More on "Stretched Forth Necks"
I meant for this to be a reply to a comment I received on my post Stretched-forth Necks
(https://fulnessoftimes.blogspot.com/2017/01/stretched-forth-necks.html)
Unfortunately the character limit for a response was less than 5,000 characters and...well... I wanted to be more clear than that limitation allowed.
Here's the comment:
"How does a book from 800BCE refer to America??? You completely took this out of context. No legit scholar or preacher would agree with this. It’s Jewish literature. Ask a rabbi or ask a priest. The ‘me-ism’ of Christianity is a problem. The Bible is FOR us; it’s about God. Stop finding yourself in scripture and focus on finding God in it."
And here's my response.
My apologies to the commenter. I don’t get on this blog much, so your comment was waiting moderation for a few of days before I saw it. I almost didn’t approve it because it seems to have an adversarial tone. However, the attempt to push the same comment 7 times got me thinking and I realized it deserves a thought-out response that includes some context and additional information for my post.
I do try to appreciate and respect the thoughts, opinions,
beliefs, and perspectives of others. I’m not perfect, but I’m trying. While I
feel confident in my own beliefs, I consider myself fairly open-minded and I try
to withhold any quick response or judgement until I get more understanding.
Hopefully the commenter appreciates and respects the thoughts,
opinions, beliefs, or perspectives that are different, although the comment
doesn’t lend itself to that interpretation. I’m not even sure whether the the whole post was read or if the commenter got hung up at the point where I mentioned America and
Zion.
In case it’s not clear, this blog is a place where I mostly try
to sort out some thoughts and impressions. I actually started it as a
replacement for a thought journal I had, although I’ve kind of gone back to
some journaling.
This blog is not meant as a place of doctrinal nor
scriptural authority. I make no such claims to that level except where I
specifically quote from referenced scripture or sources.
Where applicable I research, quote, and provide references. I
try to identify my thoughts, opinions, and perspectives as such so those who
may read them can (hopefully) know where facts vs thoughts/opinions/etc. are.
This particular post was made over 4 years ago. I’m don’t
even remember if my blog even had cumulative (all posts) 1,000 views at that time.
I don’t think I even imagined more than a few family members reading my blog. If
I were to rewrite the post it would likely be a little different now with my
additional experience and knowledge. It’s interesting to me that this post has
become one of the most viewed on this blog, particularly since it’s based on a
verse from Isaiah.
idpRAWR, you’re right. The Bible is for us. It’s about God
and his workings with his children, and his mercy and long suffering in trying
to get each of us to repent and return to him.
If you can’t find yourself in scripture, if you can’t relate
to scripture—or as a particular scripture states to “liken” it to yourself--and
you see scriptures purely from a historical context (and there’re plenty of biblical
scholars, religious professors, and even some ecclesiastical leaders who may
question the historical accuracy of the bible) then you’re missing much of the
beauty of God’s word.
God’s word—his scripture given to us through his prophets—is
extremely relevant in our lives, today, at our time in history. Failing to
realize this is failing to wake up and discover that God is alive and active in
our lives. It’s failing to accept that his love and mercy is extended to all of
his children, and he is continually inviting us to follow his only begotten
Son.
Again, I make no claim to be a biblical scholar. Never have.
Under my blog title it states it’s “One Latter-day Saint's view of the age we
live in, the time known as the fulness of times.” It was perhaps a little
short-sighted in that many of my posts (particularly the earlier ones) assumed
the reader would be familiar with doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints.
There are those who see scriptures as being related to
history only. That is their “context” for reading scriptures. It’s like they
only want to find God in the past but not in the present, and they don’t see (or
don’t’ want to see) the rich symbolisms that apply to us in our day and time, along
with the warning patterns that lead to destruction.
Why would someone only want to keep God in the past? Maybe
they want to keep God out of their lives because then they would have to
actually change their hearts and lives. Maybe they want to believe that God finished
his work in the past and he no longer speaks to his children, no longer gives
guidance and revelation.
I have read and studied the book of Isaiah completely 4
times now, which is as many times as I’ve read the entire New Testament,
although I’ve studied the Book of Revelation more times. I’ve also read some of
what others have said, others who have made Isaiah a life study.
Most of the people I know have barely read a few chapters of
Isaiah before they give up (I used to be that way as well). And then they just accept
what other people tell them about Isaiah. And most of those other people haven’t
read Isaiah completely either, but they are just going off what they read about
the Book of Isaiah from some instructor manual, web page, or other reference.
Anyone who makes a serious study of Isaiah, and who really
tries to receive guidance of the Holy Spirit in understanding God’s word,
realizes Isaiah used historical references for events that were about to happen
in his time AND for future prophetic events.
Isaiah used complex associations of historical events,
persons, patterns, and symbolism throughout his prophesies, which can make his
book difficult to follow let alone understand. And his prophesies were for his
time, the time of Christ, and the last days. So, it would be wise to see the
patterns and symbolisms as warnings and guidance to help us follow the Lord’s
path.
About the Bible being “Jewish literature”. The Bible
certainly was written by the Jews, or at least much of the Old Testament was
assembled by the ancient Jews. Or more correctly, it is Hebrew, or Israelite,
scripture.
The Hebrew Bible is called the Tanakh, although it is often
referred to the Torah (which is actually only the first part of their “bible” and
is the five books of Moses). While the Tanakh (some spell it Tanach) and the Old
Testament have many similarities, they are not identical with the major
differences being the “number and arrangement of books and the inclusion of
some apocryphal books” (https://www.becomingjewish.org/articles/tanakh_versus_old_testament.pdf
).
The Tanakh has three traditional subdivisions the comprise the
written scriptures of the Jews. The Torah (“teaching”), the Nevi’im (“prophets”),
and Ketuvim (“writings”). Tanakh comes from the first letters of those three
parts T-N-K.
The Jews also have the Talmud, which has two parts. The first
is the Mishnah, which is like a compendium Jewish law. The second is the
Gemara, which further expounds the writings in the Mishnah, Tanakh, and other subjects.
“Talmud” can refer to either the Gemara on its own, or to the combined Gemara
and Mishnah. It’s in the Talmud were oral traditions, codification of the law,
interpretations, explanations, wisdom, and the ethical and moral traditions of
the rabbis were brought together. More simply the Talmud is the collection of
oral Jewish traditions interpreting the Torah.
However, the New Testament is NOT Jewish scripture. And,
unless you find a Jew who has accepted Christ as the Messiah, you’ll be hard
pressed to find any rabbi who would accept the New Testament as Jewish scripture.
As a side note to the term “Jew”. In the 5th century
BC, the Kingdom of Israel was conquered by Assyria and the ten tribes were lost
(Reuben, Simeon, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Manasseh, and
Ephraim). The remaining tribes were Judah and Benjamin (along with some Levites).
As a result, the remaining Israelites were residents of the Kingdom of Judah and
the term “Jew” or “Yehudi” was eventually applied to any Israelite. Here’s some more information about the meaning
of the name “Jew” https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/640221/jewish/What-is-the-Meaning-of-the-Name-Jew.htm
“Jew” also refers to those Israelites who were from the
southern kingdom of Judah, an area referred to as Judea.
“How does a book from 800BCE refer to America?”
Does God know all? Does he not speak to his prophets who
record his word in scripture? Does God not care about the salvation and eternal
life of all his children? Should his words not be just as relevant to us in our
day and time as they were to his children in ancient days? The interesting thing
about scripture is there are both literal and figurative/metaphorical/symbolic meanings
and applications.
Regarding the term “Zion”, the Jews have their understanding
of Zion. However, in the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints Zion has additional meanings. It is from this context that I wrote my
post.
One meaning is that Zion refers to God’s people. The Lord
wants his people to be Zion, which refers to “The pure in heart” (Doctrine and
Covenants 97:21 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/97.21?lang=eng&clang=eng#p21
) and it was what the Lord called the people of Enoch and what Enoch called their
city (the same city that was taken from the earth along with Enoch – Hebrews 11:5,
Moses 7:21.
“18 And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were
of bone heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor
among them.
“19 And Enoch continued his preaching in righteousness unto
the people of God. And it came to pass in his days, that he built a city that
was called the City of Holiness, even Zion.”
(https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/moses/7?lang=eng&id=18-19#p18
)
And verse 69 from that same chapter:
“And Enoch and all his people walked with God, and he dwelt
in the midst of Zion; and it came to pass that Zion was not, for God received
it up into his own bosom; and from thence went forth the saying, Zion is Fled.”
I’m not saying all members of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints are “pure in heart”, of “one heart and mind”, and walk with
God in righteousness. I think I’m safe saying that most members are not. But
that’s our goal and that’s how the Lord wants all of his children (not just
Church members) to become.
The second meaning of
Zion was already mentioned. Zion is a location that is also referred to as the
New Jerusalem. It is from the Book of Mormon, and the words of latter-day
prophets that we understand that the location of New Jerusalem, Zion, is in America.
When the resurrected Savior visited the ancient inhabitants
of the Americas, he told them:
“And behold, this people will I establish in this land, unto
the fulfilling of the covenant which I made with your father Jacob; and it
shall be a New Jerusalem. And the powers of heaven shall be in the midst of
this people; yea, even I will be in the midst of you.” (3 Nephi 20:22)
(https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/20.22?lang=eng&clang=eng#p22
)
And referring to the Gentiles of the land who repent and come
into the covenant and are numbered among the Lords’ people, the Lord said of
them:
“23 And they shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob,
and also as many of the house of Israel as shall come, that they may build a
city, which shall be called the New Jerusalem.
“24 And then shall they assist my people that they may be
gathered in, who are scattered upon all the face of the land, in unto the New
Jerusalem.”
(3 Nephi 21:23-24 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/21.23,24?lang=eng&clang=eng#p23,24
)
The tenth of the Articles of Faith of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints states:
“We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the
restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon
the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and,
that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.”
(https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/a-of-f/1.10?lang=eng#p10
)
As another reference to this, The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints book The Doctrine and Covenants, states in section 84 verse 2:
“Yea, the word of the Lord concerning his church,
established in the last days for the restoration of his people, as he has
spoken by the mouth of his prophets, and for the gathering of his saints to
stand upon Mount Zion, which shall be the city of New Jerusalem.”
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/84.2?lang=eng&clang=eng#p2
And the next verse identifies western Missouri as where the
city “shall be built”.
With that understanding, the Latter-day Saints believe that
Zion (or Mount Zion or New Jerusalem) and Jerusalem refer to two different places.
In the Church’s doctrine, Zion (the place) is in America.
Certainly, those outside of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints will likely disagree and want to argue and debate about it. But the truth
is it’s a belief and doctrine of the Church, so I am not wrong nor taking it out
of context from the perspective of the Church.
But it’s not just scholars in the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints who see symbolism of America in Isaiah, who have identified patterns
in Isaiah that parallel what is happening in our day.
And whether Isaiah was prophesying specifically about the
United States or not, the reality is the patterns--the symbolisms--throughout the
book, can be seen and identified in our time.
If you recognize that someone is on a destructive pattern,
is it not worthwhile to warn of them of the dangers that pattern?
Would not a loving Heavenly Father do all he can (while
respecting our agency to choose) to warn his children of impending danger? Would
it not be beneficial to reveal to them the patterns that lead to destruction, and
show that those patterns were known nearly 3,000 years ago? And to show his
children the way to return to him, through the atonement of Christ?
Those who refuse to accept that others believe differently than
they do, and that all (should) have the right and liberty to do so, are fairly
close-minded if they believe their perception, opinion, thoughts, beliefs, etc.
are the only right way to live. This is symptomatic of pride and it leads many
to believe they are better that others, and, if this isn’t checked and
tempered, this leads to hate and anger. If one carefully studies Isaiah one can
see the warnings against these destructive patterns, although other scriptures
are much more plain and clear in warning against pride.
Pride is a big problem. Pride doesn’t respect others. Pride
isn’t civil. It’s comparative and sets up a person/group/tribe/race/ethnicity/class/etc.
to see themselves as better than others in some way, as deserving of some
special treatment that sets them above others in one or more ways. Pride—with its
resulting disrespect, incivility, hate, and anger—is evident in our culture,
society, social media, and politics.
Too many people claim to accept and tolerate what others
think or believe, but the reality to these people this is only true if the
opinions, perspectives, thoughts, beliefs, etc. of others match their own. If
they those don’t match they attack the person/group/race/ethnicity/class/gender/etc.
through demeaning words, verbal assaults, and increasingly with physical harm
or death threats against the “offending” person and/or their family.
My post contains my thoughts that I had while reading those
particular scriptures. If you don’t agree, that’s your opinion and you’re more
than welcome to have it. The scripture quoted in my post is from Isaiah, but it’s
referenced in the Book of Mormon and that is where I referenced.
The more I see people, especially young adults, on their
smartphones the more I see “stretched forth necks” and those (especially among
the females) who are obsessing (or near obsessing) with how they look, who are “wanton”
in their social media.
So, whether Isaiah was referring to today’s obsession with
smartphones and social media or not, the symbolism is very relevant. It is a
warning against following after Babylon instead of God.
More specifically the warning is to those of Zion, or who
profess to belong to God’s people. The verse specifically mentions “daughters
of Zion”, but I think it’s just as relevant to the sons as well. It’s a warning
to all those who proclaim to follow the Lord—who are supposed to be his people
(just as the Israelites of old were considered his people, even though they had
a hard time actually following God’s counsels and commandments) but who get
caught up in following after the ways of the world—that they need to repent and
return to God before their patterns of behavior lead to their destruction.
When you look at these scriptures in this context, I believe
it is quite evident that they are very relevant to our time when so many are
eschewing modesty and chastity, and, instead, are lascivious, promiscuous, and
sensual. It’s not just a “me” view but a “we” view. We all need to do better
and be better at following God’s word.
My post primarily focused on one verse. It’s helpful to read
the rest of the verses either from Isaiah chapter 3 ( https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ot/isa/3?lang=eng
) or 2 Nephi chapter 13 (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/13?lang=eng
)
And if you want more context and understanding of what Isaiah
is talking about, IsaiahExplained.com is one of the best references and commentaries
I’ve found. Here’s the link for Isaiah chapter 3
https://www.isaiahexplained.com/3#commentary
Fear of not having your phone and being out of contact resulted in a term called nomophobia
Text claw--pain, soreness, or numbness associated with repetitive find motor activities on a mobile device such as texting or playing games.
sleep disorders--not just from the obsession of checking notifications or using the device prior to going to sleep, but the blue light emitted can affect the circadian rhythm
hygiene (cellphones can have 10 times the bacteria as a toilet seat)
social isolation--how many people do you see together, but who are each on their own phones
eye strain referred to as computer strain syndrome that includes symptoms of eye fatigue, headaches, dizziness.
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