifts up two of its legs above its head to give the impression of antennae. It mimics the ant’s winding gait. Finally, it adopts the ant’s habit of frequently stopping for incredibly short periods of a 10th to a 100th of a second. Amazing!

Are we seeing here the completion of evolution, a development over millions of years? Remember, every act of mimicking must work at the same time. Or are we seeing the work of God the Almighty Creator? Jesus Christ believed in creation. Mark 10:6 “ But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female” See also Matthew 19:4 “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female …” Mark 13:19 “For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now …”

Quotes from the ESV.


Join us this coming Sunday at 6pm for a special Bible-based presentation on A Bugs Life – presented by the curator of entomology at the National Museum of Wales Cardiff (he will even bring along some of his collection for you to see)! More details can be found here.

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6 Recent Archaeological Discoveries that Affirm Details in Scripture

Each time an artefact related to the Biblical narrative is unearthed in Israel or the surrounding lands of the Bible it becomes a witness to the perfection of God’s Word.

And it happens all the time.

Here are six recent discoveries that affirm some rather obscure details in the Bible. Each one provides material evidence of the historical reliability of the Bible, and hopefully, increases our faith.

Biblical city of Ziklag

Aerial view of the archaeological site at Khirbet a-Ra’i where researchers believe they have located the biblical city of Ziklag.
Photo credit: Emil Ajem, Israel Antiquities Authority

While hiding from Saul in Philistia, King Achish of Gat awarded Ziklag to David as a vassal state. The book of Samuel reveals the Amalekites later destroyed Ziklag. Now when David and his men came to Ziglag on the third day the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziglag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire….. (1 Samuel 30:1) Read the whole chapter to find out what David did!

(Though archaeologists have suggested several sites as possible locations, none have included evidence of both a Philistine settlement and a settlement from the time of David.)

That is until a few weeks ago.

After a 12-year study of the entire region, archaeologists say they may have found the biblical city of Ziklag near the southern town of Kiryat Gat2 in Israel. The find, dating to the early tenth century BC, is consistent with scriptural references to the geography of the area: a rural settlement dating to the time of King David among the remains of a Philistine settlement that had been destroyed by fire.

Clay Pomegranate found in Tel Shiloh

A distinctly Jewish symbol, pomegranates were one of the seven species of Israel (Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25) and were common tabernacle and temple motifs (1 Kings 7:18; 2 Kings25:17). But long before the first temple was built, they were sewn into the hem of the high priest’s robe by God’s command:

“On its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet yarns, around its hem, with bells of gold between them, a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, around the hem of the robe. And it shall be on Aaron when he ministers, and its sound shall be heard when he goes into the Holy Place before the LORD, and when he comes out, so that he does not die.” (Exodus 28:33-35)

That’s why the 2018 discovery of a small, fully intact ceramic pomegranate at Tel Shiloh, the site where many believe the tabernacle rested (Joshua 18:1), bolstered scholars’ excitement.

This clay pomegranate fits the description in both shape and size of the pomegranates that hung from the priests’ robes. For some scholars, the discovery of the pomegranate affirms the sacredness of Shiloh (Jeremiah 7:12) for the Jews in Israel’s early days.

Photo credit: Ancient Shiloh

Beka weight from the Temple Mount

Beka weight found among dirt near the foundation stones of Jerusalem’s Western Wall. Photo credit: Eliyahu Yanai, City of David

A small weight dating to the First Temple period was unearthed at the southwestern corner of the Temple Mount in soil removed from under the Western Wall, just north of the City of David in the area of Robinson’s Arch.

The Hebrew word beka (בֶּקַע) inscribed on the weight is equivalent to a half shekel, or about 0.20 ounces. (Exodus 38:26) explains these small stones served as the measurement for the half-shekel temple tax.

“The silver from those numbered among the congregation . . . a beka (בֶּקַע) per person, that is, half a shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel.”

When Jews would bring their half-shekel tax to the temple for the census, they had no coins, only pieces of silver—and it was necessary to know their true weight. Silver pieces were weighed based on the beka weight.

The beka discovery lines up with the biblical narrative and helps confirm the Old Testament system of weights and the existence of Solomon’s Temple.

Five rare coins from Jerusalem

Photo credit: Zachi Dvira, Temple Mount Sifting Project

Though small, these five coins are a big find.

The Temple Mount Sifting Project discovered five rare coins dating from the fourth century BC from around the time described in Ezra and Nehemiah. These two books document the Jewish people returning from Babylonian exile and beginning construction of the Second Temple by decree of Cyrus the Great.

Bearing the inscription in ancient Hebrew יְהוּדָה (Judah), they are believed to be some of the earliest evidence of Jewish coin minting in Israel:

“These were the first coins ever minted by Jews . . . They express the people’s return to their land after the Babylonian exile, and their ability to hold and maintain diplomatic ties with the ruling empire—then Persia.” — Zachi Dvira, Temple Mount Sifting Project

Like the beka weight, these coins affirm details often overlooked in Scripture: a thriving commercial and administrative temple life.

“Then they gave money to the masons and carpenters, and gave food and drink and olive oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre, so that they would bring cedar logs by sea from Lebanon to Joppa, as authorized by Cyrus king of Persia.”8 (Ezra 3:7)

Watchtower dating to the time of Hezekiah

Photo credit: Israel Antiquities Authority

Just weeks ago, the remains of a 15 X 10.5-foot stone watchtower were discovered on a hilltop inside a paratrooper base in southern Israel. It’s believed to be a watchtower abandoned when Assyrian King Sennacherib invaded the area in 701 BC at the end of King Hezekiah’s reign.

The view from the tower includes the Hebron hills, the Judean plain, and Ashkelon. In Hezekiah’s day, soldiers could easily monitor the area and report activity back to their king.

At that time, the entrance to the tower was sealed up and the soldiers fled. Sennacherib’s military campaign in Judea was particularly devastating with Assyrian writings claiming he destroyed 46 cities and over 2,000 farms and villages. Sennacherib went on to lay siege to Jerusalem but was ultimately unsuccessful.

You can read the whole account of Sennacherib’s unsuccessful siege of Jerusalem in (2 Kings 18:13-27)

“He struck down the Philistines as far as Gaza and its territory, from watchtower to fortified city. … In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them.” (2 Kings 18:8, 13)

Fortification wall at Lachish

Photo credit: Yossi Garfinkel, Hebrew University

Biblical scholars have long debated whether a strong centralized kingdom existed during Solomon’s reign.

But recently, archaeologists unearthed a fortification wall at Lachish and dated it to the tenth century BC. They argue the fortifications are evidence of the Bible’s account of Solomon’s son, Rehoboam.

The kingdom of Israel had split after Solomon’s death, and to prepare for an expected attack from Egypt, Judah’s new king fortified a series of cities:

“Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem, and he built cities for defence in Judah . . . Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah . . . He made the fortresses strong, and put commanders in them, and stores of food, oil, and wine. And he put shields and spears in all the cities and made them very strong. So he held Judah and Benjamin.” (2 Chronicles11:5, 9, 11-12) Though some scholars disagree, others stand firm that the finding shores up this biblical account in the book of Chronicles.

These recent discoveries are the latest of many discoveries found by archaeologists. They all prove that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. We hope that you will reach for your Bible to read all the given passages and that you will be encouraged to read about the wonderful message it has about God’s promise of salvation to all who put their hope and trust in Him.

This article was originaly written by Karen Engle Wed, July 24, 2019. Karen Engle received her MA in Biblical Studies and Theology from Western Seminary. She is an editor for Faithlife and regularly takes groups to Israel.
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