Life Learning Series

There are other kinds of joint ventures that we need to explore. These kinds of joint ventures involve the philosophical sharing of directions in life. The people of Israel were brought into this type of joint venture by a lifestyle modification known as, captivity. During this time, they were able to share their philosophical (theological) principles with other nations. Also, the people of Israel were able to share in the philosophical principles and practices of those other nations.

A significant part of the sharing of philosophical collateral is this: to show that, the way of the LORD can withstand any interaction that tries to disrupt it. Before we dive into that study, consider this event that boldly highlights the resilience of the way of the LORD.

And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod. When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD.And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.

And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him. Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon’s house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.

But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof. And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god. They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath.

And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither.

(1 Samuel 5:1-8) 

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Philosophical Collateral: From the Outside

Scripture gives us a clear view of certain ones of Israel’s joint ventures; though, not of all of them. We have searched among those clear views, to find one that is heavily mental. At this time, the one that we want to explore is one in which the influences came from outside of Israel. The venture that we will review occurred during the time of Daniel’s spanned ministration for Israel, as done before several of the kings of the other nations. This span of time is in the Old Testament period of Israel’s captivity. We will begin here.

 

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– Explore Collateral Damage and the Heart of God: Part Twenty-five –

Surely, the world will take notice of any successful civilization; especially, when that civilization extends itself into the world as a nation. Israel was destined to perform that kind of extension. Ideally, in that extension, Israel would reach a time when, they could interact peaceably with the world. Some of the preparatory work for that time was done by king David; however, the main portion of it was ordained for the time of David’s son, Solomon. Here is that ordination.

And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. (2 Samuel 7:12-16)The time of king Solomon was the period when this type of joint venture rose to prominence: international cooperation for world enhancement. That type of venture for Israel was expressed in several connections between king Solomon and the wider world. Here, we will explore that atmosphere.

 

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– Explore Collateral Damage and the Heart of God: Part Twenty-four –

In a prior joint venture of Israel–between Joseph and Pharaoh, king of Egypt–the interaction of Israel was extended, in a fashion that was outside of the control of the congregation of Israel. In that sense, that venture serves as one kind of model for modern international relationships. We will explore more of those types of ventures, to provide additional insight about; lessening collateral damage through faithfulness to the way of the LORD. To do that, we have included some of the joint ventures that were ordained for Israel, so as to provide for Israel’s progressive immersion into the world, at large.

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Joint Venture: Joshua and the stale bread

In the modern day, several nations have geographical places known as, territories. These territories are disconnected areas–either remote ones, or, places that are in the same locality, but, they are not a part of the main geographical space of the family of the founders of the nation. They are included as territories because; they are places for which the founders and their descendants bear responsibility. Originally, it seemed that Israel would have a limited ability to partake of this nation-strengthening exercise of, responsibility and accountability.

There was some opportunity for establishing territories; but, that was only available for remote ones. In the early time of the development of the nation; this, here, was Israel’s limitation, as pertained to remote lands.

When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it. And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee. And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it: And when the LORD thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword: But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which the LORD thy God hath given thee.Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.

(Deuteronomy 20:10-15)By exercise of that commandment, a remote territory would allow Israel to exercise its authority; even though, Israel did not have a significant immediate responsibility for its well-being, or accountability for any damage that might be done to it. However, for near places, Israel was not allowed to exercise authority over, have direct responsibility for, or be accountable to, territories of that sort. Israel had the following there was also this limitation, as pertained to the opportunity for either responsibility, or accountability, for territories.

 

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– Explore Collateral Damage and the Heart of God: Part Twenty-three –

Almost all things are under some kind of pressure, and, therefore, almost all things need some form of relief. If pressure is not spread out, it will cause an explosion: that is also true of the pressure of societal pruning. In fact; in most cases, the rapid release of pressure is what leads to collateral damage. This is seen, most clearly, in unilateral, rapid invocation of warfare. In such warfare, there is not significant regard for negotiation and diplomacy. Too often, the author of the unilateral conflict simply wants to achieve their objective, at whatever cost. Scripture describes that kind of attitude.

From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

(James 4:1-5)Surely, there will be strivings among groups of people–this is the nature of group assessment of the need for increased property. Even among the chosen people of God; consideration of the fact of war was an early insertion into the forward mission of the children of Israel, as coming out of Egypt. We see that, here.

 

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– Explore Collateral Damage and the Heart of God: Part Twenty-two –

In external joint ventures–those that are fashioned with other philosophical communities, there is a great risk of loss of identity. When that loss of identity occurs in a servant of the LORD, the result is a separation from the way of the LORD. This will lead one into events that do not promote the righteous development of the group to which one belongs, as in the way of the LORD. The Old Testament is full of events of that sort. Here is one of those events, as involved a formerly settled relationship of the Jews with other people of the land in which they were rebuilding Jerusalem.

Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;) That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.

And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?

Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.

Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand; Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words. And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.

Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.

For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done.

Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.

(Nehemiah 6:1-9)In all such events, there was a measure of collateral damage. That is also true for any similar events of the modern day. The greater part of the collateral damage is in the group of those individuals or organizations that are riding the coat tails of some other persons or groups. In the church, this is a multi-leveled graft; with the first level being, an attachment to societal principles. In various events of the Old Testament life of the children of Jacob, Israel provides lessons in the progression of such grafting. In the following lesson, a portion of Israel’s religious community formed a societal graft with a certain king.

 

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– Explore Collateral Damage and the Heart of God: Part Twenty-one –