Today we begin 1 Samuel Chapter 8.
For the Complete Jewish Bible, click HERE.
For the King James Version, click HERE.
Chapter 8 of 1st Samuel represents a turning point in our study of the Scriptures.
At this stage, Israel is undergoing a major transformation in its national and redemptive history.
This portion of the Bible also attracts much doubt and suspicion from the lawless Christian world.
So before we dive into our text study, I need to take a detour and defend against some common attacks leveled at the truthfulness of the books of Samuel and Kings from the academic world.
So here’s the situation.
A bunch of professors who may have been smoking to much marijuana decided a whole new approach to interpreting the Scriptures was needed to account for so-called “contradictions” contained in the books of Samuel and Kings.
This whole new approach is called Literary Criticism.
Don’t be intimidated by that phrase.
Scholars love to pontificate their ridiculous theories over others with language that sounds high faluting…
But at the end of the day is hollow and meaningless.
So let me break down what Literary Criticism is all about for you in a super easy-to-understand manner.
In a nutshell, it’s just a method of looking at the various styles of writing and the various usage of certain phrases in the Bible to determine if one book was written and compiled by one author or many…or if it suffered corruption at one point.
That’s it homies.
That’s all that literary criticism is.
The arrogance of literary critics has even reached the point where they claim they can tell WHEN certain verses were penned simply by identifying certain literary styles and grammar.
But their bs doesn’t end there.
These heretics also accuse the Biblical prophets of recording their prophecies fraudulently after the fact.
For instance, they’ll claim that Isaiah prophesied the downfall of Jerusalem after it occurred.
What’s the basis for their ridiculous claim?
Again, they’ll just say he used certain words and phrases that “proves” he recorded his prophecies long after the events happened.
They’ll also say Isaiah didn’t really author the book he’s named after..
The real author actually borrowed Isaiah’s name to establish credibility.
Pretty mind-blowing, isn’t it?!
Mind you, there’s ZERO evidence for these assertions.
Their claims are all subjective in nature and can’t be proven.
Nevertheless, because they’re viewed as academic experts who shouldn’t be questioned, they’ve caused believers all over the world to lose their faith.
Let me repeat what I just said, so it’s clear.
Literary critics make claims that can neither be proved or disproved.
Yet they’re believed, accepted and respected simply because of the degrees on their wall.
Ya feel me?
Their theories are then forced upon unsuspecting and innocent Bible College and Seminary students…
And after a few years have passed, the claims of these Literary Critics become fact.
Well, it’s time to overturn their nonsense…which I guarantee we’ll do the next time we meet.
Good lesson about those “scholars” who say what they want to say and present it as fact.
I am preparing a teaching series on the Epistles, and there is doubt, probably from these literary critics you mention, that of the 13 letters, about 7 weren’t written by Shaul, but maybe by a scribe from notes Shaul made, or just simply someone using his name.
He does mention in the 2nd letter to the Thessalonians that he heard someone had written a letter using his name, so there may be something to this.
But the letter I just mentioned is said to be penned by someone else, even though it ends with Shaul saying he is signing it in his own handwriting to prove it’s authenticity, so how can it be written by someone else?
Yeah- I NEVER want to be a “biblical scholar” because, with all due respect to the amount of study and zealousness of many scholars, I believe that getting to know the Bible in such small detail eventually leads to being able only to see the trees, and lose sight of the forest.
Hey, your series of the Epistles sounds exciting!
Is this gonna be a new ebook?
Agree with your thoughts on scholars…
Because in many cases, they are handcuffed by unbiblical academic theories and doctrines.
Talk soon!
Earlier this year I found a website called http://www.bereaninsights.org , by a man called Ian Vail.
He is a delightful change from many scholars, in that his deep love of the Word of God, as well as the God of the Word, just glows from his writings.
I was amazed that I had not heard of him before; we’re about the same age, came to know the Lord around the same time, and live only a 2 hour drive away from each other in New Zealand.
But read for yourselves and see. Maybe start with some Stories.
Thanks for sharing.