(01/23/2017) Sacred Judges and Laws?

Deborah Under the Palm Tree, Adriene Cruz -  JUDGES Chapter 4

 

Today, thoughts are shared on sacred judges, law, lawful process, and punishment.  While watching a broadcast of the inauguration, a secular ceremony pertaining to government officials, I was struck that, because our Nation does not formally acknowledge sacred law, no anointed judges or officers representing the kingdom of GOD were present as authorities to administer the oath of office as a sacred event (we say, miracle) to install the 45th President of the United States of America.  Our secular law demands no acknowledgment of divinity, yet, encourages and responds to faith in the homes and lives of millions of Americans.  Divinely appointed judges are entrusted to do more than merely announce doom, or express wrath against sin by declaring calamity, drought, and plagues.  They also are to make visible the compassion, discernment, goodness, forbearance, forgiveness, lovingkindness, mercy, righteousness, and wisdom of GOD.  The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” who uses the ID “SupaStar” (Level 5 with 5,753 points, a member since August 07, 2014) posted the following:

 

Judges can sentence people from anything to a fine to death. Why does god only have one punishment for EVERY "crime", no matter how slight?

 

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made:  in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.  The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth:  the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.  The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.  For the needy shall not alway be forgotten:  the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.  Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.  Put them in fear, O LORD:  that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.  (Psalms 9:  15-20, King James Version, KJV)

 

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Installing The New President (01/20/2017); Divine Presence and Spirit (01/18/2017); Servants To The Body? (01/17/2017); Authority To Judge Us? (10/18/2016); All Have Sinned? (07/29/2015); Beyond Punishment (03/21/2014); A Guarantee of Heaven? (03/22/2014)

 

“SupaStar”, the Creator is also a GOD of Judgment.  Unlike those who answer secular law, judges among men who apply and administer divine law should be understood as incarnations (appearances in flesh) of the Creator who continuously exists using spirit form.  As officials on the earth who oversee the resolution of conflicts and the settlement of disputes by applying the law from GOD, judges are instruments in sacred operations that, like the law, reveal the active presence of divinity and are expressions of the will of Deity.  Those who minister sacred law must acknowledge the sacred king who decrees and proclaims the law.  Therefore, instead of approval by some legislative body, they are carried through operations of the Holy Spirit to become anointed, consecrated, exalted, and sanctified (i.e., set apart for exclusive service to GOD).  The intent and purpose of divine law is to fulfill, put forth, and maintain all existence, order, and eternal purpose throughout the universe.  Just as there are multiple offenses against the law (e.g., adultery, idolatry, murder, stealing), there are multiple penalties for violation of the law (e.g., banishment and exile, confiscation of goods, fines, public execution), and there are multiple levels of transgression against the Spirit (e.g., betrayal, blasphemy, defiance, iniquity, rebellion).  The holy writings show, the many sanctions brought against transgression of the law (i.e., sin) are intended to bring about correction, repentance, and rebirth, rather than fear, loathing, and terror.  This includes mortality that was introduced as a continuing condition that must be completed by all flesh.  What is called the second death has been “passed upon all” only in the sense that it is conditional.  Just as Adam and Eve were cautioned and instructed about the required consequences for their actions before any disobedience occurred, the things of Jesus Christ and the cross all manifest the possibilities for righteousness in covenant and relationship with the Creator.  Consider the following:

(1.)  Exodus 20:  4-6, King James Version (KJV):  4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.  5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them:  for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;  6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

(2.)  Deuteronomy 16:  18-20, KJV:  18 Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes:  and they shall judge the people with just judgment.  19 Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift:  for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.  20 That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

(3.)  Deuteronomy 17:  8-13, KJV:  8 If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates:  then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose;  9 And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and enquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment:  10 And thou shalt do according to the sentence, which they of that place which the LORD shall choose shall shew thee; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee:  11 According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do:  thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall shew thee, to the right hand, nor to the left.  12 And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die:  and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.  13 And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.

(4.)  2nd Chronicles 19:  5-7, KJV:  5 And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city,  6 And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do:  for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.  7 Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it:  for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (5.)  Romans 8:  5-9, KJV:  5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God:  for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.  9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC

(01/20/2017) Installing The New President

Today, topics include using the Bible in America when affirming oaths of office, and the separation of church and state.  Millions of Americans from every faith will appeal to GOD and make petitions through prayer on behalf of the Nation and its leadership.  Yet, the inauguration to install our 45th President will be a secular ceremony, not an act of anointing, consecration, ordination, or worship.  Affirming an oath is like agreeing to be accountable by signing ones own signature.  Despite “pomp and circumstance,” many mature Christian believers acknowledge the holy writings as a form of the divine presence, and will continue to call forth and evoke other benedictions, sacred blessings and displays of divine power.  Similarly, the gesture of placing ones hand upon the Bible continues to be widely understood as a silent prayer for divine gifts and tools that may include approval, courage, guidance, hope, miracles of order instead of chaos and confusion, prosperity, virtue, vision, and wisdom.  Lawful citizenship for all Americans is a status established by the giving and fulfilling of promises.  Where one makes or swears to an oath, they jeopardy and place at risk their good name and reputation as having honesty and quality.  So to speak, their words are to be validated by the excellence, fruitfulness, and integrity of their unselfish actions and service.  A fighter at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “2017” (Level 7 with 61,448 points, a member since December 25, 2008) posted the following:

Why is the bible used to swear in official things like the inauguration and in courts, when church and state is supposed to be separate?

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,  Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.  And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.  For men verily swear by the greater:  and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.  Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:  Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;  Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.  (Hebrews 6:  13-20, King James Version, KJV)

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  A Learned Council of Elders? (05/10/2016); World Peace Is Coming? (05/08/2016); From Cover to Cover? (01/04/2016); American Culture and Law? (07/13/2015); Jesus As America’s President? (05/20/2015); God Bless America? (09/12/2013); Law, Slavery and Redemption (09/13/2013)

“2017”, in effect promises and solemn oaths are taken agreeing to forfeit and suffer loss of ones most precious possessions in payment for failure to complete the terms of a contract.  The system of government for America is a Democracy among representatives of the populace (we say, a Republic).  The goal of the Nation’s founders was to fashion a social covenant that would combine and secure the highest known benefits, influences, principles, values, and visions.  While there may be a huge percentage of the Nation’s citizens committed to systems of belief such as Christianity, a constitutional structure is in place to insure balance, fairness, and full participation for all through law.  The church is to always have a presence through the citizens as they exercise franchise being a free people, rather than by operating as a controlling institution.  The social traditions where a person is “sworn in” to serve in government offices, various roles during legal procedures (e.g., expert witness, jury member, translator), and positions that entail continuing trust (e.g., first responders, law enforcement officers, medical practitioners) acknowledges that endorsement and evidence for the validity of a person’s word must come from a higher and objective source, and may not merely be subjective and on the authority of that person’s opinions of himself.   Completeness and integrity for every living creature goes beyond the “gang of three” (i.e., me, myself, and I), and pertains to the absolute sum of their total substance and worth that appears through their acts of self-will), exchange within ongoing relationships, and utterance (we say, breath, life essence, speech, spirit, word).  Described in simple language, we say, A man is as good as his word.  By “good” reference is made to aspects of character and maturity such as accountability, consistency, dependability, honor, nobility, predictability, reliability, righteousness, stability, and trustworthiness.  At the onset of their service, there must be a clear display of a person’s determination to carry out and ethically fulfill the contracts, duties, and obligations of citizenship—even at the cost of their lives.  Thus, their committed and principled conduct will mark and set apart the entire Nation as distinguished and excellent.  Consider again the following:

(1.)  Numbers 30:  2, King James Version (KJV):  2 If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.

(2.)  Deuteronomy 23:  21-23, KJV:  21 When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it:  for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.  22 But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.  23 That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.

(3.)  Matthew 23:  16-22, KJV:  16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!  17 Ye fools and blind:  for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?  18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.  19 Ye fools and blind:  for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?  20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.  21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.  22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.

(4.)  James 5:  12, KJV:  12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath:  but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (5.)  Matthew 12:  35-37, KJV:  35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things:  and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.  36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.  37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX 
Washington, DC