Old Testament reading: Isaiah 20-22
Just because you haven’t found it doesn’t mean it isn’t there. One of the most foolhardy criticisms of the Bible is to attack it as unreliable because “we haven’t found any evidence of it.” For centuries, the first verse of today’s reading was attacked and the Bible’s reliability was rejected, all because there was no historical or archaeological evidence of Sargon’s existence. Skeptics and infidels claimed that Sargon never existed (Dr. James Orr, Presuppositions in Old Testament Criticism, p 6). But in 1843, Paul Emile Botta and Austen Layard forever destroyed that error when they discovered Sargon’s palace and stone reliefs further confirming the Bible record regarding the conquering of Samaria. The place was described by Botta as being “probably the most significant palace the world has ever seen, covering an area of more than 25 acres.” These precious relics, including the massive winged bulls from the palace entrance, can be seen in the British Museum. I can save you some time and money by directing you to some photos I took of these items in 2007. Go to http://burlesonchurchofchrist.com/trustyourbible/slideshow.htm (Slides 8-11). I encourage you to take a moment to view all 50 slides in this presentation, as doing so will certainly warm your heart to think of archaeology’s many testimonies to the integrity of the Bible. As slide #1 says, “You Can Trust Your Bible!”
New Testament reading: James
“You better watch your mouth young man!” I heard that more than a few times growing up. James 3 is a reminder to keep our tongues in check: “For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body” (3:2). And, “Even so the tongue is a little member that boasts great things. See how great a forest fire a little fire kindles!” (3:5). James here shifts direction. Rather than speak of moving things in a proper and orderly direction to everyone’s good, he speaks of the tongue as a dangerous thing. How much of a spark or flame does it take to burn massive areas of forest? So also is our tongue if not kept under constant guard. It can get away from us before we know it and cause unspeakable damage.
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