Dr Paul Allen

English: An image of Psalm 23 (King James' Version), frontispiece to the 1880 omnibus printing of The Sunday at Home. Scanned at 800 dpi. Français : Illustration du Psaume 23 (version autorisée par le roi Jacques), en frontispice de l'édition omnibus du Sunday at home. Version numérisée à 800 dpi. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “And the sons of Neariah; Elioenai, and Hezekiah , and Azrikam , three.” ( 1 Chronicles 3:23 ) Elioenai’s name is in a long list of names in the book of Chronicles . In fact, it is significant that the Bible contains the proper names of more individuals than can be found in all the other books of antiquity put together—strong evidence of its historical authenticity. These were real names of real people, and each would, no doubt, have a fascinating story to tell if he could. The ancient Israelites were very conscious of their divine calling as God ’s chosen people; family relationships and genealogical records were highly valued. Godly parents were ve...

A map of the Babylonian Empire during the time of the Kassites, roughly the 13th century BC. This map shows the probable river courses and coastline at that time. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.” ( Daniel 6:1-2 ) Not many people realize that the godly prophet Daniel was the first president of the great Medo- Persian - Babylonian empire ! Of course, Daniel’s office did not correlate directly with that of an American president , being appointive rather than elective, and being subject to the emperor, but he nevertheless had great authority. Many translations use the word “governor” instead of “president”—the original language was Aramaic in this case rather than Hebrew . In any case, Daniel was a God-fearing Hebrew, rather than a P...

Map showing the Babylonian territory upon Hammurabi's ascension in 1792 BC and upon his death in 1750 BC (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the arrogance of the proud , and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible” (Isa 13:11). The passage before us is filled with descriptions of God’s wrath against a prideful and haughty people. Isaiah calls Babylon the “world” because it seemed to encompass the whole earth in its power and glory. It was a prideful city and refused to honor its Creator, and in due time it would be completely destroyed. The doctrine we draw from this prophecy is that it is impossible for us to escape punishment from the Lord if we are puffed up with vain confidence and flatter ourselves. Isaiah included every kind of pride in his charge against Babylon, from men thinking they were something they weren’t to admiring their own riches and despising others in comparison to them...

Image via Wikipedia "When the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken off: the women come, and set them on fire: for it is a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will shew them no favor." ( Isaiah 27:11 )   Like a mighty tree towering over the forest, God raises up a mighty nation from time to time, with a great leader, to accomplish some purpose in the divine plan.  He "hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation" ( Acts 17:26 ).   But when that nation and its leaders become proud, and its people become lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, it becomes like a tree whose branches wither and whose core becomes riddled with insect-caused decay.  Finally, the boughs break, the kingdom will fall, and down will come that nation, its leaders and all!   Tha...