SHAKEN 2 of our 4-post series is an update of commentary on the January 6th crisis of 2021 following the insurrection and assault on Capitol Hill - a lingering malignancy which not-so-amazingly continues to shake the very foundations of freedom of WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES of America who must agaub think carefully about our ways.
Think back carefully: Do YOU remember this recent history correctly?
inciting disrespect for Government“So help me God.”
GOD & Government
Although this series points to current events of the United States and the world, SHAKEN! is not a partisan political post, but a fleeting glace at government and the role of God in the leadership of nations.
Our next post will point back to God and government at various times including this Prophet’s writings. So here’s the setting and time, NOT the US in A.D. 2021, but Persia in about 521 B.C., some 2500 years ago.
Darius the Great was the third Persian King of the Achaemenid Empire
About 50,000 Jews returned. In 536 B.C., they began to rebuild the temple (cf. Ezra 3:1–4:5) but opposition from neighbors and indifference by the Jews caused the work to be abandoned (cf. Ezra 4:1–24)– source: Commentary of John MacArthur
Where is the great City of David or the expansive Empire of Solomon of five centuries before?
Where is the rebuilt Temple of the Lord from the Book of the Law uncovered during the reign of a previous administration (of Cyrus and the Governor Nehemiah)?
Thus saith the Lord of hosts, saying: This people saith: The time is not yet come for building the house of the Lord.
Aggeus (Haggai) 1:2 DRB
Darius the Great
King of Kings Great King King of Persia King of Babylon Pharaoh of Egypt King of Countries
Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, “Consider your ways!
Haggai 1:5 NASB
6 You have planted much but harvested little. You eat but never have enough to be satisfied. You drink but never have enough to be happy. You put on clothes but never have enough to get warm. The wage earner puts his wages into a bag with a hole in it.”
7 The Lord of Armies says this: “Think carefully about your ways.
WHY has this happened?
Are theirs not the same questions as our political and religious leaders ask in these days of desperation?
WHY has God allowed this?
9 “You expected much, but then it amounted to little. When you brought the harvest to your house, I ruined it. Why?”
This is the declaration of the Lord of Armies.
“Because my house still lies in ruins, while each of you is busy with his own house.
So on your account, the skies have withheld the dew and the land its crops.
Haggai 1:9b-10 CSB
11 I have summoned a drought on the fields and the hills, on the grain, new wine, fresh oil, and whatever the ground yields, on people and animals, and on all that your hands produce.”
What is the PEOPLE’s response?
12 Then..
Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,
governor of the Achaemenid Empire’s province Yehud Medinata led the first group of 42,360 Jews who returned from the Babylonian captivity in the first year of Cyrus the Great, the king of the Achaemenid Empire. – source: Wikipedia
the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak,
and the entire remnant of the people
.. obeyed the Lord their God and the words of the prophet Haggai, because the Lord their God had sent him.
So the people feared the Lord.
That was their response to the Lord God.
Yet what answer now from ‘the entire remnant .. of the people’ from US?
3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Doesn’t it seem to you like nothing by comparison?
Remember Zerubbabel their governor,the high priest Joshuaand all of the people obeyed the Lord their Godand therefore ‘So the people feared the Lord.‘
The Lord’s declaration:
4 Even so, be strong, Zerubbabel
Be strong, Joshua
Be strong, all you people of the land..
Be strong, all you people of the land—this is the Lord’s declaration. Work! For I am with you—the declaration of the Lord of Armies.
5 This is the promise I made to you when you came out of Egypt, and my Spirit is present among you; don’t be afraid.’”
The LORD Who Leads
Can you imagine WHY the LORD God would restore a broken nation whose LEADERS OF GOVERNMENT AND WORSHIP had not led ALL of the PEOPLE to repentance?
In fact, Zerubbabel, Joshua and all the remnant of Israel once again bowed down in awe to the LORD, the God who had led them from Egypt and once again from Babylon.
Yet hear the word of the Lord to US — for WE THE PEOPLE are a stiff-necked and rebellious people led by winds of wantonness and words of wrath which stand upon our own strong wills.
For the Lord of Armies says this: “Once more, in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all the nations so that the treasures of all the nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,” says the Lord of Armies.
A lengthy consideration of the history of Rome may seem to have little to do with 1st c. Jerusalem and the trial of Jesus Christ. In fact, Rome’s lessons of politics and religion not only add context to this pivotal event in history, but to our own struggle between empires and the rule of God.
As you breeze through it or dig into some of Rome’s culture through additional secure links, think about the dance of power between political and religious leaders.
We have thus far examined the impact of politics in religion and actions by officials of the Temple against Jesus.
Now we will briefly leave Jerusalem for Rome and examine the culture Rome’s religions and impact on a Roman Governor like Pontius Pilate in this small and distant part of Roman Syria.
Gaius Julius Caesar
Roman general and statesman
b. 100 BC – until his assassination 15 March 44 BC
less than a century before the Roman crucifixion of Jesus Christ
The Julii Caesares traced their lineage back to the goddess Venus
Britannica.com
The Republic of Rome
..the late Roman Republic was surely the sole superpower of the western world..
Disclaimer: I am a theologian, not a historian and therefore make no claim to accuracy of the extensive knowledge of several researchers linked separately here for your additional understanding of the history of Rome and its culture as it affected the Empire of the 1st century AD.
continued quote below from Realm of History
[Rome] ..Then came the ascendancy of the great Julius Caesar, one of the greatest generals of his time, who was responsible for bringing Gaul (present-day France) into the Roman dominion by 50 BC. These signs of progress were matched by the conquering of eastern Anatolia and Armenia proper (in the preceding decade), thus bringing the Romans to the very edge of the Caspian Sea.
But then came the chaotic times, with the assassination of Caesar, the subsequent Triumvirate troubles, and civil wars, and ultimately the eclipse of the Roman Republic – thus making way for the rise of the Roman Empire in 27 BC, under the helm of Augustus.
Culture of the Republic
Remember that this diminishing concept of the Republic had begun centuries before in a city-state on Italia then ends abruptly with the assassination of Julius Caesar.
Source below: National Geographic
The Roman Republic was founded in 509 B.C.
after the last Etruscan king that ruled Rome was overthrown.
Rome’s next government served as a representative democracy
in the form of a republic.
Rome’s wealthiest families .. held power
only they could hold political or religious offices.
lower classes later gained power within the government.
At the heart of the Roman Republic was the Senate.
The Senate lasted as a sole governing body for the republic for only a brief time until 494 B.C.
.. in the 1st century B.C. the famous Roman orator Marcus Cicero uncovered a plot by a Roman senator .. to overthrow the Roman government.
Ultimately, factions emerged (loyal to either the patrician or plebeian classes or to a specific military general), hostilities erupted, and a series of civil wars plagued the republic.
During these civil wars, a prominent general and statesmen named Julius Caesar began gaining significant power. He commanded the loyalty of the soldiers in his army and enjoyed access to substantial wealth after conquering the province of Gaul.
The Senate, fearful of Caesar’s power, demanded he give up command of his army and return to Rome as a citizen.
Caesar refused, instead marching his army south directly into Rome.
As a result, another civil war erupted between Caesar and his chief political rival, Pompey.
a group of senators conspired and assassinated him.
Augustus Caesar – Rome’s First Emperor
In response to Caesar’s death, his nephew and heir Augustus defeated the conspirators. He then established himself as the first Roman emperor.
The Roman Empire dramatically shifted power away from representative democracy to centralized imperial authority, with the emperor holding the most power. Unlike Julius, Augustus Caesar (i.e. Octavian) used political prowess to appoint officials to government.
Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius [Publius Sulpicius Quirinus] was governor of Syria.
Rome’s political bickering between the classes ends abruptly on the ides of March, 44 B.C. with the assignation of Julius Caesar, effectively dissolving Rome’s flailing republic with its Senate and representatives of lower free classes of citizens.
Julius Caesar’s recognition as a god of the Roman state in ..42 BC enhanced Octavian’s prestige as son of a god.
Had I been living at the time of Christ's trial this would have taken place about the time of my own birth, i.e. seven decades ago
Octavian also launched elaborate religious and patriotic publicity, centring on the classical god of order, Apollo..
In addition, Octavian had started to prefix his name with the designation “Imperator,” to suggest that he was the commander par excellence.. gradually concentrating on the plain, emotive name “Caesar Son of a God.”
… his name Caesar, acquired through adoption in Julius’s will, was supplemented by “Augustus,” an appellation with an antique religious ring… – Britannica
Might makes right and establishes its peace by the power of war.
Caesar Augustus, by his military might and political prowess, introduced a peace of Rome forcing a better world of prosperity and restoring ‘the religion of the Republic.’
‘The strength of Rome lay in the iron discipline of its troops rather than fortified positions.
Pilate was likely born to a middle-class family in southern Italy with some influence in Rome.
He probably served in the Roman army before promotion.
Pilate would have had a military command before becoming prefect of Judaea in 26 A.D.
‘Prefect‘ was a title for a temporary appointment of the leader of a city-state, later used for a more permanent regional govenor.
The post of governor of Judaea was of relatively low prestige.
Technically the Prefect of Judea served under a governor of the Roman province of Syria, however Tiberius had not bothered to appoint one to replace Syria’s former governor.
Where does Pilate fit in to the religions of Rome?
Roman soldiers would have regularly paraded though the public streets of Rome during festivals (some religious, some civic), when returning victorious from war (which was with some frequency) and after ceremoniously worshiping in public and marching from Rome for their next military campaign.
Pilate no doubt would have been a participant in these public shows of the military many times in his early career. As a participant and possibly a leader of such public processions in Rome, Pilate would fully understand the implications of this man Jesus riding into Jerusalem just a few days prior to the cheers and adulations of the crowds.
Was Jesus entering Jerusalem a religious processional?
To Pilate it seemed more like a victorious popular leader praised by the multitudes of Jerusalem (like when conquering generals return to Rome.
No doubt the Sanhedrin sees this Jesus as a religious threat to them, but what is that to Rome?
Meaningless. The vanity of these Jews thinking that they still had anything to do with governing Judea.
Roman religion was practical and contractual, based on the principle of do ut des, “I give that you might give”. Religion depended on knowledge and the correct practice of prayer, ritual, and sacrifice, not on faith or dogma..
This religion of the Roman Prefect Pontius Pilate is, of course, quite different from the worship of the Jews of Judea.Although some aspects or Roman and Jewish religion were similar.
For ordinary Romans, religion was a part of daily life. Each home had a household shrine at which prayers and libations to the family’s domestic deities were offered. Neighborhood shrines and sacred places such as springs and groves dotted the city. The Roman calendar was structured around religious observances.
.. when Rome struggled to establish itself as a dominant power, many new temples were built by magistrates in fulfillment of a vow to a deity for assuring their military success.
Pilate and other Roman soldiers would have been part of festivals and honors paid to such victories at these shrines or temples in Rome.
Roman theology acknowledged that di immortales (immortal gods) ruled all realms of the heavens and earth. There were gods of the upper heavens, gods of the underworld and a myriad of lesser deities between. Some evidently favoured Rome because Rome honoured them, but none were intrinsically, irredeemably foreign or alien.
Public religious ceremonies of the official Roman religion took place outdoors, and not within the temple building.
Wikipedia
Religion and the military
Military success was the touchstone of a special relationship with the gods, and to Jupiter Capitolinus in particular; triumphal generals were dressed as Jupiter, and laid their victor’s laurels at his feet.
Roman commanders offered vows to be fulfilled after success in battle or siege; and further vows to expiate their failures…
Roman camps followed a standard pattern for defense and religious ritual; in effect they were Rome in miniature.
Caesarea, Roman capitol of Judea built with cooperation of Herod the Great, was home to the Prefect of Judea Pontius Pilate, his family and loyal troops for ten years.
Each camp had its own religious personnel; standard bearers, priestly officers and their assistants, including a haruspex, and housekeepers of shrines and images. A senior magistrate-commander (sometimes even a consul) headed it, his chain of subordinates ran it and a ferocious system of training and discipline ensured that every citizen-soldier knew his duty.
Judea (and other provinces) after Augustus
Under the rule of Augustus, there existed a deliberate campaign to reinstate previously held belief systems amongst the Roman population. These once held ideals had been eroded and met with cynicism by this time.
The imperial order emphasized commemoration of great men and events which led to the concept and practice of divine kingship.
Emperors postceding Augustus subsequently held the office of Chief Priest (pontifex maximus) combining both political and religious supremacy under one title.
Jews and Judaism were tolerated in Rome by diplomatic treaty with Judaea’s Hellenised elite. Diaspora Jews had much in common with the overwhelmingly Hellenic or Hellenised communities that surrounded them.
By the Augustan era, the city of Rome was home to several thousand Jews.
Wikipedia
Again, even prior to his later appointment as Prefect of Judea, Pilate would have been familiar with the Jews.
We will return to Pilate's problem of the 'king of the Jews' as Prefect of Judea.
To be continued...
Page TWO - Please click Page 2 below for the questions.
Our situation now appears desperate in this place isolated from the world. In the past three years we have come to know what to expect, but now it seems that everything will change.
Can you relate?
In case you missed it, Church.., we’ve reached a pivotal point in the history of the world where the Lord will change all of our relationships to God and to each other.
The Gospel of John
The Apostle John now looks back on a pivotal moment in Jerusalem with the Lord Jesus in the seclusion of an upper room. He teaches the church the New Covenant relationship with God our Father, Jesus the Son our Lord and the Holy Spirit of the LORD God.
This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.
The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
John asks a persecuted church to love one another, as the Lord Jesus commanded us. (By this time all other Apostles of Jesus except John had already suffered death by the hand of this world’s powers and principalities.)
The early church, a mere remnant of the unsettled sojourners of Abraham joined by faith in the Messiah, Son of David, with those of the world adopted in love by a New Covenant of forgiveness — these Christians also needed a helper just as you and I cry out for help. John’s Good News assures those who believe that in the Lord Jesus Christ we have help from above.
Recalling Jesus’ ascent into Jerusalem
Briefly recalling some of John’s journey with Jesus and the Apostles into Jerusalem, which would lead to the Lord’s trial after this pivotal moment before Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection and ascension:
In the third year of Jesus’ teaching on earth after having made many proofs of His Authority from God through the witness of many signs and wonders, the Messiah Jesus(John’s Teacher and Lord):
Came to Bethany and commanded Lazarus to come out of the grave after four days! John 11:
The High Priest Caiaphas prophesied that Jesus would ‘die for the people.’ John 11:47-53
Jesus and the Apostles travel to Ephraim then return to dine with Lazarus and his sisters before entering Jerusalem. John 12
… the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also; because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus.
Jesus Enters Jerusalem
12 On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.”
27 “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
31 Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”
These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them.
44 And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me.
Before continuing with Jesus’ New Commandment and promise of help, let us briefly witness from the Psalms of Ascent.
Jesus and the Apostles and crowds would have sung these Psalms on ascent of Mount Zion, approaching Jerusalem from the valley below. The words of praise to the LORD would no doubt have been fresh in the memory of each Apostle later in the upper room.
Psalms of Ascent
As worshipers recognized their Messiah on the foal of a donkey, a sign of Jerusalem’s King, they near Zion’s gate.
Recall now John’s Jewish understanding of these annual songs of worship as they now apply to the Messiah of Israel, our Lord Jesus.
שִׁ֗יר הַֽמַּ֫עֲלֹ֥ות
Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!
The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool.
Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength.
אָרוֹן
So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. - Gen 50:26
And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee. Exodus 25:16
Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.
I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.
The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.
Hosanna!
“Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.”
Now that we recall the events leading up to Jesus’ New Commandment; NEXT, God-willing, we will return to the upper room where the Lord Jesus promises us HELP.
